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Monday, November 2, 2015

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 11/2/15



CORPORATE ED REFORM




Yes, this stuff is still happening in U.S. schools — and it’s wrong - The Washington Post
Yes, this stuff is still happening in U.S. schools — and it’s wrong - The Washington Post: Yes, this stuff is still happening in U.S. schools — and it’s wrongA high school in an impoverished community is ordered closed. It is doing an awful job with its students, the school board says, and the dwindling number of kids who attend deserve a better education somewhere else. But that “somewhere else” 
CBE Online is Neither Personalized Nor Higher-Order Thinking!
CBE Online is Neither Personalized Nor Higher-Order Thinking!: CBE Online is Neither Personalized Nor Higher-Order Thinking!Competency-Based Education (CBE) is being promoted as the way to “personalize” education, but it is a cold impersonal method of teaching on the computer. It fails to teach to the whole child and merely provides fragmented drill. It will be coordinated with Common Core, and th
It Was a Bad Week for Education Reform at the End of an Awful Era of Corporate School Reform | John Thompson
It Was a Bad Week for Education Reform at the End of an Awful Era of Corporate School Reform | John Thompson: It Was a Bad Week for Education Reform at the End of an Awful Era of Corporate School ReformThe title of Jeff Bryant's Education Opportunity Network piece says it best: Education Reform's Very Bad, God-Awful Week. Bryant reviews the resignation of Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Presid
A Copernican Revolution Needed for Democratic School Reform | Harry Boyte
A Copernican Revolution Needed for Democratic School Reform | Harry Boyte: A Copernican Revolution Needed for Democratic School ReformIn the last installment of our Education Week blog conversation on democracy and schools, Deborah Meier gave a remarkable account of school change efforts in the last two decades, "Democratic Experiments." She is worth quoting at length:"In the early
If Eva Moskowitz Weren’t Real, Charter School Opponents Would Have Had to Make Her Up
Eva Moskowitz defends Success Academy principal responsible for 'got to go' list.: If Eva Moskowitz Weren’t Real, Charter School Opponents Would Have Had to Make Her UpAt a press conference Friday afternoon, Eva Moskowitz, former New York City Council member and the founder and CEO of Success Academy Charter Schools, announced that she would not fire the principal responsible for the now-notorious
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The Tribune editorial board has found their 'Mussolini'. But IL crisis is a bi-partisan affair.
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The Tribune editorial board has found their 'Mussolini'. But IL crisis is a bi-partisan affair.: The Tribune editorial board has found their 'Mussolini'. But IL crisis is a bi-partisan affair.Rahm and GriffinHILLARY'S IN TOWN TODAY raising lots of campaign dough. I would have attended this morning's brunch at the Gold Coast home of Tanya and Michael Polsky, the CEO o
Walton Foundation’s new education investment strategy: Scary or what? - The Washington Post
Walton Foundation’s new education investment strategy: Scary or what? - The Washington Post: Walton Foundation’s new education investment strategy: Scary or what?The Walton Foundation is one of the biggest players in the education philanthropy world, having poured some $1.3 billion in K-12 education over the last two decades largely to support charter schools and fuel the “school choice” movement.
CURMUDGUCATION: NC: Queen of NCLB Takes Over University
CURMUDGUCATION: NC: Queen of NCLB Takes Over University:NC: Queen of NCLB Takes Over UniversityNorth Carolina's conservative GOP leadership has been working hard to show the nation how aneducation system can be trashed quickly and thoroughly, and while we have focused lots of attention on how they are trying to gut their K-12 system, what dismantling of public education would be complete without g
Most Likely 2 Succeed | EduShyster
Most Likely 2 Succeed | EduShyster: Most Likely 2 SucceedVenture capitalist-turned-documentary-producer Ted Dintersmith is a fierce critic of test and measure, and no excuses charter schools. And he offers a compelling vision of what schools could look like….EduShyster: Your new film, Most Likely to Succeed, makes a convincing case that the obsession with standardized testing is leading us over a
Once again Connecticut elected officials are wrong to mandate the SAT for all 11th graders - Wait What?
Once again Connecticut elected officials are wrong to mandate the SAT for all 11th graders - Wait What?: Once again Connecticut elected officials are wrong to mandate the SAT for all 11th gradersAs the 2015 Session of the Connecticut General Assembly came careening to a close last spring, legislators overwhelmingly approved a bill that replaced the mandate that 11thgraders take the unfair, inappro
Moskowitz and Petrilli Push Education Model Designed to Serve Strivers and Shed the Rest | janresseger
Moskowitz and Petrilli Push Education Model Designed to Serve Strivers and Shed the Rest | janresseger: Moskowitz and Petrilli Push Education Model Designed to Serve Strivers and Shed the RestIt is amazing to watch Eva Moskowitz, New York City’s charter school diva, take on her arch political rival, Mayor Bill de Blasio in a charter school war she wages through histrionics and melodrama.  The two
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES Rauner's a 'sociopath'. Does anyone still doubt it?
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES Rauner's a 'sociopath'. Does anyone still doubt it?: WEEKEND QUOTABLES Rauner's a 'sociopath'. Does anyone still doubt it?"Sociopath" Rauner sends Chicago a dead fish.CTU Pres. Karen Lewis"I do want to say something about that sociopath governor," Lewis said during her talk Friday before launching into a long story about an encou
Hailed as a ‘bold vision,’ an innovative school plan hits roadblocks - The Hechinger Report
Hailed as a ‘bold vision,’ an innovative school plan hits roadblocks - The Hechinger Report: Hailed as a ‘bold vision,’ an innovative school plan hits roadblocksControversy over a California community center that would unite a school district and a city shows how popular ideas can lose favor once they are executedEMERYVILLE, Calif. — The Emeryville Center of Community Life was supposed to be a sli
.@NAACP Now: Will we get more testing status quo from Presidential Candidates? | Cloaking Inequity
.@NAACP Now: Will we get more testing status quo from Presidential Candidates? | Cloaking Inequity: @NAACP Now: Will we get more testing status quo from Presidential Candidates?I recently wrote an article for the NAACP national office about the 2016 presidential race, high-stakes testing, Common Core and civil rights. I wrote the piece for NAACP Now, a forum that includes “voices of members, activ
From 'Book Strap' To 'Burrito': A History Of The School Backpack : NPR Ed : NPR
From 'Book Strap' To 'Burrito': A History Of The School Backpack : NPR Ed : NPR: From 'Book Strap' To 'Burrito': A History Of The School BackpackOur Tools of the Trade series is exploring some of the icons of schools and education.My editor, Steve Drummond, isn't that old of a guy. He's from Michigan — Wayne Memorial High School, class of '79.But when he starts talking about backpacks, he dips int
In Elizabeth, Christie and the NJEA, perfect together | Bob Braun's Ledger
In Elizabeth, Christie and the NJEA, perfect together | Bob Braun's Ledger: In Elizabeth, Christie and the NJEA, perfect togetherChristie and the teachers’ union–happy together in ElizabethThe lawns in my neighborhood are predictably dotted with political signs promoting the two slates for three school board seats. One slate is backed by Elizabeth’s Democratic mayor, Chris Bollwage, and state Sen.
Deterioration of public school arts programs has been particularly jarring in L.A. - LA Times
Deterioration of public school arts programs has been particularly jarring in L.A. - LA Times: Deterioration of public school arts programs has been particularly jarring in L.A.rmandie Avenue Elementary Principal Gustavo Ortiz worries that he can't provide arts classes for most of the 900 students at his South Los Angeles school.Not a single art or music class was offered until this year at Curtis
With A Brooklyn Accent: The Enemies Eva Moskowitz Has Made
With A Brooklyn Accent: The Enemies Eva Moskowitz Has Made: The Enemies Eva Moskowitz Has MadeEva Moskowitz may be popular with Hedge Fund Managers, famous singers some politicians, and to be fair, many parents in her schools, but she is a lot less popular with1. Parents, Teachers and Students in schools who are Co-Loated with Success Academy schools who have been insulted, ostracized deprived of
Gentrification in U.S. cities masks big declines in math.- US News
How Can Cities' NAEP Report Cards Be OK When Students Are Doing Worse? - US News: How Can Cities' NAEP Report Cards Be OK When Students Are Doing Worse?Gentrification in U.S. cities masks big declines in math.Here's a riddle. In New York City, the largest school district in the nation, eighth-grade math scores were virtually unchanged between 2013 and 2015, according to national test results relea
Campus Equity Week - Lily's Blackboard
Campus Equity Week - Lily's Blackboard: Campus Equity WeekIt’s fitting that we celebrate Campus Equity Week during the last full week of October, right before Halloween. While students are out trying to scare each other on this day every year, contingent faculty face scary circumstances that last year-round.This includes carrying overwhelming student debt, no offices on their campuses to meet with
DENVER: Colorado recall targets conservative school board members | Nation | CentreDaily.com
DENVER: Colorado recall targets conservative school board members | Nation | CentreDaily.com: Colorado recall targets conservative school board membersDENVER — Angry parents and educators in a Colorado battleground county are trying to recall three conservative school board members Tuesday, citing several complaints, including a change in how teachers get pay raises and talk of reviewing the histo
Lily Eskelsen García: Test results don't cure inequity: Opposing view
Test results don't cure inequity: Opposing view: Test results don't cure inequity: Opposing viewWe need to understand what really works to close opportunity gapsIf taking a patient’s temperature cured disease, the world would be much healthier.  will tell you that knowing there’s a fever begs the question: Why? A thorough examination follows, ultimately leading to a diagnosis — which in and of its
Let's talk about that market-based school reform, shall we?
Let's talk about that market-based school reform, shall we?: Let's talk about that market-based school reform, shall we?How about every day this month?In the past few weeks I've read over and over about "successful market-based reforms" and school districts "borrowing ideas from the world of business" as if this is some trendy, superexciting new model. As if it is not the shopw
The Costs of English-Only Education: A Growing Movement to Teach ELL Students in Their Native Languages - The Atlantic
The Costs of English-Only Education: A Growing Movement to Teach ELL Students in Their Native Languages - The Atlantic: The Costs of English-Only EducationEfforts to teach ELL students in their native languages are gaining traction—and they’re benefitting native English speakers, too.In 1998, Ron Unz, a Silicon Valley millionaire and former gubernatorial candidate, set out to abolish bilingual edu
How daylight saving time explains standardized test scores - The Washington Post
How daylight saving time explains standardized test scores - The Washington Post: How daylight saving time explains standardized test scores“Cut scores,” according to the Educational Testing Service, are “selected points on the score scale of a test,” points that “are used to determine whether a particular test score is sufficient for some purpose.” In education today, of course, the purpose for w

YESTERDAY

2016 United Opt Out Conference: Transcending Resistance, Igniting Revolution | Seattle Education
2016 United Opt Out Conference: Transcending Resistance, Igniting Revolution | Seattle Education: 2016 United Opt Out Conference: Transcending Resistance, Igniting RevolutionUnited Opt Out National ConferenceFriday, February 26, 2016Sunday, February 28, 2016Philadelphia, PA Transcending Resistance, Igniting RevolutionIt is time for revolution.  It is time for non-negotiable demands.It is time to r
In Denver suburb, a school board race morphs into $1 million ‘proxy war’ - The Washington Post
In Denver suburb, a school board race morphs into $1 million ‘proxy war’ - The Washington Post: In Denver suburb, a school board race morphs into $1 million ‘proxy war’Americans for Prosperity, the national organization founded by the Koch brothersWhen voters cast ballots Tuesday in a school board race in suburban Denver, it will mark the climax of a two-year battle over public education that has
Wendy Lecker: Why use the SAT? - StamfordAdvocate
Wendy Lecker: Why use the SAT? - StamfordAdvocate: Wendy Lecker: Why use the SAT?A new large-scale, longitudinal study should make Connecticut policy makers think twice before continuing with their ill-advised policy imposing the SAT as the new “mastery test” for 11thgraders.Last spring, after opt-outs and outcry from parents and students, Connecticut lawmakers decided to quickly abandon the unval
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 11/1/15
CORPORATE ED REFORM\A Note on Arne Duncan's LegacyA Note on Arne Duncan's Legacy: Like Water Off A Duck’s Back [A Note on Duncan’s Legacy]Six years ago, I remember sitting in an afternoon meeting with my principal and about 25 other administrators and educators, waiting patiently for a central official to come down and give us some awful news of some consequence for us and all of our work. The sch