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Saturday, February 18, 2012

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts 2-18 #SOSchat #p2 #edreform


Jersey Jazzman: Hackuva Job, Cerfie!

Jersey Jazzman: Hackuva Job, Cerfie!:Hackuva Job, Cerfie!by DukeTom Moran is once again is in a huff; he can't understand why anyone would have a problem with the bestest education commissioner ever!Chris Cerf has been steering education policy in New Jersey for more than a year now, and no one disputes that he has brought talent and devotion to the work.But you can’t call him commissioner because the boys in the Senate won’t confirm him, for reasons that are beyond ridiculous. ... more »

Major Bill Actions in Education » - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress

Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress:Bill Introduced: H.R.4034 Mentor-Mentee Teen Pregnancy Reduction Act of 2012To amend title V of the Social Security Act to provide grants for school-based mentoring programs for at risk teenage girls to prevent and reduce teen pregnancy, and to provide student loan forgiveness for mentors participating in such programs.Bill Introduced: S.2106 Josh Miller Helping Everyone Access Responsive Treatment in Schools Act of 2012A bill to establish a grant program for automated external defibrillators in elementary schools ... more »

Three Pro-Public School Posts to Make You Smile | Re:education in Baltimore

Three Pro-Public School Posts to Make You Smile | Re:education in Baltimore:Three Pro-Public School Posts to Make You Smileby Edit BarryThree Pro-Public School Posts to Make You SmileA parent-artist painted this mural in my neighborhood public school. What have you done for your public school lately?“If progressives want to improve schools, we shouldn’t empty them out. We ought to flood them with our kids, and then debate vociferously what they ought to be doing.”These are the concluding lines of Dana ... more »

PBS: Is online learning beneficial for students? | Dangerously Irrelevant

PBS: Is online learning beneficial for students? | Dangerously Irrelevant:PBS: Is online learning beneficial for students?by dr.scott.mcleod@gmail.com (Scott McLeod)Earlier this month, PBS Learning Matters sponsored a discussion about online learning for students. I was asked to contribute a short piece. Here's a paragraph from my response to the question, Is online learning beneficial for students?As online enrollments have rapidly expanded, so too have accompanying concerns. Educators and parents worry about losing the nurturing intimacy of teachers and students who are ... more »

A Pause in Testing Madness « Parents Across America

A Pause in Testing Madness « Parents Across America:A Pause in Testing Madnessby pagrundyThis time last year, residents of Charlotte, North Carolina faced a massive expansion of high-stakes standardized testing, aimed at making the students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools the most tested in the nation.That spring, students, teachers and parents endured the outbreak of what we soon called “testing madness.” On top of the regular state tests, teachers across Mecklenburg County were required to administer 52 new high-stakes standardized tests, part ... more »

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, EFL:This Week’s “Round-Up” Good Education Policy Posts ArticlesLarry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 8 hours agoHere are some recent good education policy posts and articles: Pasi Sahlberg, the expert and author on education in Finland, has a blog. I’ve added it to The Best Resources To Learn About Finland’s Education System. ‘Lesson Study,” Japanese Strategy … Continue reading →New Pinterest ResourcesLarry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's ... more »

Battling skepticism. | Connected Principals

Battling skepticism. | Connected Principals:Battling skepticism.by Lyn Hilt“Skepticism has many definitions, but generally refers to any questioning attitude towards knowledge, facts, or opinions/beliefs stated as facts, or doubt regarding claims that are taken for granted elsewhere.”Source: WikipediaYesterday in a conversation with an elementary principal colleague, I allowed myself to become irritated.I wasn’t irritated with Bill. He seems to be a genuinely great person who works hard to bring the best learning opportunities to his school. I’ve never actually met him, ... more »

March 1st Day of Action: March and Rally | Seattle Education

March 1st Day of Action: March and Rally | Seattle Education:March 1st Day of Action: March and Rallyby seattleducation2011Join with Occupy Seattle Education, Parents Across America and Social Equality Educators for a march and rally culminating at the headquarters of the Gates Foundation. an organization that represents the push towards school privatization and high-stakes testing. We will be bringing a simple message:We refuse to pay for the crisis created by the 1%.We refuse to accept the dismantling of our schools ... more »

Katehi survives no confidence vote at UC Davis - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Katehi survives no confidence vote at UC Davis - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee:Katehi survives no confidence vote at UC DavisShareBy Brad Brananbbranan@sacbee.comPublished: Friday, Feb. 17, 2012 - 6:56 pm A motion asking for a vote of no confidence in UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi failed to gain a majority of votes needed to pass, school officials said tonight.The motion received 312 yes votes and 697 no votes, out of 2,693 eligible voters ... more »

FROM CHUTZPAH TO MOLLYCODDLING « Teachers Fight Back

FROM CHUTZPAH TO MOLLYCODDLING « Teachers Fight Back:FROM CHUTZPAH TO MOLLYCODDLINGby alkleenNice to see some teachers with chutzpah for a change instead of legislators and education administrators. The Chicago Teachers Union is asking for a 30% raise over two years because the administration is mandating an extra 90 minutes of instruction next year. The C.T.U. also wants class size reductions and several other items. Wow, how refreshing.Just heard from a friend who is a teacher in an upper middle class ... more »

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee's Charters quick to suspend, expel, council told - D.C. Schools Insider - The Washington Post

Charters quick to suspend, expel, council told - D.C. Schools Insider - The Washington Post:Charters quick to suspend, expel, council toldBy Bill TurquePublic charter school officials pushed rarely seen suspension and expulsion data into public view at Friday’s D.C. Council oversight hearing, some of it astonishing if accurate--and some school leaders contend that it is not.Perhaps the most alarming stat comes from Friendship Collegiate Academy-Woodson, the Ward 7 high school, which expelled eight percent (102 of 1,231) of its students ... more »

COP Meeting Notice for February 28, 2012 - Title I Committee of Practitioners (COP) (CA Dept of Education)

COP Meeting Notice for February 28, 2012 - Title I Committee of Practitioners (COP) (CA Dept of Education):Meeting Notice:Title I Committee of PractitionersTuesday, February 28, 201210:00 a.m.The meeting will be held at:California Department of Education1430 N Street, 6th Floor, Room 6102Sacramento, CA916-319-0926The following sites will also be available to the public:Tustin Unified School District 1362 Mitchell AvenueTustin, CA714-730-7385Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District 28751 Cole Grade RoadValley Center, CA760-749-0464Reef-Sunset Unified School District 205 North Park... more »

A.M. Winn Closure Meeting: What You Said on Facebook - Rosemont, CA Patch

A.M. Winn Closure Meeting: What You Said on Facebook - Rosemont, CA Patch:A.M. Winn Closure Meeting: What You Said on FacebookThursday night's meeting of the Sacramento City Unified School District Board of Education was filled with dozens of people asking that the district keep A.M. Winn Elementary School open next year.But not all of the school's supporters could be there. Here's what some of Rosemont Patch's Facebook fans said on our page during the meeting:Kayla Amber Chung: "I know a ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: The War on Teachers Unions Hits a New Low

Jersey Jazzman: The War on Teachers Unions Hits a New Low:The War on Teachers Unions Hits a New Lowby DukeJust so classy:In its escalating war with the New Jersey Education Association, the state’s Republican Party recently turned to a new tactic: ambushing the head of the union with a video camera in the hope of capturing an embarrassing YouTube moment.The association said Thursday that having videographers lurking outside their offices in hooded sweatshirts and knit caps showed the lengths to ... more »

Are You Feeling RESPECT? « InterACT

Are You Feeling RESPECT? « InterACT:Are You Feeling RESPECT?by David B. CohenDear California Teachers,While you were in the classroom or eating lunch, or supervising lunch, or sponsoring a club, or helping students or attending an IEP meeting this past Wednesday afternoon, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was talking about transforming our profession, launching Project RESPECT – which stands for Recognizing Education Success, Professional Excellence, Collaborative Teaching. It took from 2009 to 2012 for the administration to come around to the ... more »

Letter to Arne Duncan - Two Teachers and a Microphone

Letter to Arne Duncan Listen for a minute to what I sayWe don't teach kids for the merit pay I wipe away tears and break up fights in the hallsWhile Arne Duncan plays basketballPublic school you never taught in your lifeBut you studied Harvard so it gives you the right To bully the states who don't in your run raceWho oppose the policies that you embraceBased on the test you and your crewCrucify teachers and close our schoolsPimping out Pearson ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Afternoon Posts 2-1 #soschat #edreform

When it comes to the free-speech rights of teachers, the joke’s still on usBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-2 minutes agoWhen it comes to the free-speech rights of teachers, the joke’s still on us:When it comes to the free-speech rights of teachers, the joke’s still on usby SamThe good news is that Republican lawmakers in Arizona are now retreating from their recent proposal to require teachers to limit their speech to words that comply with FCC regulations on what ... more »

RheeFirst! » Kansas City Federation of Teachers Local 691 thwart Rhee’s e-lobby day

RheeFirst! » Kansas City Federation of Teachers Local 691 thwart Rhee’s e-lobby day:Kansas City Federation of Teachers Local 691 thwart Rhee’s e-lobby dayby adminWritten by Kansas City Federation of Teachers. Read the entire post here.“Not only did we pack the house (with less than 24 hours notice), but our members spoke eloquently and passionately about our students and the negative impact that the charter school and the anti-due process legislation would have on our district and our children.Although the district ...more »

Borrowing wise words from those truly market-based, Private Independent schools… « School Finance 101

Borrowing wise words from those truly market-based, Private Independent schools… « School Finance 101:Borrowing wise words from those truly market-based, Private Independent schools…by schoolfinance101Lately it seems that public policy and the reformy rhetoric that drives it are hardly influenced by the vast body ofempirical work and insights from leading academic scholars which suggests that such practices as using value-added metrics to rate teacher quality, or dramatically increasing test-based accountability and pushing for common core standards and tests to go with ... more »

Mother Crusader: Regis Academy Hires Closed Charter VP, NJDOE Opens Enrollment Beyond Four Districts

Mother Crusader: Regis Academy Hires Closed Charter VP, NJDOE Opens Enrollment Beyond Four Districts:Regis Academy Hires Closed Charter VP, NJDOE Opens Enrollment Beyond Four DistrictsLast night the Regis Academy held an information session that was attended by approximately 32 prospective parents. Some Cherry Hill residents that have been vocal opponents of the charter school also attended the meeting. One that is known to Amir Khan was pulled aside before the meeting and told that if she caused any trouble the ... more »