Student Organization Galvanizes Education Community With Second Student Voice Live! Event Student Voice to Mobilize “Pro Voice” Education Influencers at New York Conference

Student Organization Galvanizes Education Community With Second Student Voice Live! Event Student Voice to Mobilize “Pro Voice” Education Influencers at New York Conference:

Student Organization Galvanizes Education Community With Second Student Voice Live! Event Student Voice to Mobilize “Pro Voice” Education Influencers at New York Conference

March 4, 2014

CONTACT:
Public Relations Correspondent
Jessica Schram
732-616-1018
Jessica@stuvoice.org

Student Organization Galvanizes Education Community With Second Student Voice Live! Event
Student Voice to Mobilize “Pro Voice” Education Influencers at New York Conference

NEW YORK, NY — Today, Student Voice announced plans to host the second annual Student Voice Live! conference on Sept. 20 in New York, N.Y. Students, teachers and education influencers will meet at shootdigital studios at 9 a.m. for a daylong discussion regarding the current education climate as well as student-initiated plans for its improvement.

 This year’s Student Voice Live! will focus on progress over the last year as well as how the world can better integrate students into the global education discussion. The organization’s launch of its new show, Students Ignite, will highlight this work as well as other Student Voice endeavors. Student Voice Live! will also push the organization’s new Pro Voice initiative, which aims to inspire education influencers to advocate for students to become partners in designing their educational experience.

 By partnering with Dell, last year’s inaugural Student Voice Live! event reached more than 5 million people, convening more than 300 students and Pro Voice supporters in April 2013. This year, Dell has renewed their commitment to Student Voice Live! by co-sponsoring September’s event.

Student Voice Executive Director, Zak Malamed, says the organization has plans to top its 2013 success.  “We will include the most influencers and facilitate greater impact than any other student-led, student-centered event this year,” Malamed said.

This year’s Student Voice Live! event will feature student, inventor, scientist and cancer researcher Jack Andraka;  author of the New York Times best-seller, “The Smartest Kids in the World,” Amanda Ripley; and Dell’s 12 Under 22 list of young global influencers, among other soon-to-be named participants.

Through weekly Monday #StuVoice Twitter chats at 8:30 p.m. EST, Student Voice maintains the world’s largest social dialogue for student education. Most notable was the recent chat hosted with U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, which discussed American college entry access and related collegiate policies.

Although the Student Voice movement lives predominantly online, Student Voice Live! will be one of many physical extensions of the global education conversation. This conversation, which leverages 96 percent of students with Internet access and 59 percent who use social networking to discuss education, specifically, has changed the way students advocate for the improvement of their education.

About Student Voice
Student Voice is a student-run, non-partisan, not-for-profit organization inspired by the lack of student voices in education. Research shows that only 44 percent of students believe they have a voice in decision making and this dips to as low as 34 percent in 12th grade.  Student Voice strives to enhance the overall effectiveness of the student voice movement and create a greater understanding of why student voice is essential in the education and community ecosystems through its services-based approach. For more information about Student Voice, visit www.StuVoice.org or follow us on Twitter @Stu_Voice.

THIS ENTRY WAS POSTED IN PRESS RELEASES AND TAGGED PRESS, STUDENT VOICE LIVE.

Louisiana Educator: Education Legislation

Louisiana Educator: Education Legislation:

Education Legislation

I have asked my readers to consider participating in my Defenders of Public Education email system. This system is designed to provide up to the minute information about important education legislation. The “Defenders” can then contact their legislators and advise them before they vote. The Defenders include a cross section of parents, school board members, and educators whose primary interest is to see our public schools constantly improve and provide a great education to our students. Over 1100 persons have signed up so far. All you have to do if you want to receive emails about important actions on education legislation, is just send me an email at louisianaeducator@gmail.com and include your zip code so I can figure out who your legislators are.  This post will give you a first look at the important education legislation of this upcoming session that starts Monday, March 10^th. But before I go into legislation, I need to tell you about a very important national group.

The Best National Group Supporting Our Public Schools

This blog has often identified the enemies of public education. Now I want to tell you briefly about a great National group that is a true champion of public education. This is the group called the Network for Public Education (NPE). It was formed by a group of public education leaders including Diane Ravitch and Education 

3-5-14 LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD

LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District):

In Vergara, defense witness says districts can overcome ineffective teachers

Robert Fraisse The defense in Vergara v California began its case today, calling to the witness stand a veteran educator whose testimony about identifying and dealing with ineffective teachers came in stark contrast to the views of earlier witnesses in the case. Robert Fraisse, whose career included serving as superintendent in three California school districts, appeared to give the defense a boos

1 by Mark Harris / 2h 

Tensions rise as UTLA candidate take on issues, each other

David Garcia (left), Alex Caputo-PearlCandidates for President of UTLA Tensions deepened last night among the candidates running for the top job at United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) as one of them came close to a physical confrontation with another after the event ended. Hosted by the teacher advocacy group, Educators4Excellence, at City Hall in Boyle Heights, the event played before a crowd of a

1 by Brianna Sacks / 2h hide  //  save

Commentary: Where I would spend the ‘Local Control’ money

Want to play the least fun game in the world? It’s called “Principal for a Day.” I know, back when you were five, it used to sound so fun to follow the principal around, issuing commands—Extra recess for everyone! Free donuts in the cafeteria!—but thanks to years of budget cuts, the game is no longer any fun, unless you really love crying over a pile of spreadsheets. After the passage of Prop 30,

3 by Ellie Herman / 2h 

LA Unified board votes to pay Deasy for unused vacation

Superintendent John Deasy: Little time for vacation Superintendent John Deasy works too much. So much so, that he rarely takes time off for vacation. As a result, the Los Angeles Unified School board voted at its monthly meeting yesterday to pay him for up to 24 days of unused vacation time, the equivalent of nearly $30,000 added to his annual salary of $330,000, according to Megan Reilly, the dis

by Vanessa Romo / 22min hide  //  save

Morning Read: CA moving away from bilingual education

Calif. Bill Would Repeal Bilingual-Education Restrictions A new bill that seeks to repeal California’s long-running restrictions on bilingual education may be only the most recent signal of a shifting political climate around English-language-learner instruction in that state. California drew national attention in 1998 when voters passed Proposition 227, a ballot measure that severely restricted t

2 52min 

3-4-14 LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD

LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District): Livestream coverage of today’s LAUSD school board meetingLA Unified School Board members meet today with a hefty agenda that includes charter school renewals, approving building repairs and a possible discussion about how to spend the new local control funding (though that will likely be put off for a fut

by mike simpson / 18h 

Russ on Reading: An Anthem for the Opt Out Movement?

Russ on Reading: An Anthem for the Opt Out Movement?:

An Anthem for the Opt Out Movement?

Back in the sixties when I was in my folk music stage, a song by singer Ed McCurdy was making the rounds of the coffee houses. The song was calledLast Night I Had the Strangest Dream and it was a powerful anti-war anthem later recorded by Simon and Gafunkel, Pete Seeger, Johnny Cash and many others. If you want to hear it you can find it here.

For some reason, I could not get the song out of my head as I sat in a plane on the tarmack of Austin-Bergstrom Airport waiting to be de-iced (scary thought) for my flight home to Philly. The tune is very memorable and I thought it might be a good basis for a rallying cry for the anti-testing OPT OUT movement. Anyway, just for fun, here it is.

Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream (with apologies to Ed MCCurdy)

Last night I had the strangest dream,

The kind Bill Gates detests.

I dreamed the world had all agreed

To throw out standardized tests.

I dreamed I saw my old classroom

And the room was filled with joy.

Because the focus was

3-5-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week

Seattle Schools Community Forum:

TFA Decides to Try Something New

Me and my hero, Diane Ravitch I plan to go to the Board soon and ask that the district's contract with TFA be ended.  There are two reasons. One, it seems like a lack of real support for the district's own fledgling Seattle Teacher Residency to support another teacher training program.  All SPS' attention and efforts should be towards STR.Second, TFA has just not been popular here in the least.  O

by Melissa Westbrook / 34min hide  //  save

An SPS Parent Weighs in on her Unhappiness

Over at Crosscut, the director of the (mostly)charter think tank that is the Center on Reinventing Public Education, Robin Lake, weighs in on customer service at SPS.She doesn't directly reference the program she is writing about (why, I don't know) but she's talking about Advanced Learning.  Her funniest line?These are minor inconveniences, though, compared to the flippant way the system responds

by Melissa Westbrook / 14min 

Petition Against Cuts in SPS School Budgets

There is a petition against cuts in school clerical staff - which will primarily affect high schools where, frankly, they can least take it - to send a message to the district. There is a minute-and-a-half video of the issue by Mary Smith who works in the office at Ingraham.  Mary is a long-time SPS school employee and I have been acquainted with her and her work now for over 10 years.  Mary has s

by Melissa Westbrook / 22min 

3-4-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Here's Some Homework - Common Core Style From a mom in NY State:  My son's KINDERGARTEN homework. I hold a Master's Degree and have won multiple Emmy Awards and my husband is a Lieutenant in the NYPD. We couldn't figure it out. It's a SAD SAD SAD state when two well educated parents can't help their child with their KINDERGARTEN homework. This is what you have to l

by mike simpson / 18h 

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, March 5, 2014

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team:

Fensterwald: Judge denies motion to dismiss lawsuit challenging teacher job protections

Education Headlines

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

FCMAT provides links to California K-12 news stories as a service to the industry. However, some stories may not be accessible because of newspapers' subscription policies.

New Kern HSD superintendent salary to start at $225,000

The incoming superintendent of the Kern High School District will earn a base annual salary of $225,000, which is $17,718 a year less than the current salary of the outgoing superintendent.

Layoffs to hit Simi Valley teachers

Simi Valley school officials plan to lay off 38 teachers— one step in balancing their budget for the coming fiscal year.

Stockton USD to issue six layoff notices

Stockton Unified officials will send layoff notices to three high school teachers, one high school counselor and two early childhood education teachers this year.

Two out of three valley school districts offering teachers raises

Two of the three school districts in the Coachella Valley have offered 4 to 5 percent raises to the teachers, but the third district is cutting costs by laying off dozens of teachers.

Ceres alternative education programs getting new home on Mitchell Road

A $9 million Stanislaus County Office of Education school for alternative education students is going up on Mitchell Road in Ceres, designed to replace an older site on Memorial Drive.

Turlock Unified to let go 17 single-year teachers, gets better budget news

Turlock Unified School District trustees voted unanimously Tuesday night to notify 17 teachers hired for one-year assignments that their jobs will end in May. There were no layoffs of permanent teachers, however, because of enrollment moving slightly up this year and better budget news.

Hercules transgender student recants story

A day after telling police he was viciously attacked in a campus restroom, a transgender high school student recanted his report to police, admitting that he fabricated an incident that fit a troubling pattern of violence on the campus and raised concerns about a groundbreaking state transgender rights law.

Report looks at ways to address discipline, morale at Antioch middle school

Implementation with fidelity. Whether it's enforcing the student uniform policy, cracking down on tardies or consistency in enforcing discipline, that philosophy is a key part of what is needed to improve Black Diamond Middle School, according to longtime educator John Bernard.

Mt. Diablo school district teachers reach tentative contract agreement

The Mt. Diablo school district teachers' union announced Tuesday it has reached a tentative three-year contract agreement that would provide for salary hikes and increased benefits contributions through 2016.

Language-immersion programs expand in California’s schools

As ethnic populations have since increased in California, school districts, parents and community groups have launched dual-immersion programs that have gained popularity among both English learners and native English speakers.

Los Angeles teachers union - launches new campaign for smaller classroom sizes

The union representing Los Angeles teachers launched a new campaign Tuesday aimed at reducing classroom size. United Teachers Los Angeles members and parents passed out fliers at campuses, demanding Los Angeles Unified School District leaders focus on smaller classes, said UTLA President Warren Fletcher.

Fensterwald: Judge denies motion to dismiss lawsuit challenging teacher job protections

With the end of intermission, there will now be a second act to the state’s education trial of the year, in which nine students are challenging the constitutionality of laws governing teachers’ job protections.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Overflow crowd at KHSD meeting protests pay, superintendent choice

Between activists critical of a superintendent search process and a major show of force by unions vying for raises, the Kern High School District board room was packed beyond capacity Monday night with protesters, many waving signs and wearing their school colors.

Kern High School District names Schaefer new superintendent

The Kern High School District chose a popular, veteran administrator as its 21st superintendent Monday, a decision lauded by many but decried by others who had wanted a wider search.

Lawsuit alleges Oxnard Union school district kept quiet on administrator's sexual misconduct

The Oxnard Union High School District is the target of a lawsuit filed by the attorney of two girls who accused a Camarillo High School administrator of inappropriate touching.

Officials get first look at charter proposal

San Joaquin County school superintendents were briefed on the details of a proposed countywide charter school on Monday morning, a meeting that raised questions by some who fear the petitioners value circumventing the oversight of local school districts over detailed student benefits.

Watsonville school launches into the Cloud with Chromebooks

A Pajaro Valley school has distributed 700 Google Chromebooks to its students, the first public school in Santa Cruz County to provide one-to-one, 24-7 access to computers.

School lifts ban on Rainbow Loom bracelets

Fearing she might have snuffed out opportunities for students to express themselves, Ladera Ranch Elementary School Principal Amy Bryant on Monday reversed a ban on popular rubber band bracelets.

School reorganizes traditional classroom

The kindergarten and second grade teachers at Las Palmas Elementary School are learning this year that bigger is not always better. In fact, small can be a good thing.

June Jordan School for Equity gets a break on testing

This year, the Excelsior neighborhood high school will get a welcome reprieve from the predictable cycle of testing. It's a practice year for California schools as the state transitions to a new computerized testing system based on the new Common Core curriculum adopted by most states.

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 3-5-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:

La Unified Board Votes To Pay Deasy Up To $30,000 For Unused Vacation

…plus he gets to keep the contribution that would be paid into the retirement system … but “it’s not a salary increase!”* * smf: I doubt if the IRS will see converting a pension payment and vacation time into cash as anything but income! …and what if every teacher in the District preferred to work through their summer vacation and be paid for it? by Vanessa Romo, LA School Report | http://

by smf / 13min hide  //  save

L.A. Times Reporter Tweets from the UTLA Candidates Forum Last Night:

  @HowardBlume tweets: 4 Mar 2014 | 6:59PM  ::  About 50 people tonight at forum for UTLA prez elex. Some are non-UTLA members. Typical of poor attendance, lack of wide interest. although this forum is being recorded for any1 w/a surge of interest. Hosted by group Educators4Excellence, ●●smf chimes in: In order to RSVP for the event –

by smf / 38min 

VERGARA v. CALIFORNIA TRIAL TO CONTINUE

By Howard Blume, L.A. Times | http://lat.ms/MNvF4W Student Beatriz Vergara, 15, testifies in Los Angeles County Superior Court in February that bad teachers have harmed her education. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)   March 4, 2014, 4:45 p.m.  ::  A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to limit teacher job protections in California.

by smf / 12min 

California, U.S. Needs To Add To Student Online Privacy Rules

SB 1177, The Student Online Personal Information Protection Act  - a bill by state Sen. Darrell Steinberg would ban private firms contracting with public schools from selling California student's records. Editorial By The LA Times editorial board| http://lat.ms/1gaaRfQ State Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) has introduced a bill that would help close a loophole in federal

1 by smf / 21min

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 3-4-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: In Survey, Utla President Vows To File Complaints Over ‘Teacher Jails’By Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times | http://lat.ms/1n6UwOs Los Angeles teachers union president Warren Fletcher lashed out at the school district Monday for its handling of teachers accused of misconduct, vowing to file federal and state age-discrimination complaints. (Irfan Khan / Lo

by mike simpson / 28min 

3-5-14 With A Brooklyn Accent Go BATs All Week

With A Brooklyn Accent:

3 Principles That Should Guide Testing in the Public Schools

Three Principles That Should Guide Testing in Public Schools ( to be presented at PS 8 Testing Forum in Brooklyn)1. Test Transparency. No tests should be given which do not guide instruction. All tests must be returned to teachers and parents after they are taken so their results can be reviewed with those who have taken them2. No Data Sharing: Not test results should ever be sold to private vendo

8 by Mark Naison / 18min  

3-4-14 With A Brooklyn Accent Go BATs All Week

With A Brooklyn Accent: My "Aha" Moment at the NPE Conference in Austin.There were many great presentations at the Network for Public Education Conference in Austin, but the piece of information that made the biggest impression on me was about something I should have already known about- The New York State ELA and Math tests in grades 3-8. And here it is ( I don't remember who said it) T

by mike simpson / 32min