Monday, December 21, 2009

Schools Matter: ROTT: Arne Duncan's "Moon Shot" Turns into a Scud Attack

Schools Matter: ROTT: Arne Duncan's "Moon Shot" Turns into a Scud Attack:

"The education deformers' lapdog, Arne Duncan, has sent Newt and Rev Sharpton home for the holidays, and all is quiet around Washington except for the continued quiet counting of health industry dollars in the back rooms of the Senate Building. Even so, Duncan's inspiring rhetoric regarding his Race Over the Top (ROTT) still rings out in the messages from political prostitutes like Governor Phil Bredesen, who has called for a special one week session of the Tennessee Legislature in early January to change state law to force teacher pay and tenure to be decided by a test score.

If Tennessee lawmakers bow to the Governor's brass-knuckled tactics, it will constitute an act that defies the best scientific evidence and advice regarding the Oligarchs' unproven and reckless strategy that has almost no backing among most everyone who knows anything about schooling. Today's Ed Week piece announces, yet, another smackdown for the irresponsible, unethical, and grossly underfunded moon shot that looks every day more like a reckless Scud attack:"

The Educated Reporter

The Educated Reporter:

"Reporters frequently query EWA searching for expert opinions on pushing (I mean, encouraging!) AP classes for all students. I think the New York Times did a good job yesterday of rounding up the prevailing schools of thought.

I think there’s a lot of reporting to be done on Advanced Placement, as its popularity grows so fast. Among the topics to look at: what students are and are not getting from AP classes (high- and low-achievers alike), whether teachers are well-qualified to teach them, how the test does or doesn’t change the college experience (credits, anyone?), and the degree to which schools are driving kids into AP because of academic value or their Newsweek rankings, or both."

TeachPaperless: 21 Things That Will Become Obsolete in Education by 2020

TeachPaperless

seeking social solutions to the mysteries of 21st century teaching

21 Things That Will Become Obsolete in Education by 2020

Last night I read and posted the clip on '21 Things That Became Obsolete in the Last Decade'. Well, just for kicks, I put together my own list of '21 Things That Will Become Obsolete in Education by 2020'.

1. Desks
The 21st century does not fit neatly into rows. Neither should your students. Allow the network-based concepts of flow, collaboration, and dynamism help you rearrange your room for authentic 21st century learning.

2. Language Labs
Foreign language acquisition is only a smartphone away. Get rid of those clunky desktops and monitors and do something fun with that room.

3. Computers
Ok, so this is a trick answer. More precisely this one should read: 'Our concept of what a computer is'. Because computing is going mobile and over the next decade we're going to see the full fury of individualized computing via handhelds come to the fore. Can't wait.

4. Homework
The 21st century is a 24/7 environment. And the next decade is going to see the traditional temporal boundaries between home and school disappear. And despite whatever Secretary Duncan might say, we don't need kids to 'go to school' more; we need them to 'learn' more. And this will be done 24/7 and on the move (see #3).

5. The Role of Standardized Tests in College Admissions
The AP Exam is on its last legs. The SAT isn't far behind. Over the next ten years, we will see Digital Portfolios replace test scores as the #1 factor in college admissions.

6. Differentiated Instruction as the Sign of

Students cope with poverty | tallahassee.com | Tallahassee Democrat

Students cope with poverty | tallahassee.com | Tallahassee Democrat:

"Brittany White is angry.

She is angry that she has to live at HOPE Community, a six-month transitional housing program for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, where she shares a tiny, cramped room with her mother and younger sister, Yolanda.

She is angry at her mom that they can't afford new clothes — or anything new for that matter.

She is angry because she doesn't like feeling different from her classmates.

'I've never seen people go through stuff like this at my age,' Brittany said.

At 14, Brittany is adjusting to living in poverty. She has been through a lot, but unfortunately she is not alone.

Around the Big Bend there are more than 10,000 children, ages 5 to 17, living in poverty.

The U.S. Census Bureau recently released the poverty estimates of school districts around the country. The Census Bureau uses a set equation that plugs in numbers of family size and income to determine who is in poverty. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold, then that family and every individual in it is considered in poverty."

GothamSchools - Breaking News and Analysis of the NYC Public Schools

GothamSchools - Breaking News and Analysis of the NYC Public Schools:

Queens City Council members petition Klein to save schools

"Members of the Queens City Council delegation called on Chancellor Joel Klein to abandon plans to close 20 city schools today.

Standing on the steps of Tweed Courthouse, Queens Council members, joined by colleagues representing other boroughs, accused the Department of Education of threatening to close schools without first trying to improve them or seeking community input. t

City Councilman Eric Ulrich, who represents Rockaway Beach, said the DOE did not notify his office before announcing its proposal to close Beach Channel High School.

Ulrich is circulating a petition signed by nearly all of the Queens Council members calling on the DOE to abandon its plans to close the borough’s schools."

Californians for Democracy - Official site of the CA Majority Rule Campaign

VOTING YES means

Restoring Democracy to California

One Sentence Can Change California History

Our proposition is simple - one sentence, 14 words:

All legislative actions on revenue and budget must

be determined by a majority vote.

VOTE NOVEMBER 2010

ALA | AASL Best Web sites for Teaching and Learning Top 25 Award

Best Web sites for Teaching and Learning

Top 25 Web sites for Teaching and Learning

The "Top 25" Web sites foster the qualities of innovation, creativity, active participation, and collaboration. They are free, Web-based sites that are user friendly and encourage a community of learners to explore and discover.

RCPD Police Activities League Partners with Community to Spread Holiday Cheer — The Rancho Cordova Post

RCPD Police Activities League Partners with Community to Spread Holiday Cheer — The Rancho Cordova Post:

"Over 1,000 children will have a brighter holiday season this year thanks to the Rancho Cordova Police Department Police Activities League. Thousands of toys combined with food boxes and bounce houses provided lots of holiday cheer for many Rancho Cordova families.

PAL collected toys at various locations through out Rancho Cordova for less fortunate children in our area. At the first annual Holiday Run for the Youth, runners competed in a 5K or a 10K while the toy drive was underway. Runners and gift givers braved chilly weather to support the cause and have a great time.

Before all the toys could be given to their new owners, they all needed to be wrapped and the community of Rancho Cordova was once again eager to help. On Saturday the 19th, dozens of volunteers spent the day wrapping gifts of all shapes and sizes for families that were selected to receive presents from the PAL Toy Drive."

Former NEA Lobbyist to Push for Increased Ed Money - Politics K-12 - Education Week

Former NEA Lobbyist to Push for Increased Ed Money

By Alyson Klein on December 21, 2009 2:30 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

That headline may sound very "dog bites man."

But those folks who are hoping for more money for Title I, special education, and other federal programs have a new, energetic advocate on their team. Joel Packer, who until recently was the chief No Child Left Behind Act lobbyist for the National Education Association, a 3.2 million-member union, has stepped into the job of executive director of the Committee for Education Funding, a non-partisan coalition of 80 education groups that advocates for ... you guessed it, more money for education.

Packer is now a principal (code for lobbyist) at the Raben Group, a Washington-based lobbying and consulting organization, and he'll remain in that role, despite the move. Other folks from Raben will also be helping CEF out, including Courtney Snowden, a former PTA lobbyist. Packer is taking over for Ed Kealy, who retired after 15 years at CEF.

In his past role, Packer was quoted very frequently in the pages of Education Week, and even some folks who don't agree with the NEA on any issues whatsoever seem to think he's a pretty good guy

The Claremont Institute - Failed State

The Claremont Institute - Failed State:

"California's Progressives achieved breakthrough victories in the 1910 elections. With some running as Democrats, others as Republicans, and still others disdaining party labels altogether, Progressives won governing majorities in the state legislature. Hiram Johnson, the candidate of the 'Lincoln-Roosevelt League,' was elected governor, and later became Theodore Roosevelt's vice-presidential running mate on the Progressive ticket in 1912. (One reason Roosevelt carried California that year was the Progressives were powerful enough to keep the Republican nominee off the ballot; President William Howard Taft was forced to seek California's electoral votes as a write-in candidate.)"

At next year's parades marking the centenary of the Progressives' triumph, confetti suppliers and marching bands may have to be paid with IOU's instead of cash. California's bonds are rated lower than any other state's; its budget deficit, relative to the size of the state's population, is higher than any other's. The current recession is the proximate cause of California's crisis, but other states devastated by the economic downturn, such as New York and Florida—even Michigan—face choices about taxes and spending that are far less dire. A growing number of observers argue that California's real problem is that it has become ungovernable. Kevin Starr, for example, who just published the eighth volume in his comprehensive history of the Golden State, recently told an interviewer, "In our public life, we're on the verge of being a failed state, and no state has failed in the history of this country."

Rome wasn't sacked in a day, and California didn't become Argentina overnight. Its acquired incapacity to manage its own affairs has been a long, complicated story, with many contributing factors rather than a single villain or tragic flaw. No analysis of California's political demise, however, would be complete without discussing how the Progressive legacy has undermined the state's ability to govern itself.

Top teachers assigned unevenly | cincinnati.com | Cincinnati.Com

Top teachers assigned unevenly cincinnati.com Cincinnati.Com:

"Cincinnati Public Schools teachers with a form of advanced certification are disproportionately assigned to a small group of already high-achieving schools, and many of the city's worst schools have none of the elite instructors, according to an Enquirer analysis."

The district can boast that it employs the most teachers of any district in Ohio to receive certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, a Virginia nonprofit known for having a lengthy, demanding application process.

Last week, four more CPS teachers earned the honor, bringing its all-time total to 139.

But the group's mission of elevating the teaching profession - and improving student learning - is undermined when these high-level teachers aren't deployed effectively, said Nancy Schwartz, regional outreach director for the board.

• Alphabetic list of schools • List of schools, best to worst ratio

"It's a legitimate point that we may not have our best teachers in the schools that need them the most," Schwartz said. "Teachers are naturally going to gravitate to a work environment that allows them to do their best work. In order to change that, we need systematic thinking about what it's going to take to get our best teachers into hard-to-staff schools."

Earlier this month, The New Teacher Project, an independent consultant, recommended that CPS overhaul its teacher-assignment system, including providing incentives for good teachers to go

Misinformer of the Year 2009: Glenn Beck

Misinformer Of The Year: Glenn Beck

Glenn Beck And The Paranoid Style ... Health Care Misinformer Of The Year: Betsy McCaughey... Matthews Panel Identifies Beck, Birthers And "White Tribalism" As Plague Of 2009
http://mediamatters.org/

A four-year degree from a two-year school? It could happen - ContraCostaTimes.com

A four-year degree from a two-year school? It could happen - ContraCostaTimes.com:

"With tens of thousands being turned away from state universities, California lawmakers likely will consider granting community colleges the right to offer a limited number of bachelor's degrees.

The shift, which has occurred in 17 other states in the past decade or so, would represent a major philosophical change in California, where the three state higher-education systems have clearly defined roles.

Bachelor's and higher degrees are offered by University of California and California State University campuses, while community colleges offer two-year associate degrees and certificates for a variety of professions.

However, major reforms must be considered in the age of severe budget problems, said Assemblyman Marty Block, D-San Diego, who raised the idea at a Dec. 7 hearing on the future of California's Master Plan for Higher Education."

Teachers taking complaints about paperwork to school boards | News | Star-Telegram.com

Teachers taking complaints about paperwork to school boards | News | Star-Telegram.com:

"Teachers are on a mission to cut down the mountain of paperwork they say is burying educators across Tarrant County, and their representatives are asking local school boards for help.

'We want to work with them because the law in this case is definitely on the teacher’s side,' said Larry Shaw, executive director of the United Educators Association, a group that represents North Texas teachers.

The group asked Arlington trustees last week to follow the lead of districts such as Fort Worth and establish committees to examine the paperwork required of classroom teachers. The Arlington chapter of the Texas State Teachers Association also joined the call for a review of paperwork requirements.

Programs implemented by Arlington and other districts to track student progress and address discipline issues have led to an onslaught of forms that vary by campus and may be endangering teachers’ ability to do their primary job, the organizations complain."

Spike in anti-school closure protests begins to heat up the winter | GothamSchools

Tis the season to light candles, exchange gifts, visit family — and protest school closures?

Last week marked the beginning of what promises to be an unusually heated season of rallies organized by opponents of the city’s plan to close 20 schools.

Some activists point to a heightened sensitivity around this year’s school closings. But the spike in public demonstrations may also be due to changes in school governance law that has required DOE officials to explain and defend their closure proposals in public, where those decisions were once made behind closed doors.

“I think the amount of activity this year is definitely unusual,” said parent activist Leonie Haimson. “Among people who pay attention to these things, I think there’s an overwhelming sense of enough is enough and an attitude that we’re going to fight back.”

This afternoon, teachers union head Michael Mulgrew will join parents and City Council members to protest school closings on the steps of Tweed Courthouse.

Last week, hundreds of students, parents and teachers rallied against the closure of Jamaica High School in Queens. Smaller protest gatherings were also held at Norman Thomas High School in Manhattan, Metropolitan Corporate Academy and Maxwell High School in Brooklyn. Much of last week’s four-hour-long citywide school board meeting was spent in public comment session as students and teachers vented

Education Week: States Struggle to Stitch Together Pre-K-20 Data

Education Week: States Struggle to Stitch Together Pre-K-20 Data:

"Spurred by the prospect of grant funding from the federal Race to the Top competition, as well as money made available from other parts of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, more states are taking strides to link K-12 data systems with postsecondary agencies to develop a more holistic picture of each student.

But despite the emphasis among policy leaders on K-20 data systems, the progress that states have made toward that goal varies greatly, and many challenges—both technical and political—remain.

Although the idea of linking precollegiate data with postsecondary databases has been around for years, the difference is “it is no longer something that seems to be a good idea to people just in education,” says Ben Passmore, the director of policy research for the Adelphi, Md.-based University System of Maryland, which represents 11 universities, two research institutions, and two regional higher education centers in that state."

Deloitte 2009 Education Survey | Barry Salzberg | Secondary Education Reform

The competitiveness of the U.S. economy in part depends on increasing the college-educated workforce, but too few low-income students are attending college.

It is with this reality in mind that Deloitte LLP CEO Barry Salzberg commissioned the 2009 Education Survey to explore attitudes among teachers, low-income parents and low-income students about college, student preparedness, and creating a college-going culture.

The results revealed a major disconnect on the role of high school and that the current education system does not do enough to encourage teachers and administrators to take a long-term view of student achievement.

When asked to identify the most important mission of high school, only nine percent of teachers chose preparing students for college. But low-income parents and students overwhelmingly rank preparing students for college as the most important purpose of high school.

With regard to long-term success, the results also show a gap between student aspiration and actual preparedness. While 70 percent of students indicated that they “definitely” plan to attend college, only 22 percent of students said their high school has done an “excellent” job in preparing them for college.

So what must be done? By redefining the mission of high school to become a launch pad rather than the last stop and instilling a college-going culture in our high schools, the U.S. can build a 21st Century workforce.

Standing up for victimized students | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/20/2009

Standing up for victimized students Philadelphia Inquirer 12/20/2009:

"The day after 30 Asian students were attacked by a group of mostly African American classmates at South Philadelphia High School, senior Wei Chen stood surrounded by a swarm of TV cameras.

Amid the glare and tussle, Chen assuredly answered reporters' questions, pointing out that many black youths had befriended Asian students, and saying it was school supervisors who had failed. Then he handed out something most teenagers don't carry: his business card.

People wondered: Who is this kid?

The answer: He's a whole lot of things.

Chen, 18, is articulate, smart, and frighteningly organized. He's never on time for meetings - he's there early, to help set up."

N.J. eyes expanded school choice | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/20/2009

N.J. eyes expanded school choice | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/20/2009:

"The program allows children to attend schools outside their home districts. In South Jersey, 5 districts take part.

By Rita Giordano
Inquirer Staff Writer

With a governor-elect who has vowed to support more educational options, attention has turned toward a little-known program that lets families send their children to schools outside their home district.

Known as the Interdistrict Public School Choice Program, it started in 2000 as a five-year pilot. The state Board of Education readopted the program's regulations Wednesday to keep it operating in its current form. It is in 15 districts statewide, including five in South Jersey, and last school year served a little more than 900 students.

Those numbers could grow substantially if the Legislature embraces a proposal to expand the program and make it permanent.

'This program has proven to be successful,' said Sen. Shirley Turner (D., Mercer), cosponsor of the Senate version of the bill, along with Sen. Thomas Kean Jr. (R., Union). Their bill was approved by the Senate Education Committee last month and has moved to the budget committee. An Assembly version is pending."

The Educated Guess � Leaky pipeline to college graduation

The Educated Guess � Leaky pipeline to college graduation:

"Measuring Success, Making Progress is a new site that pulls together data on student outcomes in one of the clearest presentations I’ve seen. It includes: current data on high school graduation rates, college readiness, college enrollment, community college progress and college completion rates. It makes the first stab at a six-year dropout rate, tracking students form seventh grade on.

The effort was led by MPR Associates of Berkeley and its senior researcher Jay Pfeiffer. Pfeiffer is nationally recognized for creating Florida’s longitudinal student data system and is the first to acknowledge that the new site will have more complete and accurate data once CALPADS, California’s new student"

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