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Sunday, October 20, 2013

Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Things I hear…

Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Things I hear…:

Things I hear…



 When everything new seems like something old, sometimes it isn’t…
You should go in and observe teachers with seniority, not new teachers, because when I talk to them, they are very excited about being able to teach again and not just work from a textbook
-paraphrasing comments at October 17th Sacramento City Unified School District board meeting on the instructional changes happening with Common Core

This is just like when I was starting teaching, and we were doing thematic units, etc., but the thing was we really didn’t have lesson plans like we are being asked to write now, because we were all kind of 

The Educated Reporter: Guest Post: Obama's College Proposal - The Shape of Ratings to Come

The Educated Reporter: Guest Post: Obama's College Proposal - The Shape of Ratings to Come:

Guest Post: Obama's College Proposal - The Shape of Ratings to Come


(Photo by Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

EWA held its annual Higher Education Seminar recently at Boston's Northeastern University. We invited some of the education journalists in attendance to contribute posts from the sessions. Today's guest blogger is Mary Beth Marklein of USA Today. For more content from the seminar, including stories, podcasts, video, check out EdMedia Commons. 

The subtitle for the EWA session on Obama’s higher education proposal asked, “Will Performance Ratings Hurt Student Access?”

The short answer: Who knows?

Education Secretary Arne Duncan has said his department plans to begin public hearings for input on what factors the department should consider as it prepares to rate colleges on access, affordability and outcomes. So without details on what data and methodology would be used to produce the ratings, the discussion at EWA’s seminar held last month at Northeastern University focused less on whether colleges might try to game the system but on whether it’s possible to design a rating protocol that manages to avoid any number of unintended consequences and where such 

CA’s $250M investment in linked learning complicated by internship rules, regs SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources:

CA’s $250M investment in linked learning complicated by internship rules, regs
By Tom Chorneau
Monday, October 21, 2013


Sometime next year, potentially millions of high school and community college students will begin participating in a new $250 million state program aimed at linking work-based learning with rigorous academic curriculum.
The big problem facing planners today, however, is how to get hundreds – if not thousands – of private businesses to provide those job experiences, a commitment complicated by a recent court case and seemingly unaccommodating labor regulations.
“We will need to build a much, much deeper connection between private industry and schools if we are to deliver the promise of linked learning,” said Anne Stanton, director of youth programs for the James Irvine Foundation, which has been a major financial sponsor of linked learning in California for nearly a decade.
“The question that we need to focus on is: How do we deliver these opportunities to students at scale?” she said. “What do these relationships look like and how do we provide support – not just here in California but also nationally.”
A highlight of the summer agreement between legislative leaders and Gov. Jerry Brown, the California Career Pathway Trust offers competitive grant money that local educational agencies can apply for over the next three years. Although the money can be spent in a variety of ways in support of work-based learning, a key focus of the spending is to build 

Ed Notes Online: Monday: Public Hearing and Rally to Protest Co-Location by Parents and students: PS 196/MS 582, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Ed Notes Online: Monday: Public Hearing and Rally to Protest Co-Location by Parents and students: PS 196/MS 582, Williamsburg, Brooklyn:

Monday: Public Hearing and Rally to Protest Co-Location by Parents and students: PS 196/MS 582, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

I'm heading over to cover this. PS 196 is a few blocks away from the school I taught at for 27 years and I covered the school for tech support when I was a Project Smart district tech staff developer for 4 years. Lots of people I knew are still there. A solid building -- but give me a break- 3 schools? The whackos at Tweed - here they go again. 


Media Advisory for Event on Monday, October 21, 4:30 PM, PS 196, 207 Bushwick Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn






MEDIA ADVISORY 
*****PHOTO OPPORTUNITY*****
Contacts: Williamsburg and Greenpoint Parents: Our Public Schools! (WAGPOPS!), williamsburggreenpointschools@gmail.com, Brooke Parker, 917/251-1596  

WHO: Parents and students at PS 196/MS 582, Williamsburg, Brooklyn 

WHAT: Parents, students and teachers will rally in front of the school to oppose third school co-location. There will be a Joint Public Hearing inside the school following the demonstration. 

WHEN: Monday, October 21, 2013 — Rally: 4:30 pm; Public Hearing: 5:30 pm 

WHERE: PS 196/MS 582, 207 Bushwick Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11206 

WHY: A DOE proposal to ‘shoehorn’ an unwanted additional middle school into the building, which currently houses one middle school, M.S. 582, and an elementary school, P.S. 196, has aroused intense community opposition. Parents have publicly charged the DOE with low income families of color regarding their decision-making process. They have stated that, but for the fact that they are a poor, minority community, this would not be happening. Concerned about the loss of space and programs at their children’s schools, and feeling abused and ignored by the DOE, hundreds will protest on the street before attending the Public Hearing to share their displeasure with DOE officials

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10-19-13 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Ed Notes OnlineRevisiting ObamaCare IT: Race to the Top - of IncompetenceI'm listening to Brian Lehrer on NPR talk about the Obama roll-out disaster and the corporate disaster speak we are hearing -- exact tone we hear from Bloomberg/Walcott on that kid who is missing for 2 weeks.For the record, I posted ObamaCare IT: Race to the Top - of Incompetence on Oct. 10 where I pointed ou

 

It’s My Anniversary, But I Won’t Stop Fighting Your Reforms Until the Sun Sets on Your #ReignOfError | Teachers' Letters to Bill Gates

It’s My Anniversary, But I Won’t Stop Fighting Your Reforms Until the Sun Sets on Your #ReignOfError | Teachers' Letters to Bill Gates:

It’s My Anniversary, But I Won’t Stop Fighting Your Reforms Until the Sun Sets on Your #ReignOfError

Dear Bill and Melinda,
It’s my 20th wedding anniversary today, but on a day when I ought to be celebrating — just like every day — I found myself talking to my husband about the damages of your corporate reforms.  I found myself encouraging friends to critique your interview inEducation Week, Melinda.  I found myself Tweeting edgy videos of satire made for reformy resistance and using Facebook to pass on a petition to ask John King in New York to resign.  I found myself making memes to encourage resistance to your reforms.  This was not part of my life plan.  This was not how I dreamed I would spend my 20th wedding anniversary. But I won’t stop fighting your reforms until the sun sets on your “Reign of Error”. 
What about the hopes and dreams of America’s public school children and their teachers? 

"Most important school board election in the history of Atlanta" | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com

"Most important school board election in the history of Atlanta" | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com:

"Most important school board election in the history of Atlanta" 

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APS
Atlanta Schools will be getting new leadership in its school board.
Robert F. Stockwell of Atlanta has a long background in finance and operations and writes about APS in his Financial Deconstruction blog.
This piece ran in the print Sunday AJC with an editorial on the upcoming APS school board races.
By Robert Stockwell
In its first few months in office, the newly elected Board of Education will make a number of major decisions including selecting a new superintendent, addressing significant budget issues and establishing the operational model for the system as a whole.
By far the most important decision is the selection of a new superintendent who will provide dynamic leadership for a school system moving beyond recent failures and scandals of the past. And there appears to be a consensus on this issue among the candidates --- the new superintendent must be a visionary to transform the status quo; be a great communicator; be confident in their ability to hire a strong executive staff; and be collaborative in dealing with the board and community.
This by itself is no small feat, but more will be required. The new superintendent will have to align with the strategic vision and operational philosophy of the newly elected board. Based on the majority view of the candidates, the new superintendent will have to share their desire to transition authority from the central office into the hands of the school principals.
The board's second challenge is the development of next year's budget. Based on the statements of many of the candidates, the new board will likely want a significant reallocation of resources 
Maureen Downey

About Maureen Downey

Maureen Downey is a longtime reporter for the AJC where she has written editorials and opinion pieces about local, state and federal education policy for 12 years.
Connect with Maureen Downey on:FacebookTwitter
Send Maureen Downey an email.
Has Anyone $een The Money Fairy, $urely with the
 "Most important $chool board election in the history of Atlanta"
 

How to Refuse High Stakes Testing for Special/Exceptional Students | United Opt Out National

How to Refuse High Stakes Testing for Special/Exceptional Students | United Opt Out National:

HOW TO REFUSE HIGH STAKES TESTING FOR SPECIAL/EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS


Please see our newest guide which supports parents in refusing/opting out of high stakes testing and high stakes test preparation for children who have IEPs. Many thanks to Merry Juerling, United Opt Out member, who has experienced this process first hand and has shared her insights with all of us in this guide. We are certain new questions and information will surface as a result of this guide; please post your thoughts in the comment section and we will add to the guide as needed.

Followup Calls Needed to Alderpersons | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

Followup Calls Needed to Alderpersons | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!:

Followup Calls Needed to Alderpersons

Filed under: MPS Buildings — millerlf @ 8:49 pm 


Please support MPS by calling your Common Council representative Monday or Tuesday by asking them to–

“Please support the MPS School Board’s sale of Malcolm X to the 2760 Holding Company, L.L.C. because this is a chance to create a program at Malcolm X that will benefit the whole community and all taxpayers.”

Milwaukee Common Council
Common Council President Willie L. Hines, Jr. – 15th District Alderman Office Phone: (414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456 Home Phone: (414) 871-6807
City Hall, Room 205 200 E. Wells St. Milwaukee, WI 53202 (same address for entire council) whines@milwaukee.gov
Alderman Ashanti Hamilton — 1st District Alderman
Office Phone:(414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456 TDD: (414) 286-2025 After Hours Phone: (414) 286-2150
Alderman Joe Davis — 2nd District Alderman Office Phone: (414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456jldavis@milwaukee.gov  
Alderman Nik Kovac — 3rd District Alderman
Office Phone: (414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456 After Hours Phone: 414-286-2150 nkovac@milwaukee.gov
Alderman Robert J. Bauman — 4th District Alderman
Office Phone: (414) 286-3532 Fax: (414) 286-3456 After Hours Phone: (414) 286-2150 rjbauma@milwaukee.gov
Alderman James A. Bohl, Jr. – 5th District Alderman
Office Phone: (414) 286-3870 Fax: (414) 286-3456 TDD: (414) 286-2025 After Hours Phone: (414) 286-2150
Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs — 6th District Alderwoman
Office Phone: (414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456 After Hours Phone: (414) 286-2150 mcoggs@milwaukee.gov
Alderman Willie C. Wade – 7th District Alderman Office Phone: (414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456wvvade@milwaukee.gov
Alderman Robert G. Donovan – 8th District Alderman Office Phone: (414) 286-3533 Fax: (414) 286-3456 rdonov@milwaukee.gov
Alderman Robert W. Puente – 9th District Alderman
Office Phone: (414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456 TDD: (414) 286-2025 rpuent@milwaukee.gov
Alderman Michael J. Murphy — 10th District Alderman
Office Phone: (414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456 After Hours Phone: (414) 286-2150 mmurph@milwaukee.gov
Alderman Joe Dudzik -11th District Alderman
Office Phone: (414) 286-3768 Fax: (414) 286-3456 Home Phone: (414) 541-2067 jdudziOmilwaukee.gov
Alderman Jose G. Perez – 12th District Alderman
Office Phone: (414) 286-2221 Fax: (414) 286-3456 jperez@milwaukee.gov
Alderman Terry L. Witkowski — 13th District Alderman
Office Phone: (414) 286-8537 Fax: (414) 286-3456 TDD: (414) 286-2025 After Hours Phone: (414) 286-2150 Home/Cell Phone: (414) 731-0472twitko@milwaukee.gov
Alderman Tony Zielinski -14th District Alderman
Office Phone: (414) 286-3769 Fax: (414) 286-3456 TDD: (414) 286-2025 Home Phone: (414) 744-1802 tzieli@milwaukee.gov

Women’s empowerment: Education as a tool for achieving equality | JPost | Israel News

Women’s empowerment: Education as a tool for achieving equality | JPost | Israel News:

Women’s empowerment: Education as a tool for achieving equality




By DANIEL CARMON
10/20/2013 21:45



Malala Yousafzai, who has become a symbol of women’s struggle for education.


Investing in women’s and girls’ education is one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty.

Malala Yousafzai, who has become a symbol of women’s struggle for education. Photo: REUTERS
As the 2015 target date for achieving the Millennium Development Goals approaches, a number of processes are under way among UN Member States, the UN system, academia, policymakers and civil society to reflect on the post-2015 development framework.

A growing number of states are reviewing and prioritizing the lessons learned that need to be incorporated into the post-2015 framework. The most recent (2012) Millennium Development Goals Report revealed that while there was notable progress in some gender equality dimensions there remains much to be done in every country, at every level, to achieve equality and women’s empowerment.

Empowerment means moving from enforced powerlessness to a position of power. Education is an essential means of 

Chalkbeat network opens bureaus in Indianapolis, Memphis, Nashville

Chalkbeat network opens bureaus in Indianapolis, Memphis, Nashville:

A handful of refugees from print journalism are providing an alternative model for covering state and local schools.

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Here's a phrase you don't hear much: newsroom expansion.
That's the goal of a new non-profit news outlet debuting Monday that is gearing up to cover education in-depth in four states, in the process providing an alternative model for local journalism about schools, education policy and education politics.
Created by a handful of refugees from beleaguered — and in a few cases shuttered — print newspapers, the online-only Chalkbeat springs from the unlikely partnership created last January when the New York-based non-profit news site GothamSchools merged with Denver-based EdNews Colorado. Mostly foundation-funded, it gets about one-fifth of its revenue from local sponsorships and job ads for teachers and administrators.
On Monday it's expanding to two more cities with fraught school politics: Indianapolis and Memphis. The network plans to add others as funding from local philanthropists comes calling; it already plans to hire a reporter to cover Nashville schools.
In each bureau, Chalkbeat plans to cover the state legislature and state board of education, as well as the day-to-day developments of schools and districts. They're also demanding that local philanthropy help cover costs as a "public good," much

Challenging the Status Quo | Connected Principals

Challenging the Status Quo | Connected Principals:

Challenging the Status Quo

October 21, 2013
By 
"Challenging the Status Quo by David Truss"
I shared this post on my ‘Pair-a-Dimes for Your Thoughts‘ blog back in November 2012. I went back to it this weekend and noticed that a considerable amount of the links shared are from fellow Connected Principals. Pick ONE, and be the change you want to see in your school. ~ Dave.
~~~~~~~~~~
Educational bloggers blogging about things that need to be changed… This isn’t a post to read from start to finish. Instead, pick a topic that may challenge the status quo in your school or district and dig in. Read, tweet, share, write your own post, comment… it is fodder for YOU to challenge the status quo!
Here are the TOPICS discussed:
Skip to Comments

Who’s in charge here? « Teaching Between the Lines

Who’s in charge here? « Teaching Between the Lines:

Who’s in charge here?



SocialNetworkTomorrow starts Digital Citizenship Week in the middle of Connected Educator Month, and thanks to tech-happy teachers all over the web, I am quite happily connected.  Just a few minutes on the English Companion ning orGoogle+ or Pinterest orTwitter and I’m sure to find a wealth of ideas quite literally at my fingertips
And with a nod to tradition, I still garner great classroom ideas from hard copy magazines that arrive in my curb-side mailbox.  An article in this month’s issue ofLearning & Leading with Technology gave me a great idea to address one of the Common Core State Standards.  Thanks to all those great teachers sharing their great strategies!
English class is about stories: the stories we read and the stories we write.  I am confident that the current push for non-fiction will not bump fiction from its rightful place at the 

10-20-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:



UW Event on Student Testing
Also this week on Tuesday, October 22nd at Kane Hall on the UW campus at 7:00 pm- 9 pm Accountability at a Crossroads: Using Student Test Scores to Evaluate Teacher EffectivenessA panel of leading educators at the forefront of testing and teacher evaluation will share their differing perspectives on the questions:Is this a sound/effective policy? What is to be achieved, if anything, in holding tea

Jane Addams K-8 BEX Committee Petition
The Jane Addams K-8 BEX committee has set up an online petition to ask the Board to reject the interim plan.  They don't have an alternative plan but would like to find common ground for the communities in their region. They aren't saying (clearly, they can't) that they won't accept the interim move to John Marshall but that they don't like this particular plan. 

Seattle School Board Races: Views from Candidates and Others
Here's a link to the SE Chamber of Commerce event in early October.  Note: the lighting was harsh and does not flatter either candidate.  The video is also a little low. The first question seems to have gotten cut off - it was something to the effect of how many SE schools each candidate has visited.Also, the City Inside/Out show had a panel interview about Seattle schools and the races.  The pane
Seattle Schools This Week
Wednesday, October 23Work Session: Strategic Plan Performance Measures from 4-5:30 p.m.  No agenda available.Work Session:Distribution Services from 5:30-6:30 p.m. (hard stop at 6:30 pm as they have an Executive Session at 6:30 p.m.)  AgendaThursday, October 24thRoad Map to College event from 3-6 pm at Chief Sealth Int'l High School(There was supposed to be a School Board candidate forum at Lawton

10-19-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum:Seattle Schools Community Forum"Could a Wealthy Few Decide Seattle's School Board Races?"That's not my title - that's KUOW's for Ann Dornfeld very good piece on the one contested school board race - Sue Peters and Suzanne Dale Estey in District IV.Seattle school board candidate Suzanne Dale Estey and her supporters are poised to raise more money than any o