Monday, July 26, 2010

School Board President Wants to Withdraw Parcel Tax Plans

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Richard Barrera

Posted: Monday, July 26, 2010 12:32 pm | Updated: 12:45 pm, Mon Jul 26, 2010.

School board President Richard Barrera will ask the rest of the San Diego Unified board tomorrow to withdraw plans for a parcel tax to fund local schools, less than two weeks after the board voted to put it on the November ballot.

Barrera said he decided to reverse course on the school tax, which he'd championed, after he and Superintendent Bill Kowba had a series of meetings with Mayor Jerry Sanders and two City Council members over the weekend.

Barrera said he became convinced that it would be extremely difficult for the parcel tax to pass this November with a city sales tax increase also on the ballot. The school tax would need two-

Eduflack: The Pollsters Respond: More on ESEA as a Voting Issue

The Pollsters Respond: More on ESEA as a Voting Issue

by Eduflack

Earlier this month, Eduflack opined on a survey released by the Alliance for Excellent Education about reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the need for focus on high schools, and the role both topics may play on this November's upcoming congressional elections. While I found the findings interesting, I worried that we were reading a little too much into the numbers, giving the average voter a little too much credit for what they think they know about ESEA and its future direction.

I offered up the counterpoint to the data originally compiled on the Alliance's behalf by Lake Research Partners. The good folks over at Lake Research Partners -- namely Celinda Lake and Chris Matthews -- wanted to set the record straight and ensure that we (and I mean that collectively, dear ol' Eduflack included) don't misconstrue the

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS: Learning to love Turkey

Learning to love Turkey

by The Perimeter Primate

It is doubtful that the people who authorized the petitions of these charter schools were notified by the founders about the importance of these activities. It is also doubtful that prospective parents were notified by the charter school leaders about the importance and meaning of these major student activities.
Student training takes place in Turkish language classes and afterschool clubs. It is unknown who is providing the elaborate and glamorous costumes and travel expenses to the various regional Turkish Olympiads. At these charter schools, trips to Turkey and other Turkish activities are routine throughout the year, although the strong Turkish emphasis will not appear written into the language of the original charter school petitions.

ERN’s Biggest Donation � DFER Watch

ERN’s Biggest Donation

by kennethlibby

ERN’s biggest donation to date (that I’m aware of) is a $250,000 gift from the Robertson Foundation. The foundation was started in 1996 by Julian Robertson, the former hedge fund manager of Tiger Management. Although Tiger Management is no longer around, they still have an active foundation (the Tiger Foundation) funded by Robertson and other former … Read more

Hinz: Proposed Building Selloff - District 299: Chicago Public Schools Blog

Hinz: Proposed Building Selloff

by Alexander Russo

Crain's Greg Hinz has a column about "a proposal by financier Bruce Rauner [education chair at the Civic Committee] to raise $800 million from investors and bank borrowing, and then use the money to buy surplus buildings from Chicago Pubic Schools and perhaps parochial school operators." Seems like a crazy, unlikely deal to me, but money talks and these are desperate times. What do you think? Try not to write something predictable or naive. Does this

Eduwonk � Blog Archive � You Can Look But You Better Not Touch?

You Can Look But You Better Not Touch?

In our space one of the big obstacles to low-priced tech for every student has been durability. Edison’s laptop initiative resulted in a lot of destroyed machines, so have others. Kids are hard on the boxes, use them as folders and crack screens, etc…it’s one reason there is skepticism about

Hechinger Report | School funding cuts claim another victim: full-day kindergarten

School funding cuts claim another victim: full-day kindergarten

by Sarah Garland

Photograph by Dave Parker

On a recent June morning, 6-year-olds Ethan Lee and Adrian D’Souza were hunched over a book about sharks in their kindergarten classroom at James Madison Primary School in Edison, N.J. Ethan read the titles of the book’s chapters to Adrian. Scattered around the room, other pairs of children sat shoulder-to-shoulder at low tables, murmuring over their books. Ella Filson, their teacher, and Debbie Gibilisco, a co-teacher who helps with special-education students, hovered nearby, occasionally pulling up a tiny chair to listen in.
“Shark attacks!” Adrian piped up when Ethan asked him which chapter he would prefer. Ethan dutifully turned to page 28 and began reading, breezing through words like “surfboard” and pausing only briefly to sound out the word “tugged.”
Like most kindergarteners, Ethan couldn’t read any words at the beginning of the year. But after a year of daily

NYC Public School Parents: New Afghan Leaks: School Reform Could “Turn Around” Failing War

NYC Public School Parents

Independent voices of New York City public school parents

NYC Public School Parents: New Afghan Leaks: School Reform Could “Turn Around” Failing War

New Afghan Leaks: School Reform Could “Turn Around” Failing War

by Gary Babad

July 26, 2010 (GBN News): While controversy continues to swirl around recently revealed leaks calling into question the effectiveness of the war effort in Afghanistan, new documents leaked to GBN News could prove to be an even bigger bombshell. A secret US plan reportedly aims to undermine the public education system in areas controlled by the Taliban through a new “turnaround” program, thus ultimately depriving the Taliban of capable recruits. Unlike the previous reports, this new plan paints a more encouraging picture in which success seems far more likely.

According to sources, a CIA operative has already been able to infiltrate the Taliban and gain control of their

The Quiet Revolution – ED.gov Blog

The Quiet Revolution

From journalists and educators to politicians and parents, there is a growing sense that a quiet revolution is underway in our homes and schools, classrooms and communities.

On Tuesday, July 27, Secretary Arne Duncan will talk about this quiet revolution in a major speech at the National Press Club at 12:30 pm ET.
This quiet revolution is driven by motivated parents who want better educational options for their children and is driven by educators and administrators who are challenging the inertia that has trapped generations of children in second-rate schools.
The Obama administration is playing a modest role in sparking this quiet revolution through Race to the Top and other reform initiatives that are giving states the incentive to raise standards, improve teacher effectiveness, build data systems, and turn around low-performing schools.
Watch the speech live on the web at 12:30 pm ET.

This entry was written by jreeves, posted on July 26, 2010

On Teacher Buy-In and IMPACT | A Blog Covering D.C. Education [ABCDE]

A Blog Covering D.C. Education [ABCDE]

I’m going to attempt to weave my love of Post-It notes with my reaction to the Education Sector panel on “Finding the Link: Teacher Evaluation and Professional Development.” I’d like to focus on one aspect of this complex discussion: teacher buy-in. Here goes…

As a teacher, I see Post-It notes as my personal guardians. Filled with reminders, notes, slogans, messages, and posted—literally—all around me, they guide me and protect my life from the uncertainties of not knowing. They are beautiful (and, if you go to Costco, not too expensive in bulk!). One Post-It note that has been up on my bedroom wall—placed conspicuously by the door above the lightswitch to serve as a constant reminder—contains a quote that I firmly believe in:

Leaks: What Would You Leak (Or Want To See Leaked)? - District 299: Chicago Public Schools Blog

Leaks: What Would You Leak (Or Want To See Leaked)? Over the weekend the website WikiLeaks released thousands of reports and updates from the military about how the war in Afghanistan was really going. It was eye-opening stuff, needless to say, and got me thinking about all the things that it would be ...

AM News: Regular Track Firing / Hiring Calls [image: news2.gif] State funding made easier for 'gifted' poor schools Defender: Among the bills signed into law this month by Gov. Pat Quinn, is one that makes it easier for low-income public schools to receive state funding for gifted educational ...

Migration: Leaving Chicago Here's a v

Queens Teacher: The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation's Board of Directors

The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation's Board of Directors

by Queens Teacher

About the Broad Center:
"The mission of The Broad Center for the Management of School Systems is to raise student achievement by recruiting, training and supporting executive leadership talent from across America to become the next generation of urban school district leaders. Established in 2001, The Center identifies talented leaders from education, business, the military, nonprofit organizations and government who have the passion, knowledge and skill to take on executive leadership roles in urban education. The Center operates two executive development programs: The Broad Superintendents Academy and The Broad Residency in Urban Education.

The Broad Center for the Management of School Systems is funded by The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, a

Civil Rights groups break with Obama on education. � Fred Klonsky's blog

Civil Rights groups break with Obama on education.

by preaprez

When last month the delegates to the National Education Association voted no confidence on Race to the Top it signaled the beginning of an open break with the Obama administration on education by a key section the progressive wing of the coalition that elected him.
It was unfortunate that the AFT buried a similar resolution using bureaucratic convention rules.
But no matter.
Today, the entire core of the US Civil Rights Movement joined the NEA in opposition to the Obama education agenda.
Placing themselves in opposition to the administration are the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law,

Notes from the news, July 26 | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Notes from the news, July 26

by Erika Owens on Jul 26 2010 Posted in Notes from the news

At Promise Academies, vacancies galore The Notebook blog
The District website shows Clemente has 47 vacancies, Potter-Thomas 22, and Vaux 13. The Notebook is awaiting comment on why the numbers are so high.

Agora Cyber Charter School approved for five more years The Inquirer
It almost lost its charter last year, but the state just approved it for another five.

Undocumented and unafraid: Pushing for the DREAM Act The Notebook blog
Undocumented activists rallied in D.C. to get the DREAM Act passed.

Hidden Homeless Philadelphia Tribune
Covenant House reaches out to homeless teens.

In case you missed it: You gotta have some standards The Notebook blog
The Core Curriculum has everyone talking, plus more on the fighting between the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress.

The Grading and Assessment Conundrum Philly Teacher blog
Philly teacher reflects on last weekend's ntcamp.

Editorial: Best of the Blogs The Inquirer

New research on bullying WHYY

Please email us if we missed anything today or if you have any suggestions of publications, email lists, or other places for us to check for news.

Click here to get Notes from the news in your inbox every day.

Notes from the news

Civil Rights Groups Call for New Federal Education Agenda - Politics K-12 - Education Week

Civil Rights Groups Call for New Federal Education Agenda

by Michele McNeil

Seven leading civil rights groups, including the NAACP and the National Urban League, called on U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today to dismantle core pieces of his education agenda, arguing that his emphases on expanding charter schools, closing low-performing schools, and using competitive rather than formula funding are detrimental to low-income and minority children.
The groups, which today released their own education policy framework and created the National Opportunity to Learn campaign, want Duncan to make big changes to his draft proposal for reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
What's even more interesting is that a big event planned to release the framework this morning in conjunction with the National Urban League's annual conference was mysteriously cancelled (or postponed, depending on

Michelle Rhee Walks the Walk :: Frederick M. Hess

Frederick M. Hess's Blog

Michelle Rhee Walks the Walk

by Frederick M. Hess • Jul 26, 2010 at 9:42 am
Cross-posted from Education Week

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On Saturday, the Washington Post's Bill Turque reported that D.C. Chancellor Michelle Rhee used the district's IMPACT evaluation system to terminate 165 teachers based on performance and identified another 737 as "minimally effective," giving them one year to improve. The usual carping is already evident and the Washington Teachers Union is grieving the firings.

But, once again, Rhee got it right. As jarring and painful as it may be for those used to the clubby routines of K-12, this is what transformational leadership looks like. And the WaPo editorial board once again got it right too,staunchly backing Rhee in an editorial on Sunday. The WaPo noted that all the lip service "given to not tolerating bad teachers" generally rings hollow. It endorsed Rhee's "unprecedented" move, observed that she inherited a system where 8 percent of eighth-graders were on grade level in math but 95 percent of teachers were rated as excellent, and noted that each termination decision was made only after teachers were

Eduwonk � Blog Archive � Teach For America And The Problem Of Study Laundering

Teach For America And The Problem Of Study Laundering

by arotherham

I mentioned some sloppiness around the the recent report about Teach for America (TFA) that Michael Wineripfeatured in his column from a few weeks ago in an effort to make the point that the research on TFA is mixed. Since we seem to be repeating history now seems a good time to revisit that and the larger issues it raises. The report conveniently highlights two problems: Our field’s pathetic and weaponized approach to research and the problem of “study laundering.”
Pile ‘em up: The two big takeaways of this report from the Great Lakes Center is that retention of TFA teachers is bad and the program’s results are, at best, mixed. There are substantial problems with both findings.
On the retention issue the researchers seem to be focusing on whether Teach For America Teachers leave their schools after two years, not whether they leave teaching. Unfortunately, this is a common mistake in research

This Week In Education: AM News: India Unveils $35 Touch-Screen Computer

AM News: India Unveils $35 Touch-Screen Computer

by Alexander Russo

Education funds out of Senate war bill Politico: Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cal.) faces growing pressure from the White House and Pentagon to accept the Senate verdict and not prolong the fight any further... Education Commissioner Defends Texas Projection Measure EdWeek: Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott defended a policy Thursday that has allowed schools to boost their state ratings by counting some failed students as passing...

A $35 Tablet? India Is On The Case NPR: The Indian government unveiled a $35 prototype of a touch-screen tablet for students. If it's produced, it would be the world's cheapest. Inexpensive touch-screen tablets have global appeal because there's no need for language-specific keyboards... Despite states' efforts, measures to protect students from predators sometimes fail Washington Post: For nearly three decades, Kevin Ricks exploited gaps in a system that is supposed to keep sexual predators out of the classroom... Education" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(34, 68, 187); ">Equity of Test Is Debated as Children Compete for Gifted Kindergarten NYT (Winerip): Because test prep “boot camp” and $145-an-hour tutoring is available to those who can pay, children from wealthy families have an advantage, some parents say.

Weblogg-ed � We Need a Test for That

We Need a Test for That

by Will Richardson

Lately, I’ve been finding myself wondering if maybe the best strategy for changing education is to join ‘em, not fight ‘em. I mean, if the only material that we think is important is the stuff that our kids are going to get tested on, well, then let’s have MORE tests! (Play along!)

How about a test that every student has to pass on how to live a more carbon free, planet-friendly life? (Wonder how many of them even know what “carbon free” means.)

How about a test on “managing, analyzing and synthesizing multiple streams of simultaneous information?” (I love the NCTE.)

Or here’s a good one. Let’s make a test for a child’s ability to talk to strangers online, not as in whether or not they should, but as in how they go about doing it. (I want my kids to talk to strangers online, btw.)

What if we made a test to see if every kid knew “20 Easy Ways to Use a Wiki?” (Um, actually, let’s not do that. Too many grownups are doing that already.)

Here’s one: Let’s put together a test to see if our students can “Create, critique, analyze, and evaluate multi-

The Daily Bruin | California’s crippling crisis

The UC Board of Regents has once more confirmed the incompetence of the UC system apropos the Great Californian Fiscal Fiasco. Amid the tourniquets thrown around in this month’s Regents meetings, there are yet no signs of change for the university’s precarious position as it teeters on the brink of financial capsize.

Ours is a conundrum as existential as it is financial (sometimes there is no difference). For if there is one chief function the university serves, it is quality education, for cheap. Sadly, the compatibility of this feeble formula’s two components is being sorely tested as of late.

The state of the University of California is still that of a balancing act – noble aims against ignoble odds – and though the crutches that sustain us may treat symptoms, they are but salt to deeper wounds. Dwindling courses and dilated fees, whilst arguably necessary in these latter days, must give us pause: In a train wreck of priorities, both quality and

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