Florida Republican Files Bill to Expand Corporate Tax Credit Scholarships | Scathing Purple Musings

Florida Republican Files Bill to Expand Corporate Tax Credit Scholarships | Scathing Purple Musings:

Florida Republican Files Bill to Expand Corporate Tax Credit Scholarships

by Bob Sikes

A Democrat legislator from Florida called for more oversight into McCay scholarships in light of significant fraud. This weeks, two republicans are looking to expand another way for those same private schools to get their hands on taxpayer dollars. From News Service Florida

House Republican has filed a proposal that would expand a program that offers corporate tax credits to help pay for low-income children to attend private schools. Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-New Port Richey, filed a bill (HB 859) Friday that would increase the amount of tax credits allowed in the program to $250 million and also lift some eligibility requirements for children. The maximum amount of credits during the 2011-12 fiscal year is $175 million, according to information on the

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top AM Posts #ows #edreform

Occupy Davis, as Covered by High School Journalists - NYTimes.com

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Occupy Davis, as Covered by High School Journalists - NYTimes.com:Occupy Davis, as Covered by High School JournalistsBy HOLLY EPSTEIN OJALVOCourtesy of Blue Devil HUBVideo taken by Anna Sturla, a high school journalist, of the U.C. Davis chancellor’s “silent walk” amid student protesters in the aftermath of the pepper spray incident.Readers learned of the pepper-spraying incident at the University of California-Davis by reading coverage on The Lede, The Times’s breaking news blog, in a post by Brian Stelter. The next day, ... more »

A Whole Child Approach to Education and the Common Core State Standards Initiative

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The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education:A Whole Child Approach to Education and the Common Core State Standards Initiativeby Molly McCloskeyA whole child approach to education is defined by policies, practices, and relationships that ensure each child, in each school, in each community, is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. It engages all stakeholders—educators, families, policymakers, and community members—in defying the “percentage proficient” culture of too many school reform efforts, to focus on each child. And it further raises ... more »

Bullying: The reality of a child’s pain (video) | Being Latino Online Magazine

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Bullying: The reality of a child’s pain (video) | Being Latino Online Magazine:Bullying: The reality of a child’s pain (video)by Libby Juliá-VázquezHe writes on the YouTube description, “IM NOT GOING TO KILL MYSELF. I JUST NEED TO GET THIS OUT HERE.” How many more children are hurting and not being heard. What can YOU do to help?

Schools Matter: CALL FOR ACTION: EDUCATORS UNITE! #ows

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 4 hours ago

Schools Matter: CALL FOR ACTION: EDUCATORS UNITE!:CALL FOR ACTION: EDUCATORS UNITE!by P. L. ThomasCALL FOR ACTION: EDUCATORS UNITE!As public educators committed to democratic principles, we are charged to: Advocate for authentic reform initiatives that support public education to ensure PK-12 students develop the critical thinking and process skills necessary to become informed citizens capable of supporting an effective democracy, And, in support of this goal, resist, and support resistance of, forces that seek to connect standardized testing to teacher evaluation.The ... more »

UCSD Reclaims Revelle’s CLICS Library « occupy california #OWS

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UCSD Reclaims Revelle’s CLICS Library « occupy california:UCSD Reclaims Revelle’s CLICS Libraryby *from RebelRadio:Hello Community,UCSD Student’s have RECLAIMED the Library known as CLICS located in Revelle College. The University shut it down earlier this year due to “budget cuts.” This has had a dramatic effect on all students and further illustrates the Universities Privatization. The school just placed a $1.3 Million Dollar installation on the Jacob’s School of Engineering but couldn’t afford to keep the Library open.Students have spoken out ... more »

Washington D.C. Schools: Why School Choice Fails « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

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Washington D.C. Schools: Why School Choice Fails « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!:Washington D.C. Schools: Why School Choice Failsby millerlfBy NATALIE HOPKINSON Published: December 4, 2011 NYTime Op-EdIF you want to see the direction that education reform is taking the country, pay a visit to my leafy, majority-black neighborhood in Washington. While we have lived in the same house since our 11-year-old son was born, he’s been assigned to three different elementary schools as one after the other has ... more »

Are Complaints About Student Loan Debt Overhyped? - Education - GOOD

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Are Complaints About Student Loan Debt Overhyped? - Education - GOOD:Are Complaints About Student Loan Debt Overhyped?by Liz DwyerWith total student loan debt approaching $1 trillion and two-thirds of 2010 graduates owing back loans that average $25,250—a 5 percent increase since 2009—plenty of people are condemning the amount of money students must borrow to earn college degrees. But one education expert is bucking that trend, saying that the furor over loans has been blown way out of proportion.In a recent ...more »

Schools Matter: When Adults Take Tests Aimed at Children

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Schools Matter: When Adults Take Tests Aimed at Children:When Adults Take Tests Aimed at Childrenby Jim HornFrom :This was written by Marion Brady, veteran teacher, administrator, curriculum designer and author.By Marion BradyA longtime friend on the school board of one of the largest school systems in America did something that few public servants are willing to do. He took versions of his state’s high-stakes standardized math and reading tests for 10th graders, and said he’d make his scores public.By any ... more »

All Education Matters: Hypervocal: Washington Post - “Forgive Us Our Student Loan Debt?” No Thanks!

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All Education Matters: Hypervocal: Washington Post - “Forgive Us Our Student Loan Debt?” No Thanks!:Hypervocal: Washington Post - “Forgive Us Our Student Loan Debt?” No Thanks!by Cryn JohannsenHere's another piece I recently wrote on my column, Seriously Subversive, over at Hypervocal.com.The Washington Post, which owns for-profit Kaplan, published an op-ed on Monday in favor ofloan forgiveness. This is a company that has profited greatly from student loans.Naturally, they will push an agenda whose language is not particularly well-received among a ... more »

John Thompson: The Center for American Progress Pushes the Good, Bad and Ugly in Teacher Evaluation: Part 1 - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

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John Thompson: The Center for American Progress Pushes the Good, Bad and Ugly in Teacher Evaluation: Part 1 - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:John Thompson: The Center for American Progress Pushes the Good, Bad and Ugly in Teacher Evaluation: Part 1by Anthony CodyGuest post by John Thompson. Part One of Two.The Center For American Progress (CAP) is a progressive think tank founded by former Clinton staffer John Podesta. The CAP believes, "progressives are idealistic enough to believe change ... more »

Great Schools for Amerca — Great Teachers ##edreform

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Great Schools for Amerca — Great Teachers:EdwatchEducation Watch is an evolving database constructed to illuminate the connections between wealthy individuals, the proliferation of newly formed tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, and the policy that diverts public money to these private ventures. Nearly all of these organizations were formed or co-opted within the past decade. If you know of an organization to add to Education Watch, please e-mail us atedwatch@greatschoolsforamerica.org. We'll check it out.Under the provisions of No Child Left Behind and through ... more »

Homeland Security Teacher Rating System Threat Advisory | Dailycensored.com

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Homeland Security Teacher Rating System Threat Advisory | Dailycensored.com:Homeland Security Teacher Rating System Threat AdvisoryWritten by susanoDaily Journal (Opinion), Education, Media, PoliticsDec 5, 20110digg4SharePrint[1], using a #2 pencil. Submit copies to: U. S. Department of Education Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation National Governors Association Center for Best Practices Editorial Department New York Times ALECName: Last _______________First _______________Middle ____________Alias _______________Sex:MFOtherNot LatelyHomeland Security Teacher Rating System Threat Advis... more »

ASCD Inservice: What Does a Whole Child Education Look Like?

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ASCD Inservice: What Does a Whole Child Education Look Like?:What Does a Whole Child Education Look Like?A whole child education is something that everyone agrees about in principle but few can articulate in detail. What exactly does it mean to say students should be "healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged?"ASCD Express is looking for short, 600 to 1,000-word essays on the theme "What Does a Whole Child Education Look Like?"We welcome articles that illustrate the elements of a whole child ... more »

Molly Munger’s challenge | California Progress Report

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Molly Munger’s challenge | California Progress Report:Molly Munger’s challengeby meganBy Peter SchragYou have to hand it to Molly Munger – for courage, maybe, or maybe just for Quixotic dedication.Munger, a Los Angeles civil rights lawyer and former federal prosecutor, has devoted much of her career, and part of her considerable fortune, to expanding early childhood education and to equity for poor and minority children in our desperately underfunded schools.Last week she formally —and audaciously -- launched a campaign to raise ... more »

An Inconvenient Truth About Teacher Quality « The Core Knowledge Blog

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An Inconvenient Truth About Teacher Quality « The Core Knowledge Blog:An Inconvenient Truth About Teacher Qualityby Robert PondiscioDecember 5th, 2011Tags: assessment, Assessment and Testing, Curriculum, Dan Willingham, David Grissmer, math, NAEP, reading, standards, teacher qualityPosted in Assessment and Testing, Curriculum, Education Practice, Literacy, Teaching,accountability | No Comments »If teacher quality is the most important factor in student outcomes, then why are math scores rising, while reading scores stay flat? Do we just happen to have really good math teachers and ... more »

Teachers For Social Justice: Call to Action: Fight CPS School Closings!

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Teachers For Social Justice: Call to Action: Fight CPS School Closings!:Call to Action: Fight CPS School Closings!by Teachers For Social JusticeFor more information on school closings, go to ctunet.com/closings.To get involved, contact teachersforjustice@hotmail.com.

Killer apps and creative disruptions | Thoughts on Public Education

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Killer apps and creative disruptions | Thoughts on Public Education:Killer apps and creative disruptions - by John Fensterwald - Educated Guessby John Fensterwald - Educated GuessYou’d have thought Salman Khan was George Clooney. After his keynote presentation and follow-up seminar at the California School Boards Association’s annual convention in San Diego on Friday, school trustees besieged him with question and requests. A few sought his autograph, others mugged for a photo with him. Eventually, the event moderator gently reminded them, ... more »

Should Portfolios Replace Placement Tests? - Education - GOOD

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Should Portfolios Replace Placement Tests? - Education - GOOD:Should Portfolios Replace Placement Tests?by Liz DwyerHow do we know if a student is ready for high school algebra—or college-level English or math? Most K-12 schools and universities rely on placement tests, high-stakes standardized exams, to decide. And, if you don’t do well on that single test, you’re out of luck.At the college level, one third of students—even those who earned A’s and B’s in high school—have to take remedial courses that ... more »

When an adult took standardized tests forced on kids - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

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When an adult took standardized tests forced on kids - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:When an adult took standardized tests forced on kidsby Valerie StraussThis was written by Marion Brady, veteran teacher, administrator, curriculum designer and author.By Marion BradyA longtime friend on the school board of one of the largest school systems in America did something that few public servants are willing to do. He took versions of his state’s high-stakes standardized math and reading testsfor 10th graders, ... more »

All Things Education: School "Reform" in DC: Is the Problem Choice or What Compels Families to Choose?

All Things Education: School "Reform" in DC: Is the Problem Choice or What Compels Families to Choose?:

School "Reform" in DC: Is the Problem Choice or What Compels Families to Choose?

by Rachel Levy

After reading the New York times op-ed on school choice in DC, I asked some folks close to what's happening in education there for their thoughts. Mary Levy sent me what is written below and (with her permission), I decided to use it as a guest post. Mary Levy has analyzed DC Public Schoolstaffing, budget and expenditures, and monitored the progress of educationreform for thirty years. She is a majorsource for fiscal, statistical and general information on DCPS for the media,government officials and non-profit, business and civic groups. She directedthe Public Education Reform Project at the Washington Lawyers' Committee forCivil Rights & Urban Affairs for 19 years, during which she played a majorrole in developing the District of Columbia’s school funding systems, wrotenumerous

Health centers and “full-service community schools” - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools

Health centers and “full-service community schools” - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools:

Health centers and “full-service community schools”

By Katy Murphy
Monday, December 5th, 2011 at 8:38 am in health, high schools, initiatives, OUSD central office, students.

photos by Roy Manzanares, courtesy of Oakland Unified

Oakland Superintendent Tony Smith’s vision of full-service community schools is taking shape on some campuses, thanks to a school-based health center initiative that has picked up steam (and millions of dollars in funding) since 2008.

Oakland Unified’s 12th health center opened this week, at the 1,900-student Skyline High School. The Native American Health Center (NAHC) will operate services at the clinic. The renovated portable building includes two medical exam rooms, a laboratory and three confidential consultation rooms.

Skyline’s renovations were funded by a 2006 school bond measure (Measure B) and seed money from a 2008 Kaiser Permanente donation. Atlantic Philanthropie

some asian american college applicants are leaving the 'asian' check box blank | angry asian man

some asian american college applicants are leaving the 'asian' check box blank | angry asian man:

some asian american college applicants are leaving the 'asian' check box blank

Got bombarded over the weekend with this Associated Press article about college-bound mixed-race Asian American students who are choosing not to identify themselves as 'Asian' on their applications: Some Asians' college strategy: Don't check 'Asian.'

The idea is to get an edge at elite schools, where Asian Americans are perceptibly held to higher admissions standards than applicants from other ethnic groups. If standing out from the crowd means keeping quiet about being Asian, a lot of applicants are apparently leaving that check box blank:

For years, many Asian-Americans have been convinced that it's harder for them to gain admission to the nation's top colleges.

Studies show that Asian-Americans meet these colleges' admissions standards far out of proportion to their 6 percent representation in the U.S. population, and that they often need test scores hundreds of points higher than applicants from other ethnic groups to have an equal chance of admission. Critics say these numbers,

ALEC Education Task Force Approves Anti-Common Core Model Legislation | Truth in American Education

ALEC Education Task Force Approves Anti-Common Core Model Legislation | Truth in American Education:

ALEC Education Task Force Approves Anti-Common Core Model Legislation

by Shane Vander Hart

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) met last week in Scottsdale, AZ. They are an organization whose mission is “to advance the Jeffersonian principles of free markets, limited government, federalism, and individual liberty, through a nonpartisan public-private partnership of America’s state legislators, members of the private sector, the federal government, and general public.” They have several task forces, one of which is education.

This group is important as model legislation is often developed and discussed and then taken home to the state capitals and placed on legislative agendas. Though the group’s mission is to advance Jeffersonian principles, in

Schools Matter: Gingrich and Trump Team Up to Create "Junior Janitor Apprentice"

Schools Matter: Gingrich and Trump Team Up to Create "Junior Janitor Apprentice":

Gingrich and Trump Team Up to Create "Junior Janitor Apprentice"

by Jim Horn

Last week Newt Grincherly proved to be the latest threat to the GOP's only brand of ReaganLite, Mitt Romney. In showing why he is the intellectual voice of conservative politcs, Grinchoski offered his view on helping poor children while saving the schools some money. Let's go to the video:

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Today the new GOP frontrunner zoomed up Trump Towers for a private meeting with the don or reality capitalism and point man for Birtherism, Donald Trump. In the press conference that followed, Trump announced that after