Latest News and Comment from Education

Friday, March 28, 2014

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 3-28-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:






GRIT: IT’S MORE POPULAR THAN SCHOOL REFORM – and here’s the data and and a chart to prove it!
data analysis driven by smf for 4LAKids While this proves nothing, it looks impressive and you should feel free to embed it in any and all presentations and PowerPoints.
WHAT ‘CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION’ LOOKS LIKE AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN SOUTHERN GEORGIA + smf’s 2¢
A school that is famous for football is notable in an entirely different way. There is much talk of late about “Grit” – old fashioned stick-to-it-ive-ness. Perseverance-meets-perspicacity, spunk+moxie:  Growth+progress towards a goal over the long haul. “Grit”’s the newest Ed-Jargon-Buzzword du jour; the missing magic bullet from the bandolier

Study Marks Problems Posed By Inexperienced Teachers
  by Kimberly Beltran | SI&A Cabinet Report ::  http://bit.ly/1jgvf3S March 28, 2014  ::  (Calif.) A nationwide survey found the high number of inexperienced teachers in public classrooms is a largely unrecognized problem that undermines school stability, slows educational reform and, according to new research, hurts student achievement. Focusing on the causes and consequences of a

AFTER NEARLY 30 YEAR ABSENCE, MUSICAL THEATER RETURNS TO ROOSEVELT HIGH: Students and faculty join in production of ‘West Side Story.’
By EGP Staff Report | Eastern Group Publications http://bit.ly/1lrXIq1 The West Side Story musical was presented at Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights on Friday night.(Courtesy of Roosevelt High School) 27 March 2014  ::  The performance of the Romeo and Juliet inspired tragic love story “West Side Story” last Friday on the Roosevelt High School stage marked an important first step


BILLIONAIRES BUY CHARTER SUCCESS IN NEW YORK LEGISLATURE WITH THE HELP OF GOVERNOR CUOMO + smf’s 2¢
from Diane Ravitch's blog |  http://bit.ly/1iIoSoW March 28, 2014 Diane Ravitch writes: Leonie Haimson of Class Size Matters describes the deal to benefit the billionaire-funded charter schools  that is being negotiated right now by the New York legislature and will be voted on next week. It is not too late to make your voice heard! Governor Cuomo, who received $800,000 for  his

BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE SCHOOL BOARD: A new report finds school board members with a background in public education are not better informed than their colleagues.
Emily Richmond | The Atlantic Online | http://bit.ly/1f0DGyL Eric Gay/AP Photo Mar 27 2014, 12:17 PM ET  ::  When it comes to the decisions that most directly affect the business of public education and what happens in classrooms, few people are as influential—and often as unacknowledged—as local school board members. Indeed, a new report from the conservative Thomas B. Fordham Institute


VERGARA v. CALIFORNIA LAWSUIT ENDS …but not really
Testimony ends, “final” arguments heard, both sides are to submit written briefs by April 10, with a ruling due within 90 days after that – in July.  Both sides already have said they would appeal if they lose. Students' interests at center of trial over teacher protection laws Plaintiffs want to be able to remove ineffective teachers more quickly, but the state says rules governing






4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 3-23-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Avoiding the front-runners: UTLA BOARD RECOMMENDS - ¡Not Endorses!- 3 TEACHERS FOR LA UNIFIED SEAT  UTLA board endorses 3 teachers for LA Unified seat, not Omarosa by LA School Report | http://bit.ly/1dn0U3P March 20, 2014 9:37 am  ::  The board of directors of the Los Angeles teachers union, UTLA, voted last night to recommend that the union endorse th