Thursday, September 29, 2011

Charter failure prompts scrutiny | Thoughts on Public Education

Charter failure prompts scrutiny | Thoughts on Public Education:

Charter failure prompts scrutiny
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Dept. Supt. Zeiger sees tens of millions of dollars lost

Posted on 9/29/11 • Categorized as Charters, State Board of Education

By John Fensterwald - Educated Guess

The bankruptcy of a one-year-old charter school in West Sacramento has underscored difficulties with state and federal funding of startup schools and raised questions about theState Board of Education’s long-term capacity to oversee dozens of charter schools that it has approved.

There are probably practical fixes to the funding issue that could reduce the odds that millions of dollars would be squandered on bad-bet charter schools. The issue of the State Board’s oversight of charters raises a deeper question: Who should approve and monitor charters – local districts, the State Board on appeal, or perhaps independent agencies and universities, as in other states, with the expertise and a disinterest in the charters they would

Modern School: Lead Lurks in Lunch Boxes

Modern School: Lead Lurks in Lunch Boxes:

Lead Lurks in Lunch Boxes

by Michael Dunn

Pollution and Activism (by Toban Black)

The Environmental Law foundation (ELF) in Oakland plans to file suit today over lead contamination in dozens of brands of bottled juice, packaged fruit and baby food, according to a report today on the California Report. The foods are commonly fed to children, sent to school with them in their lunchboxes or sold in cafeterias. Children are particularly susceptible to the effects of lead and other toxins because of their smaller bodies and rapidly growing bodies and brains.

Jim Wheaton, President of ELF, said that their tests indicated that dozens of major companies are violating the state’s Prop 65 by selling products containing lead without providing the required warning labels. One reason for

What Happened to My Grade Book?: Rubbish Piles of #Blueberries and #EdReform Efforts

What Happened to My Grade Book?: Rubbish Piles of #Blueberries and #EdReform Efforts:

Rubbish Piles of #Blueberries and #EdReform Efforts

by Della

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed." Dwight D. Eisenhower

This quote is perfectly applicable to the weapons made by high-stakes test/assessment publishers -MacGraw Hill and Pearson- in the name of student accountability. I also include the new weapons of mass destruction coming from The Gates Foundation in the name of teacher accountability.

Thomas Jefferson has a pretty clear reason for establishing public education. Take a moment to read

The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education

The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education:

Schools as Guardians of Democracy

September 28th, 2011 by Melissa Mellor

Less than one-third of our nation’s 8th graders can identify the historical purpose of the Declaration of Independence. Fewer than one in five high school students are able to explain how citizen participation benefits democracy. And nearly 100 million U.S. citizens who were eligible to vote didn’t exercise that right during the 2008 presidential election.

Guardian of Democracy: the Civic Mission of Schools, a report from the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools released just before National Constitution Day on September 17, documents the decline in civic learning in U.S. schools and presents six proven practices that should be at the heart of every school’s approach to civic learning. Those practices range from incorporating discussions of current events and controversial issues in the classroom to offering opportunities for young people to become involved in their

A vision for public education - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

A vision for public education - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:

A vision for public education

by Valerie Strauss

This was written by David Johnson, president of the Georgia School Boards Association and vice chair of the Floyd County Schools in Rome, Ga.

By David Johnson

When I hear pundits – from both political parties these days – talk about improving education for children through choice, vouchers or whatever the sound bite of the day is, I wonder which children they are talking about. Out of 55.2 million K-12 students in America, 49.2 million of them are in our public schools. Only a small percentage of children go to private or parochial schools. So where’s the vision for our public schools? What are they looking at?

Read full article >>

New ways students cheat on tests

by Valerie Strauss

A cheating scheme just uncovered in New York in which a college student took the SAT exam for younger teens — for a fee — is bringing new calls for increased test security and questions about whether cheating is on the rise in the era of high-stakes tests.

Six minors and a 19-year-old were arrested in the cheating scandal and prosecutors have said they are looking to see if more people were involved.

Read full article >>

Where Achievement Gap Mania Came From :: Frederick M. Hess

Where Achievement Gap Mania Came From :: Frederick M. Hess:

Where Achievement Gap Mania Came From

by Frederick M. Hess • Sep 29, 2011 at 7:54 am
Cross-posted from Education Week

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Last week's National Affairs essay "Our Achievement Gap Mania" has raised a little ire. One thing that might be useful is to situate the debate a bit, both in terms of how we got here and why I have the temerity to suggest that the moral philosophy behind gap-closing is less compelling than proponents seem to imagine.

In the 1960s, in the famed Coleman Report, sociologist James Coleman examined the first large-scale collection of data on school characteristics and student achievement to conclude that schooling had little effect on students' life outcomes and that parents' involvement in their children's lives affected achievement and eventual success much more powerfully than did schooling. An extensive reanalysis by sociologist Christopher Jencks and a team at Harvard similarly concluded that the outcomes of schooling depended almost entirely on "the characteristics of the entering children. Everything else--the school budget, its policies, the characteristics

Madison Prep : How a charter school is born | Seattle Education

Madison Prep : How a charter school is born | Seattle Education:

Madison Prep : How a charter school is born

by seattleducation2011

This article describes in detail the failings and misgivings of one charter school that is trying to gain a foothold in Madison, Wisconsin.

Posted originally on Advocating on Madison Public Schools, Madison Prep and the Attack on Public Education:

For decades free market advocates such as the Bradley Foundation, the Walton Foundation and the Koch brothers have a waged a multi-front campaign against the public sector and the idea of the common good. Public education has been one of the key battlegrounds. In the coming weeks the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education will decide whether to approve a proposal for the Madison Prep Charter School. This proposal and the chief advocate for it – Kaleem Caire of the Urban League of Greater Madison – have their roots

School Tech Connect: To Crystal Lake! And Beyond!

School Tech Connect: To Crystal Lake! And Beyond!:

To Crystal Lake! And Beyond!

by noreply@blogger.com (Tim)

In a strange confluence of technology and policy advocacy..... I have this post to offer.

TRS Director Dick Ingram is giving a series of public presentations. One just concluded moments ago in Joliet. The next one is October 5 in some place called Crystal Lake, which sounds lovely. Surely such a lake is studded with treasures on its seabed.

Do lakes have seabeds? Lakebeds?

Ingram is speaking from this PowerPoint, which is nice to look at, but like all PowerPoints, it lacks a certain, shall we say joie de vivre, without his actual words. And yes, I realize that joie de vivre has nothing to do with it.

Dear Evanston/Skokie Educators

by noreply@blogger.com (Tim)

For my national audience (and that includes all two of you), this post is purely local.

Dear North Shore Colleagues,

Illinois State Representative Daniel Biss (D- 17th LD) is having a Town Hall on October 2.

Please go. In fact, pack the joint. Here's what he thinks will be on the agenda:

Some issues that we're likely to address have been in the news a great deal, particularly the ComEd "smart grid" bill (I opposed it, but it passed, and the Governor has since vetoed it so there may be a vote to override his veto) and the casino gaming bill (I also opposed this one, and the Governor has not yet acted on it, but has indicated he is not enthusiastic). Others include the potential closing of a number of state facilities, and other still unresolved matters in the budget.

I have highlighted the little detail that is important to your future. You should go and make yourself heard. I believe red is the color du jour in these matters.

Representative Biss is the Personnel and Pensions Committee member who earlier this year single-handedly uncovered the disturbing fact that the SB 512's sponsors hadn't done any kind of analysis about how the bill would affect A) the members of the retirement systems and B) the financial health of the retirement systems. It was a line of questioning that would have earned an "average" rating in a debate class, but in state committee work it was a once-in-a-lifetime grand slam of public deductive reasoning. Tom Cross's financial guys were stumped, although to be honest, one had the feeling that "stumped" was more of a baseline condition in those particular cases.

Incidentally, I've heard that TRS's subsequent actuarial review of SB512 has uncovered even more absurdities in how the bill plays out on the ground. I'll look for some links because I'm hearing that it borders on farce, and we all need a little farce these days.

In any event, Representative Biss chose to vote "present" instead of "no," a decision that he should be politely called on. In my view, the purpose of committee service is to send bills to the floor that are ready to go the floor and to reject ones that are being ramrodded by special interests. In this case, the special interest was Speaker Madigan, who has presided over so many pension-shorted budgets that he probably feels the need to kill the pensions off entirely, now that he's on Jonah Edelman's payroll.

Mr. Biss surely has his own explanation for the vote. I'd like to hear it.

Representative Biss needs to know that the people who voted for him will have his back when he stands up for the pension systems and does what is right during the veto session and beyond. That's what the message should be at the town tall.

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Christie just another teacher-bashing corporate reformer

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Christie just another teacher-bashing corporate reformer:

Christie just another teacher-bashing corporate reformer

N.J. teacher writes

My parents, both public school teachers, along with the many great teachers who shaped my life, were my inspiration when I changed careers and became a teacher in 2003. As I return to school this year, the calls for “reform” and the negative atmosphere created by the vociferous “blame the teacher” brigade make me question my career change.

The largest piece of the governor’s proposals focuses on improving

Who is the Educator? The One Who Takes Responsibility.

Who is the Educator? The One Who Takes Responsibility.:

Who is the Educator? The One Who Takes Responsibility.

by Rick

Twenty years ago Delanie Easton, an Oaklander who was running for the position of Superintendent of Schools for the State of California said to a room of a thousand people: “If someone asked me, ‘Delanie, which would you rather have: one million dollars or one hour of parent involvement?’ I would say ‘One hour of parent involvement!’”

Really, Delanie? Not me.

I mean, parent involvement is good, but in a school, teachers are responsible for what kids learn, how they treat one another, and whether or not they love to go to school. Come to think of it, who is responsible for creating the conditions in which a parent would want to get involved? Think what one could do with $1,000,000. Think of the teacher salaries. Think of the student/teacher ratio.

But it was 1991, and it was California.

Five months ago, educators, parents and community leaders gathered in Decatur to talk about education at a

CONGRESSWOMAN KAREN BASS & ASST SEC RUSSLYNN ALI SPEAK ABOUT FIXING PUBLIC EDUCATION.. - Perdaily.com

CONGRESSWOMAN KAREN BASS & ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF EDUCATION FOR CIVIL RIGHTS RUSSLYNN ALI SPEAK ABOUT FIXING PUBLIC EDUCATION...WITH NO MONEY TO DO IT - Perdaily.com:

CONGRESSWOMAN KAREN BASS & ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF EDUCATION FOR CIVIL RIGHTS RUSSLYNN ALI SPEAK ABOUT FIXING PUBLIC EDUCATION...WITH NO MONEY TO DO IT

by Leonard Isenberg

(Mensaje se repite en Español)

(For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)

Last night at the Center for the Junior Blind in Baldwin Hills, Congresswoman Karen Bass and Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights Russlynn Ali spoke about fixing public education as "the most important civil rights issue of our generation." And yet, In laying out where we stand now and the Obama administration's ambitious goals for fixing public education by 2020 Assistant Secretary Ali tried the impossible task of trying to reconcile her optimism with her equally honest assessment that there was not only no money to fix public education, but the rather extreme likelihood that there would be even less in the future.

In discussing President Obama's "waiver package" for the failed policy of No Child Left Behind

NYC Public School Parents: Bloomberg Education Record Stained by More Corruption

NYC Public School Parents: Bloomberg Education Record Stained by More Corruption:

Bloomberg Education Record Stained by More Corruption

by Patrick J. Sullivan

Special Commissioner for Investigation Richard Condon has released a blockbuster report on the fraud perpetuated by favored DOE contractor FTA. (Report pdf is here.) The SCI points to fraud of at least $6.5 million. The worst part of this episode is that despite obvious warning signs, DOE pressed ahead with giving more business to the firm.

After a series of damning columns by Juan Gonzalez, I urged the Panel for Educational Policy, at our September, 2009 meeting to vote down a huge contract extension citing numerous irregularities. During my investigation of the contract with FTA, senior DOE staff including Joel Klein confidant Photeine Anagnostopoulos, repeatedly claimed there was nothing wrong with the arrangements and attempted to block my request to see the actual contract before we voted on it. Only with the intervention of Borough President Stringer and Assembly

Taking Another Look at “Words of Mass Reduction” « City School Stories

Taking Another Look at “Words of Mass Reduction” « City School Stories:

Taking Another Look at “Words of Mass Reduction”

by fmurphy

Reflections of an Author

Originally posted by Frank Murphy, February 8, 2011

“Words of Mass Reduction”

In a post recently published on the Notebook blog, I stated my objection to the use of the phrase “70,000 Vacant Seats” in order to describe the amount of unused space in Philadelphia Public Schools. I took exception to this descriptor because I consider it to be an example of what I call “Words of Mass Reduction” or a “ WMR” for short.

What exactly is a “WMR”? It is a concise and powerful word bomb that is employed by those who are intent

Duval Schools Study Finds that Poverty Matters in Florida | Scathing Purple Musings

Duval Schools Study Finds that Poverty Matters in Florida | Scathing Purple Musings:

Duval Schools Study Finds that Poverty Matters in Florida

by Bob Sikes

The editors of the Florida-Times Union has published an informative list of conclusions that a national consultant made during a comprehensive study of Duval schools. The even-handed nature of the study is indicated by the fact that there are things that both sides of the school reform debate will not like. Nonetheless, one key statistical finding strengthens the assertion that experienced educators have been making regarding poverty. It matters; and even great teachers are often unable to overcome poverty’s massive burden on a child’s ability to achieve in the classroom.

Less-experienced teachers are overly assigned to high-poverty schools. The gap is the largest of all the districts studied by the consultants. The district invested $2.4 million in bonuses in 2009-2010, but just 11 percent of the teachers who received the bonuses transferred into the turnaround

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

"Crazy" #edreform

K12NN on MOMocrats Podcast: The Battle in Seattle — Four Women Run for School Board

K12NN on MOMocrats Podcast: The Battle in Seattle — Four Women Run for School Board:

K12NN on the MOMocrats Podcast: The Battle in Seattle — Four Women Run for School Board

by cynthia

Listen to internet radio with MOMocrats on Blog Talk Radio

On Wednesday, September 28, 2011, Karoli and Donna Schwartz Mills joined me for a lively Blog Talk Radio podcast with four women running for school board in Bill Gates’ backyard up in Seattle. Sharon Peaslee, Michelle Buetow, Kate Martin and Marty McLaren have a vision for education in their district, and we’ll hear why it doesn’t completely mesh with that of the Gates and the Broad Foundations’ plans for education reform in America. What’s the difference between what these candidates have to offer and “ed reform” (or as

Funding Results: Class Size Reduction - K-3 (CA Dept of Education)

Funding Results: Class Size Reduction - K-3 (CA Dept of Education):

Funding Results

Class Size Reduction - K-3

Note: Recipients and funding amounts are subject to budget and administrative adjustments.

Kindergarten and Grades One through Three Class Size Reduction Program apportionment letters, schedules, and other fiscal details regarding funding information for fiscal year 2011-12.

Program Questions: Rebecca Lee, e-mail: relee@cde.ca.gov, tel. 916-324-4533

Fiscal Questions: Rebecca Lee, e-mail: relee@cde.ca.gov, tel. 916-324-4533

Apportionments

Educate So Hard, Michael Bloomberg Wanna Fine Me [Article in EdWeek] | The Jose Vilson

Educate So Hard, Michael Bloomberg Wanna Fine Me [Article in EdWeek] | The Jose Vilson:

Educate So Hard, Michael Bloomberg Wanna Fine Me [Article in EdWeek]

by Jose

Jay-Z

Excerpt:

As in any other subculture, rap aficionados argue about which rapper has produced the most impressive output. Jay-Z has cited Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., and 2Pac as “greats”—and his career is often compared with theirs. The Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac met untimely deaths in 1997, so comparisons are limited. But Nas’ “Illmatic” is considered one of the greatest hip-hop albums of

State looks into loss of funds by start-up charter schools | EdSource Extra!

State looks into loss of funds by start-up charter schools | EdSource Extra!:

State looks into loss of funds by start-up charter schools

September 27th, 2011 | 1 Comment

By Louis Freedberg

Now closed Sacramento charter school
advertises for students on opening day last fall
Photo by Louis Freedberg

(EdSource) – The California Department of Education is looking into the loss of upwards of “tens of millions of dollars” in federal and state funds from start-up charter schools that either never opened or failed after their first year or two of operation.

Richard Zeiger, chief deputy superintendent in the California Department of Education, first made that assertion at the State Board of Education meeting on September 7 after the closure of a West Sacramento career technical education charter school.

Zeiger said the state finds itself having to balance wanting to encourage innovation with ensuring that state and federal funds are not misspent.

The California College, Career and Technical Center, or CCCTEC, opened last September, in a vast building in an industrial park leased from a high tech company that moved its operations overseas.

But despite making grand promises of what it hoped to achieve, backed up by its slogan “where eagles soar and students thrive,” the school had problems virtually from day one,

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