Nite Cap 9-5-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT

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 CAP

9-5-14 Living in Dialogue - End Suspensions, and Bring Play Back to Kindergarten - Living in Dialogue

End Suspensions, and Bring Play Back to Kindergarten - Living in Dialogue: End Suspensions, and Bring Play Back to KindergartenBy Sara Lahm. Is there a crack forming in the anti-child world we have been subjecting our children to for far too long? I ask this question on the heels of Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson’s announcement that, effective immediately, preschoolers

by mike simpson / 0min 

Why Unionizing Teachers In Charter Schools is a Bad Idea

Why Unionizing Teachers In Charter Schools is a Bad Idea: Why Unionizing Teachers In Charter Schools is a Bad IdeaSEPTEMBER 5, 2014 BY NANCY BAILEY 1 COMMENTIn California, the new NEA leader Lily Eskelsen García is working to gather charter school teachers to unionize. HERE. She appears savvy and smart and gave an uplifting, firery introductory speech to teachers upon her election. As a retired me

1 by mike simpson / 10min 

Student Member App + Advisory Commission on Charter Schools App + CNP Reimbursement Rates - State Board of Education

Student Member Application Memo - State Board of Education (CA Dept of Education): REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS FOR THE2015-16 STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION STUDENT MEMBERThe California State Board of Education (SBE) is accepting applications for the 2015–16 Student Board Member position. Any student who is a California resident and enrolled in a public high school, will be a senior in good standing in the

1 by mike simpson / 18min 

Back To School With American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten | Talk Radio News ServiceTalk Radio News Service

Back To School With American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten | Talk Radio News ServiceTalk Radio News Service: Back To School With American Federation of Teachers President Randi WeingartenTRNS Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner interviews Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (Courtesy Photo A

1 by mike simpson / 1h 

NYC Public School Parents: NYC Kids PAC endorsements

NYC Public School Parents: NYC Kids PAC endorsements: NYC Kids PAC endorsementsFor immediate releaseSept. 4, 2014For more information contact: Shino Tanikawa, info@nyckidspac.org , 917-770-8438NYC KidsPAC endorses Teachout for Governor, Jackson, Liu, Koppell for State Senate;Fedkowskyj and Simon for AssemblyToday, NYC KidsPAC, a political action committee composed of parent leaders devoted to stre

1 by mike simpson / 1h 

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Our neighborhood rally with Karen Lewis

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Our neighborhood rally with Karen Lewis: Our neighborhood rally with Karen LewisKaren at El Cid. THE DELUGE...This afternoon's  rally at the monument in Logan Square, was drowned by a deluge as a series of storms rolled across the city. Karen Lewis and some brave souls made a run for El Cid up the block and set up camp there to discuss the issues at hand. Even great

by mike simpson / 1h 

Education in the Age of Globalization » Blog Archive » Teacher Rotation: China’s New National Campaign for Equity

Education in the Age of Globalization » Blog Archive » Teacher Rotation: China’s New National Campaign for Equity: Teacher Rotation: China’s New National Campaign for Equity5 SEPTEMBER 2014 717 NO COMMENTBy 2020, about one million teachers and principals in China will be swapped between good and poor schools annually, if the nation’s new strategy for easing education inequity goes as planned. The

1 by mike simpson / 1h 

IQC Recruitment Joint Letter - Application Information (CA Dept of Education)

IQC Recruitment Joint Letter - Application Information (CA Dept of Education): CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION 2015 CALL FOR APPLICATIONSINSTRUCTIONAL QUALITY COMMISSIONWe are requesting your assistance in recruiting currently practicing teachers with teaching experience and expertise in science, history–social science, world languages and/or health to apply for membership on the Instructional

1 by mike simpson / 6h 

for the love of learning: Bring Your Own Device: It's awesome except for the inequity

for the love of learning: Bring Your Own Device: It's awesome except for the inequity: Bring Your Own Device: It's awesome except for the inequityIt's the end of my first week at my new school and it has been awesome!I'm teaching six classes. Two grade 6 social studies, two grade 6 language arts and two grade 8 social studies. For grade 6, I am teaching two classes language arts and social studies

1 by mike simpson / 6h 

9-5-14 Wait What? - Governor Malloy: Tell the truth about your position on teacher tenure

Wait What?: Governor Malloy: Tell the truth about your position on teacher tenureAs we know, on-line petitions demanding politicians account for their actions have become all the rage.  It is time for Governor Malloy to come clean and tell the truth about his position on tenure. Therefore we’ve started on an-line petition to do exactly that: Governor Dannel Malloy is the only Democratic governor i

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

9-5-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools UpdatesFrom last Friday's "Friday Memo" from the Superintendent Here's something interesting from the press conference with the Mayor that included Superintendent Nyland.  The Superintendent referenced a "taskforce" about African-American student outcomes.  I was a bit puzzled but the Friday memo from the Superintendent has the &

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

Geaux Teacher!: Standardized Testing and Pearson's Dangerous Game!

Geaux Teacher!: Standardized Testing and Pearson's Dangerous Game!: Standardized Testing and Pearson's Dangerous Game!Re-post from a Jason  Stanford of The Texas Observer.If you haven't figured out yet that education "reform" with its Standards and Testing mania is BIG BUSINESS check this out.  Pearson Publishing (and all it's subsidiaries and holdings) are reportedly having a difficult

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

9-5-14 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): Morning Read: Lawmakers tightening accountability of LCFFMorning Read: Lawmakers tightening accountability of LCFF Activists win further regulation of LCFF money School administrators are still balking at attempts by lawmakers and other student advocacy groups to further tighten accountability restriction

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

By All Means, Let’s Talk About Alcohol and Campus Sexual Assault. But Let’s Do It Right. |

By All Means, Let’s Talk About Alcohol and Campus Sexual Assault. But Let’s Do It Right. |: By All Means, Let’s Talk About Alcohol and Campus Sexual Assault. But Let’s Do It Right.September 5, 2014 in StudentsStudentActivism.net is the work of Angus Johnston, a historian and advocate of American student organizing. A new piece went up at the Chronicle of Higher Education yesterday titled Why Campu

1 by mike simpson / 9h 

Thank you Mr. President for your Welcome! Join Us! | Cloaking Inequity

Thank you Mr. President for your Welcome! Join Us! | Cloaking Inequity: Thank you Mr. President for your Welcome! Join Us!https://twitter.com/ProfessorJVH/status/507763384817696768 Consider studying for your Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at California State University Sacramento. Join us! Click here.Please Facebook Like, Tweet, etc below and/or reblog.Want to know about Cloaking Inequity’s fresh

1 by mike simpson / 9h 

Activists win further regulation of LCFF money :: SI&A Cabinet Report

Activists win further regulation of LCFF money :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: SEPTEMBER 05, 2014Activists win further regulation of LCFF moneyby Kimberly Beltran(Calif.) School administrators are still balking at attempts by lawmakers and other student advocacy groups to further tighten accountability restrictions under the state’s new sch

2 by mike simpson / 9h 

School Districts Part Of Network Working With Google To Collect Information | Missouri Education Watchdog

School Districts Part Of Network Working With Google To Collect Information | Missouri Education Watchdog: School Districts Part Of Network Working With Google To Collect InformationinShareLet me just start by saying I love the internet. It allows me to connect to friends and family who live far away. It allows me to share ideas on a plethora of social networks like Pinterest and Facebook. I can u

1 by mike simpson / 10h 

9-5-14 Schools Matter - KIPP: Waiting for the Marshmallow While Getting the Fist

Schools Matter: KIPP: Waiting for the Marshmallow While Getting the FistEducators have jumped on the bandwagon, hoping to teach the skills of delaying gratification to inner-city kids. Dave Levin, co-founder of KIPP (a network of charter schools) employs teaching these cognitive tricks to all his students, who also each wear T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan “Don’t eat the marshmallow!” SourceWh

1 by mike simpson / 10h 

As Schools Open, Resistance Must Continue! | WeArePCAPS

As Schools Open, Resistance Must Continue! | WeArePCAPS: As Schools Open, Resistance Must Continue!Posted on September 5, 2014by wearepcapsNext week students return for another year at badly under resourced, under staffed, “bare bones” schools. Even if the stalled cigarette tax passes, our schools will be in no better shape, and, arguably, worse off than last year. And last year was the low point

1 by mike simpson / 10h 

Morning Wink 9-5-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-5-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Plunderbund: Ohio’s Richest Charter HaulThe Ohio blogger Plunderbund here lays out the astonishing record of William Lager and the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow.(ECOT). This online charter sch

3 by mike simpson / 11h 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-5-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Plunderbund: Ohio’s Richest Charter HaulThe Ohio blogger Plunderbund here lays out the astonishing record of William Lager and the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow.(ECOT). This online charter school is the largest charter in the state. It receives almost $100 million a year from the state. “On the latest report cards released by th

1 by mike simpson / 11h 

9-5-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: State school funding. Reduce the size of the pie. Slice it into smaller pieces.Illinois school funding is a cruel joke. Since we already ranks at the bottom in state school funding, the burden falls on local districts to raise money locally. Rich school districts do fine. Poor ones, not so much. To fi

1 by mike simpson / 11h 

9-5-14 Answer Sheet

Answer Sheet: Teacher: No longer can I throw my students to the ‘testing wolves’Dawn Neely-Randall, who just started her 25th year of teaching, is sick and tired of the effects that obsessive standardized testing is having on her students. She is a member of the Badass Teachers Association,  a national group of more than 51,000 educators who came together to organize resistance to school reform th

1 by mike simpson / 11h 

9-5-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: September 17th Is U.S. Constitution Day — Here Are Related Resources© 2010 Mr.TinDC, Flickr | CC-BY-ND | via Wylio Federal legislation requires schools in the United States to offer lessons related to the U.S. Constitution on U.S. Constitution Day — September 17th of each year. You might be interested in The Best Sites For

1 by mike simpson / 11h 

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 9-5-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: LUDICROUS³: The consensus of opinion of serving and retired LA County superintendents on John Deasy’s superintendencysmf writes for 4LAKidsNews 4 Sept 2014  ::  I spoke this afternoon separately to three different school superintendents from three distinct and different school districts in L.A. County - two retired and one still practicing the craft – a

2 by mike simpson / 11h 

9-5-14 Hemlock on the Rocks

Hemlock on the Rocks: Paying Teachers Less Will Make them MORE EffectiveAmerica's Schools Could Be More Efficient If Teachers Were Paid Less: Report Posted: 09/04/2014 7:19 pm EDT Updated: 29 minutes ago  When it comes to education, the United States isn't getting all the bang it could for its buck, according to a new report. GEMS Education, an education consulting firm, released its "Efficie

by mike simpson / 11h 

9-5-14 Curmudgucation

CURMUDGUCATION: Prof. Pearson Goes To CollegeOn Thursday, Gabriel Kahn at Slate reported news that is not actually news to anybody who pays attention to education these days, but it's still worth noting.Pearson has made it possible for colleges and universities to do away with those pesky professors entirely by providing a Course in a Box. Students who sign up for an Intro to Psychology course at

by mike simpson / 11h 

9-5-14 Perdido Street School Week

Perdido Street School: Cuomo In Hiding, Teachout EverywhereZephyr Teachout's schedule today:At 10 a.m., Democratic gubernatorial candidate Zephyr Teachout participates in a Women’s Equality “Empty Chair Debate Stop”, 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, 23 Washington Pl., Manhattan.At 11:30 a.m., Teachout appears on “The Capital Pressroom” with Susan Arbetter, listen at 91.3 FM or http://www.wcny.org

by mike simpson / 11h 

Back to School with NEA president Lily Eskelsen Garcia in Florida

Back to School with NEA president Lily Eskelsen Garcia in Florida: Back to School Tour in FloridaSeptember 5, 2014 by LilyCategories: Education, EventsTags: back to school, florida, storifyThere are great things happening in public schools in Florida. So honored to see the great work of dedicated educators:Back to School with NEA president Lily Eskelsen Garcia in Florida:

1 by mike simpson / 11h 

Oregon Save Our Schools: Our press release: Parents Say No to Kindergarten Test

Oregon Save Our Schools: Our press release: Parents Say No to Kindergarten Test: Our press release: Parents Say No to Kindergarten TestFor immediate release August 31, 2014Parents, Teachers Say No to Kindergarten Test“I have opted out both my Kindergartner and my Second Grader,” says Jennifer Lewis, a Portland Public School parent. Lewis is just one of many parents across Oregon opting their child

1 by mike simpson / 11h 

The Battle for New York Schools: Eva Moskowitz vs. Mayor Bill de Blasio - NYTimes.com

The Battle for New York Schools: Eva Moskowitz vs. Mayor Bill de Blasio - NYTimes.com: The Battle for New York Schools: Eva Moskowitz vs. Mayor Bill de BlasioBy DANIEL BERGNERSEPT. 3, 2014One afternoon this summer, Eva Moskowitz, who runs Success Academy Charter Schools, showed me her senior yearbook. “I was the editor,” she said. We sat in a half-furnished office at the construction site of her c

1 by mike simpson / 11h 

NYC Educator: The Best Thing That Happened Yesterday

NYC Educator: The Best Thing That Happened Yesterday: The Best Thing That Happened YesterdayYesterday was the first day of class. I was nervous, the kids were nervous, but we all did the best we can. First day programming is always problematic. I teach beginning ESL and several of my kids turned out to have been born here.In my afternoon class, one girl got pretty upset about this. She asked me to

1 by mike simpson / 12h 

YESTERDAY

OSI Rent-a-Cop Comes Calling on a Teacher - southbronxschool

http://www.southbronxschool.com: OSI Rent-a-Cop Comes Calling on a TeacherI have been transferred.For those that recall, last year I spent my Rubber Room time at 4360 Broadway. Worse, I was held captive alone for over 6 months until I was allowed compatriots. I shared with the readers of this blog mycaptivity, my friends, and how I acclimated myself to the whims of my captors.I am now at 1230 Zere

1 by mike simpson / 21h 

SUPERINTENDENT JOHN DEASY'S IPAD SCANDAL- JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG - Perdaily.com

SUPERINTENDENT JOHN DEASY'S IPAD SCANDAL- JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG - Perdaily.com: SUPERINTENDENT JOHN DEASY'S IPAD SCANDAL- JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG(Mensaje se repite en Español)Given the present iPAD scandal that in reality is just the latest incarnation of a long list of corrupt practices at the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), one can only hope that finally the curtain will b

1 by mike simpson / 21h 

The Illusionist | Bob Braun's Ledger

The Illusionist | Bob Braun's Ledger: The IllusionistAntoinette Baskerville-Richardson, a school board member, recrods data on empty buses on the first day of schoolCami Anderson, Chris Christie’s overseer of the Newark schools, spent a good part of the first day of school traveling to schools she knew would be orderly, stopping along the way to give impromptu news conferences in which she praised

3 by mike simpson / 22h 

9-4-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE: Ravitch Warms to Tuckerism: Can Randi Be Far Ahead?Posted September 4 at Schools Matter. I posted the other day on the new (old) Tuckerism that Joe Nocera was promoting (again) in the New York Times.   Obviously, Tucker’s THL (Testing Hysteria Lite) has resonated with the neolibs as a way to stave off the revolution against testing, while preserving its worst features and maintai

1 by mike simpson / 22h 

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Wanted:A Great Year! Teachers and Parents Working Toward the Same Goal!

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Wanted:A Great Year! Teachers and Parents Working Toward the Same Goal!: Wanted:A Great Year! Teachers and Parents Working Toward the Same Goal!Every year, at the beginning of the school year, I send this form home. I ask my parents to fill it out in ther interest of learning what they want from their child's teacher. What can make this a great year for their chi

1 by mike simpson / 22h 

Using Student Surveys to Evaluate Teachers |

Using Student Surveys to Evaluate Teachers |: Using Student Surveys to Evaluate Teachers The technology section of The New York Times released an article yesterday called “Grading Teachers, With Data From Class.” It’s about using student-level survey data, or what students themselves have to say about the effectiveness of their teachers, to supplement (or perhaps trump) value-added and other test-

1 by mike simpson / 23h 

Why has U.S. academic success dropped? The answer may be on the playground | Deseret News National

Why has U.S. academic success dropped? The answer may be on the playground | Deseret News National: Why has U.S. academic success dropped? The answer may be on the playgroundA fierce rash on the boy's flushed face was Tim Walker’s first clue his student was stressed.“I need my 75 minutes of recess,” the fifth-grader demanded. He knew the American teacher was fresh off the boat, new to the Finnish

9 by mike simpson / 1d 

Black Parallel School Board Meeting September 6, 2014 Saturday 10:00am open to the public

Home - Black Parallel School Board: Black Parallel School Board MeetingSeptember 6, 2014Saturday 10:00amOak Park United Methodist Church3600 BroadwaySacramento, CA 95817We call on all parents, community members and students to attend the meeting. The Black Parallel School Board’s Candidate Forum(Free and open to the public)Featuring only Candidates for Sacramento City Unified School District Board

1 by mike simpson / 1d 

New Jersey's Newark schools open but some boycott - SFGate

New Jersey's Newark schools open but some boycott - SFGate: New Jersey's Newark schools open but some boycott NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Organizers of a boycott of Newark schools on the first day of classes Thursday claimed success, but the school superintendent said it didn't appear many parents kept their children home in protest of her new enrollment system that is the target of a federal civil rights

1 by mike simpson / 1d 

America's Schools Could Be More Efficient If Teachers Were Paid Less: Report

America's Schools Could Be More Efficient If Teachers Were Paid Less: Report: America's Schools Could Be More Efficient If Teachers Were Paid Less: ReportPosted: 09/04/2014 7:19 pm EDT Updated: 29 minutes ago When it comes to education, the United States isn't getting all the bang it could for its buck, according to a new report.GEMS Education, an education consulting firm, released its "Effi

5 by mike simpson / 1d 

Inside the Mammoth Backlash to Common Core | Mother Jones

Inside the Mammoth Backlash to Common Core | Mother Jones: Inside the Mammoth Backlash to Common CoreHow a bipartisan education reform effort became the biggest conservative bogeyman since Obamacare.—By Tim Murphy| September/October 2014 IssueEmail262Illustration: Chris BuzelliONE NIGHT LAST SEPTEMBER, a 46-year-old Veterans Administration research manager named Robert Small showed up at a public

10 by mike simpson / 1d 

Nite Cap 9-4-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT

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 CAPYo Sac Bee: You Hate Teachers, You Hate Public Education and Love the 1%, We get it!Editorial: Teacher protections that hurt students are indefensible – unless you’re state’s top education official - Editorials - The Sacramento Bee: Yo Sac Bee: Y

3 by mike simpson / 1d 

2nd Banana 8-30-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 8-23-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 8-16-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 8-9-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post 

2nd Banana 8-2-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post2nd Banana 7-26-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

Nite Cap 9-4-14

Nite Cap 9-3-14

Nite Cap 9-2-14

Nite Cap 9-1-14 

Nite Cap 8-31-14

Nite Cap 8-30-14

Nite Cap 8-29-14

Nite Cap 8-28-14

Nite Cap 8-27-14

Nite Cap 8-26-14

Nite Cap 8-25-14

Nite Cap 8-24-14

8-23-14 Saturday Matinée Double Feature 

9-5-14 Living in Dialogue - End Suspensions, and Bring Play Back to Kindergarten - Living in Dialogue

End Suspensions, and Bring Play Back to Kindergarten - Living in Dialogue:

End Suspensions, and Bring Play Back to Kindergarten

By Sara Lahm. Is there a crack forming in the anti-child world we have been subjecting our children to for far too long? I ask this question on the heels of Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson’s announcement that, effective immediately, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and first graders will no longer be suspended for non-violent infractions while in a Minneapolis Public Scho

45 by Anthony Cody / 3h 

9-2-14 Living in Dialogue - Back to School Advice: Opt Out of High Stakes Standardized Testing

Home - Living in Dialogue: Back to School Advice: Opt Out of High Stakes Standardized TestingBy Denisha Jones. As many parents prepare to send their child(ren) off to school this year they are hopeful that their children will return home each day with reports that they learned something new or made a new friend. Unfortunately for many parents their children will come home and report that they spen

1 by mike simpson / 2h 

Why Unionizing Teachers In Charter Schools is a Bad Idea:

Why Unionizing Teachers In Charter Schools is a Bad Idea

SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 BY NANCY BAILEY 1 COMMENT

In California, the new NEA leader Lily Eskelsen García is working to gather charter school teachers to unionize. HERE. She appears savvy and smart and gave an uplifting, firery introductory speech to teachers upon her election. As a retired member of the NEA, I wish her well.

But she has thus far claimed, like AFT’s president Randi Weingarten, that Common Core had a bad “roll out,” raising the eyebrows of those of us who question the CCSS for what it is and where it came from. And now, again, like Weingarten, she is embracing charter school teachers and selling them on the union in California.

Why is that a mistake? Charter schools were originally supposed to be for public school teachers, principals and parents to run. Based on teacher/administrator Ray Budde’s early 1970’s thesis and the support by AFT president Albert Shanker, teachers were supposed to start charters as learning laboratories to show their professionalism. The AFT even came up with a list of rules for charters.

Charter schools were to:

• Be tuition-free, not-for-profit, and open and accessible to all students on an equal basis.
• Operate transparently by fully disclosing their finances, curriculum, student demographics and academic outcomes to parents and the public.
• Meet or exceed the same academic standards and assessment requirements that apply to other public schools.
• Hire well-qualified teachers.
• Work cooperatively with local school districts.
• Permit their employees to freely form unions.

I know. Don’t fall out of your chairs.

But the charter school concept was usurped by the business crowd after Chris Whittle’s failed attempt to push for-profit Edison Schools on the public.

Apparently Albert Shanker saw this coming before he died, and he knew exactly what kind of train had left the station. Now charters are a mix of a few good ones, a lot of bad ones, and many that are run unnecessarily like military schools for the poor. Too often Why Unionizing Teachers In Charter Schools is a Bad Idea:

Student Member App + Advisory Commission on Charter Schools App + CNP Reimbursement Rates - State Board of Education

Student Member Application Memo - State Board of Education (CA Dept of Education):

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS FOR THE
2015-16 STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION STUDENT MEMBER

The California State Board of Education (SBE) is accepting applications for the 2015–16 Student Board Member position. Any student who is a California resident and enrolled in a public high school, will be a senior in good standing in the 2015–16 school year, and will be available to attend a statewide student leader conference November 11-14, 2014 in Sacramento, is eligible to apply.

The estimated time required for the Student Member will be at least two consecutive school days every other month to attend regular State Board meetings, usually in Sacramento; a one-day orientation; sufficient time to study the agenda materials in advance of the meetings which may include consultation with board staff for background information related to agenda issues; additional time for handling other Board-related business; and time to attend selected advisory group meetings, student meetings, workshops, and conferences.

All transportation costs will be paid by the SBE. Lodging and meal costs will be paid in the amount allowed by state regulations. The State Board’s Student Member receives a $100 stipend for each day’s service on official business.

For more information, including the 2015–16 Student SBE Member application, please visit the SBE Student Member Application Web page, or contact the SBE by email at sbe@cde.ca.gov or by telephone at 916-319-0691.

Applications must be received by the SBE by 5:00 p.m., Monday, October 20, 2014. 

Applications Invited for Appointment to the
Advisory Commission on Charter Schools

September 2014

The State Board of Education (SBE) is currently seeking applications for three appointments to serve on the Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (ACCS).

The role of the ACCS is to support the SBE. The SBE has policy-making authority on a number of issues related to individual charter schools and the California charter system as a whole. Upon request by the SBE, the ACCS shall advise the State Board on all aspects of the State Board’s duties under the Charter Schools Act of 1992.

One important role of the ACCS involves the consideration of an appeal to the SBE by charter petitioners that have been denied at the local level.  ACCS members review charter petitions and analyses presented by the California Department of Education (CDE) Charter Schools Division. ACCS conducts hearings to make recommendations to the SBE based on information from petitioners, CDE staff and local authorizers. In addition, the ACCS reviews and recommends to the SBE appropriate funding levels for non-classroom based charter schools. The SBE may also request that the ACCS advise the SBE on other charter related policies.  The ACCS meetings are attended by one or both SBE member charter liaisons to observe the deliberations.

ACCS Composition

California Education Code Section 47634.2 (b) provides that the composition of the SBE's appointments shall include, but is not limited to, representatives from school district superintendents, charter schools, teachers, parents, members of the governing boards of school districts, county superintendents of schools, and others. Any of the SBE appointments may represent multiple categories listed in statute.  The ninth member of the ACCS is an appointment made by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. 

The SBE is seeking applicants to fill three positions. Among those selected must be applicants representing county superintendents of schools, charter parents, and teachers.

The SBE encourages applications from individuals with strong knowledge, experience, and interest in effective charter operations and authorization and in other state charter school policy. 

Applications from current ACCS members are welcome.

Term of Office

Each of the individuals selected to be ACCS members will start a two-year term beginning in February 2015.

Frequency of Meetings

The ACCS generally meets for one day in Sacramento every other month (Feb, Apr, June, Aug, Oct, and Dec). Depending upon workload, the SBE or CDE may call for additional meetings.

Travel, Lodging, and Other Expenses

Committee members will be reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses related to Committee meetings only, at the same rate applicable for CDE staff. No reimbursement will be made for other activities.

Application Form

The application form may be found at the SBE Application Information Web page.

Please note that the application form requests that applicants provide both a resume and two letters of recommendation. The SBE also requests that applicants provide a letter of one page or less explaining their interest in and qualifications for serving on the ACCS.

Application Deadline

All applications and corresponding materials for appointment to the ACCS should be sent to the attention of Carolyn Pfister at the California State Board of Education, 1430 N Street, Suite 5111, Sacramento, CA 95814. The complete application may also be sent by facsimile to 916-319-0175. All applications and corresponding materials must be received in the SBE Office by 5:00pm on Monday, October 20, 2014, in order to be considered for appointment.

All applications meeting the deadline requirements will be considered by the SBE charter staff and the SBE Screening Committee, which will include both SBE member charter liaisons.

Finalist candidates will be asked to participate in a 15-minute telephone interview, which will be scheduled for one day during the week of November 5-10, 2014.

Questions

For questions or additional information regarding the Advisory Commission on Charter Schools, please contact Carolyn Pfister in the SBE Office, at 916-319-0399.

Related Content

• Application Information - Application forms and information for appointment to commissions, councils, or committees.
• Advisory Commission on Charter Schools - Information regarding the Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (ACCS), including a Commission roster with member biographies, meetings schedules, agendas, meeting summaries, advisories and presentations.

2014-15 CNP Reimbursement Rates

Child Nutrition Program meal program reimbursement rates.

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Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

Reimbursement Rates for
July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015

	Free	Reduced-Price	Base
Breakfast	$1.62	$1.32	$0.28
Lunch and Supper	$2.98	$2.58	$0.28
Supplement	$0.82	$0.41	$0.07

Note: CACFP center rates DO NOT include cash-in-lieu value for commodities. Centers receive cash-in-lieu of commodities equal to $0.2475 for each lunch and supper served to enrolled participants.

Day Care Homes (Child Care Only)
Federal Reimbursement

	Breakfast	Lunch/Supper	Supplements (Snacks)
Tier I	$1.31	$2.47	$0.73
Tier II	$0.48	$1.49	$0.20

Note: CACFP day care home rates include a cash-in-lieu value ($0.2475) for commodities.

Administrative Reimbursement
for Day Care Home Sponsoring Organizations

	Initial 50 day care homes	Next 150 day care homes	Next 800 day care homes	Each additional day care home
Monthly Rate per Home	$111	$85	$66	$58

State Meal Reimbursement for Child Care Centers
Administered by a Public School Food Authority

	Free	Reduced-Price	Base
Breakfast	$0.1674	$0.1674	Not Applicable
Lunch	$0.1674	$0.1674	Not Applicable

State Meal Reimbursement for Day Care Homes
Sponsored by a Public School Food Authority

Breakfast / Lunch	Day Care Home sponsoring organizations that are public school food authorities (SFAs) receive $0.1674 state reimbursement for 75 percent of the breakfast and lunches served to participating children.

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School Nutrition Programs (SNP)

Reimbursement Rates for
July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015

School Breakfast Program

	Free	Reduced-Price	Paid
Basic Breakfast	$1.62	$1.32	$0.28
Especially Needy Breakfast	$1.93	$1.63	$0.28

Note: Especially Needy Breakfast is for approved sites that served 40 percent or more free and reduced-price lunches in 2012-2013.

National School Lunch Program

	Free	Free+6 cents*	Reduced-Price	Reduced-Price+6 cents*	Paid	Paid+6 cents*
Agencies that served less than 60% free/reduced-price lunches in 2012–13	$2.98	$3.04	$2.58	$2.64	$0.28	$0.34
Agencies that served 60% or more free/reduced-price lunches in 2012–13	$3.00	$3.06	$2.60	$2.66	$0.30	$0.36
Commodity Value	$0.2925	$0.2925	$0.2925	$0.2925	$0.2925	$0.2925

Note: Payments listed for free and reduced-price lunches include both section 4 and section 11 funds of the National School Lunch Act.

*Certified SFAs are eligible to receive performance-based cash assistance for each reimbursable lunch served beginning October 1, 2012.

Meal Supplements (After-School Snacks) in the National School Lunch Program

	Free	Reduced-Price	Paid
Snacks	$0.82	$0.41	$0.07

State Meal Program and State Meal Reimbursement for Public SFAs
Serving Breakfasts and Lunches in Federal Programs

	Free	Reduced-Price	Paid
Prop 98 Agencies certified with EC sections 49430, 49430.5, & 49430.7	$0.2248	$0.2248	Not Applicable
Prop 98 Agencies not certified with EC sections 49430, 49430.5, & 49430.7	Not Applicable	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
All Other (or non-Prop 98) Agencies	Not Applicable	Not Applicable	Not Applicable

Special Milk Program

Free	Reduced-Price	Paid
Average cost per half pint	Not Applicable	Per half pint: $0.2300

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Summer Food Service Program

Reimbursement Rates for
January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2014

Total (Combined) Reimbursement

Includes operating and administrative components.

Type of Meal	Rural or Self-Prep	All Other Site Types
Breakfast	$2.0225	$1.9850
Lunch or Supper	$3.5450	$3.4875
Supplement	$0.8400	$0.8225

Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609

Back To School With American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten | Talk Radio News ServiceTalk Radio News Service

Back To School With American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten | Talk Radio News ServiceTalk Radio News Service:

Back To School With American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten

TRNS Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner interviews Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.

Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (Courtesy Photo AFT)

(TRNS) – As a new school year begins, teachers and students face challenges throughout the nation. And while debates over due process, Common Core and teacher evaluations continue, the education system has several hurtles to leap this year, especially in low-income areas.

“Economically-depressed areas like Lowell and Lawrence, Mass., and Meridan and New Haven… Connecticut, and they are transforming their schools in really tough economic situations, starting with deep respect for teachers, deep respect for collaboration and problem-solving, helping give teachers the supports they need to do the job they need, “ Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers told TRNS Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner in a phone interview Friday.

A key challenge to reaching students is reaching their parents, said Weingarten, whose union is encouraging a series of parent-teacher weekend home visits to discuss parental opinions.

Clips:

Weingarten on home visits in low-income neighborhoods

Weingarten on Helping Kids

Weingarten on important conversations

NYC Public School Parents: NYC Kids PAC endorsements

NYC Public School Parents: NYC Kids PAC endorsements:

NYC Kids PAC endorsements

For immediate release

Sept. 4, 2014

For more information contact: Shino Tanikawa, info@nyckidspac.org , 917-770-8438

NYC KidsPAC endorses Teachout for Governor, Jackson, Liu, Koppell for State Senate;

Fedkowskyj and Simon for Assembly

Today, NYC KidsPAC, a political action committee composed of parent leaders devoted to strengthening our public schools, announced its endorsements in the Democratic primary due to take place next Tuesday, Sept. 9.  KidsPAC endorsed Zephyr Teachout and Tim Wu for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, over the incumbent Andrew Cuomo and his running mate, Kathy Hochul.

KidsPAC’s other endorsements in contested races include: Robert Jackson for State Senate District 31 in Manhattan, John Liu for the 11^th Senate District seat in Queens, Dmytro Fedkowskyj for Assembly Seat District 30 in Queens, Oliver Koppell for Senate District 34 Seat in the Bronx, and Jo Anne Simon, campaigning to replace retiring Joan Millman in the 52nd Assembly District in Brooklyn.

Said Shino Tanikawa, parent leader and President of KidsPAC, “NYC KidsPAC wholeheartedly endorses Zephyr Teachout for Governor for her commitment to fight against privatization of our public education.  We need a governor who believes in small class sizes, provides adequate resources for our most vulnerable students, respects the profession of teaching, opposes education driven by standardized tests and will fight for a high quality schools for all students throughout the State.  We believe Zephyr is the right candidate who will move us in the right direction.”  

Shino added: “Governor Cuomo, on the other hand, has massively cut education aid to our schools, opposes fully funding CFE – despite a court order – and owes NYC more than $2000 per student.  He also supports raising the cap on charters, and has pushed through preferential access for charters to expand in space paid for by the city, while hundreds of thousands of our public school students sit in overcrowded schools, in trailers or on waiting lists for their zoned neighborhood school.”

“Though Robert Jackson and the incumbent Adriano Espaillat both completed surveys emphasizing their support for public schools, Jackson has a long history of leadership on education issues.  He was the original plaintiff in the CFE case, walked to Albany for the final deliberations in court, and was a terrific advocate as Chair of the Education Committee on the NYC Council.  Wherever and whenever we have needed him, Robert Jackson has stood for us and with us, fighting for the rights of our kids.  Now parents must be there for him,” said Karen Sprowal, a board member of NYC KidsPAC and a long time Harlem resident.

 “John Liu and Tony Avella have strong education records, but Liu was an exemplary City Councilmember and Comptroller – always pushing to keep the Department of Education honest in its reporting.  Moreover, we cannot forget how Avella deserted the Democratic Party to join forces with the GOP, which has consistently opposed full funding for NYC schools and supports privatization, vouchers and charter expansion,” said Isaac Carmignani, long-time parent leader in Queens.

“KidsPAC is endorsing Oliver Koppell for State Senate against Jeff Klein, as Klein led the defection from the Democratic majority to prop up the GOP, which has hurt our schools badly.  Klein also supported the egregious provisions in this year’s budget, providing preferential treatment and public space at city expense for charter schools – despite the fact that the public schools in his district are hugely overcrowded and badly need expansion,” said Gloria Corsino, a Bronx parent leader.

Isaac Carmignani explained, “We enthusiastically support Dmytro Fedkowskyj, running against the incumbent Margaret Markey in Queens.  Dmytro was a strong advocate for NYC parents and kids when he was the Queens member on the Panel for Educational Policy.  As his candidate survey shows, he will continue to be a strong advocate as Assemblymember.  He opposes test-driven education, is strongly against raising the cap on charters and supports full funding for our public schools.”

Finally, NYC KidsPAC is endorsing Jo Anne Simon vs.  Pete Sikora in the Assembly.  Tesa Wilson, a Brooklyn parent and KidsPAC board member said, “Though both Simon and Sikora responded with positive answers to our candidate survey, Simon has been a long-time advocate for the rights of special needs students, and for full funding and smaller classes in our public schools.  In our survey, she came out strongly against raising the cap on charters.  While Sikora said he was supportive of keeping the cap this year, he was in favor of re-evaluating the cap in future years.”

The links to our endorsements, completed candidate surveys and the NYSAPE Governor’s scorecard can be found on our website at  www.nyckidspac.org .

NYC Public School Parents: NYC Kids PAC endorsements:

Please fill out our 5 minute Class Size Survey

Click on the following link to fill out our survey on class sizes in your school!Class Size Survey- 2014

by Melody Benitez / 3h 

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Our neighborhood rally with Karen Lewis

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Our neighborhood rally with Karen Lewis:

Our neighborhood rally with Karen Lewis

Karen at El Cid. 

THE DELUGE...This afternoon's  rally at the monument in Logan Square, was drowned by a deluge as a series of storms rolled across the city. Karen Lewis and some brave souls made a run for El Cid up the block and set up camp there to discuss the issues at hand. Even great organizing by the Logan Sq. Neighborhood Assoc. couldn't roll back the storm.

What fun!

Education in the Age of Globalization » Blog Archive » Teacher Rotation: China’s New National Campaign for Equity

Education in the Age of Globalization » Blog Archive » Teacher Rotation: China’s New National Campaign for Equity:

Teacher Rotation: China’s New National Campaign for Equity

5 SEPTEMBER 2014 717 NO COMMENT

By 2020, about one million teachers and principals in China will be swapped between good and poor schools annually, if the nation’s new strategy for easing education inequity goes as planned. The strategy is outlined in a policy document[in Chinese] jointly issued by the Chinese Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security recently.

The policy requires no less than 10% of teachers in urban and high quality schools be reassigned to teach in rural and poor schools each year. To prevent schools from sending less qualified teachers, the policy requires at least 20% of the rotated teachers be “backbone” [high quality] teachers. The policy also requires principals and deputy principals be rotated to a different school after serving two terms in the same school. Teachers from rural schools and or poor schools will have the opportunity to fill the vacated positions urban schools and better quality schools.

The policy is the implementation of a directive issued by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Part last November urging local governments to rotate school leaders and teachers from high quality schools to less-privileged ones to balance education resources.  Prior to the official issuance of the national policy, over 22 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) had already developed similar policies and begun piloting similar programs.

The national policy document does not include much detail about how the rotation actually happens. It leaves the execution plan to the local governments. Existing local policies suggest that the duration of the rotation is typically two to three years for teachers and one term of service for principals. Teachers and school leaders would return to their original school afterwards, should they wish. In some cases, teachers may be transferred to another school. The rotation is among schools within the same administrative district or county. There are a variety of carrots and sticks to encourage participation, including cash bonuses, priority and or prerequisite for promotion, and housing privileges.

The plan is ambitious. Ultimately, the central government expects to systematize the practice, making Education in the Age of Globalization » Blog Archive » Teacher Rotation: China’s New National Campaign for Equity:

IQC Recruitment Joint Letter - Application Information (CA Dept of Education)

IQC Recruitment Joint Letter - Application Information (CA Dept of Education):

CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION 2015 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
INSTRUCTIONAL QUALITY COMMISSION

We are requesting your assistance in recruiting currently practicing teachers with teaching experience and expertise in science, history–social science, world languages and/or health to apply for membership on the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC). The IQC is an advisory body to the State Board of Education (SBE) and consists of 16 public members, 13 of whom are appointed by the SBE.

The IQC is responsible for advising the SBE on matters related to curriculum and instruction. The IQC: (1) develops and recommends curriculum frameworks; (2) develops and recommends criteria for evaluating instructional materials submitted for adoption; (3) evaluates instructional materials that have been submitted by publishers and makes recommendations to adopt or reject each submission; (4) recommends policies and activities to the SBE, California Department of Education (CDE), and local educational agencies regarding curriculum and instruction; and (5) advises and makes recommendations to the SBE on implementing the state’s academic content standards.

The IQC holds four, two-day meetings a year. Additional IQC and Subject Matter Committee meetings may also be scheduled if needed. IQC members might be called upon to make an additional commitment of 10–12 days to participate in the review of instructional materials submitted for adoption in California.

Individuals appointed to the IQC will serve a four-year term commencing January 2015. All applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on October 20, 2014. The application can be found on the SBE Commissions and Committee’s Application Information Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/cc/ab/. Please download and distribute the application to all qualified candidates in your schools or organizations who might be interested in serving on the IQC.

We encourage you to help us recruit qualified applicants. If you have any questions regarding the IQC, please contact Thomas Adams, Executive Director, Instructional Quality Commission and Director, Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources Division, by phone at 916-319-0881 or by e-mail at tadams@cde.ca.gov.

Thank you for your assistance and cooperation in disseminating this information.

Sincerely,

TOM TORLAKSON
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
California Department of Education

MICHAEL W. KIRST
President
California State Board of Education

TT/MK:ty

for the love of learning: Bring Your Own Device: It's awesome except for the inequity

for the love of learning: Bring Your Own Device: It's awesome except for the inequity:

Bring Your Own Device: It's awesome except for the inequity

It's the end of my first week at my new school and it has been awesome!

I'm teaching six classes. Two grade 6 social studies, two grade 6 language arts and two grade 8 social studies. 

For grade 6, I am teaching two classes language arts and social studies, so I told them to just call our class humanities -- that way they never need to ask me if we are doing language arts or social studies because we are usually doing both.

As we start up the school year, we discussed what we will and won't be doing in our classroom. Some of this included the physical space, which I blogged about here. 

One of the big topics of discussion was electronic devices. 

My school has a free guest wifi network that has no password, and the school rule is that students may use their devices in class if they have their teachers permission. I told my students that if they are using their phone appropriately then they have my permission -- even if they didn't officially ask -- but if they are using it inappropriately, then they do not have my permission, even if they did ask.

This led to a discussion about texting. Here's what we came up with.

If they are using their device in class and they receive a text or a notification, we agreed that it only takes 2 seconds to read it, so reading it is ok. But we agreed that they would not reply to the text or the notification unless it was an emergency. If it's an emergency, they are to come and speak with me and then together we would decide on whether an immediate reply is appropriate.

I told my students that I can't be looking over their shoulders to make sure they follow through with this. I told them that I trust them, which I do. I'm prepared to trust kids until I am provided with evidence that suggests that I can't. I also said unlike when they are holding an actual book or paper, I can't easily identify what they are doing, so they may need to show me their screen and explain to me what they are up to.

It's been two days. Here's what I've seen.

During silent, free reading not every student that had a device used it, but some did:

• Jackson went to Wikipedia to read about small engines and how they work
• Brayden researched the history of books and how they were made and printed
• Lots of students are using an App called WattPad to read free stuff. I downloaded the App and started playing around with it. Looks like its free and offers tons of different genres for students to read. Lots of potential here.

When we were designing our portfolios (plain manilla folder), many students searched for for the love of learning: Bring Your Own Device: It's awesome except for the inequity: