Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Diane in the Evening 4-17-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

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








Duncan Urges US Chamber of Commerce to Defend Common Core

Arne Duncan is concerned about the backlash against the federal government’s heavy-handed imposition of the Common Core.
At a speech to business leaders in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, he urged their support for Common Core.
He probably forgot that the U.S. Department of Education is legally prohibited from being involved in any matters that prescribe curriculum or instruction to the nation’s public schools.


When Students in New Orleans Got a Chance to Speak

NBC’s “Education Nation” has proved to be a forum for the advocates of high-stakes testing, closing schools, privatization, and charter schools.
When they filmed in New Orleans, students got a chance to be heard, and their views were illuminating.
Despite the drumbeat of Race to the Top and Bobby Jindal in support of evaluating teachers by the scores of 


Investigative Reporter: The Stories Behind the “Parent Trigger”

Yasha Levine is an investigative reporter. He became interested in the “parent trigger” and wanted to see what was going on in Adelanto, California, the only place in the United States where the parent trigger has been “fired” to turn a public school over to a charter operator.
Just as an aside, I find the rhetoric of a “parent trigger” to be loathsome after the Newtown massacre. But that’s just me.
This article is going behind a pay wall in 24 hours. With this kind of investigative reporting, you might consider subscribing. We need more digging by smart journalists instead of the regurgitated press releases that we so 

Mother Crusader Opted Out!

News from parent activist Mother Crusader:
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
I’ve Opted Out And You Can Too!
This morning I spoke with the Assistant Superintendent of my district, and was told it’s no problem to opt my 1st graders out of the NJPASS. This is not a mandated test, and the results are not reported to the state. It is given mostly to prepare students for taking the NJASK in 3rd grade – so in my estimation, it’s all but useless for my kids and a waste of money for the district.
The OK to opt out this year came with a warning that once my girls hit 3rd grade this would not be such a cake walk. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.
For now, I feel an incredible sense of relief.
Relief that my girls won’t lose almost 7 hours (I was told it sucks up 2 hours and 15 minutes on 3 consecutive 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-17-13 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] Former Lt. Gov. Ratliff of Texas Joins the Honor Roll by dianerav Former Lieutenant Governor Bill Ratliff has spoken out loud and clear for the 5 million children in public schools in Texas. He knows the state cut the budget way too much. He knows that the state must put its money into improving education–not by “throwing money” at it–but by doing the right things. And he knows that the Legislature will be moved when they start hearing from angry Mamas. They ar... more »