Latest News and Comment from Education

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 4-16-13 AM Posts #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2




BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS




A Progressive and a Conservative Find Common Ground Opposing the Common Core - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 minutes ago
A Progressive and a Conservative Find Common Ground Opposing the Common Core - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: A Progressive and a Conservative Find Common Ground Opposing the Common Core by Anthony Cody *In recent months I have written about the growing opposition to the Common Core, from across the political spectrum. I recently connected with two citizens who embody this, and asked them to share their very divergent backgrounds, and the describe how they have found agreement in regards to the Common Core.* * I am Paul Horton.* I am a life long Democrat who attende... more »

Open Letter to NY Ed Commissioner John King: Thank You! – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 minutes ago
Open Letter to NY Ed Commissioner John King: Thank You! – @ the chalk face: Open Letter to NY Ed Commissioner John King: Thank You! by Kris Nielsen Dr. King, Thank you for mobilizing the parents and students of New York State! As one of my good friends said earlier this week, the two most important people behind the New York testing revolt are Dr. John King and Gov. Andrew Cuomo. If you’re sitting in your office today, wondering how this all came to be, I’d be happy to explain it. It’s been a long couple of months for most of us. Thanks to some very dedicated and well-read parents, w... more »

#StopCommonCore Twitter Rally Today (And We Will Be Broadcast!) | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 minutes ago
#StopCommonCore Twitter Rally Today (And We Will Be Broadcast!) | Truth in American Education: #StopCommonCore Twitter Rally Today (And We Will Be Broadcast!) by Shane Vander Hart You can get plugged into the Twitter chat here – http://tinyurl.com/ca9vqtq Click on the link. Log in at the top. Approve app. Then erase the phrase “TYPE YOUR TWITTER ID HERE” in the right column, and type YOUR TWITTER ID without the @ symbol- then click search (next to the TWITTER ID) We are also being broadcast via On Point Broadcasting. You can watch below starting at 11:00a today or gohere. Peggy V... more »

Ed Notes Online: Seattle Teacher Jesse Hagopian at "The Schools NYC Children Deserve"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 49 minutes ago
Ed Notes Online: Seattle Teacher Jesse Hagopian at "The Schools NYC Children Deserve": Seattle Teacher Jesse Hagopian at "The Schools NYC Children Deserve" by ed notes online What a story Jesse has to tell as he followed Julie's speech. I'll shut up for a change and let him tell it. Coming next: Janine Sopp from Change the Stakes and Angelo Lugo on the School to Prison Pipeline. Plus a 5th grader with a letter about testing to Walcott. Popout Seattle Teacher Jesse Hagopian at "The Schools NYC Children Deserve" from Grassroots Education Movementon Vimeo.

Daily Kos: Teachers sue to block Florida teacher evaluation system

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 52 minutes ago
Daily Kos: Teachers sue to block Florida teacher evaluation system: Teachers sue to block Florida teacher evaluation system by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) As of this morning, a group of seven Florida teachers from three counties filed suit against the Florida Commissioner of Education, the Florida Board of Education and the school boards of those three counties - Alachua, Hernando and Escambia. The lawsuit was filed in the District Court of the United States for the Northern District of Florida, Gainesville Division today. Perhaps the lawsuit can be explained by looking at pla... more »

Modern School: Obama's Pre-K Boot Camp For All

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 56 minutes ago
Modern School: Obama's Pre-K Boot Camp For All: Obama's Pre-K Boot Camp For All by Michael Dunn The evidence strongly supports the notion that quality preschool programs benefit all children, especially those from low-income families (click here to see some of that evidence). Thus, it is refreshing that President Obama has made this one of his goals and that he is getting some support from both parties. However, Universal Preschool for All is not a panacea that will erase the achievement gap or solve the nation’s economic woes. Larry Cuban highlights some of these problems in his ... more »

UPDATE: Catching Jo in double talk + “I’m going to be 65!” “When?” “Someday!” | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 56 minutes ago
“I’m going to be 65!” “When?” “Someday!” | Fred Klonsky: Catching Jo in double talk. by Fred Klonsky [image: 110103_arne_duncan_face_ap_328] People often ask me about the IEA leadership. And I try and draw a distinction. I disagree with President Cinda Klickna over many things. I don’t think the decision-making process is very transparent. We don’t have much in common in the way of tactics. I think she is too willing to concede too much too quick. But Executive Director Audrey Soglin is a different matter. She’s a true believer in what passes for school reform these days. She had he... more »

Schools Matter: Evaluations Based on Test Scores Goes to Court in Florida

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Schools Matter: Evaluations Based on Test Scores Goes to Court in Florida: Evaluations Based on Test Scores Goes to Court in Florida by Jim Horn Take heart, teachers. Be brave. Emulate your colleagues in Florida. Go to Court! By the way, Randi and Dennis, you could be using some of those high-priced AFT/NEA lawyers who protect your 400 thousand dollar benefit packages to help these teachers bring this craziness to a halt. See teacher below who won Teacher of the Year holding up her "unsatisfactory" sign. *Story by Valerie Strauss:* [image: Teacher Kim Cook ((By Brian Kuger)] ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Why Isn't Rhee Facing Jail Time? Here's Why:

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Jersey Jazzman: Why Isn't Rhee Facing Jail Time? Here's Why:: Why Isn't Rhee Facing Jail Time? Here's Why: by Duke Diane Ravitch points us to the question that begs to be asked: This article asks the obvious question: Why does Atlanta’s disgraced superintendent Beverly Hall face serious jail time for the cheating that happened on her watch–which she ignored or encouraged by demanding higher test scores–while Michelle Rhee continues to fly from state to state, urging legislatures to follow the DC model? The article says that Rhee emerged–so far–unscathed because she has friends in hi... more »

Why Education Advocates Join the Progressive Opposition to Obama’s Budget

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Why Education Advocates Join the Progressive Opposition to Obama’s Budget: Why Education Advocates Join the Progressive Opposition to Obama’s Budget by Jeff Bryant Now that every major media outlet has weighed in on the budget that President Obama introduced last week, the conventional wisdom is that Obama has proposed a “balance” of new revenues and spending cuts with an emphasis on sacrificing “entitlements” enjoyed by old people in order to increase “investments” in children. This sensibility was most obvious in a quote in The New York Times from Virginia Senator Mark Warner wh... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-16-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Problems with Common Core Tests by dianerav Technical issues plague the tests. Not ready for prime time. An 8th Grader Writes a Test Question: Hilarious! by dianerav An 8th grade student in New York State wrote a brilliant parody of the state ELA exam. Please read it. It is very funny. It does leave you wondering why students are so much wiser than state education officials. How to Prepare Children for Common Core Failure by dianerav This is a parody but it is... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: BBA study shows market-driven reform is a bust

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: BBA study shows market-driven reform is a bust: Funniest quote of the year by Mike Klonsky HamiltonThis from Rahm's communications director *Sarah Hamilton* in response to CTU prez *Karen Lewis'* call to register 100,000 new voters in time for the 2015 mayoral elections. *“Barbara Byrd-Bennett has proposed a plan for Chicago Public Schools, with Mayor Emanuel’s support, that finally puts our children first. This is simply not the time for politics.” -- *Sun-Times Hilarious! Oh please stop, Sarah. You're killing me. BBA study shows market-driven re... more »

So Where Does a Disgraced Michelle Rhee Show Up First? Florida, Of Course! | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
So Where Does a Disgraced Michelle Rhee Show Up First? Florida, Of Course! | Scathing Purple Musings: So Where Does a Disgraced Michelle Rhee Show Up First? Florida, Of Course! by Bob Sikes From Times-Herald Tallahassee Bureau reporter Mary McGrory: Despite mounting criticism over a possible cheating scandal in Washington, D.C., nationally recognized education activist *Michelle Rhee* was in Tallahassee Monday to discuss a flurry of schools-related proposals in Florida. “We’re here to answer questions and lend our support in any way possible,” Rhee said while waiting to meet with... more »

Teachers For Social Justice: Stop School Closings: What You Can Do!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Teachers For Social Justice: Stop School Closings: What You Can Do!: Stop School Closings: What You Can Do! by sarah-ji [image: StudentsMarch001] TSJers: What You Can Do to Organize Against School Closings: 1) **Petitions for a moratorium on school closings* *(attached, Spanish and English). Each sheet has room for 10 names. These are NOT online petitions, but are old-style real signatures (remember those?). Once done, they need to be delivered or faxed to CTU, or scanned and emailed (all contact info on petitions themselves). *Then email us and let us know how many actual signatu... more »

Though it may not show yet, massive progess is being made about the illegal student data sharing thanks to your efforts! | Crazy Crawfish's Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Though it may not show yet, massive progess is being made about the illegal student data sharing thanks to your efforts! | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: Though it may not show yet, massive progess is being made about the illegal student data sharing thanks to your efforts! by crazycrawfish *Quick Update:* I and my colleagues have been working with a number of groups behind the scenes, including school district IT directors and superintendents, Tea Party groups, legislators and BESE members. I hear some folks even contacted David Vitter and this issue got his attention. This illegal data ... more »

Ed Notes Online: E4E, John King, the State Ed Department Undermine Parents, Teachers and Students

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: E4E, John King, the State Ed Department Undermine Parents, Teachers and Students: E4E, John King, the State Ed Department Undermine Parents, Teachers and Students by ed notes online MORE handed out this leaflet at the E4E/John King event a few weeks ago. I never published it but did get a chance to make the point to Evan Stone about just how aligned E4E and the UFT leadership were on so many issues: common core, teacher evaluation, trusting John King, just to name a few. No wonder they didn't run in the elections. They already have a caucus representing their vie... more »

Teacher: Yes, the testing culture does contribute to cheating

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Teacher: Yes, the testing culture does contribute to cheating: Teacher: Yes, the testing culture does contribute to cheating Posted by Valerie Strauss on April 16, 2013 at 4:00 am 1 Comments More *[image: test2]I recently published a post by Bill Ayersabout the recent Atlanta test cheating indictments that said the road to the scandal “runs right through the White House.” Ayers is a retired professor of education at the University of Illinois at Chicago (who may be better known for his radical activism during the 1960s and ’70s). Then, *Michael J. Feuer, dean of the Graduate scho... more »

[HIP] Wrong-Sizing Fall Out Forum - PLEASE JOIN US

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
[HIP] Wrong-Sizing Fall Out Forum - PLEASE JOIN US Dear Parents, Teachers and Community Members, We ask for your support by joining HIP, parents, students and other community members to share your experience in the fall-out of the school closures and map out our next steps to hold the Board accountable. Nearly two months after SCUSD voted to close seven schools in Sacramento's most vulnerable neighborhoods, families continue to struggle with the District's poorly developed transition plans. *Wrong-sizing Fall-out Forum* Wednesday, April 17 6:00 - 8:00 pm Lemon Hill Community Ro...more »

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 4-15-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
*Nite Cap UPDATE* * * ** *UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* ** *CORPORATE ED REFORM* Iconic L.A. teacher Sal Castro who led East L.A. Walkouts in the 1960s, dies by Adolfo Guzman-Lopez Sal Castro, the Lincoln High School social studies teacher who inspired students to stage mass walkouts from classes to demand better school in 1968, died in his Silver Lake home on Monday. He was 79. Castro was an educator for decades -- and for years he ran an empowerment group for latino youth. A middle school is named after him. But few events were as important to him as the walkouts, said UC Santa ... more »

One Teacher's Perspective: Curiously, George Will Joins Demolition Crew

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
One Teacher's Perspective: Curiously, George Will Joins Demolition Crew: Curiously, George Will Joins Demolition Crew by Imagine Wisconsin *Curiously, George Will, the renowned political columnist, joined the demolition crew hastily trying to tear down Wisconsin’s public school system. *** * * *Over the past two years, Wisconsinites have become accustomed to outsiders trying to raze our public school system proudly built by generations of Wisconsin taxpayers, parents, students, and educators--**conservatives and liberals alike**.* * * *Will joins the ranks of corporate associations ... more »

BAD WEEK FOR Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee: FBI agents at HQ of Browns owner's family business - Yahoo! Sports

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
FBI agents at HQ of Browns owner's family business - Yahoo! Sports: FBI agents at HQ of Browns owner's family businessBy STEVE MEGARGEE (Associated Press) | The Associated Press – 2 hours 21 minutes ago KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents on Monday locked down the headquarters of Pilot Flying J, the truck stop business owned by the family of Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and his brother, Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam. FBI spokesman Marshall Stone told The Associated Press that the move was part of an ongoing investigation, but he would not provide ... more »

Supporting California’s Public Schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
Supporting California’s Public Schools: Supporting California’s Public Schools by Server Supporting California’s Public Schools Posted on April 14, 2013 by Server *SUPPORTING CALIFORNIA’S PUBLIC SCHOOLS* *and DISPELLING THE CORPORATE “REFORM” AGENDA* At its annual convention this past weekend in Sacramento, the California Democratic Party passed a resolution opposing corporate education reform, specifically naming Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst organization and “Democrats for Education Reform”. Resolution 13-04.47, sponsored by CTA, CFT and CFA, is being lauded by those interested in ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Sample opt out letter and press release of NYC opt out parents.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
NYC Public School Parents: Sample opt out letter and press release of NYC opt out parents.: Sample opt out letter and press release of NYC opt out parents. by Leonie Haimson *Here's a sample opt-out/refusal letter you can send with your child tomorrow. * *Here's a report from the press conference by NY1.* **** *NYC PARENTS BOYCOTT HIGH STAKES STATE TESTS* Media Contact: Jane Hirschmann, 917 679 8343 Jane Maisel, 917 678 1913** *3rd THROUGH 8TH GRADE PARENTS IN OVER 33 SCHOOLS REFUSE TO ALLOW THEIR KIDS TO BE TESTED* Parents in New York City as well as across NY St... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: LETTER FROM A CHICAGO TEACHER

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: LETTER FROM A CHICAGO TEACHER: LETTER FROM A CHICAGO TEACHER by Mike Klonsky Dear Friends, Today I received a letter from my principal informing me that I will not have a job next fall. This was after I received a letter from her dated March 12 confirming that she wants me to teach next year. I've been effectively fired, and it has absolutely nothing to do with my performance. I have tenure and I've received a rating of outstanding" for each of the thirteen years I've been with CPS. I've been observed by principals, teachers and even principals ... more »

Oakland's American Indian Model Schools board members face ouster under pressure from AIMS teachers, parents to save charter - Inside Bay Area

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
Oakland's American Indian Model Schools board members face ouster under pressure from AIMS teachers, parents to save charter - Inside Bay Area: Oakland's American Indian Model Schools board members face ouster under pressure from AIMS teachers, parents to save charter[image: Interim AIMS executive director Sylvester Hodges addresses the OUSD board at the public hearing Wednesday. Photo by Lauren Kawana.]Interim AIMS executive director Sylvester Hodges addresses the OUSD board at the public hearing Wednesday. Photo by Lauren Kawana. By Angela Woodall Oakland Tribune Posted: 04/1... more »

NYC Educator: 240 Thousand Bucks

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
NYC Educator: 240 Thousand Bucks: 240 Thousand Bucks by NYC Educator We're going to hear an awful lot about how great the Common Core is. That's because some unidentified rich person, maybe Bill Gates, is putting up a bunch of cash to advertise it as though it were Coca Cola or Ex-Lax. And that is, indeed, how to sell stuff to people. That's how they sold New Coke, the Edsel, or the great new Windows phone that everyone is clamoring for. Is Common Core an Edsel? No one really knows, because it hasn't been tested anywhere at all. They just got a bunch of very smart fellers to whip ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Yakima School District Also Applying to be Charter School Authorizer

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Yakima School District Also Applying to be Charter School Authorizer: Yakima School District Also Applying to be Charter School Authorizer by Melissa Westbrook [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] In a somewhat old-school turn of events, Yakima School District has been added to the list of 12 districts that have filed letter of intent to become charter school authorizers. Now the State Board of Ed didn't specify how the letter was to come to them so, according to their office, most of the districts send their letter via e-ma... more »

D.C. Circuit Invalidates Class in Special Education Case - The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
D.C. Circuit Invalidates Class in Special Education Case - The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times: D.C. Circuit Invalidates Class in Special Education Case The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit reversed the certification of a class in a sprawling lawsuit against the District of Columbia over the provision of special education services, a setback for the plaintiffs more than a year after a judge found the city liable. In the April 12 ruling, the appeals court vacated the liability finding, ordering U.S. District Chief Judge Royce Lamberth to reconsider class certification under... more »

Education "Reform": Naming and Shaming - BlueOregon

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Education "Reform": Naming and Shaming - BlueOregon: Education "Reform": Naming and ShamingKyle Curtis [image: Education "Reform": Naming and Shaming] Previously, I provided a Econ 101-ish perspective as to how funding for Oregon's public school districts--which are perennially in a budget "crisis mode"--were devastated by the 2008 economic crash. As a result, there has developed an expectation that schools need to "make do with less," an expectation that is failing the state's school kids. This situation is not unique to Oregon, as the collapse in revenues of the past few years has... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: California Dems Say No to Corporate Ed Reform

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: California Dems Say No to Corporate Ed Reform: California Dems Say No to Corporate Ed Reform by Melissa Westbrook Man, did they ever. From the LA Times: *The clash over education had been building throughout the three-day convention, underscoring a larger debate taking place in education circles. * * **California Democrats on Sunday condemned efforts led by members of their own party to overhaul the nation's schools, arguing that groups such as StudentsFirst and Democrats for Education Reform are fronts for Republicans and corporate interests.*... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The Great Disconnect

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The Great Disconnect: The Great Disconnect by Mike Klonsky Pasi SahlbergI went over to the Hilton this morning to take part in the Reframing Reform Conference. Aside from getting to hang out with some of my favorite school activists, I was interested in hearing the conference keynoter, Pasi Sahlberg, Director General of the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. In Finland, that's roughly the equivalent in rank to *Arne Duncan*, although the comparison stops there. Pasi is a real thinker and a man of action. I've been a fan of his ever since I s... more »

2 killed as 2 bombs explode at Boston Marathon - NorthJersey.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
2 killed as 2 bombs explode at Boston Marathon - NorthJersey.com: 2 killed as 2 bombs explode at Boston Marathon MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY APRIL 15, 2013, 4:31 PM *Photos: Explosions rock Boston Marathon finish line* [image: In this image from video provided by WBZ TV, spectators and runners run from what was described as twin explosions that shook the finish line of the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 15, 2013, in Boston.] AP/WBZ-TV In this image from video provided by WBZ TV, spectators and runners run from what was described as twin explosions that shook the ... more »

How Will Michelle Rhee's Policy and Politics Work Fare in States? - State EdWatch - Education Week

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
How Will Michelle Rhee's Policy and Politics Work Fare in States? - State EdWatch - Education Week: How Will Michelle Rhee's Policy and Politics Work Fare in States? by Andrew Ujifusa The biggest national education story of the past week was John Merrow's discussion of a memo about possible, even likely cheating in D.C. Public Schools under former Chancellor Michelle Rhee, and how she may have swept the issue under the rug, or just passively let it get buried and lost under other paperwork, depending on how you look at it. (As my colleague Lesli Maxwell documents, Rhee claims not to... more »

NYC Public School Parents: New Common Core campaign: yet another anonymously funded effort by Bloomberg & his billionaire cronies

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
NYC Public School Parents: New Common Core campaign: yet another anonymously funded effort by Bloomberg & his billionaire cronies: New Common Core campaign: yet another anonymously funded effort by Bloomberg & his billionaire cronies by Leonie Haimson Today, Walcott announced there will be a "Common Core" public campaign to justify the new more difficult and developmentally inappropriate standards and the much harder tests. This campaign will include ads placed on subways, buses, and the Staten Island ferry, costing $240,000, paid for by an anonymous donor. All Walcott would ap... more »

Lawsuit: Stop evaluating teachers on test scores of students they never taught

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Lawsuit: Stop evaluating teachers on test scores of students they never taught: Lawsuit: Stop evaluating teachers on test scores of students they never taught Posted by Valerie Strauss on April 15, 2013 at 3:27 pm [image: Teacher Kim Cook ((By Brian Kuger)] Teacher Kim Cook (By Brian Kuger) A group of teachers and their unions are filing a lawsuit against Florida officials that challenges the state’s educator evaluation system, under which many teachers are evaluated on the standardized test scores of students they do not teach. The nine teachers filing the lawsuit include Kim Cook,... more »

Jersey Jazzman: NY Chancellor Merryl Tisch: Another Reformy Hypocrite

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: NY Chancellor Merryl Tisch: Another Reformy Hypocrite: NY Chancellor Merryl Tisch: Another Reformy Hypocrite by Duke The children of New York are under incredible, age-inappropriate stress this week due standardized tests that are based, for the first time, on the untested Common Core Standards: At Public School 10 on the edge of Park Slope, Brooklyn, parents begged the principal to postpone the lower school science fair, insisting it was going to add too much pressure while they were preparing their children for the coming state tests. On Staten Island, a commu... more »

Money Behind Walker’s Voucher Expansion | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Money Behind Walker’s Voucher Expansion | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Money Behind Walker’s Voucher Expansion by millerlf $10 Million In 10 Years Drives School AgendaWalker expanding program after millions in backing by voucher supporters*April 15, 2013 Wisconsin Democracy Campaign* *Madison – *Wealthy campaign contributors and shadowy electioneering groups that back school voucher programs have spent nearly $10 million in 10 years in Wisconsin – much of it to help twice elect a governor who is trying to sharply expand the program, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign r... more »

Diane in the Evening 4-15-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Media preview] [image: DianeRavitch's avatar] *Diane Ravitch* @DianeRavitch San Diego: Dean Vogel (CTA), Bill Freeman (SDEA), me, Cindy Marten (incoming superintendent). pic.twitter.com/HRf8Fkkl6R - **Reply - **Retweet - **Favorite - **More options Details Washington Post: Anti-Testing Movement Grows by dianerav From the local school boards in Texas to the teachers at Garfield High School in Seattle to the Providence Student Union, the movement against high-stakes testing is growing everyday. T... more »

UPDATE: Pension post from IEA elections. A process that would make the Chicago Machine jealous. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
IEA elections. A process that would make the Chicago Machine jealous. | Fred Klonsky: Pension post from IEA. by Fred Klonsky FYI- Please share with your readers. Janet Kilgus IEA-Retired Chair ———————————————– The following has been posted by the IEA on their website today, April 15. Immediate action is needed to protect your pension and the pensions of other IEA members. A pension-cutting bill, HB 3411 (known as the Nekritz-Cross bill) is expected to be called for a vote this week in the Illinois House Of Representatives. Protect your pension: Call 888-412-6570 to be connected with... more »

NYC Public School Parents: “NAKED SHORTING” OUR KIDS

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
NYC Public School Parents: “NAKED SHORTING” OUR KIDS: “NAKED SHORTING” OUR KIDS by Molly “NAKED SHORTING” OUR KIDS – Why is New York State Testing a Curriculum It Hasn’t Even Delivered Yet? By Susan Crawford Starting next week New York State students from grades 3-8 are expected to take tests on a Common Core curriculum that they have not yet been taught. If there was ever a case of “the emperor having no clothes,” this is it! Actually, another “naked” analogy came to mind for this situation. If the corporate reform movement has been trying to apply business practices to educ... more »

Does making change count? | My Island View

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Does making change count? | My Island View: Does making change count? by tomwhitby An advantage that I have as one who is fortunate enough to attend many education conferences, or special education events is the contact I have with many of the thought leaders in education. Of course most of those folks do not think of themselves as thought leaders, but just educators. The fact is that we are often defined by the perception of others. This holds true for institutions as well. I was invited to attend a special leadership event sponsored by Discovery Education. My association with D... more »

The New Jersey Kidz Are Alright | EduShyster

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
The New Jersey Kidz Are Alright | EduShyster: The New Jersey Kidz Are Alright by edushyster2012 Reader: it is rare indeed these days that we encounter the kind of feel-good news story to which we can tip our collective wine boxes. Today’s episode of ‘we lift our wine boxes’ comes to us via New Jersey. I am referring of course to the feel-great story of 27-year-old Education Pioneer and Jersey Boy Wonder Andrew Buher who has just been named chief operating officer for the New York City schools, the nation’s largest school system. But who is this young man whose meteoric rise has bee... more »

State Board of Education rushes approval of “School Leadership Program” for Vallas - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
State Board of Education rushes approval of “School Leadership Program” for Vallas - Wait, What?: State Board of Education rushes approval of “School Leadership Program” for Vallas by jonpelto Here comes one more benefit for the power elite! Some of the “rules” that apply to the rest of us, simply don’t apply to them. When Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor, recruited “education reformer extraordinaire,” Paul Vallas, to become Bridgeport’s $234,000, part-time, Acting Superintendent of Schools a major problem immediately developed. Unlike every one of Connect... more »

UPDATE: Local Control for Corporate Domination Schools Matter: Chicago Corporate Media Ignore Teachers' CORE Candidates

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Schools Matter: Chicago Corporate Media Ignore Teachers' CORE Candidates: Tennessee Republicans Trade Local Control for Corporate Domination by Jim Horn If there's anything Tennessee conservatives hate more than minorities who refuse to serve as doormats, it is anything public that is not controlled by corporate overlords. Local control? Only if corporations make the "local" decisions. To make sure of it, see what is happening with proposed legislation to take charter school decisions out of the hands of local boards of education and put them in the hands of Haslam and Huffman's... more »

Read DISD trustee Lew Blackburn’s emails regarding Spruce High School fight | Education Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Read DISD trustee Lew Blackburn’s emails regarding Spruce High School fight | Education Blog: Read DISD trustee Lew Blackburn’s emails regarding Spruce High School fight By Matthew Haag mhaag@dallasnews.com 11:08 am on April 15, 2013 | Permalink 0 0 0 Emails between Dallas ISD board president Lew Blackburn and administrators reveal he has had ongoing concerns about the district’s handling of an student-teacher assault at Spruce High School. The student, Delvron Turner, sits in a jail charged with assaulting teacher Bryan Porzio in December. A grand jury reduced the felony assault ch... more »

Daily Kos: Guns Rarely Used to Kill Criminals or Stop Crimes

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Daily Kos: Guns Rarely Used to Kill Criminals or Stop Crimes: Guns Rarely Used to Kill Criminals or Stop Crimes by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) That is the conclusion of Firearm Justifiable Homicides and Non-Fatal Self-Defense Gun Use, a new study just release by the Violence Policy Center that is subtitled "An Analysis of Federal Bureau of Investigation and National Crime Victimization Survey Data." The report analyzes national data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program’s Supplementary Homicide Report (SHR) and the Bureau of Justice... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Monday, April 15, 2013

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: California Dem’s Resolving not to be suckered by corporate “reformers” | Persephone's MotherThis resolution was passed today at the California Democratic Party Convention. Education Headlines *Monday, April 15, 2013* Natomas schools flagged by CalSTRS for pay bumps before retirementNatomas Unified School District made the state's Top 100 list, but it's not good news. The district is among 100 identified by the California State Teachers' Retirement System as having given numerous big pay bumps to employees close to retirement, re... more »

UPDATE: A teacher explains: Why I won’t resign + New calls to probe cheating allegations in Washington under Rhee | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
New calls to probe cheating allegations in Washington under Rhee | Get Schooled: A teacher explains: Why I won’t resign. A letter of resolution. by Maureen Downey [image: downeyart0401]I have shared some very passionate teacher resignation letters on the blog, including an incredible one from former local teacher Jordan Kohanim. (*If you missed her piece, read it here.*) But here is a letter from a teacher explaining why she is not resigning. New York teacher Christine McCartney published this letter on her terrific* “An Educator’s Re-education” blog.* McCartney has been at the Uni... more »

UPDATE: biggest hedge-fund asshole + How the blame game works. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
How the blame game works. | Fred Klonsky: The second biggest hedge-fund asshole on Wall Street. by Fred Klonsky *Dan Loeb. The second biggest hedge-fund asshole on Wall Street.* Matt Taibbi: [image: 20130411-dan-x600-1365695998]But here’s the catch. Dan Loeb, who isn’t known as the biggest hedge-fund asshole still working on Wall Street (only because Stevie Cohen hasn’t been arrested yet), is on the board and co-founder of a group called Students First New York. And Students First has been one of the leading advocates pushing for states to abandon defined benefit plans – packages... more »

The Whole Child Requires Whole Tech — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
The Whole Child Requires Whole Tech — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Walter McKenzie]The Whole Child Requires Whole Tech April 15, 2013 by Walter McKenzie So you're actively working to implement the tenets of the Whole Child Initiative? Excellent! How about your*whole tech initiative*? What's your vision for technology in education? Not what you have in your inventory or what you're comfortable using: your action plan for technology empowering the whole child. Why? Because in today's world, technology is not an add-on or a nice-to-have; it's an essential array o... more »

Common Questions About Common Core | InterACT

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Common Questions About Common Core | InterACT: Common Questions About Common Core by ACT Guest Blog Posts Chris Miraglia [image: Chris Miraglia]*Today’s InterACT guest blog post was written by Chris Miraglia, an intermediate school US history teacher from Santa Ana USD. A frequent commenter at this blog, Chris also writes at his own blog and is active on Twitter. He wrote this post as a follow-up to his comment on a prior InterACT blog post,Common Core Presentations and Omissions.* As California schools approach the implementation of the Common Core, I wonder how much thought has ... more »

Next Generation Science Standards Released - High School Notes (usnews.com)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Next Generation Science Standards Released - High School Notes (usnews.com): Next Generation Science Standards Released By U.S. News Staff April 15, 2013 RSS Feed Print [image: High school students work on an experiment in extracting biodiesel from algae.] New science standards call for more hands-on learning, but that doesn’t come cheap. Science education in the United States is not up to snuff. Most high schoolstudents can scratch the scientific surface – follow instructions, conduct experiments – but few succeed at analysis and explanation, two critical components of real-world i... more »

MORNING UPDATE LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-15-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Why the Hateful Talk about Children? by dianerav In the past few days, education officials in New York have made some breathtakingly hostile comments about children. Merryl Tisch, the chancellor of the New York Board of Regents, responded to reports about test anxiety by saying that it was time to jump into the deep end. By that, she meant that it was time to throw these little children in grades 3-8 into the deep end, as I presume she will not be jumping in with ... more »

Big day in Albany, NY tomorrow, #LIriseup – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Big day in Albany, NY tomorrow, #LIriseup – @ the chalk face: Big day in Albany, NY tomorrow, #LIriseup by Chalk Face, PhD [image: Big day in Albany, NY tomorrow, #LIriseup] NY state is bringing it. The achievement gap is a wedge issue for #TFA by Chalk Face, PhD They think they care. But as an organization, not really. So, in a market that has a glut of teachers, why does TFA need millions of dollars to run operations in Minnesota? Educate yourself on the #optout issues dujour, in New York state by Chalk Face, PhD If you want information, a nice primer on how it’s done, listen t... more »

The Unfunded Mandate of Florida’s Test-Dominated Education System and the Potential for Crony Capitalism | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
The Unfunded Mandate of Florida’s Test-Dominated Education System and the Potential for Crony Capitalism | Scathing Purple Musings: The Unfunded Mandate of Florida’s Test-Dominated Education System and the Potential for Crony Capitalism by Bob Sikes It’s FCAT week around Florida and schools still are scrambling with logistics. Allison Ross of the *Palm Beach Post *has more: Ridge High School got a special delivery this month: nearly 400 new laptop computers. But that still may not be enough. Because the tens of thousands of computers at Palm Beach County schools are used more and... more »

The problem with school superintendents

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
The problem with school superintendents: The problem with school superintendents Posted by Valerie Strauss on April 15, 2013 at 4:00 am 6 Comments More [image: Oakland Supt. Tony Smith resigns] Oakland Supt. Tony Smith resigns What do urban school districts need to see in their leaders? Here to explain is Katherine Schultz, a professor and dean of the School of Education at Mills College in Oakland. She is the author of the 2009 book, “Rethinking Classroom Participation: Listening to Silent Voices.” By Katherine Schultz Tony Smith announced his resignation as superintendent of the ... more »