6-12-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:

Seattle Schools Releases 2014-2015 Budget

Haven't read thru this myself but here's the SPS budget for next year.From SPS:Seattle Public Schools on June 11 released the proposed budget for the next school year, which includes funding for educating more than 52,000 students and operating 97 schools.The proposed $689 million General Fund budget and $214 million Capital Fund budget will go to the School Board for introduction on June 18 and a

by Melissa Westbrook / 50min 

Two Major Education News Stories

One story comes from California where a California superior court overturned laws related to the employment of teachers and, specifically, the use of tenure.  The other is the defeat of the House Majority Leader, Rep. Eric Cantor.The tenure story is somewhat akin to the story on Common Core.  Whatever your views on standards (CC) or whatever your views on teacher tenure (California), how we all go

by Melissa Westbrook / 40min 

Things That Make You Go, Hmmm

There is an Audit and Finance Committee meeting today at 4:30 p.m.  Wish I could attend but I have an event.  Here's the agenda which has some interesting items:- adoption of the 2014-2015 budget book.  This might be interesting since the pick of MIF for K-5 Math adoption.  Of course, until a contract is executed, no one truly knows how much MIF will cost the district.  They had, according to thei

by Melissa Westbrook / 59min 

Math Pathways, Middle School, and Equitable Access

The District has claimed that equitable access to quality programs and services for all students is important to them. They say that, but where are the efforts to provide equitable access beyond the flowery talk?In one step towards equitable access the District math department has standardized math placement in middle school. All of our comprehensive middle schools use the same assessment and make

by Charlie Mas / 3h hide  //  save

YESTERDAY

Garfield and Roosevelt - Top 10 for WA State Honors Award

From SPS Communications:Garfield and Roosevelt high schools are ranked in the top 10 for students receiving the Washington State Honors Award. Garfield is ranked 8th and Roosevelt is ranked 9th – tied with Brainbridge High School.The Washington State Honors Award Program honors the top 10 percent of the current year's graduating class from Washington state.To qualify for the award a student must r

by Melissa Westbrook / 9h 

Charter Schools Ed News Roundup

Great National Education Policy Center (NEPC) paper called "Wait, wait. Don't Mislead Me!  Nine Reasons to be skeptical about charter waitlist numbers." So the next time you hear some huge number of kids are on charter school waitlists, remember these.In brief:Students apply to multiple charter schoolsWaitlist numbers cannot be confirmedWaitlist record-keeping is slipshot and unreliableM

by Melissa Westbrook / 9h 

6-11-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Odds and Ends on Math AdoptionThe Times finally got around to writing an article on this issue.  I didn't really like their take on it but I'm not surprised that it is made to sound like the cost was the main issue.  The article said that MIF is "nearly twice as expensive" as enVision but forgot to say that was based on the staff's reading of it.  The art

by mike simpson / 30min 

Karen Lewis explains actual TENURE as she speaks truth to power | Reclaim Reform

Karen Lewis explains actual TENURE as she speaks truth to power | Reclaim Reform:

Karen Lewis explains actual TENURE as she speaks truth to power

Posted on June 12, 2014by Ken Previti

Tenure has never meant that a teacher cannot be fired in grades K-12. Tenure never was and still isn’t a job for life. Tenure for American K-12 teachers means due process – no more, no less. It prevents demi-gods, tyrants and extremists from firing a teacher for no valid reason. Tenure assures the finest standards for quality public education for all children by qualified teachers.

Here is Chicago Teachers Union President telling the truth, in minutes, and exposing the lies and destruction caused by the miscarriage of justice with the California ruling by a misguided judge regarding teacher tenure.

Karen Lewis

All the teacher scapegoating packaged and sold by the billionaire corporate education reform investors and hedge fund managers is propaganda. The financial takeover of public education is a horrendous experiment on our children for the profit of the wealthy, not the merely affluent, the wealthy individuals who are destroying American middle class communities for their private profit.

Karen Lewis needs national air-time to speak truth to power.Please pass along her video from the You Tube link. We all need to help make her message go viral.

By the way, the power is one man, billionaire David Welch, who stands to make more billions through his teacher replacing education tech corporations. He sells testing, programs, online requirements for passing from grade to grade and graduation and all the other dehumanizing technology that will need expensive access and updating for as long as his brand of technology lasts before it is replaced by new technology.

6-12-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL:

Resources For The World Day Against Child Labor — It’s Today

June 12th is recognized by the United Nations as The World Day Against Child Labor. You might be interested in The Best Resources For The World Day Against Child Labor.

by Larry Ferlazzo / 31min hide  //  save

June’s Best Tweets — Part Two

Every month I make a few short lists highlighting my choices of the best resources I through (and learned from) Twitter, but didn’t necessarily include them in posts here on my blog. I’ve already shared in earlier posts several new resources I found on Twitter — and where I gave credit to those from whom I learned about them. Those are not included again in post. If you don’t use Twitter, you can

by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h

What Are You Going To Do Differently Next Year?

Our school year ended an hour ago, and I can’t think of a better time to think about what I’m going to do differently next year! A few years ago, I wrote an Education Week column (What Are Your New School-Year Resolutions?) offering similar year-end reflections for the next year and invited readers to contribute their own, and would like to do the same here. If I’m feeling ambitious, I’ll conside

by Larry Ferlazzo / 12min 

The Day After The “Vergara” Decision: Here Are More Thoughtful Reflections From Around The Web

Here are some more thoughtful reflections on yesterday’s Vergara decision that I’m adding to California Court Rules It’s All The Teachers’ Fault: Informed Student Advocates Pursue Reforms that, Unlike Vergara v. California, Actually Address Inequity is by Ben Spielberg. Making it easier to fire teachers won’t get you better ones is by Jack Schneider. Last Dance of the Lemons is by EduShyster. “S

by Larry Ferlazzo / 9h hide  //  save

More TOK & ELL Student Instagram Videos

I’ve previously shared how I experimented with having both my IB Theory of Knowledge students and my English Language Learners create Instagram videos as part of their finals. I’ve since gotten a chance to upload more of them, and you can see the TOK ones at our TOK class blog and more at our ELL class blog. Here are a few examples: Here’s a fun one my TOK students created and, unbeknownst to me,

by Larry Ferlazzo / 11h 

6-11-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Videos: “Anderson Cooper Tries A Schizophrenia Simulator”I’m adding these videos to The Best Sites For Walking In Someone Else’s Shoes:by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h hide  //  saveYESTERDAYResources For World Refugee DayWorld Refugee Day takes place on June 20th. You might be interested in The Best Sites For Learning About World Re

by mike simpson / 30min 

6-12-14 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.:

Illinois teachers have already lost most of their tenure protection.

Today we received an email from Illinois Education Association attorney Mitch Roth. Mitch, who I not only consider a friend but also a most able and helpful labor lawyer, does not set policy for the IEA. On Tuesday, a California trial court issued the attached tentative decision in Vergara, the case regarding the constitutionality of various state tenure-related laws (in 30 days the decision will

by Fred Klonsky / 5min hide  //  save

Ten minute drawing. Vote for Quinn/Vallas or we will be like Wisconsin.

by Fred Klonsky / 5min 

Democrats.

Representative Lou Lang. The most telling part of our interaction with north suburban politicians yesterday was how cynical they were. All four of them. Senator Dan Biss and Representatives Robyn Gabel, Laura Fine and Lou Lang. Democrats all. This all took place at the IPACE endorsement hearings. The results of the votes taken will be announced later after state IPACE concurrence, which is expect

6 by Fred Klonsky / 21min

Karen Lewis. The California tenure decision. “The moguls are drinking champagne.”

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9Fb1lsn6i4&feature=youtu.be}

4 by Fred Klonsky / 2h 

6-11-14 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.: “It’s done!” said State Representative Robyn Gabel.State Representative and pension thief Robyn Gabel. “It’s done!” said State Representative Robyn Gabel to the two dozen or so local representatives at the IPACE endorsement hearings this morning. The words had that tone of, “Get over it. Move on.”  Li

by mike simpson / 0min 

Vergara Decision Is Latest Attempt to Blame Teachers and Weaken Public Education | Diane Ravitch

Vergara Decision Is Latest Attempt to Blame Teachers and Weaken Public Education | Diane Ravitch:

Vergara Decision Is Latest Attempt to Blame Teachers and Weaken Public Education

Judge Rolf M. Treu, who decided the Vergara case, declared that he was shocked -- shocked! -- to learn from Professor Raj Chetty and Professor Thomas Kane of Harvard about the enormous harm that one "grossly ineffective" teacher can do to a child's lifetime earnings or to their academic gains.

How did he define "grossly ineffective" teacher? He didn't. How did these dreadful teachers get tenure? Clearly, some grossly incompetent principal must have granted it to them. What was the basis -- factual or theoretical -- that the students would have had high scores if their teachers did not have the right to due process? He didn't say.

The theory behind the case -- as I see it -- is that low test scores are caused by bad teachers. Get rid of the bad teachers, replace them with average teachers, and all students will get high test scores. You might call it the judicial version of No Child Left Behind -- that is, pull the right policy levers -- say, testing and accountability, or eliminate tenure -- and every single child in America will be proficient by 2014. Congress should hang its collective head in shame for having passed that ridiculous law, yet it still sits on the books as the scorned, ineffective, toxic law of the land.

Judge Treu was also regurgitating the unproven claims behind Race to the Top, specifically that using test scores to evaluate teachers will make it possible to weed out "bad teachers," recruit and reward top teachers, and test scores will rise to the top. Given this theory, a concept like tenure (due process) slows down the effort to fire those "grossly ineffective" teachers and delays the day when every student is proficient.

Relying on Chetty and Kane, Judge Treu is quite certain that the theory of universal proficiency is correct. Thus, in his thinking, it becomes a matter of urgency -- a civil rights issue -- to eliminate tenure and any other legal protection for teachers, leaving principals free to fire them promptly, without delay or hindrance.

Set aside for the moment that this decision lacks any evidentiary basis. Another judge might have heard the same parade of witnesses and reached a different conclusion.

Bear in mind that the case will be appealed to a higher court, and will continue to be appealed until there is no higher court.

It is not unreasonable to believe that the California Teachers Association might negotiate a different tenure process with the legislature, perhaps a requirement of three years probationary status instead of two.

The one thing that does seem certain is that, contrary to the victory claims of hedge fund managers and right-wing editorial writers, no student will gain anything as a result of this decision. Millions more dollars will be spent to litigate the issues in Vergara Decision Is Latest Attempt to Blame Teachers and Weaken Public Education | Diane Ravitch:

Gates Foundation urges delay in using tests for teacher evaluation - The Washington Post

Gates Foundation urges delay in using tests for teacher evaluation - The Washington Post:

Gates Foundation urges delay in using tests for teacher evaluation

BY LYNDSEY LAYTON June 10

The Obama administration is resisting mounting calls for a moratorium on using student test scores to evaluate teachers, students and schools.

On Tuesday, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has invested more than $200 million to create, support and implement the Common Core State Standards, said states should hold off from using new standardized tests aligned to the Common Core to evaluate teacher performance.

The foundation joined the two largest teachers unions in calling for a two-year moratorium while students, teachers and school systems adjust to the new standards.

“The standards need time to work,” Vicki Phillips, who heads the foundation’s K-12 program, wrote in an open letter. “Teachers need time to develop lessons, receive more training, get used to the new tests, and offer their feedback. Applying assessment scores to evaluations before these pieces are developed would be like measuring the speed of a runner based on her time — without knowing how far she ran, what obstacles were in the way, or whether the stopwatch worked!”

The Obama administration, which has championed the use of student scores to evaluate teachers, rejected the idea.

Read the letter

A top official with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation urged states to delay using Common Core test results to evaluate teacher performance.Read it.

“A blanket moratorium is not the best approach — just as a one-size-fits-all timeline is not the best solution,” said Dorie Nolt, a U.S. Department of Education spokeswoman. “We believe the most thoughtful approach is to work state-by-state to see what support each state will need, and not to stop the progress states have already made, or slow down states and educators Gates Foundation urges delay in using tests for teacher evaluation - The Washington Post:

The Neighborhood Council’s Mandate – redqueeninla

The Neighborhood Council’s Mandate – redqueeninla:

The Neighborhood Council’s Mandate

Written by redqueeninla in COLA, Culver City

Where do plebs find power?

When a corporation moves into town does the community have any recourse? After all, if they own land or a business, what right does the community have to what happens with another’s land, the company’s business prerogative, their right to make money?

We are a Democracy wherein political power is supposed to be in the control of We The People. And yet our economic and political system is Capitalism wherein, according to the New Oxford American Dictionary, “trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state”.

How then can Capitalism and Democracy coexist?

On the westside two recent incidents surrounding iconic community businesses epitomize this competition between public and private interests. While it is true that business is money and capital is apparently the fuel of our social order, why is it that the public’s interest is just ceded when there is competition? Is the interest of capital inherently more worthy than the interest of the people, or is it simply more powerful? Business has the power of its large purse, whichinfluences elected officials unduly; who will represent the interests of the people?

Ans: We have a system setup for representing ourselves. LA’s Neighborhood Councils are perfectly positioned to represent us, the task remains to translate representation into power. But we need to start by seizing the prerogative of our communities. Our Communities are competing with the interests of Capital, and we have a right to a seat at the table discussing our community needs. We the people are avowedly terrible at turning out to vote for our representation, but at least at the grass roots, our electeds should assert as axiomatic, that our community has standing.

By way of precedent, consider that In Culver City a property that housed a local, family-run ice rink for half of a century was purchased by a rock climbing company from San Francisco and forced to vacate. Generations of childrenThe Neighborhood Council’s Mandate – redqueeninla:

Another Parable: Remember The Eyes Of The Beholder

Years ago my college roommate embarked on a several-months-long exercise mooning over a guy whom I, her roommate, was treated to endless melting expositions regarding his exquisite qualities. Imagine my own excitement when following the amazing happenstance of their actually meeting and liking one another, I was at last allowed to meet this paragon. And now just try to envision my own existential

8h 

Vergara Decision Blames Teachers, Ignores Injustices for Students in Poorest Communities | janresseger

Vergara Decision Blames Teachers, Ignores Injustices for Students in Poorest Communities | janresseger:

Vergara Decision Blames Teachers, Ignores Injustices for Students in Poorest Communities

Posted on June 12, 2014 by janresseger

Earlier this week California Superior Court Judge Rolf Treu struck down tenure and seniority protections for California’s K-12 school teachers.  This is the case of Vergara v. California.  The plaintiffs have said they will appeal.  According to Stephanie Simon, writing for Politico, “Judge Treu has tentatively decided to let the laws stay in effect pending that appeal… Judge Treu’s ruling is preliminary; he will take comments from both sides into account before issuing a final ruling within the next month.”

Nobody wants bad teachers in California’s classrooms or the classrooms in any other state.  On this particular issue Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, declared she agrees with Judge Treu: “He argues, as we do, that no one should tolerate bad teachers in the classroom.  He is right on that.”

Treu’s decision explains that tenure protects bad teachers, that bad teachers are more often assigned to the schools serving California’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged students, and that the assignment of bad teachers (protected by tenure and seniority rights) violates the students’ civil rights under the equal protection clause of the state constitution. “Substantial evidence presented makes it clear to this Court that the challenged Statutes disproportionately affect poor and/or minority students.”

In his decision, Judge Treu quotes expert witnesses whose numbers are stunning. In one case the judge seems to have extrapolated from what he heard—from expert David Berliner, who is described to have “testified that 1–3 % of teachers in California are grossly ineffective.”  Treu continues, “Given that the evidence showed roughly 275,000 active teachers in this state, the extrapolated number of grossly ineffective teachers ranges from 2,750 to 8,250.”  The exact number of ineffective teachers is, of course, speculative.  Treu also quotes Harvard economist, Raj Chetty, who has authored an econometric report on the impact of bad teachers on students’ lives.  Treu writes, “Based on a massive study, Dr. Chetty testified that a single year in a classroom with a grossly ineffective teacher costs students $1.4 million in lifetime earnings Vergara Decision Blames Teachers, Ignores Injustices for Students in Poorest Communities | janresseger: