MN Doesn’t Need a Lesson from Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee - MN2020 Hindsight

MN Doesn’t Need a Lesson from Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee - MN2020 Hindsight:



MN Doesn’t Need a Lesson from Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee

By Sarah Lahm, Hindsight Community Fellow, February 3, 2014 at 8:25 am

Infamous education reform architect Michelle Rhee is coming to town, at the strange behest of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. She will be the keynote speaker at the Chamber’s February 6Education Summit.

The title of Rhee’s address is important: “Creating a Sense of Urgency for Education Reform.” Manufacturing a crisis, or sense of urgency, in order to push through desired solutions is nothing new. Many, in fact, consider the 1983 “Nation at Risk” report, said to have launched current education reform movements, a classic example of creating a crisis to whet an appetite for reform.

And what are some of the solutions we can expect to hear from Rhee, former Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak, and other Education Summit presenters?

One: Bad teachers are holding students back. Firing teachers and doing away with teacher tenure were key aspects of Rhee’s short-lived work as Chancellor of the Washington D.C. public schools, under the premise that the D.C. schools were rife with “ineffective” teachers. While Rhee herself is no longer in charge of any school or teachers, directly, she is still promoting the firing and de-unionization of teachers as a national solution.

Two: Data from standardized tests tell us everything we need to know, including the fact that some people will cheat on tests in order to win money, praise, and quick results. Rhee was incharge of the 

Shanker Blog » Democracy’s Champion: Albert Shanker

Shanker Blog » Democracy’s Champion: Albert Shanker:

Democracy’s Champion: Albert Shanker

Posted by Richard D. Kahlenberg on February 3, 2014

Our guest author today is Richard D. Kahlenberg, senior fellow at The Century Foundation, is author of Tough Liberal: Albert Shanker and the Battles Over Schools, Unions, Race, and Democracy (Columbia University Press, 20007). 

Freedom House recently released the significant – and sobering — results of its report, “Freedom in the World 2014.” The survey is the latest in an annual assessment of political and civil liberties around the globe.  For the eighth year in a row, the overall level of freedom declined, as 54 nations saw erosion of political and civil rights, including Egypt, Turkey and Russia.  (A smaller number, 40, saw gains.)  Despite the early hopes of the Arab Spring, democracy promotion has proven a long and difficult fight.

None of this would surprise Albert Shanker, who devoted his life to championing democracy, yet always recognized the considerable difficulty of doing so.  Around 1989, when the world was celebrating the collapse of fall of the Berlin Wall, Shanker took the long view:  “What we’ve seen are the beginnings of democracy.  We haven’t really seen democracy yet.  We’ve seen the overthrow of dictatorship.  Democracy is going to take generations to build and we have to be a part of that building because they won’t be able to do it alone.”

As I wrote in my 2007 biography, Tough Liberal: Albert Shanker and the Battles Over Schools, Unions, Race, and Democracy, Shanker rarely gave a speech in which he did not mention democratic values.  A devotion to democracy was Shanker’s lodestar, the principle that guided his support for public schools, and free trade unions.  His call for charter schools, for example, was centered around a belief that by giving teachers greater democratic voice in the 

Cami Anderson must resign! | Bob Braun's Ledger

Cami Anderson must resign! | Bob Braun's Ledger:

Cami Anderson must resign!

Struggling to get to school at Hawthorne Avenue today–only to find school was closed.

Cami Anderson, appointed by Gov. Chris Christie two years ago to run the Newark schools, should resign immediately because she represents a danger to the children and employees of New Jersey’s largest city. More than a week ago, she kept the schools open in Newark when all the schools in Essex and neighboring counties were closed–including Newark charter schools. Today, she did not order the schools closed until many children and employees were on their way or already in school.

There can be debate about how best to operate a public school system. There can be debate how good charter schools are compared to conventional public schools. There can be a debate about bringing in administrators from New York and New Orleans to replace veteran local educators. There can be a debate about the value of Teach for America dilettantes versus well-trained teachers.

There can even be a debate about closing, selling off, or otherwise repurposing a third to a half of all Newark public schools. Or about whether the exercise of free speech represents insubordination.

And maybe, just maybe, there even be a debate about whether a school 

Who Is Winning the Common Core War? Citizens Are. | Truth in American Education

Who Is Winning the Common Core War? Citizens Are. | Truth in American Education:

Who Is Winning the Common Core War? Citizens Are.

Filed in Common Core State Standards by Gretchen Logue on February 3, 2014 • 0 Comments

• 1

Anne Gassel and I presented at the Constitutional Coalition Common Core conference this weekend and my speech was about the importance of social media to present the facts (not paid propaganda) about Common Core.  I encouraged attendees to utilize social media to share messages of how CCSS was adopted/implemented while circumventing legislatures and voters, reveal the truth on the elites behind the funding (Bill Gates Foundation and other ed reform corporations), creators (David Coleman, Jason Zimba) or PR messengers (Chambers of Commerce) of the standards, and how we are winning the  the Common Core war.

Here is the proof that citizen and state led (authentic “state led”, not “private organization led” as CCSS has turned out to be) anti-common core groups are making a huge difference in what parents know about Common Core.  Corporations who stand to profit from this education reform have to spend yet more money to promote a PR message so people will support the corporate led vision of nationalized education:

From Matt Gandal’s (former Race to the Top guru who left the USDOEd for a job in the private sector: Education Strategy Group) power point presentation (pdf) to the American Association of State Colleges and Universities December 2013 about the Common Core Communications Collaborative:

Why was this group formed?

An Expanding Awareness

IntroductionAs best I can reconstruct the time frame, in November 2012 I came across the draft of a report that caught my attention–Expanding Evidence Approaches for Learning in a Digital World.  As I read the draft, I took notes and made comments.  Those notes and comments about the draft, not the final document, are being posted below under the title of An Expanding Awareness.  The final copy of

by chascherrie / 10min 

N.J. State Lawmaker Tries to Bolster Local Control in Troubled Newark District - State EdWatch - Education Week

N.J. State Lawmaker Tries to Bolster Local Control in Troubled Newark District - State EdWatch - Education Week:

N.J. State Lawmaker Tries to Bolster Local Control in Troubled Newark District

By Andrew Ujifusa on February 3, 2014 10:38 AM

Newark, N.J. schools have a troubled history that stretches back decades, but the battle has only gotten more intense recently. As my colleague, Lesli Maxwell, over at District Dossier wrote last week, Superintendent Cami Anderon's "One Newark" proposal for the state-run district, which would expand the presence of charter schools while shutting down some low-performing schools, has triggered a significant backlash.

A few principals have claimed they were improperly suspended due to their opposition to Anderson's plan, and have filed a federal lawsuit against her. Another explosive moment came during a community forum, when a speaker brought up Anderson's "brown baby" (her biracial son), prompting her to exit the meeting.

Now state Sen. Ronald Rice, a Democrat who represents Newark, is wading into the controversy. He has introduced legislation establishing new requirements prior to a school closure. Senate Bill 966 applies to a "state district superintendent," which includes officials like Anderson who run districts for the state. Although the district is controlled by New Jersey officials, Rice's proposal 

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Monday, February 3, 2014

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team:

Freedburg: Aggressive public relations campaign amplifies courtroom battle against teacher work rules

Education Headlines

Monday, February 3, 2014

FCMAT provides links to California K-12 news stories as a service to the industry. However, some stories may not be accessible because of newspapers' subscription policies.

Truancy sweep nets just one

Police officers bang on a door at the Courtyard apartments in Santa Ana, searching for a child with 24 absences from school since August – missing almost a third of class time. “We’ll see if the kid is home and ask why he’s not in school,” said Kevin Ruiz, an investigator with the Gang Reduction and Intervention Partnership. “If he’s playing video games and watching cartoons, we’re going to get him to school.”

Alpine, teachers reach tentative pact

The Alpine Teachers Association and the Alpine Unified School District reached a tentative labor agreement late Friday that appears to have staved off the threat of a strike.

Galt high school district classified union contract negotiations at impasse

A neutral third-party mediator will be called into Galt Joint Union High School District in an attempt to resolve differences between the district and the classified union after union leaders declared an impasse in contract negotiations.

Safety, religion class, money on Modesto City Schools board agenda

Campus safety, the district’s course on world religions and money matters will be discussed at the Modesto City Schools board meeting tonight.

Another Miramonte child abuse case emerges from the shadows

Obscured by the publicity surrounding teacher Mark Berndt is the case of Martin Springer, whose criminal trial is set to begin this week.

Bay Area schools suspend fewer students

Under pressure to cut racial disparities in punishment and to keep misbehaving kids in school, California public schools suspended fewer students in 2012-13, with some Bay Area districts posting dramatic drops.

California schools have $37 billion in unissued bonds

California's pot of school bond money may be empty, but school and community college districts have more than $37 billion in authorized — but unspent — school-construction bonds, according to a report by the state's debt commission.

EdSource: Parent Universities help districts tap into feedback required under funding formula

School leaders are saying that one of the best known ways to involve parents – establishing a “Parent University” program – will be a boon to engaging them in the state’s new funding reforms championed by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Freedburg: Aggressive public relations campaign amplifies courtroom battle against teacher work rules

The potentially game-changing Vergara v. California lawsuit, which attacks key aspects of California law on how teachers are evaluated and fired, opened in Los Angeles last week and has been accompanied by an aggressive public relations campaign unmatched by the opposing side – the State of California and its teachers unions.

Deasy provides fodder for both sides in lawsuit

Attorneys for the other side suggested the problem was district practices that allowed less-experienced teachers to be clustered at particular campuses. Better management could avoid exposing a school to massive layoffs, they asserted. They also pointed to instances in which Deasy had found ways to exempt teachers from layoffs or to protect certain schools.

Friday, January 31, 2014

Tracy Unified sets April deadline to hire chief

A timeline has been adopted laying out the procedure for selecting the Tracy Unified School District's next superintendent. It involves an opportunity for public input and sets April 8 for a vetted candidate and signed contract to be presented to the Board of Education for final approval.

Finance director at fiscally fragile district resigns

As the Coachella Valley Unified School District sits in a fragile financial position, overspending while banking on new revenue beyond the horizon, the district’s highest finance official is resigning from his post.

Teacher group gives CA D+ in effectiveness

A teacher advocacy group has given California low grades in teacher effectiveness in a report released Thursday. The Washington, D.C.-based National Council on Teacher Quality gave California an overall grade of D+ for the fifth consecutive year in its State Teacher Policy Yearbook for 2013. The report analyzes state laws and regulations that affect teachers in each state.

Tweet suggests Westboro church will protest Granite Bay High’s ‘Laramie Project’

Twitter posts from the controversial church threatening to picket Granite Bay High School’s theater production of “The Laramie Project” suggest it will attempt some level of protest against the play.

San Jose schools: Unusual district/charter partnership promises all students in high-performing schools

Departing from traditional hostility between school districts and charter operators, the Franklin-McKinley School District will partner with charter schools to share campuses and training.

Denair Unified OKs contract that cuts teacher salaries and restores some pay to administrators

The Denair Unified School District board voted unanimously Thursday night to approve a contract with its teachers and restore some pay to its administrators. The vote brings to a successful close negotiations that began in December 2012. A fact-finding report brought about a compromise, 

Top 10 Reasons to Join Teach For America | EduShyster

Top 10 Reasons to Join Teach For America | EduShyster:

Top 10 Reasons to Join Teach For America

 Did you miss the last application deadline for Teach for America? Fret not, young reader—you still have three more weeks before the next and final deadline to join the 2014 corps.

By Jay Saper, TFA reject

TFA reject Jay Saper with AFT president Randi Weingarten.

1. Teach for America saves taxpayers a fortune. Let’s face it: ending poverty in this country would cost a fortune. That’s why instead of focusing on what we don’t have—say, a place to sleep for all of our children—TFA aims its laser of excellence on what we have plenty of: lazy teachers who confess to only working half-time and should be displaced. Think about it. The federal government would have to spend untold billions to deal seriously with poverty and its ills. Instead, taxpayers are only on the hook for the hundreds of millions that TFA gets to remind us that poverty is merely an excuse.

2. Teach for America makes teaching chill. Too many of our public schools are stuffed with educators who not only produce low standardized test scores but may even believe in some measure of human beings beyond numbers. That’s why we owe Teach for America a big thanks for making teaching chill by filling the ranks of the profession teaching with students from the country’s most pretentious universities, who excel at tests and thus have complete faith in their totalizing worth.What’s more, these chill new TFA recruits have what it takes to keep their cool as the organization achieves its ambitious growth 

School Choice and Common Core: Mortal Enemies - Yahoo News

School Choice and Common Core: Mortal Enemies - Yahoo News:

School Choice and Common Core: Mortal Enemies

Michelle Malkin's column is released once a week.

 

By Michelle MalkinJanuary 31, 2014 3:00 AM

The freedom-enhancing, life-improving power of school choice is more than a theory for me. It's more than a talking points memo or teleprompter speech. Unlike many of the politicians paying lip service to National School Choice Week this week, the issue of expanding educational opportunity and freedom for all is something I live, breathe, practice and witness every day.

My mother was a public school teacher who taught in a majority-minority district in New Jersey for more than two decades. She and my father worked hard to put their own children in a mix of public and private Catholic schools. My own two children have been enrolled in private schools, religious schools and public schools. After a great deal of research, we moved from the East Coast to Colorado to escape the corrupted, dumbed-down curriculum of an overpriced private girls' school.

Life lesson: It's not just government schools that are the problem. Many supposedly "elite" schools indulge in the senseless pedagogical fads that infect monopoly public schools.

Every family in America deserves maximized, customized choices in education. It is the ultimate key to closing that "income inequality" gap the politicos are always gabbling about. Yet, the White House and Democrats beholden to public school unions and their money are the ones blocking the school choice door.

We were blessed to find a community of parents and public school educators in Colorado Springs who embrace high standards, academic excellence and strong character education for students of every race, creed and class

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 2-3-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:

Klcs: Lausd’S Television Station Launches Channel Sharing Experiment

Two L.A. area stations test carriage of each other’s program streams Doug Lung / RF Report | TVTechnology |  http://bit.ly/LskjTl 2.03.2014 10:32AM  ::  CTIA, the Wireless Association, the industry group that represents international wireless telecommunications, announced a pilot channel-sharing project that it called a response to the FCC’s recent request to “demonstrate the technical

by smf / 0min 

DEASY PROVIDES FODDER FOR BOTH SIDES IN LAWSUIT + smf’s 2¢

In Vergara v. California, a groundbreaking trial over teacher job protections, L.A. schools Supt. John Deasy was a star witness — for both sides. By Howard Blume, LA Times | http://lat.ms/1lxac0d "We who hire cannot make a judgment to fire," Supt. John Deasy testified. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times / November 15, 2013) February 2, 2014, 6:58 p.m.  ::  In a groundbreaking trial

1 by smf / 25min

STATE FINDS ERRORS IN L.A. SCHOOLS ’ iPAD MATH LESSONS

  Annie Gilbertson, Education Reporter | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC http://bit.ly/1gGFgse Maya Sugarman/KPCC February 3rd, 2014, 6:01am  ::  The California Department of Education has held off complete state approval for global publishing giant Pearson's Common Core math curriculum until it corrects errors found in every grade. The lessons are the same that

by smf / 0min 

"Berndt swept everybody up into this horror.” – ANOTHER MIRAMONTE CHILD ABUSE CASE EMERGES FROM THE SHADOWS

Obscured by the publicity surrounding teacher Mark Berndt is the case of Martin Springer, whose criminal trial is set to begin this week. By Alan Zarembo, LA Times |  http://lat.ms/1dmhIkt February 2, 2014, 8:32 p.m.   ::  The 2012 child abuse scandal at Miramonte Elementary became the biggest and costliest in the history of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Police said

by smf / 5min hide  //  save

The view from Down Under: iPADS AT SCHOOL, HOW YOUNG IS TOO YOUNG?

  Gadgets on the go by Adam Turner in the Sydney Morning Herald | http://bit.ly/1bVoVZ3 January 31, 2014  ::  More kids than ever set off for school with a tablet in their bag this week. Do they need it? My son started Grade 5 this week. Let's call him Mars, the codename we use when we don't want him to know we're talking about him. Mars was very excited

by smf / 17min

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 2-2-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Nine Lausd Schools Compete In Healthy-Cooking ContestBy Brenda Gazzar, Los Angeles Daily News | http://bit.ly/1bk7Vi8 LAUSD "Cooking Up Change" culinary competition for high school students held at LA Trade Technical College. First place winners from Manual Arts High School are Jenifer Mendez, left ,and Kimberly Sanchez. BBQ Chicken Pizza, Spi

by mike simpson / 24min