Big Education Ape: May 29, 2013

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

by Fred Klonsky

Friends,

Our coalition has heard credible reports that pension-slashing bills could move in the Senate tomorrow.
Senate Bill 1 – or pieces of it, like House Bill 1165 – could be up for a Senate vote on Thursday, May 30, or Friday, May 31. Both bills have already passed the House. If either bill clears the Senate, it will go to the Governor Pat Quinn’s desk, where he is very likely to sign either measure.
The legislature is entering the last 48 hours of session before its scheduled adjournment on Friday. This is the most critical time for you to act.
Call your state senators now at 888-412-6570 or click here. Even if you have called before, call again. Tell your state senators to stand with working families and retirees. Tell them to vote no on SB 1 or any pieces of it, like HB 1165.
As you may recall, SB 1 is House Speaker Michael Madigan’s pension-cutting “mega-bill” that affects active and retired workers. It deeply cuts COLAs, reducing the value of a pension between one-third and one-half after twenty years in retirement. It increases retirement ages up to five years, without regard for physically or mentally demanding jobs. And it limits the amount of salary that earns a pension, ignoring the mandatory overtime worked by many public servants.
HB 1165 essentially contains the COLA cut from SB 1. This COLA cut caps the amount of pension that earns a COLA at extremely low levels and delays them for five years.
A description of these bills is available on our website by clicking on the following link.
Now is the time to act.
Call 888-412-6570 to make your voice heard, and then tell five friends to add their voices to yours.

Please monitor our website and “like” our Facebook page to receive updates on fast-moving developments. To receive mobile phone updates, text WEAREONE to 225568.

Thank you for your continued advocacy in our long fight for a secure, stable retirement.
- We Are One Illinois

Last Stand for Children First: Our Report from the Mackinac Island Conference.

Last Stand for Children First: Our Report from the Mackinac Island Conference.:

Our Report from the Mackinac Island Conference.

by Last Stand for Children

Hello and a sunny welcome from beautiful Mackinac Island, Michigan where the beautiful people of the education reform set have all penciled in this beautiful island made famous by Esther Williams in the movie Grand Hotel, for their Spring getaways. It's Mackinac Island Conference Week and if there's one thing on the menu besidesChianti Chef Keith Shockling's Semolina Dusted Lake Huron Whitefish, it's education reform.

Where else can you hobnob with celebrities like Michelle Rhee, Harold Ford, Jeb Bush, Robert L. Johnson, Joe

The Washington Teacher: Pink Slipping DCs Teachers

The Washington Teacher: Pink Slipping DCs Teachers:

Pink Slipping DCs Teachers

by noreply@blogger.com (Candi Peterson)

By Candi Peterson

Vote Davis Slate for WTU
Liz Davis /Candi Peterson
The WTU Can Be Better!

One by one, Cardozo Senior High School teachers and school staff were called down to the Principal's office today to receive pink slips. Just a week ago, DC's Cardozo High School staff were notified that 100% of our staff would be reconstituted and required to reapply for our jobs, with the exception of the school's principal. Later on in the same week, 90 staff members had to submit to abbreviated 5-7 minute interviews and answering three questions by the school's principal.

Today was a solemn day for all at Cardozo High as teachers and staff waited with baited breath to learn of their job status. Many speculated who possibly would get the axe. Even some of the DC contractors described having

Sallie Mae Plans To Split into Two Separate Companies - Higher Education

Sallie Mae Plans To Split into Two Separate Companies - Higher Education:

Sallie Mae Plans To Split into Two Separate Companies

by cmaadmin

NEWARK, Del. — Sallie Mae plans to split into two separate, publicly traded companies. The student loan giant also named John Remondi as its CEO.
Sallie Mae, formally named SLM Corp., said Wednesday that the two separate companies, an education loan management business and a consumer banking business, would help unlock value and boost its long-term growth potential.
The education loan management business would include the company’s portfolios of federally guaranteed and private education loans, as well as most related servicing and collection activities. Remondi will continue as its CEO.
The principal assets of the business are likely to include approximately $118.1 billion in federally guaranteed loans, $31.6 billion in private education loans, $7.9 billion of other interest-earning assets and a loan servicing business with about 10 million student loan customers. This includes 4.8 million customer accounts serviced under Sallie Mae’s contract with the U.S. Department of Education.
Sallie Mae’s private education loan origination and servicing businesses, including Sallie Mae Bank and the

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Bad Advice Needs Own Thread

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Bad Advice Needs Own Thread:

Bad Advice Needs Own Thread

by Melissa Westbrook

A reader asked this:

I have a bright 4th grader in the Carnation area - we are considering some other options for her for next year, yes even at this late date. Where should I start looking?

Me, going on my old school way of thinking, told this parent that he/she didn't have many options. Not true (after talking with Tracy Libros in Enrollment).

So, to correct:

- coming in at a later grade there CAN be spaces open that might not be at kindergarten. So check what your attendance area school is first.

The readiness to do social experiments on the education of children – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

The readiness to do social experiments on the education of children – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER:

The readiness to do social experiments on the education of children

by Activism in paradise - Voices from down under

Reposted from Scoop NZ.

by Gordon Campbell

The school closures in Christchurch really are a perfect storm – the most stressed community in New Zealand is being led by the most accident prone Minister in the Key government, into a social experiment on its youngest and most vulnerable, in the least available time. Nothing could possibly go wrong with that scenario, could it? Even if Education Minister Hekia Parata was correct – and this is contested – about the school mergers she is imposing on Christchurch due to what the earthquake has done to population shifts, school rolls and the costs for classroom repairs and replacement, nothing can justify the speed with which she is rushing through these changes.

Even Parata’s own Ministry, it seems, was advocating a further year of adjustment. The plan is as follows:

Seven primary and intermediate schools in Christchurch are to close outright and another three primary schools will close as part of mergers with other schools. Of the closures confirmed on Wednesday afternoon, most will take effect from

Wait, What? The Last Push for the May 2013 Fundraising Program - Wait, What?

Wait, What? The Last Push for the May 2013 Fundraising Program - Wait, What?:

Wait, What? The Last Push for the May 2013 Fundraising Program

by jonpelto

Friends,

A huge thank you to everyone who has been so supportive and generous during the May 2013 Wait, What? fundraising effort. We’ve reached the last days of the campaign and have nearly reached our goal.

If you haven’t donated, but wish to help strengthen Wait, What? and the role of advocacy and investigative journalism in Connecticut — now is the time to give.

With your help and support we’ll continue our effort to “to educate, persuade and mobilize the people through ‘perceptive and acerbic’ observations about Connecticut Government and Politics.

As always, thank you very much for being such incredible partners and supporters.

Jonathan

To make a donation go to: http://fundly.com/help-strenthen-the-wait-what-blog

LAUSD submits amended application for No Child Left Behind waiver - LA Daily News

LAUSD submits amended application for No Child Left Behind waiver - LA Daily News:

LAUSD submits amended application for No Child Left Behind waiver

by By Barbara Jones, Staff Writer

In response to concerns raised by federal regulators, Los Angeles Unified and eight other school districts have filed an amended application for a waiver from a federal law requiring that all students be proficient in English and math by 2014.

The coalition dubbed the California Office to Reform Education is seeking an exemption from key academic provisions of the No Child Left Behind law, which has labeled 500 schools in Los Angeles and thousands more statewide as failing. If approved by U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, the waiver would take effect in the fall and would be the first ever granted to a group of districts, which together educate 1.1 million students.

Currently, based on standardized tests, just half of the students in LAUSD are considered proficient in English and 52 percent are proficient in math. Benchmarks in No Child Left Behind give the district just one year to raise those totals to 100 percent.

The waiver would lift that proficiency mandate and also would give districts more freedom in how they can

CCSS Garbage – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

CCSS Garbage – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER:

CCSS Garbage

by Chris Cerrone

This Second Grade math workbook produced by McGraw-Hill is a total piece of garbage that my children’s school has purchased to “align” with the Common Core here in New York State.

Is this corporate produced workbook the result of a rush to market because of the lightspeed push to force the Common Core on classrooms across the Empire State? For those outside of New York, our state used Common Core aligned State Assessments this spring even though most teachers have had little training or time to update their lessons and materials.

Or is this workbook another corporate made, watch the bottom line, cheaply produced publication? As a veteran teacher I have “built” my course over time to the point that virtually all of my teaching materials and student handouts are my creations. This results when educators through real experience become experts with their curriculum and students. When teachers are either forced to use these workbooks because of school policy or use them because of new content our

Diane in the Evening 5-29-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

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

Voting Machines, Old and New

by dianerav

This is off-topic, since it is not about education. But, hey, it’s my blog and I am allowed now and then to think about other topics.
I just read in the New York Times that New York City is planning to ditch its new electronic voting machines and go back to using the old lever-operated machines, first invented in 1890. The city has already spent $95 million on the electronic machines, and some critics said that it was wrong to revert to the old technology. The old machines are apparently in a warehouse, covered in plastic.
The reason I mention this was that I served on a federal commission to review the electoral process after the fiasco of the disputed Presidential election in 2000. The commission was co-chaired by ex-Presidents Jimmy

Jeb Bush Slams Public Schools

by dianerav

Jeb Bush really truly doesn’t like public schools. He sees them as the essence of mediocrity, strangled by unions.
What does he want? Charters, vouchers, virtual schools. Anything but public schools.

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-29-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Gary Rubinstein: Watch Kevin Huffman Debate a Straw Man by dianerav Gary Rubinstein came across an article in which Tennessee State Commissioner Kevin Huffman boasted about the merit pay scheme he was proposing and derided the leader of the Memphis teachers’ union for expressing caution about the program. Gary decided to take a closer look at the merit pay program and concluded that the union leader’s concern was well placed. Teachers would receive $2,000 to sign... more »

Deepest Learning: Reading to Write & Writing to Learn « The Core Knowledge Blog

Deepest Learning: Reading to Write & Writing to Learn « The Core Knowledge Blog:

Deepest Learning: Reading to Write & Writing to Learn

by Lisa Hansel

Where in Queens, NY, can you find second graders comparing the Olympics in ancient Greece with our modern games—and using that discussion as an opportunity to review the use of past and present verbs? Or third graders preparing travel guides on the Amazon, Orinoco, Nile, and Yellow rivers? What about essays by fourth graders on the Chinese painter and calligrapher Zhao Mengfu, small groups of fifth graders discussing the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, or sixth graders writing out what they would say if they were reporters during the French Revolution?

I saw all that and more yesterday during a visit to P.S. 124, the Osmond A Church school. This K – 8 school has been using the Core Knowledge Sequence for 14 years. Students’ writing and related artwork line the halls and dangle from the ceilings. As the principal, Valarie Lewis, said several times, the Core Knowledge “is a thinking curriculum.” Whether in a presentation to the class or in an essay (usually both in this demanding school), Core Knowledge gives students something significant to say. And as I saw, the educators throughout P.S. 124 ensure that they learn to say it well.

Far from dry facts, the Sequence provides teachers the core content they need to develop engaging domain-based studies that immerse students in cross-curricular units—like the fourth graders who learned about medieval castles and trebuchets. Not only did they read

Modern School: Latest Federal Data Confirm: College NOT Road to Prosperity

Modern School: Latest Federal Data Confirm: College NOT Road to Prosperity:

Latest Federal Data Confirm: College NOT Road to Prosperity

by Michael Dunn

College educated people do have higher incomes and lower unemployment rates, on average, than those who have not been to college. However, the goal of achieving prosperity by obtaining a college education is becoming less attainable and secure than ever before, primarily because of staggering levels of student debt and a stagnant labor market offering mostly low wage jobs in the service sector, but also because of growing competition for limited space on college campuses.

“A college diploma no longer guarantees a direct pathway to the middle class, making it harder to justify the expense of a degree,” National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Commissioner Jack Buckley told Diverse Education. Student loan debt is the only type of loan debt that has increased since the recession started. In 2012, total student loan debt reached

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-29-13 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2

James Baldwin said it best:

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP

Modern School: Latest Federal Data Confirm: College NOT Road to Prosperity

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 minutes ago

Modern School: Latest Federal Data Confirm: College NOT Road to Prosperity: Latest Federal Data Confirm: College NOT Road to Prosperity by Michael Dunn College educated people do have higher incomes and lower unemployment rates, on average, than those who have not been to college. However, the goal of achieving prosperity by obtaining a college education is becoming less attainable and secure than ever before, primarily because of staggering levels of student debt and a stagnant labor market offering mostly low wage jobs in the service sector, but also because of growing competitio... more »

Developing Active Readers Student Voice

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 minutes ago

Student Voice: Developing Active Readers by Editor Admin *Repost from Edutopia by Rebecca Alber. With the end of the university year already here and with the high school year’s end rapidly approaching, what better topic to discuss than summer reading plans? * Adults forget all that they do while reading. We are predicting, making connections, contextualizing, critiquing, and already plotting how we might use any new insights or information. Yep, we do all that when we read. As teachers, we need to train students in each of these skills, and begin to do so early on. I was recently ... more »

Jeb Bush Talks Education At Mackinac, Pushes Michigan's Questionable Charter School Sector

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 minutes ago

Jeb Bush Talks Education At Mackinac, Pushes Michigan's Questionable Charter School Sector: Jeb Bush Talks Education At Mackinac, Pushes Michigan's Questionable Charter School Sector by Joy Resmovits MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. -- Jeb Bush praised charter schools and slammed traditional public schools and teachers unions in a speech here Wednesday, saying that public education “dumbs down standards to make adults look better," a phrase often used by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "We must expand [school] choice," said Bush, delivering a keynote speech at the annual Mackinac... more »

State high court is skeptical of nurses' stance on school duties - latimes.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 minutes ago

State high court is skeptical of nurses' stance on school duties - latimes.com: State high court is skeptical of nurses' stance on school duties by By Maura Dolan [image: California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye] SAN FRANCISCO -- The California Supreme Court appeared skeptical Wednesday of arguments that only licensed nurses may administer insulin injections and other medications to schoolchildren. During a hearing, several justices on the state high court questioned whether such requirements made sense. The California Nurses Assn. has argued that state law requires licensed nu... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Math Curriculum Update

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Math Curriculum Update: Math Curriculum Update by Melissa Westbrook From the Seattle Math Coalition: FYI, the district has changed their math adoption plan based on budget concerns. The proposed K-8 adoption which was supposed to be in classrooms in Fall of 2014 is now only a K-5 adoption, with 6-8 to be delayed for another year! This files in the face of common sense: 1) CMP2 is a train wreck for families without stellar teachers or family/tutor support 2) Despite a goal of a 7-year adoption cycle, the CMP2 materials are already at year ... more »

Horse Hockey | EduShyster

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Horse Hockey | EduShyster: Horse Hockey by edushyster2012 *An exclusive Michigan gathering attracts some high-profile education reformers—and more than a few flies.* Horse Hockey is defined as: 1. Horse excrement, horseshit. 2. (slang, euphemistic) False or deceitful statements; lies; exaggerations; nonsense. (a euphemism for*horseshit*) 3. A tall tale so extravagant as to be unbelievable 4. An expression of disbelief or disgust Welcome to beautiful Mackinac Island. Home to the annual Mackinac Policy Conference, this exclusive enclave is currently swarming with more t... more »

Jersey Jazzman: US Census Bureau: Most Charters Not "Public " Schools

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Jersey Jazzman: US Census Bureau: Most Charters Not "Public " Schools: US Census Bureau: Most Charters Not "Public " Schools by Duke *NOT a public school.* * * It's official: according to the US Census Bureau, most charter schools are not "public": Charter Schools The data in this report include only those charter schools established and administratively controlled by another government entity (e.g., universities, cities, counties, or public school systems). The data for these “public charter schools” are collected as separate, individual units, or are included with the data for t... more »

Smarter Balanced Practice Tests - Assessment Information (CA Dept of Education)

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Smarter Balanced Practice Tests - Assessment Information (CA Dept of Education): Smarter Balanced Practice Tests ------------------------------ The Smarter Balanced Practice Tests are now available for grades 3 through 8 and grade 11 in English-language arts (ELA) and mathematics. The Practice Tests provide a preview of the Smarter Balanced assessments, but do not reflect the full range of content that students may encounter on the actual assessments. As such, *the practice tests should not be used to guide instructional decisions about students*. Scoring keys are expected to be av... more »

Ed Notes Online: Video - Mayoral Debate on Education: The Winner is ..... Moderator Zakiyah Ansari

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Ed Notes Online: Video - Mayoral Debate on Education: The Winner is ..... Moderator Zakiyah Ansari: Video - Mayoral Debate on Education: The Winner is ..... Moderator Zakiyah Ansari by ed notes online Republished with full video coverage: No one was more impressive than Zakiyah who dominated the debate with her no-nonsense take charge approach. I guess many of the candidates did not know much about her but every single one of them took notice. Zakiayah for mayor. The press corps was massive due to Weiner -- a major victory for NY-GPS in getting him to show -- did they have to guara...more »

NYC Educator: An Encouraging Word

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

NYC Educator: An Encouraging Word: An Encouraging Word by NYC Educator I've been attending meetings and talking to people from UFT for some time now. Often, they say things like no city union has a contract. Of course, that's hard to argue with, being that it's absolutely true. But what I rarely hear is that UFT was ignored not only in this round of pattern bargaining, but in the last as well. I've brought that up to vacant stares, and while no one contradicted me, no one seems to comment on it one way or another either. This piece in the Daily News is all about the taxpayers, and ... more »

Education By The Numbers | The number of high poverty schools increases by about 60 percent

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Education By The Numbers | The number of high poverty schools increases by about 60 percent: The number of high poverty schools increases by about 60 percent Poverty is getting so concentrated in America that one out of five public schools was classified as as a “high poverty” school in 2011 by the U.S. Department of Education. To win this unwelcome designation, 75 percent or more of an elementary, middle or high school’s students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch. About a decade earlier, in 2000, only one in eight public schools was deemed to be high poverty. That’s about... more »

First Focus | Early Education Focus

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Home | First Focus | Early Education Focus: [image: Early Ed Focus] Early Education in FocusWe're pleased to introduce the first issue of our new early education newsletter, *Early Education in Focus*. If you would like to continue receiving the periodic newsletter, please sign-up here. What's the Plan?President Obama included a plan for widely available high quality pre-K in his budget request, adding his ideas on expanding access and improving quality of pre-K to the existing proposals already in Congress. Our analysiscompares the pre-K portion of the President’s plan to Sena... more »

First Lady Michelle Obama Reflects on the Responsibility of the African American Communal to Educate Others | ED.gov Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

First Lady Michelle Obama Reflects on the Responsibility of the African American Communal to Educate Others | ED.gov Blog: First Lady Michelle Obama Reflects on the Responsibility of the African American Communal to Educate Others Posted on May 29, 2013 by Guest Blogger Recently, First Lady Michelle Obama delivered a passionate speech to 600 graduates and several thousand supporters at the historically black, Bowie State University (BSU) commencement ceremony, in Maryland. After being awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law from BSU, Mrs. Obama spoke to the graduates about their perse... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Florida School Board Confirms They Have Ok'd Iris Scan Without Parental Permission

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Florida School Board Confirms They Have Ok'd Iris Scan Without Parental Permission: Florida School Board Confirms They Have Ok'd Iris Scan Without Parental Permission by Anngie What would you do if you found out your school scanned your child's iris for the all critical purpose of enabling your child not to have to "carry an identification card?" Parents in Florida are answering that question today. A mother in Florida posted last week on Facebook that she thought her third grader had been scanned at school, but she could get no confirmation of that, ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Student Privacy Issues - No to inBloom

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Student Privacy Issues - No to inBloom: Student Privacy Issues - No to inBloom by Melissa Westbrook This article from Reuters really does a good job of explaining the issues around student data and privacy. (I had seen this but a reader also alerted me to it; thanks). I keep getting asked, "What to do?" I'll have a list of things you CAN and SHOULD do. Our district can say no to a lot of this. In a nutshell: ** *A $100 million database set up to store extensive records on millions of public school students has stumbled badly since its launch... more »

Disparities in education can crush aspirations in heart of Silicon Valley | EdSource Today

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Disparities in education can crush aspirations in heart of Silicon Valley | EdSource Today: Disparities in education can crush aspirations in heart of Silicon Valley - by John Fensterwald by John Fensterwald Sunnyvale, in the heart of Silicon Valley, is home to such high-tech fixtures as Yahoo!, Juniper Networks, AMD and Applied Micro, plus aerospace/defense operations of Lockheed Martin and Honeywell. Yet few Latinos who grow up in their shadow are qualified to work for those companies. [image: The participation and proficiency rates for Algebra I for Latinos in Sunnyvale, in the... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Graduation rates up in Chicago -- Great, if true

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Graduation rates up in Chicago -- Great, if true: Graduation rates up in Chicago -- Great, if true by Mike Klonsky If it's true, I'm elated to hear that graduation rates have improved in Chicago. It's a tribute to the hard-working CPS teachers, principals and parents, who are currently being debased by the administration and in the media. It also indicates that public schools are not "failing" after all. *Chicago Public Schools announced Saturday that more than 60 percent of their 2007-2008 freshmen graduated last year, calling it a history-making rec... more »

Defining a Positive School Climate and Measuring the Impact — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Defining a Positive School Climate and Measuring the Impact — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Emily Buchanan]Defining a Positive School Climate and Measuring the Impact May 29, 2013 by Emily Buchanan Last month (April 2013), the National School Climate Center and Fordham University concluded that "sustained positive school climate is associated with positive child and youth development, effective risk-prevention and health-promotion efforts, student learning and academic achievement, increased student graduation rates, and teacher retention." Having gained increa... more »

CORE districts hoping for July NCLB waiver approval SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: *CORE districts hoping for July NCLB waiver approval* *By Kimberly Beltran* Wednesday, May 29, 2013 A group of California districts seeking relief from federal mandates under the No Child Left Behind Act have proposed implementing its new system for school improvement this fall, assuming its updated application is approved by July, officials said Tuesday. Included in the California Office to Reform Education’s – or CORE’s – proposal is a new school accountability formula that would, in essence, replace existing state and federal performance s... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Commissioner King sued in state court for ignoring public participation requirements in C4E law

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: Commissioner King sued in state court for ignoring public participation requirements in C4E law: Commissioner King sued in state court for ignoring public participation requirements in C4E law by Leonie Haimson *As we have made clear in our presentations to Community Education Councils and other parent and community groups, the State Education Department and the NYC Department of Education are equally guilty in ignoring the Contracts for Excellence (C4E) law passed in 2007, which requires public participation and accountability in the development of the... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, May 29, 2013

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *Fensterwald: Nine districts resubmit ‘stronger’ application for NCLB waiver * Education Headlines *Wednesday, May 29, 2013* Stockton USD fills No. 2 postFor the first time in more than six years, Stockton Unified has a deputy superintendent, a clear second-in-command in the event of an unexpected void at the top of the district's management ladder. Helene Galen donates $1.5 million for Rancho Mirage High School theaterThe Palm Springs Unified School District will rename the new Rancho Mirage High School theater after accepting ... more »

School system may override charter's hiring picks - The Frederick News-Post : Schools

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

School system may override charter's hiring picks - The Frederick News-Post : Schools: School system may override charter's hiring picks [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] Posted: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 2:00 am By Rachel S. Karas News-Post Staff | 35 comments Frederick County Public Schools officials may force a new charter school to hire teachers of the county's choosing instead of the school's preferred candidates, according to the school's president. Rather than let the Frederick Classical Charter School offer jobs to nine candidates who had passed a s... more »

No new taxes and other fairytales - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

No new taxes and other fairytales - Wait, What?: No new taxes and other fairytales by jonpelto Late word is that Governor Malloy and Legislative Democrats have reached a budget “deal,” as the 2013 session of the Connecticut General Assembly heads toward its closing date next week. Putting aside the controversy surrounding Connecticut’s faulty spending cap, the one claim that is being spun, above and beyond all others, is that the budget contains no new taxes. Or, as Governor Malloy put it yesterday, “The bottom line is we will not increase taxes or create any new taxes. The budget ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Yesterday's mayoral debate with Weiner making his first appearance

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: Yesterday's mayoral debate with Weiner making his first appearance: Yesterday's mayoral debate with Weiner making his first appearance by Leonie Haimson *The Weiner scrum (Credit: @NYDNLemire)* Despite the Anthony Weiner press hysteria, (it was his first appearance at a mayoral debate;Michael Powell of NYTimes tweeted "Cluster idiocy of press on full display at Weiner a thon educational debate") yesterday’s education forum hosted by New Yorkers for Great Public Schools was very interesting. Zakiyah Ansari did a great job moderating, and there were ver... more »

Michelle Newsum: Tracking Our Way to Wider Achievement Gaps - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Michelle Newsum: Tracking Our Way to Wider Achievement Gaps - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Michelle Newsum: Tracking Our Way to Wider Achievement Gaps by Anthony Cody *Guest post by Michelle Newsum.* * * * * Under the fear created by NCLB/RTTT, large scale ability group tracking has made its way back into schools. Because tracking is commonly considered odious, and the research does not support it, no one calls it that. It is now given cuter or more palatable names like 'Walk to Read' or 'Intervention Time' even 'Flexible Grouping.' (Although some schools have flexi... more »

An Open Letter to the Architects of the Common Core | Taking Note

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

An Open Letter to the Architects of the Common Core | Taking Note: An Open Letter to the Architects of the Common Core by John Merrow Dear Architects of the Common Core, How do you propose to test the skills and capabilities learned by the 8th graders at King Middle School in Portland, Maine? If you missed our recent NewsHour piece, you may watch it here. In just 11:38, correspondent John Tulenko and producer David Wald brilliantly capture how a 4-month ‘deeper learning’ project changed the lives of Liva Pierce, Emma Schwartz, Nat Youngrin and other young students. John made fou... more »

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER 5-29-13

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: Chiefs for Change or Puppets for Propaganda? by Timothy D. Slekar The “Chiefs for Change” led by Hanna Skandera have put their collective foot down. There will be no stopping, pausing, or breathing when it comes to implementing and shoving high stakes test down the throats of Common Core adoption states. According to Skandera, “Accountability delayed isn’t real accountability.” Why do we care what Hanna Skandera thinks? […] Innovation Like 1954!: The Technology Khan Continues MAY 29, 2013 BY PLTHOMASEDD LEAVE A COMMENT Sal Khan is the twenty-fi... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Parent Refuses Permission for Child to take Part in Field Testing for Pearson

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Parent Refuses Permission for Child to take Part in Field Testing for Pearson: Parent Refuses Permission for Child to take Part in Field Testing for Pearson by stlgretchen Another brave parent stands up to the standardized test industry. From buffalo news. com and* ‘Field tests’ raise concerns that school tests are now a corporate product:* A new packet of shrink-wrapped state tests will arrive at hundreds of elementary and middle schools across the region this week. But these 40-minute tests given in early June won’t count for students or teachers. T... more »

Striking a Balance Between Tiger Mom and Empathetic Mom « MomsRising Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Striking a Balance Between Tiger Mom and Empathetic Mom « MomsRising Blog: Honoring the Voices and Influence of the Asian Pacific American Community: A MomsRising Blog Carnival Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by Mee Moua Asian-Americans are the fastest growing minority in the United States, growing by 46% between the 2000 and 2010 censuses. Also, May marks Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. In celebration of the many contributions of women, mothers and families of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage to the United States, I am pleased to introduce this blog car... more »

UPDATE: Rahm’s fail too? + Life in Rahm’s Chicago. If UNO’s Juan Rangel failed, isn’t he Rahm’s fail too? | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Life in Rahm’s Chicago. If UNO’s Juan Rangel failed, isn’t he Rahm’s fail too? | Fred Klonsky: The clock stops on Friday for Illinois pension reform. It is all a tangled web. by Fred Klonsky [image: 4f69430c3ce92.preview-620]*Illinois Senator Mike Jacobs.* When the Illinois legislative clock stops late on Friday, either something will have happened or nothing will have happened. One thing that has a high probability of *not happening* is the *We Are One*/Cullerton SB2404. *We Are One*, as I have frequently pointed out here, is the coalition of state public employee leaders includin... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-29-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Megyn Kelly Discusses Common Core | Truth in American Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Megyn Kelly Discusses Common Core | Truth in American Education: Megyn Kelly Discusses Common Core by Shane Vander Hart I know some are skeptical of the interview that Megan Kelly of Fox News had with Bob Bowdon of Choice Mediayesterday. Bowdon hasn’t said much about the Common Core so some question his agenda. Personally I believe he gave a fair interview and it was favorable to our position. I also believe it wasn’t the most substantive interview on the subject. I’ve also heard some rambling about his school choice position. Let me be clear about where I stand… I am not a publi... more »

How school reform preserves the ‘status quo’ — and what real change would look like

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

How school reform preserves the ‘status quo’ — and what real change would look like: How school reform preserves the ‘status quo’ — and what real change would look like By Valerie Strauss, Published: May 29, 2013 at 6:00 amE-mail the writer 2 Comments More [image: (http://www.urdjuret.com)] (http://www.urdjuret.com) If you follow the education policy debate at all, you know that critics are often called “defenders of the status quo” by people pushing market-based school reforms. Here is a piece about why it is actually the reforms that are preserving the status quo — and what real re... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Finally got the news how my dues are being used

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Finally got the news how my dues are being used: Finally got the news how my dues are being used by Mike Klonsky I'm a life-long union guy and always will be. It's in my DNA. I'm also a dues-paying member of AFSCME (Retirees) the union I have counted on over the years to fight to protect my state university pension. Yesterday, I received an email from Chapter 31 President *Virginia Yates * and *Henry Bayer*, the Executive Director of AFSCME Council 31, both asking me to contact my State Representative to urge him to support the latest pension-bombing... more »

Huffman vs. Straw Man | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Huffman vs. Straw Man | Gary Rubinstein's Blog: Huffman vs. Straw Manby Gary Rubinstein Kevin Huffman is one of two TFA alumni who is currently a state education commissioner. I was a 1991 Houston corps member and Kevin was one in 1992 so I have known him, at least informally, for over twenty years. I interacted with him from time to time when he was a TFA vice president of public affairs for several years. A few days ago I saw a tweet from TFA co-CEO Matt Kramer which was also retweeted by the other co-CEO Elisa Villaueva-Beard about an important op-ed written by Huffman defend... more »

Why America Needs An Education Spring

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Why America Needs An Education Spring: Why America Needs An Education Spring by Jeff Bryant Well, *someone* in the mainstream media finally had to ask the question. MSNBC’s Chris Hayes, on his “All In” program on May 24, covered the forced closing of 50 public schools in Chicago – the largest incident of mass school closings in the nation’s history. Joining Hayes were Karen Lewis, head of the Chicago Teachers’ Union, and education professor Pedro Noguera to discuss the rationale for the closures. Lewis said school administrators and Mayor Rahm Emanuel changed the rationale for the ... more »

Community group wants OUSD board to slow down on D4 appointment - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Community group wants OUSD board to slow down on D4 appointment - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools: Community group wants OUSD board to slow down on D4 appointment By awoodall Tuesday, May 28th, 2013 at 3:40 pm in Uncategorized. A letter from the Block by Block Organizing Network to OUSD Board of Education chairman David Kakishiba asking for a little more public access to the appointment process that will fill Gary Yee’s District 4 seat. The board is planning to appoint a replacement by June 12 and already closed the applications last week. Here is a list... more »

History Lessons about Preschools in U.S. | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

History Lessons about Preschools in U.S. | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: History Lessons about Preschools in U.S. by larrycuban “Our four-year-olds do have a place in school, but it is not at a school desk,” said Ed Zigler, Yale University psychologist who helped design Head Start in President Johnson’s “War on Poverty” and led the Office of Child Development in President Nixon’s administration. He wanted K-12 systems to welcome all young children but was concerned about pre-kindergartens becoming another academic boot camp for four-year-olds. Many others, h... more »

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 5-28-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

*Nite Cap UPDATE* *UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* ** *CORPORATE ED REFORM* The Incoherent World of Rick Hess by Duke *Rick Hess (artist's conception)* Oh, my stars and garters! Get the fainting couch: Rick Hess has the vapors! I've been friendly with Diane Ravitch for a long time. Encountering her historical work 20 years ago, I was struck by her hard-hitting, erudite analyses. She invited me to deliver my first featured talk (at Brookings, on my then-forthcoming *Spinning Wheels* book). When I was leaving UVA's Curry School of Education, she was one of the handful of mentors I tur... more »

Alice Mercer: Veteran Teachers Not a Priority in High Priority Schools - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago

Alice Mercer: Veteran Teachers Not a Priority in High Priority Schools - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Alice Mercer: Veteran Teachers Not a Priority in High Priority Schools by Anthony Cody *Guest post by Alice Mercer.* All eyes are on Chicago, and the record school closures taking place in that city. But this is a drama being played out in cities across the country, including my own, as "right-sizing", the Broad way, takes over. By now, many would have (or should have) heard that in Chicago, the projected savings have disappeared (or didn't exist in the first place)... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Complaint filed with Office of Civil Rights claims Bloomberg administration widens gap and violates rights of minority students in HS admissions process

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

NYC Public School Parents: Complaint filed with Office of Civil Rights claims Bloomberg administration widens gap and violates rights of minority students in HS admissions process: Complaint filed with Office of Civil Rights claims Bloomberg administration widens gap and violates rights of minority students in HS admissions process by Leonie Haimson Wendy Lecker of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity/Education Law Center has an excellent piece in , about the complaint just filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights on behalf a group of NYC parents and advocacy... more »

'Miracle' L.A. school board triumph: She thought of her students - latimes.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago

'Miracle' L.A. school board triumph: She thought of her students - latimes.com: 'Miracle' L.A. school board triumph: She thought of her students'Fifth-grade teacher' was underdog candidate Monica Ratliff's ballot designation. It resonated with voters, who propelled the 43-year-old to victory over heavily favored Antonio Sanchez. - [image: print] - Comments 21 - Email Share 157 - - 1 - 2 - next - | single page [image: Monica Ratliff] Victorious school board candidate Monica Ratliff. (Los Angeles Times / May 22, 2013) By Teresa ... more »

Strong Schools - Strong Communities

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Strong Schools - Strong Communities: [image: Strong Schools Strong Communities] [image: Our Mission] [image: Join the Movement] [image: Continue to Website]

The Scope of Wealth and Power: in Chicago and coming soon to a city near you | Reclaim Reform

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

The Scope of Wealth and Power: in Chicago and coming soon to a city near you | Reclaim Reform: The Scope of Wealth and Power: in Chicago and coming soon to a city near you by kenpreviti *Who, besides Rahm Emanuel, started the madness and destruction of public schools in Chicago?* [image: Propaganda] [image: 264462_385810191537402_855028768_n] *Who is pulling his strings?* [image: Pritzker asleep] Penny Pritzker, billionaire heiress to the Hyatt fortunes, was appointed by Rahm Emanuel to the Board of Education for the Chicago Public Schools. Appointed, not elected. She strongly suppo... more »

Anthony Weiner In Debate Questions Some Bloomberg Education Reforms

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Anthony Weiner In Debate Questions Some Bloomberg Education Reforms: Anthony Weiner In Debate Questions Some Bloomberg Education Reforms by Joy Resmovits NEW YORK -- Anthony Weiner, the son of a former public school teacher, said his views on education run "deep in my bones." Fresh off the announcement of his campaign for New York City mayor and Tuesday's promising poll numbers, the disgraced former congressman spoke at the first mayoral debate of his 2013 run. The debate, hosted by the union-funded New Yorkers for Great Public Schools, focused on education in the nation's largest... more »

The Biggest Misconceptions About Teachers’ Unions—Debunked

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

The Biggest Misconceptions About Teachers’ Unions—Debunked: The Biggest Misconceptions About Teachers’ Unions—Debunked Douglas Hodum, the president of the Maine Science Teachers’ Association, says many Americans need to rethink how they view teachers’ unions. Teachers’ unions don’t always get the best press. This was especially apparent during the Chicago teachers’ strike last year. (Photo: Getty Images) Unions are professional organizations. They provide services for teachers that cover an incredible gamut of purposes. Yet, despite all the positive work teachers’ unions do for stude... more »

NYC Educator: Lucky 7?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

NYC Educator: Lucky 7?: Lucky 7? by NYC Educator UFT President Mulgrew says about 7% of teachers will have bad ratings under the new evaluation system. If this is the case, a lot more teachers will be looking at early retirement, a push off the cliff, or whatever you want to call losing your job over junk science. Around the country, the new junk science systems have not really changed things very much. If Mulgrew is right, NY is going to be worse off than most of the country, despite the fact that we're only at 40% junk science rather than 50 or more. Another source of mine sugge... more »

Nine districts resubmit ‘stronger’ application for NCLB waiver | EdSource Today

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago

Nine districts resubmit ‘stronger’ application for NCLB waiver | EdSource Today: Nine districts resubmit ‘stronger’ application for NCLB waiver - by John Fensterwald by John Fensterwald Nine California districts resubmitted their application Tuesday for a waiver from key provisions and sanctions of the No Child Left Behind law after spending weeks revising the application in response to dozens of questions by a panel of reviewers from the U.S. Department of Education. If approved, the application by members of the umbrella organization California Office to Reform Education, or COR... more »

Drop in Number of Districts in Financial Jeopardy - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education)

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Drop in Number of Districts in Financial Jeopardy - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Reports Sharp Drop in Number of Districts in Financial Jeopardy SACRAMENTO—A new report shows that less than half as many California school districts are in financial jeopardy now as a year ago, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today. The state's Second Interim Status Report for 2012-13 shows that 92 local educational agencies (LEAs) are either in negative or qualified financial status. The same report from a year ago showed a... more »

Reducing the Effects of Child Poverty — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Reducing the Effects of Child Poverty — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Klea Scharberg]Reducing the Effects of Child Poverty May 28, 2013 by Klea Scharberg In today's global economic state, many families and children face reduced circumstances. The 2008 economic crisis became a "household crisis" (PDF) when higher costs for basic goods, fewer jobs and reduced wages, diminished assets and reduced access to credit, and reduced access to public goods and services affected families who coped, in part, by eating fewer and less nutritious meals, spending less on educati... more »

PSAT for 5-28-13: Fight for democracy Parents United for Responsible Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » PSAT for 5-28-13: Fight for democracy: PSAT for 5-28-13: Fight for democracy by admin [image: psat_logo]I know I’m a day late for Memorial Day but I have been reading several excellent pieces over the weekend and the question is still on my mind – what did these soldiers die for? Was it to guarantee that the Walton family’s income grows larger every year? Was it to assure a bright future for test publishing companies? Or to make the world safer for Rupert Murdoch to steal and use our children’s school information so that they... more »

Keeping Our Children Safe | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Keeping Our Children Safe | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: Keeping Our Children Safe by NEA Health Information Network *By Nora L Howley,* *Manager of Programs, NEA Health Information Network* **Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Moore, Oklahoma, and the surrounding area. We mourn the tragic loss of lives and homes and livelihoods, even as we wonder at the acts of heroism by educators and members of the community who worked to protect and rescue hundreds of students and neighbors. The tragedy in Oklahoma reminds us that bad things can happen. Keeping... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Lipstick on a pig. The UNO makeover is complete

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Lipstick on a pig. The UNO makeover is complete: Lipstick on a pig. The UNO makeover is complete by Mike Klonsky New board chair, Cabrera (right) says Rangel (left) will stay on as UNO boss, saying there is “no one more suitable to be CEO.” John H. White~Sun-Times*“I am here today to apologize. "I have failed." *-- *Juan Rangel* *" Oh that's funny. Oh please stop Juan. Oh, my side hurts from laughing..." * -- *Mike Klonsky* In one of the largest and most outlandish school/political swindles of our time, the clout-heavy charter hustlers at UNO have m... more »

In Chicago: The Every School Solidarity Picnic | The Network For Public Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

In Chicago: The Every School Solidarity Picnic | The Network For Public Education: In Chicago: The Every School Solidarity Picnic by admin By Michelle Strater Gunderson [image: chicago2]In Chicago we have food deserts, large patches of our city where there is not a grocery store in sight. We also have transportation deserts, outstretches of our town where you cannot get anywhere without a car. Now, with the closing of 50 schools we have education deserts. What does a community do when it has been systematically devastated? This was our overarching question when we met with parents, s... more »

Gates dollars fuel effort to bring charter schools to Washington | OregonLive.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Gates dollars fuel effort to bring charter schools to Washington | OregonLive.com: Gates dollars fuel effort to bring charter schools to Washington by The Associated Press SEATTLE — With the opening of Washington's first charter school likely 15 months away, more dollars from Seattle's tech economy are flowing toward groups that want to change the way the state thinks about public schools. In November, Washington became the 42nd state to allow the independent public schools. The initiative campaign succeeded in part because of money from Seattle's tech economy -- Microsoft co-founde... more »

Why America Needs An Education Spring

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Why America Needs An Education Spring: Why America Needs An Education Spring Well, *someone* in the mainstream media finally had to ask the question. MSNBC’s Chris Hayes, on his “All In” program on May 24, covered the forced closing of 50 public schools in Chicago – the largest incident ofmass school closings in the nation’s history. Joining Hayes were Karen Lewis, head of the Chicago Teachers’ Union, and education professor Pedro Noguera to discuss the rationale for the closures. Lewis said school administrators and Mayor Rahm Emanuelchanged the rationale for the closings so many ... more »

Diane in the Evening 5-28-13Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Florida: Once Again, Test Results Are Over-hyped by dianerav Matthew Di Carlo takes a close look at the latest test scores released in Florida. His bottom line: don’t believe the press release. For one thing, the test specifications have changed, and the scores are not really comparable to prior years. Di Carlo points out: “Accordingly, the technical documentation for the FCAT notes (in bold-faced type) that “caution should be used North Carolina Passes Voucher Bill by dianerav On a vote of 27-21, the North Carolina... more »

Some state lawmakers push back against new common core standards for reading, writing and math - The Washington Post

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Some state lawmakers push back against new common core standards for reading, writing and math - The Washington Post: Some state lawmakers push back against new common core standards for reading, writing and math By Associated Press, Updated: Tuesday, May 28, 12:53 AM KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Some states are pushing back against a set of uniform benchmarks for reading, writing and math that have been fully adopted in most states and are being widely put in place this school year. The new Common Core standards replace a hodgepodge of educational goals that had varied greatly from state to ... more »

Pension Money Casinos: Just Say NO! | Reclaim Reform

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Pension Money Casinos: Just Say NO! | Reclaim Reform: Pension Money Casinos: Just Say NO! by kenpreviti Your legislators are giving away your pensions to casino owners. [image: Gambling Casino gets pension money]No, your legislators did not lose the money gambling. The casino owners who contributed to the campaign funds of legislators are being handed the money that was supposed to go into the pension funds of teachers and other public employees. [image: Gambling widow]“Until Illinois taxpayers wake up and realize that they are subsidizing gambling interests at the expense of teacher... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, May 28, 2013

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *Fensterwald: Assembly adds its version of school finance reform to the mix* Education Headlines *Tuesday, May 28, 2013* San Diego teachers reject buyouts The latest offer of $25,000 buyouts has been canceled by the district due to a lack of interest among teachers. Ramona parents try to bridge gap in labor standoff Six parents were so frustrated by increasing rhetoric and conflicting information in the drawn-out labor dispute between teachers and the Ramona Unified School District that they set out to determine for themselves and ... more »