Wednesday, September 4, 2013

The Network For Public Education | NPE Endorsement: Liz Hallmark for Rochester City School Board

The Network For Public Education | NPE Endorsement: Liz Hallmark for Rochester City School Board:

NPE Endorsement: Liz Hallmark for Rochester City School Board

endorsement-fb-hallmarkThe Network for Public Education is pleased to announce our endorsement of Liz Hallmark, a candidate for Rochester City School Board, NY.
Liz earned her Doctorate in Education at the University of Rochester, her Masters at Antioch New England, and her Bachelors at Mount Holyoke College. She has worked as a teaching artist at schools throughout the Rochester City School District and she has guided professional development for teachers through the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) and local cultural organizations. Currently, Dr. Hallmark is an Adjunct Professor and researcher who teaches Masters-level teaching candidates at Nazareth College and the Warner Graduate School of Education.
As an experienced educator and parent of two children who graduated from city schools, she is concerned that there are no current educators on the Rochester City School Board. Hallmark plans to bring her years of teaching experience and educational research expertise to the board so that it may more clearly connect educational policy with sound instructional practice in the schools. She feels it is irrational to have a professional board without professionals from the very field it is mandated to oversee.
The Democratic Primary is September 10, 2013. Please spread the word about Liz Hallmark.
To read more about Liz Hallmark, please visit her website at http://lizhallmark.com.

Common Core practice test would replace state math and English tests next year | EdSource Today

Common Core practice test would replace state math and English tests next year | EdSource Today:

In order to avoid serving two masters – the old state academic standards and the new multi-state Common Core standards – state leaders are now proposing to discontinue nearly all state standardized tests next spring, including English language arts and math. Instead, districts with technical capacity will be required to give a field or practice Common Core test to prepare for the test’s official introduction in spring 2015.
Deputy State Superintendent Deb Sigman explains plans for a Common Core field test to the State Board of Education on Wednesday.
Deputy State Superintendent Deb Sigman explains plans for a Common Core field test to the State Board of Education on Wednesday.
The new plan significantly expands what Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson had proposed in Assembly Bill 484, a bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, D-Concord, that would reduce the number of tests. The board’s plan will require approval of the Legislature and a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education, since the state would suspend tests – English language arts and math in grades 3 through 8 – required for federal accountability under the No Child Left Behind law.
The State Board of Education unanimously voted Wednesday to seek the waiver in concept, even though it didn’t have all the details – specifically amendments under AB 484 – before it. Deputy State Superintendent Deb Sigman acknowledged that federal officials haven’t indicated whether they’d give permission, since the state is asking for a broader waiver than U.S. Secretar

Not Very Giving - NYTimes.com

Not Very Giving - NYTimes.com:

Not Very Giving



TANFORD, Calif. — AS school gets rolling across the country, many parents will be asked to make a large financial contribution to their children’s school. In Hillsborough, Calif., for example, parents receive a letter from the Hillsborough Schools Foundation in which the amount requested is $2,300 per child.
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There have always been parent-teacher associations that raise modest or even not-so-modest amounts of money. But increasingly local school foundations are being created expressly for the purpose of raising private funds.
Hillsborough is one of the wealthiest towns in the United States. Median family income is over $250,000, and residents enjoy one of the best school districts in the state. It’s not hard for Hillsborough families to donate to their own children’s school. And they do: bids at the foundation’s annual online auction last year went into the thousands for a paid internship at Franklin Templeton Investments and for a trip to the taping of the final episode of “The Bachelor.” Or you could make an offer on a vacation in a luxury home with a dedicated butler on a private island in Belize.
According to the foundation, charitable gifts have financed class-size reductions, librarians, art and music teachers, and Smart technology in every classroom. These funds supplement the annual public spending of $13,500 per pupil. In the process, they increase property values in Hillsborough. In 2012 private contributions to the foundation amounted to $3.45 million, or $2,300 per pupil.
Hillsborough is not an anomaly. The foundation supporting the Palo Alto school district 

Core Knowledge, Amplify, and “Free” Materials | deutsch29

Core Knowledge, Amplify, and “Free” Materials | deutsch29:

Core Knowledge, Amplify, and “Free” Materials

September 4, 2013


In April 2013, Core Knowledge (CK) entered into a business arrangement with Rupert Murdoch’s Amplify regarding CK’s Language Arts K-3 curriculum:
Amplify Learning is pleased to announce it has signed an exclusive license agreement with the Core Knowledge Foundation for 20-year rights to its widely respected Core Knowledge Language Arts program for grades for K-3 (CK ELA K3).[Emphasis added.]
Given that Amplify is a company, its goal is to garner profits. In signing CK, Amplify is ahead of the market, for CK is already aligned with the cash-cow-producing Common Core State Standards (CCSS):
Known for its scientifically based content and approach, Core Knowledge’s influential work anticipated the Common Core State Standards, so its practices and philosophy are true to the rigorous spirit of the standards and exemplify the manner in which they ought to be implemented. 
Thus, Amplify is in a fine position to benefit handsomely from CK in its plans to nationally market CK ELA K3 (and beyond):
Through this partnership with Core Knowledge, Amplify Learning will develop and market to schools nationwide a unique, effective reading and language arts program 

NYC Public School Parents: NYC Kids PAC Endorses deBlasio for Mayor, James for Public Advocate and Stringer for Comptroller

NYC Public School Parents: NYC Kids PAC Endorses deBlasio for Mayor, James for Public Advocate and Stringer for Comptroller:

NYC Kids PAC Endorses deBlasio for Mayor, James for Public Advocate and Stringer for Comptroller


Mayor: We endorse Bill de Blasio for Mayor. De Blasio has run a courageous campaign and has been outspoken on many of the issues parents care about including privatization, co-locations, testing and the need for more parent input in our public schools. This was not an easy decision for us to make, as John Liu's responses to our survey were the best of all the Democratic candidates, and his record as a City Comptroller has been exemplary.

Yet Liu's candidacy at this point appears to be a long shot, and we believe that electing a Mayor who will reverse the downward spiral that the Bloomberg administration has taken our schools is absolutely vital. All the Mayoral candidates who responded to our survey deserve credit for providing us with thoughtful and revealing responses. We urge parents and others who care about education to take a look.

We want to praise the other frontrunners, including Bill Thompson for being willing to give up the mayoral majority on the Board of Education, and Chris Quinn, for supporting checks and balances to mayoral control through the City Council, as well as some of their other positive stances on the issues that matter. But the positions Quinn has taken in the past in going along with the damaging Bloomberg agenda, and Thompson's relative quiescence over

NYC Educator: Eva Gets Creative

NYC Educator: Eva Gets Creative:

Eva Gets Creative

In what's likely to be the new status quo for the reformy crowd, overpaid charter magnate Eva Moskowitz takes surging Bill de Blasio to task for making the "choice" to send his kids to public school. The previous meme was simply trashing people like Diane Ravitch and Matt Damon, who had relatives in private schools. At that time, their absurd and idiotic argument was that such people wanted to deprive poor children the opportunity to goose-step along with Eva and Doug Lemov.

You see, in the quest for our tax dollars, it makes no difference that Eva and KIPP are not offering what's at Sidwell Friends or Dalton. Who cares if it's a test-prep factory you wouldn't send your kid to on a bet? The point is that is your choice. And the more crappy schools poor children can choose, the more money for the likes of Eva, Geoff Canada, and Rupert Murdoch, all of whom love your children more than you do.

The great thing about this is they can now trash absolutely everyone who opposes charter schools. You chose to send your kids to free public schools and now you oppose us taking the high scorers and leaving what's left for neighborhood schools to 

Calling for the Best of the Best: Books and Blogs for the Current Reality and Future of Education | The IDEA Blog

Calling for the Best of the Best: Books and Blogs for the Current Reality and Future of Education | The IDEA Blog:

IDEA logo

Calling for the Best of the Best: Books and Blogs for the Current Reality and Future of Education

Posted by Shawn Strader on Sep 04, 2013 - 05:40 AM
Hello, Good Morning, and Happy September,
My name is Shawn Strader, and I'm a good ol' staff member at IDEA - my glamorous title is, in fact, the Administrative and Development Associate. Pretty fancy, eh? I'll be posting on IDEA's Blog pretty regularly starting now, and I hope we can have some fun along the way. To me, one of the coolest things a blog can do is engage the community and get every one of the readers chipping in, whether that means having conversation, sharing resources, or sharing opinions.
Today, and over the course of the next week or so, I'm hoping that you and our other readers can help us out with a fun little project. We're seeking to accomplish two things:
1.  Create a Top 20 Books and Blogs list, which will live as a webpage and resource on our website
2.  Add a new section titled "Books" to our IDEA Library, and fill this as well as our existing "Blogs" section with 100 entries
The thing is, we're a relatively small staff, and even if we were more in numbers we still wouldn't have all the answers. So, we'd love your help with our project. Can you chip in?
If you're game, and I hope you are, then all you need to do is comment on IDEA's Facebook page by following the link below, andleave us a list of your Top 5 Books (Blogs too if you've got em)!  The focus of the books and blogs should be on our collective work in education, which includes a diverse community of influencers and issues, so feel free to be creative! Whatever you think matters should be on your list. If you don't have a Top 5, leave what you've got, and if you've got more than 5, awesome! One great book has the power to change thousands of great lives, so don't be shy. Nothing you post is going to be right or wrong - but it will be a valuable contribution. So please, if you've got a great list, or that one amazing book that came to mind while reading this,  lay it on us! This project is very literally not possible without your input.
To kickstart us, here's my list:
- The Long Haul - Myles Horton
- Democratic Education: A Beginning of a Story - Yaacov Hecht
- GOOD Magazine (magazines are cool too!)
- Linchpin - Seth Godin
- A Place Called School - John Goodlad

Share what's on your list on IDEA's Facebook page.

State Adopts NGSS - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education)

State Adopts NGSS - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education):

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces State Adopts Next Generation Science Standards



SACRAMENTO—New science standards designed to prepare students to thrive in a changing economy were approved today by the State Board of Education, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced.
"The adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards in California mark a crucial step in making sure our students are prepared to succeed after they leave our classrooms," Torlakson said. "Scientific information and technology have changed remarkably since the last time California updated its science standards, and how and what we teach have to change with them."
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) will bring science instruction up to date. NGSS emphasizes a deeper focus on understanding the cross-cutting concepts within and across scientific disciplines. These new standards integrate engineering practices with science practices to help students understand the workings of science and the natural world. They also provide a coherent progression of learning from kindergarten through grade 12, so students learn step by step the knowledge and skills they need for college and careers.
"The Next Generation Science Standards represent a huge leap forward for California's students and our schools," said Mike Kirst, president of the State Board of Education. "Scientific innovation remains at the core of the California economy, and schools play a huge role in equipping the workforce of tomorrow."
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) related industries are major components of California's economy. A 2011 U.S. Department of Commerce study, "STEM: Good Jobs Now and For the Future (PDF) External link opens in new window or tab. ," found that over the past 10 years, growth in jobs involving STEM fields was three times greater than that of non-STEM occupations. The report also forecast that STEM jobs are expected to continue to grow at a faster rate than others in the coming decade.
California was among the lead states that developed the standards, in a voluntary process conducted in an open and collaborative way over the last 18 months. California teachers, scientists, college professors, business and industry leaders, and educational experts all took part in an 80-member California NGSS review team that thoroughly examined the standards five times.
Next, a Strategic Leadership Team will be appointed by Torlakson to develop a plan to implement the NGSS. This includes a timeline for implementation, adopting a science framework, developing student assessments, and strategies for school districts. Once the team completes its work, their strategic action plan will be presented to the State Board of Education for approval at a future meeting.
In the meantime, California is preparing to host its first annual STEM Symposium, set for November 18-19, 2013, at the Sacramento Convention Center. This symposium will highlight how quality STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs align with Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards and provide strategies and resources for program implementation.
For more information, visit the California Department of Education's Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics Web page.
# # # #
Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

Education Chief: Maybe Start School Later in Day - ABC News

Education Chief: Maybe Start School Later in Day - ABC News:


Education Chief: Maybe Start School Later in Day - ABC News



School districts would still be free to set their own start times, Duncan insisted in a broadcast interview, but he pointed to research that backs up his comments that rested students are ready students. Duncan said he would not be telling local school leaders when their first bells should ring and said it was up to local leaders to make the decisions on their own.
"There's lots of research and common sense that lots of teens struggle to get up ... to get on the bus," said Duncan, the former chief of Chicago Public Schools.
The main reason?
"Teen brains have a different biology," said Kyla Wahlstrom, director at the University of Minnesota's Center for Applied Research and Education Improvement.
For the last 17 years, Wahlstrom has studied teenagers' sleep cycles, brains and learning. She has concluded that schools that want ready students must have students arrive rested. Absenteeism, tardiness, depression, obesity, drop-out rates and even auto accidents all decline when students head to school after a good night of sleep.
Schools are starting to take notice.
Take, for instance, Virginia's Fairfax County Public Schools.
Most medical professionals recommend between 8.5 and 9.5 hours of sleep for students. The 

Nite Cap 9-4-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2 #Cheats4Change


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


TODAY

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Morning Wink 9-4-13 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2 #Cheats4Change
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Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: New Study: “Using harsh verbal discipline with teens found to be harmful”A new study has found that: Many American parents yell or shout at their teenagers. A new longitudinal study has found that using such harsh verbal discipline in early adolescence can be harmful to teens later. Instead of minimizing teens’ problematic

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Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 9-3-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
Nite Cap UPDATEUPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATECORPORATE ED REFORMGoogle Hangout: School Climate and Social InclusionAbout the Student Voice Google Hangouts Student Voice is launching an On Air Google Hangout series that will bring together students and other stakeholders in the education field for a face to face conversation. The hangouts will allow students to connect with their peers from across the
Protecting kids with advanced non-lethal weapons – because not... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com
Protecting kids with advanced non-lethal weapons – because not... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: Protecting kids with advanced non-lethal weapons – because not every school has Antoinette Tuff. COMMENT(2) 0 3 2 5View Larger BEN GRAY / AJCREUNITED AFTER SCHOOL SHOOTING INCIDENT--August 20, 2013, DeKalb County: LaTrease Akins rushes off hugging her 5-year-old son Mark Wheeler on Tuesday afternoon Aug
Daily Kos: Leaves on the Current - looks to be terrific news
Daily Kos: Leaves on the Current - looks to be terrific news: Leaves on the Current - looks to be terrific newsbyteacherkenFollow    Email  23 Comments / 23 NewShe visited with her oncologist today.  If I may quote the text she sent me (merely masking the doctor's name):Great news: no cancer showed up on my bone marrow biopsy!!!  Dr.X. says my recovery has been "amazing"!!!She will continue to rec
County wants to boost school budgets by raising attendance | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC
County wants to boost school budgets by raising attendance | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC: County wants to boost school budgets by raising attendanceAdolfo Guzman-Lopez | September 3rd, 2013, 5:08pmJohn SlaterLos Angeles County Office of Education focuses attention on truancy.Frequent absences from school undermines student education  - and hurts school district coffers. County officials are drew atten
Slash and Burn: The War Against California Pensions | MyFDL
Slash and Burn: The War Against California Pensions | MyFDL: Slash and Burn: The War Against California PensionsBy: Gary Cohn Tuesday September 3, 2013 1:33 pm  Tweet  Benjamin Gamboa doesn’t know John Arnold, but they are linked by a shared concern over the fate of public-employee pensions in California.“I’m proud to have a pension,” the 30-year-old Gamboa says. “I believe every American should h
Gates Money and Common Core: Part II | deutsch29
Gates Money and Common Core: Part II | deutsch29: Gates Money and Common Core: Part IISeptember 3, 2013On August 27, 2013, I wrote a post about Bill Gates’ financial involvement in advancing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Though CCSS promotes itself as “state led,” in my previous post, I showed that all four major organizations responsible for CCSS from inception for its principal develop
Civil rights groups dispute memo to State Board on new funding formula | EdSource Today
Civil rights groups dispute memo to State Board on new funding formula | EdSource Today: Civil rights groups dispute memo to State Board on new funding formulaSeptember 3rd, 2013 | Add a Comment | By John FensterwaldShare on twitterShare on facebookShare on emailShare on printMore Sharing ServicesIn a sign of a skirmish to come, leaders of 30 civil rights and non-profit groups representing disadva
What Is a 'Failing' School? | Diane Ravitch
What Is a 'Failing' School? | Diane Ravitch: What Is a 'Failing' School?Posted: 09/03/2013 9:00 amWhat Is a 'Failing' School? A Great Marketing Strategy for Corporate Education Reformers!Two years ago, Kevin Kosar, a former graduate student of mine, conducted an Internet search for the term "failing school." What he discovered was fascinating. Until the 1990s, the term was virtually unknown. About
Nite Cap 9-3-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2 #Cheats4Change
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 CAPTODAYMr. Van Roekel: Common Core Standards Mean Standardization, Not an End to One-Size-Fits-All - Living in Dialogue - Education Week TeacherMr. Van Roekel: Common Core Standards Mean Standardization, Not an End to One-Size-Fits-All - Living in Dialogue -