Brown not backing away from decision to suspend state standardized tests | EdSource Today

Brown not backing away from decision to suspend state standardized tests | EdSource Today:

Brown not backing away from decision to suspend state standardized tests

September 16th, 2013 | Add a Comment | 
By John Fensterwald

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In remarks Monday, Gov. Jerry Brown defended the state’s decision to suspend state standardized tests this year and instead offer students a practice test in the Common Core standards that’s now being developed. And he gave no sign of steering away from a collision with the federal government over this issue.

“I feel that a test based on a different curriculum does not make a lot of sense,” he said during a news conference in Oakland. “We are investing $1 billion to adopt Common Core.”

The source of the conflict is Assembly Bill 484, which the Legislature approved last week and Brown has promised to sign. By requiring that every district capable of administering a computer-based test give students a Common Core field or practice test next spring, the bill will put California out of compliance with the federal No Child Left Behind law. NCLB mandates annual testing in state standards in grades 3 through 8 and grade 11 in math and English language arts in order to measure schools’ and individual students’ performance. The field test will not produce results for federal accountability. Its purpose is to help the test developers create a valid assessment on the new standards in 2015, when California and other states would formally introduce it.

But Brown, who was at the Oakland School for the Arts, the charter school he founded, indicated the sky 

School finance reform prompts dispute over counting low-income students - by Jane Meredith Adams

Never has school lunch meant so much for California education. Delivering significantly more money to schools based on the number of low-income children they serve is at the heart of the sweeping new K-12 finance system approved by the state Legislature in June. The new system defines “low income” as those ... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit the Edsource Today website for full links, oth

by Jane Meredith Ada... / 4h 

Another blast in the reading wars

Another blast in the reading wars:

The Constitution Day quiz: Test yourself

Today is the 226th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution — and that means it is also Constitution Day. What’s Constitution Day, you ask? It’s a congressionally mandated moment in which schools — from kindergarten through college — … Continue reading →    

48 by Valerie Strauss / 1h mark as read  //  save

Getting students to engage — not just comply

In this post veteran educator Larry Ferlazzo, who teaches English and Social Studies at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, California, talks about the difference between student engagement and student compliance — and why he’d rather have 90 percent of … Continue reading →    

3 by Valerie Strauss / 2h 

Another blast in the reading wars

The reading wars continue. Last month I published two pieces by literacy experts who raised serious objections to key parts of a report released over the summer on teacher preparation by a group called the National Council on Teacher Quality. … Continue reading →    

4 by Valerie Strauss / 3h 

Is the ‘charter school gravy train’ running ‘express to fat city’?

Sometimes you find things in unexpected places, like this story, in Forbes magazine. The story, headlined “Charter School Gravy Train Runs Express To Fat City,” was written by a financial publisher and writer, not exactly the first person you’d think … Continue reading →    

3 by Valerie Strauss / 6h 

Reign of Error by Diane Ravitch: A Review | Seattle Education

Reign of Error by Diane Ravitch: A Review | Seattle Education:

Reign of Error by Diane Ravitch: A Review

Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America’s Public Schools

Dr. Ravitch shatters one corporate reform myth after another with clarity providing excellent background information in the Notes and Appendix of this book.

Because of her courageousness and direct approach, expect the corporate media to attack her because no one is left standing in this book, at least on the reform side, from President Obama’s support of school privatization to the machinations of Michelle Rhee.

This book is a perfect reference guide to all things ed reform. Don’t understand much about test scores? Check out the chapters “The Facts About Test Scores” and “The Facts About International Test Scores”. Don’t know the history of Michelle Rhee? Go to “The Mystery of Michele Rhee”. How about the Parent Trigger? Read the chapter “Parent 

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Milwaukee targeted as next New Orleans-style "recovery zone"

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Milwaukee targeted as next New Orleans-style "recovery zone":

Milwaukee targeted as next New Orleans-style "recovery zone"

Milwaukee's public school system, already hit hard by devastating budget cuts and teacher firings, has become the next big urban school system to be targeted for privatization. MPS, the home of the nation's first crippling school voucher system, is now threatened with a New Orleans-style "recovery zone" where dozens of public schools would be handed over to private companies to operate with poorly trained, non-union teachers.

Right-wing privatization groups, like WILL, are also trying to force MPS to sell off school buildings or hand them over directly to private charter school operators in what would be one of the largest real estate swindles in city history.

Among the groups vying for a piece of the action is Rocketship Charter Schools,owned by tennis player turned ed entrepreneur, Andre Agassi. Eight Rocketship 

Teachers For Social Justice: Milwaukee Schools Under Attack-Need Our Help!

Teachers For Social Justice: Milwaukee Schools Under Attack-Need Our Help!:

Milwaukee Schools Under Attack-Need Our Help!

SEPTEMBER 16, 2013 LEAVE A COMMENT

Come to Milwaukee w/ TSJ for a March and Rally Saturday Sept 21-Public Education is a Civil Right!

Milwaukee public school educators, parents, and students need your help. The assault on public schools is increasing in Milwaukee.  We have called for Public Education is a Civil Rights March and Rally for Saturday, September 21 in response.  We hope that you can join us to demonstrate to the entire state that we are united in our demand that public education be supported, not abandoned. IF YOU WANT TO COME WITH US, EMAIL Jessica of TSJ, we will leave Saturday AM and return that afternoon-we will either be on a bus w/ CTU and/or car pooling. WEAR YOUR TSJ T-SHIRT!!! The most recent attack on public schools in Milwaukee has come in the form of a proposal from the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce that would create a New Orleans's style "recovery zone" in Milwaukee. Dozens of "low performing" schools would be removed from the democratic control of the school board, and placed in a new school district or zone that has an appointed superintendent. That superintendent would then turn those public schools over to privately-run charter schools. This is essentially what happened in New Orleans -- all the teachers were fired in that district as part of the conversion. This is also happening in parts of Tennessee and Michigan.  We are asking for you to stand in solidarity with public schools in Milwaukee. For over 20 years Milwaukee has been ground zero for this assault on public education and we are drawing the line. We are saying "no more." Over 50 organizations have endorsed the march. John Stocks, NEA Executive Director is going to be joining the march and will be a speaker. We need a large turnout. We need you. Follow these links to a flyer and list of co-sponsors.  The MTEA is willing to contribute $100 to any uniserv or local or community organization from outside of Milwaukee to defray cost of a rented bus to come to Milwaukee. We will support the first ten bus requests that we receive. If you have questions please contact me directly. In Solidarity, Bob Peterson President, Milwaukee Teachers Education Association (and close friend of TSJ!)

Highlights from Terri’s Alabama Teacher Town Hall video – A MUST WATCH! « inspirEDucation

Highlights from Terri’s Alabama Teacher Town Hall video – A MUST WATCH! « inspirEDucation:

Highlights from Terri’s Alabama Teacher Town Hall video – A MUST WATCH!

A commentor by the name of “Jack” was kind enough to post details of Terri’s wonderful video, that captures Michelle Rhee’s Teacher Town Hall in Birmingham last Thursday in all its shameful glory. Here is the video once again and Jack’s comment:

Regarding this video from Birmingham,
here are some highlights:

Rhee mocks Hannah Nguyen at about
02:13 – 02:40 — quoting out of context
and distorting what Hannah wrote to her
in her email.

At 05:05, Terri Michal (MIKE-uhl) attempts to
voice her opinion—and others followed suit,
saying, “I did, too,” and watch how she’s
treated.

At 06:08, they rip the mic away from
her (though you can see it because
she had to hide the camera, because
cameras were not allowed… resulting
in a bad camera angle).

As the caption indicates, forum participant
Steve “unionized-teachers-are-roaches”
Perry then does not answer the Terri’s

Jersey Jazzman: Chicago Mayor Emanuel Closes New School Before It Opens! [parody]

Jersey Jazzman: Chicago Mayor Emanuel Closes New School Before It Opens! [parody]:

Chicago Mayor Emanuel Closes New School Before It Opens!

CHICAGO -- Rahm Emanuel has become the first big city mayor to close a school before it has even been built. "When I announced I was building this new [expletive deleted] school yesterday, I thought you [expletive deleted] in the press would leave me alone!" yelled Emanuel, shouting in front of a group of parents gathered in the Far Southeast Side. "Then the [expletive deleted] Tr

2 by Duke / 39min 

9-14-13 Jersey Jazzman

Jersey Jazzman: Hilarious Ode to Charlotte Danielson!If you are a teacher, trust me on this one: Danielson, oh Danielson, I still hear your domains calling, My data's down, my numbers falling, I became a "one" When I met Danielson. Based on Glenn Campbell's "Galveston"; how these guys came up with that choice I have no idea, but well done, folks! My sense is that Charlotte Dani

by mike simpson / 8h 

Let It Reign! | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

Let It Reign! | Gary Rubinstein's Blog:

Let It Reign!

by Gary Rubinstein

The reformers can wait for Superman all they want.  We’ve got Wonder Woman.

‘Reign Of Error:  the Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America’s Public Schools,’ released today, is what Arne Duncan would call a ‘game changer.’  This will bring a new and wider audience to Dr. Diane Ravitch’s analysis of the current fads in education which will, I expect, get her air time on mainstream television to spread the truth even further.

Education ‘reform,’ she describes in the first pages of the book is based on the narrative that our country’s schools are, in general, ‘failing’ and are in a wild free fall from the unspecified ‘glory days’ of public education.  The situation, the reformers say, is so desperate, that the public has been convinced that it is, indeed, time to panic and to be willing to try radical and untested remedies.  The problem with all this is that schools, though not perfect, are not truly ‘failing’ and the reckless strategies now called ‘reform’ are not making things any better and are, in many ways, making things worse.

The average reader will be shocked by chapters 5 through 9 in which Ravitch uses data to demonstrate that there is no international test score comparison crisis, high school graduation rates are at an all time high, and that NAEP test scores are also at an all time high.  No, this does not mean that we don’t keep working to make schools better, but it does mean that the initial 

Preserving Public Education | Crazy Crawfish's Blog

Preserving Public Education | Crazy Crawfish's Blog:

Preserving Public Education

Posted on September 16, 2013

1

Next stop, Atlanta!

Looks like I’ve hit the big time (or at least the southern regional time) guys! I was invited to speak on a plenary panel, along with some pretty heavy hitters, at a Southern Regional Conference in Atlanta this coming weekend. I’ve been working on my intro speech and rallying cry for the past couple of weeks. My hope is to not make a complete fool of myself so I’ve been harassing friends and family with my drafts, and practicing (something I almost never do for anything), on my intro. My 4 and 6 year old are not as attentive as I’d like, but my son told me he’ll listen as long as I need him to, so long as I’m giving him a piggy back ride while doing it. (I hope that doesn’t lead to any same state learning issues or I may have to make a very awkward request of the most diminutive attendee I can find.) I’m gonna try and nail it without cards or notes. I usually speak without them, but I also usually ramble and take about 3 times longer than I should and confuse people when I’m done, so preparing something ahead of time that is succinct and rehearsed will be something new for me! The only thing I have going for me is that I passionately believe in what I’m going to say, (and my flight will take around 4 or 5 hours with all my bizarre connections) so I think I have a decent shot of pulling this off.

Send your prayers and feelings of goodwill my way. Believe it or not, I’m sometimes a little shy and self-conscious in person, but when I read your comments or private e-mails they really do lift me 

States Tackle Chronic Absence in Schools | toteachornototeach

States Tackle Chronic Absence in Schools | toteachornototeach:

States Tackle Chronic Absence in Schools 

By Adrienne Lu

School attendance is about more than figuring out who is playing hooky.

Until recently, schools mostly looked at the student body’s overall attendance rate and the truancy–or unexcused absences–of individual students.

Now a growing number of states and school districts are increasing their focus on students who are “chronically absent” from school–whether the absences are excused or unexcused. States have different definitions of chronic absence, but it is often defined as missing at least 10 percent of the school year for any reason.

Chronic absence is a key indicator for problems such as dropping out and lower academic achievement, according to recent research, so educators are hoping to identify students early enough to intervene.

“When it comes to instructional time, a day missed is a day missed,” said Hedy Chang, 

9-16-13 teacherken at Daily Kos

teacherken at Daily Kos:

Awaiting the chance to offer some news

about Leaves on the Current.  Wish I could say more, but we are on hold until she talks with her oncologist, probably tomorrow. Don't worry.  The discussion is because of how well she is doing. But it could represent some major changes in the short term. In the meantime, given my new teaching position and ensuring she gets the best care, I am dropping almost everything other than school and taking

2 by rss@dailykos.com ... / 38min  

9-15-13 teacherken at Daily Kos

teacherken at Daily Kos: Reign of Error: the important new book by Diane RavitchThe testing, accountability, and choice strategies offer the illusion of change while changing nothing.  They mask the inequity and injustice that are now so apparent in our social order.  They do nothing to alter the status quo.  They preserve the status quo.  They are the status quo. Those words appear on p. 225 of R

by mike simpson / 2h 

9-16-13 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online:

Even Forbes Mag Gets It: Charter School Gravy Train Runs Express To Fat City

Charter schools are frequently a way for politicians to reward their cronies.... Too bad the kids in charter schools don’t learn any better than those in plain-vanilla public schools... Unimpressive, especially when you consider charter schools can pick and choose their students....Nor does the evidence show that charters spend taxpayers’ money more efficiently.... About the only thing charters do

3 by ed notes online / 7min mark as read  //  save

Tuesday: Ravitch Book Publication Date and Video of Ravitch at Judson Church

I am rushing to finish the book for my review. It is so packed with info I have to keep going back to reread in order for my weak brain cells to absorb it all.I know there are so many talented bloggers out there I can't imagine being able to say much more than they will. Bloggers with advanced copies will start reviewing tomorrow when the book is officially published.Here is video I shot of Diane

1 by ed notes online / 7min 

9-15-13 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online: Compare and Contrast Reactions to Teacher Evaluation: In Mexico 10,000 Teachers Protest, In NYC Union Leaders Defend the Undermining of the ProfessionThe education issues in Mexico and in this country and in other parts of the world are the same. That should tell you something. That the union misleaders who are wearing buttons that say Dec. 31, 2013 to mark the end of the Bloomber

by mike simpson / 3h 

PTA Meeting on 9/17/13 at PS 29 Queens Concerning Principal Jennifer Rogers.southbronxschool.com

http://www.southbronxschool.com:

PTA Meeting on 9/17/13 at PS 29 Queens Concerning Principal Jennifer Rogers

Hi folks, remember PS 29 in College Point? I certainly do! How could I forget? Over 200 comments (And still counting), accusations of who, or is it whom? (Somebody please share), is boinking whom or who, pubic lice, mental illness, 4th cousins twice removed, several threats to me, and one person thinking I would cry over some bogus p**** name they called me a long, long, long time ago.

I heard a lot of about PS 280 in the comments section and more juicy stuff that I heard privately from former staff members at PS 280. Shocking!

But again, we must leave personal information out of the comments section and no sharing of administrators genitalia malfunctions.

The Crack Team at SBSB came across the parent survey for PS 29 and it does not look so good.

   PS 29 Survey

Apparently, the teachers of PS 29 feel that Principal Jennifer Jones does not place the needs of the 

New Ravitch Book Exposes Bush-Obama School Reform as Reign of Error | janresseger

New Ravitch Book Exposes Bush-Obama School Reform as Reign of Error | janresseger:

New Ravitch Book Exposes Bush-Obama School Reform as Reign of Error

You don’t need to be an expert on education policy to enjoy and learn from Diane Ravitch’s new book, Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America’s Public Schools, published tomorrow, September 17, by Alfred A. Knopf.  Packed with details and surprises, the book will answer just the questions you may have after trying to sort through the rhetoric of the education policy wars.

And if you know quite a bit about this issue already, you’ll also be engrossed.  My personal favorite chapter on first-reading the book is “Trouble in E-Land,” an exploration of the history of for-profit virtual charter schools and their growth in particular states at the expense of the public education budget.  While I already knew a lot about this topic, the chapter connected the dots for me in new ways.

This book should feel threatening to supporters of today’s school “reform.”  Ravitch has built and documented a formidable critique of their movement and a deeply principled defense of public education.

You’ll learn who is pushing hard for school “reform” and privatization—Americans for Children, American Legislative Exchange Council, Better Education for Kids, Black Alliance for Educational Options, Center for Education Reform, Chiefs for Change, ConCANN along with 50CAN and other state affiliates, Democrats for Education Reform, the Education Equality 

Last Stand for Children First: Ravitch's New Book Demonstrates She Still Hates Children

Last Stand for Children First: Ravitch's New Book Demonstrates She Still Hates Children:

Ravitch's New Book Demonstrates She Still Hates Children

Today, Diane Ravitch's Reign of Error came out.  Her newest book claims to explore the hoax of privatization and the danger that America's public schools are facing.  Sadly, Diane's new book is just another misguided screed aimed at the hedge fund managers and education reformers who seem to be the only people who still care about our country's children.

While I didn't actually read Ravitch's book, I think I've gotten a pretty good feeling for what it's about by reading the cover which is widely displayed on line and several negative comments from people I admire for their no excuses approach to education reform and this unfortunately, is where Ravitch comes up short.

Ravitch's very title suggests that privatization is a threat to our nation's public schools.  However, to believe that you'd have to believe in crazy conspiracy theories like the somehow the 50 neighborhood schools in Chicago closed this Summer are related to the 50 charter schools that the Chicago Public Schools wants to open up.  It seems to me that if privatizers were going to threaten our public schools, we wouldn't be pushing to 

California Father: Hannah Nyugen takes on Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee

California Father

I met Hannah after she took on Michelle Rhee at a recent town hall meeting in Los Angeles. Here I talk to her about charters, privatization and the youth movement against the corporate takeover of public schools.

Rhee's Road Show Offers Nothing New - California Teachers Association

Rhee's Road Show Offers Nothing New - California Teachers Association: RHEE'S ROAD SHOW OFFERS NOTHING NEWLast night StudentsFirst founder and self-proclaimed education reformer Michelle Rhee held the first of a series of nationwide “teacher town halls” in Los Angeles, in what Rhee describes as an effort to move beyond “the extreme rhetoric and personal attacks overshadowing what’s important: gett

3 by mike simpson / 23h 

Student takes on Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee

Student takes on Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee : Student takes on Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee By Valerie Strauss, Published: September 7 at 9:52 amE-mail the writerSchool reformer extraordinaire Michelle Rhee hasbegun a three-city event where she is hosting town halls in what she says is an effort to have a “real talk” with teachers, who for years have viewed her as anything but a frie

by mike simpson / 8h