FCAT video: School board member, students do anti-FCAT video - Orlando Sentinel

FCAT video: School board member, students do anti-FCAT video - Orlando Sentinel:

Anti-FCAT video stars Orange school board member, students

By Leslie Postal, Orlando Sentinel

4:41 p.m. EST, May 2, 2012

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The pain and frustration of failing FCAT gets on-air attention in a new video that was produced by — and stars — local high school students.

"I took it, failed it," says one student from Freedom High in Orange County. "My Mom loved me, still she had that look like, 'ugh, I can't believe you failed it.' It was a hard time for me."

The video produced in Freedom's television production studio also features School Board member Rick Roach, who wants to "stop the madness" of Florida's high-stakes testing program. He proposed the video after visiting a Freedom remedial reading class filled with students who had failed FCAT.

Roach thinks the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test — a series of exams in math, reading, science and writing taken by nearly 2 million students each year — doesn't accurately measure academic abilities, particularly reading.

"It's all about beating the test maker," he said.

Roach made national news last year when he took versions of the 10^th-grade FCAT exams, failed them 

Seattle Schools Community Forum: PTA Alert

Seattle Schools Community Forum: PTA Alert:

PTA Alert

by Melissa Westbrook

Tomorrow starts the Washington State PTA convention. It runs for three days but the voting sessions are all tomorrow night, Friday the 4th. The voting sessions start at 6:30 p.m. at the Doubletree Inn at Seattle Airport in SeaTac.

If you are going, be sure you have your voting credentials signed by your PTA President. You will not be able to vote otherwise.

Here is the voters guide that lists the resolutions to be voted on:

 This May, voting delegates to the WSPTA convention will vote on one proposed amendment and three new proposals. 

Arts Education in Public Schools and Washington State 5.3

• Letter and resolution
• References
• Fact Sheet

Alignment of Sleep Requirements for Optimum Health with School Start Times

• Proposal, rationale and references

Subsidizing Certificated and Classified Staff Salaries

• Proposal, rationale and references

Equitable Educational Opportunities

• Proposal, rationale and summary, impact statement, legislative background brief and references
• Supplemental authority against the Equitable Educational Opportunities

It's that last one that is about charters.  Here's the relevant section:

Resolved, Washington State PTA will promote expansion of choice by supporting innovative schools -- including 

LAUSD Teachers: the New Satanic Serial Child Molesters? by Michael Dunn - Perdaily.com

LAUSD Teachers: the New Satanic Serial Child Molesters? by Michael Dunn - Perdaily.com:

LAUSD Teachers: the New Satanic Serial Child Molesters? by Michael Dunn

by Leonard Isenberg

(Mensaje se repite en Español)

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

Although initial written over a month ago, the following repost of this blog that appeared in the Modern School blogseems regrettably more apt than ever.

Attacking teachers' unions, collective bargaining and due process rights, pensions, salaries and privacy has not ended the achievement gap nor mollified the critics of public education. Now the witch hunt for teachers is taking a new and twisted turn for the worse, thanks to several recent and coincidental abuse allegations against Los Angeles Unified School District employees and an orgy of hysterical media reports portraying the problem as rampant and due in part to the teachers union.

While it is, of course, imperative that schools provide safe learning environments and that everyone, including 

All Education Matters: Student Loan Debtor: "[T]he reality is that I think of killing myself all the time"

All Education Matters: Student Loan Debtor: "[T]he reality is that I think of killing myself all the time":

Student Loan Debtor: "[T]he reality is that I think of killing myself all the time"

by Cryn Johannsen

If you are suicidal, please call: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255

Recently, yet another student loan debtor shared their thoughts about being suicidal, demoralized, and trapped because of their student loans on this post. When I receive these notes, my blood boils as I think about the cold distance that some policymakers in higher ed circles have from this obvious suffering. 

The situation has become desperate for many people with student loans. Remember: you are not alone. It is important to remember that fact. And there are ways in which you can organize to fight back. For instance, get involved with Occupy. They are doing great things on this specific issue, especially the Occupy Student Loan Debt Campaign. Since the crisis is based upon enormous systemic problems, we will need to work collectively to come up with long-term and short-term solutions. If policymakers refuse, we will just come up with other options to bring much needed relief to debtors. One way or another, the crisis will come to an end, and that's why agency, collective agency, is crucial.

Here is what's happening to people now, however - this garbage, how we're shackled by these loans, has turned 

The power of parent participation Support PURE!

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » The power of parent participation:

The power of parent participation

by admin

Dr. Joyce Epstein, who heads the National Network of Partnership Schools at Johns Hopkins University, created the gold standard for parent involvement programs – a comprehensive set of practices that encourage good parenting, strong home-school communication, volunteer opportunities, support for learning at home, a parent voice in school decision making, and community collaboration.
Last night’s parent forum at DePaul really made that package come to life.
On the panel were (right to left in photo) Monica Espinoza and Joanna Brown from Logan Square Neighborhood Association, Lynn Morton from Community Organizing and Family Issues, yours truly, Wendy Kattan from Raise Your Hand, and Latrice Watkins, LSC chair of Piccolo Elementary, who led the Occupy Piccolo protest earlier this year (Cecile Carrol from Blocks Together arrived after this pic was taken).
Together, we represented that full package of parent involvement activity, and, as I pointed out to the audience of about 100 teachers and students studying to be teachers, you get the whole package with parents. We want to 

Forum: Moving Forward in Public Education: Ideas That Work Sponsored by Parents Across America-Seattle

Forum: Moving Forward in Public Education: Ideas That Work | Seattle Education:

Forum: Moving Forward in Public Education: Ideas That Work

by seattleducation2011

Parents Across America Presents

Moving Forward in Public Education:

Ideas That Work

A Panel Discussion

Thursday, May 31st at 6:30 PM
Rainier Beach High School Auditorium
8815 Seward Park Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98118

Featuring:

Dr. Margit McGuire, Professor and Director, Seattle Universityʼs Teacher
Education Program

Marquita Prinzing, teacher, Sanislo Elementary School

Sharon Okamoto, Principal, Seattle Urban Academy

Rita Green, parent and PTA vice-president, Rainier Beach High School

What does work in education? What do at-risk kids need from their schools?
What do educators working in our classrooms need in order to be successful?
What are some of the greatest obstacles to educating our children in public
schools? What are some of the success stories?

It’s time to hear from the educators about what really works in education.

For more information e-mail seattle.paa@gmail.com or call 206-276-5556

Sponsored by Parents Across America-Seattle

in conjunction with

Save Our
Schools Northwest

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Liberal blog: Mayor Cory Booker is a 'sellout' for attending educational conference funded by the Koch Brothers | NJ.com

Liberal blog: Mayor Cory Booker is a 'sellout' for attending educational conference funded by the Koch Brothers | NJ.com:

Liberal blog: Mayor Cory Booker is a 'sellout' for attending educational conference funded by the Koch Brothers

Published: Thursday, May 03, 2012, 12:33 PM     Updated: Thursday, May 03, 2012, 12:35 PM

 By David Giambusso/The Star-Ledger 

Saed Hindash/The Star-LedgerThe Daily Kos, a prominent liberal blog is calling Newark Mayor Cory Booker a "sellout" for attending a two day educational conference that they say is funded by the Koch Brothers.

The Daily Kos, a prominent liberal blog called Newark Mayor Cory Booker a "sellout" for attending a two day educational conference that they say is funded by the Koch Brothers. 

"This gathering of the truly odious and anti-democratic, anti-schools, corporate elite, needs to be confronted in a direct non-violent, peaceful way," the blog said, adding, "To get some idea of the gloating, vicious tone of this gathering, scroll down on this link to see the speakers — including, sadly, Newark 'Democrat' (a.k.a. Sellout) Mayor Cory Booker"

The two day conference is hosted by the Alliance for School Choice and is sponsored by the American Legislative Exchange council or ALEC, a right 

What Does It Take for Children to Be Mentally Healthy? — Whole Child Education

What Does It Take for Children to Be Mentally Healthy? — Whole Child Education:

What Does It Take for Children to Be Mentally Healthy?

by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers

Download Podcast Now [Right-Click to Save]
A child's mental health is influenced by her biology, social and physical environment, and behavior, as well as the availability of services. Good emotional and behavioral health enhances a child's sense of well-being, supports satisfying social relationships at home and with peers, and facilitates achievement of full academic potential. Research shows that one of five children and adolescents aged 9 to 17 experience symptoms ofmental health problems that cause some level of impairment in a given year. However, fewer than 20 percent who need mental health service receive them.
But, being mentally healthy is not just about emotional and behavioral difficulties. It's also about being mentally strong and resilient and having the skills and supports to deal with stressful issues when they arise. In anationally representative survey of 12- to 17-year-old youths and their trauma experiences, 39 percent reported witnessing violence, 17 percent reported physical assault, and 8 percent reported a lifetime prevalence of sexual 

Federal Judge Greenlights Student Activist Lawsuit Against Berkeley Admins « Student Activism

Federal Judge Greenlights Student Activist Lawsuit Against Berkeley Admins « Student Activism:

Federal Judge Greenlights Student Activist Lawsuit Against Berkeley Admins

by Angus Johnston

A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit brought by UC Berkeley activists who claim the they were unconstitutionally targeted for arrest in a 2009 campus protest can go forward.
Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler says the students have made a “plausible” case that the university’s police chief and vice chancellor for student affairs violated their First Amendment rights during the Wheeler Hall occupation,

Syrian Troops Kill Four Students at Campus Protest

by Angus Johnston

Syrian forces fired live ammunition into crowds protesting the government at the Aleppo University campus Wednesday night, killing at least four. The BBC reports:

One student in Aleppo, Thaer al-Ahmed, said there was panic and chaos as security forces personnel and members of the Shabiha militia fired live rounds and tear gas to disperse a protest by about 1,500 people outside their dormitories on Wednesday night.

“Some students ran to their rooms to take cover but they were followed to their rooms, beaten up and arrested,” he told the Associated Press. “Others suffered cuts and broken bones as they tried to flee.”

Activists say the killings followed a shift in government tactics at Aleppo, a city that

Charter Schools: How Many Bucks for the Desired Bang? | National Education Policy Center

Charter Schools: How Many Bucks for the Desired Bang? | National Education Policy Center:

Charter Schools: How Many Bucks for the Desired Bang?

Contact: Bruce Baker, (732) 932-7496, x8232, bruce.baker@gse.rutgers.edu
William J. Mathis, (802) 383-0058, wmathis@sover.net

URL for this press release:  http://tinyurl.com/d8dlmeb

 

BOULDER, CO (May 3, 2012) — Do charter schools live up to their supporters’ claim that they deliver a better education for less money?

While previous research has focused on the first half of that claim – education quality -- a new report  published by the National Education Policy Center examines the second half – what charters spend.

Schools operated by major charter management organizations (CMOs) generally spend more than surrounding public schools, according to Spending by the Major Charter Management Organizations: Comparing Charter School & Local Public District Financial Resources in New York, Ohio and Texas.

The finding is significant, especially when programs such as the U.S. Department’s “Race to the Top” are directing more resources to charters deemed to be successful. The NEPC report presents new research on this question by Rutgers 

Seattle Schools Community Forum: These Are Your Kids On Books

Seattle Schools Community Forum: These Are Your Kids On Books:

These Are Your Kids On Books

A Denver-based group, Burning Through Pages, has some fantastic posters that will be available soon.

Burning Through Pages is a Denver-based non-profit organization that helps kids join book clubs in their communities (run by our volunteers and other kids), launch new book clubs in their communities, or interact one-on-one with a BTP volunteer.  We want to help kids experience literature on whatever level makes them comfortable, excited and reading, reading, reading!  We actually buy the books for the kids and if they love them, they keep them – and no, we are not joking.


Posters.
Thanks to Kate Martin for the heads up.

Sponsors Step Up for Native Education: Announcing NIEA 2012 Convention News

Sponsors Step Up for Native Education: Announcing NIEA 2012 Convention News:

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA |  OCTOBER 18-21, 2012

For Immediate Release May 3, 2012 Contact NIEA Communications 202.544.7290 (Phone) rbiddle@niea.org (E-mail) TRIBES, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, LINE UP TO SUPPORT LEADING FORUM FOR ADVANCING NATIVE EDUCATION  Washington, D.C. - The National Indian Education Association is proud to announce the latest round of Tribes, Native community organizations, and other groups stepping up to support its 2012 Convention and Trade Show. The Convention, which will be held October 18-12 in Oklahoma City, Okla., is the leading forum for advancing excellent, culturally-based education for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children so they can bring jobs, bolster prosperity, and preserve the cultures of their families and communities. Last year, the Convention attracted some 2,200 educators, school and district administrators, parents, students, advocates, Tribal leaders, researchers, businesses, and others interested in helping all of our children achieve success.      The round of sponsors stepping up for NIEA 2012 includes: Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma: Platinum Sponsorship of $25,000 for overall Convention activities. Edward L. Gaylord Downtown YMCA: Platinum Sponsorship in the form of an in-kind donation of space for NIEA's youth education event at Convention.   Chickasaw Nation: Platinum Sponsorship of $15,000 for support of NIEA's youth education event at Convention.   Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes: Silver Sponsorship of $3,000 for the youth education event during Convention.  United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma: A Bronze Sponsorship of $200 for overall Convention activities.   "We welcome the support these proud sponsors have shown for supporting the most-important mission of all Native people: Building brighter futures for our students, Tribes, and communities" says NIEA President Quinton Roman Nose. "And NIEA looks forward to additional support from advocates for improving Native education." This year's Convention focuses on helping Native educators, communities, and schools leverage digital and online education - from techniques such as blended learning, to tools such as Blackboard -- in providing high-quality teachers and excellent, culturally-based curriculum that students need in an increasingly knowledge-based economy and multicultural society. Using technology to address high levels of dropouts among Native students, and helping young men and women get ready for college, technical school, and ultimately, for career, will be addressed in the more than 100 workshops and speeches that will be held during Convention this year.    Future NIEA Convention Sponsors can learn about the benefits of supporting this premiere education conference by downloading our sponsorship guide atNIEA.org/ConventionSponsorship; they can also e-mail NIEA's helpful staff atNIEA@niea.org. Formal pre-registration for Convention, along with information on speakers and information on how to propose workshops, will be opened up in the next couple of weeks. Media can learn more by reaching NIEA Communications staff at 202.544.7290 or by e-mail at rbiddle@niea.org.  ABOUT NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION  The premiere organization advocating for educational excellence, opportunity, and equity for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students, the mission of the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) is to support traditional Native cultures and values; to enable Native learners to become contributing members of their communities; to promote Native control of educational institutions; and to improve educational opportunities and resources for American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians throughout the United States. Learn more at  www.NIEA.org.

It’s Just Me. « Diane Ravitch's blog

It’s Just Me. « Diane Ravitch's blog:

It’s Just Me.

by dianerav

I just answered a question from a reader. He/she wondered if it was really me writing this blog. He/she wondered if there would be a little line somewhere saying that I was funded by some foundation.
I answered the question but thought it was a good idea to answer it in a blog.
It is just me. Or, to be grammatically correct, it is I. And I alone.
No one writes for me, and I am not funded by any foundation.
I write every word of my articles, I write every word of my blogs. I write every word of my tweets.
I know that most if not all of the other voices in the national debate have a staff. Some have a large staff. Some have a “social media” person who writes their tweets and interacts with the public for them.
Last summer, when I debated Wendy Kopp at the Aspen Ideas Festival, I found myself in a three-way 

Shanker Blog » The Relatively Unexplored Frontier Of Charter School Finance

Shanker Blog » The Relatively Unexplored Frontier Of Charter School Finance:

The Relatively Unexplored Frontier Of Charter School Finance

by Matthew Di Carlo

Do charter schools do more – get better results – with less? If you ask this question, you’ll probably get very strong answers, ranging from the affirmative to the negative, often depending on the person’s overall view of charter schools. The reality, however, is that we really don’t know.
Actually, despite uninformed coverage of insufficient evidence, researchers don’t even have a good handle on how much charter schools spend, to say nothing of whether how and how much they spend leads to better outcomes. Reporting of charter financial data is incomplete, imprecise and inconsistent. It is difficult to disentangle the financial relationships between charter management organizations (CMOs) and the schools they run, as well as that between charter schools and their “host” districts.
A new report published by the National Education Policy Center, with support from the Shanker Institute and theGreat Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice, examines spending between 2008 and 2010 among charter schools run by major CMOs in three states – New York, Texas and Ohio. The results suggest that