Support for Assessment Overhaul Legislation - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education)

Support for Assessment Overhaul Legislation - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education):

California Education Leaders Voice Support for Assessment Overhaul Legislation

SACRAMENTO—California's education leaders are lending their support to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson's sponsored legislation that will accelerate the entrance of the state's testing program into the computer age.

Torlakson sent words of appreciation today to San Diego County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Randolph Ward and Long Beach Unified School District Superintendent Christopher J. Steinhauser for their support of Assembly Bill 484, which is currently before the state Senate.

Here is Randolph Ward's statement:

"AB 484 will allow us to prepare our students and staff for success rather than set them up for frustration. To do otherwise—to maintain two testing systems each of which requires very different instructional techniques and looks at very different skills—will result in a schizophrenic environment in our schools that isn't in anyone's best interest. Suspending the STAR tests and expanding field testing of new assessments allows time for educational leaders to prepare students for a completely different manner of demonstrating knowledge while ensuring districts have the means to provide accountability to the public."

Here is Christopher Steinhauser's statement:

"The Long Beach Unified School District supports AB 484 because we plan to administer Smarter Balanced assessments in grades three through eight and eleven this school year, giving teachers the opportunity to fine-tune their practice relative to this new assessment environment. This approach also provides students the chance to experience the new tests before the results are used for accountability purposes."

# # # #

Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Testifies on School Employee Dismissal or Suspension Bill

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today testified before the State Senate Education Committee on Assembly Bill 375, which updates and streamlines the teacher discipline and dismissal process. The bill passed out of committee. Below are Torlakson's prepared remarks:

Good morning. Thank you, Senator (Carol) Liu and Senator (Mark) Wyland, for the opportunity to be with you today.

The safety of our children is our top priority. That's why I come before you today: to thank you for taking this important step forward in our work to make sure every child is safe at school.

I am doing all I can to gather the tools schools need to succeed in this critical work.

Assembly Bill 375 streamlines the system of teacher discipline and dismissal.

AB 375 increases the protection we afford our children by expanding the types of charges for which a school can—or, in some cases, must—place an employee on leave.

It doesn't place an arbitrary deadline on the consideration of abuse in dismissal proceedings.

And it does all this while protecting the rights of teachers.

Fundamentally, this is about having the collective will to take further steps necessary to protect children.

That's why I want us to get more serious about mandatory reporting, and it's why I urge you to pass AB 375.

Those of us who have made the care of children our life's work have accepted a tremendous honor—but we've also accepted a tremendous responsibility.

The overwhelming number of teachers in our classrooms today are deserving of the trust we have placed in them.

And as a teacher, like all teachers, I firmly believe that anyone who breaks that trust deserves the consequences.

Thank you.

# # # #

Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

Bill to help expelled and truant students get back on track heads to governor | EdSource Today

Bill to help expelled and truant students get back on track heads to governor | EdSource Today:

Bill to help expelled and truant students get back on track heads to governor

September 10th, 2013 | Add a Comment | 
By Susan Frey

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A bill aimed at preventing students from languishing in alternative schools is on its way to the governor, after passing its last hurdle in the Legislature on Tuesday.

County-run community schools and district-run community day schools are meant to be a temporary rehabilitative placement for expelled and truant students, not a permanent placement, said supporters of Senate Bill 744, introduced by Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Long Beach. Yet students and families say they often are kept in the schools for extended periods of time without clear guidelines for returning to traditional campuses.

The bill would revise current law to provide a number of safeguards against the misuse of these schools. Some of those safeguards include:

• Limiting the kind of probation referrals that 

Majority of cities are coordinating after-school programs, survey finds - by Susan Frey

A survey released Tuesday found that more than half of large cities are coordinating after-school programs for youth – a new development that can help provide access to quality programming for all students, according to the researchers. “Historically the after-school field has been decentralized and uncoordinated, with different types of programs – ... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit the

by Susan Frey / 3min 

Lawmakers don’t blink, press ahead with testing bill over federal objections SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources:

Lawmakers don’t blink, press ahead with testing bill over federal objections
By Kimberly Beltran
Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Despite threats from U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan that includes withholding federal education funds – state officials said Tuesday afternoon they will nonetheless seek passage of legislation suspending almost all K-12 standardized testing beginning this year.

AB 484, sponsored by California’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and authored by Concord Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, heralds a new era in student evaluation by moving from paper-and-pencil multiple choice testing to computer-adaptive assessments that will track a pupil’s academic growth over the course of his or her educational journey.

But Duncan has strongly objected to the implementation of the proposal because most federally-required assessments would be suspended for one year and thus, conflicts with requirements under the No Child Left Behind Act.

Just last week, AB 484 was amended to move up the testing suspension from 2014-15 to this year.

The move came after Duncan offered states the option of getting a waiver to eliminate some federally-required testing while also implementing new assessments based on the Common Core standards, a 'double-testing' potential that the secretary said wasn't needed.

But California’s proposal appears to take a step well beyond what Duncan contemplated.

AB 484 would allow districts to administer new assessments aligned to new Common Core standards on a trial basis, and in the subject of their choosing – either English language arts or mathematics, but not both. As proposed, the state would not administer most testing in 2013-14.

The plan elicited a stern warning from Duncan.

“If California moves forward with a plan that fails to assess all its students, as required by federal law, the department 

Reaction to Opposition of AB 484 - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education)

Reaction to Opposition of AB 484 - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education):

State School Chief Tom Torlakson Comments on
Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Regarding AB 484

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today issued the following statement regarding U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's opposition to Assembly Bill 484, which would overhaul California's assessment system to address the deeper learning called for by the Common Core State Standards:

"This legislation will continue to be guided by what's right for California's children—moving forward with instruction and assessments reflecting the deeper learning and critical thinking our students need to compete and win in a changing world.

"Our goals for 21st century learning, and the road ahead, are clear. We won't reach them by continuing to look in the rear-view mirror with outdated tests, no matter how it sits with officials in Washington.

"We look forward to the opportunity to make our case to the Administration when the time comes. When we do, we hope they agree that withholding badly needed funds from California's students would be a grave and serious error."

The bill is awaiting action on the floor of the State Senate.

# # # #

Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

Is Common Core Communism? | Crazy Crawfish's Blog

Is Common Core Communism? | Crazy Crawfish's Blog:

Is Common Core Communism?

Posted on September 10, 2013

1

When I first heard this comparison and association being made I must admit my first instinct was to reject that sentiment out of hand. This is a term I’ve often had hurtled at me and other liberals for our beliefs (along with socialist, heathen, commie, nazi, and fascist.) I feel many of these terms have lost their original meaning and tend to be associated with insulting folks on both the left and right of the political spectrum, but that doesn’t mean Common Core isn’t communist or share some of the traits commonly associated with Communism. Now for the record, I don’t believe the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are “communist” per se. . .

Communism (from Latin communis – common, universal) is a revolutionary socialist movement to create a classless, moneyless and stateless social order structured upon common ownership of the means of production, as well as a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of this social order. This movement, in its Marxist–Leninist interpretations, significantly influenced the history of the 20th century, which saw intense rivalry between the “socialist world” (socialist states ruled by communist parties) and the “Western world” (countries with capitalist economies).

According to Marxist theory, higher-phase communism is a specific stage of historical development that inevitably emerges from the development of the productive forces that leads to access abundance to final goods, allowing for distribution based on need and social relations based on freely associated individuals. Marxist theory holds that the lower-phase of communism, colloquially referred to as socialism, being the new society established after the overthrow of capitalism, is a transitional stage in human social evolution and will give rise to a 

The Network For Public Education | Infographic: It is a HOAX that our public schools are failing!

The Network For Public Education | Infographic: It is a HOAX that our public schools are failing!:

Infographic: It is a HOAX that our public schools are failing!

The Poor have no Bootstraps to pull up. | My Island View

The Poor have no Bootstraps to pull up. | My Island View:

The Poor have no Bootstraps to pull up.

September 10, 2013 by tomwhitby

I just finished an #Edchat that I left me with a feeling of not being able to add any authority to the discussion. For those unfamiliar, #Edchat is a weekly Twitter discussion on Education topics. This week’s discussion was based on this statement: There is a strong belief among some educators that poverty is the biggest factor in a failing education system.

It is difficult to have any discussion on this topic without people, including me, entering it with all of the biases built on myths and facts over the years. It is a mixture of biases not just of poverty, but race as well. It is not a comfortable place to be, since we are very aware of how incendiary these discussions can get with just a few poorly chosen words by well-intentioned people not thinking things through.

I am an average white guy who grew up on Long Island, New York in the 50’s in an all-white community that was designed to be just that, segregated. My college experience offered opposition to the Viet Nam War, and supported the Equal Rights Amendment in demonstrations that are now a part of history, and can now be only experienced through video clips on YouTube, or TV newscasts. I was a socially aware, late 60’s college student.

Nevertheless, I entered this Edchat discussion hoping to shed what little light I had on the subject of the huge effect that poverty has on today’s Education. T

PSAT for 9-10-13: Hearings (?) on CPS facilities plan Parents United for Responsible Education

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » PSAT for 9-10-13: Hearings (?) on CPS facilities plan:

PSAT for 9-10-13: Hearings (?) on CPS facilities plan

Sharing this urgent message from Jackie Leavy:
Dear Supporters of Great Neighborhood Public Schools for ALL STUDENTS:
–  jackie L here, with time-sensitive reminders . . .
Despite the lack of advance notice to parents, educators and community stakeholders; without any prominent placement or visibility on Chicago Public Schools’ website home page; and in spite of the “messaging” that CPS has used – ” ‘Come on out for an ‘Information Session’, ya’ll!” – CPS officials are now saying that these meetings ARE the “public hearings” on the school district’s blue print for the next decade that State Law requires.


IF THESE ARE THE ‘PUBLIC HEARINGS”  . . . Will any CPS Board members be in attendance?  Will your “testimony” be recorded and reported to the Board of Ed members?  Do your ELECTED OFFICIALS know that CPS regards these events as THE place to make formal testimony about what CPS is planning for your community’s schools?


MEETINGS TONIGHT  ON CPS’ 10-YEAR EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES MASTER PLAN
Tonight, CPS is focusing on the City’s south side communities.  Both meetings run from 6 PM – 7:30 PM
Far South Side    September 10th    Kroc Center, 1250 W 119th St
Far South Side & South Side     September 10th    Simeon HS, 8147 S Vincennes Ave
The full schedule is listed below.  What will be the future for public schools in YOUR community?


Community Meetings
COLLABORATIVE    DATE    LOCATION    TIME
West Side    September 3rd    Westinghouse HS, 3223 W Franklin Blvd    6:00pm – 7:30pm
South Side    September 4th    A Knock at Midnight, 400 W. 76th Street    6:00pm – 7:30pm
North/Northwest     September 9th    Taft High School, 6530 W Bryn Mawr Ave    6:00pm – 7:30pm
Far South Side    September 10th    Kroc Center, 1250 W 119th St    6:00pm – 7:30pm
Southwest Side    September 11th    Gage Park HS, 5630 S Rockwell St     6:00pm – 7:30pm
LSC Meetings
COLLABORATIVE    DATE    LOCATION    TIME
Far South Side & South Side     September 10th    Simeon HS, 8147 S Vincennes Ave    6:00pm – 7:30pm
Northwest Side    September 12th     Prosser HS, 2148 N Long Ave    6:00pm – 7:30pm
West Side    September 11th    Marshall HS, 3250 W. Adams St    6:00pm – 7:30pm
Southwest     September 12th     Team Englewood, 6201 S Stewart Ave     6:00pm – 7:30pm

- See more at: http://pureparents.org/?p=20858#sthash.HEQpUFEL.dpuf

NYC Educator: "Many teachers will be evaluated on test scores of students they never teach."

NYC Educator: "Many teachers will be evaluated on test scores of students they never teach.":

"Many teachers will be evaluated on test scores of students they never teach."

So reads a headline in Gotham Schools' Rise and Shine. in fact, there is no science that can reliably evaluate teachers on the scores of students they DO teach. The blatant absurdity of this headline is simply taken for granted. No one even understands this system. And that includes the people who designed it. Nonetheless, tens of thousand of teachers are placed in the position of going to work, and hoping kids they've never seen do well on tests.

And this is the world we live in. To make this system even more insane, nothing, but nothing, trumps test scores. If your principal thinks you are God's gift to education, it won't matter if those kids fail those tests. One thing I don't hear UFT boast about is the almost inconceivable part of the law that says "objective" data, meaning test scores, will trump all other data, meaning what you do each and every day.

Approaching Student Achievement Like a Forest Fire — Whole Child Education

Approaching Student Achievement Like a Forest Fire — Whole Child Education:

THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG

Approaching Student Achievement Like a Forest Fire

September 10, 2013 by Kevin Parr

It has been another active fire season here out west and once again firefighters have been attacking the fires systematically and efficiently. As a teacher it is interesting to look at the way these fires are attacked. The contrast to the way problems are attacked in education is staggering.

In wildland firefighting when the problem (the fire) becomes big enough, a two-pronged attack is launched. Firefighters coordinate their efforts to fight the fire from both the ground and air. In contrast, when the problem in education (student achievement, mainly) gets big the most common response is to narrow the range of approaches. By and large this usually means demanding more time strictly devoted to teaching the critical academic subjects (math and reading) at the expense of everything else.

In this sense, we could learn a lot from our wildland firefighters. Mainly, don't assume that doing more of just one thing will make things better. Instead, schools should embrace a multifaceted approach to improving student achievement that includes social and emotional learning, something ignored by the dominant response to lagging student achievement. It's a shame, too, because strong social and emotional skills help students cope with issues that limit their learning. From my experience these include: an incarcerated or deported parent, bullying, emotional abuse, and low self-esteem. Social and emotional skills also help students succeed in classrooms where teachers are increasingly telling students to "turn and talk," "work with your group," or some similar collaborative task without being taught the skills to do so effectively. In fact, 

9-10-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:

SPS Calendar for the week of September 9

Here's what's happening in the District this week:Tuesday, September 10Audit and Finance Committee meets from 4:00 to 6:00pm Agenda here.Wednesday, September 11Executive Committee meets from 8:30 to 10:00am Agenda here.School Board Work Session on Superintendent and Board Evaluation from 4:00 to 7:00pm Agenda here.Thursday, September 12Audit and Finance Committee meets from 4:00 to 6:00pm Agenda h

by Charlie Mas / 0min 

State Rejects District's Special Education Plan

The OSPI has returned the Seattle Public Schools' plan to correct serious defects in Special Education services. More detailed is needed. Here is a Seattle Times story with more details than the District plan.

by Charlie Mas / 19min 

Tuesday Open Thread

It's Tuesday and time for an open thread.What's on your mind? Horace Mann? Good hair?  Charter schools? Strategic plan? Board priorities? Special ed?The state rejected the District's special education correction plan seeking greater detail. Will they hold up funding?

by Charlie Mas / 4min 

9-8-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Grants Available for Family Engagement/Books(Yes, I know I'm supposed to be gone but I saw this in my mail and wanted to pass it along to any interested groups.)The W.K. Kellogg Foundation yesterday announced a $5 million investment to identify and expand promising family engagement efforts that support early childhood educational success.Given your interest in edu

by mike simpson / 19h 

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: In the mailbox

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: In the mailbox:

In the mailbox

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 CONTACT:  Stephanie Gadlin  312/329-6250   

September 10, 2013                                                                                                                                 

 

CTU MARKS ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HISTORIC STRIKE

Teachers ‘changed the conversation’ about the quality of public education in Chicago

 

CHICAGO – One year ago, nearly 30,000 public school educators took to the picket lines to fight for the neighborhood schools their students deserve. They also wanted to secure a strong labor contract and regain respect for their profession. It was the first teachers strike in the city’s history in 25 years and it took the city by storm. Led by Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) President Karen Lewis, a former chemistry teacher, the colorful demonstrations, which began September 10, 2012 and lasted nine days, garnered national and international headlines as the “sea of red,” flooded the streets of downtown Chicago in a unified show of force.

 

The 2012 teachers strike was perhaps the first time in the city’s history that a labor action of its kind garnered widespread support from the public, including parents of Chicago Public School (CPS) students. After weeks of dramatic labor negotiations, protests, news conferences and rallies at the Board of Education teachers walked away with one of the strongest labor contract in recent history, a more unified workforce and the distinction of 

Diane in the Evening 9-10-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

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

Paul Thomas Offers Writing Lessons to Rick Hess

Paul Thomas has an incredibly wide-ranging intellect. In this article, he takes pundit-blogger Rick Hess to task for his sloppy effort to put down books he does not agree with, namely, my new book and those of David Cohen and Chris Lubienski and Sarah Lubienski. Hess has decided we are opposed to reform because we have actual evidence-based solutions, as opposed to his belief in the magic of the m

2 by dianerav / 10min 

Peter Goodman: Will Cuomo’s “Death penalty for Schools” Derail His Ambitions?

Governor Andrew Cuomo has an unfortunate habit of spouting off about education, a subject where he is woefully uninformed. When New York won a Race to the Top grant, the original proposal called for a 20% cap on test scores as part of teachers’ evaluations. Cuomo insisted, after the deal was struck, that it had to be 40%. If he knew anything about research on teaching, he would have said 20% was t

7 by dianerav / 2h mark as read  //  save

Are TFA and TNTP Teachers Better than Traditional Teachers?

This question comes up again and again, and different studies reach different conclusions. Typically, TFA teachers get better than usual results in math, but not in reading, which is less susceptible to test prep and more influenced by home life. Mathematica Policy Research released a new study today, saying that TFA and TNTP teachers get better results in math than traditionally prepared teacher

8 by dianerav / 2h 

A Hero Educator Who Teaches in a Charter School in North Carolina

A regular reader informed me about an amazing charter school teacher in North Carolina. Chris Weaver was selected as “The Best Teacher” by Mountain XPress, a local newspaper, and he rejected the honor. Read here to learn why he rejected it. He is committed to the common good, not to self-interest. He understands that educators must work together towards common goals, not compete. Congratulations,

by dianerav / 0min 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-10-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Bruce Baker: Hold Cuomo Accountable for School FailureNew York Governor Andrew Cuomo called for the “death penalty” for failing schools recently, setting off a war of words between those who believe in closing struggling schools and those who want to kill them and fire the staff. Bruce Baker takes a different view. Here he demonstr

by mike simpson / 2h 

FPPC will investigate allegations that Sacramento mayor had a conflict of interest in big box vote | Central Valley | Modesto Bee

FPPC will investigate allegations that Sacramento mayor had a conflict of interest in big box vote | Central Valley | Modesto Bee

FPPC will investigate allegations that Sacramento mayor had a conflict of interest in big box vote

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson listens to councilmen Steve Hanson as the big box store topic is discussed on Tuesday night, August 20, 2013 at the Sacramento City Council meeting.

JOSE LUIS VILLEGAS — jvillegas@sacbee.com

The state's political watchdog has launched a formal investigation into an allegation that Mayor Kevin Johnson had a conflict of interest in the City Council's recent vote to ease restrictions on big-box superstores.

Eric Sunderland, a Sacramento Municipal Utility District employee and former city school board candidate active in local Democratic Party politics, filed a complaint with the Fair Political Practices Commission last month charging that Johnson had a conflict because he has solicited thousands of dollars in donations from Wal-Mart. Those donations, known as behests, went to nonprofits either controlled by Johnson or supported by the mayor.

Sunderland's complaint also alleged that Johnson had a financial interest in the big-box vote - which could lead to Wal-Mart opening a store in the city - because the Walton Family Foundation has committed $8 million to StudentsFirst, the education reform foundation run by Johnson's wife, Michelle Rhee.

The complaint also alleged that Johnson may have accepted gifts in excess of the limits set by state election code because Stand Up, an education advocacy organization he founded, funded travel for the mayor. Stand Up received $500,000 in donations from the Walton Family Foundation since 2011, according to the foundation's website.

The FPPC has notified Sunderland and Johnson that it is investigating the claims.

Wal-Mart and the Walton Family Foundation - which is not directly affiliated with the retail chain but is funded by the company's founding family - have donated nearly $800,000 to nonprofits and

Reaction to Opposition of AB 484 - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education)

Reaction to Opposition of AB 484 - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education):

State School Chief Tom Torlakson Comments on
Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Regarding AB 484

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today issued the following statement regarding U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's opposition to Assembly Bill 484, which would overhaul California's assessment system to address the deeper learning called for by the Common Core State Standards:

"This legislation will continue to be guided by what's right for California's children—moving forward with instruction and assessments reflecting the deeper learning and critical thinking our students need to compete and win in a changing world.

"Our goals for 21st century learning, and the road ahead, are clear. We won't reach them by continuing to look in the rear-view mirror with outdated tests, no matter how it sits with officials in Washington.

"We look forward to the opportunity to make our case to the Administration when the time comes. When we do, we hope they agree that withholding badly needed funds from California's students would be a grave and serious error."

The bill is awaiting action on the floor of the State Senate.

# # # #

Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

What, Me Blog? | the becoming radical

What, Me Blog? | the becoming radical:

What, Me Blog?

Posted on September 10, 2013 by plthomasedd

Venturing into the virtual world of blogging (and Twitter) as a scholar, academic, or teacher/professor requires you to address a few foundational questions. Here are some of those decisions with examples from a variety of blogs addressing my field of education:

• Blogging allows the blogger to create a public persona. What persona do you want to present to the public? Some in education highlight their roles as teachers while others highlight their scholarship—some, of course, blend those roles. Katie Osgood, @KatieOsgood_, maintains a passionate blog, emphasizing her persona as a teacher. Nancy Flanagan, @nancyflanagan, blogging at Teacher/Education Week, speaks as a veteran teacher in her blogs. Julian Vasquez Heilig’s popular and high-quality blog is primarily scholarly work made accessible and strongly political (@ProfessorJVH). Examples of administrators blogging include Carol Burris, @carolburris, and Peter DeWitt, @PeterMDeWitt.
• Part of that persona creation includes an important blogging decision: Will you blog under your name or anonymously? Two bloggers who have debated this issue on Twitter are Jersey Jazzman, @jerseyjazzman, (pro-anonymous and primarily a blogger addressing statistics and research while also being strongly political) and Jose Vilson, @TheJLV (an