Latest News and Comment from Education

Friday, February 15, 2013

Diane in the Evening 2-15-13 Diane Ravitch's blog

Diane Ravitch's blog:








Florida Pays Crooks and Liars to Tutor Kids

Florida hands out millions of dollars to ex-convicts, profiteers, and crooks to tutor poor kids.
People who would never be hired to teach in a public school because of their criminal history are paid as much as $60 an hour to tutor needy students.
The program has no accountability or quality.
The next time you hear boasting about Florida, think of this story. Privatization opens the public treasury to corruption. It’s predictable.
Another step backward for American education.

Zombie Ideas in Education

I have written on many occasions that merit pay is an idea that never works and never dies. It has been tried for over a century, and failed again and again. Yet it comes back. I didn’t realize it, but merit pay is a zombie idea.
There are many more zombie ideas, like the well-known adage that “the beatings will continue until morale improves.”
Today, the federal government mandates zombie policies in No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top. These 

Goldenberg: Why You Should Oppose the Common Core

As readers know, I am agnostic about the Common Core standards.
I want to see how they work in reality before supporting or opposing them. I know the case for both views.
However, I am troubled by the rush to force compliance without trial. I am concerned about shoddy implementation without preparation or resources. I am concerned about diversion of resources fro classroom. I 

Should a Child with Autism Be Compelled to Take the Tests?

A reader wrote to ask for advice. The situation she describes is outrageous. Does anyone know of a group that can help her fight this and protect her child?
I am a special education teacher and mother of a 3rd grader with Autism. I am trying to excercise my parental right to opt my son out of high stakes testing in New York State. These tests are detrimental to all children, but even more so for children like my son who will not be able to read the exam or understand why he is being asked to do something that he cannot hope to be successful with.
Imagine his confusion and frustration. Presenting a child with a test that is not developmentally appropriate and 

When Big Money Started in L.A. School Board Races

This interesting article traces the rise of big spending in Los Angeles school board races.
In 1978, a candidate was elected after spending only $56,000.
This year’s election will break all records.
The big spending began with Mayor Richard Riordan, who decided he needed to shake things up.
He and his fellow zillionaire Eli Broad won control of the board in 1999, promising to guarantee quality education 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 2-15-13 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Paul Thomas: Do Not Become a Zombie by dianerav Paul Thomas, our collective voice of conscience, explains the way that zombies take control. When your leaders are zombies, do not follow them. They will make you a zombie too. How can you recognize a zombie? They talk about data, not individuals. They always say they put “kids first” or The Corporate Reform Cult of Rhetoric and Riches by dianerav To understand the tentacles of corporate reform, you must read this post Here Mercedes Schneider continues her re... more »

Daily Kos: I have a problem with this

Daily Kos: I have a problem with this:


I have a problem with this

as I look at the front page right now, the top story is Bloomberg's Super PAC Endorses Robin Kelly in IL-02  and we read that it is spending on her behalf.
So in this race the big money player is on our side.
But that legitimizes the wealthy swamping the financial contributions of the rest of us.
To take the same Michael Bloomberg, there are some important school board races right now, and Bloomberg has weighed in with $1 million in favor of candidates who will support what is effectively the corporatizing of even more schools, by attempting to defeat two incumbent Board members who oppose that agenda.
While I understand those who say we cannot unilaterally disarm in the face of big money opposing us in things like the forthcoming IL primary, I still have a problem, because as Bloomberg demonstrates that big money from the same sources is just as likely to oppose us on other important races and issues.
I have no problem with Daily Kos motivating lots donors to give as individuals to a candidate like Kelly.
I do have a problem of moving away from the ideal of one man one vote to more dollars equals more votes, and 

Teachers Don't Suck !: Let's Privatize Everything and Get It Over With !

Teachers Don't Suck !: Let's Privatize Everything and Get It Over With !:


Let's Privatize Everything and Get It Over With !


The paper is recently full of the news about the US Post Office ending Saturday delivery due to ever increasing deficits. The crux of the problem is explained as the dramatic increase in electronic communications usurping the first class letter business of the 
USPO. Much of this is, of course 
true, but there is another major factor accelerating the Post Office's demise. That factor is a law passed by the Congress relating to the postal employee pension fund. It requires the prefunding of the pension seventy five years out over a ten year period. Th

Safer Schools for Living, Growing, and Learning — Whole Child Education

Safer Schools for Living, Growing, and Learning — Whole Child Education:


Sean Slade

Safer Schools for Living, Growing, and Learning

Often, when people talk about the basics of education, they are referring to the three Rs: reading, (w)riting and (a)rithmetic. There is, however, an even more foundational aspect to educating students is ensuring that schools are safe.
If a school isn't a safe place then it can't be a school as we know it—a place to learn and grow. If a school isn't a safe place it becomes reactive to incidences and teaching and learning become a secondary or forgotten imperative.
And it's not just actual safety that's crucial, but perceived safety. An unsafe school climate increases truancy, reduces classroom engagement, demands inattention, and negatively impacts both teaching and learning. The school's climate—safe or unsafe, supportive or unsupportive, welcoming or confrontational—dictates 

Reaction to President's State of the Union - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education)

Reaction to President's State of the Union - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education):


State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Statement
on the President's State of the Union Address



SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today issued the following statement regarding President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address:
"I welcome President Obama's call for making early learning a national priority.
"We know that there are significant benefits to helping children start school excited and ready to learn—and that those benefits last the rest of their lives.
"Like other parts of the nation, California has struggled to preserve high-quality early education during the Great Recession.
"We look forward to this new opportunity to partner with the Administration to give more children the opportunity to benefit from high-quality early education programs."
# # # #
Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

Letter Head: Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, California Department of Education
February 14, 2013
Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:
MANDATORY REPORTING OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
As educators, our most important duty is the protection of the children in our care. Given recent events, I am writing with a reminder that California Penal Code includes requirements concerning the mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect. For your convenience, I have attached a copy of the California Penal Code section for your information.
California Penal Code Section 11165.7(a) defines who qualifies as a “mandated reporter.”
California Penal Code Section 11165.7(d) states that “School districts that do not train their employees specified in subdivision (a) in the duties of mandated reporters under the child abuse reporting laws shall report to the State Department of Education the reasons why this training is not provided.”
For the convenience of school districts, I have also attached a form that can be used to provide this notification to the California Department of Education (CDE).
In addition to these requirements, I have asked CDE staff to complete a review of the kinds of training school districts may be providing pursuant to California Penal Code section 11165.7(c). For your convenience, an example of such a training module is on the California Department of Social Services Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Training Web page athttp://mandatedreporterca.com/training/educators.htm.
I would appreciate your sharing information about the training you offer with Craig Cheslog, Principal Advisor to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, by e-mail at ccheslog@cde.ca.gov by February 28, 2013.
I have also asked Mr. Cheslog to coordinate a review of state laws and regulations to see if any changes to statute are warranted. If you would like to share your thoughts about possible changes to existing statute or if you have any questions about this subject, you may contact him by e-mail at the above address or by phone at 916-319-0554. 
Sincerely,
Tom Torlakson
TT:cc
Attachment 1
Attachment 2
2013-01387

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Study: School closings 'may hinder, rarely help students' academic progress'

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Study: School closings 'may hinder, rarely help students' academic progress':


Study: School closings 'may hinder, rarely help students' academic progress'

In the weeks ahead, as Chicago, Philadelphia and other large urban school districts pursue large-scale school closing reform policies, I will be taking a look at some of the current research on how such policies impact the lives of students. 

Research for Action, a non-profit education research organization, has done a study of large-scale school closings which includes the impact of closings on student learning.  The study was done on behalf of the Philadelphia City Council. Philly's school district is currently moving ahead with its plan to close 37 schools.

According to RFA, research on the effects of mass closings in an unnamed district found small, 

ADD Deja Vu | Taking Note

ADD Deja Vu | Taking Note:


ADD Deja Vu

Unanswered question: Has focus on math and reading squeezed out civics? SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources:

Unanswered question: Has focus on math and reading squeezed out civics?
By Kimberly Beltran
Friday, February 15, 2013




The impetus for a new national study on civics education in K-12 schools was to evaluate claims that classroom focus on math and reading skills was squeezing out traditional study of citizenship in America.
The conclusion, said researchers from the Center on Education Policy, is murky because too little data is available on the subject.
Further, the team found little difference in performance between the overall civics achievement of pupils from charters schools or their counterparts in traditional settings.
The findings should still set off some alarm bells, the study authors said, because the “lack of research leaves the nation at a disadvantage” when it comes to understanding the level of civics knowledge, instruction and engagement in the nation’s youth.
“In recent years, researchers and advocacy groups have pointed to evidence suggesting that schools are giving insufficient attention to civic education,” researchers wrote. “With the emphasis on raising student achievement in English language arts and mathematics to meet the accountability requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act, many school systems have reduced instructional time for other subjects, such as social studies and civics (Center on 

UPDATE: Missouri Education Watchdog: If Common Core Standards REALLY Were State Led...

Missouri Education Watchdog: If Common Core Standards REALLY Were State Led...:


Excellent Observation from a Reader on Common Core Standards

We previously wrote asking why Common Core Standards were copyrighted by the NGA and CCSSO.  After all, if they were state led and state standards currently aren't copyrighted, why would copyrighting occur with these standards?

The disclaimers might be even a more important aspect of the NGA/CCSSO public license.

A reader responded:

Basically, if your student completes 12 years of CCSS and is NOT college ready, the controlling 



If Common Core Standards REALLY Were State Led...

...would the standards then need to be copyrighted?

Look at this language from the Common Core State Standards Initiative website on who developed and owns the standards:

Attribution; Copyright Notice:

NGA Center/CCSSO shall be acknowledged as the sole owners and developers of the Common Core State Standards, and no claims to the contrary shall be made.

Any publication or public display shall include the following notice: “© Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved.”

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center:




Best of the Ed Blogs

Best of the Ed Blogs features a frequently updated selection of interesting and insightful blog posts on education policy. The views expressed by the bloggers on our blog roll are thoughtful, original, and entirely their own. We hope you make Best of the Ed Blogs your first stop for concise takes on today's most important education topics.

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Friday, February 15, 2013

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team:

Top Ten Best School Systems in CA

NAME
1San Marino
2Hermosa Beach
3Manhattan Beach
4Belvedere
5Orinda
6Piedmont
7Oak Park
8Palo Alto
9Moraga
10Mill Valley

Affeldt: Shame on districts seeking to perpetuate funding advantages





Education Headlines

Friday, February 15, 2013

Teachers picket Eureka City Schools district office

Eureka Teacher's Association members picketed outside of Eureka City Schools district office on Walford Avenue in Eureka on Thursday morning before the second round of 2013-2014 contract talks.

Turmoil grips San Jose charter high school

It was a good week at ACE Charter High last week: The Internet finally got hooked up for students at the fledging school. Access to the Web is both a triumph and an indicator of the bumpy start for the charter, which hoped to do "blended learning" of technology and traditional teaching for kids in one of San Jose's toughest neighborhoods. But ACE opened in August without textbooks, student Internet access or lunch tables -- and chaos in some classes.

Affeldt: Shame on districts seeking to perpetuate funding advantages

Kudos to Jerry Brown for proposing to end the inequities in California school funding – and shame on the districts that seek to fossilize the advantages they have enjoyed for decades now.
Thursday, February 14, 2013

Education roundup: District superintendent Hearron retiring

Kip Hearron is retiring as superintendent of the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District.

State bill would shrink school superintendents' severance pay

A California legislator wants to shrink considerably the severance pay for California school superintendents.

Monterey teachers' dramatic health insurance increases have a long history

The sticker shock that Monterey Peninsula Unified School District teachers experienced in January, when they saw their health care premiums rise by as much as $500 a month, has been years in the making.

Why wealthy foreigners invest in U.S. charter schools

Why wealthy foreigners invest in U.S. charter schools:


Why wealthy foreigners invest in U.S. charter schools

(By Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg)
(Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg)
Wealthy Americans have been funding U.S. charter schools for years now through their hedge funds, private foundations or personal fortunes, but it turns out that super-rich foreigners are forking over big money to American charters too.
Do you think it’s for the kids?
Guess again.
A federal program known as EB-5 allows foreigners to invest at least $1 million in certain job-producing projects — or  $500,000 if the project is in a rural area or one with high unemployment — to win immigration visas for their families.
So much for students first in education.
According to this Reuters story, most of the EB-5 investment in the United States under this program during the past 20 years has gone into projects such as hotels and ski resorts. Bu