Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Nite Cap 6-25-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #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




6-25-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy
Wait What?: Wait What? Pelto to Malloy – Dump Pryor and Comer now before they do even more damage to public education in ConnecticutPelto to Malloy: Dump Pryor and Comer now before they do even more damage to public education in Connecticut: Jonathan Pelto, the Education and Democracy Party’s candidate for governor called on Governor Dannel “Dan” Malloy to fire Stefan Pryor, his Commissioner of Ed
SKrashen: Intensive Systematic Phonics, Tests of Reading Comprehension, and the Garan Effect
SKrashen: Intensive Systematic Phonics, Tests of Reading Comprehension, and the Garan Effect: Intensive Systematic Phonics, Tests of Reading Comprehension, and the Garan EffectAn article in the Guardian announced that a new study confirmed the positive effect of intensive systematic phonics. In my letter  to the Guardian(see below) I said that the study only confirmed what we already know: "I
6-24-14 The Whole Child Blog — Equity: The Driver for School Improvement?
The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education: Equity: The Driver for School Improvement?What will drive school improvement in the future? Some believe that it will be choice—ensuring that students have choice in what and how they learn; allowing teachers to have greater autonomy in the classroom; and, possibly, providing families expanded choice of schools. For others the key driver may be ensurin
Will Anyone Stop Charter School Corruption?
Will Anyone Stop Charter School Corruption?: Will Anyone Stop Charter School Corruption?When politicians and pundits take to the barricades to defend “wonderful charter schools,” is this what they’re thinking of?A recent article in a Minnesota newspaper reported about a change in state law that could imperil the existence of a charter school that serves a student body sorely in need of heroic effo
State policy in Newark: Racism. Face it. | Bob Braun's Ledger
State policy in Newark: Racism. Face it. | Bob Braun's Ledger: State policy in Newark: Racism. Face it.Cami to teachers: drop deadThe eighth-grade graduation ceremonies at the Hawthorne Avenue School this morning–the last of their kind–provided an island of sanity and goodwill in the ocean of madness that is state educational policy in Newark. One of the best-achieving schools, not just in the cit
6-25-14 With A Brooklyn Accent: The Staggering Amounts of Money Spent to Show Teachers and Teachers Unions are to Blame for Inequality
With A Brooklyn Accent: The Staggering Amounts of Money Spent to Show Teachers and Teachers Unions are to Blame for InequalityAs the wave of anti-tenure lawsuits are about to move from California to NY and other states where teachers unions are strong, it would be instructive to think about the staggering amounts of money very wealthy people have spent to demonize teachers unions, teachers and pub
LCFF Funding Snapshot Available - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)
LCFF Funding Snapshot Available - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson UnveilsFirst Local Control Funding Formula CalculationsAlso unveils new LCFF Funding SnapshotSACRAMENTO—Local educational agencies can now see the highly anticipated first official calculations of $42 billion in school funding they will receive under the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), State
6-25-14 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Bryant Principal Namita Dwarka Gets Caught Playing the "Manipulate the Test" Game And LosesOh, the glory! RBE reported on this story at Perdido St:Just Make Every Student A Former ESL Student And You'll Magically Raise Your Test Scores! In case you missed this story in the NY Post:More than 100 teens in one teacher’s English classes were recently marked “FELL,” for “form
6-25-14 Curmudgucation
CURMUDGUCATION: What Should Arne Have SaidThere's been a pig-pile on Arne today over his ill-considered announcement of the DOE's new get-tough-on-states policy regarding students with disabilities (I know, because I was one of the first pigs on the pile).However. The answer that Arne came up with is stupid, but the question it addresses-- are all students with disabilities getting the educational
Vergara vs. California: Are the top 0.1% buying their version of education reform? - The Washington Post
Vergara vs. California: Are the top 0.1% buying their version of education reform? - The Washington Post: Vergara vs. California: Are the top 0.1% buying their version of education reform?On Tuesday, a California superior-court judge ruled that the state’s teacher tenure system discriminates against kids from low-income families. Based on testimony that one to three percent of California teachers
6-24-14 LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD
LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District): California’s services for disabled students ranks lowVia LA Times | Howard Blume California ranks in the bottom rung of states in the academic achievement of disabled students, according to new federal rankings released Tuesday. The new system rates only 18 states and U.S. territories as meeting federal s
We Party Patriots » Corporate Education Lobby Launches Pro-Charter School PR Blitz Following Damning MI Report
We Party Patriots » Corporate Education Lobby Launches Pro-Charter School PR Blitz Following Damning MI Report: Corporate Education Lobby Launches Pro-Charter School PR Blitz Following Damning MI Report   A new investigative report from the Detroit Free Press reveals a problem in Michigan found in many other states: Charter schools with little oversight and nearly no regulation underperforming to
6-25-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Supreme Court Upholds Cell Phone PrivacyThis ruling may be a subject you might want to talk to your kids - especially teens - about at some point.In a 9-0 ruling, the Supreme Court today ruled that police must have a warrant to search the cellphones of people they arrest.  From the NY Times:The old rules, Chief Justice Roberts said, cannot be applied to “modern cel
Jindal says charters are a successful model. Really? | Missouri Education Watchdog
Jindal says charters are a successful model. Really? | Missouri Education Watchdog: Jindal says charters are a successful model. Really?inShareLast night I heard Governor Jindal speak about the education successes in his state, specifically in New Orleans where he said they were now 90% charters. He said it as if that was the accomplishment of a public directive, as if the public were clamoring fo
Reformers lose one to a veteran teacher - The Washington Post
Reformers lose one to a veteran teacher - The Washington Post: Reformers lose one to a veteran teacher There’s a new piece on The Washington Post’s Monkey Cage blog with this headline: “Vergara vs. California: Are the top 0.1% buying their version of education reform?” Anybody paying attention to school “reform” knows that the answer to that question is that some folks in that group are trying the
An Urban Teacher's Education: Faking Student Data
An Urban Teacher's Education: Faking Student Data: Faking Student DataThe Education Lab Blog at the Seattle Times today shares some of the stories of four teachers this past year using Washington's new TPEP evaluation system.Teachers are cited as saying that they found the student growth goals component of the evaluation to be something of a joke. "Teachers were literally joking (I hope) abou
NYC To Invest $52 Million in Community Schools | National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Education Reform for Equity and Opportunity
NYC To Invest $52 Million in Community Schools | National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Education Reform for Equity and Opportunity: NYC To Invest $52 Million in Community SchoolsPosted on: Wednesday June 25th, 2014One of best ways to turnaround a struggling school is to transform it into a "community school," a hub for all types of wraparound supports from medical services and tutorin
AFT - A Union of Professionals - Weingarten Announces $10 Billion Investment in Infrastructure and Workforce
AFT - A Union of Professionals - Weingarten Announces $10 Billion Investment in Infrastructure and Workforce: Weingarten Announces $10 Billion Investment in Infrastructure and WorkforcePartnership Fulfills Promise Two Years EarlyDENVER—Statement of American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten on the announcement that the $10 billion Investment and Training for American Infrastructure
Morning Wink 6-25-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-25-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Peter Greene: Is This the “Stupidest Thing Ever to Come Out of the U.S. DOE?”Peter Greene writes that Arne Duncan has figured out why children with disabilities get lower test scores: Low expect
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-25-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Peter Greene: Is This the “Stupidest Thing Ever to Come Out of the U.S. DOE?”Peter Greene writes that Arne Duncan has figured out why children with disabilities get lower test scores: Low expectations. Greene writes: “In announcing a new emphasis and “major shift,” the US Department of Education will now demand that states show edu
Survey: U.S. Accountability System Less Fair and Effective Compared to Other Countries | NEA Today
Survey: U.S. Accountability System Less Fair and Effective Compared to Other Countries | NEA Today: Survey: U.S. Accountability System Less Fair and Effective Compared to Other CountriesJune 25, 2014 by twalker  Filed under Featured News, Top StoriesLeave a CommentBy Brenda ÁlvarezEducators who are empowered to take control of their profession tend to yield better results for their practice, stude
6-23-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Glen Brown. Discover perspicacity.Good afternoon, Glen. I was just reading through your blog and really liked how diverse it is, you seem to be a man of many hats. As a result, I thought I’d reach out to you and ask for a bit of advice regarding a children’s summer education project we’re working on.
6-24-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: This Week’s “Round-Up” Of Good Posts & Articles On Education PolicyHere are some recent useful posts and articles on educational policy issues: Aren’t California tenure policies in fact unreasonable? Plus 4 more Vergara questions asked and answered is from The Washington Post. I’m adding it to California Court Rules It’
6-25-14 Answer Sheet
Answer Sheet: The Great Teachers and Principals Act: not so great after allLast year I published a piece by Kenneth Zeichner, a professor who has done extensive research on teaching and teacher education, which discussed legislation in Congress about teacher and principal preparation programs. The legislation is officially called the “Growing Excellent Achievement Training Academies (GREAT) Teache
6-25-14 Schools Matter
Schools Matter: Houston KIPPsters Blow Off Steam by Hanging ClassmateFrom Fox affiliate in Houston:By Alexander Supgul, Digital Content Manager - bioOn May 20 during recess at KIPP Academy, David Rodriguez says he quite nearly strangled to death."I thought I was going to die and I was not going to see my Mom, my Dad and my sister," said Rodriguez.David's mother, Zulma Rodriguez, insists
6-25-14 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: @amprog imitates neoliberal wankers and excludes educator voicesA panel on the Common Core today from the Center for (on?) American Progress. See the speakers. Any educators in site? Introductory Remarks: Carmel Martin, Executive Vice President for Policy, Center for American Progress Panelists: Gov. Jim Douglas, Former Governor of Vermont Gov. Ted Strickland, Former Governor of
6-25-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University)
the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): Whence Come “The Leftovers”?: Speculative Fiction and the Human ConditionNora Durst finds herself at the intersection of something routinely normal for middle-class Americans living in the comfort of suburbia and distinctly otherworldly at the same time in Tom Perrotta’s
6-25-14 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: Rupert Murdoch To Be Interviewed By Scotland Yard In Hacking CaseFrom the Daily News: Scotland Yard detectives plan to interview media mogul Rupert Murdoch about a phone-hacking scandal that led to one of his former top honchos being convicted Tuesday on criminal charges. Detectives have informed the 83-year-old Murdoch he’ll be grilled “under caution” — a warning given to s
Eight teachers, eight struggles with measuring student growth | Education Lab Blog | Seattle Times
Eight teachers, eight struggles with measuring student growth | Education Lab Blog | Seattle Times: Eight teachers, eight struggles with measuring student growthPosted by Linda ShawTake eight certified teachers, all with a prestigious advanced teaching credential, and ask them to tell stories about how they measure student growth in their classrooms— a requirement of the state’s new teacher evalua
Pro-Common Core State School Chief Loses Election in Oklahoma | Truth in American Education
Pro-Common Core State School Chief Loses Election in Oklahoma | Truth in American Education: Pro-Common Core State School Chief Loses Election in OklahomaFiled in Common Core State Standards, Education at State Level by Shane Vander Hart on June 25, 2014 • 0 Comments146241Pro-Common Core Oklahoma State School Superintendent Janet Barresi lost her primary against challenger Joy Hofmeister who ran o
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Chicago school closings went well, except for...
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Chicago school closings went well, except for...: Chicago school closings went well, except for...BEST QUOTE OF THE DAY RE. RAHM... Comes from S-T's Dan Mihalopoulos -- You don’t need to speak español to understand what hipocresía means. Sorry to bust any remaining bubbles out there, but no, closing 50 Chicago Public Schools last year didn't save us any money. Quite
Detroit Free Press Publishes Weeklong, Blockbuster Investigation of Michigan Charters | janresseger
Detroit Free Press Publishes Weeklong, Blockbuster Investigation of Michigan Charters | janresseger: Detroit Free Press Publishes Weeklong, Blockbuster Investigation of Michigan ChartersPosted on June 25, 2014 by janressegerThe huge investigation of Michigan’s charter schools, a series of stories, graphics, and interviews being published this week by the Detroit Free Press, includes a lot more inf
empathyeducates – Editorial: A Complete Education Includes Humanities
empathyeducates – Editorial: A Complete Education Includes Humanities: Editorial: A Complete Education Includes HumanitiesPhotograph; Stan Gutiontov, a student at Northwestern University’s Feinberg/Chicago TribuneBy Times Editorial | Originally Published at Tampa Bay Times. Friday, June 21, 2013 5:30amThe humanities and social sciences have been under attack by Gov. Rick Scott and other politician
Is Money spent on Public #Education Equitable? | Cloaking Inequity
Is Money spent on Public #Education Equitable? | Cloaking Inequity: Is Money spent on Public #Education Equitable?A longstanding issue in school finance research and litigation concerns whether money spent on public education is equitable. Traditionally, researchers examined if money spent on public education was equitable across districts within the same state. Given that public education is part
NYC Educator: Does Killing Tenure Equal a "Sound Education?"
NYC Educator: Does Killing Tenure Equal a "Sound Education?": Does Killing Tenure Equal a "Sound Education?"No surprise!  Campbell Brown has recruited and sponsored six NY students to legally challenge tenure and seniority laws on the basis that they violate the Constitutional right of children to a "sound education" by protecting ineffective teachers.   Doubtless, Br
Kindergarten and Technology (Sharon Davison) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
Kindergarten and Technology (Sharon Davison) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Kindergarten and Technology (Sharon Davison)This post comes from kindergarten teacher Sharon Davison. It was posted on June 17, 2014. I have taken  her self-description from “About” on her blog.My name is Sharon Davison and I have the pleasure of being a Kindergarten teacher in Vermont. I have been

YESTERDAY

Starting with Relationships, Focus on Learning | Connected Principals
Starting with Relationships, Focus on Learning | Connected Principals: Starting with Relationships, Focus on Learningby Johnny Bevacqua • June 25, 2014 • 0 CommentsThis was originally posted by J. Bevacqua on Figuring It OutYet another new beginning….For those that have not heard – next school year brings a new and exciting job opportunity – this time as Principal of Vancouver College – a K-12 Cat
You Can't Educate With Us (On Tone-Policing When Silent) - The Jose Vilson
You Can't Educate With Us (On Tone-Policing When Silent) - The Jose Vilson: You Can’t Educate With Us (On Tone-Policing When Silent)by JOSE VILSON on JUNE 24, 2014in JOSEI called someone a racist this past weekend. And a sexist for good measure.I don’t have much authoritative experience with the latter as I do the former, and I don’t go throwing around such a title lightly.I won’t go into the inci
A Principal Ruins a Teacher's Career in Brooklyn - southbronxschool
http://www.southbronxschool.com: A Principal Ruins a Teacher's Career in Brooklyn The following could very well be considered part II of last night's blog postbut it deserves it's own special mention.The Crack Team just got this story of a middle school teacher from Brooklyn. His name is Jeff Storobinsky who suddenlyhad to retire this past February for the abuse to stop.The Crack Team has seen and
All Things Education: A DCPS Teacher Resigns
All Things Education: A DCPS Teacher Resigns: A DCPS Teacher ResignsA few summers ago at the SOS March & National Call to Action, I met a young and enthusiastic, but independent-minded and healthily-skeptical DC Public School elementary teacher, named Olivia Chapman (on twitter: formerly @sedcteacher, now @NGCoachLiv). Olivia has done two guest posts for this blog thus far, one about lessons l
Give it away, give it away, give it away now… | Connected Principals
Give it away, give it away, give it away now… | Connected Principals: Give it away, give it away, give it away now…by Jon Harper • June 24, 2014 • 0 CommentsWhile watching Game of Thrones has provided me with much entertainment over the past few years, it did not teach me a single thing about becoming a better leader. In fact, I learned more about leadership from a five-minute rereading of Shel Si
Nite Cap 6-24-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #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 CAP6-24-14 With A Brooklyn Accent: Love Letters to the BATSWith A Brooklyn Accent: Getting Rid of The Bad Teachers: Discrimination in Berkeley, CA A Guest Post by Masha Albrecht and Brian Crowell Getting Rid of The Bad Teachers: Discrimination in Be