3-6-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.:

Christian Mitchell. $100,000 from anti-public school group.

Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Rep. Christian Mitchell’s Anti-Public Education Platform Rep. Christian Mitchell feted by right-wing, anti-public education groups while parents, students and teachers fought abusive school closings CHICAGO – While thousands of parents across Chicago were fighting school closing, reports indicate deep ties between Rep. Christian Mitchell (26th District) and groups committed

by Fred Klonsky / 1h

Ten minute drawing. “You should worry about every child. Not just charter kids,” Rousemary Vega yelled to the Mayor.

by Fred Klonsky / 3min 

The state union leadership supported Dillard. Throwing good money after bad.

In the weeks and days since the IEA, IFT (minus the CTU) and AFSCME endorsed Kirk Dillard for Governor, Bruce Rauner’s lead has increased by 4% according to just released polls. Dillard stands at 14%. Unless there is video tape of Bruce Rahmer actually stabbing a nursing home patient to death (which I wouldn’t rule out completely), he will be the Republican candidate in the general election. It ju

by Fred Klonsky / 9min hide  //  save

Dissolving the Illinois charter commission.

  Greg Richmond, ALEC’s man on the Illiinois Charter Commission. Several years ago the Illinois General Assembly established the Illinois Charter Commission. The commission has the power to over-rule local communities and school district boards of education in awarding charters to the growing number of privately operated but publicly financed schools. A requirement to sit on the board is that you

by Fred Klonsky / 48min 

Illinois is not too broke to give Exelon a handout.

  Illinois is broke cry the corporate Civic Committee CEO’s when they dine over their three martini lunches. Illinois is broke explains Ty Fahner as he secretly meets with the bond rating agencies that then go and lower that state and city ratings, putting pressure on the legislature to cut promised public employee pensions. Which is then what the legislature does, as in Senate Bill 1. But when a

by Fred Klonsky / 1h 

TRS’s missing pension checks.

I received word yesterday that there might be as many as 5,000 retired members of the Teacher Retirement System who did not receive their March 1st check. On Friday all TRS members were notified that because March 1st fell on a Saturday, our checks would not be posted to our accounts until the 3rd if we used automatic electronic deposit. Of the over 100,000 retirees, roughly 5,000 still receive th

by Fred Klonsky / 2h  

3-5-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Tim Furman’s Red AlertThe Chicago Teachers Union did NOT endorse Kirk Dillard.From the Chicago Teachers Union: CHICAGO—While the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) has endorsed Republican gubernatorial hopeful Sen. Kirk Dillard in the upcoming primary, the Chicago Teachers Union Local 1 (CTU) has n

by mike simpson / 9h 

3-6-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE:

Here It Is: The NPE Common Core Panel Video

I plan to write a reflection on my NPE Common Core panel experience. However, allow me to first post this 40-minute video, which, I am guessing, includes each panelists’ opening remarks prior to the 30-minute question and answer segment. Each panelist was afforded seven minutes to speak, in the following order: AFT President Randi Weingarten speaks first; […]

19 by deutsch29 / 41min 

Equipping Florida Parents to Expose Jeb Bush’s Florida Education “Miracle”

The purpose of this post is to provide a brief summary for Florida parents regarding the failure of the spectrum of so-called education “reforms” introduced and advanced by former Governor Jeb Bush (1999 – 2007). I have written this brief, two-page “talking points” Word doc to complement the contents of this post. Thus, parents can use the “talking […]

by deutsch29 / 6min 

Another brief word on civility in the #edreform debates

I know I’ve commented on this before, so I’ll keep this brief. Within debates for and against corporate education reform, corporate reformers often respond to passionate debate with complaints. “Ouch, you’re attacking me.” “That’s an ad hominem attack, sir, that’s just morbidly ad hominem.” Folks like to throw that word ad hominem around. It’s almost […]

1 by Shaun Johnson / 22min 

@thechalkface | MX2 Media

@thechalkface | MX2 Media: MX2 Media is proud to announce the launch of @thechalkface – a new, weekly, one-hour talk show dedicated to education. @thechalkface is the only talk on the radio about education by educators.@the chalkface is known for its commitment to the hard facts with a humorous twist. Hosts Tim Slekar and Shaun Johnsoncover the biggest “real” issues in education. @the chalkface ha

by mike simpson / 12h 

SAT Reboot 2016: “Nonsense It All Is”

SAT Reboot 2016: “Nonsense It All Is”. via SAT Reboot 2016: “Nonsense It All Is”.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical

5 by plthomasedd / 3h hide  //  save

Thomas: Don’t link teacher pay to student test scores

Thomas: Don’t link teacher pay to student test scoresFiled under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical

4 by plthomasedd / 4h 

3-5-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE: The Conversation: Moving ‘quality’ teachers between schools will not help disadvantaged childrenMoving ‘quality’ teachers between schools will not help disadvantaged childrenFiled under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical Tagged: disadvantaged children5 by plthomasedd / 3h hide  //  saveYESTERDAYYou don’t know the meaning of #dontbackdownI’m pretty angry.  Yesterday, I was on a panel

by mike simpson / 10h 

3-6-14 V.A.M.: Value Added Measure

V.A.M.: Value Added Measure:

Warning! Danger! Risk of Educational Brain Damage !

by Adam Bergstein / 4h hide  //  save

Charles Dickens' Girl #20 in Hard Times , a.k.a., Sissy Jupe

Lessons Gleaned about Current Educational Reform from Charles Dickens Hard Times opens with the following passage of Mr. Gradagrind: "NOW, what I want is, Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else. You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon Facts: nothing else will ever be of any service t

by Adam Bergstein / 4h

Doing a Snow Job On Educators: The V.A.M. Sham As It Relates to the Weather

V.A.M.: Value Added Measure: Doing a Snow Job On Educators: The V.A.M. Sham As It Relates to the WeatherOriginally, there was a large storm predicted for NYC today.  The meteorologists kept scaling down numbers until the storm diminished into something that could not even close schools on Long Island, let alone in Manhattan. Since I find some value in the Tao, I will simply go with the flow; but,

by mike simpson / 9h 

3-6-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University)

the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University):

REVIEW: eleanor & park

children guessed(but only a few and down they forgot as up they grew “[anyone lived in a pretty how town],” e. e. cummings I cried on the first page of eleanor & park by Rainbow Rowell. eleanor & park, Rainbow Rowell But to be perfectly honest, I am a crier, and that may not be my most compelling argument for this disturbingly beautiful novel. I agree, however, with John Green: But I have

by plthomasedd / 1min 

SAT Reboot 2016: “Nonsense It All Is”

In the often cited scene near the end of Notting Hill when Anna Scott stands in William Thacker’s shabby book store and asks him to love her, few are likely to recall a key point made by Anna. But let’s imagine for a moment that instead of trying to save her relationship with William, Anna returns to the store to talk to him about the plan to reboot the SAT in 2016, and instead of the “I’m just a

35 by plthomasedd / 3h hide  //  save

Thomas: Don’t link teacher pay to student test scores

Thomas: Don’t link teacher pay to student test scores 

1 by plthomasedd / 4h 

3-5-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University)

3-6-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School:

Cuomo Says "Legislative" Fix For Charter School Co-Locations In The Works

For a guy who doesn't do education policy, Governor Andrew Cuomo sure does involve himself in an awful lot of education policy:ALBANY -- Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Thursday that a legislative solution which could provide “co-location” of charter schools within traditional public schools is being discussed with legislative leaders. Cuomo’s comments came a day after Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver qu

by reality-based edu... / 20min 

It's All About Size For Cuomo

From the NY Times:ALBANY — In his first two months in office, Mayor Bill de Blasio has found himself repeatedly at odds with New York’s governor, Andrew M. Cuomo. And at every turn, Governor Cuomo has not only stymied the mayor, but also seized the moment for his own gain.As the mayor has pushed for a tax increase on New York City’s wealthiest residents, the governor has turned the tables and talk

by reality-based edu... / 12min 

Capital NY: Cuomo May Broker Deal Using Teacher Evaluation "Flexibility" For Extra Charter School Funds

From Eliza Shapiro at Capital NY:Governor Andrew Cuomo offered few specifics when he pledged to "save charter schools" at a massive rally on Tuesday, beyond promising "financial capacity, physical space and the government's support."But as Mayor Bill de Blasio begins to follow through on his promise to rethink co-locations and free rent for charters, Cuomo is actually in a posi

by reality-based edu... / 1h hide  //  save

Daily News Says De Blasio Wants Health Care Concessions In Return For Raises

But it's not really a raise if you get a 4% salary increase but have to pay 25% of your family's health care cost, is it? In his high-stakes contract talks with city unions, Mayor de Blasio is pressing for healthcare savings in exchange for pay raises, the mayor’s budget director told the City Council on Wednesday. “We’re going to treat the workforce with the respect that they have not been treate

by reality-based edu... / 3h  

3-5-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School: Comptroller Stringer Says NYC Will Have Extra $510 Million In Budget Than Predicted - Can Be Used To Settle ContractsFrom the Wall Street Journal:New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer is predicting an extra $510 million in revenue in next year's budget, a windfall that he fears could be eclipsed by the sum needed to settle the city's open labor contracts. Mr. Stringer, wh

by mike simpson / 10h 

3/6/2014 – Standoff Over Testing:

3/6/2014 – Standoff Over Testing

March 6, 2014 Subscribe

THIS WEEK: Open Education Didn’t Fail … Community Schools Work … Switching Schools Hurts Kids … States Cut Education Despite More Students … Flunking Kids Adds To Discipline Woes

TOP STORY

Options In The Standoff Over Test-Based Education Policy

By Jeff Bryant

“What we have is a standoff over testing as the chief means to determine the fate of the nation’s schools, its teachers, and indeed the well being of the vast majority of American school children. As in every standoff, someone eventually has to give … The dissenting crowd is providing some possible answers: slow-downs or moratoriums, Congressional hearings, something more valid. But “More of the same” isn’t one of the options.”
Read more …

NEWS AND VIEWS

Why We Think 1970s Open Education Failed, And Considering What The Truth Really Is…

SpEd Change

Special Education expert Ira Socol writes, “Whereas in 1960 US classrooms … were generally a one-size-fits-all environment … by the late 1970s many, many students were experiencing something quite different … Open education, the open classroom and the schools-without-walls, succeeded … In terms of expanding opportunity, no period can touch the years between 1965 and 1985, the high water mark of alternative education and humanistic educational theories. The mixture of changed pedagogies, racial integration, and aggressive anti-poverty efforts … altered, fundamentally, the achievement gap.”
Read more …

Research Review Gives Thumbs Up To Community Schools Approach

Education Week

“A study … concludes that research and theory support the concept of community schools that seek to boost academic performance by offering mentoring, counseling, healthcare, and other wraparound services that extend well beyond the classroom … The report contains both a review of past research and an original analysis suggesting that myriad school, home, and student-related factors influence academic achievement … The review also found that that wraparound interventions were cost-effective, with returns on investments ranging from $4 to $15 saved for every $1 spent.”
Read more …

Switching Schools Frequently Linked With Mental Health Problems In Kids (STUDY)

The Huffington Post

A new study found, ” Kids who frequently change schools are more likely to hear voices, have delusions and experience other symptoms linked with psychosis in adolescence … Children who switched schools more than three times were 60% more likely to have such symptoms at age 12, compared with kids who made fewer school moves up to this age … It’s possible that the feeling of being an outsider is so stressful that it primes the brain for future mental illness.”
Read more …

States That Spend The Least On Students Set To Grow The Most

Education Writers Association

“New projections on student enrollment from the federal government hint at the financial pressure many states will face as their student populations rise … The states expected to grow the most also are among those that spend the least per student … While states in the Northeast tend to spend more per pupil, student populations in that region are set to stay flat … The Southwest and Southern states expected to grow the most will have to ramp up spending on students just to keep per-pupil spending flat.”
Read more …

Duke Study: Discipline Problems Increase When Students Repeat A Grade

Raleigh News & Observer

“A new study by researchers at Duke University documented a ripple effect of behavioral problems in middle schools where higher numbers of students repeated a grade … In schools with high numbers of students who repeated a grade, there were more suspensions, substance abuse problems, fights and classroom disruptions. Researchers say the study indicates the decision to hold students back can have negative consequences for their classmates … Educators tend to focus on how individual students fare when they are held back. Just as important may be the question of how that decision affects other children … Critics of social promotion have advocated holding struggling students back … The downside is trouble with behavior.”
Read more …

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Big shake-out in the test-prep industry predicted as SAT is revamped

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Big shake-out in the test-prep industry predicted as SAT is revamped:

Big shake-out in the test-prep industry predicted as SAT is revamped

The College Board is going to "radically revamp" the SAT — with the goal of putting SAT test prep companies out of business and aligning the test to the Common Core academic standards. But as long as Common Core is chained to high-stakes standardized testing, test-prep will continue to trump authentic classroom teacher and assessment.

According to Politico,

The overhaul reflects deep concern — among students, parents, teachers and college admissions officers — that the SAT did not fairly reflect the work teenagers did in school. It stems as well from a concern that the proliferation of pricey SAT tutoring services gave the wealthy a leg up over the meritorious.

 In a step toward that goal, College Board Pres. David Coleman announced a partnership with Khan Academy to provide free, online test prep materials — including thousands of practice problems and instructional videos. The College Board plans to train tutors and counselors to help students from low-income households to access the online test prep.

FairTest not impressed...Public Education Director Bob Schaeffer says,

“Providing free SAT prep is laudable, but it already exists through