BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTS
Daily Kos: Guns Rarely Used to Kill Criminals or Stop Crimes
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 minute ago
Daily Kos: Guns Rarely Used to Kill Criminals or Stop Crimes: Guns Rarely Used to Kill Criminals or Stop Crimes by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) That is the conclusion of Firearm Justifiable Homicides and Non-Fatal Self-Defense Gun Use, a new study just release by the Violence Policy Center that is subtitled "An Analysis of Federal Bureau of Investigation and National Crime Victimization Survey Data." The report analyzes national data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program’s Supplementary Homicide Report (SHR) and the Bureau of Justice... more »
FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Monday, April 15, 2013
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 minute ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: California Dem’s Resolving not to be suckered by corporate “reformers” | Persephone's MotherThis resolution was passed today at the California Democratic Party Convention. Education Headlines *Monday, April 15, 2013* Natomas schools flagged by CalSTRS for pay bumps before retirementNatomas Unified School District made the state's Top 100 list, but it's not good news. The district is among 100 identified by the California State Teachers' Retirement System as having given numerous big pay bumps to employees close to retirement, re... more »
New calls to probe cheating allegations in Washington under Rhee | Get Schooled
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 minute ago
New calls to probe cheating allegations in Washington under Rhee | Get Schooled: New calls to probe cheating allegations in Washington under Rhee by Maureen Downey PBS’s John Merrow recently revealed *a 2009 confidential memo* pointing out troubling test answer erasures in Washington, D.C., schools, which were led at the time by Michelle Rhee, now the head of the national advocacy group StudentsFirst. *Merrow reported that the erasure concerns* raised in the memo by an outside data consultant failed to prompt any investigation by top officials in the district. The Washington Pos... more »
How the blame game works. | Fred Klonsky
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 minute ago
How the blame game works. | Fred Klonsky: How the blame game works. by Fred Klonsky Have the curriculum be about one thing. Test something else. Then redesign the test. Make it a harder test than the test that didn’t test what was taught before. Watch the test scores plummet. Then publish reports about how the public schools are failing based on the results of the tests that didn’t test what was being taught. NY Times: New York public school students and parents are, by now, accustomed to standardized tests. But a pall has settled over classrooms across the state because this year... more »
The Whole Child Requires Whole Tech — Whole Child Education
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 minute ago
The Whole Child Requires Whole Tech — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Walter McKenzie]The Whole Child Requires Whole Tech April 15, 2013 by Walter McKenzie So you're actively working to implement the tenets of the Whole Child Initiative? Excellent! How about your*whole tech initiative*? What's your vision for technology in education? Not what you have in your inventory or what you're comfortable using: your action plan for technology empowering the whole child. Why? Because in today's world, technology is not an add-on or a nice-to-have; it's an essential array o... more »
Common Questions About Common Core | InterACT
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Common Questions About Common Core | InterACT: Common Questions About Common Core by ACT Guest Blog Posts Chris Miraglia [image: Chris Miraglia]*Today’s InterACT guest blog post was written by Chris Miraglia, an intermediate school US history teacher from Santa Ana USD. A frequent commenter at this blog, Chris also writes at his own blog and is active on Twitter. He wrote this post as a follow-up to his comment on a prior InterACT blog post,Common Core Presentations and Omissions.* As California schools approach the implementation of the Common Core, I wonder how much thought has ... more »
Next Generation Science Standards Released - High School Notes (usnews.com)
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Next Generation Science Standards Released - High School Notes (usnews.com): Next Generation Science Standards Released By U.S. News Staff April 15, 2013 RSS Feed Print [image: High school students work on an experiment in extracting biodiesel from algae.] New science standards call for more hands-on learning, but that doesn’t come cheap. Science education in the United States is not up to snuff. Most high schoolstudents can scratch the scientific surface – follow instructions, conduct experiments – but few succeed at analysis and explanation, two critical components of real-world i... more »
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-15-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Best Comment of the Week: The Washington Post and Rhee by dianerav The same reader wins two straight weeks! In this article, he writes about the Washington Post’s internal dissent about covering Michelle Rhee. Jo-Ann Armao, the editorial writer, was a Rhee fan. Bill Turque was the reporter who covered Rhee, fairly and without bias. He writes: I won “COMMENT OF THE DAY (SO FAR” last Saturday, in an article Dr. Ravitch wrote of the same name about that COMMENT. I’m ... more »
Big day in Albany, NY tomorrow, #LIriseup – @ the chalk face
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Big day in Albany, NY tomorrow, #LIriseup – @ the chalk face: Big day in Albany, NY tomorrow, #LIriseup by Chalk Face, PhD [image: Big day in Albany, NY tomorrow, #LIriseup] NY state is bringing it. The achievement gap is a wedge issue for #TFA by Chalk Face, PhD They think they care. But as an organization, not really. So, in a market that has a glut of teachers, why does TFA need millions of dollars to run operations in Minnesota? Educate yourself on the #optout issues dujour, in New York state by Chalk Face, PhD If you want information, a nice primer on how it’s done, listen t... more »
The Unfunded Mandate of Florida’s Test-Dominated Education System and the Potential for Crony Capitalism | Scathing Purple Musings
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
The Unfunded Mandate of Florida’s Test-Dominated Education System and the Potential for Crony Capitalism | Scathing Purple Musings: The Unfunded Mandate of Florida’s Test-Dominated Education System and the Potential for Crony Capitalism by Bob Sikes It’s FCAT week around Florida and schools still are scrambling with logistics. Allison Ross of the *Palm Beach Post *has more: Ridge High School got a special delivery this month: nearly 400 new laptop computers. But that still may not be enough. Because the tens of thousands of computers at Palm Beach County schools are used more and... more »
The problem with school superintendents
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
The problem with school superintendents: The problem with school superintendents Posted by Valerie Strauss on April 15, 2013 at 4:00 am 6 Comments More [image: Oakland Supt. Tony Smith resigns] Oakland Supt. Tony Smith resigns What do urban school districts need to see in their leaders? Here to explain is Katherine Schultz, a professor and dean of the School of Education at Mills College in Oakland. She is the author of the 2009 book, “Rethinking Classroom Participation: Listening to Silent Voices.” By Katherine Schultz Tony Smith announced his resignation as superintendent of the ... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: Illinois Tracking Students from 24 Hours Old to 3 Years Old. "Baby Talk" Data Set Revealed
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: Illinois Tracking Students from 24 Hours Old to 3 Years Old. "Baby Talk" Data Set Revealed: Illinois Tracking Students from 24 Hours Old to 3 Years Old. "Baby Talk" Data Set Revealed by stlgretchen We know that data sets have been compiled on students, but in Missouri, we are told by our state agency that it is "not its intent" to compile personal information data on students. While it might not be DESE's stated intent to gather personal student data, it may inconsequential if mandates exist requiring state educational agencies or local school distri... more »
Louisiana Educator: Michelle Rhee: No Excuses; Whatever it Takes. Even Cheating?
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Louisiana Educator: Michelle Rhee: No Excuses; Whatever it Takes. Even Cheating?: Michelle Rhee: No Excuses; Whatever it Takes. Even Cheating? by Michael Deshotels Michelle Rhee, promoter of all of the latest and most damaging education reforms, may have covered up a major cheating scandal in DC schools that would surely have prevented her rise to godlike status in the education reform movement. That's what a heretofore "secret" memo to Rhee uncovered by reporter John Merrow may indicate. Click on this link to see John's the interview with Chris Hayes of MSNBC. Michelle Rhee alm... more »
Prove Progress Since "A Nation at Risk," or Start Ducking Now | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Prove Progress Since "A Nation at Risk," or Start Ducking Now | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: Prove Progress Since "A Nation at Risk," or Start Ducking Now by National School Public Relations Association *By Rich Bagin, APR, Executive Director of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA)* The 30th anniversary of the landmark report, *A Nation at Risk*, occurs this month. We can bet that national and perhaps even local media will use this event to ask, “What has changed?” And then they will ask the natural follow-up question, “Are our nation’s sc... more »
Community college presidents team up with the Lumina Foundation and Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce to rapidly privatize the colleges under Obama’s 20/20 plan | DailyCensored.com - Breaking Censored News, World, Independent, Liberal News
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Community college presidents team up with the Lumina Foundation and Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce to rapidly privatize the colleges under Obama’s 20/20 plan | DailyCensored.com - Breaking Censored News, World, Independent, Liberal News: Community college presidents team up with the Lumina Foundation and Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce to rapidly privatize the colleges under Obama’s 20/20 plan by Danny Weil [image: oakley] *Photo of the arrogant face of privatization: James Merisotis, president of the Lumina Foundation* Take a look at how the philanthropists like Lumina and the ... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools This Week
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools This Week: Seattle Schools This Week by Melissa Westbrook It's a quiet week for SPS because of Spring Break. The City has a survey about your use of the Internet, cable tv and city communications. It might be good to take it as it may influence what kind of access to technology may be available in our city. Transportation is doing a survey about flipping start times. I received word about this from several readers and it appears to be aimed only at elementary parents. I did not see this until after the end of the business day ... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES: WEEKEND QUOTABLES by Mike Klonsky Susan Ohanian.org John Merrow *The erasures stayed buried for years. The official who had spotted the problem and urged Rhee to investigate has kept her mouth shut. Five months after she had informed Rhee of the widespread erasures, Deborah Gist resigned to become State Superintendent in Rhode Island.* -- Michelle Rhee's Reign of Error Jay Mathews *In the 42 years I have worked for this newspaper, I have adopted many of this town’s mental habits. One is a deep respect for inspectors general, thos... more »
Public Education Justice Alliance of Minnesota(PEJAM): TFA's 'Transformational' Public Money Grab
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Public Education Justice Alliance of Minnesota(PEJAM): TFA's 'Transformational' Public Money Grab: *SAY NO TO $1.5 MILLION IN PUBLIC MONEY TO TFA!* * * * * Teach for America (TFA) is a tax exempt nonprofit with "reported annual operating surpluses of $35 million, $114 million and $37 million" from 2009 to 2011. In 2010, they received a $50 Million grant from the federal Department of Education, and another $8.3 million funded under the Supporting Effective Educators Development (SEED) program. The government further subsidizes TFA with student loan forbearance and education awar... more »
Growing charter network under SBE draws interest from lawmakers SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: Growing charter network under SBE draws interest from lawmakers [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] A sharp increase in the number of charter schools petitioning – and receiving – permission to open from the California State Board of Education has attracted the attention of the Legislature. Just three years ago, there were eight schools operating under state board supervision. Today there are more than 30. Assemblyman Rocky Chavez, R-Oceanside, said the expanding network – now comparable to a mid-size school district ... more »
Last Stand for Children First: Where is Students First?
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Last Stand for Children First: Where is Students First?: Where is Students First? by Last Stand for Children Like everybody who believes in putting students first, I have come to look forward to and count on updates from Michelle Rhee and her advocacy organization Students First. Ms. Rhee provides a valuable service to the education community by holding teachers responsible for the success of their students. We want to be nice and supportive, but test scores have consequences and if a teacher isn't advancing her students, it's time to put someone else in the classroom. H... more »
Daily Kos: E. J. Dionne's must-read column on the Newtown families
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Daily Kos: E. J. Dionne's must-read column on the Newtown families: E. J. Dionne's must-read column on the Newtown families by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) is titled Newtown’s call to reason. The key point he makes is that those playing on emotion are not the Newtown families, but rather those who seek to scare us about guns. The heart of the column is these three paragraphs: The truth is that the Newtown slaughter has finally moved the gun debate away from irrational emotions, ridiculous assumptions, manipulative rhetoric — and, on the part of politicians, debilitating terror... more »
NYC Educator: Being Reformy Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
NYC Educator: Being Reformy Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry: Being Reformy Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry by NYC Educator Reformy Rhee is besieged by suggestions Erase to the Top was bigger and badder than she'd ever acknowledged. The smoking memo has been released, and she's all Scarlett O'Hara: "What? Little old me? Well I never saw any blessed memo. Let them look at it tomorrow. After all, tomorrow is another day." Apparently, her successor, Kaya Henderson never saw the memo either, yet now deems it to be flawed. One of the great things about being reformy is thi... more »
California Dem’s Resolving not to be suckered by corporate “reformers” | Persephone's Mother
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
California Dem’s Resolving not to be suckered by corporate “reformers” | Persephone's Mother: California Dem’s Resolving not to be suckered by corporate “reformers” I came back today after spending the week-end in Sacramento at the 2013 California Democratic Convention. A contingent of labor groups, including the California Teachers Association, the California Federation of Teachers, submitted a resolution titled, “Supporting public education and dispelling the corporate reform agenda”. It not only calls out the corporate reformers, but so-called democratic organization (in name o... more »
Bush, Obama focus on standardized testing leads to ‘opt-out’ parent movement - The Washington Post
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
Bush, Obama focus on standardized testing leads to ‘opt-out’ parent movement - The Washington Post: *Bush, Obama focus on standardized testing leads to ‘opt-out’ parents’ movement* *http://unitedoptout.com/* By Lyndsey Layton, Sunday, April 14, 5:42 PM A decade into the school accountability movement, pockets of resistance to standardized testing are sprouting up around the country, with parents and students opting out of the high-stakes tests used to evaluate schools and teachers. From Seattle, where 600 high school students refused to take a standardized test in January, to Texa... more »
Common Core Non-Fiction Reading Task #1: The DC Erasure Study Memo - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
Common Core Non-Fiction Reading Task #1: The DC Erasure Study Memo - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Common Core Non-Fiction Reading Task #1: The DC Erasure Study Memo by Anthony Cody As all educators know, the reading of non-fiction is supposed to be significantly increased as a result of the new Common Core (wanted to be national) Standards. It seems to me that the recently uncovered "Erasure Study" memo, written by investigator Sandy Sanford in 2009 makes a fine primary source document to be used as the basis for student inquiry. This memo has been hidden since i... more »
Jersey Jazzman: NJ's New Reformy School Report Cards: Peer Grouping Mysteries
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: NJ's New Reformy School Report Cards: Peer Grouping Mysteries: NJ's New Reformy School Report Cards: Peer Grouping Mysteries by Duke The reformies at the NJDOE, little data maniacs that they are, have released a brand new format for the annualSchool Performance Reports. In the old days, good test scores meant you were a good school - no longer: The new reports include the usual information on state test results and high school graduation and dropout rates. *But the first page provides what Education Commissioner Chris Cerf said is what most parents want to know: ho... more »
Schools Matter: Exxon-Mobil Concerned with Teachers As Its Tar Sands Oil Spreads in Arkansas
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
Schools Matter: Exxon-Mobil Concerned with Teachers As Its Tar Sands Oil Spreads in Arkansas: Exxon-Mobil Concerned with Teachers As Its Tar Sands Oil Spreads in Arkansas by Jim Horn [image: Article image] If you are watching golf for the past 4 days, you would see hundreds of millions spent by Exxon-Mobil to push the Common Core Corporate Standards and to convince Americans there is some educational emergency in our schools. I guess I would be trying to change the subject at hand, too, if I were responsible for ruining another American community with a flood of dirty oil. From... more »
Bill Gates' warning on test scores - latimes.com
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
Bill Gates' warning on test scores - latimes.com: Gates' warning on test scoresIn a recent op-ed article, he cautions against overusing students' standardized test scores in evaluating how well teachers are doing their jobs. [image: Bill Gates] By The Times editorial board April 11, 2013 A recent op-ed article in the Washington Post warned against overusing students' standardized test scores in evaluating how well teachers are doing their jobs. There would be no surprise about that — if it had been penned by the leader of a teachers union. But it was written by Bill Gates, arguab... more »
The in box. “I was one of those passionate speakers.” | Fred Klonsky
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
The in box. “I was one of those passionate speakers.” | Fred Klonsky: The in box. “I was one of those passionate speakers.” by Fred Klonsky *The PRESS* *Fred,* *I was one of those passionate speakers, in fact I was the last speaker after her SB7 presentation. I asked why she was so positive about the bill. Cinda did the responding and told me if there were specific issues we should talk to Audrey and Mitch.* *Well, Fred, I’m here to tell you we tried that last year at the RA and basically got told we could do nothing until we had seen a trend. Therefore, when she started her prese... more »
UPDATE:New York State Assessment + I’m a teacher and I’m tired!: by Elaine Rybski – @ the chalk face
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
I’m a teacher and I’m tired!: by Elaine Rybski – @ the chalk face: A new creative agenda for education required by Activism in paradise - Voices from down under By Bruce Hammonds*Over the weekend thousands of teachers throughout New Zealand expressed their anger about their dissatisfaction about government’s plans for education*. *I wonder what the public think about it all*? *Don’t get me wrong I am pleased that teachers have decided that ‘enuf is enuf’.* The government spin doctors have done a good job spreading the message that schools are failing with their simplistic ‘one in fi... more »
The Opt Out Update: Portland students plan to walk out of test, Tennessee lawmakers want to starve children for not doing well on tests, really, student data collection “unnecessary and Orwellian” and the push back gains momentum | Seattle Education
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
The Opt Out Update: Portland students plan to walk out of test, Tennessee lawmakers want to starve children for not doing well on tests, really, student data collection “unnecessary and Orwellian” and the push back gains momentum | Seattle Education: The Opt Out Update: Portland students plan to walk out of test, Tennessee lawmakers want to starve children for not doing well on tests, really, student data collection “unnecessary and Orwellian” and the push back gains momentum by seattleducation2011 When will the corporate ed reform madness end? Melissa Harris Perry Slams Lawmakers... more »
This resolution was passed today at the California Democratic Party Convention.
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
*This resolution was passed today at the California Democratic Party Convention.* This is a resolution that is being brought forth at the California Democratic Convention this coming weekend. What kind of conversations do you think it will spark? Supporting California’s Public Schools and Dispelling the Corporate “Reform” Agenda Whereas, the reform initiatives of Students First, rely on destructive anti-educator policies that do nothing for students but blame educators and their unions for the ills of society, make testing the goal of education, shatter communities by closing ... more »
Are School Closings Racist?
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Are School Closings Racist?: Are School Closings Racist?Sunday, 14 April 2013 10:24By Curtis Black, Community Media Workshop | News Analysis - 30 - font size [image: decrease font size] [image: increase font size] - Print - Email [image: Students are dismissed after school is let out at Robert Emmert Elementary School, which is scheduled to close, in Chicago, March 21, 2013. After weeks of uncertainty, principals at 54 public schools in Chicago officially learned from city officials Thursday that their schools would close, representing the largest group of campus... more »
NOW HERE'S A SHOCKER: Catania: No plans to investigate Rhee-era cheating allegations - The Washington Post
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Catania: No plans to investigate Rhee-era cheating allegations - The Washington Post: NOW HERE'S A SHOCKER:Catania: No plans to investigate Rhee-era cheating allegations By Emma Brown, Sunday, April 14, 12:54 PM The chairman of the D.C. Council’s education committee said Sunday that he has no plans to reinvestigate allegations of widespread cheating on standardized tests during the tenure of former Chancellor Michelle Rhee. Council member David Catania (I-At Large) said he will instead focus on improving the integrity of future tests, which are used to evaluate schools and teach... more »
Ed Notes Online: The Moral Imperative: Julie Cavanagh Opts in on Opt Out Issue
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
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Ed Notes Online: The Moral Imperative: Julie Cavanagh Opts in on Opt Out Issue: The Moral Imperative: Julie Cavanagh Opts in on Opt Out Issue by ed notes online *From a Chicago CORE teacher* *A teacher who, in conversations with students or parents, takes a position on testing contrary to the school district's educational program may potentially be charged with misconduct or insubordination and could be subject to disciplinary action. --- Richard Iannuzzi, President, NYSUT* *Ultimately opting-out and boycotts are a parent choice. However, teachers do have a role. There is a mor... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: Has Common Core Practice Invaded the Spelling Bee?
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: Has Common Core Practice Invaded the Spelling Bee?: Has Common Core Practice Invaded the Spelling Bee? by stlgretchen One of the talking points of Common Core Math Standards proponents is that a child shouldn't just know equations, the child must understand the process of getting the answer and have to explain how he/she arrived at the answer. Memorization of facts is not of primary importance. The process by which you can explain your answer is largely how your child will be graded. The answer 2 x 2 = 4 is not a sufficient answer. Now the student... more »
Indiana Republicans are Scaling Back Bennett, Bush Reforms | Scathing Purple Musings
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Indiana Republicans are Scaling Back Bennett, Bush Reforms | Scathing Purple Musings: Indiana Republicans are Scaling Back Bennett, Bush Reforms by Bob Sikes In story titled *Education Facing Reform Fatigue – State Lawmakers are Leery of Passing More Legislation, **Fort Wayne Journal Gazette* reporter Niki Kelly writes about the efforts of Indiana republican legislators to slow some of the reforms championed by former education boss Tony Bennett and his mentor Jeb Bush. Here’s a brief look at each: *School Grades* It seems everyone agrees there is something wrong with the A-F sy... more »
Diane in the Evening 4-14-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Children in NYC Suffer Bouts of Test Anxiety, Officials Shrug by dianerav As this article in the New York Times explains, elementary schoolchildren are frightened by the tests that start this week, based on the Common Core. The article points out that neither the students nor the teachers are prepared. Some of the material was never taught. “But the standards are so new that many New York schools have yet to fully adopt new curriculums — including reading material, lesson plans and exercises — to match. And the... more »
LAUSD chief John Deasy draws fire as he pursues aggressive reform plan - LA Daily News
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
LAUSD chief John Deasy draws fire as he pursues aggressive reform plan - LA Daily News: LAUSD chief John Deasy draws fire as he pursues aggressive reform plan by By Barbara Jones, Staff Writer LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy (Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer) During a recent speech at Loyola Marymount University, John Deasy recalled his promotion from deputy superintendent to chief of Los Angeles Unified two years ago, tasked with turning around a district plagued by failing schools, struggling students and an epidemic of dropouts. "I agreed to take this job and lead a transformat... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: PTA News
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: PTA News: PTA News by Melissa Westbrook A bit of a roundup of PTA news. (Please keep in mind that I am a long-time PTA parent. I think, on paper, PTA is a good thing but it doesn't always play out the way you might hope in practice.) First up from the Washington State PTA, news from their upcoming convention. You may recall that they have teamed up with McDonald's for sponsorship of the convention. I recall that, at the time, it seemed like an odd pairing given the childhood obesity rates in this country and the food that McDonald's serves. ... more »
On Anne Frank, In Defense of Justin Bieber |
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
On Anne Frank, In Defense of Justin Bieber |: On Anne Frank, In Defense of Justin Bieber by Angus Johnston So yeah, Justin Bieber visited the Anne Frank House and left a note in the guestbook calling her “a great girl. Hopefully she would have been a belieber.” Of course everyone went nuts, myself not excluded. There’s the narcissism thing, and the weird time traveler thing — is he imagining her as a belieber now, in her 80s, or imagining himself as a wartime pop star? But there’s another layer down below all that. Check out this clip, the only film footage of Anne Frank known to ex... more »
California Senate president attacks ‘diseased’ financial system in education reform speech | The Raw Story
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
California Senate president attacks ‘diseased’ financial system in education reform speech | The Raw Story: California Senate president attacks ‘diseased’ financial system in education reform speech by Eric W. Dolan [image: California Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg screenshot] California Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) blasted the financial industry in a speech calling for educational reform. At the California Democrats State Convention in Sacramento on Saturday, Steinberg touted the party’s recent victories in the state. “No more cuts to educ... more »
How they cheated on D.C. tests: Excerpts from new report
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
How they cheated on D.C. tests: Excerpts from new report: How they cheated on D.C. tests: Excerpts from new report Posted by Valerie Strauss on April 14, 2013 at 12:11 pm 0 Comments More [image: test1]How many ways did D.C. educators cheat on the 2102 high-stakes Comprehensive Assessment System tests given to students? Here are some excerpts from a new official report that details how teachers in 18 District classrooms cheated on the exams. You can see the entire report below or by clicking here but in the meantime, here are some excerpts. Classes were flagged on the basis of the nu... more »
Schools Matter: Former KIPP Principal Demonstrates Why Honesty Should Be Added to the KIPP Character Trait List
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Schools Matter: Former KIPP Principal Demonstrates Why Honesty Should Be Added to the KIPP Character Trait List: Former KIPP Principal Demonstrates Why Honesty Should Be Added to the KIPP Character Trait List by Jim Horn Former KIPP "stallion," Elliot Witney, has somehow earned a spot across from Deborah Meier at theBridging Differences blog (surely thre's no Gates influence in that decision by Ed Week). And the first thing I noticed in reading Witney's dissembling responses to Meier's questions on KIPP is 1) his effort to distance himself from KIPP, and 2) how quickly he would ... more »
Long Island Will Be Heard | United Opt Out National
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Long Island Will Be Heard | United Opt Out National: Long Island Will Be Heard by admin Long Island parents are currently rising up, opting out and refusing in mass to allow their children to be used for profit. They are awake. They are empowered – *and their children will not be taking the test.* Join their Facebook groupwith almost 7,000 members and growing. Learn from them. Tweet this post. Email it. Share it on Facebook. Force mainstream media to listen. Here is theiropt out guide. Long Island is opening a window for all of us – we must take this opportunity and share their me... more »
Sunday reads. | Fred Klonsky
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Sunday reads. | Fred Klonsky: Sunday reads. by Fred Klonsky [image: 319921_10200264807795918_2144260994_n] *Map: Chicago school closings and murdered young people.* *The secret memo regarding the Erase to the Top* cheating scandal when MichelleRhee ran the DC schools. When does the grand jury get called to issue an indictment? *A five year history of turning a blind eye* to MichelleRhee’s cheating. *Better late than never.* DC Council to discuss MichelleRhee’s Erase to the Top. *Remember when Arne Duncan said*,
Count the errors - D.C. Council’s Committee on Education is holding a hearing on test security
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Count the errors: Count the errors Posted by Valerie Strauss on April 14, 2013 at 11:04 am 0 Comments More [image: dccouncilseal]The D.C. Council’s Committee on Education is holding a hearing on test security this week, and the description of that event is written up on the council Web site. Someone was apparently in a rush, because the post is filled with spelling and other errors. Even the committee’s name is missing a letter in one reference. Find all of them: Committee on Education Public Hearing on Bill 20-109 the Testing Integrity Act of 2013 The purpose of the hearing is to... more »
More Dispatch for the FLDOE’s Charter School Superiority Study | Scathing Purple Musings
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
More Dispatch for the FLDOE’s Charter School Superiority Study | Scathing Purple Musings: More Dispatch for the FLDOE’s Charter School Superiority Study by Bob Sikes There are few education writers who can claim to be peers of Walt Gardner. Earlier this month, the former teacher effectively unmasked the half-truths the charter school industry are telling the nation. In a post titled*Questioning Charter School Superiority*, Gardner responded to one such half-truth propaganda which - not unsurprisingly – came from Nina Rees, president/CEO of the National Charter School Alliance. Fr... more »
Teach for America: A Model for Expansion | Cooperative Catalyst
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Teach for America: A Model for Expansion | Cooperative Catalyst: Teach for America: A Model for Expansion by robinclane Since Teach for America has been so successful at solving the problems of education in our country, I’m proposing we take their model and apply it to other failing systems and issues at hand. If the biggest problem in education is a lack of quality teachers, and we can provide those teachers and thus solve the education crisis in just six weeks time, why not try this out in other professions? 1. Heal for America — The healthcare system in America is crumbling, a... more »
D.C. Council to discuss test cheating
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
D.C. Council to discuss test cheating: D.C. Council to discuss test cheating Posted by Valerie Strauss on April 14, 2013 at 10:09 am 0 Comments More [image: test2]Better late than never: The D.C. Council’s Education Committee will discuss the standardized test cheating scandal at a previously scheduled hearing this week that was, ironically, intended to be about test security. My colleague Emma Brown has learned that added to the Thursday agenda is a discussion about a new report that came out Friday about cheating by educators on the 2012 D.C. Comprehensive Assessment System high-s...more »
Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Cheating Scandal: The Memo #MichelleRhee = #EraseToTheTop
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
*Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Cheating Scandal: The Memo* * * * * OPEN FULL SCREEN: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7wdDUUSR15ddFczU2t2M3pmcUk/edit?usp=sharing
