Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Afternoon Posts 2-1 #ows #edreform

LAUSD, JOHN DEASY, AND EXTORTING A NEW PARCEL TAX (LAUSD, John DEASY, y extorsionar a un nuevo impuesto sobre parcelas) - Perdaily.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 31 minutes ago

LAUSD, JOHN DEASY, AND EXTORTING A NEW PARCEL TAX (LAUSD, John DEASY, y extorsionar a un nuevo impuesto sobre parcelas) - Perdaily.com:LAUSD, JOHN DEASY, AND EXTORTING A NEW PARCEL TAX (LAUSD, John DEASY, y extorsionar a un nuevo impuesto sobre parcelas)by Leonard Isenberg(Mensaje se repite en Español)(For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)In the following videos from the January 24th Town Hall Meeting at El Camino High School, LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy ... more »

A Successful School Reform: The Age-graded School (Part 1) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 31 minutes ago

A Successful School Reform: The Age-graded School (Part 1) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice:A Successful School Reform: The Age-graded School (Part 1)by larrycubanAnyone reading the literature published by contemporary school reformers cannot avoid such phrases as “teacher leaders,” “change agents,” and “dynamic entrepreneurs … who challenge the status quo to lead urban school systems.” One is bombarded with happy visions of peppy, smart, young teacher leaders replacing tired, ineffective staff. Eager change agents swapping places with ... more »

Teaching Quality Summit Review « InterACT

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 31 minutes ago

Teaching Quality Summit Review « InterACT:Teaching Quality Summit Reviewby David B. CohenFor Accomplished California Teachers, the highlight of our month was going to Sacramento to put on an event titled “Teaching Quality and California’s Future” (sponsored by the Stuart Foundation). I’ve had some prior opportunities to write about the event and its goals, in an op-ed for the Sacramento Bee, and in a blog post that provided a preview of the event. Interestingly, the Bee chose to title the op-ed ... more »

The Educated Reporter: Parent Trigger: Too Much Firepower for Public Education?

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 31 minutes ago

The Educated Reporter: Parent Trigger: Too Much Firepower for Public Education?:Parent Trigger: Too Much Firepower for Public Education?by Emily RichmondThere's a significant buzz out of Florida regarding proposed legislation that would enact a so-called "Parent Trigger:" Dissatisfied families could vote to have a local public school undergo significant restructuring including being converted to a charter school or turned over to a private operator.Similar legislation has passed in California and Texas, not without controversy and ensuing conflict, and Indiana is also ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: How To Get Chris Christie to Visit Your Charter!

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 31 minutes ago

Jersey Jazzman: How To Get Chris Christie to Visit Your Charter!:How To Get Chris Christie to Visit Your Charter!by DukeBruce Baker has an important post about charter school student populations. It turns out that different charter schools have wildly different percentages of students who live in poverty, don't speak English as their first language, or are classified as needing special education services.Worse, it seems that many of the schools touted as "successes" actually have fewer of these children with special ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: What a night! The People Speak

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 31 minutes ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: What a night! The People Speak:What a night! The People Speakby Mike KlonskyLupe Fiasco performed last night at The People Speak [M.Klonsky pic]Packed house went wild last nigh at Metro in Chicago for The People Speak. Opened with Matt Damon reading Howard Zinn's "The Problem With Civil Obedience", Malcolm London doing Fred Hampton. Lupe Fiasco, Idris Goodwin, Avery Young (an amazing version of Nina Simone's "Mississippi Goddam"), Angela Jackson, She'Kira

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 2-1 AM Posts #edreform #ows

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 31 minutes ago

“Blame the School District, Blame the School, and Blame the Teacher” « City School StoriesBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-8 hours ago“Blame the School District, Blame the School, and Blame the Teacher” « City School Stories:“Blame the School District, Blame the School, and Blame the Teacher”by fmurphyNotes from the FieldSubmitted by Frank Murphy, on January 31, 2012I started the new year cautiously optimistic about the future of education in our city and state. My hopeful spirit was quickly dashed. ... more »

Kimble's Corner: Jack Kimble Suspends Presidential Campaign

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 5 hours ago

Kimble's Corner: Jack Kimble Suspends Presidential Campaign:Jack Kimble Suspends Presidential Campaignby Representative KimbleI just got off the phone with my Mitt Romney. Once again, he attempted to fire me and had to be assured that I wasn't on his payroll by several of his people. I congratulated Mitt and informed him, that we still had a long way to go. Unfortunately, I also got off the phone with my father who informed me that when a candidate's blood alcohol content ... more »

The Pink Badge of Cowardice | TBogg

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The Pink Badge of Cowardice | TBogg:The Pink Badge of Cowardiceby TBoggI have to say that killing women with breast cancer before they might consider abortion sometime in their lives is one way to eliminate a woman’s right to choose.Susan G Komen For the Cure has announced that it will stop funneling money to Planned Parenthood, ending a years-long partnership between the two organizations that provided mammograms and related services to low income women. But what accounts for the Komen ... more »

Education Fairs Reach Out to Parents in Spanish | latinoedbeat

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Education Fairs Reach Out to Parents in Spanish | latinoedbeat:Education Fairs Reach Out to Parents in SpanishSpanish-speaking Latino parents often shy away from parent involvement programs like the PTA when the many of the other members primarily speak English. For the past five years, a national Spanish-language education and college-readiness fair called the Feria Para Aprender has aimed to bridge that gap.Radio station KUT recently reported on the fair hosted by the Austin Independent School District in Texas on Saturday. ... more »

Hundreds of EGEA members attend education activist’s speech Elk Grove Citizen : News

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Elk Grove Citizen : News:Hundreds of EGEA members attend education activist’s speechBy Cameron Macdonald - Citizen News EditorPublished: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 4:45 PM PSTA few Elk Grove school district officials and more than 650 members of the Elk Grove Education Association (EGEA) attended a gathering of teachers at the Sacramento Convention Center last month where they heard a call to arms.Dr. Diane Ravitch, a former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education, declared that American public schools are being ravaged by ... more »

“Blame the School District, Blame the School, and Blame the Teacher” « City School Stories

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

“Blame the School District, Blame the School, and Blame the Teacher” « City School Stories:“Blame the School District, Blame the School, and Blame the Teacher”by fmurphyNotes from the FieldSubmitted by Frank Murphy, on January 31, 2012I started the new year cautiously optimistic about the future of education in our city and state. My hopeful spirit was quickly dashed. Shortly after I posted “To a Better School Year in 2012”, a wave of bad news washed over area schools. First the ... more »

Modern School: Teachers Offer the Wealthy an Escape from Poverty

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

Modern School: Teachers Offer the Wealthy an Escape from Poverty:Teachers Offer the Wealthy an Escape from Povertyby Michael DunnThe following is from Anthony Cody’s excellent critique of the education portion of Obama’s state of the union speech. In a nutshell, if a teacher really did increase the lifetime income of a classroom by $250,000, so what? Spread out over the 40 years of each student’s career, that would amount to only $250 per person per year, enough for a nice ... more »

Geaux Teacher!: Senator Landrieu vs. Public Education?

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Geaux Teacher!: Senator Landrieu vs. Public Education?:Senator Landrieu vs. Public Education?by noreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT)"Mary Landrieu walks tightrope on Bobby Jindal's education plans"My comment to the article linked above on NOLA.com:Senator Landrieu does NOT represent, dare I say a majority, of Democrats on education issues. Her support of U.S.Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's destructive and intrusive education initiatives are just another example of POLITICS over PRINCIPLE that is so pervasive and destructive now. It is hoped that Obama will ... more »

New Resources Announced for Public Service Loan Forgiveness | ED.gov Blog

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New Resources Announced for Public Service Loan Forgiveness | ED.gov Blog:New Resources Announced for Public Service Loan ForgivenessPosted on January 31, 2012 by Guest BloggerMartha Kanter joined Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) at the University of Maryland Baltimore. Photo by Ed Fishel courtesy of UofM Baltimore.Earlier today Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter joined Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) at the University of Maryland Baltimore to announce new efforts from the Department of Education to help public servants—including veterans, nurses, and teachers—take ... more »

Free Teleseminar: Improving School Climate Through a Whole Child Approach « The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

Free Teleseminar: Improving School Climate Through a Whole Child Approach « The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education:Free Teleseminar: Improving School Climate Through a Whole Child Approachby Klea ScharbergJoin ASCD Managing Director of the Whole Child Initiative Molly McCloskey in conversation with ASCD author and Rutgers University professor Maurice J. Elias. McCloskey will share information about specific initiatives and examples of how a whole child approach ensures that each child, in each community, is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and ... more »

The Achievement Gap and Teacher Training | Mr. Teachbad

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

The Achievement Gap and Teacher Training | Mr. Teachbad:The Achievement Gap and Teacher TrainingNote: The tone of this post is a lit­tle more seri­ous and it has no very lit­tle swear­ing. I know that will turn some peo­ple off, and I apologize.Under nor­mal cir­cum­stances, analo­gies between teach­ers and doc­tors trig­ger in me a pow­er­ful, irre­sistible gag reflex. I hate read­ing about how we both have a prac­tice, for exam­ple. How­ever, I have found a place where the anal­ogy between teach­ers ... more »

Schools Matter: Sherman Alexie "Arizona has made our books sacred documents now."

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Schools Matter: Sherman Alexie "Arizona has made our books sacred documents now.":Sherman Alexie "Arizona has made our books sacred documents now."by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene"A deepened consciousness of their situation leads people to apprehend that situation as an historical reality susceptible to transformation." — Paulo FreireThe Progressive has been compiling the responses of authors whose books were banned by Arizona bigots and arch-reactionaries Tom Horne and John Huppenthal's racist HB 2281, which, among other things, banned Ethnic Studies in ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: City Hall rally today protesting the epidemic of school closings and DOE's broken promises to Jamaica HS

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: City Hall rally today protesting the epidemic of school closings and DOE's broken promises to Jamaica HS:City Hall rally today protesting the epidemic of school closings and DOE's broken promises to Jamaica HSby Leonie HaimsonThere was a rally today, organized by the Coalition for Educational Justice, protesting against the mayor's wrecking ball policies and school closings. Speakers included NYC Comptroller Liu, Public Advocate De Blasio, Manhattan Borough President Stringer, former NYC Comptroller Thompson, parents and students ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 1-31 Early Evening Posts #ows #edreform

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 15 hours ago

School Tech Connect: Half The StoryBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-11 minutes agoSchool Tech Connect: Half The Story:Half The Storyby noreply@blogger.com (Tim)Mayor's collaboration with nutcases and the odious Juan William getting some press, although it doesn't tell the whole story. I posted a comment; we'll see if it gets through.The story of the mayor’s collaboration with this right wing group is incomplete without a full description ofHow our dues are being used. « Fred KlonskyBig Education Ape - PostRank ...more »

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Negative study on longer school day

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Negative study on longer school day:

Negative study on longer school day

by admin

From PAA’s Leonie Haimson on NYC Public School Parents blog:

Yet another negative study that finds that extended time made little difference in terms of achievement or teacher attitudes.

This one, from Abt Associates, examined the results of the much-touted Massachusetts expanded learning time initiative, which provides state funding to selected schools to increase their class time 25-30% over the district average.

So far the research is quite thin that this is the answer to low student achievement, despite the fact that the Gates folks (and their think tanks) continue to push it.

In a summary of the studies on extended time in

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools: For an Education Built to Last | ED.gov Blog

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools: For an Education Built to Last | ED.gov Blog:

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools: For an Education Built to Last

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Andrea Falken

Last week President Obama asked us to work together to create an America built to last — one that thrives on innovation, collaboration, affordable education and spending within our means. As part of this effort, the U.S. Department of Education is working to encourage sustainable schools where facilities, health and education practices combine to support the nation’s needs in the long term.

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) recognizes public and private schools for meeting some of the most critical challenges of our time. All schools are capable of reducing their energy consumption, and some are even candidates for renewable energy projects. Every school can implement a coordinated school health program that addresses student health, fitness and nutrition to improve academic achievement. And every school can offer students a well-rounded environmental education with strong science and mathematics foundations—an education that can help students learn robust civics skills and environmental stewardship as they enhance their career and college preparedness.

ED-GRS is just one effort by the Department of Education that addresses the environmental factors that can improve a child’s ability to learn. To ensure the health and wellness of all students, ED collaborates with the First Lady’s Let’s Move!, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Surgeon General’s office to underscore the link between good health and positive academic outcomes.

ED has proposed a $265 million grant to expand support for the subjects important to a complete curriculum, including environmental literacy. As the President said, in order to fill the innovation and research –based jobs our nation’s companies require, students must engage early and stay hooked on the critical science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects. Environmental education engages students in these subjects, and a host of others.

To assist older students, ED administers vocational grants to help states develop green high school career programs that will prepare graduates for jobs in the green economy and funds energy and cost-saving improvements at minority-serving campuses. Along with roughly a dozen other agencies, ED is developing a comprehensive Environmental Justice strategy and has joined the Federal Urban Waters Partnership to help connect all students to healthful environments and revitalize their communities.

These various programs all aim to help students achieve, go on to college, and graduate ready for the innovation and high-skill based job market. Fostering a sustainable education means that our economy will possess the trained employees and creative thinking it requires to grow and flourish for years to come. With these programs, we set a bar for graduates prepared to invent, renew, take responsibility and collaborate on behalf of our nation. This new, sustainable generation will be up to the task, fortified by an education built to last.

Find grants and programs to green your school and learn about ED-GRS.

See all U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools blogs.

Connect with U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools on Facebook.

Please note: U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools is a federal recognition award and should not be confused with any green schools program conducted by non-governmental entities.

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Missouri Education Watchdog: Keeping An Eye On The Prize of Quality Legislation

Missouri Education Watchdog: Keeping An Eye On The Prize of Quality Legislation:

Keeping An Eye On The Prize of Quality Legislation

by Anngie

The Missouri legislature has hit the ground running, as they always do this time of year, and is moving forward rapidly on a number of proposed bills. Yesterday Senate Bill 706, which attempts to provide framework for fixing the problem associated with the unaccredited school districts transferring students to the adjoining accredited districts, got its first public hearing. The cyber world was abuzz with issues about it and several groups provided input through the public hearing process. It should have been a time to admire the legislative process, where elected officials perform their duty to address issues that cannot be addressed solely by private citizens, and private citizens can provide input to their elected officials on the specific work they are doing. But in the world of politics, it seems, it is very difficult to separate ego from process.

The way the process is supposed to work is that citizens can

Summer Meal Site Application - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education)

Summer Meal Site Application - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education):

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Urges Agencies to
Apply to Become Summer Food Service Program Sponsors

SACRAMENTO—In an effort to help keep children well-nourished during the summer recess and ready to learn when they return to school in the fall, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today urged eligible organizations to apply as summer meal sites through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).

"Often the only nutritious meal a low-income child receives is at school, but that all comes to a halt during the summer recess," said Torlakson. "I urge eligible organizations to sign up to provide nutritious meals to these kids through the summer, so their growing minds and bodies won’t be hampered by a lack of proper nutrition."

Research shows children who fail to engage in high-quality summer learning, have unproductive summers, are not physically active, and don’t receive the proper nutrition, all contribute to a phenomenon called summer learning loss. Also, when these children, particularly low-income children, come back to school, they fall even further behind their peers that contribute to a persistent achievement gap. This is part of the reason why Torlakson started his Team California for Healthy Kids initiative, designed to keep children active and properly nourished throughout each day, in and out of school.

SFSP serves meals to children in geographic areas where at least 50 percent of students are eligible to receive free or reduced-price school meals. The program works by reimbursing agencies that serve nutritious meals to children 18 years and younger during school vacation. SFSP operates when schools in a community are on vacation for at least 15 continuous school days or when year-round schools are off-track. Non-school sponsors may also now serve snacks to children after school under the program. The program benefits all children in accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, and is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

Eligible sponsors may include schools, camps, Indian tribal governments, private nonprofit agencies, and municipal, state, county, or local government offices. Sponsors may prepare meals or obtain meals from another SFSP sponsor, public or commercial food vendor, or a school food service department. All meals must meet the USDA minimum meal patterns.

Agencies interested in becoming SFSP sponsors must obtain training by California Department of Education staff before their applications can be approved. These training sessions are usually available from mid-March through early May.

All commercial food service vendors are also invited to participate in the training sessions. The training will benefit food service vendors by providing information for meeting SFSP meal pattern and contract requirements. Commercial food service vendors must register with the California Department of Education before entering into a vending contract with an SFSP sponsor.

To receive training information, learn how to access the online application, or learn how to become a SFSP Sponsor or SFSP food vendor, visit the California Department of Education Web site at Summer Food Service Program Information - Summer Food Service.

To find a summer meal site or locate summer sponsors, go to the interactive map of California Summer Feeding sites atSummer Meal Service Sites - Food Programs.

Agencies interested in becoming summer food sponsors may contact Melissa Garza at 800-952-5609, 916-322-5885, ormgarza@cde.ca.gov; or Dennis Arena at 800-952-5609, 916-324-9073, or darena@cde.ca.gov.

For information and tools for running a successful summer program, visit the California Summer Meal Program Coalition Web site at Summer Meal Coalition | California Center for Research on Women & Families (Outside Source).

For more information about the Team California for Healthy Kids campaign, please visit the California Department of Education Web site at Team California for Healthy Kids - Initiatives & Programs.

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Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100