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Sunday, January 29, 2017

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 1/29/17


Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 1/29/17

Featured Post

Betsy DeVos Faces Yet Another Massive Roadblock - Payoffs Uncovered (DETAILS)





LETTER: Betsy DeVos to Senator Isakson on IDEA Enforcement | deutsch29
by mike simpson / 49min
LETTER: Betsy DeVos to Senator Isakson on IDEA Enforcement | deutsch29 : LETTER: Betsy DeVos to Senator Isakson on IDEA Enforcement On January 28, 2017, Valerie Strauss posted a piece about a letter that Michigan billionaire and US ed sec nominee Betsy DeVos wrote to Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee member, Johnny Isakson (R-GA) regarding the Individuals with Disabili
Take a Look at the Schott Foundation for Public Education
by mike simpson / 54min
Schott Foundation for Public Education : National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Education Reform for Equity and Opportunity Center for Community Alternatives by psj / 24min CCA promotes reintegrative justice and a reduced reliance on incarceration through advocacy, services, and public policy development in pursuit of civil and human rights. http://www.communityalternatives.org https://www.face
The Network for Public Education calls for an immediate revocation of Trump’s selective ban on immigration. - Network For Public Education
by mike simpson / 3h
The Network for Public Education calls for an immediate revocation of Trump’s selective ban on immigration. - Network For Public Education : The Network for Public Education calls for an immediate revocation of Trump’s selective ban on immigration. Kew Gardens, N.Y.–The Network for Public Education calls upon Donald Trump to immediately revoke his executive order that imposes a ban on immigration
Payback Is A Bitch: An Easy Action To Protest #MuslimBan & Annoy #Trump Marie Corfield
by mike simpson / 3h
Marie Corfield: An Easy Action To Protest #MuslimBan & Annoy #Trump : An Easy Action To Protest #MuslimBan & Annoy #Trump Even though Trump ordered the White House comment phone line disconnected , you can still make a phone call and register your complaint. How? Call one of his US hotels. Below is a list of all US Trump hotels and contact info. When you call, please remember your manners . The p
CURMUDGUCATION: OR: Protecting the Tests
by mike simpson / 4h
CURMUDGUCATION: OR: Protecting the Tests : OR: Protecting the Tests Oregon has a law-- House Bill 2713 -- that directs their Secretary of State to conduct an audit of "use of statewide summative assessment in public schools in this state." It's an audacious, wacky move-- don't just implement the Big Standardized Test, but actually check back and do some studies to see if it's a big waste of money
Trump's cruel, illegal refugee executive order - LA Times
by mike simpson / 4h
Trump's cruel, illegal refugee executive order - LA Times : Trump's cruel, illegal refugee executive order Thee new refugee policy announced by President Trump on Friday is unconstitutional and inhumane. It is also completely unnecessary as a way to protect the United States from terrorism. Trump’s executive order suspends the entry of refugees into the United States for 120 days. The order also
Betsy DeVos Faces Yet Another Massive Roadblock - Payoffs Uncovered (DETAILS)
by mike simpson / 5h
Betsy DeVos Faces Yet Another Massive Roadblock - Payoffs Uncovered (DETAILS) : Betsy DeVos Faces Yet Another Massive Roadblock – Payoffs Uncovered (DETAILS) Betsy DeVos may be facing another roadblock on her crusade to be education secretary. Democrats have been extremely outspoken about the conflicts of interest of Betsy DeVos, and her apparent lack of judgment. DeVos has been criticized widely
Look What You’ve Done – An Open Letter to My Mother | Seattle Education
by mike simpson / 6h
Look What You’ve Done – An Open Letter to My Mother | Seattle Education : Look What You’ve Done – An Open Letter to My Mother When you announced your plans, at your 70th birthday last summer, to vote for him, I patiently explained why a vote for Trump was a direct vote against the safety and well being of your only two grandchildren. You didn’t listen. You spouted rhetoric about how much you hate
CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Has it only been a week edition + Catch up with CURMUDGUCATION
by mike simpson / 6h
CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Has it only been a week edition (1/29) : ICYMI: Has it only been a week edition (1/29) It is really hard to keep a focus strictly on education these days, and yet tomorrow morning, those of us who teach will be headed back into our classrooms whether the world is burning or not. Media Consensus on Failing Schools Paved Way for DeVos Making the case that years of repeating t
U.S. Public Schools Are NOT Failing. They’re Among the Best in the World | gadflyonthewallblog
by mike simpson / 7h
U.S. Public Schools Are NOT Failing. They’re Among the Best in the World | gadflyonthewallblog : U.S. Public Schools Are NOT Failing. They’re Among the Best in the World Everyone knows U.S. public schools are failing. Just like everyone knows you should never wake sleepwalkers, bulls hate red and Napoleon was short. Wrong on all counts . Waking sleepwalkers will cause them no harm – in fact, they
Fair and Balanced Education and Journalism: On the Death of Democracy | radical eyes for equity
by mike simpson / 7h
Fair and Balanced Education and Journalism: On the Death of Democracy | radical eyes for equity : Fair and Balanced Education and Journalism: On the Death of Democracy Once I posted a reader for Trumplandia , based on the increased sales of George Orwell’s 1984 as well as the related thought pieces on important texts from Orwell and other writers, I was not surprised by the expected response call
This Week In Trump's 'Alternative Facts' : NPR
by mike simpson / 7h
This Week In Trump's 'Alternative Facts' : NPR : This Week In Trump's 'Alternative Facts' KXNG CROOKED – “Alternative Facts” | 2DOPEBOYZ - https://2dopeboyz.com/?p=398426 on @2DopeBoyz Less than 24 hours after White House press secretary had spouted numerous falsehoods about inauguration crowd size and more, Kellyanne Conway went on NBC's "Meet the Press" to defend him. In the process, the counse
School reform in Michigan: Fake solutions to real problems
by mike simpson / 7h
School reform in Michigan: Fake solutions to real problems : School reform in Michigan: Fake solutions to real problems What do you do when you're a parent in this city struggling to find the best education available for your child? Stick with Detroit Public Schools Community District, which has been on a long, slow decline since the 1980s? Or take a chance on a charter school, which is too often
U.S. colleges rush to help students, scholars affected by Trump’s immigration order - The Washington Post
by mike simpson / 8h
U.S. colleges rush to help students, scholars affected by Trump’s immigration order - The Washington Post : U.S. colleges rush to help students, scholars affected by Trump’s immigration order Protestors rally at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Saturday in New York City. President Trump signed an executive order that enacted a 90-day ban on refugees and immigrants from certain predominant
Russ on Reading: The Value of Student-Led Parent Conferences
by mike simpson / 8h
Russ on Reading: The Value of Student-Led Parent Conferences : The Value of Student-Led Parent Conferences I am indebted to my colleague, reader, and fellow blogger, Steven Zemelman, for this guest post. As a follow-up to my recent posts on the limits of grading, Steven looks at one very promising alternative to grades for student evaluation By Steven Zemelman Ina recent blog post, Russ wrote abo
The Best Videos For Learning About Civil Disobedience | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…
by mike simpson / 8h
The Best Videos For Learning About Civil Disobedience | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… : The Best Videos For Learning About Civil Disobedience Based on what has happened in our country over the past week, I thought that teachers and others might find this list useful. You might also be interested in The Best Sites For Learning About Protests In History . Share this: The Best Videos For Lea
Winter is still coming | Deconstructing Myths
by mike simpson / 8h
Winter is still coming | Deconstructing Myths : Winter is still coming It’s been about 18 months since my last post, and in that time the land of GMO milk and honey has continued to curdle even further. I regret my self-imposed absence due to my law school studies and will do my best not to include words such as tortious interference or condition precedent in any subsequent posts. While I can’t p
Badass Teachers Association: A Tale Of Two Marches by Dr. Michael Flanagan
by mike simpson / 9h
Badass Teachers Association: A Tale Of Two Marches by Dr. Michael Flanagan : A Tale Of Two Marches by Dr. Michael Flanagan On Thursday night I went with some of my colleagues to Washington DC in order to meet with the staffs of Senator Sanders and Senator Hassan and advocate for public education. It is important in this time of upheaval in American politics to advocate for public school students.
Dignity for my Yemeni Students & the Inhumanity of Trump’s Anti-Muslim Immigration Ban | Critical Classrooms, Critical Kids
by mike simpson / 9h
Dignity for my Yemeni Students & the Inhumanity of Trump’s Anti-Muslim Immigration Ban | Critical Classrooms, Critical Kids : Dignity for my Yemeni Students & the Inhumanity of Trump’s Anti-Muslim Immigration Ban The majority of U.S. citizens do not support the current predator-in-chief .* He does not speak for us or represent our views. We condemn his racist and xenophobic actions , most recentl
Choosing Democracy: Trump Signs Executive Orders Calling For Deportations and Exclusions of Refugees
by mike simpson / 9h
Choosing Democracy: Trump Signs Executive Orders Calling For Deportations and Exclusions of Refugees : Trump Signs Executive Orders Calling For Deportations and Exclusions of Refugees “ First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for t
FAQ: The Trump Executive Order On Immigration
by mike simpson / 9h
FAQ: The Trump Executive Order On Immigration : FAQ: The Trump Executive Order On Immigration FAQ: The Trump Executive Order on Immigration By: Joshua Adam Engel It is impossible to overate how bad Donald Trump’s Executive Order on Immigration is for America and the world. The Executive Order undermines some fundamental American Constitutional values and brings us closer to authoritarianism. The

YESTERDAY

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 1/28/17
by mike simpson / 23h
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 1/28/17 Featured Post The telling letter Betsy DeVos wrote to clarify her position on U.S. disabilities law - The Washington Post Hundreds of California teachers protest Trump's nominee for 

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LETTER: Betsy DeVos to Senator Isakson on IDEA Enforcement | deutsch29

LETTER: Betsy DeVos to Senator Isakson on IDEA Enforcement | deutsch29:

LETTER: Betsy DeVos to Senator Isakson on IDEA Enforcement



On January 28, 2017, Valerie Strauss posted a piece about a letter that Michigan billionaire and US ed sec nominee Betsy DeVos wrote to Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee member, Johnny Isakson (R-GA) regarding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
It is no secret that DeVos did not understand IDEA during her January 17, 2017 Senate HELP Committee hearing interactions with Senator Maggie Hassan. (View the DeVos-Hassan exchange below.)


Whether Isakson asked DeVos to clarify her position on IDEA or DeVos chose of her own volition to send her explanation to Isakson (and possibly other HELP members) is not clear. However, based on the text of the letter, it is clear that DeVos is trying to smooth over a rough moment in her hearing.
Before I comment further, it might be helpful for readers to view DeVos’ entire letter to Isakson.
The full text is as follows:
January 24, 2017
The Honorable Johnny Isakson
United States Senate
131 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Isakson,
Thank you for the opportunity to more fully explain my position on the importance of protecting the rights of students with disabilities and ensuring that they receive the quality education they need and deserve. I am committed to enforcing all federal laws and protecting the hard won rights of students with disabilities.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, commonly called IDEA, protects the rights of students with disabilities to gain access to a high-quality education. I would like to address three specific aspects of IDEA: (1) the federal role in implementing IDEA, (2) the importance of a student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and (3) my passion for expanding educational options for parents who have a child with a disability.
Federal Role in Implementing IDEA
I believe that all students, including individuals with disabilities, deserve an equal opportunity to lead full, productive and successful lives. To that end, I am committed to supporting the remarkable parents and educators who make this vision a reality for students with disabilities in states and communities across our great nation. IDEA requires a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment for all students with disabilities.
At the federal level, we need to guide and monitor compliance while supporting states with the tools they need to help parents, schools, districts and other stakeholders succeed. For example, we must fund research and disseminate information about evidence based practices that work best for students with disabilities.
Individualized Educational Program (IEP)
At the federal level, we must encourage states to work with parents, schools and districts to create more effective IEPs that are useful for increasing learning gains for students with disabilities. IEPs must include measurable annual goals for monitoring progress and clear information for parents about 
LETTER: Betsy DeVos to Senator Isakson on IDEA Enforcement | deutsch29:


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