Morning Wink 11-7-13 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS

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Welcome to The Nation's Report Card! NAEP - Mathematics and Reading 2013

NAEP - Mathematics and Reading 2013: Welcometo The Nation's Report Card!Explore interactive and dynamic graphics that illustrate the results of the 2013 mathematics and reading assessments.Test yourself with actual National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) questions.Watch videos for tips on how to explore and interpret results.Results for 2013 NAEP Mathematics and Reading Assessments Are

3 by mike simpson / 26min 

Daily Kos: Helping the Helpless

Daily Kos: Helping the Helpless: Helping the HelplessbyShakespeares SisterFollowSo, I switched school districts. I am very fortunate to work again with one of my best friends, who teaches 12th grade AP Literature and Composition, while I teach 11th grade AP Language and Composition and one section of World Literature. Admittedly, it is a big switch for me, as I previously taught 11th and 12th grad

by mike simpson / 47min 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-7-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Los Angeles Baffled About How to Pay for iPads in FutureLos Angeles negotiated a sweet deal for Apple, promising to buy an iPad for every student at a cost that will eventually total at least $1 billion. Forget the fact that the iPads are financed in large part by borrowing money from a 25-year construction bond issue, and that man

by mike simpson / 47min 

11-7-13 Wait What?

Wait What?: Steve Perry Tworking (Tweeting while working) on teachers and unionsState and local laws, ordinances, regulations and work rules prohibit public employees from engaging in politics while at work. Public employees have lost their jobs for violating these policies. Steve Perry is the principal of Capital Preparatory Magnet School in Harford, Connecticut. As a public employee, Perry is co

by mike simpson / 47min 

11-7-13 Schools Matter

Schools Matter: Union Leadership as Political Sleight of HandNew Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is nearly stereotypical as a bully, so much so that if he weren't in a position of power, he would be a walking satire of himself.When he yelled at a female teacher recently, reasonable people across the U.S. responded with disgust, as Jersey Jazzman did:Some think this misogyny is part of Christie's "

by mike simpson / 47min 

11*7*13 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: The Best Ways To Use Mistakes When Teaching WritingThis is sort of an odd “The Best…” list. I’ve written a lot in this blog and in my books about using student mistakes as an opportunity and not as a problem, and have an extremely long The Best Posts, Articles & Videos About Learning From Mistakes & Failures list. T

by mike simpson / 47min 

11-7-13 Fred Klonsky Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Life in Rahm’s Chicago. Every CPS parent volunteer will be fingerprinted.Data driven? All the research suggests that the greater the parental involvement in their children’s school the better the students perform. So CPS is requiring every parent school volunteer to be fingerprinted. And local neighbo

by mike simpson / 47min 

11-7-13 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online: Vido: Funeral for 168 Schools Chosed Under Bloomberghttp://youtu.be/USnAoe3vgEUby ed notes online / 7h Will de Blasio Make Randi's Folly - er - the UFT Charter - Pay The Damn Rent?Eva Moskowitz is viewed as a big loser in the election and the UFT even though they jumped on the bandwagon late is viewed as a winner. But what of the charters occupying public school space - given to t

by mike simpson / 1h 

Jason Carter enters the governor's race and brings a focus on... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com

Jason Carter enters the governor's race and brings a focus on... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: Jason Carter enters the governor's race and brings a focus on education COMMENT(1) 2 5 5 12View Larger Jason GetzSen. Jason Carter, D-Decatur, asks a question about House Bill 487 during Legislative Day 34 in the Senate Chambers at the State Capitol on March 14, 2013.Previous PostsBully posts his attack

by mike simpson / 1h 

CAUTION: Technology! | the becoming radical

CAUTION: Technology! | the becoming radical: CAUTION: TECHNOLOGY!In the myriad debates surrounding implementation of Common Core and the concurrent tests, the sheer costs of this process tends to be ignored. Another issue related to both CC and the related costs is yet another series of commitments to technology as a part of the perpetual education reform process. Here is a reposting of a presenta

by mike simpson / 1h 

11-7-13 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE: Schools Matter: Union Leadership as Political Sleight of HandSchools Matter: Union Leadership as Political Sleight of Hand. via Schools Matter: Union Leadership as Political Sleight of Hand.2 by plthomasedd / 1h   11-6-13 @ The Chalk Face@ THE CHALK FACE: The Two Sides of Education Reform in Washington, D.C.Education reform is failing traditional D.C. public middle schools locate

by mike simpson / 1h 

7-11-13 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School: Another Bloomberg Education FailureFrom NY1:It's half school, half extracurricular, all hands on. For two years, the city's Summer Quest program has provided extra learning for thousands of struggling students in the South Bronx, nine hours a day, five days a week for five weeks.For the students, the goal is to prevent summer learning loss, a big problem for low-income kids.

by mike simpson / 1h 

To Lisa Macfarlane and Suzanne Estey: And you thought it was a conspiracy theory? | Seattle Education

To Lisa Macfarlane and Suzanne Estey: And you thought it was a conspiracy theory? | Seattle Education: To Lisa Macfarlane and Suzanne Estey: And you thought it was a conspiracy theory?Either your comments have been overly scripted by your moneyed backers or you have been bold face lying but these are the facts:Chris Christie’s demented “you people” movement: The right’s school-for-cash obsessionCh

by mike simpson / 1h 

States’ testing exec embraces California’s controversial decision for Common Core tests EdSource Today

EdSource Today: States’ testing exec embraces California’s controversial decision for Common Core testsNovember 7th, 2013 | Add a Comment | By John Fensterwald1Joe Willhoft discussed the forthcoming Common Core field test before the State Board.The executive director of Smarter Balanced, a consortium of states developing the new Common Core assessments, said he supports California’s decision to gi

by mike simpson / 1h 

What is Wrong with Vouchers? | Deborah Meier on Education

What is Wrong with Vouchers? | Deborah Meier on Education: What is Wrong with Vouchers?Posted on November 6, 2013 by nicholasmeierNicholas MeierThe rhetoric behind vouchers is that if everyone had vouchers parents could select the best school for their child instead of being forced to go to “government” schools*.Where does such logic fall apart? There are two main logistical reasons it is really a

by mike simpson / 1h 

Privatization of Education Won’t Erase Savage Inequalities | janresseger

Privatization of Education Won’t Erase Savage Inequalities | janresseger: Privatization of Education Won’t Erase Savage InequalitiesPosted on November 7, 2013 by janressegerFor generations our society has committed itself to the provision of public education—publicly funded, universally available, and accountable to the public—as the best institution for balancing the needs of each particular chil

by mike simpson / 1h 

NYC Educator: Does Common Core Align with Danielson?

NYC Educator: Does Common Core Align with Danielson?: Does Common Core Align with Danielson?I look at the Danielson Rubric and I see an awful lot about engaging the students. Active, happy kids are a big plus if they're using the Danielson Rubric. You want them to be asking questions on their own, to know there are procedures in place, and to remind one another what they are. You want them in grou

by mike simpson / 2h 

PWCS – Where Doing Nothing is World Class! | PWC Education Reform Blog

PWCS – Where Doing Nothing is World Class! | PWC Education Reform Blog: PWCS – Where Doing Nothing is World Class!November 6, 2013 — pwceducationreform So… PWCS has $2.7 million of “extra” revenue to play with.  What should they do?A few years ago the school division deliberately decided to run class sizes up the state’s legal maximum so that they’d have money available for other priorities.  We

by mike simpson / 2h 

YESTERDAY

11-6-13 Jersey Jazzman: Marie Corfield: An American Hero

Jersey Jazzman: Marie Corfield: An American Hero: Marie Corfield: An American HeroThere's a lot to say after yesterday, and a lot to do starting tomorrow. But before all of that, let's get one very important thing out of the way: Marie Corfield - proud to be a mother, a teacher, and a real Jersey girl - is a genuine American hero. We teachers are generally not a very outgoing or outspoken lot. We

by mike simpson / 10h 

Teachers union leader urges Chris Christie to apologize to teacher he yelled at

Teachers union leader urges Chris Christie to apologize to teacher he yelled at: Teachers union leader urges Chris Christie to apologize to teacher he yelled atBY VALERIE STRAUSSNovember 6 at 9:42 pm(Used with permission)American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten sent a letter to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), asking him to apologize to a teacher whom he yelled atduring a camp

by mike simpson / 10h 

Death March Demo fro the 168+ Public Schools Closed by Bloomberg and His Privateers Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública

Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública: Death March Demo fro the 168+ Public Schools Closed by Bloomberg and His PrivateersA NormScott ProductionDemand (thru CPE) that Mayor DeBlasio reopen all closed schools and have a plan that includes parents, students and teachers in decision-making levels that improve these schools within 5 years or less.Posted by Black Educator at

by mike simpson / 12h 

Seattle School Board Update: Sue Peters is ahead | Seattle Education

Seattle School Board Update: Sue Peters is ahead | Seattle Education: Seattle School Board Update: Sue Peters is aheadIn spite of the record-breaking amount of money that was poured into Suzanne Estey’s campaign by a moneyed few and DFER who want to see the corporatization of our public schools through charter schools, online learning enterprises and schools staffed by the cheap labor of Teach for

by mike simpson / 13h 

Winners: AFT - A Union of Professionals - Solution-Driven Unionism

AFT - A Union of Professionals - Solution-Driven Unionism: The American Federation of Teachers' Prize for Solution-Driven Unionism recognizes outstanding collective work to create solutions that improve workplaces and communities. The 2013 prize rewards AFT members and affiliates that have tackled big challenges with concrete results and best exemplify the AFT's commitment to providing high-qualit

3 by mike simpson / 13h 

Teachers union president to Chris Christie: Apologize for bullying teacher - Stephanie Simon - POLITICO.com

Teachers union president to Chris Christie: Apologize for bullying teacher - Stephanie Simon - POLITICO.com: Teachers union president to Chris Christie: Apologize for bullying teacher818  Christie, according to Weingarten, was acting 'in such a hostile and intimidating way.' | AP PhotoCloseBy STEPHANIE SIMON | 11/6/13 4:50 PM ESTIt didn’t slow his triumphal march to reelection. But the image of Ne

2 by mike simpson / 14h 

Nite Cap 11-6-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

James Baldwin said it best: "For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAPTODAYCCSS Math Framework Adopted - Year 2013CCSS Math Framework Adopted - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education): California Adopts First Math Framework Aligned with Common CoreSACRAMENTO—California teachers have new guidance from the State Board of Ed

1 by mike simpson / 15h 

Bloomberg Wasn't On Any Ballot, But Here's How He Affected Elections Nationwide

Bloomberg Wasn't On Any Ballot, But Here's How He Affected Elections Nationwide: Bloomberg Wasn't On Any Ballot, But Here's How He Affected Elections NationwidePosted: 11/06/2013 4:42 pm EST  |  Updated: 11/06/2013 4:54 pm EST NEW YORK -- Though his name wasn't on a ballot Tuesday, perhaps the most influential figure on education issues during the election cycle was New York's outgoing mayor, Mich

by mike simpson / 15h 

CCSS Math Framework Adopted - Year 2013

CCSS Math Framework Adopted - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education): California Adopts First Math Framework Aligned with Common CoreSACRAMENTO—California teachers have new guidance from the State Board of Education as they continue implementing theCalifornia Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today.The State Board of Education

by mike simpson / 17h 

There is a Better Way – The PCAPS Five Point Education Platform | WeArePCAPS

There is a Better Way – The PCAPS Five Point Education Platform | WeArePCAPS: There is a Better Way – The PCAPS Five Point Education PlatformPosted on November 6, 2013by wearepcapsWE NEED TO ELECT A GOVERNOR WHO WILL FIGHT FOR THESE THINGS:1) An Equitable Funding Formula for Distributing State Education DollarsCurrently funding is being driven by political calculation and poorer Districts are taki

by mike simpson / 17h 

Voucher Battles Continue Across the Country | NEA Today

Voucher Battles Continue Across the Country | NEA Today: Voucher Battles Continue Across the CountryNovember 6, 2013 by twalker  Filed under Featured News, Top StoriesLeave a CommentBy Rita ZeidnerIn August, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) asked a New Orleans federal court to enjoin the state from awarding school vouchers to students attending school in districts operating under a federal des

by mike simpson / 17h 

Tell Tom Corbett to Pack His Bags! | WeArePCAPS

Tell Tom Corbett to Pack His Bags! | WeArePCAPS: Tell Tom Corbett to Pack His Bags!Posted on November 6, 2013by wearepcapsTom Corbett opens his campaign in Philadelphia. We will be there to remind voters of how his policies have hurt Philadelphia working families in so many ways. Starving our schools, restricting voting, rights. attacking health care, food stamps, funding for mass transist and bui

by mike simpson / 19h 

Florida Teacher: "I Was Among Those Who Reviewed the Common Core in 2009" - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Florida Teacher: "I Was Among Those Who Reviewed the Common Core in 2009" - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Florida Teacher: "I Was Among Those Who Reviewed the Common Core in 2009"By Anthony Cody on November 6, 2013 11:43 AMThe Secret Sixty Prepare to Write Standards for 50 Million - Living in Dialogue - Education Week TeacherOne of the sticky issues regarding the

by mike simpson / 20h 

Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, November 6, 2013

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Fensterwald: Advocates pile on criticisms of draft funding formula regulationsEducation HeadlinesWednesday, November 6, 2013Lodi district to close schoolLodi Unified trustees voted unanimously to close Tokay Colony Elementary as the school's enrollment figures continue to decline and an eleventh-hour effort to transform it into a technology m

by mike simpson / 20h 

The New Orleans Imperative rebroadcast link of me talking about 2013 SPS scores and links to quoted stories | Crazy Crawfish's Blog

The New Orleans Imperative rebroadcast link of me talking about 2013 SPS scores and links to quoted stories | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: Crazy Crawfish's BlogZesty Louisiana Education PoliticsThe New Orleans Imperative rebroadcast link of me talking about 2013 SPS scores and links to quoted storiesPosted on November 6, 20130Listen in from the following link: http://theneworleansimperative.org/2013/03/

by mike simpson / 20h 

Americans Will Not Be Amused by Chris Christie's Bullying If He Runs for President | Mother Jones

Americans Will Not Be Amused by Chris Christie's Bullying If He Runs for President | Mother Jones: Americans Will Not Be Amused by Chris Christie's Bullying If He Runs for President—By Kevin Drum| Mon Nov. 4, 2013 8:41 AM PST120Over the weekend, a picture of New Jersy Gov. Chris Christie dressing down a teacher who asked him about school budgets went semi-viral. I was a little surprised, because I

by mike simpson / 22h 

Morning Wink 11-6-13 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSTODAYThe Real 21st-Century Problem in Public Education is Poverty | Perspectives, What Matters Today | BillMoyers.comThe Real 21st-Century Problem in Public Education is Poverty | Perspectives, What Matters Today | BillMoyers.com: The Real 21st-Century Problem in Public Education is PovertyNovember 6, 2013by Elaine Weiss19This post first appeared in The Wa

1 by mike simpson / 1d 

2nd Banana 10-26-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 10-19-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 10-12-13-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post
2nd Banana 10-5-13-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

Nite Cap 11-5-13

Nite Cap 11-4-13

Nite Cap 11-3-13

Nite Cap 11-2-13 

Nite Cap 11-1-13

Nite Cap 10-31-13

Nite Cap 10-30-13

Nite Cap 10-29-13

Nite Cap 10-28-13

Nite Cap 10-27-13

Nite Cap 10-26-13

Nite Cap 10-25-13

Nite Cap 10-24-13

Statement of U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on the 2013 NAEP Reading and Mathematics Report Card | U.S. Department of Education

Statement of U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on the 2013 NAEP Reading and Mathematics Report Card | U.S. Department of Education:

Statement of U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on the 2013 NAEP Reading and Mathematics Report Card

NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Contact:  

 Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov 

The 2013 NAEP Reading and Mathematics Report Card is available here.

"The 2013 NAEP report card provides encouraging but modest signs of progress in reading and math for U.S. students.

"In 2013, reading and math scores edged up nationally to new highs for fourth and eighth graders. It is particularly heartening that reading scores for eighth graders are up, after remaining relatively flat for the last decade.

"Achievement among the largest minority group in our nation's public schools—Hispanic students—is also up since 2011. And higher-achieving students as a whole are making more progress in reading and math than in recent years.

"While progress on the NAEP continues to vary among the states, all eight states that had implemented the state-crafted Common Core State Standards at the time of the 2013 NAEP assessment showed improvement in at least one of the Reading and/or Mathematics assessments from 2009 to 2013—and none of the eight states had a decline in scores.

"Given the rapid and comprehensive changes that America's educators are implementing in classrooms across the nation, it is to their credit that we are seeing the strongest performance in the history of the NAEP.

"Our national progress makes me optimistic that local leaders and educators are showing the way to raising standards and driving innovation in the next few years. It is encouraging to see progress in tough economic times, when so many states and local communities have struggled with significant cuts to their education budgets.

"Among states that are making progress, Tennessee, the District of Columbia, and Hawaii made noteworthy gains in eighth grade and fourth grade in reading and/or math from 2011 to 2013.

"Signs of progress on the NAEP—known as the nation's report card—are especially compelling because they cannot be attributed to teaching to the test or testing irregularities, such as cheating.

"While fourth and eighth grade achievement in math and reading has edged upward nationally since 2011, the increases are generally modest.

"And while students in each racial group identified in the NAEP showed improvement in some areas, it is very troubling that achievement gaps between white and black students, and white and Hispanic students, failed to narrow from 2011 to 2013.

"Even with the modest increase in math and reading achievement on the 2013 NAEP, U.S. students are still well behind their peers in top-performing nations.

"If America's students are to remain competitive in a knowledge-based economy, our public schools must greatly accelerate the rate of progress of the last four years and do more to narrow America's large achievement gaps. It is an urgent moral and economic imperative that our schools do a better job of preparing students for today's globally-competitive world."

11-7-13 The Answer Sheet - The biggest weakness of the Common Core Standards

The biggest weakness of the Common Core Standards:

The biggest weakness of the Common Core Standards

• BY VALERIE STRAUSS

• November 7 at 10:00 am

Here’s a different look at the controversial Common Core State Standards, from Marion Brady, a veteran classroom teacher, who has written history and world culture textbooks (Prentice-Hall),  professional books, numerous  nationally distributed columns (many are available here), and courses of study. His 2011 book, “What’s Worth Learning,” asks and answers this question: What knowledge is absolutely essential for every learner? His course of study for secondary-level students, called “Connections: Investigating Reality,” is free for downloading here. Brady’s website is www.marionbrady.com.

By Marion Brady

A particular interest of mine has long been what kids are taught in the early years of adolescence. No surprise, then, that when the Common Core Standards went public, I clicked on the standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects and scrolled down to pages 61 and 62, where you can find lists of standards for 

Welcome to The Nation's Report Card! NAEP - Mathematics and Reading 2013

NAEP - Mathematics and Reading 2013:

Welcome
to The Nation's Report Card!

• Explore interactive and dynamic graphics that illustrate the results of the 2013 mathematics and reading assessments.
• Test yourself with actual National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) questions.
• Watch videos for tips on how to explore and interpret results.

Results for 2013 NAEP Mathematics and Reading Assessments Are In

Results from the 2013 NAEP assessments show fourth- and eighth-graders making progress in mathematics and reading.

Nationally representative samples of more than 376,000 fourth-graders and 341,000 eighth-graders were assessed in either mathematics or reading in 2013. Results are reported for public and private school students in the nation, and for public school students in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Department of Defense schools.

Average mathematics scores for fourth- and eighth-graders in 2013 were 1 point higher than in 2011, and 28 and 22 points higher respectively in comparison to the first assessment year in 1990.

• Hispanic students made gains in mathematics from 2011 to 2013 at both grades 4 and 8.
• Fourth- and eighth-grade female students scored higher in mathematics in 2013 than in 2011, but the scores for fourth- and eighth-grade male students did not change significantly over the same period.

The average reading score for eighth-graders was 2 points higher in 2013 than in 2011, but the score for fourth-graders did not change significantly from 2011. Reading scores were higher in 2013 than in 1992 at both grades.

• White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander eighth-graders scored higher in reading in 2013 than in 2011.
• Both male and female eighth-graders scored higher in reading in 2013 than in 2011.

Public school students in Tennessee, the District of Columbia, and Department of Defense schools scored higher in 2013 than in 2011 in both subjects and grades.

• Mathematics scores were higher in 2013 than in 2011 at both grades in Hawaii, Tennessee, the District of Columbia, and Department of Defense schools.
• Reading scores were higher in 2013 than in 2011 at both grades in Iowa, Tennessee, Washington, the District of Columbia, and Department of Defense schools.

See more about state score changes.

NOTE: Accommodations were not permitted in NAEP mathematics assessments prior to 1996, and in NAEP reading assessments prior to 1998. Black includes African American, Hispanic includes Latino, and Pacific Islander includes Native Hawaiian. Race categories exclude Hispanic origin. Score-point changes are calculated using unrounded average scores.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), various years, 1990–2013 Mathematics and Reading Assessments.

Daily Kos: Helping the Helpless

Daily Kos: Helping the Helpless:

Helping the Helpless

byShakespeares SisterFollow

So, I switched school districts. I am very fortunate to work again with one of my best friends, who teaches 12th grade AP Literature and Composition, while I teach 11th grade AP Language and Composition and one section of World Literature. Admittedly, it is a big switch for me, as I previously taught 11th and 12th grade IB DP Language A, which focused mainly on literary (fiction) analysis, and now my focus is nonfiction.

All of this is background so that I can discuss a problem that has become frighteningly clear to me this year.

My overall observation: students that I teach (read: poor students) do not get the education they need in order to be successful in the real world. Additionally, their cultural literacy is significantly limited, and a lot of the time they lack the intellectual curiosity that makes other students successful. During my time, I have seen a general decline in their problem-solving skills, largely due to a three-step process that leaves them, in the end, helpless and seeking continual guidance and support.

Here's how this current frustration began:

I quit my old school and started at a new one. When I started, my friend (who also previously taught at the same school I came from) warned me that the students in this school are lower - they lack more skills - than the students in my previous school. I didn't believe her. The school I came from ranked near the bottom of all the schools in the state - how could any students be 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-7-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all:

Why Does U.S. Continue to Spend More on Affluent Children?

An excellent and unexpected article appeared in the business section of the New York Times on November 5, written by Eduardo Porter. Despite bipartisan rhetoric about “closing the achievement gap,” and giving every child an equal change “regardless of zip code,” the evidence suggests that this is empty blather. What really matters is which schools get the best funding. Porter writes:” The United S

by dianerav / 2min 

EduShyster: Getting Big $$$ on the Charter Gravy Train

EduShyster, tongue firmly planted in cheek, defends the huge salaries collected by charter operators in New York City. That’s the price of excellence, she says. She links to an article by Rachel Monahan of the New York Daily News, who listed 16 charter executives who make more money to run a small charter school or a small charter chain than the chancellor of the City of New York. Missing from Mon

1 by dianerav / 17min 

Princeton: Do Suburban Charters Increase Segregation?

Bruce Baker of Rutgers has found many examples of urban charter schools that cherrypick their students, leaving out the students who are costliest to educate and boasting of their success when they enroll notably more advantaged students than the local public schools. He decided to do a similar check on the Princeton Charter School, located in an affluent township with many excellent private schoo

1 by dianerav / 7min 

Los Angeles Baffled About How to Pay for iPads in Future

Los Angeles negotiated a sweet deal for Apple, promising to buy an iPad for every student at a cost that will eventually total at least $1 billion. Forget the fact that the iPads are financed in large part by borrowing money from a 25-year construction bond issue, and that many schools will not get the repairs and upgrades they need. Forget the fact that the iPads are loaded with Pearson content t

by dianerav / 1min

Principal Rob Miller: Remembering Steve

Not long ago, I honored Rob Miller, principal of Jenks Middle School in Oklahoma, for refusing to bow down to the Oklahoma Department of Education. A large number of parents at Rob’s school opted out of the state test, and the state accused the principal of egging them on. They ransacked his emails in search of incriminating evidence but never found any. I admired Rob Miller because he wouldn’t le

by dianerav / 0min 

A Columnist at the Toledo Blade Supports Public Education

At any previous time in American history, I can’t imagine writing a column with this title. Almost every American understood that public education is one of the most important democratic institutions in our society. There were a few curmudgeons here and there who didn’t want to pay to educate other people’s children, but their numbers were always small, and their complaints were dismissed as idle

2 by dianerav / 59min mark as read  //  save

District in New York Votes to Opt Out of Race to Top

At the recommendation of its superintendent, Dr. William M. Donohue, the board of education of the Byram Hills School District in New York unanimously passed a resolution to withdraw from the state’s Race to the Top. Dr. Donohue demonstrated his willingness to think independently, to express his candid views without fear, and to act in the best interest of the students who are in his care. He dese

5 by dianerav / 59min 

How NPE Candidates Fared

The Network for Public Education endorsed candidates who strongly support public education, oppose school closings, excessive testing, and privatization. Most of our candidates were underdogs, overwhelmingly outspent. Only Darcie Cimarusti ran unopposed. We are proud of all the candidates who stood up for kids against big corporate money and power. We congratulate them for their courage and tenaci

2 by dianerav / 1h

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-6-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Seth Sandronsky Reviews “Reign of Error”Seth Sandronsky is a Sacramento-based writer whose work has appeared in many journals. Here he reviews “Reign of Error.” He writes: “With verve, she demystifies the corporate reform language, with its heavy reliance upon shibboleths about test scores (domestic and global), achievement gaps, h

by mike simpson / 9h