Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 10/23/15

CORPORATE ED REFORM

GOTTA READ IT! Is New Orleans a preview of Broad's charter expansion plan in LA? - LA School Report

Is New Orleans a preview of Broad's charter expansion plan in LA? - LA School Report:Is New Orleans a preview of Broad’s charter expansion plan in LA?Were it to come to fruition, the Broad Foundation‘s recently announced plan to expand charter schools in LA Unified to include half of all district students would create a system that is unprecedented in size and scope across the United States. LA Un

by mike simpson / 9min 

4LAKids Prop 98 minimum school funding guarantee has jumped almost 32%:

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Prop 98 minimum school funding guarantee has jumped almost 32%: FINAL BUDGET REPORT NOTES BIG SCHOOL SPENDING UPTURN: Prop 98 minimum school funding guarantee has jumped almost 32%: FINAL BUDGET REPORT NOTES BIG SCHOOL SPENDING UPTURNBY TOM CHORNEAU | SI&A CABINET REPORT :: THE ESSENTIAL RESOURCE FOR SUPERINTENDENTS AND THE CABINET HTTP://BIT.LY/1MJ

by mike simpson / 23min 

Meeting is to interview candidates for the 2016-2017 Student Member position for the State Board of Education

November 3, 2015 Screening Committee Notice - State Board of Education (CA Dept of Education): Meeting is to interview candidates for the 2016-2017 Student Member position for the State Board of EducationState Board of Education Screening Committee MembersSue Burr, ChairBruce HoladayIlene StrausMichael McFarland, Student Board MemberMeeting Notice:Screening Committee of the State Board of Educatio

by mike simpson / 1h 

‘Sometimes I feel like being a teacher in the public school system is like being in a dysfunctional relationship’ - The Washington Post

‘Sometimes I feel like being a teacher in the public school system is like being in a dysfunctional relationship’ - The Washington Post: ‘Sometimes I feel like being a teacher in the public school system is like being in a dysfunctional relationship’Angie Morales is an elementary school teacher in Florida and a mother of three. She has had high ratings on her evaluations for several years — but ju

by mike simpson / 1h 

Seattle Schools Community Forum: No Praying at School Events

Seattle Schools Community Forum: No Praying at School Events: No Praying at School EventsUpdate: on another football story, Ballard and Roosevelt face off tonight for the City Football Championship.  Best of luck to both teams (but I have to say it - go Roughriders!) End of update I had heard about this story and, apparently, Superintendent Dorn had to speak out (see end of thread).Joe Kennedy, th

by mike simpson / 1h 

How a niche Chicago site cracked open a major schools scandal - Columbia Journalism Review

How a niche Chicago site cracked open a major schools scandal - Columbia Journalism Review: How a niche Chicago site cracked open a major schools scandalIn this 2012 file photo, Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett speaks at a news conference. The former CEO was indicted Oct. 8 on corruption charges following a federal investigation into a $20 million no-bid contract. (AP Photo/M. Spenc

by mike simpson / 3h 

High-powered secret panel examining LAUSD finances - LA School Report

High-powered secret panel examining LAUSD finances - LA School Report: High-powered secret panel examining LAUSD financesA blue-ribbon panel of leading figures in education, politics and finance has been working behind the scenes to help LA Unified identify financial challenges and solutions as the district faces budget deficits in the near future.The panel includes people have worked with the dis

by mike simpson / 4h 

Louisville Educators and School Board Work Together to Reduce Testing - NEA Today

Louisville Educators and School Board Work Together to Reduce Testing - NEA Today: Louisville Educators and School Board Work Together to Reduce TestingWhen the Jefferson County Board of Education Kentucky hosted the first of 10 town hall meetings beginning in Louisville back in May, members were looking for feedback on which “big rock” education policies to address over the next five years.“We wa

by mike simpson / 5h 

'Education in Black and White' explores issues from 19th century to now | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

'Education in Black and White' explores issues from 19th century to now | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: 'Education in Black and White' explores issues from 19th century to nowLast week, the Moonstone Arts Center held a three-day festival titled “Education in Black & White” as part of its Hidden History project with panel discussions and presentations focusing on the struggle for African

by mike simpson / 5h 

Students Earning the State Seal of Biliteracy - Year 2015 (CA Dept of Education)

Students Earning the State Seal of Biliteracy - Year 2015 (CA Dept of Education):State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Reports Increase in Number of Students Earning the State Seal of Biliteracy SACRAMENTO—More high school students graduated with a State Seal of Biliteracy in 2015 than ever before, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today.The program, which California w

by mike simpson / 5h 

EMAIL RESPONSE FROM SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND | DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing

EMAIL RESPONSE FROM SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND | DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing: EMAIL RESPONSE FROM SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRANDDear David,Thank you for contacting me regarding the issue of excessive standardized testing in elementary and secondary education. I share your view that there is much more to education than how well a student performs on a standardized test. We must find a balance be

by mike simpson / 5h 

Billionaires Can’t Teach Our Kids | ITPI | In the Public Interest

Billionaires Can’t Teach Our Kids | ITPI | In the Public Interest: Billionaires Can’t Teach Our KidsLast month, the Los Angeles Times released a terrifying confidential roadmap for privatizing L.A.’s schools that was produced by billionaire Eli Broad. Broad plans to raise and spend $490 million to create enough privately operated charter schools to house half of the city’s public school students.

by mike simpson / 5h 

The ACLU is investigating whether the Oceanside Unified School District unlawfully approved a charter school application. | SanDiegoUnionTribune.com

The ACLU is investigating whether the Oceanside Unified School District unlawfully approved a charter school application. | SanDiegoUnionTribune.com: ACLU says Oceanside unlawfully approved charter schoolOCEANSIDE — The ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties is urging the Oceanside Unified School District to reconsider its decision to allow a performing arts charter school to open on the campus o

by mike simpson / 6h 

State change increases number of low-performing schools | News & Observer

State change increases number of low-performing schools | News & Observer: State change increases number of low-performing schoolsChanges made by North Carolina state legislators in defining low-performing schools have doubled the number of Wake County schools receiving that designation this year.Families at 20 Wake County schools received letters this week notifying them their schools have be

by mike simpson / 6h 

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Chicago's two-tier school system bad for the city.

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Chicago's two-tier school system bad for the city.: Chicago's two-tier school system bad for the city.Ald. Pawar (47th)Ald. Ameya Pawar's (47th)got a point. "I think selective enrollment and magnets and [charters] strip the connection between the community and their neighborhood school," Pawar said, adding that in his North Center area there's a "churn

by mike simpson / 6h 

Senate Democrats press education chief to take action against covert for-profit colleges - The Washington Post

Senate Democrats press education chief to take action against covert for-profit colleges - The Washington Post: Senate Democrats press education chief to take action against covert for-profit collegesLawmakers are calling on the Department of Education and the Internal Revenue Service to crack down on for-profit colleges that are converting to nonprofits to evade federal income taxes and regulatio

by mike simpson / 6h 

Oregon Officials Wonder Why Children Act out: Maybe It’s Because…

Oregon Officials Wonder Why Children Act out: Maybe It’s Because…: Oregon Officials Wonder Why Children Act out: Maybe It’s Because…They’ve got behavioral problems in Oregon. Kids throwing tantrums, despondence, and there’s plenty of physical aggression to go around. Officials don’t know why. Their data isn’t helping much–and they can’t figure it out–exactly. They know many of the children live in

by mike simpson / 6h 

As Graduation Rates Rise, a Call to Focus on Nurturing Students - Living in Dialogue

As Graduation Rates Rise, a Call to Focus on Nurturing Students - Living in Dialogue: As Graduation Rates Rise, a Call to Focus on Nurturing StudentsBy John Thompson.The good news is that graduation rates are improving across the nation (see this announcement from a few days ago.) The best news is that social science points the way to even greater progress.Ironically, corporate school reformers, w

by mike simpson / 6h 

Ed Dept. to Schools: You Must Teach All Students, Regardless Of Legal Status

Ed Dept. to Schools: You Must Teach All Students, Regardless Of Legal Status: Ed Dept. to Schools: You Must Teach All Students, Regardless Of Legal StatusA new guide offers pointers on how to educate undocumented students.The Edu­ca­tion De­part­ment just is­sued a subtle re­mind­er to edu­cat­ors across the coun­try: Re­gard­less of cit­izen­ship or im­mig­ra­tion status, all stu­dents are leg­al

by mike simpson / 6h 

Cartoons on School Boards, Superintendents, and Principals | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Cartoons on School Boards, Superintendents, and Principals | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Cartoons on School Boards, Superintendents, and PrincipalsThis monthly cartoon feature looks at those in authority in the 14,000-plus school districts in the U.S.  Cartoonists’ pens caricature those in positions of authority–a favorite among those who draw for a living–and reveal both

by mike simpson / 6h 

Wrong School Policies

Wrong School Policies: The Wrong School Policies for Hard Timeshese are hard times in the USA. According to the latest report, 51% of jobs pay $30,000 a year or less. Homelessness is growing in most US cities and families are living doubled and tripled up all over the nation even though foreclosures have left millions of homes empty. Young couples find it hard to purchase a home and many older wor

by mike simpson / 7h 

Schools Matter: Human Disaster Capitalism and Teach for America

Schools Matter: Human Disaster Capitalism and Teach for America: Human Disaster Capitalism and Teach for AmericaDuring the eugenics glory days of the 1920s, American elites who deemed themselves the only citizens fit for democracy argued that, for the Republic to work, a new class of leadership was required to efficiently steer society in directions that the great unwashed herd was incapable of do

by mike simpson / 7h 

Garcetti: Next LA schools superintendent should be in 'Romer mold' | 89.3 KPCC

Garcetti: Next LA schools superintendent should be in 'Romer mold' | 89.3 KPCC: Garcetti: Next LA schools superintendent should be in 'Romer mold'Mayor Eric Garcetti suggested the Los Angeles Unified School District look to the past as it searches for a superintendent for the future.Asked Thursday what he would like to see in the next leader of the country's second largest school district, Garcett

by mike simpson / 7h 

Arthur Camins: Collective Action, Not Competition, Is Necessary for Strong Public Schools | janresseger

Arthur Camins: Collective Action, Not Competition, Is Necessary for Strong Public Schools | janresseger: Arthur Camins: Collective Action, Not Competition, Is Necessary for Strong Public SchoolsArthur Camins, a strong advocate for equitable public education, has published a new commentary, this time mourning the erosion of America’s long valued ideal of educating all children, not merely the child

by mike simpson / 7h 

CURMUDGUCATION: Eva Gets Spanked

CURMUDGUCATION: Eva Gets Spanked: Eva Gets SpankedAs recently noted by several fine bloggy outlets, Eva Moskowitz set a new standard in arrogant reckless disregard when defending herself against a John Merrow piece on PBS that outlines some of the less-than-awesome practices of Success Academy.Specifically, she defended herself by breaching the confidentiality of a young student's records at the s

by mike simpson / 7h 

Malloy Campaign’s effort to obstruct justice faces court appearance on Tuesday, October 27, 2015 - Wait What?

Malloy Campaign’s effort to obstruct justice faces court appearance on Tuesday, October 27, 2015 - Wait What?: Malloy Campaign’s effort to obstruct justice faces court appearance on Tuesday, October 27, 2015In his effort to win re-election to a second term as Connecticut’s governor, Dannel Malloy certified that he would abide by Connecticut’s public financing program.  In return for raising $250,0

by mike simpson / 8h 

The Dilemmas Teachers Face in an Era of Campus Shootings and School Violence - The Atlantic

The Dilemmas Teachers Face in an Era of Campus Shootings and School Violence - The Atlantic: When Teachers Fear the Students They Must ProtectThe dilemma educators are facing now that school shootings appear to be happening more frequently in the U.S.I had turned 18 years old two weeks prior to April 20, 1999. I was looking ahead to starting college, to setting out on my own, and to buying a prom

by mike simpson / 8h 

Advice from a Billionaire: Forget Charity, Do Good While Making a Profit | Diane Ravitch's blog

Advice from a Billionaire: Forget Charity, Do Good While Making a Profit | Diane Ravitch's blog: Advice from a Billionaire: Forget Charity, Do Good While Making a ProfitThis is a very interesting interview with Bobby Turner, who is the partner of Andre Agassi in opening new charter schools for profit across the country. He seems to think that destroying public education is a way to perform good wo

by mike simpson / 8h 

Florida Education Hell? : The existential crisis we all should be having - The Washington Post

Teacher: The existential crisis we all should be having - The Washington Post: Teacher: The existential crisis we all should be havingMelissa Halpern is a longtime Palm Beach County teacher and founder of the Florida Professional Teaching Force, an organization that advocates for restored dignity and efficacy in the teaching profession. She recently graduated from the Harvard Graduate School of Ed

by mike simpson / 9h 

Harsh Lesson of Diverse Schools: Minority Kids Learn They’re Being Shortchanged - Yahoo News

Harsh Lesson of Diverse Schools: Minority Kids Learn They’re Being Shortchanged - Yahoo News: Harsh Lesson of Diverse Schools: Minority Kids Learn They’re Being ShortchangedMost families in struggling black or Latino neighborhoods accept the conventional wisdom: A quality education can unlock the door to success for their children. Yet their local public schools are more likely to be separate and

by mike simpson / 9h 

Arizona Charter Schools Criticized in New Report / Public News Service

Arizona Charter Schools Criticized in New Report / Public News Service: Arizona Charter Schools Criticized in New ReportPHOENIX - Arizona charter schools are skating by with too little supervision, according to a report released this week by the Center for Media and Democracy, which advocates for transparency in public life.According to the report, Arizona has 180,000 children in 600 charter schoo

by mike simpson / 9h 

CHARTER SCHOOLS, SEGREGATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS - Los Angeles Sentinel | Los Angeles Sentinel | African-American News

CHARTER SCHOOLS, SEGREGATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS - Los Angeles Sentinel | Los Angeles Sentinel | African-American News: CHARTER SCHOOLS, SEGREGATION AND CIVIL RIGHTSThe current buzz in local educational circles around billionaire Eli Broad and cohorts’ controversial half-billion dollar proposal for 360 new LAUSD charter schools is getting louder. Expanding the debate, a previous column on charter sch

by mike simpson / 9h 

Who might head L.A. Unified, and what are officials looking for in a leader? - LA Times

Who might head L.A. Unified, and what are officials looking for in a leader? - LA Times: Who might head L.A. Unified, and what are officials looking for in a leader? its search for a new superintendent, the Los Angeles Board of Education is out to find that rare leader who can tame political turmoil, manage a multibillion-dollar organization and somehow drive academic achievement upward.But what t

by mike simpson / 9h 

Read All About It, hurricane Eli takes NOLA | San Diego Reader

As U-T faces sale, hurricane Eli takes NOLA | San Diego Reader: As U-T faces sale, hurricane Eli takes NOLAL.A.'s Dem billionaire supreme antes up for Louisiana public school fight"The odds are better than even that there will be a new bid by (Los Angeles billionaire Eli) Broad and associates for Tribune Publishing by year's end," newspaper industry expert Ken Doctor predicted to the Chi

by mike simpson / 9h 

YESTERDAY

An unusual public fight between a New York charter school network and PBS - The Washington Post

An unusual public fight between a New York charter school network and PBS - The Washington Post: An unusual public fight between a New York charter school network and PBSA rather unusual public fight has erupted over a PBS NewsHour piece by longtime correspondent John Merrow about the Success Academy Charter School network in New York City, which was founded in 2006 by former City Council member E

by mike simpson / 18h 

New York College Prof to Student: Don’t Criticize Common Core | deutsch29

New York College Prof to Student: Don’t Criticize Common Core | deutsch29: New York College Prof to Student: Don’t Criticize Common CoreIn September 2015, I received the following email from a New York student in a graduate-level teacher education program:Dear Ms. Schneider,I am an educator at a school in New York City who was shocked to find a letter from a Professor [name] in my mail box this we

by mike simpson / 20h 

Educators for Sawant! Rally & Fundraiser | Seattle Education

Educators for Sawant! Rally & Fundraiser | Seattle Education: Educators for Sawant! Rally & FundraiserEducators for Sawant!Rally & FundraiserSaturday, Oct. 24; 5:30-7:30 PMLabor Temple – 2800 1st Ave, SeattleNext steps in the fight for high quality education.In the aftermath of September’s historic teacher strike, let’s continue forward with this momentum to fight back against the corp

by mike simpson / 20h 

Report calls for big changes in educating state’s English learners | EdSource

Report calls for big changes in educating state’s English learners | EdSource: Report calls for big changes in educating state’s English learnersResearchers studying a group of California school districts are highly critical of the state’s system for providing services to English language learners in a report released this week.Citing disparities in results and strategies among districts, professo

by mike simpson / 22h 

California's Farm to Preschool Program - Healthy Eating & Nutrition Education (CA Dept of Education)

California's Farm to Preschool Program - Healthy Eating & Nutrition Education (CA Dept of Education): California's Farm to Preschool ProgramThe California Department of Education (CDE) connects Farm to Preschools (F2P) and manages the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) F2P take ACTION Challenge.What is Farm to Preschool?F2P is a growing movement that includes activities that strengthen

by mike simpson / 22h 

NYC Public School Parents: Cease and Desist letter sent today to Eva Moskowitz of Success Charters

NYC Public School Parents: Cease and Desist letter sent today to Eva Moskowitz of Success Charters: Cease and Desist letter sent today to Eva Moskowitz of Success ChartersA FERPA complaint to the US Dept of Education Family Compliance Office will follow soon. Cc: john.merrow@gmail.comViewermail@newshour.orgmgetler@pbs.orgAnn.Powell@successacademies.orgOctober 22, 2015Eva Moskowitz, CEOSuccess Acad

by mike simpson / 1d 

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 10/22/15

CORPORATE ED REFORMEquitable Access to Excellent Educators - Year 2015 (CA Dept of Education)Equitable Access to Excellent Educators - Year 2015 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces Federal Approval of California's Plan to Ensure Equitable Access to Excellent EducatorsSACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced that the U.S. De

by mike simpson / 1d 

GOTTA READ IT! Is New Orleans a preview of Broad's charter expansion plan in LA? - LA School Report

Is New Orleans a preview of Broad's charter expansion plan in LA? - LA School Report:

Is New Orleans a preview of Broad’s charter expansion plan in LA?

Were it to come to fruition, the Broad Foundation‘s recently announced plan to expand charter schools in LA Unified to include half of all district students would create a system that is unprecedented in size and scope across the United States. LA Unified already has more charter students than any in the nation.

Whether expressing support or opposition to the plan, people on both sides have pointed to New Orleans as a rationale for their views. Why? New Orleans is the only major city in the nation where the vast majority of schools are charters, thereby showing what they can and cannot achieved when they have such a large presence in an urban district.

Aside from that, the Broad Foundation has invested millions into schools and organizations that operate in New Orleans and just this week named Paul Pastorek, who was education superintendent in Louisiana from 2007 to 2011, to oversee its charter expansion efforts in Los Angeles, making New Orleans all the more a model for LA Unified.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana took over the district and converted it to an all-charter system. But judging this as a success or failure proves just how polarizing the idea of charter schools can be.

The 10-year anniversary of Katrina passed in August, and news organizations large and small took an in-depth look at the school district. Did a consensus emerge? Judging from extensive media coverage: No, and far from it.

While the district’s students showed big gains in test scores and graduation rates, the means to achieve these results have proven controversial, perhaps showing the only real connection between Los Angeles and New Orleans is the conflicting, confusing and polarizing information Angelenos will be fed about charters in the coming months, should the Broad initiative move forward.

What follows is a roundup of media stories and commentaries on Katrina’s 10th anniversary, focused on the changes in New Orleans schools. By no measure is there unanimity of opinion:

Many will point to competition and choice as the drivers of improvement in New Orleans student outcomes. Though the validity of such claims remains disputed by educational researchers, it’s clear that competition inspires school leaders to make Is New Orleans a preview of Broad's charter expansion plan in LA? - LA School Report:

4LAKids Prop 98 minimum school funding guarantee has jumped almost 32%:

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Prop 98 minimum school funding guarantee has jumped almost 32%: FINAL BUDGET REPORT NOTES BIG SCHOOL SPENDING UPTURN:

Prop 98 minimum school funding guarantee has jumped almost 32%: FINAL BUDGET REPORT NOTES BIG SCHOOL SPENDING UPTURN

BY TOM CHORNEAU | SI&A CABINET REPORT :: THE ESSENTIAL RESOURCE FOR SUPERINTENDENTS AND THE CABINET HTTP://BIT.LY/1MJL3QW

October 20, 2015(Calif.)  ::   The Proposition 98 minimum school funding guarantee has jumped almost 32 percent from the depth of the recession to surpass $68.4 billion for the 2015-16 fiscal year, according to a new report from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst.

The gains, which have not gone unnoticed as both the state and national economies have rebounded dramatically in the past four years, are nonetheless impressive after so many years of struggle.

Adjustments made to the guarantee as a result of final tallies from tax collections assigned to prior years resulted in a $612 million increase to the 2013-14 budget year and a whopping $5.4 billion designated to last year’s budget.

A large share of the income can be attributed to higher income taxes being paid by the state’s biggest wage earners – a plan adopted by voters in 2012 – but capital gains taxes paid by Wall Street investors in the past two years have also been a major source of additional state revenue.

In addition, the LAO noted that the state has paid down a big chunk of the past debt owed schools, much of it generated during the five-year recession.

The Proposition 98 “maintenance factor” – a liability to the state when the funding guarantee slips below a long-range benchmark – is expected to fall to just $743 million at the end of 2014-15, the smallest it has been almost a decade.

Rising revenue has also allowed the state to pay down debt owed on K-14 mandates – an expense created by legislation that requires schools to perform new duties that are otherwise not covered in the budget. The 2015-16 budget includes $3.8 billion for mandate reimbursement that goes to both K-12 schools and community colleges.

A $500 million, one-time grant to improve teacher training and support is being distributed to school districts, county offices of education and charter schools based on the number of 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Prop 98 minimum school funding guarantee has jumped almost 32%: FINAL BUDGET REPORT NOTES BIG SCHOOL SPENDING UPTURN:

Meeting is to interview candidates for the 2016-2017 Student Member position for the State Board of Education

November 3, 2015 Screening Committee Notice - State Board of Education (CA Dept of Education):

Meeting is to interview candidates for the 2016-2017 Student Member position for the State Board of Education

State Board of Education Screening Committee Members

• Sue Burr, Chair
• Bruce Holaday
• Ilene Straus
• Michael McFarland, Student Board Member

Meeting Notice:
Screening Committee of the State Board of Education

Tuesday, November 3, 2015
9:00 a.m.

Blue Prynt Sacramento
The Board Room 
815 11th Street, 1st Floor
Sacramento, CA
916-492-2969

The purpose of this meeting is to interview candidates for the 2016-2017 Student Member position for the State Board of Education. The Screening Committee will decide which candidates it will recommend to the full State Board of Education at the November 2015 meeting.

Agenda

1. Call to order, Chair
2. Welcome and Introductions, Chair
3. Consideration of candidates for the 2016-17 State Board of Education Student Member, as follows:
   • Applicant review and interviews of candidates for the 2016-2017 State Board of Education Student Member position.
   • Selection of three candidates to recommend to the State Board of Education for approval and forwarding to the Governor for appointment consideration.
4. Adjournment

ALL TIMES ARE APPROXIMATE AND ARE PROVIDED FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY.

THE ORDER OF BUSINESS MAY BE CHANGED WITHOUT NOTICE.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY

Pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, any individual with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to attend or participate in a meeting or function of the California State Board of Education (SBE), may request assistance by contacting the SBE Office, 1430 N Street, Room 5111, Sacramento, CA, 95814; telephone, 916-319-0826; and facsimile, 916-319-0175.

For more information concerning this agenda, please contact Patricia de Cos, Deputy Executive Director, California State Board of Education, at 1430 N Street, Room 5111, Sacramento, CA, 95814; telephone 916-319-0702; and facsimile, 916-319-0175. This agenda is posted on the State Board of Education's Web site.

‘Sometimes I feel like being a teacher in the public school system is like being in a dysfunctional relationship’ - The Washington Post

‘Sometimes I feel like being a teacher in the public school system is like being in a dysfunctional relationship’ - The Washington Post:

‘Sometimes I feel like being a teacher in the public school system is like being in a dysfunctional relationship’

Angie Morales is an elementary school teacher in Florida and a mother of three. She has had high ratings on her evaluations for several years — but just recently got an unpleasant surprise, an e-mail saying that her evaluation for the first part of this school year was low. Why?

According to the comments on her evaluation, she said, it wasn’t because of her teaching or because of her students’ test scores, which are high. Rather, she said, it was because she hadn’t recorded test data in a timely manner. Morales said that this year paperwork demands on teachers to enter testing data, create lesson plans, etc.  have  increased — and given that she teaches five different subjects — she can’t get it all done in her contracted hours.

That means that she does a lot of work for free — like most teachers. But how much free time should teachers be expected to give to their jobs? How much of their family and personal lives should they expected to sacrifice?

Here’s a piece she wrote on her blog, Teacher Teacher Diaries, about how she felt after learning that an initial evaluation this school year was low for the reasons mentioned above.  This post is emotional, she said, because it describes how she felt when she wrote it: upset, angry, questioning.  You can see the full version of this piece here.

By Angie Morales

Sometimes I feel like being a teacher in the public school system is like being in a dysfunctional relationship where you just keep finding reasons to justify the abuse you’re accepting. It’s like the battered woman that finds every reason to stay, because at the end of the day, it’s for the kids, right? When is enough, enough?

I was literally penalized on my teacher evaluation because my family duties and responsibilities prohibit me from working free overtime. And do I still work overtime? Oh yes! Absolutely! Perfect example: On [one recent] Friday I stayed on campus until 7 p.m., mainly organizing materials for science and  math. Writing a science assessment, grading papers, setting up my small ‘Sometimes I feel like being a teacher in the public school system is like being in a dysfunctional relationship’ - The Washington Post:

Seattle Schools Community Forum: No Praying at School Events

Seattle Schools Community Forum: No Praying at School Events:

No Praying at School Events

Update: on another football story, Ballard and Roosevelt face off tonight for the City Football Championship.  Best of luck to both teams (but I have to say it - go Roughriders!) 

End of update

 I had heard about this story and, apparently, Superintendent Dorn had to speak out (see end of thread).

Joe Kennedy, the assistant football coach at Bremerton High, has been leading a prayer on the field directly after the games.  Sometimes opponents and fans stay as well. He claims he is just saying a praery by himself.

But clearly, if he is a coach and he's saying the prayer, out loud and on the field directly after a game, it's a problem.

From CNN:

The Bremerton School District had said if he prayed while on duty as a coach he would be violating federal law. 

Kennedy, as he has done after most games for seven years, prayed anyway, defying the order. He opened his eyes to find a huge crowd of supporters around him.

According to the Seattle Times, Kennedy, 46, has never asked anyone else to participate in the postgame prayer. And at first, it went largely unnoticed but players began to join him. One of them is a Bremerton captain. He's agnostic.

"It's about unity. We can be mad at each other all we want during a game and get upset, but once the game is over, that all goes away," Ethan Hacker told the Times. "What (Kennedy) does brings us all together no matter how Seattle Schools Community Forum: No Praying at School Events:

How a niche Chicago site cracked open a major schools scandal - Columbia Journalism Review

How a niche Chicago site cracked open a major schools scandal - Columbia Journalism Review:

How a niche Chicago site cracked open a major schools scandal

In this 2012 file photo, Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett speaks at a news conference. The former CEO was indicted Oct. 8 on corruption charges following a federal investigation into a $20 million no-bid contract. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

When the former head of the Chicago Public Schools was indicted earlier this month in connection with a multi-million dollar bribery and kickback scheme, every media outlet in the city was on the story.

That wasn’t the case two years ago when Sarah Karp, a veteran education reporter, first disclosed details of a questionable $20.5 million no-bid contract to train school administrators. Karp’s initial reporting on the contract, which ran on the website of the newsmagazine Catalyst Chicago, didn’t make much of a splash. But it caught the attention of the school district’s inspector general, who reached out to Karp to learn more. It also drew notice from federal prosecutors, whose investigation into the case became public earlier this year—the US Attorney even made reference to Karp’s 2013 article when he announced the indictment this month. A few days later, the former schools chief, Barbara Byrd-Bennett, pleaded guilty to fraud.

It was an extraordinary coda to a story that Karp and Catalyst were responsible for breaking. The 25-year-old niche publication focuses exclusively on urban education issues in the home of the nation’s third largest school district, with veteran editors and reporters like Karp staying on the beat for years or decades at a time. Although it covers breaking news, Catalyst’s specialty is in-depth reporting.

“What we do is give our staff the gift that most journalists want, which is time,” said Linda Lenz, publisher and founder of Catalyst, which is published by the faith-based Community Renewal Society but is editorially independent. “Our journalists have time to go through reports. They become really expert on the nitty-gritty, how a school system works. And then they have the time to go after things.”

After noticing the comparatively large no-bid contract with a firm named SUPES Academy in June 2013, Karp said, she spent three or four weeks trying to learn more. Her article raised questions about the size of How a niche Chicago site cracked open a major schools scandal - Columbia Journalism Review: