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Thursday, February 20, 2014

2-20-14 Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All Week

Jersey Jazzman:









The Jazzman Speaks! This Saturday, 2/22, Rutgers-Newark
Hey, check out this guy:Saturday, 2/22/14, 10 AM, on the beautiful Rutgers-Newark campus. Free admission, real talk, good times. Sleeping in is overrated anyway...Thanks to Kaleena for making this happen, and to Junius Williams for the invitation. Hope you can make it.


Shocking: Baraka Consults Knowledgable People on Education
Sorry the posting's been light; it's been a crazy busy week. But I don't want to let too much time pass before telling you about my Monday with Ras Baraka.Baraka is currently in a two-man race for mayor of Newark; in my view, it's probably the most interesting political contest in the country between now and the mid-term Congressional elections (yes, this Jersey boy is biased). Baraka's opponent,




2-16-14 Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All Week

Jersey Jazzman: Chris Cerf: Just Another Guy Walking Through The Revolving DoorIf you are at all surprised by this, you simply haven't been paying attention:    Amplify, the educational consulting company soon to be headed by state Education Commissioner Chris Cerf, has been working with the Jersey City school district, which is partly run by the state, as part of a pilot program since January.The

Teachers & Children Last: California Trial Showcases the Corporate War on Public Education | MyFDL

Teachers & Children Last: California Trial Showcases the Corporate War on Public Education | MyFDL:



Teachers & Children Last: California Trial Showcases the Corporate War on Public Education

By: Julie Gutman Dickinson Wednesday February 19, 2014 3:54 pm
Are job protections for teachers to blame for educational underachievement among low-income students of color in California? That’s the provocative question ostensibly at the heart of Vergara vs. California, which seeks to invalidate the tenure, due process and seniority rights of hundreds of thousands of educators.
A judge's gavel
Vergara vs. California is the latest front in the corporate attack on education.
Astute observers of the nation’s escalating education wars, however, may be asking another question: When did it become permissible to use the welfare of children as a fig leaf for an all-out legal attack on teachers?
Or, as historian and teacher John Thompsonwrote recently in Scholastic, “Are corporate reformers unabashedly using the courts as a battleground for battering employees’ rights, as opposed to helping children?”
Sadly, the answer to Thompson’s question appears to be an unequivocal yes. For while the outcome of Vergara will have far-reaching national implications, it is hardly unique in its attempt to scapegoat teachers for sub-par educational performance. Similar efforts are underway across the country, as some so-called “education reformers” seek to simultaneously privatize public education and weaken the hard-won protections of teachers.
Though efforts to remake public education have attracted both Democrats and Republicans, the three-pronged strategy of austerity, privatization and demonization is familiar to anyone who has watched the conservative movement over the past several decades. First you starve government of the resources needed to perform at a high level. Then you claim that the private sector is more efficient and effective, and should be given greater authority. Finally you target public sector workers and the unions that 

Testing Resistance & Reform Spring (TRRS) | United Opt Out National

Testing Resistance & Reform Spring (TRRS) | United Opt Out National:



TESTING RESISTANCE & REFORM SPRING (TRRS)





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The U.S. can do a much better job evaluating children, teachers and schools. That’s why protests against standardized testing misuse and overuse are exploding across the nation. Testing Resistance & Reform Spring (TRRS) seeks to ensure that assessment contributes to all students having access to a high-quality education. FairTest is a founding partner. Our alliance unites around three goals:
  1. Stop high-stakes use of standardized tests;
  2. Reduce the number of standardized exams, saving time and money for real learning; and
  3. Replace multiple-choice tests with performance-based assessments and evidence of learning from students’ ongoing classwork.
We support a range of public education and mobilizing tactics, including community meetings, boycotts, opt-out campaigns, rallies, petition drives and legislation. TRRS will help activists link up, communicate and learn from one another. This will build a stronger national movement to overhaul assessment policies.
Our new, action-oriented website – https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/testing-resistance-reform-spring-less-testing-more-learning OR http://tinyurl.com/TestingReformSpring – will provide resources for the campaign’s success. A mapping tool will make it easy for parents, students, teachers and community organizers to post and find local actions anywhere in the United States. (For your event to be visible on the map and searchable by zip code, you must use this link/page.)
We invite activists to use our site and for groups to join TRRS as Partners; for more information, seehttps://actionnetwork.org/groups/testing-resistance-reform-spring/files/1215/download.
The website includes downloadable fact sheets, how-to-do-it guides, and much more. TRRS fact sheets and a list of partners is at our Mission statement; see https://actionnetwork.org/groups/testing-resistance-reform-spring.

  • TRRS Founding Partners: FairTest, Network for Public Education, Parents Across America, Save Our Schools, and United Opt Out.

2-20-14 Engaging Parents In School All Week… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"

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









Video: “Creating the Schools Children Deserve”
A few days ago, I published a post titled St. Paul Federation Of Teachers Is National Model For Engaging Parents. This video is another example of why they are a national model:
“Parent Involvement in Early Literacy”
Parent Involvement in Early Literacy is an Edutopia blog post offering a number of useful suggestions to parents of young children. I’m adding it to The Best Ideas On How Parents Can Help Their Kids Succeed In School.


2-19-14 Engaging Parents In School All Week… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"
Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement": Parent Involvement & The New Federal Discipline GuidelinesYou may have heard about the new school discipline guidelines issued by the federal government last month (see Holder, Duncan announce national guidelines on school discipline from The Washington Post). I didn’t really notice it at the time, but apparently there

Kevin Johnson turned Sacramento's mayor's office into a fundraising tool for his own pet projects -Sacramento News & Review

Sacramento News & Review - Kevin Johnson turned Sacramento's mayor's office into a fundraising tool for his own pet projects - Bites - Opinions - February 20, 2014:



Kevin Johnson turned Sacramento's mayor's office into a fundraising tool for his own pet projects


There are no real consequences from the Fair Political Practices Commission for bending and breaking the rules

By  
cosmog@newsreview.com


This article was published on .

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Mayor Kevin Johnson was fined, again, this month for legal violations involving his network of nonprofit organizations. The state’s Fair Political Practices Commission dinged him for not reporting travel expenses paid for by The Walton Family Foundation, heirs of the Wal-Martfortune. The travel was to promote Johnson’s education-reform agenda, a personal project which has become increasingly tangled up with his public office.

Johnson was fined $37,500 in 2012 when he failed to report dozens of “behested payments” to his organizations from various interests like the Walton foundation and Sacramento Kings. Some of that money was used by Johnson’s Think Big Sacramento arena booster group to cook up the phony economic-impact reports that are still being waved around by arena proponents today.

The fine this time was a slap on the wrist, just $1,000. This gives the mistaken impression that the problem with Johnson’s network of nonprofits is merely sloppy paperwork.

It’s not. The problem is that Johnson has turned the office of the mayor into a fundraising tool for his own pet projects.

These behests are blurring the line between the public office and Johnson’s personal business. Just this month, he behested $400,000 from Kaiser Permanente to fund a college-readiness program at his Sacramento Charter High School.

The FPPC’s minimal fine just confirms that the mayor’s cost-benefit analysis was right: There are no real consequences for bending and breaking the rules, so let the money flow, and let the slush fund grow.

Speaking of K.J. Inc.: The mayor’s State of the City address happened. Bites didn’t go. It was, according to all reports, more of an arena pep rally than an actual report on the state of the city

Union calls for five-day strike next month at UC - latimes.com

Union calls for five-day strike next month at UC - latimes.com:



Union calls for five-day strike next month at UC

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Unionized workers picketed at UC Irvine Medical Center in May. the union has scheduled a five day walkout in March.
Unionized workers picket at UC Irvine Medical Center in May. The union has scheduled a five-day walkout starting March 3. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times / May 22, 2013)
The union representing the University of California's 21,000 service workers and patient care employees has scheduled a five-day strike starting March 3 -- which would be their third and longest walkout in less than a year.
Unless a contract with UC is settled before March 3, AFSCME Local 3299 said its 8,300 food workers, custodians, gardeners and other service workers at UC’s 10 campuses and five medical centers would walk out for those five days next month. The union’s 13,000 patient care technical workers, such as respiratory therapists, would strike in sympathy, according to a union statement issued Thursday.
The union struck for two days in May and held a one-day walkout in November. It has been locked in lengthy and tense negotiations with UC administrators over such issues as employee contributions


http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-uc-strikedate-20140220,0,752000.story#ixzz2ttXgG1z2

Agenda March 5 and 6, 2014 - Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) meeting (CA Dept of Education)

Agenda March 5 and 6, 2014 - Administration & Support (CA Dept of Education):



Agenda March 5 and 6, 2014



Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) meeting agenda.
Advisory Commission on Special Education Members
  • Diane Fazzi, Chair
    Gina Plate, Vice Chair
    Feda Almaliti
    Mildred Browne
    Morena de Grimaldi 
    Kristi Hagans
    Somer Harding
    Sara Jocham
    Betty Karnette
    Lester Pincu
    Nancy Portillo
    Naomi Rainey
    Mariano Sanz
    Barbara Schulman
Student Members
  • Hyla Rachwal
  • Timothy Higgins
Legislative Members
  • Carol Liu, Senate
  • Joan Buchanan, Assembly
State Board of Education
  • Carl Cohn, Liaison
State Special Schools
  • Scott Kerby, Director, State Special Schools and Services Division
    California Department of Education
Executive Secretary
  • Fred Balcom, Director, Special Education Division
    California Department of Education
Agenda Times Are Approximate and Are Provided for Convenience Only
All items may be re-ordered to be heard on any day of the noticed meeting. The order of business may be changed without notice.
Advisory Commission on Special Education
Schedule of MeetingLocation
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time ±
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Room 1101
Sacramento, California
916-445-4602
Thursday, March 6, 2014
8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time ±
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Room 1101
Sacramento, California
916-445-4602
Please see the detailed agenda for more information about the items to be considered and acted upon. The public is welcome.
Guidelines for Public Input Sessions
The Commission welcomes public involvement. Opportunities for public comment are provided at every Commission meeting.
Reasonable Accommodation for Any Individual With a Disability
Pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, any individual with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to attend or participate in a meeting or function of the Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE), may request assistance by contacting the Special Education Division, 1430 N Street, Suite 2401, Sacramento, CA, 95814; telephone, 916-445-4602; fax, 916-327-3706.

Advisory Commission on Special Education
Agenda, Wednesday, March 5, 2014, 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Room 1101
Sacramento, California 
NOTE: Items not heard or completed on March 5, 2014, may be carried over to March 6, 2014.
10:00–10:15 a.m.
  • Call to Order–Roll Call
  • Salute to the Flag
  • Communications and Announcements
  • Review of Agenda
10:15–10:45 a.m.
Operations and Planning
  • Updates from the following ACSE appointed committees: 1) Election; 2) Bylaws; and 3) Grazer Outstanding Achievement in Learning (GOAL) Award
  • Review 2014–15 ACSE meeting dates (through December 2014)
  • Review ACSE Action Planning Sheet
  • Utilize Motion Forms
Type of Action: Action, Information
10:45–11:00 a.m.
Item 1–Legislative Report: Discussion of Special Education and related bills, presented by Jennifer Moreno, Legislative Representative, Legislative Affairs Office, Government Affairs Division, California Department of Education (CDE).
Type of Action: Action, Information
11:00–11:30 a.m.
Item 2–Assessment Report: Update on Smarter Balanced and the National Center and State Collaborative assessments for students with disabilities presented by Deborah Baumgartner, Education Administrator I; and Sheila Self, Education Programs Consultant; Assessment Development and Administration Division, CDE.
11:30–11:45 a.m.
Item 3–Statewide Special Education Task Force: Presentation and review of current activities from Carl Cohn, Special Education Task Force Co-chair and ACSE Liaison to the State Board of Education (SBE). Implications of Task Force work and ACSE involvement discussion lead by Commissioners participating on the Task Force: Gina Plate, Barbara Schulman, and Sara Jocham.
11:45 a.m.–Noon
Item 4–Public Comment: Input is invited from the public and organizational representatives.
Noon–1:15 p.m. LUNCH
1:15–5:00 p.m.
Item 5–Strategic Plan Update: The ACSE is committed to supporting the success of students with disabilities by ensuring their inclusion in Common Core Math and English Language Arts content delivery and assessments. The Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) will provide the framework for implementing an appropriate continuum of evidence-based instructional and data-driven monitoring practices that support student achievement. The ACSE will also provide recommendations and advice related to quality services and supports, with an emphasis on eligibility processes and the development of strengths-based Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Finally, the ACSE will provide input on the ultimate goal for students—a transition process by which students with disabilities move successfully from school into the adult world.
During the 2013–2014 year, the three ACSE Core Content Committees will meet to address:
  1. Common Core State Standards implementation via an MTSS framework
  2. Quality Services and Support—with a focus on eligibility and IEPs
  3. Secondary Transition
Core Content Committee reports and discussion.
Type of Action: Action, Information
5:00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT
Adjournment of day's session.

Advisory Commission on Special Education
Agenda, Thursday, March 6, 2014, 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Room 1101
Sacramento, California 
8:30–8:40 a.m.
  • Call to Order–Roll Call
  • Salute to the Flag
  • Communications and Announcements
  • Review of Agenda
  • Operations and Planning
8:40–9:00 a.m.
Item 6–Unfinished Business: Address any unfinished business from the previous day, if needed.
9:00–9:30 a.m.
Item 7–Liaison Reports: ACSE members will report on liaison activities occurring between ACSE meetings.
9:30–10:00 a.m.
Item 8–Common Core State Standards: Update on Common Core State Standards and support for students with disabilities presented by Nancy S. Brownell, Senior Fellow, Common Core Systems Implementation Team, SBE and CDE; and Kristen Brown, Ph.D., Education Programs Consultant, Policy and Program Services Unit, Special Education Division (SED), CDE.
Type of Action: Action, Information
10:00–10:15 a.m. BREAK
10:15–10:30 a.m.
Item 9–Public Comment: Input is invited from the public and organizational representatives.
*Time will be allocated to distance participant Parent Training Institutes to present issues of importance to parents.
Type of Action: Action, Information
10:30–10:45 a.m.
Item 10–Legislative Members and Liaison Reports: Reports from Joan Buchanan, Assembly Member and Chair, Committee on Education; Carol Liu, Senate Member and Chair, Committee on Education; and Carl Cohn, Member, SBE and SBE liaison to the ACSE.
Type of Action: Action, Information
10:45–11:15 a.m.
Item 11–State Special Schools Director Report: Presented by Scott Kerby, Director, State Special Schools and Services Division, CDE.
11:15–11:45 a.m.
Item 12–Status Report Regarding the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP): Presentation by Christine Swenson, Director, Local Agency Systems Support, CDE. Under the Local Control Funding Formula, local educational agencies are required to prepare an LCAP which describes the process to meet annual goals for all pupils, with specific activities to address state and local priorities identified pursuant to California Education Code Section 52060(d).
Type of Action: Action, Information
11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Item 13–Special Education Division Director Report: Presented by Fred Balcom, Director, SED, CDE.
Type of Action: Action, Information
12:15–12:30 p.m.
Item 14–Future Agenda Building: Commissioners are invited to submit recommendations for future meeting agenda items directly to the Vice Chair.
Type of Action: Action, Information
1:30 p.m. ADJOURNMENT
Adjournment of day's session.
Adjournment of meeting. 
Related Content
  • ACSE Meeting Webcast - Live and recent Webcasts of the California Advisory Commission for Special Education (ACSE) Meeting.
Questions:   Venetia Davis | vdavis@cde.ca.gov | 916-323-9773

PSP used lobbying firm to promote Green as SRC chair | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

PSP used lobbying firm to promote Green as SRC chair | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:



PSP used lobbying firm to promote Green as SRC chair

by thenotebook on Feb 20 2014 Posted in Latest news
Photo: Courtesy of Philadelphia School Partnership
Mark Gleason is executive director of the Philadelphia School Partnership.
by Bill Hangley Jr.
As Bill Green takes the helm of the School Reform Commission, new details have emerged about the process that brought him to the job.
Officials at the Philadelphia School Partnership say their hired consultants, from one of the state's most influential lobbying firms, Wojdak and Associates, actively urged legislators in Harrisburg to support Green as SRC chair during the run-up to his approval by the state senate. 
“Our advocacy around the SRC was that the city needed a leader who is focused on reform and has the skills and experience to be effective,” said Mark Gleason, the PSP’s executive director. “Based on Bill Green’s vision and experience, we supported him as a candidate who could be a great SRC chair.”
Green, a Democrat nominated by Gov. Tom Corbett, a Republican, says he was not aware of PSP’s effort on his behalf. “I didn’t realize anybody was being paid to lobby,” he said. “But … I’m happy for any support I got.”
Green strongly denied that PSP’s effort would give the organization any undue influence.
“The only people I owe for my position are the governor of Pennsylvania, and 44 state senators" -- who voted in to confirm him -- Green said. “Nobody who’s seen