Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Mid Day Posts 4-18 #edreform #soschat

Charter School Teaching: Similar to or Different than Regular Public Schools? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 minutes ago

Charter School Teaching: Similar to or Different than Regular Public Schools? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Charter School Teaching: Similar to or Different than Regular Public Schools?bylarrycubanSince 1991 when Minnesota launched the first charter schools, the movement to create publicly funded charters freed from district rules where parents can choose to send their children has spread to 40 states (and the District of Columbia) enrolling almost two million students (nearly four percent of all public school ... more »

The imaginary link between immigration and immorality

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 minutes ago

The imaginary link between immigration and immorality: The imaginary link between immigration and immorality04/18/2012ByDaniel CubiasLeave a CommentMy mother came to America from El Salvador. My paternal grandparents came from Europe. Each one immigrated legally, which is the essence of the American experience – huddled masses yearning to be free and all that.However, in the eyes of many Americans, my mother and grandparents were selfish and immoral. After all, whenever a debate starts up aboutimmigration, it’s just a matter of time ... more »

- Wait, What? CSI:Turns out GNEPSA stands for We Got A Match by jonpelto

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 minutes ago

- Wait, What?: CSI: We Got A MatchbyjonpeltoTurns out GNEPSA stands for the Great New England Public Schools Alliance.Or, if you squint your eyes really tight, you might also see the words StudentsFirst.Brian Lockhart, of the Stamford Advocate, Hearst Newspaper wrote a story entitled “StudentsFirst … I mean GNEPSA … sends out slick mailer” (click the title to read).Lockhart is the first reporter to examine the intrigue behind the GNEPSA/StudentsFirst issue.Linking to a Wait, What? blog post about GNEPSA, Lockhart, ... more »

Schools Matter: Special Ed Child Forced to Take Test, Mom Threatened by School Officials in Oceanside, NY

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 minutes ago

Schools Matter: Special Ed Child Forced to Take Test, Mom Threatened by School Officials in Oceanside, NY: Special Ed Child Forced to Take Test, Mom Threatened by School Officials in Oceanside, NYbyJim HornIf you had a child with special needs who struggled to learn and who was stressed out about the upcoming state test, would you consider opting out? Christine Dougherty did in Oceanside, NY, and she notified the school.She did not expect the reply she got, however, with a ... more »

Report on New York City School District: “A Rotting Apple: Education Redlining in New York City” « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 minutes ago

Report on New York City School District: “A Rotting Apple: Education Redlining in New York City” « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Report on New York City School District: “A Rotting Apple: Education Redlining in New York City”bymillerlfSchott Foundation report April 2012The New York City public school system is the largest in the country, with responsibility for educat­ing more than 1 million children.The ability of the New York City public schools to meet that responsibility holds national signifi­cance. The ... more »

Charter schools' hidden agenda | Guest Writer | Arkansas news, politics, opinion, restaurants, music, movies and art

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 minutes ago

Charter schools' hidden agenda | Guest Writer | Arkansas news, politics, opinion, restaurants, music, movies and art: Charter schools' hidden agendaWhat happens when there is little accountability?byPaul M. HewittTOOLSemailprintsharesave to instapaperadd to favoritesadd to custom listcomments (3)A recent study by researchers at Western Michigan University revealed an unpleasant side of the charter school movement. Charter schools are privately operated schools that receive tax dollars from the state for each student they enroll. The advocates for charters like to frame them ... more »

A Child is Forced to Test: Where is Mainstream “Liberal” Media? | United Opt Out National

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 minutes ago

A Child is Forced to Test: Where is Mainstream “Liberal” Media? | United Opt Out National: A Child is Forced to Test: Where is Mainstream “Liberal” Media?byadminAt United Opt Out National, we encourage opting out of high stakes testing because we support public schools. We support real learning and real teaching and a whole and equitable education for all children. High stakes testing is not just any test – it is a test used to punish students, teachers, schools and ... more »

Left In Alabama:: If Public Schools Could Operate Like Charter Schools.....

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 minutes ago

Left In Alabama:: If Public Schools Could Operate Like Charter Schools.....: If Public Schools Could Operate Like Charter Schools.....by:countrycatTue Apr 17, 2012 at 15:12:20 PM CDTThe Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) is one of the largest charter school companies in the US has shown significant gains in student achievement. Once you look closely at their operations, their success isn't surprising. Would that model work for public schools?KIPP began in 1994 when two Teach for America teachers decided to create a ... more »

LAUSD Supt.: California 'long overdue' for revamp of teacher dismissal policy | 89.3 KPCC

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 10 minutes ago

LAUSD Supt.: California 'long overdue' for revamp of teacher dismissal policy | 89.3 KPCC: LAUSD Supt.: California 'long overdue' for revamp of teacher dismissal policyApril 17, 2012 | ByTami Abdollah2Krista Kennell/AFP/Getty ImagesLos Angeles schools Supt. John Deasy speaks during a press conference at South Region High School #2 in Los Angeles, California February 6, 2012.California is "long overdue" for a revamp of the Education Code policies that govern teacher dismissal so as to make it more easier to fire those ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Does Money Really Matter in Public Education?

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Does Money Really Matter in Public Education?: Does Money Really Matter in Public Education?byMelissa WestbrookThat's the question.I was talking with another education advocate recently and her take was that people (read: legislators) are tired of throwing money at public education and seeing the same results. And, that's why we need to support ed reform because legislators want to see something done differently in our schools.Okay, I can understand not wanting schools and districts doing the same ... more »

Geaux Teacher!: MORE MANIPULATION OF SCHOOL PERFORMANCE SCORES

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 9 hours ago

Geaux Teacher!: MORE MANIPULATION OF SCHOOL PERFORMANCE SCORES: MORE MANIPULATION OF SCHOOL PERFORMANCE SCORESbynoreply@blogger.com (Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT) If you thought you had no control over school performance scores pre-reform, you can be sure that now that it's going to be nothing but a crap shoot!The BESE votes were barely counted and the meeting room emptied today before Superintendent White published his latest dictum that includes a re-design for calculating school performance scores. It's anybody's guess what effect this methodology ... more »

The Great California Shakeout - Letters (CA Dept of Education)

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 13 hours ago

The Great California Shakeout - Letters (CA Dept of Education): Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:THE GREAT CALIFORNIA SHAKEOUTI encourage you to meet your school or district earthquake drill requirements by participating in this year’s Great California ShakeOut on October 18, 2012. The first step is to renew or register your school or district on the Great California ShakeOut Web site athttp://www.shakeout.org/.The ShakeOut is designed to provide a sense of urgency about earthquakes and to encourage individuals, ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: New Troll Policy

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 13 hours ago

Jersey Jazzman: New Troll Policy: New Troll PolicybyDukeI have wasted far too much time with trolls lately. Maybe it's a sign of this blog's growth that I now have at least one full-time, dedicated troll stalking me here and at Blue Jersey who is quite conversant in reformy vocabulary.I don't have a problem with tough arguments against me. I will admit, for example, that a troll did catch me oncesaying something dumb. Good for her or him. Good for me, ... more »

Modern School: Detroit: Fire ‘Em All & Let God Sort It Out Later

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 13 hours ago

Modern School: Detroit: Fire ‘Em All Let God Sort It Out Later: Detroit: Fire ‘Em All Let God Sort It Out LaterbyMichael DunnOver 4,100 Detroit Public Schools teachers received layoff notices this month, according to theDetroit affiliate of NPR. They will each have to reapply next month in order to have a chance at a job in the district next year. Furthermore, new state law now prohibits Michigan school districts from rehiring or laying off teachers based solely on seniority. ... more »

tomhayden.com - Police, Student Protesters and Pepper Spray #UCDAVIS

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 13 hours ago

tomhayden.com - Peace Exchange Bulletin - Police, Student Protesters and Pepper Spray: POLICE, STUDENT PROTESTERS AND PEPPER SPRAYTUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2012 AT 3:08PMTom Hayden testifies at a December 14, 2011 joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Education and the Assembly Committee on Higher Education at the state Capitol in Sacramento.In the most comprehensive official report on police tactics towards campus anti-tuition protests since the Occupy movement broke out last year, a University of California investigation concludes, “The pepper spraying ... more »

Cry Me A River: The Parent Trigger And The Misfortunes Of Poor ALEC, DFER and Rishawn Biddle | Edwize

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 13 hours ago

Cry Me A River: The Parent Trigger And The Misfortunes Of Poor ALEC, DFER and Rishawn Biddle | Edwize: Cry Me A River: The Parent Trigger And The Misfortunes Of Poor ALEC, DFER and Rishawn BiddlebyLeo CaseyThe powers that be at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a corporate funded, right wing outfit that writes model legislation for state and local officials who apparently can’t write themselves, is feelingmighty sorryfor themselves these days.It seems that a confluence of different political ... more »

Meet ASCD President Debra Hill — Whole Child Education

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 13 hours ago

Meet ASCD President Debra Hill — Whole Child Education: Meet ASCD President Debra HillbyASCD Whole Child BloggersPost submitted by whole child blogger Willona M. SloanIn her career as an educator, Debra Hill has worked at just about every level of education, from classroom teacher to superintendent to university professor.She discovered her calling during her sophomore year at Northwestern University, when she designed cultural activities for young children. "I spent a summer with 25 5- to 7-year-olds—and 1 assistant—and decided, 'This ... more »

Howard Fuller Proposal for Creating New City Charter Schools Critiqued by Community Group « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 13 hours ago

Howard Fuller Proposal for Creating New City Charter Schools Critiqued by Community Group « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Howard Fuller Proposal for Creating New City Charter Schools Critiqued by Community GroupbymillerlfEDUCATIONFORUMWomen Committed to an Informed CommunityMilwaukee, WisconsinApril 4, 2012City of Milwaukee Common Council c/o The Milwaukee CharterSchool Review Committee200 E. Wells StreetMilwaukee, WI 53202Forwarded to Email Addresses of Committee MembersRegarding: Charter School Application for Quest-Milwaukee, Inc.as submitted by Edgar T. Russell, Ex... more »

RheeFirst! » Parsed & Shredded: The Incoherent Reform of Michelle Rhee

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 13 hours ago

RheeFirst! » Parsed Shredded: The Incoherent Reform of Michelle Rhee: Parsed Shredded: The Incoherent Reform of Michelle RheebyadminJazzman parses shredsRhee’s incoherent radio interview.“Teachers and parents, know this: Michelle Rhee is “absolutely” wrong when she claims she champions children better than you do. She places primacy on the teacher, yet she supports policies, but her own admission, that will do nothing to get and keep great teachers in classrooms. Her entire agenda is designed to denigrate the profession of teaching and ... more »

Louisiana Educator: Ed Reform May Increase Segregation

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 21 hours ago

Louisiana Educator: Ed Reform May Increase Segregation: byMichael DeshotelsEd Reform May Increase SegregationOptions galore!That's how theBaton Rouge Advocate describes school optionswithin the next few years for Baton Rouge public school parents. Now in addition to expanded charters and vouchers, a new breakaway district is in the process of being approved by the legislature for another mostly white section of the East Baton Rouge Parish school system. One would assume that expanded school choice, should increase the racial mixing of all ... more »