Latest News and Comment from Education

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 8-11 AM Posts #soschat #edreform



BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS

For Profit Charter School Giant Academica Struggling to Get Students in St.Lucie | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 minutes ago
For Profit Charter School Giant Academica Struggling to Get Students in St.Lucie | Scathing Purple Musings: For Profit Charter School Giant Academica Struggling to Get Students in St.Lucie by Bob Sikes Fernando Zulueta’s Academica doesn’t have any cash shortages, but not all is so rosy. Fresh off its $100,000 contribution to a pro-ed privatization PAC, it has plenty of money left over to float a few grants its new, but struggling franchise in St. Lucie County. Writes Kelly Tyko for *TCPalm*: ……..instead of getting ready for the festivities Friday afternoon, charter school offici... more »

Time to tweet the stars! « Parents Across America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Time to tweet the stars! « Parents Across America: Time to tweet the stars! by pureparents The propaganda campaign for the parent trigger law created by charter school operators and promoted by ALEC is in full swing. The big kick-off event is a concert called “Teachers Rock.” Like the “parent tricker” itself, this concert pretends to honor teachers while promoting a movie, “Won’t Back Down,” that is designed to get a lot of them fired and replaced by Teach for America newbies. The concert will take place this Tuesday, Aug, 14th, at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. CBS will air a ... more »

Dear Teachers Rock performer: Parents United for Responsible Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Dear Teachers Rock performer:: Dear Teachers Rock performer: by admin As active parents, we thank you for your support for our public school teachers. We support them, too. But you need to know that the agenda behind the “Teachers Rock” concert and the “Won’t Back Down” movie this concert promotes does not support teachers or our democratic public school system. The WBD movie promotes a parent trigger law created by charter school operators and promoted by ALEC, which wrote the Stand Your Ground law. The real aim is to pri... more »

This Week's Education Research Report 8-11-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Education Research Report: THIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT Teacher Evaluations Found to Improve Midcareer Effectiveness Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 23 hours ago A new study, “Can Teacher Evaluation Improve Teaching?”, shows that Cincinnati’s rigorous Teacher Evaluation System (TES) has had a direct and lasting effect on midcareer teachers’ performance. Students taught by a teacher in the years after she had been through the evaluation program scored 0.11 standard deviations higher in math, on average, than the students she taught in the years before her ... more »

Top Content this Week - 8-11-12 The Educator's PLN

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN: 1[image: Can You Pay Attention for Eight Minutes? NBC Olympic Coverage Says “No”]Can You Pay Attention for Eight Minutes? NBC Olympic Coverage Says “No” Added by Colette Marie Bennett on August 4, 2012 2[image: Engage Me!]Engage Me! Added by Thomas Whitby on August 12, 2011 3[image: TEDxCooperUnion- Nina Tandon- Taking TED Into the Classroom]TEDxCooperUnion- Nina Tandon- Taking TED Into the Classroom Added by Thomas Whitby on June 20, 2012 4[image: Please leave comments and suggest APPS]Please leave comments and suggest APPS Posted by Thomas... more »

Daily Kos: Charles Blow gets it right on Romney

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Daily Kos: Charles Blow gets it right on Romney: Charles Blow gets it right on Romney by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) cross-posted from Blue Virginia Romney is one of the worst presidential candidates in recent memory. He is stiff and awkward and inconsistent and struggles to connect with people. His track record is all over the place. And he’s willing to say anything and embrace anyone to further his ambitions, which is as distasteful a character trait as they come. If you are straightforward with folks, they may disagree with you but most will at least respect you. I’m not sure ... more »

This Week's Answer Sheet 8-11-1212 - School Survival Guide for parents (and everyone else). - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
The Answer Sheet - School Survival Guide for parents (and everyone else). - The Washington Post: [image: Answer Sheet] Lady Gaga and U-Va.’s Helen Dragas Valerie Strauss at The Answer Sheet - 1 hour ago Helen Dragas, the rector of the University of Virginia’s governing board, probably never thought she would be linked in a headline to Lady Gaga, but she did it to herself with e-mails she sent to the school’s leaders. Read full article >> [image: Add to Facebook] [image: Add to Twitter] [image: Add to Reddit] [image: Add to StumbleUpon] The deafening silence on test cheating Valerie... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Look Who Else Is Concerned About Data Collection and Privacy

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: Look Who Else Is Concerned About Data Collection and Privacy: Look Who Else Is Concerned About Data Collection and Privacy by Anngie *We have been warning parents about the potential for their child's personal data to be widely shared across government agencies and with private interests who claim some link to education. Now teachers are beginning to realize that they will be part of the data collection process and their entire teaching careers will be tracked, assessed, and possibly publicized.* *Anthony Cody at EducationWeek Teacher posted a great ... more »

Popular Khan Academy draws criticism for first time - San Jose Mercury News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Popular Khan Academy draws criticism for first time - San Jose Mercury News: Popular Khan Academy draws criticism for first time By Sharon Noguchi snoguchi@mercurynews.com Posted: 08/10/2012 07:23:36 PM PDT Updated: 08/10/2012 07:23:37 PM PDT In the past year, education-reform icon Sal Khan has been lauded by Bill Gates as the "teacher to the world" and has been listed among Time magazine's 100 most influential people. His Silicon Valley-based Khan Academy posts free videos -- most of which star Khan himself -- and offers accompanying questions on everything from addition to c... more »

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… 8-11-12 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: [image: Helping Students Motivate Themselves: Practical Answers To Classroom Problems.] White House Honors 12 PTA Members as “Champions of Change” Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 1 day ago Earlier this week, I posted about 150 PTA members going to the White House on Friday. One of the things that will be happening is that the White House will honor twelve of them as “Champions Of Change”: “President Obama knows how important parent involvement is in education, and we are excited to welcome PT... more »

Another View: City schools need collaboration, culture change - Opinion - The Sacramento Bee

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Another View: City schools need collaboration, culture change - Opinion - The Sacramento Bee: Another View: City schools need collaboration, culture change By Scott Smith Published: Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012 - 12:00 am | Page 8A *Scott Smith, president of the Sacramento City Teachers Association, is responding to a July 27 commentary, "Sac City needs new teacher evaluation system," written by Jeff Cuneo, a member of the Sacramento City Unified school board. That commentary stated, "Our district lacks a robust evaluation system for teachers and principals."* Jeff Cuneo got one thing r... more »

Strengthening Our Students’ Sense of Control Over Their Lives: Bicycling to School and Self-Reliance | Connected Principals

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Strengthening Our Students’ Sense of Control Over Their Lives: Bicycling to School and Self-Reliance | Connected Principals: Strengthening Our Students’ Sense of Control Over Their Lives: Bicycling to School and Self-Reliance by Jonathan Martin My son bicycling to the first day of high school As the Y Wednesday I was chatting with a friend; we both have kids at the same school, and we were discussing it being the first day of school. I mentioned that my son, now a 9th grader, was bicycle commuting to school, and that I love the pride and joy he takes in managing his own commute: ... more »

NYC Educator: Goodnight iPad

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
NYC Educator: Goodnight iPad: Goodnight iPad by NYC Educator A modern retelling of the children's classic. Popout

I Voted. And I'm Going to Vote Again. - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
I Voted. And I'm Going to Vote Again. - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: I Voted. And I'm Going to Vote Again. by Nancy Flanagan So, I voted Tuesday in the Michigan primary. I always vote, and I always get the little sticker, too, and wear it until the end of the day. Our whole family votes--we let our now-adult kids know that tuition payments weren't forthcoming unless they voted, while they were college students. Voting is a big deal at our house. I am the child of a[image: Voter.jpg] blue-collar, straight-ticket Democrat and a wishy-washy Republican. My parent... more »

Rhee Continues Florida Cash Flow | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
Rhee Continues Florida Cash Flow | Scathing Purple Musings: Rhee Continues Florida Cash Flow by Bob Sikes Michelle Rhee has continued to distribute cash into Florida politics. On top of last week’s list, Rhee has followed up with two more. * On 7/27/12 Rhee’s StudentsFirst contributed $5000 to the PAC belonging to Rep. Erik Fresen (R-Miami) Floridians for a Strong 67. Like most republican PACs, it too, is run by Nancy Watkins. Fresen’s brother-in-law, Fernando Zulueta, is the president of controversial charter school, Academica. His sister is vice president. Academica donated $1... more »

Big Education Ape Nite Cap UPDATE 8-10-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
*UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Reach Out to Bill Moyers by dianerav Bill Moyers understands the danger of destroying public institutions and handing them over to profiteers. Contact him and urge him to look into the privatization movement in education: - - http://billmoyers.com/contact-us/ - Why This Teacher Has Not Ended Poverty Yet by dianerav This teacher admits that he has not ended poverty. But that doesn’t mean that he has been lazy or had nothing to do. This is what he does every day. *This is typical of... more »

Suspended because I 'didn't know when to keep [my] mouth shut' | catalyst-chicago.org

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
Suspended because I 'didn't know when to keep [my] mouth shut' | catalyst-chicago.org: Suspended because I 'didn't know when to keep [my] mouth shut' August 10, 2012 David Stovall *[Editor's note: During August, Catalyst Chicago is featuring op-eds from our archives that relate to current news in the education world. This column on one young black man's experience with school discipline disparity is from our 2009 Catalyst In Depth, "Reaching Black Boys."]* From kindergarten to 4th grade, I had serious problems in school. It started the day I came home and told my father that Colum... more »

Police, Protesters Clash at March for Underfunded Education System in Chile - Hispanically Speaking News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
Police, Protesters Clash at March for Underfunded Education System in Chile - Hispanically Speaking News: Police, Protesters Clash at March for Underfunded Education System in Chile [image: Police, Protesters Clash at March for Underfunded Education System in Chile]A march in Santiago Wednesday by high school students demanding improvements to Chile’s underfunded public education system ended with three buses set ablaze and dozens arrested. The protest was convened by the ACES high school students association, with support from the groups that represent Chile’s collegians. Demonstra... more »

School Tech Connect: Getting Out of Things

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
School Tech Connect: Getting Out of Things: Getting Out of Things by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) Picky, I know, but here's what the Northwest Daily Herald is saying: Pension reform continues to be a hot issue across the country, particularly in Illinois where the Legislature is expected to deal with the matter in a special session on Aug. 17. We all are stakeholders in pension reform, whether you're a teacher, a DMV employee, or a private-sector taxpayer. How Illinois chooses to get itself out of its $83 billion pension liability will affect us all. I know they don't come... more »

SAC Agenda for August 2012 - State Advisory Council on Early Learning and Care (CA Dept of Education)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
SAC Agenda for August 2012 - State Board of Education (CA Dept of Education): California State Advisory Council on Early Learning and Care *California Department of Education 1430 N Street, Room 1101 Sacramento, CA 95814* *Wednesday, August 22, 2012 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.* Council Members Pete Cervinka, Co-chair Camille Maben, Co-chair Nancy Bargmann Magdalena Carrasco Julian Crocker Sydney Fisher-Larson Mark Friedman Linda James Perry Katie Johnson Nancy Remley Ryan Storm Natalie Woods Andrews MEETING AGENDAItem 1 Welcome, Introductions and Opening Comments Sue Burr, Senior Education ... more »

Pass / Fail : Size matters in new district-level 'Race to the Top' competition | 89.3 KPCC

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Pass / Fail : Size matters in new district-level 'Race to the Top' competition | 89.3 KPCC: Size matters in new district-level 'Race to the Top' competition by By Tami Abdollah [image: LAUSD board protesters]*Hundreds of protesters gathered outside L.A. Unified headquarters downtown as the board met inside to discuss the district's dire budget picture. (March 2012) LAUSD hopes the new Race to the Top competition will bring them much-needed dollars. Credit: Tami Abdollah / KPCC* The new Race to the Top application, which for the first time this year allows districts to apply directl... more »

Dear Meryl Parents United for Responsible Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Dear Meryl: Dear Meryl by admin Ms. Meryl Streep c/o Leslee Dart Dart Group sent by facsimile 212 277 7550 *If you really appreciate teachers, please pull out of* *phony “Teachers Rock” event promoting* *the themes of the “Won’t Back Down” movie:* *public school privatization and wholesale teacher firing* Dear Ms Streep: I am writing to ask you to reconsider your participation in the “Teachers Rock” event next week. As parents, we are concerned that this event is part of a larger propaganda campaign to force privatization on ... more »

Poverty & Race! A must read! « Deborah Meier on Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Poverty & Race! A must read! « Deborah Meier on Education: Poverty & Race! A must read! by debmeier I’m resting up after a provocative conference of SOS in Washington D.C. I come away more determined, but full of questions. It was a gathering of good friends and allies and we all left with new ideas for next steps. While there I picked up a bi-monthly publication I had not read before. I just read it (14 pages in all). Advice: read Poverty and Race, published by Poverty and Race Research Action Council, (info@prrc.org) It’s advisory board includes some friends/colleagues such as ... more »

Outrage in Philadelphia! « Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Outrage in Philadelphia! « Diane Ravitch's blog: Outrage in Philadelphia! by dianerav The $2 billion William Penn Foundation has funded the Philadelphia Student Union for 17 years. However, the student union does not support the foundation’s radical plan to privatize large numbers of public schools in Philadelphia. Surprise! The William Penn Foundation will no longer fund the Philadelphia Student Union. William Penn, the large-hearted man for whom the foundation is named, would not approve. A Student Voice of Wisdom by dianerav I discovered Stephanie Rivera on Twitter. Ah, the p... more »

Branstad Looks to Place His Chips on Centralization of Education | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Branstad Looks to Place His Chips on Centralization of Education | Truth in American Education: Branstad Looks to Place His Chips on Centralization of Education by Shane Vander Hart Do you remember when Republicans used to be considered the party of local control? I don’t think they can accurately be portrayed that way anymore, at least not when you look at the leadership within the party. There has been a bipartisan assault at the federal level by former President George W. Bush with No Child Left Behind and President Barack Obama with Race to the Top, the Common Core State St... more »

Pass / Fail : Calif. court overturns LAUSD's 'last hired, first fired' exemption | 89.3 KPCC

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Pass / Fail : Calif. court overturns LAUSD's 'last hired, first fired' exemption | 89.3 KPCC: Calif. court overturns LAUSD's 'last hired, first fired' exemption by By Tami Abdollah [image: Image of an empty classroom] *The California 2nd District Court of Appeal has invalidated LAUSD's 'last hired, first fired' exemption at 45 schools. Credit: Cayoup/Flickr (Creative Commons-licensed)* A major class-action settlement that gives LAUSD teachers layoff protection at several dozen schools in high-poverty areas has been invalidated by the California 2nd District Court of Appeal. The 2 to... more »

DREAMers: Mothers look forward to your success with the Deferred Action process, and we urge caution when applying ! « MomsRising Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
DREAMers: Mothers look forward to your success with the Deferred Action process, and we urge caution when applying ! « MomsRising Blog: DREAMers: Mothers look forward to your success with the Deferred Action process, and we urge caution when applying ! by Mary Olivella While we continue the momentum towards passage of the DREAM Act, mothers across the country are standing in support of the 1.76 million immigrant youth who will be able, starting August 15, 2012, to seek a form of administrative relief from deportation. This first step in the long-awaited deportation relief for yout... more »

HechingerEd Blog | Some states resisting Obama administration ed-reform requirements

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
HechingerEd Blog | Some states resisting Obama administration ed-reform requirements: Some states resisting Obama administration ed-reform requirements by Sarah Garland This week the Obama administration announced it had released a total of 33 states from some No Child Left Behind requirements with the approval of Nevada’s application for a waiver from the law. “While well intentioned, the law’s rigid, top-down prescriptions for reform have proved burdensome for many states,” a statement from the U.S. Department of Education said. But some states seem to be feeling the same way abou... more »

New Resources to Make the Financial Aid Process Easier | ED.gov Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
New Resources to Make the Financial Aid Process Easier | ED.gov Blog: New Resources to Make the Financial Aid Process Easier Posted on August 10, 2012 by Guest Blogger *Cross-posted from the White House Office of Public Engagement* Earlier this year, I had the most amazing opportunity – to be part of a dynamic and creative team of people who are making it easier for high-school students and adult learners to achieve their dreams of going to college. I work at the Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) which provides over $150 billion in grants, loans and work... more »

Feds: Mississippi county runs 'school-to-prison pipeline' - CNN.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Feds: Mississippi county runs 'school-to-prison pipeline' - CNN.com: Feds: Mississippi county runs 'school-to-prison pipeline' By *Michael Martinez*, CNN updated 5:08 PM EDT, Fri August 10, 2012 *STORY HIGHLIGHTS* - U.S. Justice Department accuses Lauderdale County of violating constitutional rights of pupils - Juveniles accused of school offenses are jailed and not given due process, feds say - African-Americans and children with disabilities are most affected - In 2010, the county settled a separate class-action suit and pledged juvenile justice reforms *(CN... more »

Ed Roundup for 8-10-12 - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Ed Roundup for 8-10-12 - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education): Education Roundup for the Week Ending August 10, 2012 SACRAMENTO—The California Department of Education (CDE) today issued this week's Education Roundup of education-related announcements of public interest. More High School Career Technical Education Courses Now Meet Rigorous UC Standards **More than 10,000 high school career technical education (CTE) courses now meet the rigorous college preparatory course standards, known as "a-g," that are used for admission at the University of California and California State Universi... more »

School Tech Connect: The National Idiocy

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
School Tech Connect: The National Idiocy: The National Idiocy by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) When I get into a conversation about the Common Core, I try to ask the person I'm talking to to identify a particular standard in the CCS that he or she finds superior to its counterpart in the current Illinois Learning Standards. Nobody can ever name anything. Nobody has any idea what this is about, I find. Try it sometime. You get this stare and a stuttered statement about them just being more rigorous or whatever. It's all magical thinking. Like this new set of standards is goin... more »

Bain Capital, Stand for Children and Initiative 1240 | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Bain Capital, Stand for Children and Initiative 1240 | Seattle Education: Bain Capital, Stand for Children and Initiative 1240 by seattleducation2011 Birds of a feather and all, Stand for Children, which is about the takeover of our public schools, has not only received donations from members of Bain Capital but the Managing Director at Bain Capital is on the Board of Directors for Stand for Children. Oh what a web… Stand for Children is also behind Initiative 1240 in our state which is an illegal maneuver to privatize our public schools by setting up charter schools with no loca... more »

Schools Matter: Students Want a Voice in Ed Policy

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Schools Matter: Students Want a Voice in Ed Policy: Students Want a Voice in Ed Policy by Judy Rabin Students stand up against high stakes testing, corporate education reform. Blogger Nikhil Goyal Common Core and Race to the Top are destructive. Day 33: SOS Convention and Featured in Newsday*Posted:* August 4, 2012 | * Author:* Nikhil Goyal | *Filed under:* Posts |*2* Comments » Today, I had a fabulous time at the Save Our Schools Convention in Washington D.C. I left my house at 7 AM sharp, hopped on a 8:45 flight from J.F.K., and arrived in D.C. a little more than a hour later.

Ravitch v. Rhee Fills Summer Lull – SchoolBook

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Ravitch v. Rhee Fills Summer Lull – SchoolBook: Ravitch v. Rhee Fills Summer Lull by Patricia Willens [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] In the quiet days of August, after summer school ends and before principals return to work, followers of education issues and news found it a good time to re-hash ongoing debates, ourselves included. WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Show re-aired interviews from leaders of different schools of thought regarding education reform. First up, former Washington, D.C. schools chancellor and the founder of Students First, Michelle Rhee, on the occ... more »

New Student Labor History Resource « Student Activism

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
New Student Labor History Resource « Student Activism: New Student Labor History Resource by Angus Johnston This is really cool. The Student Labor Action Project, a group that works with students across the US on economic justice organizing, has just completed a year-by-year history of its work. Here’s a sample, chosen pretty much at random: *2006* SLAP students at Temple University and University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia waged a campaign against security guard firm, AlliedBarton. Philly SLAP and the city’s Jobs with Justice coalition held numerous marches and protests to tr... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Ledger Logic

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Ledger Logic: Ledger Logic by Duke *The Star-Ledger Editorial Board confronts logic.* Hoo boy: New Jersey’s teacher tenure bill was signed into law this week, a resounding victory in the first round of the reform fight — but it’s not over yet. To get that crucial legislation passed, reformers had to abandon their push to end the practice known as “last in, first out,” which protects absolute seniority rights during times of layoffs. The state’s largest teachers union insisted upon it. Now, that sacrifice will fall hardest on cities such as Newark that face hundre... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: What is the Policy Writing Process?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: What is the Policy Writing Process?: What is the Policy Writing Process? by Charlie Mas As the day nears when the Board will vote on Policy 2200, Equitable Access to Programs and Services, I have to wonder about the policy writing process. I have to wonder because I don't understand how such a poorly conceived policy could be written in the first place or how such a badly written policy could advance so far without major re-writing. Who is in control of the policy writing and what is the process by which policies are formed, drafted, amended, and... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Friday, August 10, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *Jamestown*, *California* Education Headlines *Friday, August 10, 2012* Alvord to keep police on campusesRiverside police officers will be stationed at La Sierra and Norte Vista high schools when classes start Monday, the Alvord school board decided in a 3-2 decision. Security cameras to roll at Novato high schoolsA presence at most of Marin's high schools for several years, security cameras will roll at Novato's two main high schools for the first time this fall after the district completes a $177,000 installation project. LAU... more »

This Week In Education: NCLB: No Waiver? No Problem - Except For California

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
This Week In Education: NCLB: No Waiver? No Problem - Except For California: NCLB: No Waiver? No Problem - Except For California by Alexander Russo [image: Screen shot 2012-08-06 at 3.41.46 PM]Don't cry for the states that haven't gotten an NCLB waiver yet -- or haven't requested one. There's really only just one state I can find -- California -- that has requested a waiver but not gotten one but doesn't also have an AMO freeze in its back pocket. Several states without waivers have gotten one year freezes on changing their annual measurable objectives -- meaning that they don't h... more »






Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 7-21-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 7-14-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 7-7-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post
Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 6-30-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 6-23-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 6-16-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post
Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 6-9-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 6-2-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post



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LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 8-11-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

Diane Ravitch's blog:

Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch


Charter Leader, Fired for Cheating, Gets $245,000 Settlement

The Los Angeles Times reports an amazing story.
A leader of a charter chain in Los Angeles was fired after teachers complained that they were ordered to cheat so test scores would rise.
The L.A. school board closed the chain of six schools.



Shocking: Common Sense in Iowa

The Des Moines Register published an important and wise editorial. It shows that someone in the mainstream press is still thoughtful and wise.
It seems that Governor Terry Branstad wants to see a much healthier Iowa. So he is urging people to lead healthier lifestyles.


Test Scores Drop in Pittsburgh, But Why? UPDATE!

Test scores dipped in Pittsburgh for the first time in five years, and the graduation rate is flat.
Here are some possible reasons.
Budget cuts.
Teacher layoffs.
Budget cuts and layoffs mean larger class sizes.
Schools will be closed, and teachers are uncertain about where they will be assigned.


This is the Point of Test Prep: Not to Think

A reader realizes something important:
I feel like a pawn piece on a 30 year old chess set, who has just been awarded sel-awareness and now undstands he has been manipulated by an agenda far bigger then himself his entire life. I remember over 20 years ago in high school studying each year for the Regents exam, and buying the red Barron’s book for each subject so I could take 



The Most Important Book for Our Age

Reader Duane Swacker reminds me to tell you that the most important book for our age was written fifty years ago.
It is Raymond Callahan’s Education and the Cult of Efficiency. It was published in 1962.
It may be hard to find. Get it from the library.
It describes the “efficiency movement” of the early twentieth century, when administrators developed check lists 



Another Chance to Sell Stuff

A very interesting report by Maureen Downey on her blog in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about a school in Washington D.C.  that will try to raise its low test scores–fast–by turning the kids over to online instruction for half the day. The discussion about the glories of online learning was marred by technical glitches and miscommunication, but no matter.
The best line in the story came from a D.C. public school teacher who knows the school in question well and


Will Fitzhugh Believes in Student Accountability

Will Fitzhugh created a publication called The Concord Review many years ago. It publishes excellent student historical research. If you read these history papers, you would think that some of them had been written by scholars with many degrees. It is amazing the quality of work that students can write when they have the motive and the opportunity.
Over the years, Will has written often about the importance of encouraging students to work hard and to take 



Grassroots Effort in Chicago for Elected Board

After nearly two decades of mayoral control in Chicago, it is clear that it doesn’t improve schools.
The board is appointed by the mayor,  and the public has nothing to say about who sits on the board and no way to contest its actions.
As in New York City, mayoral control means that the public has no role in public education


A World Without Public Schools?

This article was published in 2007. David Gelernter, a brilliant computer scientist at Yale with strong conservative views, asked why we could not have a world without public schools.
Imagine every school run by private entrepreneurs, private managers, religious groups, whoever, whatever.
Or every student with a voucher.
Why have public education at all?


Rhee Supports Republican Candidates in Florida

I can’t understand Arne Duncan and President Obama’s infatuation with Michelle Rhee.
Rhee says she is raising $1 billion, and we know that she is spending in state after state–to support Republican candidates.
In Wisconsin, a swing state, she gave to Republicans.
She gives to Republicans because they are likeliest to


How NCLB Redefined Teachers

From an article in Salon (to which I linked yesterday). This is the passage that many people identified as most relevant to their own lives:
“Since 2001, when, for the first time in the history of federal education policy, George Bush’s No Child Left Behind linked school and teacher assessment — and cash rewards — directly to children’s standardized test performance, teachers have been, too often, nothing more than the getters of the scores. What matters in this calculation isn’t the person in front of the class, what his expertise is, what he thinks, about anything. Teachers




Is It 1984 Yet?

A friend works in the online industry. It’s a job. She sent me a copy of a high school graduation exam. The students learn at home on a computer.
She said the kids can take the exam over if they don’t like their score. Because they take the exam online at home, they can google the answers. Or they can have the book open in front of them.
Bear in mind that the big money in this country is investing millions to put our kids online as much as possible. 




Yong Zhao on PISA

New York Times columnist Tom Friedman had a column a few days ago saying that PISA would soon make it possible for everyone to compare the scores of their school to schools all over the world. No one will be average anymore! Just being able to take tests and compare scores will drive us all to the top!
After I read this with a sinking sensation, thinking of the whole world competing to get better test scores (why?), 




The Inside Scoop on the Texas Miracle

Hey, I’m a historian and it’s my job to have a long memory, but I know that many people don’t remember how the whole nation got stuck with this crazy No Child Left Behind law.
Back in 2000, when George W. Bush was running for president, he talked about the Texas miracle. There was a secret formula, he said, and it was really simple: Test every child every year. If scores go up, the school gets honored, maybe even a bonus. And if the scores drop or go flat, the school is humiliated.
How easy. Testing! Accountability! And look what happened, or so he said: The test scores went up, the dropout


Reach Out to Bill Moyers

Bill Moyers understands the danger of destroying public institutions and handing them over to profiteers.
Contact him and urge him to look into the privatization movement in education:


For Profit Charter School Giant Academica Struggling to Get Students in St.Lucie | Scathing Purple Musings

For Profit Charter School Giant Academica Struggling to Get Students in St.Lucie | Scathing Purple Musings:


For Profit Charter School Giant Academica Struggling to Get Students in St.Lucie

Fernando Zulueta’s Academica doesn’t have any cash shortages, but not all is so rosy. Fresh off its $100,000 contribution to a pro-ed privatization PAC, it has plenty of money left over to float a few grants its new, but struggling franchise in St. Lucie County. Writes Kelly Tyko for TCPalm:
……..instead of getting ready for the festivities Friday afternoon, charter school officials met with St. Lucie County School District officials at district headquarters in Fort Pierce. Schools Superintendent Michael Lannon called an emergency meeting of the charter school’s board of directors to discuss concerns district officials had with the school.
Charter schools are publicly funded, tuition-free schools that sign contracts with local school