Latest News and Comment from Education

Friday, March 7, 2014

Special Late Nite Cap EXTRA 3-7-14 #EDCHAT #P2 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk


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What'll Ya Say If Your Child Wants to be a Teacher One Day?
I liken education blogs to Radio Londres, free wavelengths in a world of media largely controlled by corporate interests.  Over these free "wavelengths," one senses solidarity in opposition to teacher denigration, standardized testing, the Common Core, the corporate takeover of education, data mining and threatening charters with reams of data that tell a lie.  An "Education Spring


Washington State Legislature Considers Tying Test Scores to Teacher and Principal Evaluations
Two bills currently under consideration before the legislature in Olympia, Senate Bill 5880 and House Bill 2800, would mandate the inclusion of state test scores in both teacher and principal evaluations. These bills were introduced after US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan told Governor Jay Inslee that he would not consider extending a NCLB waiver currently in place […]

New York City Mayor: “The day of drive-by parent-teacher conferences…is over”
New York City schools continue making dramatic changes in making parent engagement a priority. Here’s how a new article, De Blasio woos parent bloggers, begins: Mayor Bill de Blasio told a group of parent bloggers at City Hall on Friday that communication between schools and families is a top priority of his administration, echoing the message of his schools chancellor Carmen Fariña. Fariña has ma
L.A. school board candidate accused of falsely claiming doctorate
Friday’s filing deadline for a key Los Angeles school board race also marked the first major dust-up between candidates. The campaign for Alex Johnson has unearthed documentation that opponent Genethia Hudley-Hayes failed to earn a doctorate for which she has been credited.

LA Unified District 1 special election narrows to 9 candidates
The original field of 13 candidates vying for the vacant LA Unified school board seat just got smaller. Thirteen candidates had expressed interest in the District 1 race, but at the 5 p.m. deadline today, only nine filed the required petitions to qualify to appear on the ballot. The June 3 special election was called after longtime school board member, Marguarite LaMotte died in office. The nine w
School board race gets ugly with accusations of resume padding
Genethia Hudley-Hayes, Candidate for School Board The race for LA Unified’s open board seat took a dramatic turn today as Alex Johnson’s campaign accused a rival, Genethia Hudley-Hayes, of “deliberately falsifying” her academic credentials. Roy Behr, Johnson’s political consultant, said research into her background found discrepancies in her resume and, in a meeting yesterday with his counterpart

This Week In Web 2.0
In yet another attempt to get at the enormous backlog I have of sites worth , I’ve recently begin a regular feature called “The Week In Web 2.0.” (you might also be interested in The Best Web 2.0 Applications For Education In 2013): Quizlet for learners: a step-by-step guide is by Lizzie Pinnard, and is excellent. Quizlet is on The Best Tools To Make Online Flashcards list, so I’m adding this lin
Several Excellent New Posts & Articles On Assessment
Over the past two weeks, I’ve seen several exceptional posts and articles on teacher and student assessment, and thought I’d bring them all together in one post. I’ll be sharing to which “Best” list I’ll be adding each one, but you can also find all my lists on assessment at A Collection Of “The Best” Lists On Assessment. I’ve got to start off with a series of exceptional posts on assessment that
Duke University rules porn star student has not broken any rules
The top U.S. college where a student has revealed she works as a porn actress to pay her fees said Friday she has broken no rules, and stressed that financial aid is available. First-year student “Belle Knox” of Duke University, who has received threats, outed herself this week to...
Seattle School District Seeks Input on Math Selections
From SPS:Elementary math instructional materials - We want your feedback!The elementary math adoption committee work has reached a critical stage. In looking to partner with parents and community to find the best possible math program for Seattle Public School students for the 2014-15 school year and beyond, the committee invites you to give us your thoughts and opinions. The committee is excited


Sac school district notifies parents of information security breach - KCRA Sacramento
Sac school district notifies parents of information security breachKCRA SacramentoWEDDING VENDORS, PARENT INFORMATION, IN WAYS? Officials at a Sacramento school district are notifying parents that records containing personal identifying information were found at the Southern California home of a wire fraud suspect. FBI serves ...


Predatory Reform Strikes Again: Kahn Academy and College Board
Kahn Academy and College Board have joined forced to “revise” college SAT testing! And they’ve brought their buddies ALEC, Gates, and McKinsey along for the ride. Predatory reform strikes again. Kahn Academy is the darling of education “reformers” and entrepreneurs, spearheading the movement to provide online instruction in lieu of bodied and interactive learning, to […]


Chris Hayes: College Board announces SAT overhaul + SAT scores trend with family income | MSNBC
College Board announces SAT overhaul | MSNBC: College Board announces SAT overhaulChris Hayes discusses the newly announced overhaul of the SATs with NYU’s Pedro Noguera, Seppy Basili of Kaplan Test Prep, and education activist Julie Cavanagh.SAT scores trend with family incomeWhy do kids whose parents earn more money do better on the SAT? nd his panel discuss.
Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 3-6-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
Nite Cap UPDATEUPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATECORPORATE ED REFORMVIDEO – AFT President, Randi Weingarten, #NPEConference – Last 3 Minutes -Common Core Panel DebateAFT President, Randi Weingarten, on the Network for Public Education – Common Core Panel Debate – National Conference, Austin, Texas Closing 3 minutes of commentary.by gatorbonbc / 2h hide  //  saveAFT Pres Randi Weingarten Closing Comments
Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst: Education policy is becoming a new source of major campaign dollars.
Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst: Education policy is becoming a new source of major campaign dollars.: The Schoolyard Fight131110143Michelle Rhee’s new organization is giving millions to support conservative candidates in dozens of states.Three weeks before Tennessee’s August 2012 primary election, state Rep. John DeBerry Jr.’s Memphis-area district was flooded with $52,000 worth of get-out-the-vote
Nite Cap 3-7-14 #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 CAPResearch Study: Missing Data and VAM-Based Bias |Research Study: Missing Data and VAM-Based Bias |: Research Study: Missing Data and VAM-Based Bias A new Assistant Professor here at ASU, from outside the College of Education but in the College of

Chris Hayes: College Board announces SAT overhaul + SAT scores trend with family income | MSNBC

College Board announces SAT overhaul | MSNBC:



College Board announces SAT overhaul
Chris Hayes discusses the newly announced overhaul of the SATs with NYU’s Pedro Noguera, Seppy Basili of Kaplan Test Prep, and education activist Julie Cavanagh.





SAT scores trend with family income
Why do kids whose parents earn more money do better on the SAT? nd his panel discuss.








Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 3-6-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2



Nite Cap UPDATE

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CORPORATE ED REFORM



VIDEO – AFT President, Randi Weingarten, #NPEConference – Last 3 Minutes -Common Core Panel Debate
AFT President, Randi Weingarten, on the Network for Public Education – Common Core Panel Debate – National Conference, Austin, Texas Closing 3 minutes of commentary.
AFT Pres Randi Weingarten Closing Comments at #NPEConvention
AFT President, Randi Weingarten, on the Network for Public Education – Common Core Panel Debate – National Conference, Austin, Texas Closing 3 minutes of commentary.

School “Choice”: What it really means
This was first posted on EduShyster and I am reposting it here because it pertains to Seattle and the ongoing fight to keep our schools public and democratic. The scenario of what happened in New Orleans is not pretty. Big Easy, Little Choice by Ashanna Bigard If New Orleans is being held up as a […]

The Invisible Curriculum
 “So what defines good or bad?” one boy asks.  “Motives or actions?  Everyone’s saying ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ but I don’t understand what you really mean.  Are they good because of their actions or because of their motives?” “Motives,” says a kid across the room.  There are no raised hands; he just jumps in.  “It all comes down to your motives.  I can donate all my money to a charity but if I say I want

Kansas Supreme Court rules school funding levels unconstitutional
School funding had been cut during recession, but with additional tax cuts Kansas may not be able to reinstate funding

A Great Divide: The Election Fight for California's Schools | California Progress Report
A Great Divide: The Election Fight for California's Schools | California Progress Report


Federal officials end stand off, green-light California testing plan
Education Secretary Arne Duncan talks about education reform during a speech at the National Press Club in Washington, Friday, May 29, 2009. Duncan said this is a time of educational crisis, as well as economic crisis, and that we will have to educate our way to a better economy.; Credit: AP Photo Ending a months long standoff between federal and state officials, the U.S. Department of Education

A Schneider Debriefing on Weingarten
crazycrawfish:Excellent analysis if the NPE CCSS forum and AFT president Randi Weingarten’s often perplexing supporting arguments for CCSS. Originally posted on deutsch29: On Sunday, March 2, 2014, I participated in a much-publicized Common Core (CCSS) panel with four other individuals as part of the Network for Public Education (NPE) first annual conference in Austin, Texas. (A 40-minute video of

Federal appeals panel rules TABOR lawsuit can proceed
A lawsuit that claims Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights violates federal constitutional guarantees of representative state government can proceed, a three-judge panel of the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday. The suit, Kerr v. Hickenlooper, was filed in 2011, but the case has been focused on procedural issues up to now. The Friday ruling settles some of those. The eventual outcome

Hundreds of districts, partnerships signal interest in ‘career pathways’ grant program - by Michelle Maitre
Competition is shaping up to be fierce for a new state fund supporting programs that link academics with real-world career opportunities. The California Department of Education has received some 275 letters of intent from interested parties potentially seeking a piece of the California Career Pathways Trust. The trust is a $250 million one-time grant fund ... [[ This is a content summary only. Vi


Dallas ISD board president says district should remain focused despite “home-rule” push
Dallas ISD board President Eric Cowan released a statement Friday concerning a push to make DISD a “home-rule school district.” The effort by Support Our Public Schools could result in a voter-approved charter, which would determine how the … [visit site to read more]


Surprise, Surprise — Study Finds That Positive Parenting Promotes Adolescent Brain Development
Daniel Willingham recently sent a tweet about a new study titled Positive parenting predicts the development of adolescent brain structure: A longitudinal study. It found that: Parenting interventions may promote healthy adolescent brain development….In conclusion, we have found, for the first time, longitudinal effects of positive parenting on structural development of the brain during adolescenc
This Is Why St. Paul Is A National Model Of Parent Engagement
I’ve previously posted about why what’s happening in St. Paul, Minnesota is a national model of parent engagement. Check out this latest article from the Pioneer Press, titled St. Paul parents hope to keep momentum after teachers contract deal, to learn why I say that… Here’s how the article starts: When a teachers strike loomed last month in the St. Paul Public Schools district, parents joined fo

And Another Reason Why You Don’t Blog
…and by you, I mean me. …and by blog, I mean reflect. I have written recently about why you can’t click publish. Certainly it’s a thing for many folks. But then there are a bunch of you who say, “I have nothing to write about”. I get it. I haven’t written anything for a month. For me, that’s not good. Mr. Mega Blogger himself, George Couros recognized a slump he was in and talked about his lack of


Kansas School Funding Declared Unconstitutional By State Supreme Court
The Kansas Supreme Court on Friday ruled the state's funding of public schools to be unconstitutional, a declaration likely to have effects beyond the state's borders. The decision ordered the immediate reversal of recent education cuts, but told a lower court to reconsider the potential $1 billion question of whether Kansas provides enough education funding to adequately prepare students for th


2014 Washington Legislature: Bill awarding academic credit for military training passes both chambers
Senate Bill 5969 will head to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk after passing unanimously in the House on Friday.

US approves California's new K-12 testing plan
Federal education officials on Friday approved California's plan to roll out new computer-based standardized tests this spring, ending a months-long dispute that put the state at risk of sacrificing $1.5 billion in federal school funding.


Reactions to New SAT
To note: college success is better verified by GPA than SAT or ACT.From the president of Bard College via Time:The SAT needs to be abandoned and replaced. The SAT has a status as a reliable measure of college readiness it does not deserve.  The blunt fact is that the SAT has never been a good predictor of academic achievement in college. High school grades adjusted to account for the curriculum an
Music Org for Music Education
Just learned about the National Association for Music Education's Broader Minded: think beyond the bubbles program.  Music not only impacts academic achievement, it also shapes the way our students understand themselves and the world around them. Let's think beyond the bubbles and educate the whole student.They have good insights and arguments for supporting music in our schools.  Consider this go
Education News Updates
Legislature:The Washington Senate voted unanimously for a bill to make it easier for minors to seal their records (for minor crimes).  I'll have to read the bill but I doubt it will protect your child if the incident happened at school and it is now part of a school record.  The FERPA changes would allow that kind of data to go out to vendors of all kinds (and even our friends at the Seattle Times

Who Should Evaluate Teachers?
When kids and parents and community members comment on a particularly gifted teacher, it's the ability to light a fire around learning, through passion and compassion, that they're identifying. In fact, when even the most punitive and pro-privatization legislator rhapsodizes about his extraordinary fourth grade teacher (and why such teachers are rare in "failing" schools), high test scor


Lupita’s Oscar used as marketing tool for IB school program
How’s this for innovative marketing? The  International Baccalaureate® is a non-profit educational foundation that offers several intellectually challenging programs for students from the ages of 3 to 19 that are used in schools around the world. In the United States, there are some 1,495 schools that offer one or more of the IB programs, and there […]    


Grassroots Toolkit: Time for Congressional Hearings into the Abuse of Standardized Testing
Will Your Congressperson or Senator Join Us? On March 2, 2014, The Network for Public Education issued a call for congressional hearings into the overuse and abuse of tests in our schools. Our campaign is gaining steam! We need your help in getting even more traction. We are asking our friends and allies to reach out to your Senators and Representatives. Below are two ways that you can help out. T

“Maker Academy” among new NYC high schools opening in September
The nine new high schools opening in New York City in September include one focused on the “maker” movement of using technology in new ways. That information is contained in a guide to new schools that the Department of Education released today, days before most eighth graders are set to learn which high school they will attend. Some of those new schools had previously been announced, including th

Beaverton Music Task Force wants your thoughts about music in schools (survey)
What is the music program like at your school? The Music Task Force wants to know.


Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst: Education policy is becoming a new source of major campaign dollars.
Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst: Education policy is becoming a new source of major campaign dollars.: The Schoolyard Fight131110143Michelle Rhee’s new organization is giving millions to support conservative candidates in dozens of states.Three weeks before Tennessee’s August 2012 primary election, state Rep. John DeBerry Jr.’s Memphis-area district was flooded with $52,000 worth of get-out-the-vote
Nite Cap 3-7-14 #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 CAPResearch Study: Missing Data and VAM-Based Bias |Research Study: Missing Data and VAM-Based Bias |: Research Study: Missing Data and VAM-Based Bias A new Assistant Professor here at ASU, from outside the College of Education but in the College of