Latest News and Comment from Education

Friday, February 22, 2013

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 2-22-13 AM Posts #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2



BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS



Superintendent & School Board Overrules Community Voice to Close Schools in Sacramento’s Poorest Communities

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 minutes ago


(69) Superintendent & School Board Overrules Community Voice to Close Schools in Sacramento’s Poorest Communities: *Superintendent & School Board Overrules Community Voice to Close Schools in Sacramento’s Poor Communities* * * * * * * SACRAMENTO, CA – Amidst hundreds of disenfranchised parents, four Board Members (Cueno, Woo, Hansen, Kennedy) and Superintendent Raymond arbitrarily and inconsistently applied standards to close seven schools in Sacramento Unified City School District (SCUSD). Moments before the School Board was prepared to vote on the “wrong-sizing” proposal, Superi... more »

Louisiana Educator: Two Flaws in Accountability

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 24 minutes ago
Louisiana Educator: Two Flaws in Accountability: Two Flaws in Accountability by Michael Deshotels I served on a panel in Lafayette Thursday for a discussion of the status of education in Louisiana sponsored by the Louisiana Association of Educators. As part of the panel presentation I pointed out two serious flaws in the Louisiana school accountability system. After the forum, a couple of teachers asked me to write a post on those two issues so that the teachers and other educators who were not able to attend the forum could also utilize this information in discussions with their... more »

State Auditors determine Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor and the Malloy Administration dodged bidding requirements - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 28 minutes ago
State Auditors determine Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor and the Malloy Administration dodged bidding requirements - Wait, What?: State Auditors determine Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor and the Malloy Administration dodged bidding requirements by jonpelto Wait, What? readers know the long, ugly story behind yesterday’s news that Commissioner Stefan Pryor did, in fact, use a quasi-state agency, the State Education Resource Center (SERC), to get around state bidding laws so that he could hire companies and individuals that he had worked with in the past. State Auditors have... more »

ASCD Releases 2013 Legislative Agenda — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 36 minutes ago
ASCD Releases 2013 Legislative Agenda — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Melissa Mellor]ASCD Releases 2013 Legislative Agenda February 22, 2013 by Melissa Mellor ASCD's 2013 Legislative Agenda (PDF) urges Congress to immediately reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and replace it with a comprehensive rewrite that fixes the current law's flaws; aligns with and supports state and local initiatives; and guides revisions to other federal programs, such as special education and career and technical education. Now 11 years old and five years ove... more »

Addressing the Achievement Gap: Opportunities for Young Men of Color | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 40 minutes ago
Addressing the Achievement Gap: Opportunities for Young Men of Color | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: Addressing the Achievement Gap: Opportunities for Young Men of Color by Tarsi Dunlop The Commission on Equity and Excellence had a Congressional mandate to provide advice to Secretary Duncan on the disparities in meaningful educational opportunities and to recommend ways in which federal policies can address such disparities. They just released a report titled “For Each and Every Child,” after a two year work period. The distinguished members of the panel, wit... more »

Teacher questions value of AP program

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Teacher questions value of AP program: Teacher questions value of AP program Posted by Valerie Strauss on February 22, 2013 at 8:30 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » [image: princeton-review-ap-government]Earlier this month I published what turned out to be a very popular post by veteran educator Kenneth Bernstein — known online as teacherken — that was a warning to college professors about the level of preparation for higher education that high school students were receiving. My colleague Jay... more »

Daily Kos: thoughts on writing and political participation

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Daily Kos: thoughts on writing and political participation: thoughts on writing and political participation by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) Like many in the blogosphere, I often opine on issues on which I lack formal expertise. Once I get beyond education, I would be hard put to justify my opinions on the basis of either formal education or job experience. In that sense I am no different than many who are paid great sums to offer their bloviations, the pundit class. I may agree with them - as I usually do with the likes of Paul Krugman, Charles M. Blow, and Eugene Robinson - ... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 2-22-13 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Charter Scandal In New Jersey by dianerav The LEAP charter school in Camden, New Jersey, is now caught up in allegations of incompetence, cronyism, and abuse, reports Jersey Jazzman. The finances of the school are a mess, its academic performance is poor, yet State Commissioner of Education showers it with praise. It’s problems are long-standing, but the department close to ignore them. Just last fall, Oklahoma Chief Channels Jeb Bush by dianerav Coach Bob Sikes in Florida knows how phony that state’s A-... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Weasel Migration: USDOE to Murdoch Inc.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Weasel Migration: USDOE to Murdoch Inc.: Weasel Migration: USDOE to Murdoch Inc. by Duke *@EdPressSec* Just in case you were worried that the Washington public-private revolving door was restricted to Capitol Hill: Cozy. *Justin Hamilton, who recently left the U.S. Department of Education, where he served as press secretary for Secretary Arne Duncan, has gone to work for Amplify, the online education company owned by Rupert Murdoch and run by Joel Klein.* Hamilton is senior vice president for corporate communications. Klein, the former chancellor of New York City ... more »

Commander Data, The Borg, and the NYC DOE southbronxschool.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
http://www.southbronxschool.com: Commander Data, The Borg, and the NYC DOE by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) Isn't it amazing how art sometimes imitates life? I swear, I have watched Star Trek: First Contact a thousand times. Never before have I been able to put two and two together and see the striking similarities between the movie and the DOE. Most striking though is the scene in which Commander Data first encounters the Borg Queen. In the scene Data is in the engineering section when the Borg Queen comes upon him. Like the Blue Angel promises to make Pinocchio a real boy, ... more »

solidaridad: MBC Korean News Features LAUSD Board Candidate Robert D. Skeels and Adult Ed Students

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
solidaridad: MBC Korean News Features LAUSD Board Candidate Robert D. Skeels and Adult Ed Students: MBC Korean News Features LAUSD Board Candidate Robert D. Skeels and Adult Ed Students by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene Popout MBC Korean News segment on our press conference in front of the Korean American Education Foundation, one of the several sites that the incumbent callously shut down. We were honored to be interviewed by MBC News' Reporter Shirley Aeree Kim 김애리 and Director of Photography Simon Park

Mother Crusader: Paterson Board of Education Will Act On Charter Approvals

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Mother Crusader: Paterson Board of Education Will Act On Charter Approvals: Paterson Board of Education Will Act On Charter Approvals by darciecima While suburban districts in New Jersey have had their share of victories stopping the charter onslaught, so far urban district's haven't found their voice. That may be changing, and Paterson may be poised to turn the tide. I have written four posts (here, here, here and here) about the Paterson Collegiate Charter School application which was approved last week. As I was writing the story, I reached out to Paterson board member Dr. Jo... more »

Study compliments and questions Brown’s funding formula | EdSource Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Study compliments and questions Brown’s funding formula | EdSource Today: Study compliments and questions Brown’s funding formula ** February 22nd, 2013 | Add a Comment | By John Fensterwald Share on twitterShare on facebookShare on emailShare on print More Sharing Services [image: This graph shows the strong relationship between results on California Standards Tests and poverty, with highest scoring API scores in the upper left going to children not in poverty. Source: CA Dept; of Education (click to enlarge).] This graph shows the strong relationship between results on California ... more »

Sacramento City Unified Votes to Close Seven Elementary Schools | KTXL FOX40

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Sacramento City Unified Votes to Close Seven Elementary Schools | KTXL FOX40: Sacramento City Unified Votes to Close Seven Elementary Schools - [image: See bio, contact info, and more articles from Ian McDonald] 4 hours ago by Ian McDonald Web Producer - *Sacramento Unified Considers Closing 11 Elementary Schools* Comments - - Share This Update - ** ** ** [image: SCUSD meeting]SACRAMENTO- After a long and intense meeting that started Thursday evening and stretched into early Friday morning, the Sacramento City Unified School District Board of... more »

Sacramento City district trustees vote to close seven schools - Education - The Sacramento Bee

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Sacramento City district trustees vote to close seven schools - Education - The Sacramento Bee: ' Sacramento City district trustees vote to close seven schools by mgutierrez@sacbee.com (Melody Gutierrez) Trustees in the Sacramento City Unified School District voted 4-3 to close seven schools at the end of this school year after a lengthy school board meeting Thursday night. Natalyn Yang, 11, a student at Susan B. Anthony Elementary, asks Sacramento City Unified School District trustees Thursday not to close her school. Tracie Green, center, raises her arms in support of speakers w... more »

The In box. Jersey Jazzman: Chicago teachers have CORE and Lewis. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
The In box. Jersey Jazzman: Chicago teachers have CORE and Lewis. « Fred Klonsky: The In box. Jersey Jazzman: Chicago teachers have CORE and Lewis. by Fred Klonsky [image: ravitchlewis] *This world needs more women willing to speak truth to power. Diane Ravitch and Karen Lewis.* From the Jersey Jazzman’s blog: *Chicago Teachers, Be Thankful for Karen Lewis* * **I have made a point of staying out of local union politics. While I have shared my disagreements at times with labor leaders, I am ultimately on their team. I made a point of not telling members of the Newark Teachers Union ... more »

On Leadership Through Teaching Others To Lead | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
On Leadership Through Teaching Others To Lead | The Jose Vilson: On Leadership Through Teaching Others To Lead by Jose Vilson Denzel Washington as Malcolm X [image: Denzel Washington as Malcolm X]Every year, the memory of this day usually sucks. The night before I went to Raleigh, North Carolina (for a Center for Teaching Quality board meeting), I went to my barbershop, where the guys played *Malcolm X* (the Spike Lee joint). I watch this movie almost annually, just to remind myself of the way this country still throws around the idea of an American dream, but always conveniently b... more »

Copyright Infringement or good Marketing

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
United Opt Out National: *Dan's Fresh Produce's photo.**United Opt Out National:* OCCUPY DOE 2.0: THE BATTLE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS READ ALL DETAILS HERE « Back to Events Event:Occupy DOE 2.0: The Battle for Public Schools READ ALL DETAILS HERE Start:April 4, 2013End:April 7, 2013Organizer:United Opt Out National Updated:December 16, 2012Venue:U.S. Department of EducationAddress: Google Map 400 Maryland Ave, SW ,Washington, DC, DC,20202, United States Official schedule for our second occupation of the Dept. of Ed. in D.C. from April 4-7, 2013, is available *HERE.* Official press relea... more »

March 19 forum in Chicago with Garfield teacher Jesse Hagopian Parents United for Responsible Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » March 19 forum in Chicago with Garfield teacher Jesse Hagopian: March 19 forum in Chicago with Garfield teacher Jesse Hagopian by admin [image: March 19 flyer] More Than a Score and the Chicago Teachers Union are co-sponsoring a forum featuring Seattle teacher Jesse Hagopian, a leader of the Garfield High School test boycott, along with CTU president Karen Lewis. It will be held on Tuesday, March 19, at 7 pm at the Mt. Carmel MB Church. 2976 S Wabash. The Garfield teachers made national headlines earlier this month when they ... more »

PAA’s new weekly “Parent Voices Weekly Education Fax” to Congress | Parents Across America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
PAA’s new weekly “Parent Voices Weekly Education Fax” to Congress | Parents Across America: PAA’s new weekly “Parent Voices Weekly Education Fax” to Congress by pureparents Yesterday PAA launched our new weekly education update for legislators and anyone else who should be hearing more about education issues from the parents’ point of view. Our fax went to all the members of the U. S. House and Senate education committees. We will post them every week on our blog and link to that in our newsletter. We hope that you will also send these as faxes, e-mails, or snail mails to your Co... more »

Modern School: 3 of California’s “Top” Schools On the Chopping Block, And Good Riddance

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Modern School: 3 of California’s “Top” Schools On the Chopping Block, And Good Riddance: 3 of California’s “Top” Schools On the Chopping Block, And Good Riddance by Michael Dunn What makes a “top” school, top? According to the San Francisco Chronicle (and most other media) it is test scores. Thanks to No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and Obama’s Race to the Top (RttT), test scores are all that matter these days. This has led to numerous cheating scandals, as well as a reduction in science, arts, physical education and other curricula to make room for more test preparation. It has also ... more »

Sacramento Press / Decision time – board to decide fate of 10 elementary schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Sacramento Press / Decision time – board to decide fate of 10 elementary schools: Decision time – board to decide fate of 10 elementary schoolsby Karen Wilkinson, published on *February 21, 2013* at *1:38 PM* * * * Jerry Tambarino of Tahoe Park holds up a flyer while addressing the crowd at last week's meeting at Washington School. Tonight the future of 10 Sacramento schools will be decided by a board of seven. We'll be live blogging the meeting of the Sacramento City Unified School District's board of education, and will pay particular attention to the fate of Washington Elementar... more »

Define fiscally and morally irresponsible? Malloy’s plan for older, retired teachers. - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Define fiscally and morally irresponsible? Malloy’s plan for older, retired teachers. - Wait, What?: Define fiscally and morally irresponsible? Malloy’s plan for older, retired teachers. by jonpelto There are a lot of crazy, irresponsible and down-right mean things in Governor Malloy’s budget proposal, but his plan to totally eliminate Connecticut’s contribution to the retired teachers’ health insurance fund may very well take the cake. For nearly sixty years, the State of Connecticut has been helping retired teachers acquire health insurance. Prior to 1986, active teachers did ... more »

The in box. Report from the ISBE meeting on special education class size limits. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
The in box. Report from the ISBE meeting on special education class size limits. « Fred Klonsky: The in box. Report from the ISBE meeting on special education class size limits. by Fred Klonsky *The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) voted 5* *to 1 (Vinni Hall voted no) to put out for public comment* *rules that would completely eliminate limits on special* *education class size.* *The proposed rules would mean there would be NO state limit* *on the number of students a special education teacher* *is required to serve.* *Also there would be NO state limit on the number of stud... more »

Two Florida Civil Rights Groups Oppose Parent Trigger Bill | StateImpact Florida

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Two Florida Civil Rights Groups Oppose Parent Trigger Bill | StateImpact Florida: Two Florida Civil Rights Groups Oppose Parent Trigger Bill - DOCUMENTS FEBRUARY 21, 2013 | 10:59 AMBY GINA JORDAN - *1* Comment - Email - - DIVERSITYINTEACHING/FLICKR Resolutions issued by the NAACP and LULAC Florida refer to parent trigger bills as controversial and experimental. Two civil right groups have teamed up to write resolutions against the proposedParent Empowerment in Education bill in Florida. The bill — best known as the “parent trigger” — passed the Florida House... more »

What’s Keeping America From Doing What’s Right For Children - Jeff Bryant

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
What’s Keeping America From Doing What’s Right For Children - Jeff Bryant: What’s Keeping America From Doing What’s Right For Children By Jeff Bryant | February 21, 2013 - - *This post is republished from the Education Opportunity Network, a new online publication edited by Jeff Bryant.* After the horrendous murder of 20 school children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, a heartbroken President Obama implored the nation, “This is our first task – caring for our children. It’s our first job. If we don’t get that right, we don’t get anything right.” ... more »

HSS Professional Development Resources - History-Social Science (CA Dept of Education)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
HSS Professional Development Resources - History-Social Science (CA Dept of Education): HSS Professional Development ResourcesProfessional development opportunities for educators that focus on effective implementation of the state content standards. ------------------------------ Successful implementation of the content standards, curriculum development, and instruction depend on teacher preparation and on long-term professional development. As described in the History-Social Science Framework, ongoing professional development should be planned for all teachers who teach the soc... more »

State Sen. Steinberg Supports SCUSD School Closures - Rosemont, CA Patch

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
State Sen. Steinberg Supports SCUSD School Closures - Rosemont, CA Patch: State Sen. Steinberg Supports SCUSD School Closures [image: File photo: Sen. Steinberg Speaking at a “Fund our Future” education rally.]As various groups voice their opposition to a plan to close 11 Sacramento City Unified School District schools–including one in Rosemont–one prominent state politician has come out backing it. Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento)said in a statement Wednesday that he supported the plan,which would close James W. Marshall Elementary School and 10 others,... more »

Most closed schools don't stay that way for long - Data Center - The Sacramento Bee

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Most closed schools don't stay that way for long - Data Center - The Sacramento Bee: Most closed schools don't stay that way for long By Phillip Reese preese@sacbee.com Published: Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 - 10:36 am Last Modified: Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 - 10:46 am If the Sacramento City Unified school board votes to close 10 schools tonight, chances are many will reopen soon as specialty or charter schools. School districts across Sacramento County have closed about 60 schools in the last 10 years. Fewer than half remain shuttered, according to a Bee review of data from the state Dep...more »

Diane in the Evening 2-21-13 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: Two Determined Moms in Indiana Take On Common Core by dianerav These days, parents and educators often feel powerless in the face of the powerful forces that are steamrolling them. In Indiana, two moms started a campaign against he Common Core standards. They started with small groups, then organized large ones, and eventually made their voices heard in the state legislature. The battle is far from over, but hey made an important point. This is still a democracy. Two informed citizens can make a difference. How One Man Makes a Difference by dianerav Tim ... more »

Feeling Stressed? MetLife Survey Shows You are Not Alone - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Feeling Stressed? MetLife Survey Shows You are Not Alone - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Feeling Stressed? Metlife Survey Shows You are Not Alone by Anthony Cody The Metlife Survey of the American Teacher is out, and it shows that more than half of all teachers feel under great stress. This relates closely to the number of teachers who describe themselves as "very satisfied," which has fallen to an all-time low, at 39%. I wrote about the implications of this state of affairs last March. Last year's survey discovered that 29% of the nation's teachers were planning to... more »

First World Education Problems in Detroit (Part I) - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
First World Education Problems in Detroit (Part I) - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: First World Education Problems in Detroit (Part I) by Nancy Flanagan You've probably seen the fun--and enlightening--meme/hashtag: #FirstWorldProblems. Running out of hot water after a 10-minute shower? First world problem. Can't get the book you're dying to read on Kindle? First world problem. And so on.[image: Packardgraf.JPG] Most of our American problems end up being first world problems, including those in education. If you want proof, think back to thefaces of children in H... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Thursday, February 21, 2013

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee group donates $250,000 to candidates in LAUSD races* Education Headlines *Thursday, February 21, 2013* Report suggests broadly expanding federal K-12 education spendingIn a sweeping vision to broaden educational opportunity, a panel of national education leaders has recommended boosting teacher pay and training, widening access to preschool and adding an unprecedented level of federal involvement in schools. Ramona district, teachers head to fact finding in contract talksAfter nearly 18 months... more »

Sacramento City board appears split over tonight's vote on closing 10 schools - Education - The Sacramento Bee

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Sacramento City board appears split over tonight's vote on closing 10 schools - Education - The Sacramento Bee: Sacramento City board appears split over tonight's vote on closing 10 schools By Melody Gutierrez mgutierrez@sacbee.com Published: Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 - 12:00 am | Page 1A Last Modified: Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 - 7:36 am The proposal to shutter 10 elementary schools in Sacramento City Unified School District tonight appears headed for a split vote after numerous critics questioned the method used to decide which schools should close. Several sources said newly appoin... more »

Mother Crusader: Poking Holes In A Charter Puff Piece; Waters, Perez And APP Say Charters Deserve More $$

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Mother Crusader: Poking Holes In A Charter Puff Piece; Waters, Perez And APP Say Charters Deserve More $$: Poking Holes In A Charter Puff Piece; Waters, Perez And APP Say Charters Deserve More $$ by darciecima Once again, Laura Waters infuriatingly tells only part of a story. In this case, she was aided and abetted byAsbury Park Press reporter Alesha Williams Boyd, who did a lazy job reporting a story about facilities funding for charters, using Academy Charter High School in Lake Como as a case study. The APP story feels like little more than a New Jersey Charter Schools Asso... more »

UPDATE: Evidence? They Can’t Handle the Evidence – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Evidence? They Can’t Handle the Evidence – @ the chalk face: I have little sympathy for the defense department #sequester by Chalk Face, PhD There’s a great deal of hand-wringing over this upcoming sequester which, according to most news outlets, could lead to around $85 billion in across-the-board cuts. The defense department is particularly upset, mentioning on CNN the possibility of furloughs. It’s hard to say who would ultimately be affected: But Hale said Defense Department civilian foreign employees would be exempted from pay cuts. There are about 50,000 foreign worker employ... more »

Districts as the Engine of School Reform: Past and Present (Part 2) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Districts as the Engine of School Reform: Past and Present (Part 2) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Districts as the Engine of School Reform: Past and Present (Part 2) by larrycuban [image: 5915471-M] Districts have again become the darlings of school reformers. Where once reformers, past and present, skipped back and forth lining up their cross-hairs on the best targets for improving schooling such as individual teachers and principals, whole schools, and districts, today’s school reformers generally target districts. Many reasons explain the shift to dis... more »

Latino Voices Sidelined in Texas School Reform Debate | NewsTacoNewsTaco

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Latino Voices Sidelined in Texas School Reform Debate | NewsTacoNewsTaco: Latino Voices Sidelined in Texas School Reform Debate by Texas Observer [image: texas_observer_logo]By Patrick Michels, Texas Observer [image: Latino-Coalition-for-Educational-Equity-712x475]Outside the Senate chamber Tuesday afternoon, advocates for minority students laid out their priorities for public education this session—and wondered why so few Latino experts have been invited to help shape this session’s biggest school reform bills. The press conference, heralding a new Latino Coalition for Educational ... more »

School Board Report – Feb. 20, 2013 « PWC Education Reform Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
School Board Report – Feb. 20, 2013 « PWC Education Reform Blog: School Board Report – Feb. 20, 2013February 21, 2013 — pwceducationreform School Board Report for February 20, 2013 The meeting began a 7:24 with all members present. *Consent Aganda* All items on the consent agenda were approved unanimously. The items on the agenda include the following: 1. Adoption of the consent agenda 2. Music in out schools month 3. Theater in our schools month 4. Youth art month 5. MOU between PWC BOCS, PWCPS, and Prince William Crew Association 6. National playground safety week ...









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Superintendent & School Board Overrules Community Voice to Close Schools in Sacramento’s Poorest Communities

(69) Superintendent & School Board Overrules Community Voice to Close Schools in Sacramento’s Poorest Communities:


Superintendent & School Board Overrules Community Voice to Close Schools in Sacramento’s Poor Communities




SACRAMENTO, CA – Amidst hundreds of disenfranchised parents, four Board Members (Cueno, Woo, Hansen, Kennedy) and Superintendent Raymond arbitrarily and inconsistently applied standards to close seven schools in Sacramento Unified City School District (SCUSD). Moments before the School Board was prepared to vote on the “wrong-sizing” proposal, Superintendent Raymond removed four schools from the original list of eleven targeted for closure. Of the remaining seven schools, six schools are located in low-income communities of color in south Sacramento.

As a result of the Superintendent’s last second adjustment, the district’s projected savings is now $1.3 million—a fraction of the projected budget deficit. As HIP Organizer Mai Yang Vang articulated during her public testimony, “suppressing the community voice in the closure plan is not rightsizing---it is wrong-sizing. Saving less than 1% of the budget to destroy eleven schools and displacing thousands of students and families is not right-sizing, it is wrong-sizing. And putting your own interest over the needs our students is not right sizing, it is wrong-sizing.”

The sudden change in the Superintendent’s recommendation reflects the district’s unnecessary and destructive rush to close schools. By ignoring the California Department of Education’s recommended procedures for school closures, the district has made careless mistakes that reveal the flaws in its overall “right-sizing” proposal. To approve such a poorly developed plan is irresponsible and as Yang described, “[our coalition] will make sure that everybody knows what [the Board Members] did tonight…Sacramento and my community will hold you accountable for your actions.”

Moving forward, HIP is committed to holding the SCUSD accountable in addressing the needs of displaced students and families.

For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/HIPSacramento or contact HIP at hmonginnovatingpolitics@gmail.com or (626) 607-1897.

“Hmong Innovating Politics (HIP) is a grassroots group composed of young professionals that want to strengthen the civic participation of the Hmong and other underprivileged communities.”

Louisiana Educator: Two Flaws in Accountability

Louisiana Educator: Two Flaws in Accountability:


Two Flaws in Accountability

I served on a panel in Lafayette Thursday for a discussion of the status of education in Louisiana sponsored by the Louisiana Association of Educators. As part of the panel presentation I pointed out two serious flaws in the Louisiana school accountability system. After the forum, a couple of teachers asked me to write a post on those two issues so that the teachers and other educators who were not able to attend the forum could also utilize this information in discussions with their legislators. Here they are:

Some legislators may wonder why so many teachers are upset and even angry about the education reforms passed recently by the legislature. I would like to just point out two major accountability issues that teachers believe are extremely unfair to students, schools and teachers.

The first is the letter grade labeling of all our public schools. We need to point out that no such labeling of private schools exists even though the legislature has approved vouchers for our tax dollars to fund such schools.

It was assumed by the legislature that the school letter grade system which was left up to the State Superintendent to implement would be accurate and fair. It is neither.

The letter grade system imposed by the State Superintendent totally ignores the percentage of high poverty 

State Auditors determine Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor and the Malloy Administration dodged bidding requirements - Wait, What?

State Auditors determine Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor and the Malloy Administration dodged bidding requirements - Wait, What?:


State Auditors determine Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor and the Malloy Administration dodged bidding requirements

ASCD Releases 2013 Legislative Agenda — Whole Child Education

ASCD Releases 2013 Legislative Agenda — Whole Child Education:


Melissa Mellor

ASCD Releases 2013 Legislative Agenda

ASCD's 2013 Legislative Agenda (PDF) urges Congress to immediately reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and replace it with a comprehensive rewrite that fixes the current law's flaws; aligns with and supports state and local initiatives; and guides revisions to other federal programs, such as special education and career and technical education.
Now 11 years old and five years overdue for revision, the No Child Left Behind Act's problematic provisions combined with its practical obsolescence have led to a patchwork of temporary solutions, such as the Obama administration's state waivers, which are neither ideal nor lasting. The law's reauthorization would provide needed stability and a long-term vision for our education system.
The legislative agenda, developed by ASCD members and recently released at ASCD's Leadership Institute for Legislative Advocacy (LILA) in Washington, D.C., offers three key policy recommendations to Congress as part of any ESEA reauthorization. Together, the recommendations advance the goal of educating students who are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged, and who graduate ready for the demands of college, careers, and citizenship.
  1. Support meaningful accountability systems that determine student proficiency, school quality, and educator effectiveness by tracking student growth, differentiating among performance levels, and using multiple evaluation measures beyond standardized test scores.
  2. Promote comprehensive improvement strategies that engage all stakeholders and are grounded in a whole child approach to education that addresses each student's social, emotional, physical, and academic needs. Interventions for those who do not meet expectations need to be commensurate with their level of performance. And districts and schools that consistently perform well, close achievement gaps, succeed in cohort comparisons, or improve educator effectiveness should receive rewards and incentives, including the flexible use of federal funds.
  3. Help educators support students through adequate and effective preparation and ongoing 

Addressing the Achievement Gap: Opportunities for Young Men of Color | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

Addressing the Achievement Gap: Opportunities for Young Men of Color | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights:


Addressing the Achievement Gap: Opportunities for Young Men of Color

The Commission on Equity and Excellence had a Congressional mandate to provide advice to Secretary Duncan on the disparities in meaningful educational opportunities and to recommend ways in which federal policies can address such disparities. They just released a report titled “For Each and Every Child,” after a two year work period. The distinguished members of the panel, with diverse professional backgrounds and different political ideologies, focused on the inequality in our nation’s public school system as the primary driver behind two achievement gaps, the internal domestic gap and the international gap. Their conclusions and recommendations won’t surprise education professionals, but the report serves as a well-timed call to action for the struggles facing African American students, particularly males, during Black History Month. The opportunity gap also exists for a significant number of Hispanic and Native American students.
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Teacher questions value of AP program

Teacher questions value of AP program:


Teacher questions value of AP program

princeton-review-ap-governmentEarlier this month I published what turned out to be a very popular post by veteran educator Kenneth Bernstein — known online as teacherken — that was a warning to college professors about the level of preparation for higher education that high school students were receiving. My colleague Jay Mathews this week published on his blog, Class Struggle, a critique of Bernstein’s piece. Here, by Ken Bernstein, is a critique of the critique, largely but not exclusively focused on the worth of the Advanced Placement program.
By Kenneth Bernstein
Since The Answer Sheet posted my piece called “A warning to college profs from a high school teacher, which went viral, I have been inundated with emails, messages, requests for interviews — and some critiques. On 

Next steps toward achieving equity in education

I reported earlier this week on a new report on equity in education that was released by a congressionally mandated commission, and noted that it had some important points as well as some flaws. Here is a piece by two … Continue reading →

Daily Kos: thoughts on writing and political participation

Daily Kos: thoughts on writing and political participation:


thoughts on writing and political participation

Like many in the blogosphere, I often opine on issues on which I lack formal expertise.  Once I get beyond education, I would be hard put to justify my opinions on the basis of either formal education or job experience.  In that sense I am no different than many who are paid great sums to offer their bloviations, the pundit class.  I may agree with them - as I usually do with the likes of Paul Krugman, Charles M. Blow, and Eugene Robinson - or I may find their offerings tainted by their skewed political outlooks - as is usually the case with Charles Krauthammer or Michael Gerson - or their apparent sense of innate superiority over anyone else - are you listening David Brooks, Richard Cohen, and  Thomas Friedman?
Yet I regularly read all of the aforementioned, and others as well.  It is not at all uncommon for me to focus readers attention on their words by devoting some of my own to that task,  whether in disagreement, affirmation, or as a starting point for expressing my own thoughts on a topic.
In recent weeks the primary focus of my writing has, as one might expect, stayed connected with the changes in our lives as a result of my wife's illness.   Yet I still from time to time have focused on other topics as well.
Today is Friday, not Saturday, so this is not a personal reflection of the kind to which I am prone on that morning