How Trump's budget cuts will affect class size nationwide - Network For Public Education

How Trump's budget cuts will affect class size nationwide - Network For Public Education:

How Trump’s budget cuts will affect class size nationwide

Though much has been written about President Trump’s proposed budget cuts, little has been said about how his largest proposed cut to public schools, the total elimination of $2.4 billion in Title IIA funds, would likely increase class size across the nation.

Most schools have already have seen sharp increases in class size since the great recession. While the number of public K-12 teachers and other school staff fell by 221,000 since 2008, the number of students increased by 1,120,000. In NY state, the total number of teachers in New York state public schools plunged by about 26,000 between 2008-2015, according to NYSED statistics. In New York City, this has resulted in sharp increases in class size, with Kindergarten through 3rd grade classes larger than they were in 1999; in grades 4-8, larger than in 2004. This year, more than 300,000 NYC students are crammed into classes of 30 or more.

The Title IIA program has existed at least since the Eisenhower administration, and until the year 2000 was used mostly for teacher training. President Clinton created a separate funding stream to help districts lower class size, but this dedicated funding was folded into the overall Title IIA program by George W. Bush when he became President. In 2015-2016, thirty-five percent of school districts used their Title IIA funds to hire teachers on staff to reduce class size- or more likely to prevent layoffs, and this was especially true in the highest poverty districts. In New York City, the entire allocation of $101 million in Title IIA funds was used to prevent further class size increases – which helped prevent the elimination of approximately 1000 teaching positions.

Why is this important? Class size reduction is not only extremely popular among parents and teachers – it is one of the very few reforms proven to work through rigorous evidence, and to provide especially large benefits for children from low-income families and students of color, who see twice the academic gains from small classes. Indeed, it is only one of a handful of educational policies that has been shown to significantly narrow the achievement gap between economic and racial groups.

Research has also linked smaller classes to improvements in many other ways, boosting non-cognitive skills and parent involvement. Class size How Trump's budget cuts will affect class size nationwide - Network For Public Education: 

A Day to Cheer for Students and Books - NEA Today

A Day to Cheer for Students and Books - NEA Today:

A Day to Cheer for Students and Books

Educators promote literacy year-round but the celebrations bloom in spring with NEA’s Read Across America, National Poetry Month, School Library Month, and next week, El Día de los Niños, El Día de los Libros.

“Children’s Day, Book Day” is a year-long commitment to celebrating all children and to motivating them and their families to be readers. Known widely as Día, the literacy initiative is a collaboration of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), First Book, REFORMA and other literacy organizations. Children’s Day, Book Day celebrations and book fiestas are held in libraries, schools, homes, and community centers on or near April 30th.

Pat Mora, author and former educator, founded Día in 1996. Inspired by the Mexican celebration of El dia del nino and World Book Day, she wanted to create a celebration of both children and books. NEA Today spoke to Pat Mora about Día and how educators can get involved.

How can schools, libraries and educators get started?

First people need to be committed to starting the tradition. Even if it means that on Día you simply say to your classes and students, today is your day! Let’s read some books of your choice – books for you, and about you. It’s exciting when students hear that a day is all about them. This is why we have holidays – we have Mother’s Day, we have the Fourth of July. We have holidays to bring attention to something or someone and to celebrate them. And that is what Día is about. It’s about bringing attention to children and books and celebrating them.

But we always celebrate children, don’t we?

I get that question a lot and my response is yes, some children. It’s a hard truth but A Day to Cheer for Students and Books - NEA Today:

Let’s Hear It For Black Girls! | gadflyonthewallblog

Let’s Hear It For Black Girls! | gadflyonthewallblog:

Let’s Hear It For Black Girls!

 

“Sisters are more than the sum of their relative disadvantages: they are active agents who craft meaning out of their circumstances and do so in complicated and diverse ways.”

-Melissa Harris-Perry, Sister Citizen (2011)

Let’s hear it for black girls!

They are beautiful, bold, irrepressible and – above all – so incredibly strong.

Black girls will outlast any struggle, face down any adversary, and – more often than not – triumph in the face of adversity.

I know. I’m a public school teacher, and many of my best students are black and female.

That doesn’t necessarily mean they get the best grades. Some earn A’s and some don’t. But when it comes to pure willpower and the courage to stand up for themselves, no one beats a black girl.

Those are rare qualities nowadays. Sometimes it doesn’t make these girls easy to have in class. But think about how important they are.

As a teacher, it sure makes your life easier when students do whatever they’re told. But in life, we don’t want citizens who simply follow orders. We want people who Let’s Hear It For Black Girls! | gadflyonthewallblog:

The Birth of Fake News: Portrait of the Movement

The Birth of Fake News: Portrait of the Movement

Did you ever wonder how Fake News gets it start? The Corporate Education Reform Vanity Press produces a "research" report that touts the so called blessings of Privatization. The Report is then published as gospel on various Fake News websites like The 74, then it is repeated by other Fake News sites Like the Choice Media, LA Schools Report, etc. Before long you read in your local newspaper that there is proof that Charter Schools are better, just read the report. Never once mentioning that it was produced by the evil forces of privatization. And so it goes...

CA Charter Schools Beating the Odds: Charter Students Learning More than Peers in Traditional Schools

(Sacramento, CA) - Today the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) released its fifth "Portrait of the Movement" report. The 2017 report echoes prior research and highlights strong outcomes among charter schools serving California's historically disadvantaged students.

"This report shows that California charter schools continue to beat the odds by helping their students achieve at higher levels than their peers in traditional public schools," said Jed Wallace, president and CEO, CCSA. "Year after year we see charter schools in California using their freedom and flexibility to deliver results for students that surpass expectations."

Overall, this report reveals California's charter public schools are successfully striving towards full implementation of Common Core, and continue to outperform traditional public schools at disproportionately high numbers. Charter school trends in performance are stable since the transition from the Academic Performance Index (API), as charters continue to positively serve the most historically disadvantaged and vulnerable students. The 2017 Portrait of the Movement documents that charters are achieving academic success across various student demographic groups and geographies, and within different charter school types. At the same time, the report identifies areas of focus as the sector has further to go in meeting the academic needs of all students, because there are still too many under performing charter schools in the state.

"Though charters still educate a relatively small proportion of California's students (9% in 2015-16), they are having a disproportionate impact on student learning," said Elizabeth 

CURMUDGUCATION: Leaders, Character, and Policy

CURMUDGUCATION: Leaders, Character, and Policy:

Leaders, Character, and Policy

Many of us spend huge amounts of time discussing and debating education policy. But where the synthetic rubber meets the recycled asphalt, policy is not the most important thing. In every school, in every district, what really matters is the character of the leadership.

In the same way that workers do not quit workplaces so much as they quit a boss, teachers are influenced by the administrators in their building. District administrators are influential primarily in how they affect building administrators. Policy decisions on the state and federal level are most influential to the extent that they influence the behavior of actual educators in actual leadership positions.

Put another way, a sudden implementation of actual good education policies by state and federal governments (boy, what a dream that is) would not suddenly transform a bad building principal who makes staff miserable into a great principal with a happy staff.

In fact, a good principal, given the chance by her superintendent, can seriously blunt the impact of bad policy choices. In Florida, a state that is a champion producer of bad education policy, there are schools where principals actually find reasonable, humane, decent solutions to problems created by stupid policies.

A good manager in any business or institution really has just one job-- to create conditions in which her people can do their best work. If it's raining, a good manager is out there holding an umbrella over the front-line worker; not yelling at that worker for being wet.

It's important to have an administrator who has classroom experience, who knows the regulations, who has a broad understanding of education, and all the other things CURMUDGUCATION: Leaders, Character, and Policy:

Gene V Glass: Education in Two Worlds: Is Your Job Robot-Proof?

Gene V Glass: Education in Two Worlds: Is Your Job Robot-Proof?:

Is Your Job Robot-Proof?

It doesn’t take much observation of the typical high school curriculum to see that most of what is being taught is a vestige of a long past era. Geometry was essential to the ancient Egyptians, but not to modern Americans. Spelling, handwriting, and even writing itself have little to do with contemporary communication. My wife can’t understand why I still type instant messages instead of speak them into my smart phone.

The future is robots and artificial intelligence. Profit-seeking individuals and corporations demand it. Ford motor company recently ear-marked $1 billion for R&D on robotics, in an industry in which humans are already disappearing from the assembly line.

My father left school at age 14 and started work as an apprentice printer in 1923. He worked as a dues-paying member of the International Typographical Union for nearly 40 years. In the mid-1960s, his union struck against the introduction of computers into the composing room. He never worked another day as a printer. When he retired, the ITU’s pension fund was broke. "Printer" was the first occupation to be wiped out by computers. But it was hardly the last.

Recently, David Brancaccio and Katy Long undertook to catalogue various occupations as either 100% robot-proof (i.e., unlikely to be replaced by computers and AI) or 0% robot-proof. My father’s job was 0%, and it happened so long ago that Brancaccio and Long didn’t even bother to mention it. Here are their two lists:

0% Automatable
• Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
• Animal Scientists
• Animal Trainers
• Astronomers
• Athletes and Sports Competitors
• Clergy
• Dancers
• Directors, Religious Activities and Education
• Historians
• Mathematical Technicians
• Models
• Music Directors and Composers
• Religious Workers, All Other
• Roof Bolters, Mining

100% Automatable
• Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
• Dredge Operators
• Foundry Mold and Coremakers
• Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products
• Logging Equipment Operators
• Machine Feeders and Offbearers
• Medical Appliance Technicians
• Motion Picture Projectionists
• Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
• Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
• Plasterers and Stucco Masons
• Slaughterers and Meat Packers

We can conclude a couple of things from these lists.

1) The robot-proof jobs have to do with the arts, sports, entertainment, and – shall we say – spiritual pursuits.

2) The jobs replaceable by computers, AI, and robots are the mid-level trades Gene V Glass: Education in Two Worlds: Is Your Job Robot-Proof?:

Largest Charter School Chain in LA Raises Millions in Dark Money to Fight Union Drive, State Auditor Finds | Alternet

Largest Charter School Chain in LA Raises Millions in Dark Money to Fight Union Drive, State Auditor Finds | Alternet:

Largest Charter School Chain in LA Raises Millions in Dark Money to Fight Union Drive, State Auditor Finds
Nearly $1 million in cash, $2.2 million in legal work.

The extraordinary lengths that Los Angeles’ largest charter school chain will go to defeat a union drive were revealed in a new California State Auditor report that found it raised nearly $1 million for the effort and broke federal privacy law by giving alumni information to industry lobbyists to augment their union-busting campaign.

The efforts by Alliance College-Ready Public Schools (Alliance) to stop the union drive that began in March 2015, when 67 teachers and counselors said they wanted to join United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), also included $2.2 million in donated legal fees, hiring an array of campaign consultants routinely seen in political fights and coordinating with the California Charter School Association (CCSA), which used the private alumni files to recruit former students to their side.

The audit report did not say who gave the money or legal work worth $3.2 million to Alliance, which operates 25 schools in the LA region with 12,000 students and has more than 600 teachers and counselors. The state auditor's goal was to determine if any of the anti-union funds spent by Alliance had been diverted from taxpayer funds. It concluded that Alliance set up separate accounts and had not dipped into the $157 million it got from state, federal, and local sources in fiscal year 2015-16.

While that finding sparked the “did not use public funds to fight unions” headline in local news that Alliance wanted, the audit noted that Alliance’s anti-union effort clearly violated federal privacy laws by giving information about former students to CCSA, which, in turn, recruited and paid some to deliver scripted messages. The report also stated that California law permits union drives at public schools, noting Alliance and UTLA have been in court where the chain has been ordered to cease illegal intimidation and threats.

But because auditors are state government’s accountants, their report mostly stuck to fiscal and privacy issues. As it parsed Alliance’s $3.2 million in anti-union expenses, it withheld a lot of details, such as not naming donors, who did the pro bono legal work or saying if these contributions were tax-deductible as the chain is a non-profit corporation.

However, UTLA officials have said Alliance retained Proskauer Rose LLP, a firm Largest Charter School Chain in LA Raises Millions in Dark Money to Fight Union Drive, State Auditor Finds | Alternet:

A CT School Adequacy Study will inform a rational and constitutional education finance program - Wait What?

A CT School Adequacy Study will inform a rational and constitutional education finance program - Wait What?:

A CT School Adequacy Study will inform a rational and constitutional education finance program

The Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education (CCJEF) explains why the Connecticut General Assembly should approve legislation requiring a CT School Adequacy Study rather than adopt a faulty school funding formula that fails to adequately fund Connecticut’s public schools and diverts even more scarce resources to Connecticut’s unaccountable charter school industry.

Q & A:  THE NEED FOR AN ADEQUACY COST STUDY TO INFORM RATIONAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL EDUCATION FINANCE REFORM

1.  What is the difference between the proposal supported by CCJEF (Subst. H.B. 7270, File 511) and the Sen. Duff proposal (to be amended to S.B. 2)?

CCJEF proposes an adequacy cost study, which has been done in over 30 other states, to help determine the amount of funding needed to educate different groups of students depending on their needs. S.B. 2 proposes a dramatic revision of the entire funding system which shifts funds away from traditional public neighborhood schools, reduces the “foundation” amount now allocated for each student and makes unsupported guesses at funding levels for poverty students, ELL students and others without first knowing the extent of student needs and how much is required to meet them across districts. S.B. 2 may include some improvements over the status quo but this radical change in education funding was drafted in the dark and has never been subjected to the light of a public hearing or given sufficient scrutiny.

2. Does the Duff proposal responds to the inadequacies defined by the CCJEF court?

No. Because the proposal is not based on empirical data on how much it A CT School Adequacy Study will inform a rational and constitutional education finance program - Wait What?:

John Thompson: Placemaking crucial to success of Innovation District - NonDoc

Placemaking crucial to success of Innovation District - NonDoc:

Placemaking crucial to success of Innovation District

A report on Oklahoma City’s Innovation District released Tuesday by the Brookings Institute and Project for Public Spaces presents a doable vision the for northeast OKC effort. (Full report available here.)

The authors conclude:

Oklahoma City is poised to organize itself to be a fierce competitor in the innovation economy and to build a stronger regional economy as a result— if it has the vision and will to do so.

It also advises:

Most importantly, this entity requires a strong innovation team (or at minimum a high-level leader) that sits between institutions and can catalyze a shared vision.

The think tank declares, “Collaboration is key.”

Agreed. We must work together to address the historical challenges that have plagued the area between downtown and the OU Health Science Center as well as build on our strengths. In doing so, OKC could create neighborhood hubs that are launchpads for the 21st century.

Overcoming legacy problems through placemaking

Not surprisingly, the Brookings report identifies two longstanding problems: the “district’s car-centric physical layout and lack of gathering spaces.” It diplomatically describes the legacy of our original sin — racial segregation — and how “low-income residents of neighboring communities remain largely disconnected from employment Placemaking crucial to success of Innovation District - NonDoc:

Putting public schools in the national spotlight | American Federation of Teachers

Putting public schools in the national spotlight | American Federation of Teachers:

Putting public schools in the national spotlight

It was a chance for one small Midwest city to showcase the great work going on inside its public schools, and Van Wert, Ohio, made the most of it.

The April 20 school visits hosted by Van Wert, a northwest Ohio community of roughly 11,000, for AFT President Randi Weingarten and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos drew coverage from a full complement of local, state and national media outlets. And the stories that filled the day focused not on partisan rancor but on robust, well-supported public school approaches from prekindergarten through high school.

That public education can build consensus and flourish in this Republican-leaning community is proof positive that "support for public schools transcends politics," Weingarten told reporters at a wrap-up press conference.

DeVos, who has drawn fire for promoting an education budget that would ax $9 billion from federal programs, and for using her Cabinet post as a bully pulpit for vouchers and choice, agreed that something exemplary was happening inside these public schools. "It was clear that this community has invested heart and soul into the students here."

The visit was featured nationally by the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Associated Press. It also received prominent coverage in local and regional media as well as publications closely tracked by policymakers and the education community, such as Politico and Education Week.

- See more at: http://www.aft.org/news/putting-public-schools-national-spotlight#sthash.MASPGAmQ.dpuf

George Takei's 'Allegiance' is headed to Los Angeles + PACIFIC ARTS MOVEMENT PRESENTS: RIGHT TO RESIST

George Takei's 'Allegiance' is headed to Los Angeles:

GEORGE TAKEI'S 'ALLEGIANCE' IS HEADED TO LOS ANGELES

Allegiance is coming to Los Angeles next year. East West Players and the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center will present the Los Angeles premiere of the Broadway musical Allegiance, with performances at JACCC's Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo. from February 21 to April 1, 2018. Previews will run from February 21-25, with the Opening Night performance and reception on February 28.

With music and lyrics by Jay Kuo and a book by Marc Acito, Kuo, and Lorenzo Thione, Allegiance is inspired by the true childhood experiences of actor, activist and social media icon George Takei. The original Broadway production played on Broadway from 2015-16 at the Longacre Theatre in New York City.

Allegiance tells the story of the Kimura family, whose lives are upended when they and 120,000 other Japanese Americans are forced to leave their homes following the events of Pearl Harbor. Sam Kimura seeks to prove his patriotism by fighting for his country in the war, but his sister, Kei, fiercely protests the government's treatment of her people. An uplifting testament to the power of the human spirit, Allegiance follows the Kimuras as they fight between duty and defiance, custom and change, family bonds and forbidden loves.

Snehal Desai, Artistic Director of East West Players, says the contemporary relevance of Allegiance's themes made it important to partner with JACCC and the show's original producers to bring the musical to Los Angeles and stage it in Little Tokyo

"This year marks the 75th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066, which led to the forced removal of George Takei's 'Allegiance' is headed to Los Angeles:





 PACIFIC ARTS MOVEMENT PRESENTS: RIGHT TO RESIST

San Diego film fans! As part of Pacific Arts Movement's 7th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival Spring Showcase, you are invited to Right to Resist: From 9066 to 2017, a series of documentaries and short films highlighting those who spoke up against Executive Order 9066 and those who spoke up against the post-9/11 treatment of Muslim Americans, as well as those of South Asian and Middle Eastern descent today.

Right to Resist will screen Sunday, April 23 at Ultra Star Mission Valley Cinemas-Hazard Center. Admission is free for ages 17 and under. Here are some more details about the program:

Special Presentation: Right to Resist: From 9066 to 2017 (SDAFF Spring 2017)
Dates: Sunday, April 23
Location: UltraStar Mission Valley

Join Pacific Arts Movement for a special presentation at this year's 7th Annual SDAFF Spring Showcase titled RIGHT TO RESIST: FROM 9066 TO 2017.

RIGHT TO RESIST chronicles resistance, from Fred Korematsu's acts of disobedience to contemporary outrage against the post-9/11 treatment of Muslim Americans and those of South Asian and Middle Eastern descent.

The series of documentaries and short films will screen on Sunday, April 23 at Ultra Star Mission Valley Cinemas-Hazard Center. Admission is free for ages 17 and under.

FILMS:
CATS OF MIRIKITANI
OF CIVIL WRONGS AND RIGHTS: THE FRED KOREMATSU STORY
ENEMY ALIEN
RESISTANCE AT TULE LAKE

SHORTS:
AFGHAN
TADAIMA
SPEAKING OUT!
LETTERS FROM CAMP

For the schedule, ticket information, and further details about all the films in Right to Resist, as well as the full slate of Spring Showcase programming, visit Pacific Arts Movement's website.

 PACIFIC ARTS MOVEMENT PRESENTS: RIGHT TO RESIST

Science teachers to join march to oppose what they see as threat to quality education | EdSource

Science teachers to join march to oppose what they see as threat to quality education | EdSource:

Science teachers to join march to oppose what they see as threat to quality education

undreds of California science teachers – and plenty of their students, as well – will take to the streets Saturday to defend funding for science research and programs and education, which they say are increasingly under attack.

The March for Science, organized by about two dozen scientists at universities and laboratories across the country, will be held April 22 in Washington, D.C., with about 500 satellite marches planned around the world. Forty-one marches will be in California, with large events slated in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego and smaller marches happening everywhere, from Palm Springs to Redding.

The California Teachers Association, California Science Teachers Association and National Science Teachers Association are all urging their members to participate, saying proposed cuts to school funding and the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal science agencies are a threat to high-quality science education for young people. The teachers groups also oppose proposed policy changes, such as withdrawing from the Paris climate accord and cutting funding for the enforcement of clean air and water laws.  

“The overall climate right now for science – and science education – is frightening,” said David Evans, executive director of the National Science Teachers Association, which plans to bring a large contingent to the Washington, D.C., march and is a co-sponsor of the event.

“Science itself is critically important, but underpinning that is science education. It’s something we very much need to fight for,” said Evans, a former math and science Science teachers to join march to oppose what they see as threat to quality education | EdSource:

Indiana hasn’t really improved the schools it has taken over. Now, the state could start taking over entire districts | Chalkbeat

Indiana hasn’t really improved the schools it has taken over. Now, the state could start taking over entire districts | Chalkbeat:

Indiana hasn’t really improved the schools it has taken over. Now, the state could start taking over entire districts

An effort to solve debt crises in Gary and Muncie could end with Indiana lawmakers having the power to take over school districts, even if they aren’t failing.

A bill would create a brand-new district takeover process that mimics a strategy Michigan recently abandoned in Detroit — one that could largely cut state education officials out of the picture. Lawmakers are still working out a final version of the bill.

Takeover is just one of many strategies the state has as its disposal to help schools improve. But so far, the state has only taken over individual schools when they have years of low test scores and letter grades — and it doesn’t have a strong track record of turning them around. Of the four schools that were taken over by the state in 2012 and still remain under state control, all received F grades in 2016.

Lawmakers came up with the strategy to solve long-standing financial troubles in Gary Community Schools, which has racked up $100 million in debt and dwindled to fewer than 6,000 students. The district has also been labeled an F since 2011, with seven schools considered failing.

But over the past few weeks, Senate Bill 567 has been adjusted by House lawmakers to add the Muncie school district to the mix —  which, despite having about $18 million of debt of its own, currently has a C grade from the state and no failing schools within Indiana hasn’t really improved the schools it has taken over. Now, the state could start taking over entire districts | Chalkbeat:

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

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

Feisty Friday Diane Ravitch's blog 

A site to discuss better education for all

Stuart Egan: Betsy DeVos IS the Status Quo

by dianeravitch / 2min

Stuart Egan, a high school teacher in North Carolina, notes that Betsy DeVos relies on two rhetorical strategies: 1. Pleasant (and meaningless) platitudes; 2. A decided opposition to “the status quo.” She, who insisted at her Senate hearing 

WSJ: Congress Is Going After Your Pension, Not Theirs

10by dianeravitch / 41min

Today in the Wall Street Journal, a story that is enraging. The people with the best pension in the world want to slash yours! “The lucky participants in one of the best retirement plans around are coming after yours with a meat cleaver. “In 

Tomorrow is Earth Day! There Will Also Be Many “March for Science” Events

1by dianeravitch / 27min

April 22 is an annual event to celebrate the Earth and to take steps to improve the environment for all who share the same planet. Tomorrow there will also be a March for Science in many locales, notably in Washington, D.C. and in New 

Dr. Betty Rosa, Chancellor of New York Board of Regents, Responds to Robert Pondiscio of Thomas B. Fordham Institute

by dianeravitch / 40min

Dr. Betty Rosa, Chancellor of the New York Board of Regents, responded to a critical article by Robert Pondiscio of the conservative Thomas B. Fordham Institute in this post on the TBF website. Pondiscio expressed disappointmen

Gary Rubinstein: The Oops Factor at Bill Gates’ Favorite School in Colorado

1by dianeravitch / 32min

The trouble with hailing a school as a model is that you can’t predict what might happen next year. This has never stopped Bill Gates! In 2012, he visited the Eagle Valley High School in Colorado. In 2013, he celebrated the school in his annual letter as one that was successfully adopting his ideas. But…Gary Rubinstein reviewed Eagle Valley High School’s latest state report, and it is no longer a

Jeff Bryant: Betsy DeVos Doesn’t Care About Civil Rights

4by dianeravitch / 1h

The U.S. Department of Education has been a major force in protecting the civil rights of students and promoting desegregation. But, writes Jeff Bryant, these issues do not seem to be part of Betsy DeVos’s agenda . Nor are they a high priority for Jeff Sessions at the Justice Department. He writes: “So far, Trump’s Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has sent numerous signs she is assembling a staff

Betsy and Randi Visit a Rural School District in Ohio

5by dianeravitch / 2h

Betsy DeVos and Randi Weingarten visited the public schools of rural Van Wert, Ohio. Randi wanted Betsy to see how important federal dollars are to a good public school. Betsy went along and got a promise from Randi to tour a school of choice with her. Education Week says the “rifts” between them remain. Yeah, a rift the size of the Grand Canyon is not likely to close no matter how many schools t

YESTERDAY

The Indivisibles Now Have Nearly 6,000 Groups Organized to Defeat the Rightwing Agenda

13by dianeravitch / 18h

The Indivisibles started out as a guide for people who wanted to oppose the Trump agenda. It was specific advice offered by former Congressional staff members. Among other things, it urged people to attend town hall meetings with their elected officials. Thousands of people responded and we have already seen how members of the public are demanding action from their representatives to protect thei

Texas: AR-15 Assault Weapon Will Be Raffle Prize for School Charity

32by dianeravitch / 21h

The New Caney school district in Texas is holding a raffle to raise money for Project Graduation. One of the prizes is an AR-15 assault rifle. This is the same weapon that has been used in numerous massacres, including the massacre at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut and the Orlando nightclub massacre. The owner of the gun said he would do a background check before releasing the we

Have You Heard? Truth in Edvertising

11by dianeravitch / 22h

Jennifer Berkshire and historian Jack Schneider discuss a new phenomenon: schools that advertise for students. They identify one charter that spends $1,000 per student to recruit new ones. This is the new world of school choice and the free market, where schools compete for customers and your tax dollars are spent for advertising and marketing, not for teacher pay or supplies. http://haveyouheard

Chester Finn Jr. Calls for an End to Teacher Tenure

26by dianeravitch / 23h

In this post , Chester (Checker) Finn Jr. questions the need for teacher tenure. Getting rid of tenure, he says, will save money, as it has in higher education, where money is lavished on administrators’ salaries and facilities, but not faculty (except for the Big Names). He thinks that teacher tenure is a relatively recent invention, copying tenure in higher education. Actually, this is not true

James Kirylo: Our Obsession with Standardized Testing is Inhumane

16by dianeravitch / 1d

Mercedes Schneider posted a guest column by James Kirylo on our leaders’ sick obsession with testing and its harmful consequences for students. Testing has become a grueling rite of spring, he writes. “Whereas in 1950 those who completed high school took only approximately three standardized tests through their entire K-12 experience, and whereas in 1991 those who completed their K-12 experience

Steven Singer: DeVos Hires Critic of Civil Rights to Not Protect Civil Rights

14by dianeravitch / 1d

Each day brings more evidence that the Trump administration intends to roll back the social and political gains of the past 50 years (Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society) and perhaps even FDR’s New Deal. Betsy DeVos hired lawyer and rightwing activist Candace Jackson as acting assistant secretary in charge of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. When DeVos finds a permanent as

Mitchell Robinson: The Danger of Silencing Teachers

35by dianeravitch / 1d

Mitchell Robinson, professor of music education at Michigan State, writes a very sad story here about a dedicated teacher who was threatened with firing if she refused to name names. “Rachel [a pseudonym] is one of those teachers who has 

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