LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-4-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all:

Worst “Report” Yet

This is the most absurd “report” yet. This organization says that the U.S. does not have an “efficient” school system. Finland has the most efficient school system. What can we do to become more efficient? Cut teachers’ salaries and increase class size. Funny, when I visited Finland in 2011, I saw many classes, none larger than 16. Teachers’ pay is equivalent to U.S. pay. “The Efficiency Index –

3 by dianeravitch / 1h 

Florida DOE to Districts: Don’t Dare to Opt Out of State Tests

When local school board members in Lee County and Palm Beach County began talking about opting the entire district out of state testing, the state warned them they would face punishment if they dared. “But the district better be prepared to pay the price of skipping the new exam — quite literally. Skip the exam and the state is likely to withhold money. “The ramifications could be pretty dramatic

6 by dianeravitch / 44min 

New York: Parent and Educator Groups Blast Cuomo

A large coalition of parent and educator groups in New York State developed a scorecard for voters in the Democratic primary on September 9 and the general elections in November. They concluded that Governor Andrew Cuomo was the candidate likeliest to support privatization of public education. Here is their press release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: More information contact: Eric Mihelbergel (716) 55

4 by dianeravitch / 1h hide  //  save

Louisiana: Judge Orders Superintendent to Release Cut Score Information

A district court judge in Baton Rouge ordered State Superintendent John White to release information about setting cut scores. Veteran educator Mike Deshotels posted this on his blog: “Breaking News: On Thursday, August 28, Judge Bob Downing of the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge ordered State Superintendent John White and the LDOE to produce detailed information about the setting of

12 by dianeravitch / 2h 

Jersey Jazzman: Is “One Newark” Racist?

This post by Jersey Jazzman is part of a dialogue about Cami Anderson’s “One Newark” plan to close public schools and open charter schools in their place, without consulting with the school board or the community. Mark Weber, aka Jersey Jazzman, asks, whether the plan is racist? Does it have a disparate impact on black students and black teachers? Jersey Jazzman says yes.

4 by dianeravitch / 4h 

Anthony Cody: What Marc Tucker Gets Wrong

Anthony Cody was not heartened by Marc Tucker’s vision of a new accountability system with fewer tests. In this post, he explains why. If ever there was a need for close reading, he believes, this is it. Cody writes: “Tucker’s plan is confusing. In a proposal in which accountability remains closely tied to a set of high stakes tests, Tucker cites the “Failure of Test-based Accountability,” and

by dianeravitch / 22min hide  //  save

Tom Moran Responds to New Jersey Bloggers about One Newark

Tom Moran, chief editorial writer for the Star-Ledger of New Jersey, responds here to the open letter written by three New Jersey bloggers, posted on their sites, and at blue jersey.com. Here is Jersey Jazzman’s reply to Moran. Moran was offended by the tone of the bloggers’ letter to him. The bloggers are offended by Cami Anderson’s One Newark” plan, which seeks to charterize large numbers of Ne

2 by dianeravitch / 52min 

The Politico Top 50

Thank you to Politico magazine for naming me one of the Top 50 political figures whose ideas are making a difference. The bio says “For standing up for teachers, not tests.” I am honored to be in such illustrious company!

2 by dianeravitch / 10min hide  //  save

Marc Tucker Calls for a New Accountability System

Marc Tucker writes that we test students more than any of the high-performing nations in the world. Here is a graph that demonstrates the differences. Tucker proposed a new accountability system for the U.S. that puts us more in line with common practice. Here are his key points: “The ideas outlined by Marc Tucker in Fixing Our National Accountability System signify a departure from conventiona

by dianeravitch / 24min 

Troy A. LaRiviere: How Chicago Neighborhood Schools Outperformed Charter Schools

Troy A. LaRaviere is principal at Blaine Elementary School. In this article in the Chicago Sun-Times, he explains how the city’s public schools got higher test scores than the city’s well-funded, politically favored charter schools. To my knowledge, the Chicago Tribune–a cheerleader for charters– has not reported this story, nor has Mayor Rahm Emanuel acknowledged it. Please let me know if I am wr

25 by dianeravitch / 1h 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-3-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: FairTest: Resistance to Over-Testing Grows NationwideHere is FairTest’s weekly roundup of resistance to test mania: This week’s biggest assessment reform news was the vote to “opt out” of state-mandated standardized exams by the Lee County, Florida School Board. Though that was the most dramatic action so far this school year, we a

by mike simpson / 29min 

9-4-14 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.:

Judge Belz on pension theft ruling. “The faster the better.”

Judge Belz is the Sangamon County judge who is hearing the pension theft case. Speaking at today’s status hearing he said that the Illinois Supreme Court’s Kanerva ruling that upheld the constitutional prohibition against diminishing or impairing pension obligations will be a factor in his ruling on the legality of SB1. And he thinks he will rule before the first of the year. The State Journal-Re

3 by Fred Klonsky / 1h hide  //  save

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky talks to our group of retired teachers.

2 by Fred Klonsky / 1h 

NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia talks testing turkey with Obama.

New NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia. NPR Ed: A former elementary school teacher from Utah took the reins of the nation’s largest teachers union this week. As president of the National Education Association, Lily Eskelsen Garcia represents nearly 3 million teachers. Her No. 1 one priority? As she puts it: “Roll back standardized testing before it does more damage than good.” The NEA has been cr

10 by Fred Klonsky / 3h 

Fight for 15.

1 by Fred Klonsky / 5min hide  //  save

Robin Potter. Karen Lewis at the National Lawyers Guild.

- Chicago activist and attorney Robin Potter sends this: The National Lawyers Guild is holding its national convention starting Thursday in Chicago. The NLG is a pivotal progressive organization of lawyers and legal advocates, and provides legal defense at mass rallies and demos, including during the CTU strike and our marches. The NLG honored our many CTU lawyers at its annual dinner in 2013. I h

by Fred Klonsky / 59min 

Rahm’s paid “volunteers.”

Karen Lewis comes to Logan Square tomorrow. Training for her volunteers starts Saturday. The problem for Rahm is that Chicago politics is not like it was in the old days. When Dick Mell ran this ward, if you wanted a job with the city you had to “volunteer” to, among other things, collect signatures for Da Mayor. Or buy tickets to fund raisers. Or work election day. It wasn’t direct pay. It was m

1 by Fred Klonsky / 1h 

9-3-14 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.: The Napa Wine Club is worth two years of my pension. Rauner and Quinn think I get too much.11 by Fred Klonsky / 3h Retired teachers are not just about pensions. We had a lively charter discussion.This blogger, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and S.O.R.E. organizer, Harriet Sheeley. We often discuss polit

1 by mike simpson / 1h

9-4-14 Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"

Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement":

Interesting Idea: “Digital Parent Volunteers”

Here’s an interesting idea from George Couros: You might also be interested in The Best Sources Of Parent Engagement Advice For Teachers.

5 by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h hide  //  save

“A Checklist for Back to School Night”

A Checklist for Back to School Night is a useful post for every teacher. It’s by Heather Wolpert-Gawron and appeared in Edutopia.

3 by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h 

“Parents’ ability to track student grades, attendance by smartphone has growing app-eal”

Parents’ ability to track student grades, attendance by smartphone has growing app-eal is a new article in the Sacramento Bee about the growing popularity of mobile apps by schools for parents and students. You might also be interested in A Beginning List Of The Best Resources On Using Technology To Help Engage Parents.

4 by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h 

“NY City schools will push for more ‘family connections,’ parent involvement, Chancellor Carmen Fariña says”

City schools will push for more ‘family connections,’ parent involvement, Chancellor Carmen Fariña says is the headline of a New York Daily News article. Here’s are some excerpts: Family engagement at schools will be getting an overhaul, the city schools boss tells the Daily News. Changes include longer one-on-one parent-teacher conferences, workshops for parents and support for GED and English as

2 by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h 

9-4-14 Wait What? - For whom the bell tolls…

Wait What?:

For whom the bell tolls…

With Election Day less than nine weeks away, Connecticut teachers, parents and public school advocates continue to wait for an indication as to whether any of the candidates for governor will truly stand up against the tide of the corporate education reform industry, including their absurd, unfair and expensive Common Core testing scheme. Tens of […] The post For whom the bell tolls… appeared firs

14 by jonpelto / 1h 

9-3-14 Wait What? - Foley and Malloy are just plain wrong on taxes

Wait What?: Foley and Malloy are just plain wrong on taxes[A special note of thanks to all of you who have posted comments and sent emails of support urging me to continue writing posts Wait, What?  While I will continue to mull over the various issues and opportunities, the following is an attempt to gingerly re-enter the fray by using this blog to raise what […] The post Foley and Malloy are jus

by mike simpson / 8min 

9-4-14 Answer Sheet

Answer Sheet:

Strauss: Principal cancels dance to stop students from twerking and blames Miley Cyrus

The principal and dean of students at a high school in Vermont cancelled the fall homecoming dance in an effort to stop students from “twerking” and blamed Miley Cyrus for starting the dance trend with her provocative appearance at the 2103 MTV Video Music Awards. Read full article >>

1 by Valerie Strauss / 17min 

Strauss: Will Common Core double the high school dropout rate?

The nonprofit Carnegie Corporation of New York, which has supported the Common Core State Standards, published a report in 2013 with some startling information that was little noticed in the education world until recently: that the high school dropout rate could double as a result of the Core initiative. Read full article >>

1 by Valerie Strauss / 30min 

No, helicopter parents aren’t ruining kids after all

There is no end to the articles and blog posts about overprotective helicopter parents who won’t let their children do anything for themselves and are raising children who can’t operate independently. There probably are some of these parents — but does the helicopter hysteria match the reality. No, says Alfie Kohn, in the following post. […]

24 by Valerie Strauss / 5h 

9-3-14 Answer Sheet

Answer Sheet: A pledge school reformers should takeEducation historian Larry Cuban notes that no matter what part of the political spectrum school reform originates, reformers keep making the same mistakes, decade in and decade out. What mistakes? Cuban explains in this post. Cuban was a high school social studies teacher for 14 years, a district superintendent (seven years in Arlington, VA), and

by mike simpson / 47min 

9-4-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:

Seattle School Board Comments from Last Night's Meeting

I only watched the Board comments and a bit more of the meeting.  (They moved at lightening speed and I think may have adjourned by 6:30 pm.)  This is NOT coverage of all their comments but just the issue-specific ones that they made.I wish I had heard one Board member say that he or she was committed to following thru on every stated commitment and accountability measure that staff has said.  No

by Melissa Westbrook / 12min 

Reminder: Pre-K Forum Tonight

I meant to get this up as a reminder this morning but the League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County is having a forum on Early Childhood Education tonight.  (They will not be specifically discussing the two propositions that will be on the ballot in November but it may come up during Q&A). Thursday, September 4 at 7:00 PMSeattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Ave, SeattleFree and open

by Melissa Westbrook / 40min hide  //  save

Out of Touch at the Seattle Times

Well, I just finished listening to the Mayor's press conference for the announcement of the new Education and Early Learning department.Is Murray "thinking" about a governance takeover OR has he "considered" it in an abstract way? The press conference video indicates he is aware of what other cities do (he compared the East Coast to the West Coast ) and said that "power is

by Melissa Westbrook / 55min 

Times Urges Mayor Murray to Take Control of the School Board

In one of the most shameful and disrespectfully written editorials I've ever read in the Times, they urge the Mayor and the City Council to make taking over the majority of the Seattle School Board positions a top legislative priority.It's a funny thing because I JUST today wrote the Board about a couple of other issues but warned them of this.  Now we all know there is no love between me and the

1 by Melissa Westbrook / 9h 

9-3-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Title IX UpdateAs you may know, Seattle Public Schools wasn't quite up to snuff on Title IX compliance. The person responsible for Title IX compliance didn't know his responsibilities and, consequently, failed to perform his required duties. When this dreadful situation came to light (with tragic consequences), the District... well, the District didn't do anything

by mike simpson / 1h 

9-4-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

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

Three New — & Good — Guides To Twitter

© 2009 marek.sotak, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio Here are three new excellent guides to Twitter that I’m adding to The Best Resources For Beginning To Learn What Twitter Is All About: Twitter education chats: An astonishing source of professional development is from Scholastic. Twitter Demystified: How To RT, MT, #FF And Fave Like A Pro is from ReadWrite. Go Ahead-Take Control is from EdChatma.

5 by Larry Ferlazzo / 7min 

All The Interviews I’ve Done With Authors Over The Past 3 Years — In One Place!

My latest Ed Week Teacher post brings together all the interviews I’ve done with authors over the past three years. Here’s an excerpt from one:

3 by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h 

9-3-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Video: Iceland VolcanoI’m adding this video to The Best Sites For Learning About Volcanoes:7 by Larry Ferlazzo / 12h hide  //  saveAll My Ed Week Posts On “Relationships” From The Past 3 Years — In One Place!My latest Ed Week Teacher column brings together all my posts there from the past three years on the topic of “relati

by mike simpson / 38min