Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 3/2/16

CORPORATE ED REFORM

Sac City Leaders Join Thousands in Read Across America - California Teachers Association

Sac City Leaders Join Thousands in Read Across America - California Teachers Association: SAC CITY LEADERS JOIN THOUSANDS IN READ ACROSS AMERICANikki Milevsky, a school psychologist and president of the Sacramento City Teachers Association, reads about the achievements of the lovable pachyderm, Horton, during Wednesday’s Read Across America event.Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA) leaders

by mike simpson / 0min hide  //  save

Academy of Dover Is Not A 501c3 Corporation As Stated In Their Charter, DOE Needs To Revoke Their Charter Now – Exceptional Delaware

Academy of Dover Is Not A 501c3 Corporation As Stated In Their Charter, DOE Needs To Revoke Their Charter Now – Exceptional Delaware: Academy of Dover Is Not A 501c3 Corporation As Stated In Their Charter, DOE Needs To Revoke Their Charter NowThe Academy of Dover is not listed as a 501c3 corporation with the Internal Revenue Service.  The Academy of Dover’s charter, which firmly states they are a

by mike simpson / 5min 

PAA interim Exec. Director endorsed for ESSA rulemaking body | Parents Across America

PAA interim ED endorsed for ESSA rulemaking body | Parents Across America: PAA interim Exec. Director  endorsed for ESSA rulemaking body  Now that ESEA has become the Every Student Succeeds Act, or ESSA, new rules must be drafted to implement the law. The US Department of Education recently requested nominations for people representing various constituencies to help negotiate these rules. Thirty-o

by mike simpson / 2h 

CT Dem Governor urges Dem Legislature to reject union contract his appointee’s negotiated and approved - Wait What?

CT Dem Governor urges Dem Legislature to reject union contract his appointee’s negotiated and approved - Wait What?: CT Dem Governor urges Dem Legislature to reject union contract his appointee’s negotiated and approved Governor Dannel Malloy is the President of the UConn Board of Trustees and appointees and controls a majority of the votes on the Board.  On January 27, 2016, UConn’s Trustees vote

by mike simpson / 2h 

2016 Medley #5: Indiana Republicans (still) Hate Public Education | Live Long and Prosper

2016 Medley #5: Indiana Republicans (still) Hate Public Education | Live Long and Prosper: 2016 Medley #5: Indiana Republicans (still) Hate Public EducationIndiana’s “reformist” PoliticsIndiana’s legislature is run by a supermajority of Republicans. The Hoosier state is nearly all “red” and has only gone for a Democratic presidential candidate twice in the last 75 years (1964 and 2008).The superma

by mike simpson / 2h 

Newark mayor calls charter expansion a “terrible” decision |

Newark mayor calls charter expansion a “terrible” decision |:Newark mayor calls charter expansion a “terrible” decision Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has denounced as “terrible” and “irresponsible” the decision by the Christie Administration to allow major expansion of Newark’s charter schools.“The expansion could not have come at a worse time,” Baraka said in a formal statement issued in response to  q

by mike simpson / 2h 

Nearly half of American children living near poverty line - Jonathan Kantrowitz

Nearly half of American children living near poverty line - Jonathan Kantrowitz: Nearly half of American children living near poverty lineSource: National Center for Children in PovertyNearly half of children in the United States live dangerously close to the poverty line, according to new research from the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) at Columbia University’s Mailman School of P

by mike simpson / 4h 

Are You Being Manipulated? – Save Maine Schools

Are You Being Manipulated? – Save Maine Schools: Are You Being Manipulated?One year ago, representatives from the next-gen ed reform industry took part in the Partnership for 21st Century Learning‘s annual summit.In one of the breakout sessions, the audience was asked to consider “embedded beliefs” about children and school while viewing a series of images like the one below:The session, titled “A

by mike simpson / 4h 

Chicago declares war on teachers - People's TribunePeople's Tribune

Chicago declares war on teachers - People's TribunePeople's Tribune: Chicago declares war on teachersThousands of teachers, parents, students and allied organizations flooded downtown Chicago in protest of the firing of 1,000 teachers and salary cuts.PHOTO/SARAH JANE RHEECHICAGO, IL — Chicago’s mayor, his school board chief and the governor of Illinois are trying to force a Chicago teachers strike

by mike simpson / 4h 

Food Programs - Student Health & Support (CA Dept of Education)

Food Programs - Student Health & Support (CA Dept of Education): Food Programs - Student Health & SupportChild nutrition programs data and statistics, including county profiles, free and reduced price data, school meal nutrition analysis, and summer meal service sites.Data LinksAnnual Child Nutrition Programs Participation DataChild & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Center SitesCACFP D

by mike simpson / 5h 

What Would a President Trump Mean for Education? :: Frederick M. Hess

What Would a President Trump Mean for Education? :: Frederick M. Hess: What Would a President Trump Mean for Education?Over the past couple weeks, I've been asked with increasing frequency what it would mean for education if Donald Trump actually won the presidency. (The question is usually asked with equal parts foreboding and disbelief.) I'll swallow my nausea and just try to offer a few thought

by mike simpson / 5h 

CURMUDGUCATION: Ace That Test? I Think Not.

CURMUDGUCATION: Ace That Test? I Think Not.: Ace That Test? I Think Not.The full court press for the Big Standardized Test is on, with all manner of spokespersons and PR initiatives trying to convince Americans to welcome the warm, loving embrace of standardized testing. Last week the Boston Globe brought us Yana Weinstein and Megan Smith, a pair of psychology assistant professors who have co-foun

by mike simpson / 5h 

Proposing more OKC charters a 'high-stakes gamble' - NonDoc

Proposing more OKC charters a 'high-stakes gamble' - NonDoc: Proposing more OKC charters a ‘high-stakes gamble’John Rex Elementary, downtown OKC, Feb. 29, 2016. (Josh McBee) When a new mass charterization plan was presented to the Oklahoma City Public School System Board of Education last week, “tempers flared … and a standing room-only crowd cheered and jeered,” according to NewsOK’s Tim Willert.

by mike simpson / 6h 

#BlackLivesMatter With A Brooklyn Accent: Justice for Akiel Brown- An Urgent Communication from North Carolina BLM Leader Desmera Gatewood

With A Brooklyn Accent: Justice for Akiel Brown- An Urgent Communication from North Carolina BLM Leader Desmera Gatewood: Justice for Akiel Brown- An Urgent Communication from North Carolina BLM Leader Desmera GatewoodJustice for Akiel Brown,And a love letter to the movement.Before tonight, where we stood we may have all questioned.  I questioned where I stood, where others stood, where we would s

by mike simpson / 7h 

Video: Who REALLY wants to know ALL about your kid? Opt-out – Missouri Education Watchdog

Video: Who REALLY wants to know ALL about your kid? Opt-out – Missouri Education Watchdog: Video: Who REALLY wants to know ALL about your kid? Opt-outApparently, there’s a new Bill Gates’ funded video circulating. It’s all about making sure parents don’t opt out. Oh Please. Rather than promote the paid advertisement for Gates’ Common Core tests and data collection, I am instead going to ask you to

by mike simpson / 7h 

Pennsylvania education department issues memo advising school districts on potential closures | PhillyVoice

Pennsylvania education department issues memo advising school districts on potential closures | PhillyVoice: Pennsylvania provides school districts a how-to for closing mid-yearPennsylvania budget impasse poses financial challenge for some districtsThe Pennsylvania Department of Education has issued a memo to school districts providing guidelines for a mid-year closure, a possibility it described

by mike simpson / 7h 

Mother Crusader: My Kid Is Just Fine Thanks, She's Refusing The Test

Mother Crusader: My Kid Is Just Fine Thanks, She's Refusing The Test: My Kid Is Just Fine Thanks, She's Refusing The TestRejoice, New Jersey! Spring is almost here! That magical time of year when the flowers bloom, the sun sets later, and the temperatures rise. But for public school children, it's also state-mandated testing time. That dreaded time of year when their vibrant schools wither into te

by mike simpson / 7h 

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: What Trump thinks about education. It's golden.

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: What Trump thinks about education. It's golden.: What Trump thinks about education. It's golden.“I’m a tremendous believer in education, but education has to be at a local level. We cannot have the bureaucrats in Washington telling you how to manage your child’s education. So Common Core is a total disaster. We can’t let it continue.” “And I have tremendous support w

by mike simpson / 7h 

CURMUDGUCATION: WA: Charter Miracle

CURMUDGUCATION: WA: Charter Miracle: WA: Charter MiracleRobin Lake, director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education as Private Business Funded by Public Tax Dollars (okay, I just added that last part for clarity) is over at Campbell Brown's million dollar charter promotion site being Very Alarmed about Washington State.Unless the legislature acts within the next 10 days, we will be the firs

by mike simpson / 7h 

NYC Educator: Adios a Calle Perdido

NYC Educator: Adios a Calle Perdido: Adios a Calle PerdidoPerdido actually means lost in English, and we've lost a great blogger in Reality Based Educator. He finally got tired of blogging about absolutely everything fifteen times a day. I've been following him for years, and he really got in a groove over at Perdido Street. He used to focus more on politics and money, which didn't grab me quite a

by mike simpson / 8h 

Protect Student Privacy: Schools object to ordered release | Crescent City California News, Sports, & Weather | The Triplicate

Schools object to ordered release | Crescent City California News, Sports, & Weather | The Triplicate:Schools object to ordered releaseDel Norte education officials are protesting an order from a federal judge to release sensitive information for more than 10 million California school children to lawyers and consultants representing two parent-led special education advocacy groups.The informat

by mike simpson / 8h 

Far turn in the nation’s largest state CTE grant program :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet

Far turn in the nation’s largest state CTE grant program :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: Far turn in the nation’s largest state CTE grant program(California) Winners of just over $245 million in career technical education grants will be formally approved by state officials next week, marking round two of the three-year, $900 million program

by mike simpson / 8h 

Watson Tango Fremont Washington Middle School PTA! Charter schools recruiting at your “High School Success Night”?!? | Seattle Education

Watson Tango Fremont Washington Middle School PTA! Charter schools recruiting at your “High School Success Night”?!? | Seattle Education: Watson Tango Fremont Washington Middle School PTA! Charter schools recruiting at your “High School Success Night”?!?I’d say the Washington Middle School PTA has some explaining to do.This is the flyer that went out to all of the parents at the middle school for

by mike simpson / 9h 

Debate emerges over state actions needed to ease teacher shortages | EdSource

Debate emerges over state actions needed to ease teacher shortages | EdSource: Debate emerges over state actions needed to ease teacher shortagesAs California school districts grapple with a widening shortage of teachers, a policy debate has emerged about just how actively the state should be involved in trying to remedy the problem.The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office issued a report last

by mike simpson / 9h 

Planting a Flag in LAUSD’s District 2

Planting a Flag in LAUSD’s District 2: Planting a Flag in LAUSD’s District 2 To the Parents of District 2:When was the last time you felt that you had a voice in how the LAUSD is run? None of the seven Board members currently has  a student enrolled in the District and cannot empathize with parents fighting to get the best education possible for their children. Those of us with children who requir

by mike simpson / 9h 

The people of Paterson tell the school board: “Reject this budget!” |

The people of Paterson tell the school board: “Reject this budget!” |: The people of Paterson tell the school board: “Reject this budget!”Rev. John Givens tells the Paterson board: “Reject this budget!”The fear was obvious at Monday night’s school board meeting in Paterson. And sadness. Anger. Frustration. Parents tired of having  children taught by substitutes, upset because sports and band and a

by mike simpson / 9h 

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools News

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools News: Seattle Schools NewsGreat story at KUOW about Highland Park and their "yoga breaths and mustang money."  Kudos to Principal Chris Cronas and his staff for their work.  "Do you know what grit is?" Cronas asks the students. "It's when you work really, really hard on something and you never give up on it."Next, the d

by mike simpson / 9h 

Questioning the Questions Asked about Education – the becoming radical

Questioning the Questions Asked about Education – the becoming radical: Questioning the Questions Asked about Education Considering all the things I like about Twitter, having discussions or debates by Tweeting is not one of them because I often get lost and the character count works against elaboration and nuance.Yesterday, I was added to a debate that appears to be about the impact of poverty on

by mike simpson / 9h 

What happens when the wrong people make decisions for schools - Defies Measurement on Vimeo

Defies Measurement on Vimeo: Defies MeasurementDefies Measurement from Shine On Productions on Vimeo.DEFIES MEASUREMENT strengthens the discussion about public education by exploring why it is so important to address the social and emotional needs of every student, and what happens when the wrong people make decisions for schools. www.defiesmeasurement.comBy downloading this film, you are agreeing

by mike simpson / 9h 

Democracy in Illinois. One unelected group overrules another unelected group on charter schools. | Fred Klonsky

Democracy in Illinois. One unelected group overrules another unelected group on charter schools. | Fred Klonsky: Democracy in Illinois. One unelected group overrules another unelected group on charter schools. Some politicians, like 40th District State Representative Jaime Andrade, may prefer having their sponsorship of HB4268 on their campaign flyer without having to vote for it.The Illinois Char

by mike simpson / 9h 

Who Has Worked for the Presidential Candidates on Education? - Politics K-12 - Education Week

Who Has Worked for the Presidential Candidates on Education? - Politics K-12 - Education Week: Who Has Worked for the Presidential Candidates on Education? Happy Day After Super Tuesday! As you scour the returns, I'll bet you're wondering: Who is helping these people figure out their education platforms, or who on their campaign team has an education background?Or, if they don't have a team in pla

by mike simpson / 9h 

Teaching “Grit,” Blaming the Poor, and Undermining the Public Will to Address Poverty | janresseger

Teaching “Grit,” Blaming the Poor, and Undermining the Public Will to Address Poverty | janresseger: Teaching “Grit,” Blaming the Poor, and Undermining the Public Will to Address Poverty Our preoccupation in American education with character formation defined as “grit” is integral to our culture’s rock-solid belief in the myth of the American Dream.  It doesn’t matter that economists today are doc

by mike simpson / 9h 

How Billionaires Use Non-Profits to Bypass Governments and Force Their Agendas on Humanity | Alternet

How Billionaires Use Non-Profits to Bypass Governments and Force Their Agendas on Humanity | Alternet:How Billionaires Use Non-Profits to Bypass Governments and Force Their Agendas on HumanityAs wealth becomes concentrated in fewer hands, so does political and social power via foundations and non-profits. As wealth becomes concentrated in fewer and fewer hands, the billionaire class is increasingl

by mike simpson / 10h 

This teacher's inspiring note about anxiety and standardized testing is going viral

This teacher's inspiring note about anxiety and standardized testing is going viral: This teacher's inspiring note about anxiety and standardized testing is going viral You guys ready to feel some fuzzy feels this morning? Abby Martin, a social media-savvy mom in Indiana, has taken to Facebook and Instagram to spread a loving message sent out by her son’s teacher, and we bet a lot of parents and k

by mike simpson / 10h 

A teacher pay cut in disguise is not a solution - Chicago Tribune

A teacher pay cut in disguise is not a solution - Chicago Tribune: A teacher pay cut in disguise is not a solutionChicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool, shown Feb. 29, 2016, hasn't said when the school system will stop picking up 7 percentage points of the 9 percent pension contribution required of teachers. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)I may be getting a 7 percent pay cut by April 1 fr

by mike simpson / 10h 

Elizabeth Warren: This report’s ‘a stunning indictment’ of the Department of Education - MarketWatch

Elizabeth Warren: This report’s ‘a stunning indictment’ of the Department of Education - MarketWatch: Elizabeth Warren: This report’s ‘a stunning indictment’ of the Department of EducationThe senator and other Dems slam feds’ oversight of student loan companies Active duty military members missed out on a key student loan benefit and the government failed to ensure they received it, say Massachuse

by mike simpson / 10h 

How Mexican immigrants ended 'separate but equal' in California - LA Times

How Mexican immigrants ended 'separate but equal' in California - LA Times: How Mexican immigrants ended 'separate but equal' in CaliforniaSylvia Mendez, pictured at age 10, was named a winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama. In 1947 the Mendez v. Westminster case ended official segregation of Mexican students in California schools. (Family Photo) the coverage of the 2016 e

by mike simpson / 10h 

California’s New Sex Education Requirements | California Healthline

California’s New Sex Education Requirements | California Healthline: California’s New Sex Education Requirements California schools are revamping their lesson plans to comply with a new state law that requires them to teach a sex education program at least once in middle school and once in high school.Previously, districts were required to teach HIV prevention, but sex education was not required.“

by mike simpson / 10h 

YESTERDAY

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 3/1/16

CORPORATE ED REFORMCollege Board moves to stop test prep providers from taking new SAT on March 5 - The Washington PostCollege Board moves to stop test prep providers from taking new SAT on March 5 - The Washington Post:College Board moves to stop test prep providers from taking new SAT on March 5It’s no secret that test prep professionals like to take the exams they try to coach students to ace,

59 by mike simpson / 23h

 

Sac City Leaders Join Thousands in Read Across America - California Teachers Association

Sac City Leaders Join Thousands in Read Across America - California Teachers Association:

SAC CITY LEADERS JOIN THOUSANDS IN READ ACROSS AMERICA

Nikki Milevsky, a school psychologist and president of the Sacramento City Teachers Association, reads about the achievements of the lovable pachyderm, Horton, during Wednesday’s Read Across America event.

Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA) leaders were among the thousands of Californians who took time out of their day to read to students as part of Read Across America.

Nikki Milevsky, a school psychologist and SCTA president, read “Horton Hatches an Egg,” a beloved Dr. Seuss book, to kindergarteners and first graders in Ms. Lauri Kojima-Black’s class at Tahoe Elementary in the Sacramento City Unified School District.

SCTA First Vice President David Fisher read “Click, Clack, Moo, Cows that Type” to second and third-graders in Mrs. Ann Sullivan’s class at the school.

David Fisher, a classroom teacher and First Vice President of SCTA, reads about literate bovines to second and third graders.

(From l.) SCTA Pres. Milevsky and Teacher Laurie Kojima-Black talk to students about the Dr. Seuss book.

 

“’My egg,!’ shouted Horton. My egg! Why it’s hatching,’” reads SCTA President Milevsky, recounting an epic moment in the fictional elephant’s career.

CTA is following up on the annual event by making reading an everyday activity through its California Reads program.

See more about Wednesday's Read Across America events.

Sac City Leaders Join Thousands in Read Across America - California Teachers Association:

Academy of Dover Is Not A 501c3 Corporation As Stated In Their Charter, DOE Needs To Revoke Their Charter Now – Exceptional Delaware

Academy of Dover Is Not A 501c3 Corporation As Stated In Their Charter, DOE Needs To Revoke Their Charter Now – Exceptional Delaware:

Academy of Dover Is Not A 501c3 Corporation As Stated In Their Charter, DOE Needs To Revoke Their Charter Now

The Academy of Dover is not listed as a 501c3 corporation with the Internal Revenue Service.  The Academy of Dover’s charter, which firmly states they are a 501c3 non-profit corporation, is not real.  The Delaware Department of Education put the charter school under formal review last year.  This was their fourth formal review in 12 years.  This did not come up at all during that process.  As well, their auditor, Barbacane, Thornton, & Company LLP, wrote about this in the last three years of audits they did for the school.

For the past three years, their auditor made note of this in their yearly audit of the school.  Each year provides a link to the full audit:Academy of Dover Is Not A 501c3 Corporation As Stated In Their Charter, DOE Needs To Revoke Their Charter Now – Exceptional Delaware:

PAA interim Exec. Director endorsed for ESSA rulemaking body | Parents Across America

PAA interim ED endorsed for ESSA rulemaking body | Parents Across America:

PAA interim Exec. Director  endorsed for ESSA rulemaking body 

 Now that ESEA has become the Every Student Succeeds Act, or ESSA, new rules must be drafted to implement the law. The US Department of Education recently requested nominations for people representing various constituencies to help negotiate these rules. Thirty-one groups came together to nominate PAA’s Julie Woestehoff to represent parents and students.

You can read a copy of the nomination letter here.

This kind of position often goes almost automatically to the National PTA. PAA and other groups have been concerned that the PTA has taken millions from the Gates Foundation to promote Common Core and CC testing, and is no longer an independent voice for parents. For example, they recently came out against a parents’ right to opt their children out of testing.

The nomination letter states that “it is essential that the committee include negotiators representing independent grassroots parent and advocacy groups in order for its regulatory recommendations to reflect a genuine consensus.”

Let’s see what USDE thinks is important….

The groups that nominated Julie are:

Alliance for Quality Education (NY)

Center for Commercial Free Childhood

Change the Stakes (NY)

Class Size Matters (NY)

Coalition to Defend Public Education (Providence, RI)

Citizens for Public Schools (MA)

FairTest

Families United for Public Education (WI)

Mecklenburg-ACTS (NC)

More Than A Score (Chicago)

More Than a Score (Oak Park)

Network for Public Education

Parent Coalition for Student Privacy

Parents Across America

Parents Across Rhode Island

Parents United for Public Education (PA)

Public Schools First (NC)

PAA-Roanoke Valley (VA)

PAA-Suburban Philadelphia (PA)

Michigan Parents for Schools (MI)

PAA-Baton Rouge

PAA-West Tennessee

PAA NorthEast Texas

PAA-Seattle (WA)

PAA-Puget Sound

PAA-Oregon

Port Washington Advocates for Public Education (NY)

Public Education Matters Georgia

Quality Education for Every Student (QUEST) (MA)

Raise Your Hand for IL Public Education

Time Out from Testing (NY)

- See more at: http://parentsacrossamerica.org/paa-interim-ed-endorsed-essa-rulemaking-body/#sthash.TRmsiSnd.dpuf

CT Dem Governor urges Dem Legislature to reject union contract his appointee’s negotiated and approved - Wait What?

CT Dem Governor urges Dem Legislature to reject union contract his appointee’s negotiated and approved - Wait What?:

CT Dem Governor urges Dem Legislature to reject union contract his appointee’s negotiated and approved

 Governor Dannel Malloy is the President of the UConn Board of Trustees and appointees and controls a majority of the votes on the Board.  On January 27, 2016, UConn’s Trustees voted 15 – 0 to adopt a new contract with the University of Connecticut’s non-teaching professional staff.  Malloy’s personal representative to the Board of Trustees skipped the meeting.  In fact, they haven’t shown up for 12 of the last 15 monthly meetings.

But Malloy’s neglect to perform his gubernatorial duties didn’t stop him from issue a press release condemning the new contract and instructing the Democrat controlled General Assembly to reject the contract.

These days, Donald Trump is the world’s leader when it comes to a detachment from facts and reality, but by his action today, Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy, who also serves as the Chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, rocketed into his own parallel universe by calling on the legislature to reject a contract his own political appointees approved.

As noted, according to Connecticut State Law, Malloy is President that Trustees, he CT Dem Governor urges Dem Legislature to reject union contract his appointee’s negotiated and approved - Wait What?:

2016 Medley #5: Indiana Republicans (still) Hate Public Education | Live Long and Prosper

2016 Medley #5: Indiana Republicans (still) Hate Public Education | Live Long and Prosper:

2016 Medley #5: Indiana Republicans (still) Hate Public Education

Indiana’s “reformist” Politics

Indiana’s legislature is run by a supermajority of Republicans. The Hoosier state is nearly all “red” and has only gone for a Democratic presidential candidate twice in the last 75 years (1964 and 2008).

The supermajority legislature and the Republican appointed State Board of Education has been attacking public education, public school teachers, and teachers unions regularly and in 2011, passed laws to eliminate teacher seniority rights, do away with tenure (due process) for teachers, stop paying teachers for extra education, evaluate teachers based on student test scores, and restrict collective bargaining rights to money issues (salary, insurance).

The General Assembly is so solidly and heavily Republican that when they talk about “compromise” they’re talking about the House Republicans compromising with the Senate Republicans. Democrats are apparently only there to delay the inevitable through objections and speeches. Rational discourse between parties is met with Republicans figuratively putting their hands over their ears and mumbling, “I can’t hear you.”

It won’t get any better either. The governor and his lackeys in the legislature have been bought and sealed by the Koch Brothers and ALEC. Is there hope that enough people might cross party lines and vote some of the rascals out” Not likely. Most of the citizenry, outside of a couple of major cities, are life-long, “my-daddy-was-a-Republican-so-I’m-a-Republican-too” Republicans.

[There are some who are more thoughtful, of course. But they continue to vote Republican even if they disagree on education issues, because of traditional Republican issues like abortion and GLBT rights.]

Indiana Democrats try their best, but the odds are not in their favor. As long as Republicans keep getting elected then the leadership (Bob Behning and Brian Bosma in the House, and David Long and Dennis Kruse in the Senate) will continue to do what they can to keep the campaign dollars coming from “reformers.”

THE MISUSE OF TESTING

Guest column: Schools should be about children

This excerpt from a behind-a-pay-wall article was written by a Bloomington, IN mom. In it she calls out the state testing program for all the damage it has done. Grading schools, labeling children, and evaluating teachers is a waste of time and just one more piece of the ALEC plan to completely privatize public education.

(Bloomington area readers, the author suggests you subscribe to your local newspaper.)

At one time, testing was only part of the overall assessment for how kids and schools were doing. We relied on teachers to tell us the rest. After all, teach

2016 Medley #5: Indiana Republicans (still) Hate Public Education | Live Long and Prosper:

Newark mayor calls charter expansion a “terrible” decision |

Newark mayor calls charter expansion a “terrible” decision |:
Newark mayor calls charter expansion a “terrible” decision

 Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has denounced as “terrible” and “irresponsible” the decision by the Christie Administration to allow major expansion of Newark’s charter schools.

“The expansion could not have come at a worse time,” Baraka said in a formal statement issued in response to  question from this site.

In the statement, the mayor seems to be moving away from positions he embraced both in a letter he and state-appointed school superintendent Christopher Cerf wrote to Gov. Chris Christie last month endorsing charter growth in Newark–and in an earlier letter he wrote in December seeking a brief moratorium on charter school expansion.

The full text of the Baraka statement follows:

“Governor Christie’s approval of the expansion of Newark charter schools is a terrible decision, unfortunate, irresponsible and damaging to the city’s public schools. The expansion could not have come at a worse time. The governor’s recent decision to add an additional $27 million for Newark schools to his budget was a step forward toward reducing our $72 million public schools deficit. But his decision to allow the expansion of charter schools at this time is a huge step backwards for our traditional public schools.

“The Newark Public Schools are in a severe financial crisis. Shortfalls in State aid, combined with the rapid growth of charter school enrollments and payments, have caused a loss of funding and large revenue gaps in the NPS budget. In response, NPS has had to cut essential teachers, programs, and support staff in district schools, and key central office personnel in areas such as special education.

“A recent report by the Education Law Center analyzes the ongoing NPS budget crisis in detail, including the significant reductions in teachers, support staff and other resources necessary for children in district schools to achieve and meet New Jersey academic standards.

“The approval of major charter school expansions will result in a dramatic increase of charter school payments, damaging the NPS budget over the next five years, impairing the ability of NPS to provide all students with a high quality, thorough, and efficient education.

“Any further expansion of enrollments in Newark charter schools should have been halted until the NPS budget shortfalls can be addressed to make certain all schools have the resources needed to deliver a high quality education to their students. The $27 million in additional funds is not enough to do this.

“Providing a thorough and efficient education to all Newark children is a priority for Newark mayor calls charter expansion a “terrible” decision |:

Nearly half of American children living near poverty line - Jonathan Kantrowitz

Nearly half of American children living near poverty line - Jonathan Kantrowitz:

Nearly half of American children living near poverty line

Source: National Center for Children in Poverty

Nearly half of children in the United States live dangerously close to the poverty line, according to new research from the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. Basic Facts about Low-Income Children, the center’s annual series of profiles on child poverty in America, illustrates the severity of economic instability and poverty conditions faced by more than 31 million children throughout the United States. Using the latest data from the American Community Survey, NCCP researchers found that while the total number of children in the U.S. has remained about the same since 2008, more children today are likely to live in families barely able to afford their most basic needs.

“These data challenge the prevailing beliefs that many still hold about what poverty looks like and which children in this country are most likely to be at risk,” said Renée Wilson-Simmons, DrPH, NCCP director. “The fact is, despite the significant gains we’ve made in expanding nutrition and health insurance programs to reach the children most in need, millions of children are living in families still struggling to make ends meet in our low-growth, low-wage economy.”

According to NCCP researchers, the number of poor children in the U.S. grew by 18 percent from 2008 to 2014 (the latest available data), and the number of children living in low-income households grew by 10 percent. NCCP defines a low-income household as one where incomes fall below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Threshold (e.g., $48,016 for a family of four with two children in 2014). A family is considered poor if its earnings are below 100 percent of the poverty threshold (e.g., $24,008 for a family of four with two children in 2014).

Published annually since 2009, Basic Facts about Low-Income Children profiles demographic and socioeconomic conditions of poor and low-income children in fact sheets for five age groups, from infants and toddlers to adolescents. Fact sheet data are widely cited by policymakers, researchers, advocates, and the media as authoritative. NCCP’s annual fact sheets on child poverty in America are available online at http://www.nccp.org/publications/fact_sheets.html.

These are some of the findings in the 2016 edition of Basic Facts about Low-Income Children:

– More than four in ten U.S. children are living close to the poverty line. In 2014, 44 percent of children under age 18 (31.4 million) lived in low-income households and 21 percent lived in poor families (15.4 million). This is still much higher than at the start of the Great Recession in 2008, when 39 percent of children were considered low income and 18 percent lived in poor households.
– Children remain more likely than adults to live in poverty. While 44 percent of children live in low-income households, only one-third of adults between 18 and 64 years of age live in these households. In addition, children are more than twice as likely as adults 65 years and older to live in poor families.
– America’s youngest children are still those most likely to live in low-income or poor households. Some 47 percent of children age 5 years or younger live in low-income families, compared to 45 percent of children age 6 to 11 years (10.8 million), and 40 percent of children age 12 to 17 years (9.7 million).
– Disparities in child poverty persist along racial lines. More than 60 percent of black, Hispanic, and Native American kids live in low-income families, compared to 30 percent of Asian and white children — a dynamic largely unchanged since 2008.
– Many children living in poverty have parents with some higher education, and many live in two-parent households. While higher parental education decreases the likelihood that a child will live in a low-income or poor household, nearly half of children living in poverty (48 percent) have a parent with at least some college education. Though data shows that children who live with married parents are much less likely to be poor or low income compared to children who live with a single parent, nearly half of children (47 percent) in low-income families and 36 percent of children in poor families (5.5 million) live with married parents.Nearly half of American children living near poverty line - Jonathan Kantrowitz:

 

Are You Being Manipulated? – Save Maine Schools

Are You Being Manipulated? – Save Maine Schools:

Are You Being Manipulated?

One year ago, representatives from the next-gen ed reform industry took part in the Partnership for 21st Century Learning‘s annual summit.

In one of the breakout sessions, the audience was asked to consider “embedded beliefs” about children and school while viewing a series of images like the one below:

The session, titled “A Transformational Vision of the Future of Learning: A Strange Bedfellow Collaboration” and hosted by Microsoft, the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, KnowledgeWorks, Disney, and both major teachers’ unions, emphasized the need for a “paradigm shift” from the “industrial age” to the “networked age.”

It’s a message that suddenly seems to be everywhere.

Here is Arne Duncan:

Our K–12 system largely still adheres to the century-old, industrial-age factory model of education…But the factory model of education is the wrong model for the 21st century.

And here’s Michael Horn of Innosight Institute:

With the opportunity of online learning coming on, what we talk about is shifting from this factory model system to a student-centered one that personalizes for each and every child.

… and Mark Schneiderman  of the Software Information & Industry Association:

The factory model that we’ve used to meet the needs of the average student in a mass production way for years is no longer meeting the needs of each student as our student body diversifies.

… and Susan Patrick of iNACOL:

The three areas that intersect to create the perfect storm for this education transformation are: personalization, blended learning and competency education. The power of each moves us away 

Are You Being Manipulated? – Save Maine Schools:

Chicago declares war on teachers - People's TribunePeople's Tribune

Chicago declares war on teachers - People's TribunePeople's Tribune:

Chicago declares war on teachers

Thousands of teachers, parents, students and allied organizations flooded downtown Chicago in protest of the firing of 1,000 teachers and salary cuts.

PHOTO/SARAH JANE RHEE

CHICAGO, IL — Chicago’s mayor, his school board chief and the governor of Illinois are trying to force a Chicago teachers strike this spring. Why? Because they want to drive a wedge into the working class by breaking the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU).

After months of negotiations, CTU negotiators on February 1 rejected a “tentative agreement” that had been offered by the unelected Chicago Public School (CPS) Board. On February 2, CPS chief Forrest Claypool fired at least 1,000 teachers and cut teacher salaries 7% by forcing them to pay the full cost of their pensions. On February 4, thousands of teachers, parents, students and allied organizations flooded downtown Chicago in protest of CPS’ draconian retaliation.

Also on February 2, Republican governor Bruce Rauner offered to appoint an emergency manager to take over the public schools and declare them bankrupt, along with the financially strapped city of Chicago. Democratic mayor Rahm Emanuel ridiculed him, pointing out that Rauner has been unable to get a state budget passed since he took office a year ago. Here’s the reality: both Rauner and Emanuel oppose benefits and services that workers need. Neither of them is going to bat for those who have fallen off the employment grid.

Both Emanuel and Rauner dance to the tune of Wall Street. Rauner’s call for bankrupting Chicago added tens of millions of dollars in higher interest on a $725 million bank loan to CPS on February 8. Meanwhile, Emanuel considers bank loans sacred, never missing a payment and never challenging loan interest, while his obligations to the pension fund have always been discretionary. This is how these stick-up artists rob the working class. Either way, financial corporations and the government become more enmeshed, especially when the head of the school board, appointed by the mayor, comes from the energy giant Exelon Corp.

Emanuel is at his weakest, most unpopular point in his administration. His cover-up of the murder of Laquan McDonald by Chicago police outraged Chicagoans. Almost daily demonstrations call for his resignation. A recent poll showed the public views the Chicago Teachers Union three times more favorably than it does Emanuel. The teachers may never have a more favorable time to fight for their survival and that of public education. However, the threats to take over the public schools are not empty. Michigan has been the testing ground for the “emergency manager” form of dictatorship. The emergency manager of Detroit’s public schools is managing the destruction of public education there. Union contracts, once sacred in Michigan, have now succumbed to “right-to-work” legislation.

The steps the Chicago Teachers Union is taking to unify the fighters for a world-class education are important to a section of society that is losing any hope of education as an end to poverty. The battle is transcending the fight for individual schools. The combatants are forced to engage the political apparatus to achieve their contract goals. This is the beginning of seeing the goal as fully funded public education for all, guaranteed nationally by a government with abundant resources to accomplish this.

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 Chicago declares war on teachers - People's TribunePeople's Tribune: