NYC Public School Parents: Justice denied! Slipshod and circular reasoning in the judge's decision on our inBloom lawsuit!

NYC Public School Parents: Justice denied! Slipshod and circular reasoning in the judge's decision on our inBloom lawsuit!:

Justice denied! Slipshod and circular reasoning in the judge's decision on our inBloom lawsuit!

Late Friday afternoon, we learned that Judge Breslin of the NY Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit to prevent the NY State Education Department from uploading personal student data to inBloom, which in turn plans to share this information to vendors without parental consent. The judge's decision is nonsensical in many ways, as he didn't show how the state's disclosure of personal student data to inBloom was either necessay or specifically authorized by law, as the Personal Privacy Protection Law requires. Instead, his decision exhibits slipshod and circular reasoning.

Despite the chorus of inBloom supporters and others on the Gates payroll who pounced on this decision with glee, the Court did not make any independent judgments on the educational value or security of this information.  Instead, the judge pointed out an exception in the PPPL: that such disclosure can be made "to those who contract with, the agency that maintains the record if such disclosure is necessary to the performance of their official duties pursuant to a purpose of the agency required to be accomplished by statute or executive order or necessary to operate a program specifically authorized by law."  


However, the State did not prove that such disclosure to the contractor, in this case inBloom, was indeed"necessary  to the performance of their official duties" or "necessary to operate a program specifically authorized by law" -- so I'm really not sure how the Judge came to this conclusion, and it seems to be based upon a very slippery argument.  

Moreover, according to the experts that we've spoken to, the contractor would itself be bound by the PPPL law and thus required to protect privacy to the same extent as the State Education Department.  This 

So that the disclosure to a contractor, namely inBloom, is allowed "inasmuch as disclosure is necessary to the performance of respondents' official duties."   Because SED says it is made to carry out its "duties" it is "necessary", and thus the PPPL does not apply?  Why have a law that restricts the actions of state agencies to 

The Washington Teacher: Orr Elementary School: DCPS Dirty Little Secret East of the River

The Washington Teacher: Orr Elementary School: DCPS Dirty Little Secret East of the River:

Orr Elementary School: DCPS Dirty Little Secret East of the River

Orr Elementary Vault classroom

By 
Candi Peterson

In a February 6 post on The Washington Teacher education blog, I wrote about the Inhumane Teaching and Learning Conditions at DC's Orr elementary school. Benjamin Orr elementary school is located at 2200 Minnesota Avenue SE Washington, DC 20020, 202/671-6240. Niyeka Wilson is the schools principal. Principal Wilson is no stranger to controversy as parents from the Parent Action Consort (known as PAC) recently wrote DC City Council members alleging that Wilson had written malicious comments on her Face book page disparaging an Orr parent and student with physical health challenges. Members of PAC called for the disciplinary action of Wilson. Reportedly, Wilson is now under investigation by DCPS. The results have yet to be reported.

My January 2014 visit to Orr revealed some horrific learning conditions for students at this once esteemed school. I witnessed conditions with my own eyes. While in the vault classroom, I observed evidence of a classroom with teacher's objectives, behavior chart, touch math chart, foundations sound chart and call and response posted in the room. It is reported by staff that special needs students receive pull out 

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, I Need, I Need.southbronxschool.com

http://www.southbronxschool.com:

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, I Need, I Need.

After a prolific January of posting, I am finally getting to my first blog post for the month of February and in two weeks!

So much has been on my mind of late. One thing that has sat on the front of my brain for some time is theguest blog post by the Original NYCDoenuts written on January 19, 2014. There is so much I want to share to what DOEnuts wrote, so much about what he had written that hits home in so many ways. The best way I can share and expand on what he wrote is in my own special way.

From day 1 in this business I was told not to trust anyone. Me being cynical as it is, I have no problem not trusting people. It's what I do.

On the other hand I am loyal to people. I won't go behind someone's back, I am there for a friend if needed, and I will support friends, and especially teacher's to the nth degree.

Which is all the more painful for we see it in this business day after day after day.

It's the taker. The fair weather friend. The friend who unloads all their tsuris (Yiddish for heartburn) on you and when it is time for that person to come through for you, well they disappear, not showing an ounce of concern for you, not lifting a finger to listen to you or to take the time for you the way you did for them. This type of person takes, they need, it's all "gimmee, gimmee."

I have no problem helping teachers. There are plenty of teachers out there that have been through or are going through what I currently going through and I have, and will continue, to do whatever I can and must do for them. I'm not going to name names, but some of these teachers have not only given me 

2-9-14 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.:

In the NEA, this is what democracy looks like.

Whoever thought it would be so hard to run for union delegate as a retiree? A quick review. I retired in June of 2012. I changed my union membership for active to retired. The switch didn’t get processed in time for me to run statewide as delegate to the 2013 IEA Representative Assembly. But I was eligible to run for the 2013 NEA national meeting. I did run and was elected. But when I ran this pas

by Fred Klonsky / 7min 

 

2-8-14 Fred All Week 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.: Fred All Week Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacherKeeping retirement weird.  We weren’t the oldest couple at Tipitina’s last night. But I didn’t notice any that were older. Anne and I left Chicago yesterday morning when the thermometer read minus four. We had had enough. We neede

by mike simpson / 59min 

Star-Ledger to Cami Anderson: Be mine, Valentine! | Bob Braun's Ledger

Star-Ledger to Cami Anderson: Be mine, Valentine! | Bob Braun's Ledger:

Star-Ledger to Cami Anderson: Be mine, Valentine!

A new look for The Star-Ledger?

The Star-Ledger’s passionate, public love affair with Cami Anderson is now sliding into political porn. The newspaper’s latest editorial is a gushing, embarrassing, big wet kiss for Chris Christie’s agent in Newark. “She needs help!” cries out the knight errant editorial writer who boldly and proudly wears her scarf as he plunges into battle, a Lancelot who also was busy today apologizing for endorsing Christie. “She cannot do it alone.”

Breathless. I hear hearts beating wildly, don’t you? I hear panting. Heaving. The poor woman–out there all  by herself surrounded by evil enemies. She needs, well, she needs  ”civic and religious leaders to step up and be counted.” She needs charter school families to rush to her side.

Oh, please, come quickly! All ye knights of noble Christieland and ye will be rewarded  by the governor-king for rescuing this damsel in distress! Charter schools for “religious leaders.” Campaign support and maybe Sandy aid for “civic leaders” like Joe D. Bond counsel positions for the sale of New Market Charter School Bonds.

Save her! Save her because–oh, my God!–she “is on the ropes.” Whoa! Mean, big, ugly, shrieking “provocateurs” wish to–oh, no, Heaven forfend,  I just can’t bring myself to say what unspeakable, indecent things these beasts will do to this  fair 

2-9-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:

With What Money?

In yet another "look how backwards Washington State is and how terrible public education is here" op-eds at the Seattle Times, their newest one features Robin Lake of the Center on Reinventing Public Education. Basically, our state is not doing enough to train more STEM graduates.  I use that word "train" deliberately because she seems to think you can just churn out these grad

by Melissa Westbrook / 3min 

Seattle Schools This Week + Updates

From SPS Communications:Superintendent Banda made several principal appointments Feb. 7 , including: • George Breland, Cleveland High School;• Maria Breuder, McGilvra Elementary School;• Dedy Fauntleroy, John Stanford International School; • Robert Gary, Madison Middle School; • Jo Lute-Ervin, Kimball Elementary School;• Mary McDaniels, Madrona K-8; and• Dan Sanger, Bryant Elementary School.I see

by Melissa Westbrook / 2min hide  //  save

This and That

Surprise from a reader (and I agree) - a figure from a Danny Westneat column.Did this surprise anyone else? 2370 kids, about 5% of all of the students in Seattle Public Schools, are homeless? I had no idea it was that many.From the Week in Geek:  The physics of the Winter Olympics.  Good piece to show to the kids as you watch some amazing athletes in action.   (Those kids on the snowboards give me

by Melissa Westbrook / 52min 

2-8-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week

Seattle Schools Community Forum:Seattle Schools Community ForumShooting RoundupThe Stranger Slog has a weekly child shooting roundup and hey, one story is local.From Q13:PUYALLUP — Neighbors say they never heard a gunshot, but saw what happened next. “The young man was sitting in the driveway just rocking back and forth saying; I shot my best friend, I shot my best friend,” neighbor Carol Sharick

by mike simpson / 53min

Common Core Standards Update | Seattle Education

Common Core Standards Update | Seattle Education:

Common Core Standards Update

From deutsch29 : Mercedes Schneider’s EduBlog

Update on Common Core Status in the States: Part Two

On February 6, 2014, I posted my first of three installments regarding the state of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in statehouses nationwide– and even in the US Senate. Reaction to CCSS includes the Huckabee-promoted “rebranding” of the CCSS “product” as well as CCSS investigation, testing delay, and prohibition/voiding.

Quite the spectrum of reaction.

In the first installment, I included information on twelve states: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, and South Carolina.

This second installment concerns the state of CCSS in an additional twelve states: Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee.

From a research perspective, I consider CCSS a case study in how not to create and implement education standards.

What an expensive mess is this CCSS havoc.

Let’s dive in, shall we?

Louisiana Lawmakers Considering a Spectrum of Anti-CCSS Bills

The push to derail Louisiana’s move to the national academic standards 

NYC Public School Parents: New York Parents Outraged by Governor’s Flawed Common Core Panel

NYC Public School Parents: New York Parents Outraged by Governor’s Flawed Common Core Panel:

New York Parents Outraged by Governor’s Flawed Common Core Panel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  February 9, 2014

More information contact:

Eric Mihelbergel (716) 553-1123; nys.allies@gmail.com

Lisa Rudley (917) 414-9190; nys.allies@gmail.com

NYS Allies for Public Education www.nysape.org

New Yorkers Outraged by Governor’s Flawed Common Core Panel

The leaders of the NYS Allies for Public Education (NYSAPE), a coalition of more than 45 parent and educator groups from throughout the state, expressed their outrage at Governor Cuomo's choice of appointees to his Common Core Panel.

As Lisa Rudley, Ossining public school parent and founding member of NYSAPE said, “As a parent I am offended that the Governor's Panel is stacked with known supporters of the Common Core, eliminating the chance for an objective evaluation.  The chair, Stanley Litow, Vice President of IBM, has already written an Op-ed saying full speed ahead with its implementation.  Dr. Charles Russo is one of the very few Superintendents in the state to publicly support the standards, including the flawed NYSED modules known to be rife with errors and questionable content.”  

As Leonie Haimson of Class Size Matters pointed out, “Several members selected by the Governor belong to organizations that are heavily dependent on funding from the Gates Foundation, which has spent more than $170 million on developing and promoting the Common Core. These include Dan Weisberg of The New Teacher Project, which has received $23 million from the Gates Foundation, including $7 million in the last year alone.  Nick Lawrence is a prominent member of Educators for Excellence, which received more than $3 million from the Gates Foundation in 2013.  This evident conflict of interest undermines their credibility not only concerning the Common Core, but also the highly controversial issue of whether the state should go ahead with sharing personal student data with inBloom Inc., a corporation established by the Gates Foundation with $100 million."

“Parents are tired of having education policy in this state hijacked by deep-pocketed billionaires who do not send their own children to public school and would never consider having their education stifled by a rigid regime of instructional text, scripted modules, test prep, and their personal data provided to for-profit companies without their consent,” said Eric Mihelbergel, Ken-Ton public school parent and founding member of NYSAPE.

Bianca Tanis a New Paltz public school parent and special education teacher noted, “Experts in special education, early childhood development and elementary school teachers have all noted that the Common Core standards are developmentally inappropriate, were created without their input and need significant reform.  And yet not a single individual from any of these groups was selected for the Panel, ensuring that their recommendations will be profoundly deficient.”

"I am astounded that the governor would fail to include any teachers of younger students and those with special needs, especially since many of the criticisms and concerns surround the issue whether the standards are appropriately designed for these children,” pointed out Lori Griffin, a Copenhagen public school parent and educator.

“The Governor argues that no decision should be made on the Common Core until this Panel has come up with its recommendations.  The fact that this Panel is so heavily stacked only reinforces our conviction that there is no reason to wait for the Panel's conclusions.    The Common Core standards must be immediately pulled back and revised, with input from educators and parents, the over-testing must come to a halt, the teacher evaluation system scrapped, and the contract with inBloom cancelled,” said Jeanette Deutermann, Bellmore public school parent and founder of Long Island Opt-Out.

Jessica McNair, New Hartford public school parent concluded, “Our children are suffering and cannot wait. If Commissioner King does not immediately stop the runaway train, call a halt to the standards and the testing, and withdraw his agreement with inBloom, the Legislature must act in his place.”

###

Students Last: Pearson Buys New York State Education Department

Students Last: Pearson Buys New York State Education Department:

Pearson Buys New York State Education Department

Commissioner King and Chancellor Tisch wait patiently
for their turn to speak as their new Pearson overlord
announces the takeover

Albany, New York - Best described as "not your usual corporate takeover," Pearson PLC announced that it had acquired the New York State Education Department (NYSED).

The big announcement was made at a press conference attended in person by Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch and Education Department Commissioner John King and via satellite by Pearson CEO Marjorie Scardino who is based in London.

A proud Scardino confessed, "Pearson has been calling the shots in New York State for quite a while now. So this just makes it official." According to sources in both organizations, Pearson has been slowly and surreptitiously acquiring the NYSED for more than four years.

Both King and Tisch nodded enthusiastically as Scardino laid out Pearson's plan for "fully integrating all aspects of New York State public education into the seamless mission of helping people make more of their lives through learning what is important to corporations."

How did this come to pass?
With the promise of anonymity, a corporate insider disclosed the steps Pearson took to ensure the 

Race to the Top Corporate Education Reform: A Page Out of IMF & World Bank Playbook?

Race to the Top

Corporate Education Reforms may be the US version of the  IMF and WB "structural adjustment policies". These policies were applied to the "Banana Republics" during the later part of the 20th century. Race to the Top has based aid to schools on "structural adjustment policies". Is the goal of Corporate Education Reforms to make America just another Banana Republic? 

The World Bank and The International Monetary Fund

Through loans, often to governments whose constituents suffer the most under the global economy, and "structural adjustment" policies, the World Bank (WB) International Monetary Fund (IMF) has kept most nations of the global south in poverty. Conditions on accepting loans ensure open market access for corporations while cutting social spending on programs such as education, health care and production credits for poor farmers.

Created after World War II to help avoid Great Depression-like economic disasters, the World Bank and the IMF are the world's largest public lenders, with the Bank managing a total portfolio of $200 billion and the Fund supplying member governments with money to overcome short-term credit crunches.

But when the IMF and the WB lend money to debtor countries, the money comes with strings attached. These strings come in the form of policy prescriptions called "structural adjustment policies." These policies—or SAPs, as they are sometimes called—require debtor governments to open their economies to penetration by foreign corporations, allowing access to the country's workers and environment at bargain basement prices.

Structural adjustment policies mean across-the-board privatization of public utilities and publicly owned industries. They mean the slashing of government budgets, leading to cutbacks in spending on health care and education. They mean focusing resources on growing export crops for industrial countries rather than supporting family farms and growing food for local communities. And, as their imposition in country after country in Latin America, Africa, and Asia has shown, they lead to deeper inequality and environmental destruction.

 http://www.globalexchange.org/resources/wbimf

2-9-14 @ The Answer Sheet

The Answer Sheet:

Is it unethical to use untested technology in the classroom?

Is it unethical to use untested technology in classrooms? Answering the question is education historian Larry Cuban, who was a high school social studies teacher for 14 years and a district superintendent (seven years in Arlington, VA). He is now professor emeritus of education at Stanford University, where he has taught for more than 20 […]    

4 by Valerie Strauss / 43min 

All Week @ The Answer Sheet 2-8-14

The Answer Sheet:All Week @ The Answer SheetSchool board member vows to keep fighting for the late Ethan RediskeRick Roach,  a member of the Orange County School Board in Florida, sent the following e-mail about the death on Friday of 11-year-old Ethan Rediske, who became known in Florida after his mother, Andrea, fought a state requirement that her blind son, who had brain damage as well as cereb

by mike simpson / 47min 

National African American Parent Involvement Day Monday aims to address achievement gap | MLive.com

National African American Parent Involvement Day Monday aims to address achievement gap | MLive.com:

National African American Parent Involvement Day Monday aims to address achievement gap

Events scheduled for National African American Parent Involvement Day on Monday, Feb. 10 aim to encourage parents to be more involved in their children's education.

Though the annual event is aimed particularly at parents of African American children, it's an open call to all parents to be more engaged with their students' teachers and educational future.

Particularly for African American students, one of the goals of NAAPID is to address the achievement gap.

At Tappan Middle School in Ann Arbor, parents are invited to accompany their students to class Monday.

There will be a free lunch and guest speaker in Tappan's media center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday as well as a part of NAAPID.

Monday night, students from public school districts across Washtenaw County will come together in a talent showcase.

The event at Skyline High School's Performing Arts Center at 2552 North Maple Road in Ann Arbor begins 5:30 p.m. Monday with refreshments. The student talent program begins at 6:30 p.m. Monday.

The theme of the NAAPID at Night event is "Parents, Schools and Communities Working Together."

“We are excited to have five school districts throughout Washtenaw County School Districts participating with NAAPID at Night, we would like to see additional school districts send their talents to participate," said NAAPID at Night chairwoman Shoshana DeMaria in a statement. “The quality and diversity of our student talent is amazing. We are expecting another enthusiastic turnout and look forward to another night of fun, food and fabulous entertainment.”

The event at Skyline is free and open to the public.

Amy Biolchini is the K-12 education reporter for The Ann Arbor News. Reach her atamybiolchini@mlive.com, (734) 623-2552 or on Twitter. Find all Washtenaw County K-12 education stories on MLive.com.

Dying Florida boy's family must prove he can't take FCAT | Orlando

Dying Florida boy's family must prove he can't take FCAT | Orlando:

Dying Florida boy's family must prove he can't take FCAT

Ethan Rediske, 11, who was born with severe brain damage and cerebral palsy, has taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks. His mother, Andrea Rediske, said school officials told her she needed to provide more proof that Ethan was dying to exempt him from the FCAT. (FILE)

By Caroline Rowland, Reporter

ORLANDO -- 

A Florida mother is outraged she has to prove her son is dying so he doesn't have to take the FCAT.

News 13 first introduced you to Ethan Rediske in April 2013 after his mother was upset over the state's standardized testing laws that require him to take the FCAT, even though the 11-year-old has was born with severe brain damage and cerebral palsy.

Ethan's health recently took a turn for the worse and his mother, Andrea Rediske, had to bring in hospice care.

———————————————

UPDATE: The Rediske family says Ethan died Friday.
Read the latest story.

The previous story continues below.

———————————————

The last few weeks have been the toughest. Andrea said she's helping to administer morphine and make Ethan's last days comfortable.

When she reached out to the Orange County School District to tell them what was happening, Andrea said the district told her she needed to provide more proof than that to exempt him from the FCAT this year.

In an email to News 13, Andrea told us instead of getting sympathy and compassion from the school district, she's being forced to waste time coming up with the written proof.

Andrea said she was appalled and claimed the district has even threatened Ethan's at-home teacher because she won't help prepare him for the testing.

Once again, Rediske reached out to Orange County School Commissioner Rick Roach:

I'm writing to appeal for your advocacy on our behalf. Ethan is dying. He has been on hospice care for the past month. We are in the last days of his life. His loving and dedicated teacher, Jennifer Rose has 

Inspiring post of the day: North Carolina and the Rev. Dr. William Barber are delivering THE message of our times | Parents United for Public Education

Inspiring post of the day: North Carolina and the Rev. Dr. William Barber are delivering THE message of our times | Parents United for Public Education:





Inspiring post of the day: North Carolina and the Rev. Dr. William Barber are delivering THE message of our times

Posted on February 9, 2014 by PARENTSUNITEDPHILALeave a comment

A Moral Mondays march in the early days from June 2013.

Need inspiration? Look no further than yesterday’s 20,000? 30,000? massive Moral March in North Carolina. Born out of a months long Moral Mondays movement that is transforming and redefining not just politics in North Carolina, but for all of us as a nation, the movement has merged those fighting for public education with those fighting to uphold voter protections, health care, to improve the criminal justice system, for environmental justice and to lead a new people’s movement. Centered locally, focused statewide, and with national and maybe even global implications (a little early yet, Calcutta by the way reports one million people today for a Left rally!), this is the message of our times – one that merges public education with many critical struggles that isn’t redefining politics, it’s redefining an American society. Below is a speech the leader of the Moral Mondays movement, Rev. Dr. William Barber gave at the Opportunity To Learn conference last summer. It’s 24 minutes of pure inspiration and a roadmap for our times.

And one more bonus for good measure: