Big Education Ape: Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 4/19/15

Special Nite Cap - Catch Up on Today's Post 4/19/15

Special Nite Cap 

CORPORATE ED REFORM

Is it too late to shut Cami down and save Newark public schools? | Bob Braun's Ledger

Is it too late to shut Cami down and save Newark public schools? | Bob Braun's Ledger: Is it too late to shut Cami down and save Newark public schools? The state-operated Newark public school system faces a deficit of from $50 million to $100 million this year. It will need to lay off scores, if not hundreds, of teachers. Its state-appointed superintendent, Cami Anderson,  is once again seeking st

by mike simpson / 0min 

United Opt Out: Astroturf or Grassroots? 04/19 by Busted Pencils | Education Podcasts

United Opt Out: Astroturf or Grassroots? 04/19 by Busted Pencils | Education Podcasts:  Tim will talk to United Opt Out's Peggy Robertson and ask her the hard questions:1) Where does UUO's vast financial resources come from?2) When it comes to the bottom line—children—why does UOO find it acceptable to "compromise?"3) What's it like to be an organization built on egos?United Opt Out: Ast

2 by mike simpson / 4h 

"The Texas Promise" Movie To Be Hosted by Parents4LISD & Parents Across America-Northeast Texas - Parents4LISD

"The Texas Promise" Movie To Be Hosted by Parents4LISD & Parents Across America-Northeast Texas - Parents4LISD: "The Texas Promise" Movie To Be Hosted by Parents4LISD & Parents Across America-Northeast TexasSunday, April 19, 2015Parents4LISD and Parents Across America-Northeast Texas will host a free community screening of The Texas Promise on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 1

1 by mike simpson / 4h 

The One about Silencing Teachers, Retribution and the Smell of Fear from the Reformers... - mrob's blog

The One about Silencing Teachers, Retribution and the Smell of Fear from the Reformers... - mrob's blog: The One about Silencing Teachers, Retribution and the Smell of Fear from the Reformers...I received the note below from a former student who is now a teacher. For obvious reasons, I won't identify her or where she teaches, but--shockingly--her story is becoming all too common..."We had a u

1 by mike simpson / 6h 

Murky past of company boss in CPS probe | Chicago

Murky past of company boss in CPS probe | Chicago: Murky past of company boss in CPS probe It was “Ditch Day” at Niles West High School, and a group of seniors played hooky in classic Chicago style — skipping classes to catch a Cubs game at Wrigley Field.You might have expected the school’s dean, Gary R. Solomon, to be angry. But Solomon, then 29, wasn’t at all upset, according to school officials

1 by mike simpson / 6h 

Add Tests and Stir: Education Reform in the 21st Century - The Education Avengers

Add Tests and Stir: Education Reform in the 21st Century - YouTube: Add Tests and Stir: Education Reform in the 21st Century  Published on Apr 10, 2015Sponsored by the Fairfield University Graduate School of Education and Allied ProfessionsPresenters:Thomas ScariceWendy LeckerJonathan PeltoYohuru Williamswww.fairfield.edu/gseap

1 by mike simpson / 7h 

The criminalization of public education

The criminalization of public education: The criminalization of public education Two stories grabbed headlines this week.Those Atlanta school teachers who cheated on tests were sentenced to some pretty heavy prison terms.By now we've forgotten that one altogether because our very own Barbara Byrd Bennett has gone on on paid leave while under federal investigation for a shocking new conflict of int

1 by mike simpson / 7h 

The Re-Education of Merryl Tisch By Marla Kilfoyle - Badass Teachers Association

Badass Teachers Association: The Re-Education of Merryl TischBy:  Marla Kilfoyle Merryl  Tisch is the Chancellor of the Board of Regents in New York State.  The Board of Regents “ are responsible for the general supervision of all educational activities within the State, presiding over The University and the New York State Education Department”    Chancellor Tisch has been on the Board of Regents

1 by mike simpson / 7h 

Jacques: Union targets Detroit charters with old enemy

Jacques: Union targets Detroit charters with old enemy: Jacques: Union targets Detroit charters with old enemy A union is targeting Detroit's charter schools in an organizing drive significantly aided by a former enemy.While most of the state's traditional public schools are unionized, charters have remained largely union free -- only a handful have been organized over the past 20 years. The last

by mike simpson / 7h 

Charter school company ends relationship with school after teachers announce unionization vote | MLive.com

Charter school company ends relationship with school after teachers announce unionization vote | MLive.com: Charter school company ends relationship with school after teachers announce unionization vote DETROIT -- The company that manages one of three Detroit charter schools that may form a union has told teachers at the school they're walking away from the school they founded.In a statement relea

1 by mike simpson / 7h 

Evidence of a Corporate Reformer Pretending to be something he isn’t | Crazy Normal - the Classroom Exposé

Evidence of a Corporate Reformer Pretending to be something he isn’t | Crazy Normal - the Classroom Exposé: Evidence of a Corporate Reformer Pretending to be something he isn’tIf you aren’t aware of the war being waged in the United States by a few billionaire oligarchs to remake the United States into a country that fits what they think, then it’s time to wake up and learn how to discover the sig

by mike simpson / 8h 

Stories From Current and Former Success Academy Parents - NYTimes.com

Stories From Current and Former Success Academy Parents - NYTimes.com: Stories From Current and Former Success Academy Parents New York City parents share their experiences with the charter school network. The parent of a kindergartner said that when her son was sick, he was so upset about not going to school that one day away “felt like 10.” The parent of a second grader said his daughter’s name

by mike simpson / 8h 

The Philadelphia Inquirer endorses HELEN GYM

In with the new: INQUIRER EDITORIAL BOARDPOSTED: Sunday, April 19, 2015, 1:09 AMimage: http://media.philly.com/designimages/partnerIcon-Inquirer-2014.jpgWhile the city's legislators have to work together, Philadelphia City Council is overpopulated by members who reflexively follow Council President Darrell Clarke. Emblematic of this was Council's refusal to hold a public hearing on a $1.87 billion

by mike simpson / 8h 

The Opt Out Update: From the Northwest to the “anti-testing tsunami” in New York - Seattle Education

The Opt Out Update: From the Northwest to the “anti-testing tsunami” in New York to Pennsylvania where the hallways and classroom walls are covered with brown paper for three weeks | Seattle Education: The Opt Out Update: From the Northwest to the “anti-testing tsunami” in New York to Pennsylvania where the hallways and classroom walls are covered with brown paper for three weeksUpdate to the upda

by mike simpson / 9h 

A step forward in Washington, a step back in New York | Randi Weingarten

A step forward in Washington, a step back in New York | Randi Weingarten: Common Core: Test refusal pushed by middle class families: Something stunning happened this week in Congress. The Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted 22-0 to overhaul No Child Left Behind. That's right, policymakers from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) listened to the peop

1 by mike simpson / 9h 

Common Core: Test refusal pushed by middle class families

Common Core: Test refusal pushed by middle class families: Middle-class families lead opt-out movementAn examination of opt-out rates in the Lower Hudson Valley suggests that the anti-testing movement is being pushed almost exclusively by middle class families. Socioeconomic factors appear to be the driver of the movement — a culture of academic achievement at one end, poverty and a real need for

1 by mike simpson / 9h 

What psychology tells us about student achievement — and how it is ignored - The Washington Post

What psychology tells us about student achievement — and how it is ignored - The Washington Post: What psychology tells us about student achievement — and how it is ignored Modern school reform has focused primarily on “accountability” measures — or, how to hold students, teachers, principals, schools and districts “accountable” for higher standardized-test scores, but, unfortunately has failed to

1 by mike simpson / 10h 

LAUSD'S MATT HILL CONTINUES TO FAIL UPWARD AS BURBANK UNIFIED'S NEW SUPERINTENDENT DESIGNANT - Perdaily.com

LAUSD'S MATT HILL CONTINUES TO FAIL UPWARD AS BURBANK UNIFIED'S NEW SUPERINTENDENT DESIGNANT - Perdaily.com: LAUSD'S MATT HILL CONTINUES TO FAIL UPWARD AS BURBANK UNIFIED'S NEW SUPERINTENDENT DESIGNANT In opposing the choice of LAUSD's Matt Hill as the new superintendent of the Burbank Unfied School District (BUSD), the Burbank Teacher's Union regrettably missed its strongest argument when it only

by mike simpson / 10h 

What do we mean by good schools?

What do we mean by good schools in Detroit?: What do we mean by good schools in Detroit?Living in Detroit, I attend many public lectures and expert panels on the future of the city. At most, someone in the crowd inevitably says that none of the positive changes happening in the city make any difference if we don't "fix" our schools. The young folks moving in will move right back out when

1 by mike simpson / 10h 

Common Core, standardized testing could change with burgeoning opt-out movement - Newsday

Common Core, standardized testing could change with burgeoning opt-out movement - Newsday: Opt-out movement builds pressure to change standardized testingAn explosive student opt-out movement on Long Island and across the state may reshape standardized testing for years to come, a top state education official says, though exams based on the Common Core academic standards aren't going away any time

1 by mike simpson / 11h 

Ohio's standardized test-makers preparing revisions | The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio's standardized test-makers preparing revisions | The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio's standardized test-makers preparing revisionsFirst year of PARCC testing was no picnic for Ohio schools07:56 AMAs Ohio schools transition to new, tougher state tests, this is bound to be a trying year, experts say. Scheduling struggles, glitches on the online tests and other issues are going to come up in the first

1 by mike simpson / 11h 

YESTERDAY

Senate ESEA Draft: Review of Approved Amendments, Part I | deutsch29

Senate ESEA Draft: Review of Approved Amendments, Part I | deutsch29: Senate ESEA Draft: Review of Approved Amendments, Part I On April 16, 2015, the Senate education committee approved the Alexander-Murray draft of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), a 601-page document entitled, The Every Child Achieves Act of 2015.The draft approval was accompanied

by mike simpson / 21h 

Hillary Clinton Feeling Common Core Pains - Living in Dialogue

Hillary Clinton Feeling Common Core Pains - Living in Dialogue: Hillary Clinton Feeling Common Core PainsBy Anthony Cody. One of Hillary Clinton’s first campaign appearances was this week at Kirkwood Community College in Monticello, Iowa. There was a roundtable of hand picked questioners, one of whom lobbed this softball: (minute 50 on this C-SPAN video).Diane: I think we are very blessed to live

1 by mike simpson / 23h hide  //  save

Big Education Ape: Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 4/18/15

Special Nite Cap - Catch Up on Today's Post 4/18/15Special Nite Cap CORPORATE ED REFORMElect an Educator Candidate District 1 Louisiana Board of Elementary & Secondary Education ELECT LEE BARRIOSEducation, Education, Education! Wake Up America We Have a Problem! 04/19 by Coffee Party USA | Politics PodcastsEducation, Education, Education! Wake Up America We Have a Problem! 04/19 by Coffee Part

3 by mike simpson / 1d 

2015 National Conference – Chicago

The Countdown to Chicago Has Begun!

The Network For Public Education | 2015 National Conference – Chicago 

http://bit.ly/1FQFcQM

Is it too late to shut Cami down and save Newark public schools? | Bob Braun's Ledger

Is it too late to shut Cami down and save Newark public schools? | Bob Braun's Ledger:

Is it too late to shut Cami down and save Newark public schools?

 The state-operated Newark public school system faces a deficit of from $50 million to $100 million this year. It will need to lay off scores, if not hundreds, of teachers. Its state-appointed superintendent, Cami Anderson,  is once again seeking state approval of a plan to ignore seniority in the dismissal of tenured teachers. Meanwhile, Anderson’s primary reform plan—“renew” or “turnaround” schools–has failed by its own terms, yet she is pushing for its expansion. Anderson’s tenure, by all rational and traditional measures, has been a failure.

Or has it?

It would be considered a failure if the point of it were to improve the performance of neighborhood public schools. She certainly has failed to do that.

But that hasn’t been the point of Anderson’s control of Newark’s schools, has it? No, the point of what she does—with the backing of Gov. Chris Christie and Education Commissioner David Hespe—is to ensure the failure of traditional public schools.

Paranoia? No. Conspiracy theories? No.

Take a look at this and ask yourself if it sounds at all familiar.

Smarick: Hoping for a political crisis

“As chartering increases its market share in a city, the district will come under growing financial pressure. The district, despite educating fewer and fewer students, will require a large administrative staff to process payroll and benefits, administer federal programs, and oversee special education. With a lop-sided adult-to-student ratio, the district’s per pupil costs will skyrocket.

“At some point along the district’s path from monopoly provider to financially unsustainable marginal player, the city’s investors and stakeholders—taxpayers, foundations, business leaders, elected officials,  and editorial boards—are likely to demand fundamental change.

“That is, eventually the financial crisis will become a political crisis.”

This scenario was written a few years ago, just as Anderson was taking control of the Newark schools in a devil’s bargain among Christie,  former Mayor—and, now, thanks to Christie, senator– Cory Booker, and state education Commissioner Christopher Cerf. Booker has said he expected the city to go through  a few years of hardship and crisis but emerge at the other end as the charter capital of New Jersey.

The scenario was written by Andrew Smarick, then New Jersey’s deputy state education commissioner.

His plan—which was to become Christie and Cerf and Anderson’s plan—was to bankrupt the public schools by promoting charter expansion. Charter expansion sucks both students and funds from the public schools. It sucks out funds because the public money follows the students. And because, with fewer and fewer students,  per student costs rise, buildings empty, and faculty members become redundant.

Someone recently sent me Smarick’s plan. It has been published before, both by himself in an article for a conservative think tank and by Seton Hall professor Christopher Tienkin in the book he wrote with Donald Orlich of Washington State University, “The School Reform Landscape: Fraud, Myth, and Lies.”

In their book, they call Smarick’s memorandum “the smoking gun” and they are Is it too late to shut Cami down and save Newark public schools? | Bob Braun's Ledger:

United Opt Out: Astroturf or Grassroots? 04/19 by Busted Pencils | Education Podcasts

United Opt Out: Astroturf or Grassroots? 04/19 by Busted Pencils | Education Podcasts:

 Tim will talk to United Opt Out's Peggy Robertson and ask her the hard questions:

1) Where does UUO's vast financial resources come from?

2) When it comes to the bottom line—children—why does UOO find it acceptable to "compromise?"

3) What's it like to be an organization built on egos?

United Opt Out: Astroturf or Grassroots? 

BustED Pencils on 4/19/2015 5:00 PMCDT

United Opt Out: Astroturf or Grassroots? 04/19 by Busted Pencils | Education Podcasts:

"The Texas Promise" Movie To Be Hosted by Parents4LISD & Parents Across America-Northeast Texas - Parents4LISD

"The Texas Promise" Movie To Be Hosted by Parents4LISD & Parents Across America-Northeast Texas - Parents4LISD:

"The Texas Promise" Movie To Be Hosted by Parents4LISD & Parents Across America-Northeast Texas

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Parents4LISD and Parents Across America-Northeast Texas will host a free community screening of The Texas Promise on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 1:00pm at Briarhill Middle School located at 2100 Brairhill Blvd, Highland Village, TX 75077 followed by a post-screening question-and-answer session led by LISD Trustee Kristi Hassett who serves as LISD’s representative to the Texas House Public Education Committee. This free screening is open to the public. This critically acclaimed movie is 1 hour and 15 minutes. 

Our goal for this community screening is to inspire deeper understanding of the challenges our Texas public schools face and understand how Denton County voters can positively impact education policy – the policy that affects what every child does every hour of every day in school.  

Oscar-winner Vanessa Roth’s The Texas Promise, a much-anticipated documentary about the high-stakes battle over funding for public education in Texas is a must-see for anyone concerned about the future of Texas.

When Texas cut $5.4 billion from public schools, affecting 5 million students and making Texas 49th in the country in per pupil spending, Texans protested and school districts sued the state and won. The Texas Promise is the gripping story of equity, politics, money, and our children as Texas and the nation make historic decisions about opportunity, the economy, and our democracy.

The Austin Chronicle says, “Roth truly impresses… the film’s grasp of all the key education issues, in all their nuances, feels right.” Additionally, Liz Mims, Senior Film Programmer for the Austin Film Festival, where the film had its premiere says, ”The Texas Promise is eye opening. Compelling at its core and empowering through its content”.

Set within courtrooms, classrooms and the Austin capitol, the film features Wendy Davis and State Rep. Mike Villarreal arguing to restore funding while now Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and State Sen. Donna Campbell beat the drum for vouchers and charters rather than investing in “failing” schools.

The film also features an inspirational valedictorian from the Rio Grande Valley, an 80-year-old principal devoted to an inner city school in Houston, a mother-turned-protester, a wise oracle of a demographer, a pastor who "The Texas Promise" Movie To Be Hosted by Parents4LISD & Parents Across America-Northeast Texas - Parents4LISD:

The One about Silencing Teachers, Retribution and the Smell of Fear from the Reformers... - mrob's blog

The One about Silencing Teachers, Retribution and the Smell of Fear from the Reformers... - mrob's blog:

The One about Silencing Teachers, Retribution and the Smell of Fear from the Reformers...

I received the note below from a former student who is now a teacher. For obvious reasons, I won't identify her or where she teaches, but--shockingly--her story is becoming all too common...

"We had a union meeting yesterday where they warned us that the governor is going after the certificates of teachers that opted out their kids (of the state tests). The governor says it breaks our contract agreeing to protect and follow educational laws. Is this legal? Teachers are being targeted and warned to be extremely careful, especially on public media. I was just curious on your thoughts."


This theme of administrators and elected officials threatening teachers if they speak out publicly against tests, the Common Core State Standards, or other education policies seems to be growing stronger and louder recently, with reports of similar stories popping up in New Mexico (http://dianeravitch.net/2015/04/19/audrey-beardsley-the-silencing-of-the-educators-a-dangerous-trend/), Louisiana (http://www.westernjournalism.com/teachers-district-facing-retribution-criticizing-common-core/), New York (http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/city-teacher-lost-fellowship-revealing-administration-fudged-regents-exam-court-papers-article-1.1990734), Arizona (http://www.azcentral.com/story/ejmontini/2015/03/27/legislature-arizona-school-board-association-sb-1172-free-speech-elections/70556134/), Missouri (http://www.stevenlin83.com/teachersfreepress/this-is-why-teachers-need-tenure-missouri-teacher-suspended-for-speaking-out/), and Michigan (http://stopcommoncoreinmichigan.com/2014/03/teachers-silenced/).


In Rochester, NY, an email from an administrator to the city's principals asked them to keep a list of teachers who might have shared information on testing for possible disciplinary action:

"An email sent from a high-level Rochester City School District official to principals is causing concern among teachers.



Chief of Schools Beverly Burrell-Moore sent the email Monday afternoon to principals she supervises. The email asks them to share names of teachers who have encouraged parents to refuse to allow their children to take state exams. 



"Per your building, please identify teachers who have sent letters or made phone calls to parents encouraging them to opt out their children from the NYS Assessments.  Also, identify teachers who you have evidence as utilizing their classrooms as 'political soap boxes.'  I need this updated  information no later than Tuesday morning for follow-up," the email states.(http://www.rochesterhomepage.net/story/d/story/rcsd-official-give-me-names-of-teachers-encouragin/69585/t4V1RVAqHk-lhmvN3pcetA)



Audrey Amrein Beardsley, a professor of education at Arizona State University, and the author of one of my favorite education blogs on the web, VAMBOOZLED, reports: "New Mexico now requires teachers to sign a contractual document that they are not to 'diminish the significance or importance of the tests” or they could lose their jobs. Teachers are not to speak negatively about the tests or say anything negatively about these tests in their classrooms or in public; if they do they could be found in violation of their contracts.' Beardsley wonders about the legality, and even the constitutionality of this sort of action: 'As per a related announcement released by the ASBA, this “could have a chilling effect on the free speech rights of school and district officials' throughout the state but also (likely) beyond if this continues to catch on. School officials may be held 'liable for a $5,000 civil fine just for sharing information on the positive or negative impacts of proposed legislation to parents or reporters.'”

While there is no doubt that these moves are indeed a "chilling" development in the education "reform" movement, I believe that they also reveal a quickly growing sense of fear and confusion among those in the reform community regarding the viability of their agenda. Indeed, the surprising strength of the "Opt Out" movement in New York, where as many as 200,000 students have reportedly refused to sit for the state's tests, has led to calls demanding the resignation of Merryl Tisch, Chancellor of the NYS Board of Regents.



If there is a silver lining to these threats it may be the impending crumbling of the reform agenda under the increased scrutiny from the public, the media and teachers. For far too long, policy "leaders" like Chancellor Tisch, Governors Cuomo, Kasich and Snyder, and Sec. of Education Duncan have responded to criticism of their agenda with either deafening silence or dismissive The One about Silencing Teachers, Retribution and the Smell of Fear from the Reformers... - mrob's blog: