3-28-14 Schools Matter

Schools Matter:

Know any social justice oriented UCLA students? Get them to #resistTFA

I wrote the Op-Ed following this introduction for the Daily Bruin when I first returned to UCLA as an undergraduate last September. It was patently ignored by the editorial staff, as were my requests for modification guidelines to get it published. While I have a haunting suspicion that some of the editorial staff may have been protecting Teach for America (TFA), I got so busy with my course-load

by Robert D. Skeels ... / 6h 

3-27-14 Schools Matter

Schools Matter: NYTimes Editorial Board Goes Soft on 4 Year OldsMaybe Brent Staples is getting sentimental in his middle age, but the Editorial Board is suddenly all misty-eyed about pre-K and kindergarten urban children being kicked out of school for any breach of the total compliance system perfected in the KIPP reform schools.I, too, worry about these children, but I worry, too, about the ones

by mike simpson / 9h 

3-28-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida

Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education:

Why Voucher Expansion Really Died in the Florida Senate

The following is Bob Sikes’ Context Florida piece that was published on March 24. Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, explained away the withdrawal of his Senate version of voucher expansion with “there just wasn’t enough time to develop accountability provisions that everybody could agree on.” Sure. Galvano had no such qualms in voting through SB 1642, a bill that confirms Florida’s continuing accoun

by Bob Sikes / 15min 

Florida Charter School Scheme Unmasked in Standard Contract Bid

Rep. Manny Diaz (R-Miami) went first in the House Education Committee yesterday and announced a “postponement” of HB 7083. Among other things, Diaz bill provided for standard charter school contracts, the mandatory sharing of public school buildings and would further ease restrictions for so-called “high-performing charter schools.” What happened? Miami Herald reporter Kathleen McGrory may have th

by Bob Sikes / 1h  

3-27-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida

Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education: The Desperate Attempt to Save Voucher Expansion BeginsMiami republican Erik Fresen “tweaked” voucher expansion. From Kathleen McGrory in the Miami Herald: ….late Wednesday, Rep. Erik Fresen combined the voucher language with a separate bill creating education savings acc

by mike simpson / 9h

3-28-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL:

March’s Infographics & Interactives Galore – Part Five

There are just so many good infographics and interactives out there that I’ve begun a new semi-regular feature called “Infographics & Interactives Galore.” You can see others at A Collection Of “The Best…” Lists On Infographics and by searching “infographics” on this blog. I’ll still be publishing separate posts to individually highlight especially useful infographics and interactives, but you

by Larry Ferlazzo / 8h hide  //  save

Two New Well-Done “Choose Your Own Adventure” Games

I’m a big fan of “Choose Your Own Adventure” stories, and have a very lengthy collection of them at The Best Places To Read & Write “Choose Your Own Adventure” Stories. Today, I learned about two new well-done online games in that genre that are being nominated for awards at the Games For Change Festival: The first one is Start the Talk: A Parent Learning Tool. It’s designed as a role-playing

by Larry Ferlazzo / 8h 

The Best Resources On Professional Development For Teachers — Help Me Find More

Even though we’ve been very lucky at our school to have great professional development, there have been times that I’ve had to attend absolutely terrible District-sponsored sessions. Unfortunately, terrible sessions are a common experience that many teachers share. I thought I’d bring together a few potentially useful resources on the topic (including links to a number of related resources I’ve p

by Larry Ferlazzo / 11h 

3-27-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Virtual Reality & EducationFacebook’s recent purchase of a virtual reality company has been in the news this week. I have to admit I hadn’t been paying much attention to it until I heard this segment on the PBS News Hour, Facebook invests in a virtual reality future with $2 billion Oculus Rift acquisition. I’ve embedded

by mike simpson / 9h 

3-28-14 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):

CA Academic Decathlon champ — and a WW I whiz, as well

The champs, including Melissa Cheng, second from left LA Unified’s El Camino Real Charter won the 35th Annual California Academic Decathlon last week, locking in its 11th state title and a chance to claim a seventh national title at the U.S. Academic Decathlon in Honolulu, April 24-26. Against a steep competition of 565 students from 65 high schools statewide, the nine-member team scored 57,747.3

by Aaron Stella / 7min 

Casillas replacing Jaime Aquino as interim Deputy of Instruction

John Deasy and Maria Casillas Former head of School, Parent and Family/Community Services, Maria Casillas, is coming out of retirement on Tuesday to serve as LA Unified’s interim Deputy Superintendent of Instruction, a post left vacant by the sudden resignation of Jaime Aquino last year. Casillas, who resigned from the district last June as Chief School and Family/Community Services, was appointed

by Vanessa Romo / 7min 

After a run for UTLA chief, Mottus now trying for Congress

Kevin Mottus Fresh off a run for UTLA president, where he secured 53 votes to finish eighth among 10 candidates, Kevin Mottus is moving on: He’s now running for US Congress. Mottus is one of 21– count ‘em, 21! – lining up to take Henry Waxman’s seat in the 33rd Congressional District, which covers some of LA’s swankiest neighborhoods along the coast -  from Malibu through the Palos Verdes Peninsul

2 by Vanessa Romo / 17min

Morning Read: Students try to preserve education grants

Ag students rally in Sacramento to preserve education grants Concerns about future funding for high school agricultural classes and leadership programs are being voiced throughout California—and nowhere louder than at the state Capitol, where thousands of students and members of Future Farmers of America rallied last week to try to prevent elimination of the state’s $4.1 million Agricultural Educa

11min hide  //  save

Commentary: Standing with Beatriz against Vergara

Steve Zimmer Just over a year ago, I won re-election to the Los Angeles Unified School District board. It was an unlikely victory in what may have been the most expensive school board race in U. S. history. The wealthiest of self-styled reformers – Eli Broad, Reed Hastings, Michael Bloomberg and Michelle Rhee’s followers – put in over $4-million to try and take over the L.A. Board of Education. Th

3 by Steve Zimmer / 42min 

Vergara trial ends, with CA teacher laws hanging in the balance

Plaintiffs’ lawyer Ted Boutrous Lawyers from both sides in Vergara v California — the state’s most significant teacher rights case in two decades — unleashed their final arguments today, in a last attempt to amplify their own case and destroy their opponent’s. The case is now in the hands of state Superior Court Judge Rolf Treu, who have the sides until April 10 to submit any final briefs, after w

1 by Mark Harris / 11h 

3-27-14 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): 3 teachers get UTLA endorsements despite low money supportLast night’s vote By voting to endorse three candidates last night for the LA Unified’s District 1 board seat, the UTLA House of Representatives chose to back two teachers and a former teacher who have raised a combined $8,440 for their election ef

by mike simpson / 5h

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 3-28-14

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

GRIT: IT’S MORE POPULAR THAN SCHOOL REFORM – and here’s the data and and a chart to prove it!

data analysis driven by smf for 4LAKids While this proves nothing, it looks impressive and you should feel free to embed it in any and all presentations and PowerPoints.

by smf / 15min hide  //  save

WHAT ‘CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION’ LOOKS LIKE AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN SOUTHERN GEORGIA + smf’s 2¢

A school that is famous for football is notable in an entirely different way. There is much talk of late about “Grit” – old fashioned stick-to-it-ive-ness. Perseverance-meets-perspicacity, spunk+moxie:  Growth+progress towards a goal over the long haul. “Grit”’s the newest Ed-Jargon-Buzzword du jour; the missing magic bullet from the bandolier

by smf / 30min 

Study Marks Problems Posed By Inexperienced Teachers

  by Kimberly Beltran | SI&A Cabinet Report ::  http://bit.ly/1jgvf3S March 28, 2014  ::  (Calif.) A nationwide survey found the high number of inexperienced teachers in public classrooms is a largely unrecognized problem that undermines school stability, slows educational reform and, according to new research, hurts student achievement. Focusing on the causes and consequences of a

by smf / 14min 

AFTER NEARLY 30 YEAR ABSENCE, MUSICAL THEATER RETURNS TO ROOSEVELT HIGH: Students and faculty join in production of ‘West Side Story.’

By EGP Staff Report | Eastern Group Publications http://bit.ly/1lrXIq1 The West Side Story musical was presented at Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights on Friday night.(Courtesy of Roosevelt High School) 27 March 2014  ::  The performance of the Romeo and Juliet inspired tragic love story “West Side Story” last Friday on the Roosevelt High School stage marked an important first step

by smf / 2min 

BILLIONAIRES BUY CHARTER SUCCESS IN NEW YORK LEGISLATURE WITH THE HELP OF GOVERNOR CUOMO + smf’s 2¢

from Diane Ravitch's blog |  http://bit.ly/1iIoSoW March 28, 2014 Diane Ravitch writes: Leonie Haimson of Class Size Matters describes the deal to benefit the billionaire-funded charter schools  that is being negotiated right now by the New York legislature and will be voted on next week. It is not too late to make your voice heard! Governor Cuomo, who received $800,000 for  his

by smf / 13min 

BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE SCHOOL BOARD: A new report finds school board members with a background in public education are not better informed than their colleagues.

Emily Richmond | The Atlantic Online | http://bit.ly/1f0DGyL Eric Gay/AP Photo Mar 27 2014, 12:17 PM ET  ::  When it comes to the decisions that most directly affect the business of public education and what happens in classrooms, few people are as influential—and often as unacknowledged—as local school board members. Indeed, a new report from the conservative Thomas B. Fordham Institute

by smf / 22min 

VERGARA v. CALIFORNIA LAWSUIT ENDS …but not really

Testimony ends, “final” arguments heard, both sides are to submit written briefs by April 10, with a ruling due within 90 days after that – in July.  Both sides already have said they would appeal if they lose. Students' interests at center of trial over teacher protection laws Plaintiffs want to be able to remove ineffective teachers more quickly, but the state says rules governing

by smf / 3min 

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 3-23-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Avoiding the front-runners: UTLA BOARD RECOMMENDS - ¡Not Endorses!- 3 TEACHERS FOR LA UNIFIED SEAT  UTLA board endorses 3 teachers for LA Unified seat, not Omarosa by LA School Report | http://bit.ly/1dn0U3P March 20, 2014 9:37 am  ::  The board of directors of the Los Angeles teachers union, UTLA, voted last night to recommend that the union endorse th

by mike simpson / 9h 

3-28-14 Wait What?

Wait What?:

Malloy says he is running – But he can’t win – Nor should he

Earlier today Governor Dannel Malloy sent out an email saying that he was announcing that he would be seek re-election this year. (see email below). But as public opinion research as consistently shown, Malloy has alienated significant Democratic constituencies and implemented policies that will make it impossible for him to garner the support of many […] The post Malloy says he is running – But h

by jonpelto / 1min 

SURPRISE: Malloy administration’s back room deal to hand Hartford’s Clark Elementary School to an out-of-state charter school company is back

As Wait, What? readers have known for months, the Malloy administration has been engaged in a campaign to force the City of Hartford to turn their Clark Elementary School over to a private, out-of-state private charter school chain based in Washington D.C. Initially Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor, tried to “persuade” the City of […] The post SURPRISE: Malloy administration’s back

6 by jonpelto / 1h hide  //  save

Commissioner Pryor on Common Core Test – Nothing to look at, just keep moving

Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education has been spinning the media about how well the implementation of the Common Core Smarter Balanced Field test of a test has been going well.  Pryor told the Courant, “We are very pleased.” However, the situation in the real world tells a different story. Juniors at one Connecticut southeastern Connecticut […] The post Commissioner Pryor on Common Core Tes

by jonpelto / 2h 

3-27-14 Wait What?

Wait What?: The war on students who are opted out of the Common Core TestFor weeks the Malloy administration has been engaged in an immoral and unethical campaign to mislead parents into believing they do not have the right to opt their children out of the Common Core Smarter Balanced Assessment Field Test of a test. Now it appears that some school districts are punishing those students who were [

by mike simpson / 8h