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

FLUSH Diane Ravitch's blog 

A site to discuss better education for all

Plan to Attend the BATs Annual Conference in Seattle in July!

1by dianeravitch / 45min

If you are a BadAss Teacher, or if you want to be one, or if you want to learn about their activities, you will not want their fourth annual conference in Seattle this summer. BATs will be heading into summer with their 4th Annual Education 

Louisiana: Charter Schools Are the New Vehicle for Racial Segregation

3by dianeravitch / 39min

The Washington Post reports from a town in the Louisiana Delta. VACHERIE, La. — At the new public charter school in this Mississippi River town, nearly all the students are African American. Parents seem unconcerned about that. They just 

“Don’t Like Betsy DeVos? Blame the Democrats”

4by dianeravitch / 27min

I wrote this article for The New Republic. https://newrepublic.com/article/142364/dont-like-betsy-devos-blame-democrats It explains how Democrats set the stage for DeVos’ anything-goes approach to school choice by their advocacy of charter schools. Charters are the gateway to vouchers. We have seen many groups like Democrats for Education Reform try to draw a sharp distinction between charters an

Ohio: Major Newspaper Calls for Charter School Accountability and Transparency

1by dianeravitch / 1h

One of the most heartening developments in recent years is the awakening of major newspapers in Ohio to the massive scandals surrounding their state’s charter industry. These scandals have come about because of the money nexus that connects charter operators and politicians. Charters in Ohio have a dismal academic record, and also a dismal financial record. This happens because the laws were writ

News Flash! Bill Gates Discovers Multiple Intelligences

14by dianeravitch / 2h

To those of us who have been around education for a while, we know that Howard Gardner of Harvard University was first to write about the idea of multiple intelligences. This has been the guiding idea of much of his work, recognizing that some young people are gifted in one area, but not in all areas. All of these intelligences are worthy and should be cultivated. His seminal book, Frames of Mind

Bruce Baker: The Relationship Between States’ Charter Schools and Fiscal Effort

12by dianeravitch / 3h

Bruce Baker at Rutgers University created a valuable graph that shows the relationship between every states’ number of charter schools and its fiscal effort. Some states appear to think that opening charters relieves them of their responsibility to fund public schools. They choose to “reform” by handing schools off to private entrepreneurs, thus relieving the state of the duty to provide adequate

Texas: The Fight Over Vouchers Shifts to the House

6by dianeravitch / 3h

Pastors for Texas Children reports on the voucher battle in Texas. Vouchers were defeated overwhelmingly in the Republican-controlled House a few weeks back, but like a zombie, they have risen from the dead at the insistence of voucher zealot Lt. Governor Dan Patrick. Let’s hope that Speaker of the House Joe Strauss and Dan Huberty, chairman of the House Public Education Committee, both good Repu

YESTERDAY

Trump Budget Seeks Deep Cuts in Medical Research and Disease Prevention

10by dianeravitch / 16h

Just when you think it can’t get worse, out comes another budget proposal that will harm public health. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/05/22/trump-budget-seeks-huge-cuts-to-disease-prevention-and-medical-research-departments/ “President Trump’s 2018 budget request to Congress seeks massive cuts in spending on health programs, including medical research, disease prevent

Politico Reports on Expansion Plans of School Privatization Group

28by dianeravitch / 19h

Politico’s Morning Edition posted this description of 50CAN, the pro-privatization organization that was started by hedge fund managers and big pharma in Connecticut: FIRST IN MORNING EDUCATION: 50CAN’S GROWTH PLAN: The national education reform advocacy group, 50CAN, hopes to hire 1,000 new advocates by the year 2023. That’s a key part of the organization’s new growth plan, the first of its kind

Some DAMPoet on the Best High School in the Nation!

9by dianeravitch / 20h

Our blog poet, who goes by the sobriquet Some DAMPoet (Devalue Added) responded to the story about the rankings of the best high schools in the country, which were notable for their high attrition rates and their selectivity. The very best high school, in one ranking, had only 24 graduates of the 43 that entered ninth grade; the number two high school had only 11 graduates of an entering ninth gr

Alan Singer: Who Is Grading Those High-Stakes Tests?

14by dianeravitch / 21h

Alan Singer pulls back the curtain to reveal the dirty little secret behind the high-stakes exams that determine the fate of teachers, students, administrators, and schools. http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5922bf13e4b0b28a33f62dcd Pearson hires minimally qualified people and pays them by the hour to determine whether you will be humiliated, fired, lose a promotion, or your school will be closed

Peter Greene: What William Sanders Learned About Teachers by Studying Radioactive Cows

4by dianeravitch / 22h

We now know that William Sanders, the creator of Value-Added Measurement, which measures teacher quality with the methods of an agricultural statistician, is revered in the think tank world of D.C. But Peter Greene, who teaches in a Pennsylvania high school, doesn’t think much of VAM. He recounts how Sanders was inspired to think about measuring teachers based on his studies of radioactivity in c

Audrey Amrein-Beardsley on The New York Times’ Touching Tribute to William Sanders, Creator of VAM

7by dianeravitch / 23h

The New York Times published a tribute by Kevin Carey of the New America Foundation to William Sanders, “the little-known statistician who taught us to measure teachers.” One hates to speak ill of the dead, but accuracy requires that we note that Sanders’ statistical model for “measuring” teachers was flawed, inaccurate, and damaged the lives of thousands of teachers based on Sanders’ obscure alg

Education Week: Marketing the Charter School Market

17by dianeravitch / 1d

Education Week is a paradox. On one hand, it has many excellent reporters who check facts and write lucidly without partisanship. On the other, the corporate entity has become a selling platform for technology and charter schools. I used to blog regularly at EdWeek, in a column called “Bridging Differences,” with Deborah Meier. No one ever changed what I wrote. I know that editorial independence

Benjamin Herold Reviews Evaluations of “Personalized Learning”

5by dianeravitch / 1d

Larry Cuban posted this article by Benjamin Herold, who writes for Education Week about technology, on his blog. https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2017/05/21/personalized-learning-what-does-the-research-say-benjamin-herold/ The term “personalized learning” has been captured by the technology industry to represent computer-based instruction. Some people think it would be justifiable to refer to com

Carol Burris: The Hoax of the National High School Rankings

30by dianeravitch / 1d

Carol Burris, executive director of the Network for Public Education, has written a brilliant critique of the rankings of America’s high schools. She looks specifically at Jay Mathews’ list of “America’s Most Challenging High Schools,” but her critique applies equally to U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of “America’s Best High Schools.” As she points out, charter advocates jumped for joy when t

Alternet: What You Need to Know about School Privatization in YOUR State

18by dianeravitch / 1d

Do you want to know where YOUR state stands in the race to privatize public money for private schools? Alternet has an excellent summary of the Network for Public Education report on school privatization.

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

What Comes After Fidget Spinners - Teacher Habits

What Comes After Fidget Spinners - Teacher Habits:

What Comes After Fidget Spinners

My daughter knows I write this blog, and she asked me the other day whether or not I’d written about fidget spinners yet. I told her the topic was too trendy. Besides, I reasoned, the whole thing will blow over, just like Bakugan, Pokemon Go, dreams of 100% proficiency, and those little skateboards that infested my classroom a few years back. But I’ve changed my mind. Fidget spinners themselves won’t be around for long, but the trend that fidget spinners started just might.

The genius of the fidget spinner, of course, is that word “fidget.” This shamelessly transparent attempt to legitimize a toy is a lesson in how brazen marketers can be when their targets are gullible parents who will apparently fall for anything with an education word attached to it. It’s because of this that we aren’t done with fidget spinners and their nettlesome offspring. When the fidget craze ends, we can expect to see copycats. It’s really easy to do. Take a toy. Stick an educational buzzword in front of it. Voila! The next big distraction invading your classroom.

Rumor has it the following are already in production:

Gritty Bear

Place this cuddly taskmaster at the corner of your desk and pat his head during a tough math problem. He says things like, “Don’t give up!” “Winners never quit!” “You can do it!” “Persevere!” and “Don’t you know there are kids in Asia who will spend 20 minutes on a problem like this?” Manufactured by Duckworth Enterprises.

Focus Ring

Simply slip on this ring anytime you need to concentrate better. Taking a big test? Put on the ring and watch your scores soar! The focus ring is made of a copper alloy and infused with essential oils, guaranteeing its wearer a laser-like focus.

STEAM phone

Your school bans cell phones. How unfair.  But What Comes After Fidget Spinners - Teacher Habits:

Both Trump and Connecticut Democrats propose drastic cuts that would undermine higher education - Wait What?

Both Trump and Connecticut Democrats propose drastic cuts that would undermine higher education - Wait What?:

Both Trump and Connecticut Democrats propose drastic cuts that would undermine higher education

While it should come as no surprise, President Donald Trump’s new federal budget proposal targets higher education for what would be unparalleled budget cuts.  Over the next ten years Trump’s budget plan would eliminate more than $143 billion in financial aid and federal support for students seeking a college education.

Trump’s budget ends the effective Perkins Loan program, eliminates the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program, makes record cuts to Pell Grant, dumps the program to forgive student loan debts if a student works for at least 10 years in selected public sector jobs and ends a program that covers interest payments for low income students while they are enrolled in school.

But at the same time, in what can only be described as an incredibly insulting attack, Democratic legislators in the Connecticut General Assembly have proposed equally appalling budget cuts aimed at Connecticut’s public colleges and universities.

In February, Governor Dannel Malloy targeted Connecticut’s public colleges and universities for nearly $50 million in budget cuts, these coming on top of the record cuts Malloy has already made to the University of Connecticut, to the Connecticut State Universities and to the state’s community college system.

But now, in a stunning development, the Democrats in the General Assembly have proposed an additional $135 million cut to Connecticut’s public colleges and universities, a cut that would ensure massive tuition increases and major reductions in programs and services at all public Both Trump and Connecticut Democrats propose drastic cuts that would undermine higher education - Wait What?:

Trump's Education Budget Would Hurt the Working Class - The Atlantic

Trump's Education Budget Would Hurt the Working Class - The Atlantic:

Trump’s Education Budget Takes Aim at the Working Class

The president wants to cut funding for programs such as career and technical education and redirect that money toward school choice.

Many of the spending goals outlined in Donald Trump’s proposed education budget reflect his campaign rhetoric. The president, who has long called for reducing the federal government’s role in schools and universities, wants to cut the Education Department’s funding by $9.2 billion, or 13.6 percent of the budget approved by Congress last month. The few areas that would see a boost pertain to school choice, an idea that Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos have repeatedly touted as a top priority. In the White House’s spending proposal, hundreds of millions of the dollars would go toward charter-school and voucher initiatives, while another $1 billion in grants would encourage states to adopt school-choice policies.

But other aspects of Trump’s funding plan fly in the face of his past statements on education, raising confusion about his priorities. He wants to cut state grants for career and technical education (CTE), for example, by $168 million, and nearly halve funding for the roughly-$1 billion federal work-study program, according to The Washington Post and other outlets. Both CTE and work-study are education models that enjoy broad bipartisan support and are particularly palatable to Republicans and the white, working-class voters who clinched Trump’s election. Tellingly, there’s little consensus between Trump’s spending proposal and the bipartisan appropriations bill unveiled by Congress earlier this month.

Trump’s education budget, which will be published Tuesday as part of full spending plan’s release, would reduce or eliminate nearly two dozen programs. A spokesman on Friday said the department wouldn’t comment on the budget until it was released by the Office of Management and Budget. The final version reiterates many of the funding priorities outlined in the  “skinny”—i.e., preliminary—budget released in March, which had already made it clear that Trump wanted to get rid of the relatively small education programs that, in the eyes of the administration, lack the evidence and reach needed to prove they’re Trump's Education Budget Would Hurt the Working Class - The Atlantic:

Betsy DeVos elaborates on school choice

Betsy DeVos elaborates on school choice:

Betsy DeVos elaborates on school choice

In a speech at an Indianapolis summit hosted by the American Federation for Children Education, Monday, Secretary Betsy DeVos spoke regarding the policy of “School Choice” advocated by President Donald Trump’s administration. Although DeVos did not give away any immediate details regarding the policy, she did make it explicitly clear that the ultimate choice of the children’s education will be left with the parents and not Washington D.C.

“When it comes to education, no solution, not even ones we like, should be dictated or run from Washington, D.C.,” DeVos said, Fox News reported.

Under the “School Choice” policy, every child would receive a vast number of quality choices when it comes to picking schools, informed DeVos, branding it "the most ambitious expansion" of school choice in the history of the United States.

Secretary Of Education Betsy DeVos, testifies during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Jan. 17, 2017. Photo: Getty Images/ Chip Somodevilla

She further added that American school education is stuck in “a closed system that relies on one-size-fits-all solutions,” from the ancient times and the new policy would endeavor to make it more flexible with a wide range of choices for parents and their children.

Read: Guns In Schools: Betsy DeVos Condemns San Bernardino Shooting After Defending Firearms On Campus

Some of the areas of improvement when it comes to education would be the role that technology plays in school education and allowing parents to have the primary role when it comes to choosing the education option that is the best for their children.

DeVos also hoped that “School Choice” would finally give the states both the freedom and Betsy DeVos elaborates on school choice:

 Betsy DeVos advocates for national school choice programs in Indy - TheIndyChannel.com Indianapolis, IN - http://www.theindychannel.com/news/local-news/betsy-devos-advocates-for-national-school-choice-programs-in-indy on @rtv6

DeVos promises ‘the most ambitious expansion of education choice in our nation’s history’ — but offers no details - The Washington Post

DeVos promises ‘the most ambitious expansion of education choice in our nation’s history’ — but offers no details - The Washington Post:

DeVos promises ‘the most ambitious expansion of education choice in our nation’s history’ — but offers no details

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos promised Monday evening that President Trump would propose “the most ambitious expansion of education choice in our nation’s history,” but she offered no details about the administration’s plans.

Speaking in Indianapolis before a friendly audience of school voucher proponents, she instead laid out a moral case to dramatically transform American education — and improve young people’s prospects — by expanding school choice.

“We must acknowledge that the future is bleak for millions of students if we only continue to tinker around the edges with education reform,” she said. “We stand on the verge of the most significant opportunity we have ever had to drag American education out of the Stone Age and into the future.”

DeVos was addressing the national conference of the American Federation for Children, a pro-school-choice advocacy group that DeVos founded, funded and chaired until stepping down to become Trump’s education secretary.

Many education observers had expected her to lay out a specific policy proposal, such as a federal tax credit that would funnel public dollars toward scholarships to private and religious schools. Trump has pledged to spend $20 billion per year expanding school choice.

[DeVos praises this voucher-like program. Here’s what it means for school reform.]

But DeVos said nothing about tax credits or any other specific policy, saying only that Trump would propose something big — and that the administration would not force states to take part.

“When it comes to education, no solution, not even ones we like, should be dictated or run from Washington, D.C.,” she said. “If a state doesn’t want to participate, that would be a terrible mistake on their part. They will be hurting the children and families who can least afford it. ”

She also said the administration would refrain from “bribing states with their own DeVos promises ‘the most ambitious expansion of education choice in our nation’s history’ — but offers no details - The Washington Post:

Badass Teachers Association: Inspiration, Encouragement & Empowerment by Teresa Shimogawa

Badass Teachers Association: Inspiration, Encouragement & Empowerment by Teresa Shimogawa:

Inspiration, Encouragement & Empowerment 

by Teresa Shimogawa

I debated whether or not to share this with the masses. It's a letter I gave to the founding members of the club of which I am the advisor. After several days of contemplation, and since I've already given it to my girls, I thought I might go ahead and take the risk and share it to encourage others to connect with our youth. There is no garbage can for human beings. I've come to the conclusion that adults are really just children who have aged on the outside. They may or may not have grown on the inside. 

As somebody who has experienced brokenness and has had to rebuild and grow resilience, I've also learned that we can't force people to learn on our schedules, they must do it on their own. As teachers, it is our job to be patient and give them repeated opportunities to learn without judgement. We can't understand somebody else's journey if we haven't walked in their shoes. All we can do is practice empathy and patience with an open mind and give them every chance to succeed. They won't always succeed. But they'll remember that we believed in them. Kenneth was always trying to teach me that. I finally did, when I was ready.

***

May 19, 2017

Dear Founding Members,

Next week you will graduate from high school and begin your lives without the constraints of mandatory K-12 education. As exciting as this feels right now, it should not be the end of your learning. I believe that we should all be life-long learners. There is no such thing as knowing everything. While this doesn’t necessarily mean your learning always has to be through traditional means, having a college degree will give you privilege that others won’t have. It will open doors of opportunity, fill your mind with knowledge, connect you with people, and help you grow as a person. 

Find what you are passionate about and immerse yourself in the study of it. Then go find more things that you are passionate about to learn. There are Badass Teachers Association: Inspiration, Encouragement & Empowerment by Teresa Shimogawa:

Why Care About Other People’s Children | gadflyonthewallblog

Why Care About Other People’s Children | gadflyonthewallblog:

Why Care About Other People’s Children

As a vocal critic of charter and voucher schools, one of the most frequent questions I get from readers is this:

“Why should I care about other people’s children?”

One reader put it this way:

“Why should my child’s education and safety have to suffer because of difficult and violent students? …it isn’t my responsibility to pay for a miscreant’s education.”

The question says more than any answer could.

It shows quite clearly that school choice is an essentially selfish position.

That’s why some folks champion privatized education – they only care about their own children. In effect, when a parent sends their children to a charter or voucher school, they are telling the community that they don’t care what happens to any one else’s kids so long as their kids are properly cared for and educated.

It is the root cause of most of our problems in education today and has nothing to do with children. It’s all about adults – adults lacking empathy.

On the one hand, I get it. As a parent, you can’t help but love your child more than anyone else’s. You would beg, cheat and steal to make sure your child has enough to eat, is clothed and sheltered, has everything she needs to succeed in this world.

That’s a position for which few would show any embarrassment. It’s just being Why Care About Other People’s Children | gadflyonthewallblog:

Why Comply With A Bad Education Law? - The Crucial Voice of the PeopleThe Crucial Voice of the People

Why Comply With A Bad Education Law? - The Crucial Voice of the PeopleThe Crucial Voice of the People:

Why Comply With A Bad Education Law?

Why comply with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) when it is as bad as the law it replaced — No Child Left Behind (NCLB) ? Worse really.

And just because lawmakers say they are giving “autonomy” to states and local schools doesn’t make it so.

Most teachers feel they must comply. Most parents don’t know what the law does. The general taxpaying public? They should care. Billions have been wasted in the false promises of reforms.

I’m part of the general public. The “why comply” question began to plague me because I saw with my own eyes and heard with my own ears how compliance with the ESSA requirement for “meaningful” consultation with parents was not at all meaningful.

This teacher clarifies what happened when we complied with NCLB. We knew it had “unintended consequences” by year five of its existence. It did harm without doing what it promised. But we kept on complying for another decade. Why?

Here’s the problem: ESSA still contains everything that made NCLB a law detrimental to Why Comply With A Bad Education Law? - The Crucial Voice of the PeopleThe Crucial Voice of the People: