Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 9/28/16

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 9/28/16

Featured Post

New Empirical Evidence: Students’ “Persistent Economic Disadvantage” More Likely to Bias Value-Added Estimates | VAMboozled!

CA 2016 National Blue Ribbon Public Schools - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education)

by mike simpson / 5min

CA 2016 National Blue Ribbon Public Schools - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education) : State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Congratulates California Schools Recognized as 2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today congratulated 29 California public schools that have been chosen as 2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools. This coveted award honors

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: SmallTalk Salutes Sen. Warren for standing up to charter lobby

by mike simpson / 2min

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: SmallTalk Salutes Sen. Warren for standing up to charter lobby : SmallTalk Salutes Sen. Warren for standing up to charter lobby “Education is about creating opportunity for all our children, not about leaving many behind.” -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren. A SmallTalk Salute goes out to Sen. Elizabeth Warren who's taken some time out from kicking Donald Trump's behind to st

An education reform civil war in the Black community? – Cloaking Inequity

by mike simpson / 2min

An education reform civil war in the Black community? – Cloaking Inequity : An education reform civil war in the Black community? I have begun thinking about the education reform dispute as a civil war in the Black community. Incidentally, at my uncle funeral in Saginaw Michigan this past weekend, I met a fourth cousin who told me that our great great great grandfather fought in the US Civil War

How a school garden can transform a school community - Lily's Blackboard

by mike simpson / 1h

How a school garden can transform a school community - Lily's Blackboard : How a school garden can transform a school community Nancy Burke wanted to expose her students at Haverhill High School to the simple pleasures of gardening—the texture of dirt between your fingers, the pure fun of digging holes, the hope that builds when seeds are newly planted and the excitement that comes when seedlings

CURMUDGUCATION: Outsourcing College

by mike simpson / 3h

CURMUDGUCATION: Outsourcing College : Outsourcing College The Education Management Corporation is based right up the road from me in Pittsburgh, PA. They're a for-profit education provider whose best-known outlet is the Art Institute chain. (They should not be confused with the Education Credit Management Corporation, an outfit that is also in the for-profit college biz, having bought up the piec

Top Utah Republicans join corporate education reform groups to attack anti-Common Core school board candidates - Wait What?

by mike simpson / 3h

Top Utah Republicans join corporate education reform groups to attack anti-Common Core school board candidates - Wait What? : Top Utah Republicans join corporate education reform groups to attack anti-Common Core school board candidates In May 2016 Utah’s Republican Governor, Gary Herbert, called on the Utah Board of Education to, “move past Common Core standards and get rid of mandatory SAGE tes

Black and White – EduShyster

by mike simpson / 4h

Black and White – EduShyster : Black and White I talk to Yawu Miller of Boston’s Bay State Banner about the red-hot debate over charter school expansion in Massachusetts—and what *thought leaders* are getting wrong… EduShyster : In a few weeks, Massachusetts voters will give a thumbs up or a thumbs down to raising the *cap* on charter schools. The issue has attracted a frenzy of *reporting* from

Seattle Schools Community Forum: ESSA: NCLB Lite (Plus Lots for Charters)

by mike simpson / 4h

Seattle Schools Community Forum: ESSA: NCLB Lite (Plus Lots for Charters) : ESSA: NCLB Lite (Plus Lots for Charters) I've been saving up articles on ESSA (Every Child Succeeds Act, the next No Child Left Behind). Congress may have given more power back to the states but there appear to be some truly troubling issues around increased data collection, opting out, and what "indicators" they will be

[Letter from Detroit] | Held Back, by Alexandria Neason | Harper's Magazine

by mike simpson / 4h

[Letter from Detroit] | Held Back, by Alexandria Neason | Harper's Magazine : Held Back Battling for the fate of a school district T hree days had passed before I saw a police officer in Detroit. I’d covered miles of the city, by foot and by car. Twice I was advised not to bother calling the police in an emergency; they wouldn’t come. I only ever found them in one place: armed officers from the c

John Thompson: Let's Hope NOVA's Hopeful View of The School of the Future Is Right | Huffington Post

by mike simpson / 6h

Let's Hope NOVA's Hopeful View of The School of the Future Is Right | Huffington Post - Linkis.com : Let’s Hope NOVA’s Hopeful View of The School of the Future Is Right NOVA’s The School of the Future is an excellent and intriguing contribution to the Public Broadcast System’s back-to-school special reports. The first third of the report hit the right balance between state of the art cognitive sc

Why California’s charter school sector is called ‘the Wild West’ - The Washington Post

by mike simpson / 6h

Why California’s charter school sector is called ‘the Wild West’ - The Washington Post : Why California’s charter school sector is called ‘the Wild West’ This is the second of four posts on the state of the charter school sector in California. The charter school sector has grown over the last few decades amid a debate about their virtues and drawbacks — and even whether the publicly funded school

Schools Matter: Give a Thousand Dollars: Help Immortalize Diane

by mike simpson / 6h

Schools Matter: Give a Thousand Dollars: Help Immortalize Diane : Give a Thousand Dollars: Help Immortalize Diane For a thousand tax-deductible dollars, you can 1) buy a journal page to help NPE continue its semi-commitment to sometimes challenge corporate education reforms that it, otherwise, supports, and 2) create an archival testament to honor Diane Ravitch's desire to remain historically not

Satanic Temple brings after-school club to Portland elementary school | OregonLive com

by mike simpson / 7h

Satanic Temple brings after-school club to Portland elementary school | OregonLive.com : Satanic Temple brings after-school club to Portland elementary school After School Satan Club logo (The Satanic Temple) In August, the provisional Portland chapter of the national organization of the Satanic Temple began their efforts to bring their After School Satan Club to Nehalem Elementary School. Around

New Empirical Evidence: Students’ “Persistent Economic Disadvantage” More Likely to Bias Value-Added Estimates | VAMboozled!

by mike simpson / 7h

New Empirical Evidence: Students’ “Persistent Economic Disadvantage” More Likely to Bias Value-Added Estimates | VAMboozled! : New Empirical Evidence: Students’ “Persistent Economic Disadvantage” More Likely to Bias Value-Added Estimates The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) recently released a circulated but not-yet internally or externally reviewed study titled “ The Gap within the Ga

Q: Anne Holton, Wife of Democratic VP Nominee, on Education Issues - Ed Week

by mike simpson / 7h

Q&A: Anne Holton, Wife of Democratic VP Nominee, on Education Issues - Politics K-12 - Education Week : Q&A: Anne Holton, Wife of Democratic VP Nominee, on Education Issues She also talked about her position on charter schools. "There may be some confusion on my views on charters. And I have had limited experiences with charters here in Virginia for a variety of reasons. But I very much agree wit

CURMUDGUCATION: TX: Denying Special Education

by mike simpson / 7h

CURMUDGUCATION: TX: Denying Special Education : TX: Denying Special Education You must read this piece of investigative reporting from the Houston Chronicle. In " Denied:How Texas keeps tens of thousands of children out of special education ," reporter Brian M. Rosenthal lays out the secret of yet another Texas miracle-- getting special education numbers down by systematically denying support and

A bold new approach to English proficency for kids: Lean on their first language. | 89.3 KPCC

by mike simpson / 7h

A bold new approach to English proficency for kids: Lean on their first language. | 89.3 KPCC : A bold new approach to English proficency for kids: Lean on their first language. California public schools have a woeful record of moving non-English speaking children to grade level proficiency in English. The state has been sued (and it settled ), the Department of Justice has investigated , and ten

Digital Vocabulary Hijacked from Special Education

by mike simpson / 7h

Digital Vocabulary Hijacked from Special Education : Digital Vocabulary Hijacked from Special Education Isn’t it interesting how those who idolize digital instruction have hijacked vocabulary from special education? Unfortunately, self-directed learning is significant to them because the more you can get students working on their own the less they will need real teachers. Individualized learning

Massachusetts Question 2 to Multiply Charter Schools: Driven by Dark Money Astroturf Campaign | janresseger

by mike simpson / 7h

Massachusetts Question 2 to Multiply Charter Schools: Driven by Dark Money Astroturf Campaign | janresseger : Massachusetts Question 2 to Multiply Charter Schools: Driven by Dark Money Astroturf Campaign Beware of AstroTurf Ed Reformers Astroturf lobbying refers to political organizations or campaigns that appear to be made up of grassroots activists but are actually organized and run by corporat

BRIDGEGATE TRIAL–The six big holes in Wildstein’s testimony |

by mike simpson / 8h

BRIDGEGATE TRIAL–The six big holes in Wildstein’s testimony | : BRIDGEGATE TRIAL–The six big holes in Wildstein’s testimony David Wildstein, as expected, testified in federal court Tuesday that Gov. Chris Christie knew about and, at least, condoned the disruption of traffic across the George Washington Bridge for four days in September, 2013, to punish the mayor of Fort Lee who refused to endorse

Round 2 in Washington State over charter schools | Seattle Education

by mike simpson / 8h

Round 2 in Washington State over charter schools | Seattle Education : To Kill a Vampire: The Continued Resurrection of Charter Schools in Washington State W ashington state residents have voted charter schools down three times. Twice, initiatives were placed on a statewide ballot—once in 1996 and then in 2000—and both were defeated. The same happened with a referendum in 2004. In 2012, charter s

Just 'A Teacher': What I Learned About Perception And The Power Of Words On LinkedIn | Huffington Post

by mike simpson / 8h

Just 'A Teacher': What I Learned About Perception And The Power Of Words On LinkedIn | Huffington Post : Just ‘A Teacher’: What I Learned About Perception And The Power Of Words On LinkedIn The sad truth is that teaching is not as respected as other professions. Like millions of people exploring career opportunities, I have spent an inordinate amount of time on LinkedIn in recent years. I have a

Bias Isn't Just A Police Problem, It's A Preschool Problem : NPR Ed : NPR

by mike simpson / 8h

Bias Isn't Just A Police Problem, It's A Preschool Problem : NPR Ed : NPR : Bias Isn't Just A Police Problem, It's A Preschool Problem A new study out of Yale found that pre-K teachers, white and black alike, spend more time watching black boys, expecting trouble. LA Johnson/NPR First, a story: Late one night, a man searches for something in a parking lot. On his hands and knees, he crawls around

State education commissioner talks opt-outs, revised Common Core standards | poststar.

by mike simpson / 8h

State education commissioner talks opt-outs, revised Common Core standards | Local | poststar.com : State education commissioner talks opt-outs, revised Common Core standards SARATOGA SPRINGS — State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia told superintendents Tuesday that everyone needs to do a better job communicating the changes to the state tests to decrease the number of student opt-outs and m

Segregation driving ‘school choice’ charade - WacoTrib

by mike simpson / 8h

Charles Luke, guest columnist: Segregation driving ‘school choice’ charade - WacoTrib.com: Guest Columns : Charles Luke, guest columnist: Segregation driving ‘school choice’ charade We all know that many politicians are prone to exaggeration. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s recent statement that private school vouchers, or “school choice” as he puts it, is a civil rights issue is just such an exagge

Sociologists examine shift from 'No Child Left Behind' to 'children left behind': IU Bloomington Newsroom

by mike simpson / 8h

Sociologists examine shift from 'No Child Left Behind' to 'children left behind': IU Bloomington Newsroom: Indiana University Bloomington : Sociologists examine shift from 'No Child Left Behind' to 'children left behind' BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- When students across the country returned to school this fall, they did so under the Every Student Succeeds Act, which rolls back the style of accountability

Teachers' union leader praises KC early education program | The Kansas City Star

by mike simpson / 9h

Teachers' union leader praises KC early education program | The Kansas City Star : Teachers union leader visits KC, praises early childhood learning program Randi Weingarten, the national president of the American Federation of Teachers, spent Monday night listening to presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump debate what’s best for the country. She was disappointed that early chil

ESSA: Education Department Releases Guidance on Teachers - Politics K-12 - Education Week

by mike simpson / 9h

ESSA: Education Department Releases Guidance on Teachers - Politics K-12 - Education Week : ESSA: Education Department Releases Guidance on Teachers The U.S. Department of Education Tuesday released a blueprint to help states and districts make the most of out of more than $2 billion in federal money for teacher support, preparation, training, and more. The new federal guidance also walks states

California Comeback: For Teachers, Invisible Scars and Wary Hopes - LA Progressive

by mike simpson / 9h

California Comeback: For Teachers, Invisible Scars and Wary Hopes - LA Progressive : California Comeback: For Teachers, Invisible Scars and Wary Hopes Long Beach teacher Sherri Gonser “I had known it was coming,” remembers Alan Underwood. In the spring of 2008, Underwood was an eager and popular young assistant band director at a high school in Moreno Valley, a suburban enclave in Riverside Count

YESTERDAY

Hmong Women Empowerment Summit — Hmong Innovating Politics

by mike simpson / 20h

Hmong Women Empowerment Summit — Hmong Innovating Politics : Hmong Women Empowerment Summit RSVP HERE Hmong Women Empowerment Summit — Hmong Innovating Politics : despite having to overcome cultural and institutional hurdles, hmong women continue to make incredible strides in shaping the industries and communities they are a part of. while many are reaching new heights and breaking glass ceilings

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 9/27/16

by mike simpson / 23h

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 9/27/16 Featured Post Elizabeth Warren Won't Support Charter School Expansion CURMUDGUCATION: FL: Bad Retail Management As Ed Policy by mike simpson / 2h CURMUDGUCATION: FL: Bad Retail Management As Ed Policy : FL: Bad Retail Management As Ed Policy 

Top Posts This Week

• 

  Michigan Leads Nation … In Denying Child Care To Low-Income Families
• 

  Michigan teachers demoralized, union survey says
• Elizabeth Warren Won't Support Charter School Expansion
• 

  Jersey Jazzman: Chris Christie's Lying, Incoherent Letter to Teachers
• Cheri Kiesecker: What Parents Need to Know About Google Apps for Education | Diane Ravitch's blog
• Michigan: Third Grade Flunk Club Rears Its Ugly Head. Again - Teacher in a Strange Land
• Do Americans Hate Teachers, Or are they Duped by Teach for America?
• 

  ALEC is Excited About the New Testing Provisions in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), so is iNACOL | Seattle Education
• 

  Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 9/24/16
• 

  Special Late Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 9/25/16

CA 2016 National Blue Ribbon Public Schools - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education)

CA 2016 National Blue Ribbon Public Schools - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education):

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Congratulates
California Schools Recognized as 2016
National Blue Ribbon Schools

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today congratulated 29 California public schools that have been chosen as 2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools. This coveted award honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap.

“This recognition for California is a testament to the hard work of our educators, administrators, and communities to prepare our students for both 21st century careers and college,” Torlakson said. “We are making progress, but we must keep our momentum going because we have much work to do.”

The California winners are among 279 public (traditional, charter, choice, and magnet) schools and 50 private schools announced this morning by U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. In its 34-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has presented this award to fewer than 8,500 schools.

All schools are recognized in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores, and graduation rates:

• Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or national tests.
• Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students over the past five years.

Public schools are nominated by top education officials in each state, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools.

National Blue Ribbon Schools will be honored at a national awards ceremony on November 7-8, 2016, in Washington, D.C., where each winner will receive a plaque and flag. Blue Ribbon winners may fly this flag at their schools as a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning.

More information about the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program can be found on the U.S. Department of Education Web site .

California's National Blue Ribbon Public Schools for 2016

County	District	School
Alameda	Oakland USD	Hillcrest Elementary
Alameda	Oakland USD	Thornhill Elementary
Contra Costa	Mt. Diablo USD	Strandwood Elementary
Fresno	Fresno USD	Edison Computech
Los Angeles	Hawthorne	Hawthorne Math And Science Academy
Los Angeles	Los Angeles USD	Kipp Los Angeles College Preparatory
Los Angeles	Los Angeles USD	Wonderland Avenue Elementary
Los Angeles	Palos Verdes Peninsula	Point Vicente Elementary
Los Angeles	Santa Monica-Malibu	Edison Elementary
Los Angeles	West Covina USD	San Jose Charter Academy
Marin	San Rafael City Elementary	Sun Valley Elementary
Orange	Garden Grove	A. J. Cook Elementary
Orange	Los Alamitos	Francis Hopkinson Elementary
Orange	Tustin USD	Tustin Memorial Elementary
Placer	Rocklin USD	Rocklin Academy
San Bernardino	San Bernardino City	Richardson Prep Hi
San Bernardino	Victor Valley Union High	University Preparatory
San Diego	Chula Vista Elementary	Arroyo Vista Charter
San Diego	Poway USD	Creekside Elementary
San Diego	San Diego USD	La Jolla Elementary
San Diego	San Marcos USD	Paloma Elementary
San Francisco	San Francisco USD	Lafayette Elementary
San Mateo	Menlo Park City	Laurel Elementary
Santa Barbara	Los Olivos Elementary	Los Olivos Elementary
Santa Clara	Evergreen Elementary	Evergreen Elementary
Sonoma	Santa Rosa High	Santa Rosa Accelerated Charter
Ventura	Conejo Valley USD	Environmental Academy of Research Technology and Earth Sciences
Ventura	Conejo Valley USD	Westlake High
Ventura	Simi Valley USD	Vista Elementary

# # # #

Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

Last Reviewed: Wednesday, September 28, 2016

 CA 2016 National Blue Ribbon Public Schools - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education):

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson Thanks Governor for Signing Student Suicide Prevention Bill

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today thanked Governor Jerry Brown for signing legislation requiring schools that serve students from grades 7 to 12 to adopt suicide prevention policies.

Torlakson supported AB 2246 by Assembly Member Patrick O’Donnell, D-Long Beach and Chair of the Assembly Education Committee. The bill, signed on Monday, September 26, requires the California Department of Education (CDE) to develop and maintain a model suicide prevention policy.

“With this change, we can better identify students in need, get them help, and keep them safe,” Torlakson said. “One of my top priorities is serving the needs of the whole child, including their mental health needs. This bill is a big step forward in our ongoing efforts to help our students.”

“As classroom teacher, I know from experience that educators often serve as the first line of defense when a student is suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts,” said Assembly Member O’Donnell. “AB 2246 will provide parents, teachers, and schools with the tools they need to help save the lives of at-risk youth.”

Torlakson is a longtime supporter of expanding mental health services and preventing suicides. When Torlakson served in the California State Senate in 2004, he was state co-chair of the campaign for Proposition 63, a measure that increased income taxes on the wealthy to fund mental health programs.

As State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Torlakson convened a Student Mental Health Policy Workgroup. The group of 40 experts has conducted 20 free trainings in suicide prevention across the state for more than 500 teachers.

Earlier this year, CDE released the Healthy Kids Survey, which describes how students feel about school and how they rank their school environment.

The survey showed schools need to focus more attention on better meeting the needs of youth. For example, two indicators of depression risk showed little change since the last survey two years ago.

Nearly one-fourth of seventh graders and around one-third of ninth and eleventh graders reported feelings of chronic sadness or hopelessness. And, almost 20 percent of high school students had seriously contemplated suicide.

Torlakson in 2014 released a letter encouraging school districts to adopt suicide prevention policies. Under the new law, each district will be required to adopt suicide policies beginning with the 2017-18 school year.

In 2014, there were nearly 2,300 suicide attempts by students 15 to 19 years old in California.

http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr16/yr16rel67.asp

Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: SmallTalk Salutes Sen. Warren for standing up to charter lobby

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: SmallTalk Salutes Sen. Warren for standing up to charter lobby:

SmallTalk Salutes Sen. Warren for standing up to charter lobby

“Education is about creating opportunity for all our children, not about leaving many behind.” -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

A SmallTalk Salute goes out to Sen. Elizabeth Warren who's taken some time out from kicking Donald Trump's behind to stand strong against her state's powerful charter school lobby.

This from the Washington Post:

There is a pitched battle underway in Massachusetts over charter schools, with proponents pouring money into an initiative on the November ballot that would raise the state cap on their growth and opponents arguing that charters are draining resources from traditional public schools. Now critics have gotten a big boost: Sen. Elizabeth Warren said she was going to vote against Question 2

There are now nearly 80 charter schools in Massachusetts, where no more than 120 charter schools are currently allowed to operate. Question 2 would allow 12 new or expanded charter schools to open every year anywhere in the state.  a move that supporters say will give more parents choices about where to send their children to school and help close the achievement gap.

Sen. Warren 

Jennifer Berkshire, who posts at Edushyster, interviews political scientist Maurice Cunningham who says the campaign to lift the cap on charter schools in Massachusetts is driven by GOP operatives and a handful of wealthy Republican families.

There are a handful of wealthy families that are funding this. They largely give to Republicans and they represent the financial industry, basically. They’re out of Bain, Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: SmallTalk Salutes Sen. Warren for standing up to charter lobby:

An education reform civil war in the Black community? – Cloaking Inequity

An education reform civil war in the Black community? – Cloaking Inequity:

An education reform civil war in the Black community?

I have begun thinking about the education reform dispute as a civil war in the Black community.

Incidentally, at my uncle funeral in Saginaw Michigan this past weekend, I met a fourth cousin who told me that our great great great grandfather fought in the US Civil War for the Union Army in the 110th colored. I learned he was captured at Fort Henderson in Athens, Alabama by General Nathan Bedford Forrest and was a POW until his escape 8 months later. Probably one of the most, most profound things that has happened to me this year.

Returning to the civil war that is occurring in 2016. I spoke at a Journey for Justice Alliance conference at SUNY Old Westbury on Monday before the first presidential debates. I discussed my perspective on the education reform civil war in the Black community. A draft of my remarks is below the video.

We want policymakers to notice that there is something happening in urban communities. On the one side are charter operators, billionaire foundations, and their acolytes who are supporting the private control of public money for education that was envisioned by the economist Milton Freidman in the 1950s. On the other side are parents and communities who are demanding high-quality, properly resourced, democratically controlled, neighborhood public schools.

The dispute even has national civil rights organizations at odds. The National Urban League, United Negro College Fund, NCLR and other civil rights organizations have typically aligned themselves with market-based school choice proponents. On the other side, the NAACP delegates have voted on three national resolutions critical of charter schools over the past six years— the most recent resolution is awaiting a vote by the NAACP National Board. Black Lives Matters coalition, our nation’s newest national civil rights movement composed of more than 50 organizations, also released a platform of policy demands critical of charter schools and school privatization this past summer.

Recently, both sides of the education reform civil war have focused on communicating to policymakers and the public that they are representing the interests of urban communities that have been historically underserved on purpose by our nation. Market-based choice proponents underscored the dispute this past week when charter school owners and their supporters released a letter saying they represent the interests of tens of thousands of Black students and bemoaning the NAACP’s most recent resolution criticizing charter schools.

Today, in response to the market-based reformers, we, the supporters of high-quality, properly resourced, democratically controlled, neighborhood public schools are holding events at the first presidential debate in New York to focus on the release of the Journey for Justice Alliance (J4J)’s national public education platform. As a founding board member, I am honored that these events are co-sponsored An education reform civil war in the Black community? – Cloaking Inequity:

How a school garden can transform a school community - Lily's Blackboard

How a school garden can transform a school community - Lily's Blackboard:

How a school garden can transform a school community

Nancy Burke wanted to expose her students at Haverhill High School to the simple pleasures of gardening—the texture of dirt between your fingers, the pure fun of digging holes, the hope that builds when seeds are newly planted and the excitement that comes when seedlings begin to grow. 

“I wanted them to be able to get outside in a hands-on outdoor learning environment,” Nancy says. With a grant from an NEA program and help from students and others in the Haverhill, Mass. community, that’s exactly what she did.

Nancy’s been an instructional paraeducator at Haverhill High for 18 years, working in the multi-support and life skills programs with students who have disabilities. She received an $800 grant in 2013 from the Massachusetts Teacher Association and the NEA to build garden beds in an interior school courtyard.

The Farm to School Initiative got its start when NEA’s Education Support Professional Quality department decided to pilot a program that complemented First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative, which includes community gardens.NEA partnered with the National Farm to School Network to make it happen.

The NEA program is aimed at addressing student obesity rates through student engagement in school gardens, and using their engagement to teach them about preparing healthy, nutritious dishes for themselves and others.

“Education Support Professionals are key to meeting students’ basic needs,” says Roxanne Dove, director of ESPQ. “In addition to food preparation, the relationships ESPs have with the students they care for can be so valuable in motivating students to lead healthy, active lives.”

The fully handicapped-accessible garden has wheelchair ramps and raised beds, and was built by student volunteers.

Not only is Nancy’s program still going strong at Haverhill; the school cafeteria is now using the garden’s tomatoes, peppers and other produce in meals.

This year—just in time for National Farm to School Month in October—all of Nancy’s students are going to theTopsfield Fair to see their produce on display, courtesy of Whitsons Culinary Group.

Nancy’s efforts have earned her recognition and lots of praise, including a 2015 Bammy award, presented by theAcademy of Education Arts and Sciences to recognize the extraordinary work of educators across all disciplines. She’s even in a how-to video on starting a school garden.

But for Nancy, the biggest thrill is bearing witness to how much her students learn from the garden. She’s dedicated to seeing accessible gardens sprout up (I couldn’t help myself) across the nation. The gardens have obvious benefits for students. But what’s more, they can bring together the entire school community.

“Teenagers now volunteer in our classroom and read, sing songs or help with lessons,” Nancy says. “It’s wonderful for my students to be with their peers and be accepted for who they are.”How a school garden can transform a school community - Lily's Blackboard:

CURMUDGUCATION: Outsourcing College

CURMUDGUCATION: Outsourcing College:

Outsourcing College

The Education Management Corporation is based right up the road from me in Pittsburgh, PA. They're a for-profit education provider whose best-known outlet is the Art Institute chain. (They should not be confused with the Education Credit Management Corporation, an outfit that is also in the for-profit college biz, having bought up the pieces of the Corinthian empire.)

They've had their problems. You know a company has been struggling when its website proudly announces front and center that it has struck a deal with thirty-nine states, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Justice to end the many, many, many state and federal suits, investigations,  and charges against it for fraud and bad recruiting practices.

Mock my hair all you want. It cost more than your house.

Now this morning's Politico includes other shenanigans-flavored news:

The latest downsizing move by one of the nation's largest for-profit college chains — the cash-strapped Education Management Corporation — may be selling off campuses to a company in India.

The company in question appears to be Ritman Balved Education Foundation, a non-profit that runs the relatively huge Amity International Schoolchain. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey (one of the thirty-nine attorney generals involved with EDMC's other shenanigans) describes the sale as a "plan to outsource the remainder of its teach-out obligations to an unlicensed foreign entity."

Amity is part of a rising trend in India of private universities, a trend that attracted attention from the Wall Street Journal in 2007. That story notes that India was having trouble adjusting to the rise of private businesses in education, and that while Indian law required schools of higher learning to be non-profit, they were still plenty expensive and CURMUDGUCATION: Outsourcing College: