Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Education Research Report: Teachers' Use of Educational Technology in U.S. Public Schools: 2009

Teachers' Use of Educational Technology in U.S. Public Schools: 2009

by Jonathan Kantrowitz

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This First Look report presents data from a spring 2009 teacher Fast Response Survey System (FRSS) survey on the availability and use of educational technology. This includes information on the use of computers and Internet access in the classroom; availability and use of computing devices, software, and school or district networks (including remote access) by teachers; students' use of educational technology; teachers’ preparation to use educational technology for instruction; and technology-related professional development activities. Findings include:

* Ninety-seven percent of teachers had one or more computers located in the classroom every day, while 54 percent could bring computers into the classroom. Internet access was available for 93 percent of the computers located in the classroom every day and for 96 percent of the computers that could be brought into the classroom. The ratio of students to computers in the classroom every day was 5.3 to 1.

* Teachers indicated that a system on their school or district network was available for entering or viewing the

Parent activist says lasting changes must come from ‘the bottom up’ | California Progress Report

Parent activist says lasting changes must come from ‘the bottom up’

by christine

By Kido
A funny thing happened on the way to education reform: No one really talked to the parents.
That’s why this May 11, as the anniversary of Brown v. Board approaches, I’m going to Sacramento to speak to my elected officials, the people who are supposed to represent me and my children.
I’m going as part of the Parent Leadership Action Network (PLAN) and the Campaign for Quality Education (CQE). And in a role reversal, we’re going to give California grades on its public school system over the last decade. The theme for our visit is “M.I.A.: California Ditching Schools from 2000 – 2010” and as expected the grades in Funding, Graduation Rates, and College and Career Readiness are failing.
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Mythbusting: High Taxes Don't Drive People Out of CA

by christine

By Robert Cruickshank
One of the oldest and most persistent right-wing myths is that higher taxes lead to job losses and flight of wealthy taxpayers to other states. But as the California Budget Project explains, it's a myth without truth:
In the early 1990s, when 10 percent and 11 percent personal income tax rates were in place for married taxpayers with taxable incomes of $200,000 or more who filed joint tax returns and single taxpayers with taxable incomes of $100,000 or more, the number of taxpayers subject to those rates increased substantially, even while the total number of taxpayers declined. The number of California's married taxpayers with incomes of at least $200,000 rose by 33.4 percent between 1991 and 1995, and the number of single personal income tax filers with incomes of at least $100,000 increased by 40.2 percent....
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Fascists in Flip-Flops: Musings from the 2010 AERA Conference :: Frederick M. Hess

Frederick M. Hess's Blog

Fascists in Flip-Flops: Musings from the 2010 AERA Conference

by Frederick M. Hess • May 5, 2010 at 9:47 am
Cross-posted from Education Week

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Props to sly Mike Johanek, director of UPenn's midcareer Ph.D. program and Race to the Top reviewer extraordinaire, for this post's title. Only question for you, readers, is the identity of the fascist. I will say that I may have been the only conference attendee in chilly Denver wearing flip-flops. Result: I did a panel with University of Wisconsin's Michael Apple and he probably looked more like the D.C. policy wonk, while I probably bore more than a passing resemblance to the stereotypical critical race theory prof. Keep reading, and I welcome comments on who you think Johanek's fascists are.

Anyway, last Friday, while I was in another room trying to be a good team player and do my duty on the American Educational Research Association's annual meeting policy committee, the AERA governing council voted to wade into the impassioned debate over Arizona's controversial new immigration statute.

The near-unanimous resolution (one council member abstained) said the law "is so broad in its reach and enforcement powers that it can have an adverse impact on the freedom to travel or assemble" and announced that AERA "will no longer hold meetings or conferences in the state of Arizona." Well, okay.

I had a much more adverse reaction, though, to the Saturday news conference held to announce the resolution.

The Future of America: Financial Literacy Education ED.gov Blog

ED.gov Blog

The Future of America: Financial Literacy Education

Cross posted from the White House blog.

Editor’s Note: Aaron Moore earned a perfect score on the National Financial Capability Challenge, an awards program announced in December by Treasury Secretary Geithner and Education Secretary Duncan, designed to promote financial education among high school students across the country. He has made several speaking engagements and national media appearances discussing the topic of financial literacy and serves as the president of Future Business Leaders of America for the state of Maryland. He will enter Villanova University in the fall to study Business Administration.

The Future of America: Financial Literacy Education

Students are given opportunities and choices; I was given an opportunity like no other, to speak at the Treasury Department along side of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Education Secretary Arne Duncan. From beginning to end I was engaged, enlightened, and excited. The halls of the Treasury truly represented what it means to be American, full of marble, wood, and gold, the building materials of our founding fathers.

The experience of the day is attributed solely to financial literacy education, the topic of my speech. We gathered in the legendary Cash Room to celebrate and honor financially literate students, while recognizing that we still have a long way to go in financial education.

I cannot say how many times I heard “In the wake of today’s economic crisis.” However, the reason that quote was used so many times is it is absolutely true that in today’s economic standing that the future leaders of our country and controllers of our economy must understand finance in order to prevent financial disaster.

Students must learn what IRA’s and 401(k)’s are. They must also learn how to properly invest their money. Most importantly, they must know how much they can afford to pay in mortgage every month and not be taken advantage of by corporate policies that earn profit and not consumer trust. There are too many American children who do not know how to establish credit, make a budget, or even write a check.

Some school districts have realized this and implemented a financial literacy course as a graduation requirement, but not all have taken heed of the economy’s recent message. President Obama often talks about not wanting our healthcare system to be a sick care system, but preventative. The exact principle applies to education, making it preventative. We, as a country, can avoid such economic disasters with financial knowledge.

In addition to the classroom, there are exciting ways for students to learn by experience and competition through Career and Technology Student Organizations (CTSO). One such organization is Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), a national student business organization with over 215,000 members. In FBLA, students are able to learn and apply knowledge to win awards and scholarships, while also networking with other students at regional, state, and national conferences.

My experience in financial education has been unique and I can credit my experiences for my achievement of a perfect score on the National Financial Literacy Capability Challenge. Taking classes in World Finance, Economics, Financial Planning, Banking and Credit, and International Finance have helped me gain the knowledge I needed and having a parent in the financial industry, interning at a bank, and serving as President of Maryland FBLA have also given me the experiences of a lifetime.

I encourage all students to take advantage of the financial courses offered at their school, join a CTSO and receive that knowledge that is available to them because not only does it benefit their financial well-being, but it also benefits the country’s. Additionally, I hope that the National Financial Capability Challenge continues for many years because it honors students for their achievements, promotes financial education, and encourages them to be knowledgeable.

Aaron Moore is a student at Overlea High School in Baltimore, MD

Quality public schools need well-compensated teachers |

Quality public schools need well-compensated teachers

By Independent Press

May 05, 2010, 9:04AM

Independent Forum by Ellen Boylan

From the editorial page of this paper to public meetings and casual conversations, there have been calls to offset the Summit School District’s $2.5 million loss in state aid by freezing or reducing teachers’ compensation. I think this is the wrong direction.

We look to teachers to prepare our children for academic and career success, and to impart the fundamentals of good citizenship. On a national level, we are told that public school teachers must do more to prepare future engineers, scientist, and creative thinkers, lest the United States lose its edge in the global economy. Our children’s futures and the future of our communities, state, and country rest, in large part, in our teachers’ hands.

To fill this tall order, teachers are expected and, indeed, required to be bright, hardworking, and dedicated. To attract and retain the best and the brightest, the Summit Board of Education must provide teachers with adequate and consistent salary and benefits. Otherwise, it is only a matter of time before smart, capable people forgo teaching for professions that garner better compensation and more respect.

Misinformation has fueled the attack on teacher compensation. Gov. Christie has led the charge by misrepresenting that teachers earn $100,000 salaries, pay nothing toward benefits, and receive a 4-% annual wage increase. In reality, a teacher with a bachelor’s degree starts in the Summit public schools at about $54,000 per year. On the same salary scale, a teacher with a bachelor’s degree who has taught for ten years earns about $59,000; a teacher with a PhD who has taught for ten years earns $68,800. A small number of teachers earn in the $100,000 range, but they have been in the Summit schools for decades, some as many as 35 years.

For most teachers, it is a slow creep up the 22-step salary scale. In fact, recent legislation requiring teachers to contribute at least 1.5% of salary to health benefits will effectively wipe out future pay increases due under the current contract. Critics lament teachers’ health and pension benefits, ignoring that historically teachers received these benefits in exchange for modest salaries. If the public expects teachers to carry more of the cost of

Controversial bill to change teacher tenure has four days to pass House - The Denver Post

Controversial bill to change teacher tenure has four days to pass House

By Jeremy P. Meyer
The Denver Post

POSTED: 05/04/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT

UPDATED: 05/04/2010 08:00:22 AM MDT

The most controversial education-reform legislation of the session faces a tough battle and a tight deadline as the House Education Committee is scheduled to consider the bill Thursday — four working days before the session's end.

"Nothing is impossible. But it's definitely pushing the calendar," said the bill's co-sponsor, Rep. Christine Scanlan, D-Dillon.

Senate Bill 191, which passed the Senate on Friday and was introduced into the House on Monday, seeks to tie 50 percent of teacher and principal evaluations to student growth and would change the way teachers get and keep tenure.

The 13-member House Education Committee has five vocal Democratic opponents of the bill, including the committee chairman, former music teacher Rep. Michael Merrifield of Colorado Springs.

"This is an incredibly complicated and important measure," Merrifield said. "We're looking at significant change to policy that we have had in place for a number of years."

Lawmakers say they are getting bombarded with e-mails, mostly from teachers, urging no votes.

Five Republicans are in favor of the bill, leaving two Democrats as possible key votes for its approval: Sue

Reformers pumping money into School Board race : City & Region : The Buffalo News

"The people we've endorsed are the true reform, kid-oriented, tax dollar-sensitive folk," said Andrew J. Rudnick, president and CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership.

Derek Gee / News file photo

Reformers pumping money into School Board race

New York City group backs charter schools

By Mary B. Pasciak

NEWS EDUCATION REPORTER

Updated: May 01, 2010, 8:04 pm / 23 comments
Published: May 01, 2010, 12:09 am

Education Reform Now has identified three candidates it believes would support its agenda, which includes increasing the number of charter schools and linking teacher compensation to performance.A national education reform group based in New York City is pouring more than $50,000 into Buffalo's Board of Education elections this year.

The group's financial support appears likely to eclipse the money spent by the other two key players in the race, the Buffalo Teachers Federation and the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. Each of those groups estimated they would be spending about $10,000 this year, although final tallies will not be publicly disclosed for several weeks.

• Chart: Buffalo Board of Education candidates with their endorsements
• Earlier: Contests waged for five Buffalo School Board seats
• Find your district: Click here to go to the Board of Elections' precinct finder
• Video: Candidates give their opinions on issues facing Buffalo Public Schools

Joe Williams, the executive director of Education Reform Now, said the nonprofit has been involved with a number of legislative issues at the state level, including efforts to lift the ca

Reformers' secret weapon: Class-act lobbyist - NYPOST.com

Reformers' secret weapon: Class-act lobbyist

By CARL CAMPANILE Post Correspondent

Last Updated: 5:28 AM, May 5, 2010

Posted: 3:29 AM, May 5, 2010

Comments: 2

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ALBANY -- The charter-school movement has a potent weapon in its quest to persuade the state Assembly to lift the cap on charter schools: powerhouse lobbyist Patricia Lynch.

Lynch -- the former communications director for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver -- has deep ties in the Legislature.

Her firm -- Patricia Lynch Associates -- has 175 clients and is the second-highest-paid lobbying firm in New York with $8.5 million in fees and expenses last year.

Lynch has been retained by three pro-charter-school organizations: the Harlem Success Charter School Network, Democrats for Education Reform and Teach for America.

Each outfit is paying Lynch's firm $5,000 a month -- or $15,000 combined -- to help boost charter schools.

"It's all about the children in the classroom and the opportunity that education provides," Lynch said.

Charter-school supporters will need all the help they can get to try to get a charter-school bill through the Assembly, where the teachers unions hold considerable sway.

Education Reform Now’s Hedge Fund Buddies | Artvoice Daily

Education Reform Now’s Hedge Fund Buddies | Artvoice Daily:

EDUCATION REFORM NOW’S HEDGE FUND BUDDIES

Here’s an interesting story from the Express in Milwaukee, where Education Reform Now (ERN) and Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) have been lobbying big time to grab control of Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS).

In Saturday’s Buffalo News, ERN Executive Director Joe Williams forgot to mention that the ERN board is made up of businessmen from hedge fund groups who see charters as a “hot cause”. These folks work for Hawkshaw Capital, Gotham Capital, SAC Capital and Maverick Capital.

Maybe that’s why Andrew Rudnick referred to the Buffalo Public Schools as “a big business. This is a billion dollar budget. You need committed, reform-minded folks to be the board of directors.”

Who knew that hedge fund groups were such progressives when it comes to the education of our children? God bless ‘em.

Potentially related posts (automatically generated):

Education Reform Now Lies

Kotowski within her authority, judge rules - San Jose Mercury News

Kotowski within her authority, judge rules

County superintendent had rescinded King City district contract with teachers union

By CLAUDIA MELÉNDEZ SALINAS
Herald Salinas Bureau

Posted: 05/05/2010 03:11:27 AM PDT

Updated: 05/05/2010 03:11:28 AM PDT

Click photo to enlarge

Kotowski

Monterey County Superintendent of Schools Nancy Kotowski acted within the scope of her authority when she rescinded a contract between the King City Joint Union High School District and its teachers association, a judge has ruled.

In a written ruling issued last week, Monterey County Superior Court Judge Kay Kingsley said Kotowski's actions were authorized by the Education Code because "once it is determined that a district has a negative certification ... the county superintendent is vested with additional fiscal oversight powers and duties." A district receives a negative certification from the state if it is unlikely to meet its financial obligations.

In response to the ruling, Kotowski said in a statement that "since I rescinded the agreement, the teachers union and the school district are still working on a solution that will help in the school district's financial recovery." She could not be reached for further comment.

Tim Swoverland, president of the King City High School Teachers Association, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Mike Myslinski, spokesman for the California Teachers Association, said the union was

voiceofsandiego.org | Bright and Early: The Education Newsblitz

voiceofsandiego.org | News. Investigation. Analysis. Conversation. Intelligence.

Bright and Early: The Education Newsblitz

The newsblitz waits for no man, woman or child:

We blog that more than 100 educators in their first few years at San Diego Unified could be laid off, after the school board finally decided how many teachers it would need to warn of layoffs.
We also blog about how San Diego Unified is studying whether its hiring freeze was really a hiring freeze.
And we fact check the library foundation website, which stated that school bond money was designated for a downtown high school. The verdict? Check it out here.
KPBS reports on slow but steady progress on race relations and other changes at UCSD after it suffered a string of racially offensive incidents on and near campus this spring.
The Union-Tribune reports on a shift in redevelopment money to schools. I'm still trying to find out what this will mean for local schools -- stay tuned.
Encinitas schools will lay off teachers and other employees to balance their budget, the North County Times writes.
Students at two Los Angeles middle schools are getting laptops that they can take home, the LA Times writes. This is similar to but much smaller than the massive technology rollout in San Diego Unified.
Educated Guess explores how freedom to spend state money without so many restrictions changed how California school districts spent their money this year. Many focused on core programs and cut adult education, deferred maintenance and even gifted classes.
Several parcel taxes to help fund schools passed in school districts near San Jose, the Mercury News reports. This is something that San Diego Unified will watch closely as it plans a parcel tax of its own.

Media-Newswire.com - Press Release Distribution - PR Agency

Strengthening NY's Educational System: Senate Passes Legislation To Increase Number of Charter Schools & Enact New Accountability Standards

As part of its efforts to enhance New York's ability to receive federal funding in Phase II of the Race to the Top competition, the State Senate passed legislation (S.7678) to increase the charter school cap and strengthen educational reforms through greater transparency, accountability and educational opportunities for special needs students.

(Media-Newswire.com) - As part of its efforts to enhance New York’s ability to receive federal funding in Phase II of the Race to the Top competition, the State Senate passed legislation ( S.7678 ) to increase the charter school cap and strengthen educational reforms through greater transparency, accountability and educational opportunities for special needs students.

The Senate’s legislation raises the cap on charter schools in the state from 200 to 460, shared between the State University of New York, the Board of Regents and local school districts, and provides that revoked charter schools will no longer count against the cap.

The increased oversight of charter school facilities applies to their financial, operational and management programs. Additionally, the legislation encourages their most successful practices be shared and replicated, with the Board of Regents responsible for recommending these practices within public school districts.

“Nothing is more important than investing in our children’s education and our future. We need to improve our score for Race to the Top, just as we need to increase accountability for charter schools and expand educational opportunities for all of our children,” said Senate Majority Conference Leader John L. Sampson.

“Few things incite such passion as the education of our children,” Senate President Pro Tempore Malcolm A. Smith said. “ Raising the charter school cap will put New York in a more competitive position to receive the much needed $700 million in federal Race to the Top funding. This legislation gives us the unique opportunity to offer parents educational opportunities for their children they might not otherwise have.”

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