Jersey Jazzman: Why Chicago Strike Makes Reformies Nervous

Jersey Jazzman: Why Chicago Strike Makes Reformies Nervous:

Why Chicago Strike Makes Reformies Nervous

by Duke

Uh-oh; the teachers in state-controlled Paterson are getting kinda... uppity.

Watch Paterson Education Assoc. President Hopes to Avoid Walkout on PBS. See more from NJToday.

Only working contract hours is called "work-to-rule." It is not pleasant; but in a state like New Jersey, where it is for all intents and purposes illegal to strike, it's one of the few options available. My guess is that the Paterson teachers and the union local are looking at the hit Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is taking from the strike, and they feel emboldened about taking action.

The fact that Paterson is a state-controlled district means that the ultimate responsibility for what happens there rests with Education Commissioner Chris Cerf and Governor Christie. Any fallout from increased work actions 

Jersey Jazzman: A Mess In Perth Amboy

Jersey Jazzman: A Mess In Perth Amboy:

A Mess In Perth Amboy

by Duke

And the battle between the Perth Amboy school board and Superintendent Janine Caffrey grinds on and on...

Watch Perth Amboy Superintendent Defends Job on PBS. See more from NJToday.

First of all, others would take exception with Caffrey that the opening of schools was "incredibly smooth":

Chiera and other union members said some high school students had schedules that didn’t match the academies where they were assigned. She also heard reports there were nearly 500 students at Shull Middle School 

CPS Parent Matt Farmer Puts Penny Pritzker on Trial at CTU’s Stands Strong Rally | United Opt Out National

CPS Parent Matt Farmer Puts Penny Pritzker on Trial at CTU’s Stands Strong Rally | United Opt Out National:

CPS Parent Matt Farmer Puts Penny Pritzker on Trial at CTU’s Stands Strong Rally

by admin

From CTU YouTube: CPS parent Matt Farmer puts billionaire Board of Education member Penny Pritzker on Trial at CTU’s STANDS STRONG RALLY. Pritzker doesn’t seem to feel it is necessary to provide other people’s children with the same educational experience as hers.

This is simply one of those videos you cannot watch enough. Thank you Matt Farmer and CTU!

This entry was posted in Uncategorized by admin. Bookmark the permalink.

Heroes. « Fred Klonsky

Heroes. « Fred Klonsky:

Heroes.

by Fred Klonsky

Members of the Chicago Teachers Union voting to suspend the strike. Photo: Michael Harrington

See if you can find the face of a teacher pensioner in this Mark Kirk video. They would be one of Mitt Baines Romney’s 47% losers and users.

by Fred Klonsky

Only concerned with credit ratings and avoiding any mention of taxing those who can most afford it, Republican Senator Mark Kirk’s office released a video on pension funding today.
Classic.
The video is filled with rolling scary black and white headlines, Fox News reports and music straight out of Jaws. You can try looking and looking and looking. Here’s what you won’t find: The face of one of the thousands of 

RFA: Public Charter Schools Grant Program Planning and Implementation Grant (CA Dept of Education)

RFA: Public Charter Schools Grant Program Planning and Implementation Grant (CA Dept of Education):

Request for Applications

Public Charter Schools Grant Program Planning and Implementation Grant

---

Projected Funding Profile: No due date information is available.

The federal Public Charter Schools Grant Program (PCSGP) is administered by the Charter Schools Division. Grants are reviewed by peer evaluators and awarded on a quarterly basis to nonprofit entities and local education agencies that are likely to develop and open high-quality charter schools. The primary focus of the PCSGP is to create charter schools that will provide public school choice to students whose assigned traditional public school is chronically low performing.

Program Questions: Benjamin Walker, e-mail: bwalker@cde.ca.gov, tel. 916-319-0222

Downloading Questions: Bobby Roy, Charter Schools Division, e-mail: broy@cde.ca.gov, tel. 916-319-0217

Document	Description
Request for Applications (DOC)	Complete description of the new PCSGP including eligibility requirements for Planning and Implementation grants. Precharter grants and dissemination grants are not being offered at this time.
Application Checklist (DOC)	PCSGP Application Checklist
Application Cover Sheet (DOC)	PCSGP Form 1 Application Cover Sheet (Required) (Must be signed in blue ink by the primary applicant)
Narrative Response Part 1 (DOC)	PCSGP Form 2 Narrative Response-Part 1 (Required)Limit 15 Pages
Narrative Response Part 2 (DOC)	PCSGP Form 3 Narrative Response-Part 2 (If applicable)Limit 4 Pages
Budget Instructions	PCSGP Form 4 Budget Instructions
Proposed Budget Summary (DOC)	PCSGP Form 5 Proposed Budget Summary (Required)
Proposed Budget Narrative (DOC)	PCSGP Form 6 Budget Narrative (Required)
Charter School Work Plan/Activities (DOC)	PCSGP Form 7 Charter School Work Plan/Activities (Required) Limit 15 Pages
Object of Expenditure Codes	PCSGP Form 8 List of Expenditure Codes
General Assurances and Certifications	PCSGP Form 9 General Assurances and Certifications. Applicants do not need to sign and return them with the application; they must be downloaded and kept on file for compliance reviews, complaint investigations, or audits.
Sub-grant Conditions and Assurances	PCSGP Form 10 Sub-grant Conditions and Assurances. Applicants do not need to sign and return them with the application; they must be downloaded and kept on file for compliance reviews, complaint investigations, or audits.

Certifications and Assurances

Document	Description
General Assurances and Certifications	Required as a condition of receiving funds. Applicants do not need to sign and return them with the application; they must be downloaded and kept on file for compliance reviews, complaint investigations, or audits.
General Education Provisions Act OMB Control No. 1894-0005 (Exp. 31-Mar-2014)	Notice to applicants for federal funds to include in the application a description of the steps the applicant proposes to take to ensure equitable access to its federally assisted program for participants with special needs.
Payee Data Record (DOC)	Required when receiving payment from the State of California in lieu of IRS W-9. Prompt return of this form (Sections One through Five) will prevent delays when processing payments. Information provided in this form will be used by State agencies to prepare Information Returns (1099). NOTE: Governmental, federal, State, and local (including school districts) entities are not required to submit this form. Only non-profit organizations developing schools that have not opened their doors to serve students need to complete this form. If the application is approved, verification of non-profit status will need to be submitted.

More about Public Charter Schools Grant Program Planning and Implementation Grant

Schools Matter: Kevin Huffman Huffs and Puffs: Nashville School Board Stands Strong

Schools Matter: Kevin Huffman Huffs and Puffs: Nashville School Board Stands Strong:

Kevin Huffman Huffs and Puffs: Nashville School, Stand Strong

by Jim Horn

Tennessee has been at the forefront of backwards thinking on education for the past 20 years, and it now has a governor and General Assembly that promises to push the state deeper into the past if possible. 

Bill Haslam, the quiet oil executive billionaire who serves as governor, continues a tradition begun during the Alexander Administration for using education as the whipping boy when the Business Roundtable gets riled up or when a public display of its raw power is required to bring things back along the the lines approved by the social antiquarians who run things politically in the State.

Comments on Fordham's Adam Emerson's latest pro-CCSA screed

by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene

The driving assumption for the pro-charter side, of course, is that market competition in education will be like that for toothpaste — providing an array of appealing options. But education, like healthcare, is not a typical consumer market. Providers in these fields have a disincentive to accept or retain “clients” who require intensive interventions to maintain desired outcomes—in the case of education, high standardized test scores that will allow charters to stay in business. The result? A segmented marketplace in which providers compete for the “good risks,” while the undesirables get triage. By design, markets produce winners, losers and unintended or hidden consequences. — Christopher Bonastia
Fordham troglodyte Adam Emerson stepped up on behalf of the billionaire funded California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) today with an essay attacking the Los Angeles Unified School District's mulling a charter 

PSAT for 9-18-12: Fingers crossed! Parents United for Responsible Education

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » PSAT for 9-18-12: Fingers crossed!:

PSAT for 9-18-12: Fingers crossed!

by admin

It has been a wild few days in Chicago. I was away for most of the time and got my news from a combination of WGN and the local Phoenix stations and newspaper.
It was clear that the local story was incredibly rich and the national story was incredibly thin.
National news fixated on how much Chicago teachers make, and how many students drop out. I had to t

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Day 7 Strike suspended. Big victory for teachers

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Day 7 Strike suspended. Big victory for teachers:

Day 7 Strike suspended. Big victory for teachers

by Mike Klonsky

CTU's House of Delegates voted to "suspend" the strike and ask teachers to return to class tomorrow.

“Everybody is going back to school,” said Jay Rehak, a delegate from Whitney Young High School. Delegate Mike Bochner said “an overwhelming majority” of delegates voted to suspend the strike. “I’m really excited, I’m really relieved,” said Bochner, a teacher at Cesar Chavez elementary.

Hoots, hollers, applause and what sounded like a cowbell erupted multiple times from inside the closed-door meeting. At the meeting, delegates were given a summary of the contract’s key issues. An introduction to that summary declared victory on several issues. 

“Our brothers and sisters throughout the country have been told that corporate ‘school reform’ was unstoppable, that merit pay had to be accepted and that the public would never support us if we decided to fight. Cities everywhere have been forced to accept performance pay,” the statement said. 

Restraining students freedom of speech in the culture of cruelty | Dailycensored.com

Restraining students freedom of speech in the culture of cruelty | Dailycensored.com:

Restraining students freedom of speech in the culture of cruelty

by Danny Weil

Did you know that students are now the subject of draconian laws in North Carolina that would fine them for ‘tormenting teachers’?

North Carolina is one of those confederate states where the reactionaries have taken over the seat of power with the help of multi-millionaire and racist Art Pope who buys politicians like you pruchase electricity.

After years spent trying to shield students from online bullying by their peers, schools are beginning to crack down on Internet postings that disparage teachers.

We seem to be living at the foot of the gallows.  Youth disposability, the school to prison pipeline and the 

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Look who's attacking Chicago's striking teachers

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Look who's attacking Chicago's striking teachers:

Look who's attacking Chicago's striking teachers

by Mike Klonsky

No, this strike feels more about attitude—"the mayor doesn't respect us"—than substance.

It's none other than Rupert Murdoch's bag man. In an op-ed in Sunday's Wall Street Journal, News Corp. executive V.P Joel Klein attacked the ongoing teachers' strike in Chicago without disclosing his role in administering $4.7 million in educational testing contracts at the heart of the dispute.

Media Matters reports that Klein, the former schools chancellor for New York City, was hired by Rupert Murdoch to run News Corp.'s education division in July of 2010 and is now the CEO of Amplify. While the Journal -- which 

A critical analysis of Common Core math standards - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

A critical analysis of Common Core math standards - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:

A critical analysis of Common Core math standards

By Valerie Strauss

The Common Core State Standards, as you can tell from the contrasting pieces I published this week (here and here), are nothing if not controversial. Until now much criticism has been leveled at the English Language Arts Standards, but here’s a somewhat scary, detailed look at the math standards. It was published on the blog CCSSI Mathematics.

The author of the blog writes anonymously. He is a former high school math teacher and now an attorney in Manhattan. Knowing the times tables helped him pass the bar exam, he said, and he has won cases by knowing math better than his adversaries. A math major in college, he still occasionally teaches part-time to test out some of his evolving theories of math education.

Here’s the blog post, and if you want to follow along with specific it

Yes, Teachers Do Have A Breaking Point John Wilson Unleashed - Education Week

John Wilson Unleashed - Education Week:

Yes, Teachers Do Have A Breaking Point

We all remember the scene in the movie Network where a character throws open the window, sticks his head out, and yells, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore." Last week, about 30,000 educators in Chicago came to a similar breaking point.

It was a fascinating week for watchers and listeners. The media pundits immediately went to union bashing as if 90 percent of the membership had not voted to assert their collective and legal right to go on strike. Shame on MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, Chris Matthews, and Willie Geist. Loyal viewers, like me, were very disappointed.

Let me repeat a message I've shared before: teachers and teacher unions are the same. Where do you think union members come from? Union leaders and their teacher members hate strikes. When they choose that alternative, you know they have been insulted, disrespected, and demeaned by management proposals. And what is most important is that you know that the proposals on the table hurt students---proposals such as larger class sizes, refusal to 

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Is There Real Ed Change Happen in Washington State?

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Is There Real Ed Change Happen in Washington State?:

Is There Real Ed Change Happen in Washington State?

by Melissa Westbrook

Yes, I believe there is.

It's interesting because LEV and Stand for Children and DFER will all tell you Washington State is a backwater.  We're "laggards" in education reform.  You'd think we were Alabama or Louisiana.  We're not.

Let me start by saying - NO one is saying change doesn't need to happen or that we don't need to do better. No one.  Moving on. 

This is what Special Education (in America) Looks Like

This is what Special Education (in America) Looks Like:

This is what Special Education (in America) Looks Like

by Sam

Imagine if the goal in America was to make every teacher a “special ed” teacher – and to give every student specialized attention? I bet we’d see less stigma, more individual and collective capacity to diagnose and meet the needs of each child, and a deeper investment in our nation’s teachers.
If that sounds like a pipe dream, bear one thing in mind — that’s how Finland already does it. Why not us?

Follow the money « Deborah Meier on Education

Follow the money « Deborah Meier on Education:

Follow the money

by debmeier

You and I think schools are important. So do those on the “other side”. Oddly enough, while the latest Billionaire Reformers claim the future of America–its economy, safety, world status, etc– rests on “reforming” schools, (especially for the poor since we already outscore the rest of the world if we eliminate low-income scorers) they always seem to have enough money for new military expenses–even more than the military asks for. Remember

This Video Shows Up Bunk VAM

by debmeier

Ed professors, teachers, parents and media! Watch it.
Begin forwarded message:

From: Diane Ravitch’s blog
Subject: [New post] This Video Shows Up Bunk VAM

Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Diane Ravitch’s blog This Video Shows Up Bunk VAM by dianerav Researchers at Arizona State Universityvalue-added-assessment actually works and how inaccurate it is. It is easy to watch and presents a clear explanation of this flawed measurement system that reduces teachers and students to data. dianerav | September 18, 2012 at 8:45 am | Categories: Teacher Evaluations | URL:http://wp.me/p2odLa-1Qb Comment See all comments

What they don’t say, says more than what they do… - Wait, What?

What they don’t say, says more than what they do… - Wait, What?:

What they don’t say, says more than what they do…

by jonpelto

One of the biggest cheerleaders for “education reform” in Hartford is a group called Achieve Hartford.  Lately, they’ve been spending time backing the effort by the Malloy Administration and the Superintendent of the City of Hartford to give the Milner School over to Jumoke Academy, a charter school in the city.

Achieve Hartford is made up of leaders from the MetroHartford Chamber of Commerce and some of Hartford’s biggest corporations.  The organization claims that it was, “established to monitor, support and be a catalyst for education reform and community involvement in the Hartford Public School District.”

Monitoring and publishing information about how Hartford students do on the Connecticut 

Chicago Teachers Union | Strike Central

Chicago Teachers Union | Strike Central:

Strike Central

Latest Information (10:40pm September 17)

NEW! Click here for answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the tentative agreement.

NEW! Click here to see the proposed steps and lanes.

Click here for the latest copy of the On the Line daily strike bulletin.

Click here for a new flier explaining to parents the gains for students in the tentative agreement.

Some 800 delegates of the Chicago Teachers Union duly elected from each school and workplace convened Sunday afternoon to discuss the framework established during negotiations between the Chicago Teachers Union and the Chicago Board of Education. Officers presented a 23-page document outlining the most important points of the agreement whose outline has been worked out between the two parties. That tentative agreement is expected to number over 180 pages. A shorter summary of what we won and what we wanted to win but didn't, are in this separate document.

After a civil and frank discussion, the House of Delegates voted NOT to suspend the strike, but to allow two more days for delegates to take the information back to the picket lines and hold discussions with the union’s more than 26,000 members throughout Chicago. Teachers and school staff will return to the picket lines of the schools at which they teach at 7:30 a.m. Monday and, after picketing together, will meet to share and discuss the proposal. Citywide members will picket at the Chicago Public Schools Headquarters, 125 South Clark, at 7:30 a.m. and will meet thereafter at a downtown location.

“This union is a democratic institution, which values the opportunity for all members to make decisions together. The officers of this union follow the lead of our members,” President Lewis said. She continued, “the issues raised in this contract were too important, had consequences too profound for the future of our public education system and for educational fairness for our students, parents and members for us to simply take a quick vote based on a short discussion. Therefore, a clear majority voted to take this time and we are unified in this decision.”

The delegates voted to reconvene on Tuesday afternoon.

 

NOTE:
The union is not on strike over matters governed exclusively by IELRA Section 4.5 and 12(b).

CTU Strike Headquarters is located at Teamster City.

On Van Buren between Ashland and Paulina on the north side of I-290 - the Eisenhower Expressway.
Use Ashland Avenue exits from I-290 in either direction. 

The CTU Strike Hotline (with regularly updated recorded message) is 312-329-6209! 

Sign up for text messaging:
Send a text to 69238 (MYAFT) with "CTU1" as the body of the message.

Post pictures at Flickr.com/groups/strike2012

Click here for previous contract bulletins.

We have received messages and donations in solidarity from around the country and even the world!Click here for a map.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT STRIKE CENTRAL

• Tentative Agreement FAQ
• Solidarity Rally Saturday, September 15
• On the Line

Action Now | Working Families United For Change!

Action Now | Working Families United For Change!:

Action Now President Michelle Young Speaks Out For Teachers; Members Join Huge Rally!

Posted on September 11, 2012 

Action Now with Chicago teachers at huge downtown rally on Monday!

View of Monday’s rally from a helicopter

On the morning of September 10, 2012, the first day of the Chicago teacher’s strike, Action Now President Michelle Young spoke at a press conference held by Grassroots Collaborative outside of CPS Headquarters to voice community support for striking Chicago public school 

Governor Quinn is silent but his hands are dirty. « Fred Klonsky

Governor Quinn is silent but his hands are dirty. « Fred Klonsky:

Governor Quinn is silent but his hands are dirty.

by Fred Klonsky

Progress Illinois, the SEIU website, reports that Pat Quinn has been silent during the strike except for a few non-statements about being “for the kids.”
But his hands are quite dirty in all of this.

The teachers’ strike is often framed as a clash of two colorful personalities: Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CTU President Karen Lewis. But as Progress Illinois has examined, it was the mild-mannered Quinn that signed in 2010 the 

Ten minute drawing. Chickens are loyal.

by Fred Klonsky