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Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 8/26/15 #SaveDyett


SPECIAL NITE CAP 

CORPORATE ED REFORM




You'd Be On C-SPAN Getting Mic'd Up Too [Video] | The Jose Vilson
You'd Be On C-SPAN Getting Mic'd Up Too [Video] | The Jose Vilson: You’d Be On C-SPAN Getting Mic’d Up Too [Video] JOSE VILSON AUGUST 26, 2015 VIDEO LEAVE A COMMENTGiven how little I advertised this, I’m glad so many of you got to watch this interview of me via C-SPAN’s Wasington Journal with Pedro Echevarria (shout-outs to their team):A few things to note:I was hoping a student would call in, and
With A Brooklyn Accent: "Opt Out- Stop the Abuse" Message from an Educator in Upstate New York
With A Brooklyn Accent: "Opt Out- Stop the Abuse" Message from an Educator in Upstate New York: "Opt Out- Stop the Abuse" Message from an Educator in Upstate New YorkThe New York State Education Department released the student test data to the school districts on Friday, August 21, 2015.  I have spent two entire days entering student test data into the computer.  That is, I ent
Al Jazeera includes silenced ed reform perspectives @AJStream  | Cloaking Inequity
Al Jazeera includes silenced ed reform perspectives @AJStream  | Cloaking Inequity: Al Jazeera includes silenced ed reform perspectives @AJStream I was previously impressed that Al Jazeera took on Teach For America. Now they are taking on education “reformers” again in NOLA— by including silenced perspectives community perspectives on education reform on their show AJ Stream— especially from folks
D.C. schools attracted record amounts of philanthropy in recent years - The Washington Post
D.C. schools attracted record amounts of philanthropy in recent years - The Washington Post: D.C. schools attracted record amounts of philanthropy in recent yearsWashington, D.C., became a magnet for philanthropy after 2007, when former mayor Adrian Fenty took control over the schools and appointed Michelle Rhee as chancellor.In 2010, the District brought in more than $31 million from national fou
CURMUDGUCATION: TN: We've Found the Unicorn Farm
CURMUDGUCATION: TN: We've Found the Unicorn Farm: TN: We've Found the Unicorn FarmTennessee officials are cheerfully announcing the advent of awesome new assessments that will be "not a test you can game." The tests will be delivered at the end of the year by winged unicorns pooping rainbows while playing a Brahms lullabye on the spoons.“We’re moving into a better test that will provide
This Week In Education: Thompson: Ta-Nehisi Coates & School Reform
This Week In Education: Thompson: Ta-Nehisi Coates & School Reform: Thompson: Ta-Nehisi Coates & School ReformToni Morrison rightly compares Ta-Nehisi Coates to James Baldwin. I hope teachers and education policy makers will read CoatesBetween the World and Me, and consider its obvious implications for school improvement. I do not want to drag his beautiful book, a touching letter to his s
Knock Knock, Teacher's Here: The Power Of Home Visits : NPR Ed : NPR
Knock Knock, Teacher's Here: The Power Of Home Visits : NPR Ed : NPR: Knock Knock, Teacher's Here: The Power Of Home VisitsNinety percent of students at Hobgood Elementary in Murfreesboro, Tenn., come from low-income households. Most of the school's teachers don't. And that's a challenge, says principal Tammy Garrett."If you only know middle-class families, you may not understand at times why
New Website Shares #KatrinaTruth | National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Education Reform for Equity and Opportunity
New Website Shares #KatrinaTruth | National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Education Reform for Equity and Opportunity: New Website Shares #KatrinaTruthPosted on: Monday August 24th, 2015Ten years ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and displaced hundreds of thousands of its residents. Now, a new site by the Advancement Project and the group Families and Friends of Louisiana's Incarcera
In Chicago, hunger strikers fight for a high school - The Washington Post #FightForDyett
In Chicago, hunger strikers fight for a high school - The Washington Post: In Chicago, hunger strikers fight for a high school Demonstrators hold placards during a Chicago Teachers Union protest in Chicago in March 2013 over a controversial proposal to close 54 schools in the country's third-largest public school district. (John Gress/Reuters)A dozen parents and activists in Chicago entered their
The Union Advantage for Women - Women in the StatesWomen in the States
The Union Advantage for Women - Women in the StatesWomen in the States: The Union Advantage for WomenThis briefing paper presents an analysis of women’s union membership and the union wage and benefit advantage for women by state and by race/ethnicity. It is based on an analysis of the Current Population Survey. Wage and benefit data are for all workers covered by a union contract, irrespective of
National Opinion Poll on Testing and Test-Based Teacher Accountability | VAMboozled!
National Opinion Poll on Testing and Test-Based Teacher Accountability | VAMboozled!: National Opinion Poll on Testing and Test-Based Teacher AccountabilityIn an article titled “Testing Doesn’t Measure up for Americans,” just released by Phi Delta Kappa (PDK) International in partnership with the flagship professional polling organizationGallup, you can read the results of the annual public poll t
edTPA. The Gates and NCTQ plan, a long time in the works. | Fred Klonsky
edTPA. The Gates and NCTQ plan, a long time in the works. | Fred Klonsky: edTPA. The Gates and NCTQ plan, a long time in the works.Graphic: Rethinking SchoolsedTPA is not new.I have been posting about it now because the implementation of edTPA in Illinois, mandated by the Democratic Party controlled state legislature as the path to teacher certification, is moving at full steam.If you go back to t
Mapping the Displacement of Katrina Survivors - The Atlantic
Mapping the Displacement of Katrina Survivors - The Atlantic: Hurricane Katrina's Uncharted DiasporaThe storm displaced hundreds of thousands from their homes, and there is still no comprehensive picture of where they ended up.Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the city of New Orleans on the morning of August 29, 2005, swept in by winds traveling at 127 mph. But the true damage came after the leve
CURMUDGUCATION: Content-Free Curriculum
CURMUDGUCATION: Content-Free Curriculum: Content-Free CurriculumComing back to school (first student day yesterday, thanks) reminds me once again of the huge hole in the heart of current Core curriculum. The lack of content. The sad fact that there is no there there.Yes, someone is going to pop up to say that the Core (both in its original incarnation and all the old wine in new skins versions tha
Chicago Tribune: Teacher compensation is a perk. | Fred Klonsky
Chicago Tribune: Teacher compensation is a perk. | Fred Klonsky: Chicago Tribune: Teacher compensation is a perk.It has been just a few days since the Chicago Tribune embarrassed itself by publishing the ghoulish op-ed by Kristen McQueary which called for a devastating natural disaster like Katrina to hit Chicago.Only “water gushing through manhole covers” could bring school reform to our city wro
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Big day for Dyett hunger strikers
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Big day for Dyett hunger strikers: Big day for Dyett hunger strikersImportant day for the Dyett hunger strikers.AFT Pres. Randi Weingarten is coming to Chicago today to speak in support of the strikers. Maybe that will push some other unions to do the same and get some decent media coverage.Our thoughts are with hunger striking Grandmother Irene Robinson who was hosp
This could change everything about school — for kids, teachers and everybody else - The Washington Post
This could change everything about school — for kids, teachers and everybody else - The Washington Post: This could change everything about school — for kids, teachers and everybody elseFor years, veteran educator Marion Brady has argued on this blog that no matter the level of a learner’s ability, much higher levels of academic performance are possible.  The means to that end, he says, is learner
Amid Widespread Racial Biases in School Suspensions, Teachers Say No to Federal Ban on ‘Disparate Impact’ Discipline - The Atlantic
Amid Widespread Racial Biases in School Suspensions, Teachers Say No to Federal Ban on ‘Disparate Impact’ Discipline - The Atlantic: When Schools Are Forced to Practice Race-Based DisciplineStudents of color are expelled and suspended at disproportionate rates. Educators say policies banning “disparate-impact” discipline are not the answer.The Obama administration might be disappointed to find out
Left Behind: The unintended consequences of school choice | The Post and Courier
Left behind | The Post and Courier: Left Behind: The unintended consequences of school choiceKids with toughest hurdles stuck in gutted schoolsThe first bell rings in 10 minutes, but no cars line the road outside to drop off students. While other schools clog major thoroughfares with traffic, a lone car pulls up to North Charleston High every few minutes for a drowsy teen to roll out. Two park in
Ed Notes Online: The Racist History of the Charter School Movement
Ed Notes Online: The Racist History of the Charter School Movement: The Racist History of the Charter School Movementstates and localities [in the south in the 60s] enacted “freedom of choice” plans that typically allowed white students to transfer out of desegregated schools, but forced black students to clear numerous administrative hurdles and, not infrequently, withstand harassment from teache
New Policy Brief Released: "Significant Changes in the New Orleans Teacher Workforce" · News · Education Research Alliance for New Orleans
New Policy Brief Released: "Significant Changes in the New Orleans Teacher Workforce" · News · Education Research Alliance for New Orleans: Significant Changes in the New Orleans Teacher WorkforceNew Orleans' Teaching Force Today: Whiter, Less Experienced, Higher Turnover - Teacher Beat - Education Week http://bit.ly/1JvZYDbEducation Research Alliance for New Orleans releases policy brie
Teacher ranks shrink, skew white and less experienced in report
Teacher ranks shrink, skew white and less experienced in report: Teacher ranks shrink, skew white and less experienced in reportOver a five-year period that included the near-elimination of collective bargaining in Wisconsin's public schools, the teacher workforce in metro Milwaukee is smaller, less experienced and still largely white, according to a new report.The metro region also lost 700 teach
Newark Schools See Red Ink - WSJ
Newark Schools See Red Ink - WSJ: Newark Schools See Red InkNew chief puts gap at as much as $20 million, vows to make cuts that won’t harm educationThe Newark school district faces a budget hole of $15 million to $20 million going into the new academic year, its officials said Tuesday.Chris Cerf, who took over as superintendent of the state-operated district last month, said the financial picture
Parents Starve Themselves To Protest Chicago School Closure | The Daily Caller
Parents Starve Themselves To Protest Chicago School Closure | The Daily Caller: Parents Starve Themselves To Protest Rahm Emanuel’s School PoliciesParents in Chicago have endured a hunger strike lasting over a week to protest the local board of education’s decision to shut down a neighborhood high school.Dyett High School, on Chicago’s South Side, graduated its final class of 13 students last June
ACT president: ‘Relax. Tests don’t define us, nor do they determine our future.’ - The Washington Post
ACT president: ‘Relax. Tests don’t define us, nor do they determine our future.’ - The Washington Post: ACT president: ‘Relax. Tests don’t define us, nor do they determine our future.’ACT President Jon Erickson, who has spent three decades in the testing field, is retiring on Sept. 1 after four years in his position. Erickson, 61, answered questions from The Washington Post as the nonprofit organi
Want to Reduce the Teacher Shortage? Treat Teachers Like Professionals - NEA Today
Want to Reduce the Teacher Shortage? Treat Teachers Like Professionals - NEA Today: Want to Reduce the Teacher Shortage? Treat Teachers Like ProfessionalsSuddenly everyone is talking about the teacher shortage, thanks largely to a recent article in The New York Times that examined the measures districts are taking – including dropping certification requirements – to fill vacancies. Too many pink s
California home school interest surges as parents look to sidestep vaccine law
California home school interest surges as parents look to sidestep vaccine law: California home school interest surges as parents look to sidestep vaccine lawth the passage of a new law this summer mandating vaccines for school kids in California, home school advocates and organizations say they are seeing surging interest in off-campus education options that would exempt them from the requirement
When Parents Get Paid for Homework - Bloomberg View
When Parents Get Paid for Homework - Bloomberg View: When Parents Get Paid for HomeworkPoor kids don't do nearly as well in school as the children of the affluent. There's a vicious cycle when you talk about this, where education reformers blame the teachers, teachers blame the parents and the economic conditions of the children, and everyone sort of gives each other the side eye while glumly agre
Public School Isn't Free, and Not Everyone Can Afford It | Joanne Goldblum
Public School Isn't Free, and Not Everyone Can Afford It | Joanne Goldblum: Public School Isn't Free, and Not Everyone Can Afford ItIf you have three children attending public school, you can expect to pay $3,000 for school supplies and extra-curricular activity fees in the coming year. That information comes courtesy of the Ohio-based Huntington Bank, which does an annual "Backpack Index&quo
Latinos struggle to close gap with whites in California ACT scores - LA Times
Latinos struggle to close gap with whites in California ACT scores - LA Times: Latinos struggle to close gap with whites in California ACT scoresA performance gap on the ACT college entrance exam persisted this year between California's Latino and white high school students, according to new test results.Educators and experts find this trend particularly concerning. They had hoped for better resul
School ‘reform’ more like regression
School ‘reform’ more like regression: School ‘reform’ more like regressionFor observers of California’s public schools who look past the normal narratives and distractions, something bordering on despair is in order.Consider the legislation now advancing in Sacramento to gut the Stull Act, the 1971 law mandating that student performance be a factor in teacher evaluations. Sen. Carol Liu, D-La Cana
Marie Corfield: @arneduncan sucker punches special needs students
Marie Corfield: @arneduncan sucker punches special needs students: @arneduncan sucker punches special needs studentsAs if the Common Core and standardized testing weren't enough. As if the funding cuts to public education weren't enough.As if increased class sizes and decreased services weren't enough.As if the black listing of education professionals wasn't enough.As if the closing of neighborhoo
What I learned taking the Smarter Balanced (SBAC) test | Seattle Education
What I learned taking the Smarter Balanced (SBAC) test | Seattle Education: What I learned taking the Smarter Balanced (SBAC) testIt was created for imaginary children who exist only in the minds of the people who made the tests. These imaginary third through fifth graders are perfectly willing and able to sit still and focus for forty-five minutes, type, problem-solve random computer glitches, an
CURMUDGUCATION: Tribune Discovers Dyett Hunger Strike #FightForDyett #SaveDyett
CURMUDGUCATION: Tribune Discovers Dyett Hunger Strike: Tribune Discovers Dyett Hunger StrikeIt only took eight days for Chicago's leading "news" outlet to discover that Dyett High twelve community members were staging a hunger strike. But yesterday afternoon, the Chicago Tribunefinally covered the story.Mind you, they didn't cover it all that well. They reported the 13-student enrollment

YESTERDAY

The Newark board defies Cerf. Cerf (politely) defies the Newark board. Christie is still the “decider.” | Bob Braun's Ledger
The Newark board defies Cerf. Cerf (politely) defies the Newark board. Christie is still the “decider.” | Bob Braun's Ledger: The Newark board defies Cerf. Cerf (politely) defies the Newark board. Christie is still the “decider.”An unapologetic Cerf takes control of Newark schoolsThe Newark school board Tuesday night ordered an end to the “One Newark” enrollment plan that has resulted in the dispe
Florida Students Must “Qualify” to Take the Fourth-grade NAEP | deutsch29
Florida Students Must “Qualify” to Take the Fourth-grade NAEP | deutsch29: Florida Students Must “Qualify” to Take the Fourth-grade NAEPJeb Bush wants to be president. So, it is important that he sell his Florida education reforms as a success.However, when test-score-based education reforms are put on display, one should seek out “the rest of the story.” Such is true when Florida’s fourth-grade N
What's Up With That Big Grant to the Atlantic Monthly From the Walton Family Foundation? - Inside Philanthropy: Fundraising Intelligence - Inside Philanthropy
What's Up With That Big Grant to the Atlantic Monthly From the Walton Family Foundation? - Inside Philanthropy: Fundraising Intelligence - Inside Philanthropy: What's Up With That Big Grant to the Atlantic Monthly From the Walton Family Foundation?We've been saying for a while that the tight new embrace of journalism and philanthropy is tricky, and for some obvious reasons. Foundations have agenda
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 8/25/15 #SaveDyett
SPECIAL NITE CAP CORPORATE ED REFORM‘The Teacher Shortage’ Is No Accident—It’s the Result of Corporate Education Reform Policies - Working In These Times‘The Teacher Shortage’ Is No Accident—It’s the Result of Corporate Education Reform Policies - Working In These Times: ‘The Teacher Shortage’ Is No Accident—It’s the Result of Corporate Education Reform PoliciesLike much else in the national educa