Monday, October 12, 2015

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 10/12/15




CORPORATE ED REFORM




New waivers from school readiness law raise concerns | Chalkbeat
New waivers from school readiness law raise concerns | Chalkbeat: New waivers from school readiness law raise concernsMore than 60 Colorado charter schools  — and one of the state’s largest school districts — have been granted exemptions from some requirements of the state’s school readiness law just as it is being rolled out statewide.Those schools and four districts have been granted waivers by
ESPN delays '30 for 30' Kevin Johnson doc in light of sex allegations - NBA - SI.com
ESPN delays '30 for 30' Kevin Johnson doc in light of sex allegations - NBA - SI.com: ESPN delays Kevin Johnson '30 for 30' documentary in light of allegationsIn light of recent articles revisiting allegations of sexual misconduct involving Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, ESPN has decided to delay its on-the-air premiere of “Down In The Valley,” a “30 for 30” ESPN Film that focuses on the fight to
The Legacy of Arne Duncan, ‘A Hero in the Education Business’ | The Nation
The Legacy of Arne Duncan, ‘A Hero in the Education Business’ | The Nation: The Legacy of Arne Duncan, ‘A Hero in the Education Business’The Secretary of Education will step down at the end of the year, after proving himself a champion for the corporate reform movement.To understand the legacy of outgoing education secretary Arne Duncan, look to the Crescent City. Hurricane Katrina, Duncan said on
Another state redefines ‘proficiency’ on Common Core tests, inflating performance - The Washington Post
Another state redefines ‘proficiency’ on Common Core tests, inflating performance - The Washington Post: Another state redefines ‘proficiency’ on Common Core tests, inflating performanceArkansas has become the second state to redefine what it means to be proficient on new Common Core tests, inflating the performance of its students.Like Ohio before it, Arkansas has decided that students are profic
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Letter to Ken Gotsch, CFO
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Letter to Ken Gotsch, CFO: Letter to Ken Gotsch, CFODear Ken,I am working with the parent leaders from various schools over the staffing cuts announced last week.  I know you have given of your time to several parents in order to explain the situation.  But it continues to be murky and honestly, this is not good.  Parents are losing faith in what they hear from sen
Suggestions for @politico on education reporting #commoncore | @ THE CHALKFACE
Suggestions for @politico on education reporting #commoncore | @ THE CHALKFACE: Suggestions for @politico on education reporting #commoncoreTalk to teachers. For this piece on the common core, I don’t think you did. A principal, sure.Speaking of which, here’s an interesting tidbit from one of the principals:Jayne Ellspermann, the principal at West Port High School in Ocala, Fla., said teachers in
CURMUDGUCATION: On Childlike Faith in Tests
CURMUDGUCATION: On Childlike Faith in Tests: On Childlike Faith in TestsSome blog post titles just demand your attention. Yesterday, my attention was grabbed by this one: "Tests are inhuman-- and that is what so good about them." Yes, there's an 's missing from that title, but there's a lot more than that missing from the post itself.The writer is arguing for the value of the impartial,
Philadelphia: Ideologues Press On to Expand Charters Despite Deepening PA Budget Crisis | janresseger
Philadelphia: Ideologues Press On to Expand Charters Despite Deepening PA Budget Crisis | janresseger: Philadelphia: Ideologues Press On to Expand Charters Despite Deepening PA Budget CrisisThe state of Pennsylvania is now more than 100 days beyond its June 30 budget deadline.  Last week the Republican dominated Pennsylvania House of Representatives rejected tax increases proposed by the state’s n
Giving hope to the hungry - Lily's Blackboard #FightStudentHunger
Giving hope to the hungry - Lily's Blackboard: Giving hope to the hungryDuring Pope Francis’ recent trip to the United States, there was seemingly non-stop coverage of the official meetings, parades, and speeches. For me, however, the visits that stood out were the visits with those who perhaps suffer most in society—the homeless and hungry.Pope Francis’ willingness to meet with people who are mar
School-funding initiative backers keep outraising opponents - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS
School-funding initiative backers keep outraising opponents - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS: School-funding initiative backers keep outraising opponentsBy JEFF AMYAssociated PressJACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The most expensive ballot initiative campaign in Mississippi history got much costlier in September, as supporters of the Initiative 42 education funding measure continued outraising opponents.However,
Informative writing from Peter Greene, but we have, have, have to… | @ THE CHALKFACE
Informative writing from Peter Greene, but we have, have, have to… | @ THE CHALKFACE: Informative writing from Peter Greene, but we have, have, have to…We have to come up with solutions. Something.Greene’s post ends thusly:I’m a high school English teacher. I’m not wise enough to know the solution for an educational social justice solution in this country, and I’m not powerful enough to gather tog
Denver district focuses on quality as schools resegregated - The Denver Post
Denver district focuses on quality as schools resegregated - The Denver Post: Denver district focuses on quality as schools resegregatedTwo decades after force busing ended in DPS, district still struggles with integrationTwenty years after a judge let Denver Public Schools end forced busing, Denver schools are again segregated and efforts to encourage natural integration have not generated many r
The Student Success Act: Passed in House of Representatives | VAMboozled!
The Student Success Act: Passed in House of Representatives | VAMboozled!: The Student Success Act: Passed in House of RepresentativesAs many of you may know, there is broad, bipartisan agreement that No Child Left Behind (NCLB) needs to be overhauled, if not entirely replaced. For those of you who have not yet heard, though, The Student Success Act (H.R. 5) is to help do this, by reducing “the fe
How Common Core quietly won the war - POLITICO
How Common Core quietly won the war - POLITICO: How Common Core quietly won the warThe standards that naysayers love to call “Obamacore” has become the reality on the ground for roughly 40 million students.Note to 2016 GOP contenders: The Common Core has won the war.Republican presidential candidates are still bashing the divisive K-12 standards. Donald Trump recently called the Common Core a “com
Charter School Battle Heats Up - WSJ
Charter School Battle Heats Up - WSJ: Charter School Battle Heats UpAs these privately run, publicly funded schools expand, traditional ones are feeling threatenedBOSTON— Natasha Brown spent five years trying to get her 14-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son into one of this state’s 80 charter schools. After entering at least 25 lotteries, she secured slots for them this fall.Those tough odds ha
TN bill would ban teaching 'religious doctrine' until high school
TN bill would ban teaching 'religious doctrine' until high school: TN bill would ban teaching 'religious doctrine' until high schoolNo Tennessee public school course could include anything deemed "religious doctrine" unless the course is taught in 10th, 11th or 12th grade if a newly proposed bill becomes law.The bill from Rep. Sheila Butt, R-Columbia, comes on the heels of complaints fro
Mayor's office withholds records on school contract scandal - Chicago Tribune
Mayor's office withholds records on school contract scandal - Chicago Tribune: Mayor's office withholds records on school contract scandalyor Rahm Emanuel's office was more involved in a $20.5 million school contract with a now-indicted consultant than previously disclosed, public records indicate, but his administration has refused to release hundreds of emails that could provide a deeper underst
Put Public Education Out Of Its Misery Already
Put Public Education Out Of Its Misery Already: Put Public Education Out Of Its Misery AlreadyWouldn’t it be great if we could implement some grand scheme to ensure that all children, regardless of where they live, regardless of who their parents are, get a good education?Those who oppose Common Core, or Race to the Top, or No Child Left Behind are often nevertheless convinced that government shou
Teachers unions hope Hillary Clinton will undo Arne Duncan’s work - Vox
Teachers unions hope Hillary Clinton will undo Arne Duncan’s work - Vox: Teachers unions hope Hillary Clinton will undo Arne Duncan’s workEducation Secretary Arne Duncan pushed states into adopting Common Core standards, oversaw a massive expansion of charter schools, and urged states to tie teacher pay to performance. The next presidential administration — Republican or Democrat — could roll back
What the increasingly oppressive climate in many schools is doing to kids - The Washington Post
What the increasingly oppressive climate in many schools is doing to kids - The Washington Post: What the increasingly oppressive climate in many schools is doing to kidsLeslie Gaar is a former teacher who currently works in public schools training and coaching teachers. She is also  the mother of three and a blogger whose work has been featured on Scary Mommy, TODAY Parents, and Mamalode. She blo
Parents Struggle With The Ways Gentrification Changes A Bilingual Schools | ThinkProgress
Parents Struggle With The Ways Gentrification Changes A Bilingual Schools | ThinkProgress: Parents Struggle With The Ways Gentrification Changes A Bilingual SchoolsOn an unusually cold October day, children were exercising on the gleaming floor of Powell Blingual Elementary in Washington DC’s Petworth neighborhood. It was an overcast, rainy day but the school’s picture windows allowed the natural
Leadership Issues Could Cloud Federal K-12 Picture - Education Week
Leadership Issues Could Cloud Federal K-12 Picture - Education Week: Leadership Issues Could Cloud Federal K-12 PictureCongress and the Obama Administration Confront a Lengthy To-Do List on EducationBy Alyson KleinThe one-two punch of turnover in the top leadership of Congress and the U.S. Department of Education complicates the prospects for completing unfinished business on the federal K-12 poli
Charter advocates release poll that shows support for L.A. expansion - LA Times
Charter advocates release poll that shows support for L.A. expansion - LA Times: Charter advocates release poll that shows support for L.A. expansionThe public relations battle over a $490-million privately funded proposal to expand charter schools in Los Angeles is officially in full swing.California’s charter schools association and the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation on Monday will release the
Some Key Education Programs Alive in NCLB Rewrite, But Dead in the Budget - Politics K-12 - Education Week
Some Key Education Programs Alive in NCLB Rewrite, But Dead in the Budget - Politics K-12 - Education Week: Some Key Education Programs Alive in NCLB Rewrite, But Dead in the BudgetIf you care about K-12 education, there are two things you're probably watching in Congress this fall: the federal budget process and the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.But, when it comes
Clive McFarlane: There's more to education reform than charter schools - telegramcom
Clive McFarlane: There's more to education reform than charter schools - News - telegram.com - Worcester, MA: There's more to education reform than charter schoolsGov. Charlie Baker’s bill to add up to 12 charter schools annually outside the existing cap on such schools shouldn’t surprise anyone.Ask conservatives to speak on public education and 95 percent of the time two words are all they will n
Hold charter schools accountable
Hold charter schools accountable: Hold charter schools accountableThe 40 percent failure rate for charter schools in Indianapolis is very disconcerting. The local NAACP would prefer that there be a moratorium on any expansion of charter schools until more effective results are demonstrated, without the disastrous effects of multiple school closings. This proposal was presented by the NAACP to the
The Common Core wins the war - POLITICO
The Common Core wins the war - POLITICO: The Common Core wins the warA MESSAGE FOR 2016 GOP CONTENDERS: The Common Core has won the war, POLITICO’s Kimberly Hefling reports. As Education Secretary Arne Duncan prepares to step down, the standards that naysayers love to call “Obamacore” have become the reality on the ground for roughly 40 million students — or about four out of every five public sch

YESTERDAY

With A Brooklyn Accent: My Eight Years of Education Activism
With A Brooklyn Accent: My Eight Years of Education Activism: My Eight Years of Education ActivismI am not, by training, an historian of education, or a teacher educator. My degree is in American History, and most of my research has been on African American history, labor history and the history of popular culture. I only began writing about education issues when the community history projects I w
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Parents Rising - Dear Directors
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Parents Rising - Dear Directors: Parents Rising - Dear DirectorsDear Directors,I write to you with both a heavy and joyful heart.  Heavy because there is so much frustration and sadness in our district this early in the school year.  Not because of the teachers strike but because of the staff cuts at a large number of schools.  I am joyful because enough parents ar
Where Have All The Teachers of Color Gone? (With Answers) | The Jose Vilson
Where Have All The Teachers of Color Gone? (With Answers) | The Jose Vilson: Where Have All The Teachers of Color Gone? (With Answers)You should know that, at last week’s panel for the conference I attended, I went to a panel entitled “Where Have All The Teachers of Color Gone?” and never got our main question answered. Instead of coming for the moderator for not “doing the education,” I’ll ask yo
BATs TIME TO SUPPORT HEALTHY WORKPLACE LEGISLATION- TAKE ACTION! - Badass Teachers Association
Badass Teachers Association: BATs TIME TO SUPPORT HEALTHY WORKPLACE LEGISLATION- TAKE ACTION! BATS!!! WE NEED YOUR HELP! THIS PAST SUMMER BATS TESTIFIED TO THE MASSACHUSETTS LABOR COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF HEALTHY WORK PLACE LEGISLATION!!! OUR EMAILS WORKED THIS IS GOING TO THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 14th!!!!!! PLEASE CUT AND PASTE THE EMAIL ADDRESSES ALONG WITH THE LETTER BELOW and HIT
New times demand new ways to support students and schools | EdSource
New times demand new ways to support students and schools | EdSource: New times demand new ways to support students and schoolsCalifornia’s education system is transforming in positive ways. Replacing the high school exit exam with more modern and meaningful measures is a critical part of that work.Governor Jerry Brown recently signed Senate Bill 172 into law, eliminating the California High Schoo
Will the Obama administration now focus on desegregating schools? - The Washington Post
Will the Obama administration now focus on desegregating schools? - The Washington Post: Will the Obama administration now focus on desegregating schools?When Arne Duncan steps down as education secretary in December and John King takes over, nothing much is expected to change in the world of federal education policy.Except for maybe one thing.King will perhaps take steps to focus the department’s
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 10/11/15
CORPORATE ED REFORMThe next education secretary: Polarizing, powered by personal story - The Washington PostThe next education secretary: Polarizing, powered by personal story - The Washington Post: The next education secretary: Polarizing, powered by personal storyThe nation’s next education secretary is a man driven by what might have been had he not found refuge in public schools.John B. King J