Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top AM Posts 1-27 #edreform #ows

Modern School: Data Driven Nonsense--Few Credible Studies of Charter Schools

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

Modern School: Data Driven Nonsense--Few Credible Studies of Charter Schools:Data Driven Nonsense--Few Credible Studies of Charter Schoolsby Michael DunnTeachers in the trenches have long suspected that the “data-driven” reforms being shoved down their throats by Gates, Broad, Walton, Obama, Duncan, Rhee, et al, had little credible data to back them up and little hope of improving educational outcomes for their students. An article in the latest issue of Science (reposted on EurekAlert) lends credibility to these suspicions.According to UC San ... more »

Letter From Reynoso Indicates UCD Police Not Cooperating With Investigation #ows

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

Letter From Reynoso Indicates UCD Police Not Cooperating With Investigation:Letter From Reynoso Indicates UCD Police Not Cooperating With InvestigationWritten by David GreenwaldWednesday, 25 January 2012 04:20A letter from former Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso sent to UC President Mark Yudof indicates there will be delays in the original timeline. The delay means that Justice Reynoso is now "targeting February 21, 2012 for the release of the report of the Task Force."Mr. Reynoso indicates the changes result "primarily from our negotiations ... more »

Comprehensive, Continuous, and Coherent Assessment « The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

Comprehensive, Continuous, and Coherent Assessment « The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education:Comprehensive, Continuous, and Coherent Assessmentby Klea ScharbergOur goal is to educate students who are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged and who are ready for the demands of college, career, and citizenship. Through a combination of assessments of and for learning, such as growth models; portfolios; criterion-referenced tests; norm-referenced tests; computer adaptive assessments; diagnostic evaluations; and formative, interim, and summative assessments; we get a more... more »

NYC Public School Parents: The decline of science education in NYC high schools as shown by the falling number of Intel submissions and semi-finalists

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: The decline of science education in NYC high schools as shown by the falling number of Intel submissions and semi-finalists:The decline of science education in NYC high schools as shown by the falling number of Intel submissions and semi-finalistsby Leonie HaimsonThese posts about the decline of independent science research at NYC high schools – especially at the less selective non-specialized high schools – were written and researched by NYC parents Steve Koss and Melvin Meer. For ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: NOLA: Charter Nirvana

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: NOLA: Charter Nirvana:NOLA: Charter Nirvanaby DukeRick Hess took the week off and left the keys to his blog with Neerav Kingsland, the chief strategy officer for New Schools for New Orleans. His posts this week - here, here, here, and here - are both astonishing and infuriating.Astonishing because they call for a radical upending of public education through the entire country. Infuriating because Kingsland simply ignores the primary issue with charter school expansion:In the following letter I aim ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 1-26 Early Evening Posts #ows #edreform

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

Life in Rahm’s Chicago. Thursday edition. « Fred KlonskyBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-58 minutes agoLife in Rahm’s Chicago. Thursday edition. « Fred Klonsky:Life in Rahm’s Chicago. Thursday edition.by Fred KlonskyRahm doesn’t think pay-for-protesters is a problem.And his hand-picked board of education seems to have skipped a step. They’re budgeting for turnarounds before all the public hearings and actually taking a vote.The Sun-Times:The mayor was not concerned.“The ministers have a right — who have been long involved in school ... more »

SACRAMENTO PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE: Demonstrators Protest Rhee and Corporate Agenda for Schools

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

SACRAMENTO PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE: Demonstrators Protest Rhee and Corporate Agenda for Schools:Demonstrators Protest Rhee and Corporate Agenda for Schoolsby Duane Campbell“Silent” protestors with their mouths tapedshut confronted Sacramento MayorKevin Johnson and corporate education proponent Michelle Rhee as they entereda carefully promoted andcontrolled discussion abouteducation issues at the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria, 828 I St, in Sacramentoon Wednesday, January 25.Demonstrators held a news briefing with local mediaoutlets. The Sacramento Bee didnot

NYC Public School Parents: Concerns with the MRDC study on small schools released today

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: Concerns with the MRDC study on small schools released today:Concerns with the MRDC study on small schools released todayfrom NYC Public School Parents by Leonie HaimsonMDRC released a study today, which the NY Times writes “appeared to validate the Bloomberg administration’s decade-long push to create small schools to replace larger, failing high schools.” The report mentions the current controversy over the massive number of school closings, here in NYC and across the country, and thus there ... more »

No-Day Lobby Day. « Fred Klonsky

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

No-Day Lobby Day. « Fred Klonsky:No-Day Lobby Day.by Fred KlonskyI don’t know why the leaders of the IEA decided not to mobilize teachers for Lobby Day in Springfield this year.I know that their stated reason, that the Capitol building is under renovation, doesn’t make any sense. We have met with Park Ridge State Senator Dan Kotowski in his Capitol building office, in his office when it was in some

Life in Rahm’s Chicago. Thursday edition. « Fred Klonsky

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 14 hours ago

Life in Rahm’s Chicago. Thursday edition. « Fred Klonsky:Life in Rahm’s Chicago. Thursday edition.by Fred KlonskyRahm doesn’t think pay-for-protesters is a problem.And his hand-picked board of education seems to have skipped a step. They’re budgeting for turnarounds before all the public hearings and actually taking a vote.The Sun-Times:The mayor was not concerned.“The ministers have a right — who have been long involved in school reform, longer school day, turnaround schools, who don’t accept the status quo — to speak up,” ... more »

RheeFirst! » Protesters stage duct-taped “silent protests” on Rhee’s home turf

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 14 hours ago

RheeFirst! » Protesters stage duct-taped “silent protests” on Rhee’s home turf:Protesters stage duct-taped “silent protests” on Rhee’s home turfby adminA spirited “silent protest” was held in Rhee’s home turf last night. Rhee’s “Town Hall” had advertised itself as open to all Sacramento residents but a member of the public shown here was turned away because she did not belong to StudentsFirst or Stand for Children.Eventually, Rhee and her employees noted the growing number of protesters standing outside with their mouths

President Moonbeam. « Fred Klonsky

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 14 hours ago

President Moonbeam. « Fred Klonsky:President Moonbeam.by Fred KlonskyIt was the old Chicago columnist Mike Royko who back in the day called California Governor Jerry Brown, “Governor Moonbeam.” That was when Brown was serving his first terms as governor, sleeping on a mattress on the floor, doing yoga and dating Linda Ronstadt.Of course, I was doing those things too. Except for the yoga and Linda Ronstadt.These days Brown’s statements about schools and testing make him sound positively grounded compared to Newt ... more »

Schools Matter: What the Hell Is the Tennessee State Board of Education Doing?

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 14 hours ago

Schools Matter: What the Hell Is the Tennessee State Board of Education Doing?:What the Hell Is the Tennessee State Board of Education Doing?by Jim Horn First they came for the teachers. See below:TennesseeState Board of Education Agenda January 27, 2012 Final Reading Item: IV. G.LicenseDenial, Suspension, and Revocation Procedure PolicyTheBackground:Pursuantto State Board of Education Rule 0520-2-4-.01(9)(b) the State Board ofEducation may revoke, suspend or refuse to issue or renew a license for severalreasons listed in the rule. Currentlyunder the policy, ... more »

Under education reform, school principals swamped by teacher evaluations - CSMonitor.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 14 hours ago

Under education reform, school principals swamped by teacher evaluations - CSMonitor.com:Under education reform, school principals swamped by teacher evaluationsSchool principals, including some who back more rigorous review of teachers, are balking at education reforms required by Race to the Top. New teacher evaluations are all-consuming, they say. By Amanda Paulson, Staff writer / January 26, 2012A fourth-grader at Alton Elementary in Memphis, Tenn., gives a thumbs up. Tennessee is implementing a new teacher evaluation system this year.Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal/APEnlarge0 ...more »

From the Spin Machine: Activist Michell Rhee, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson tour California to talk education reform | news10.net

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 14 hours ago

Activist Michell Rhee, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson tour California to talk education reform | news10.net:Activist Michell Rhee, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson tour California to talk education reform3:08 AM, Jan 26, 2012 | 0 comments - A A A +Written byCornell BarnardFILED UNDERNewsEducationLife HealthSACRAMENTO, CA - Education activist Michelle Rhee and her husband, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, are hitting the road with their listening tour of California to gather support for education reform.On Wednesday, Rhee, the former Washington D.C. education chief ... more »

Modern School: Hawaii Teachers Reject Race To The Top

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 14 hours ago

Modern School: Hawaii Teachers Reject Race To The Top:Hawaii Teachers Reject Race To The Topby Michael DunnHawaiian teachers recently rejected a contract calling for performance-based evaluations and compensation, a requirement by the Race to the Top (RttT) grant their state won from the Obama administration, according to Valerie Strauss.67% of 9,000 teachers, counselors and others in the Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) rejected the contract, the first time in the union’s 44-year history that its members rejected a contract already ... more »

Scarborough & Dean Brawl Over Dem/Union Obstruction Of Education Reform | NewsBusters.org

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 14 hours ago

Scarborough Dean Brawl Over Dem/Union Obstruction Of Education Reform | NewsBusters.org:Scarborough Dean Brawl Over Dem/Union Obstruction Of Education ReformBy Mark Finkelstein | January 26, 2012 | 08:141Change font size: A | AHoward Dean: "I need to take you on a tour of America's public schools; that's what I need to do." Joe Scarborough: "I've been fighting for education reform for a generation, and every time we've tried to reform schools . . . it was the Democratic party on the ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Soviet-Style Educator Pay

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 14 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: Soviet-Style Educator Pay:Soviet-Style Educator Payby DukeLike all bullies, Chris Christie thinks the rules don't apply to him - he's special. Now New Jersey's schools beginto pay the price for his arrogance:A month after being honored on the floor of the state Senate, New Jersey’s school superintendent of the year is headed to New York, another consequence of the Christie administration’s cap on school administration salaries. Roy Montesano, the superintendent of Ramsey schools, was expected to be formally approved ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts 1-25 #edreform #ows

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 1 day ago

Fact-Checking President Obama on Race to the Top | Truth in American EducationBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-24 minutes agoFact-Checking President Obama on Race to the Top | Truth in American Education:Fact-Checking President Obama on Race to the Topby James BellPresident Obama touted Race to the Top during the State of the UnionIn the State of the Union Address, President Obama said:“For less than 1 percent of what our nation spends on education each year, we’ve convinced nearly every ... more »

Under Cuomo’s heavy hand, talks resume on city teacher evals | GothamSchools

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 1 day ago

Under Cuomo’s heavy hand, talks resume on city teacher evals | GothamSchools:Under Cuomo’s heavy hand, talks resume on city teacher evalsby Geoff DeckerThe tense standoff between the city and the teachers union appears to be thawing in response to pressure from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has stepped forward in recent days to demand resolution to the conflict.A United Federation of Teachers spokesman confirmed today that “informal talks” with the city have started up after nearly a month away from the ... more »

What “National School Choice Week” Was Actually About | The G Bitch Spot

What “National School Choice Week” Was Actually About | The G Bitch Spot:

What “National School Choice Week” Was Actually About

by G Bitch

National School Choice Week? And the kickoff was a “party,” all flash, no substance?

That noise you heard was dry heaves.

5 Biggest Lies about the Right-Wing, Corporate-Backed War on Our Schools, Alternet, 1/23/2012

The lies? That school “choice” is “about racial justice and equal opportunity,” that the aim is to make public schools “stronger,” that it supports teachers and their work, that it’s about parents getting what “they want,” and that the privatization movement is bipartisan and secular. If you’ve been paying attention to NOLA schools, you’ve seen these lies in action.

But ALEC isn’t the only right-wing supporter of School Choice Week. Conservative organizations like the Goldwater Institute, New Jersey Tea Party Caucus, Heritage Foundation, Alliance for

Jersey Jazzman: Render Unto Caesar...

Jersey Jazzman: Render Unto Caesar...:

Render Unto Caesar...

by Duke

Let's go back to Amir Khan for a minute or two:

Popout

Pastor Khan - anti-marriage equity crusader and promoter of school voucher legislation to his congregation (is that allowed by the IRS?) - was granted a charter for a school this past fall by the Christie administration (notice how the press release from the state has "Christie Administration" in the headline, and not "NJ Department of Education"). His application was promoted by the influential Black Ministers Council of New Jersey; but his

The Educated Reporter: Food Fight: Federal School Lunch Guidelines Unsavory in Arizona

The Educated Reporter: Food Fight: Federal School Lunch Guidelines Unsavory in Arizona:

Food Fight: Federal School Lunch Guidelines Unsavory in Arizona

by Emily Richmond

For some Arizona lawmakers, the federal government seems poised to become that proverbial one cook too many for their schools’ kitchens.

The conflict stems from upcoming changes to the federal nutritional guidelines for school meals, the first update in 15 years. Arizona State Senator Rich Crandall (R-Mesa) says he’s worried that the new rules will be too onerous for schools to follow. He's proposed state legislation that would allow district's top opt out of the federal meals program and decide independently what to put on the menu.

"We are giving local control back and eliminating mandates at the same time,” Crandall wrote in a note to federal

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The Econometrics of Rwandan Pear Blossoms at Duke University

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The Econometrics of Rwandan Pear Blossoms at Duke University:

The Econometrics of Rwandan Pear Blossoms at Duke University

by Mike Klonsky

I rarely post anything of this length. But this piece by my friend and Duke Univ. prof Tim Tyson, was much too compelling and beautifully written to pass up. Had to post it in full. Enjoy.

******

The Econometrics of Rwandan Pear Blossoms at Duke University
Timothy B. Tyson
Senior Research Scholar
Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University
Visiting Professor of American Christianity and Southern Culture

Genius glinted off every sentence she wrote. A sophomore in my first class at Duke University in the spring of 1991, she sat in my office three hours each week, both wrists wrapped in bandages; we rarely spoke of that. She read to me from her stories; I read to her from Zora Neale Hurston. A natural-born English major, she

FCAT Dependency Returns | Scathing Purple Musings

FCAT Dependency Returns | Scathing Purple Musings:

FCAT Dependency Returns

by Bob Sikes

No more vigorous opponent of Florida’s test-based education system exists among the state’s columnists than the Palm Beach Posts’ Jac Wilder VerSteeg. Yesterday, Wilder VerSteeg astutely pointed out that with last week’s move to release FCAT rankings marked a the return of the controversial test as the dominant force in ou classrooms.

Just when it seemed that Florida was starting to kick its FCAT dependency, the state Department of Education falls off the wagon.

On Monday, the department released a list of school districts ranked solely according to their FCAT scores. Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson said it was meant to provide “one user-friendly document” to help the public judge schools, and that Gov. Scott approved of the rankings.

Schools Matter: How do you determine teacher effectiveness?

Schools Matter: How do you determine teacher effectiveness?:

How do you determine teacher effectiveness?

by skrashen

How do you determine teacher effectiveness?
Sent to USA Today, Jan. 26, 2012

“States weaken tenure rights for teachers” (Jan. 25) emphasizes the importance of evaluating teacher effectiveness.
A major problem is that these evaluations are often based on students gains on standardized tests, called “value-added” measures.
A number of studies have shown that value-added measures are very unstable: Teachers' ratings based on

Tennessee State Board Set to Further Demoralize Teachers and Open the Floodgates to New Lawsuits

by Jim Horn

The commentary below was provided Knoxville, TN educators who prefer (for now) to remain anonymous:

In light of the planned action by the State Board of Education (download pdf from state website here complete with red ink), Knox County educators are bracing for the next shoe to fall from the Haslam/McIntyre(Broad)/Huffman nexus of destabilization, deprofessionalization, and corporatization of public education in the state of Tennessee.

Already, teachers in Knoxville schools administered by quislings from McIntyre’s Leadership Academy are reporting increasingly Orwellian levels of administrative surveillance regarding teacher activities both on and off

Modern School: Data Driven Nonsense--Few Credible Studies of Charter Schools

Modern School: Data Driven Nonsense--Few Credible Studies of Charter Schools:

Data Driven Nonsense--Few Credible Studies of Charter Schools

by Michael Dunn

Teachers in the trenches have long suspected that the “data-driven” reforms being shoved down their throats by Gates, Broad, Walton, Obama, Duncan, Rhee, et al, had little credible data to back them up and little hope of improving educational outcomes for their students. An article in the latest issue of Science (reposted on EurekAlert) lends credibility to these suspicions.

According to UC San Diego educational economist JuIian Betts and Richard Atkinson, president emeritus of the University of California and former director of the National Science Foundation, most studies of charter schools "use unsophisticated methods that tell us little about causal effects." There are very few randomized studies. Most rely on comparisons