Latest News and Comment from Education

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 2/25/16



CORPORATE ED REFORM





In 'Vergara' arguments, unions say courts should stay away from teacher tenure debate | 89.3 KPCC
In 'Vergara' arguments, unions say courts should stay away from teacher tenure debate | 89.3 KPCC: In 'Vergara' arguments, unions say courts should stay away from teacher tenure debateBrandon DeBose, who was a K-12 student when he joined the Vergara v. California case as a plaintiff, speaks during a press conference after oral arguments in the case at the California Court of Appeals. KYLE STOKES/K
Appellate judges intensely question lawyers in Vergara case | EdSource
Appellate judges intensely question lawyers in Vergara case | EdSource: Appellate judges intensely question lawyers in Vergara case In a closely watched case affecting public schools and students throughout California, a state appeals court on Thursday heard vociferous arguments over whether employment laws protect incompetent teachers and disproportionately hurt low-income and minority children.T
Current Expense of Education - Current Expense of Education & Per-pupil Spending (CA Dept of Education)
Current Expense of Education - Current Expense of Education & Per-pupil Spending (CA Dept of Education): Current Expense of EducationCalculation of current expense (cost) of education per average daily attendance (ADA) pursuant to Education Code section 41372.Outlined below are the components of the Current Expense of Education per average daily attendance (ADA) calculation. Form number refere
Vergara lawsuit, challenging teacher job protections, goes to appeals court - LA Times
Vergara lawsuit, challenging teacher job protections, goes to appeals court - LA Times: Judges weigh arguments over teacher vs. student rights in landmark tenure lawsuitMost of the nine student plaintiffs in Vergara vs. California walk away from the 2nd District California Court of Appeal in Los Angeles after the first morning of oral arguments. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)  overflow crowd at
As Malloy claims ELA Performance Task not useful his lies and deception about the Common Core SBAC test catch up to him - Wait What?
As Malloy claims ELA Performance Task not useful his lies and deception about the Common Core SBAC test catch up to him - Wait What?:As Malloy claims ELA Performance Task not useful his lies and deception about the Common Core SBAC test catch up to himEarlier today, Governor Dannel Malloy held a media event at a Cromwell Connecticut elementary school to announce his new step to “REDUCE STATE TESTI
CURMUDGUCATION: CAP: Muddled Teacher Eval Thoughts
CURMUDGUCATION: CAP: Muddled Teacher Eval Thoughts:CAP: Muddled Teacher Eval Thoughts The Center for American Progress wants to get its two cents in on the Vergara appeal, and their thoughts are... confused. Catherine Brown is CAP's vp of Education Policy after previously serving as vice president of policy at Teach for America, policy adviser to senator and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton 
Walker’s Wisconsin: Poverty across Wisconsin reaches highest level in 30 years
Walker’s Wisconsin: Poverty across Wisconsin reaches highest level in 30 years | Educate All Students: Larry Miller's Blog: Walker’s Wisconsin: Poverty across Wisconsin reaches highest level in 30 years Poverty in Wisconsin hit its highest level in 30 years during the five-year period ending in 2014, even as the nation’s economy was recovering from the Great Recession, according to a trend analysi
Trailer for KILLING ED. — THe FABULOUs FULCRUm
Trailer for KILLING ED. — THe FABULOUs FULCRUm: Trailer for KILLING ED. FEBRUARY 24, 2016Today America gets its first lesson in the Gülen charter schools scandal with the first trailer, website, and theatrical NYC premiere announced for KILLING ED—a new documentary film from Visual Truth Projects and award-winning director Mark S. Hall that uncovers a shocking fact: that over 150 publicly funded,
California Summer Sunshine Award Recipients - Summer Meal Programs (CA Dept of Education)
California Summer Sunshine Award Recipients - Summer Meal Programs (CA Dept of Education): California Summer Sunshine Award RecipientsAn annual listing of the California Summer Sunshine Award winnersCongratulations California Annual Summer Sunshine Award Recipients!In 2015 the USDA awarded six California-based organizations the Western Region Summer Sunshine Award for efforts to end hunger and imp
Boston #ReclaimOurSchools Walk-in | Schott Foundation for Public Education
Boston #ReclaimOurSchools Walk-in | Schott Foundation for Public Education: Boston #ReclaimOurSchools Walk-in On February 17th, Boston parents, teachers, and students participated in nationwide walk-ins to #ReclaimOurSchools. Organized by the Alliance to Reclaim our Schools, these walk-ins were a show of community support for public schools and a demand for fully funded, high-quality, and equitabl
What Defines a Public School? - Bridging Differences - Education Week
What Defines a Public School? - Bridging Differences - Education Week: What Defines a Public School? Deborah Meier continues her conversation with Harry Boyte. To read their full exchange, please visit here.Dear Harry and friends,I can't locate your Tuesday letter! So for a moment let me revert to an earlier issue: What does it mean to be a "public" school?Since most authority for school
John King Confirmation Quandary | deutsch29
John King Confirmation Quandary | deutsch29: John King Confirmation QuandaryJohn KingOn February 11, 2016, President Obama announced his intention to formally nominate acting US secretary of education, John King, for the official position of US secretary of education. In October 2015, when Obama announced that King would replace Arne Duncan, Obama indicated that he would not formally nominate King
All Hail King?: We Act Radio @EdTownHall – Cloaking Inequity
All Hail King?: We Act Radio @EdTownHall – Cloaking Inequity: All Hail King?: We Act Radio @EdTownHall Today on the B.U.S. Thursday program LIVE on We Act Radio Education Town Hall we discussed the bare inequality facing US children, NPE’s recent national report card which is sparking national discussion and John King’s Secretary of Education confirmation hearing.B= Badass TeachersU= United Opt Ou
Malloy’s Strategy on Common Core SBAC Test - Look busy and make sh*t up - Wait What?
Malloy’s Strategy on Common Core SBAC Test - Look busy and make sh*t up - Wait What?:Malloy’s Strategy on Common Core SBAC Test – Look busy and make sh*t upGovernor Dannel Malloy’s press office just issued a “major announcement” concerning the Governor’s position on the unfair, inappropriate and discriminatory Common Core Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) test.No, Malloy and his admini
Another Common Core disaster: Corporate-education reformer John King is exactly the wrong man to be secretary of education - Salon.com
Another Common Core disaster: Corporate-education reformer John King is exactly the wrong man to be secretary of education - Salon.com: Another Common Core disaster: Corporate-education reformer John King is exactly the wrong man to be secretary of educationJohn King's policies hurt schools, students and communities. Why is Obama letting him run education policy?On Thursday, the U.S. Senate Commit
No More Kings Reject John King's Nomination for US Sec. of Education
No More Kings Reject John King's Nomination for US Sec. of EducationBig Education Ape: BATS ARE ASKING EVERYONE TO STOP THE CONFIRMATION OF JOHN KING: Badass Teachers Association http://bit.ly/1POb10NBig Education Ape: U.S. Senate set to confirm John King as Ed Secretary-Feb 25-Say NO – Missouri Education Watchdog http://bit.ly/217aLmfBig Education Ape: Reject John King as Secretary of Education –
What are these Michigan legislators thinking? - The Washington Post
What are these Michigan legislators thinking? - The Washington Post: What are these Michigan legislators thinking? The biggest news in Michigan in recent months has been the severe crisis over the lead-contaminated water in Flint that has poisoned residents, but the Detroit public school district has generated some of its own.Detroit teachers have been staging a series of sickouts to call attentio
CURMUDGUCATION: Vergara II: Here We Go Again
CURMUDGUCATION: Vergara II: Here We Go Again: Vergara II: Here We Go AgainToday, while Acting Pretend Secretary of Education John King is being interviewed in DC for the job he already has, across the country lawyers will be teeing up in an LA appeals court over the attemptto roll back one of the most bogus court decisions in education.Hard to believe that Vergara vs. California is a few years old
Look! Something Shiny! New Improved! Test | Live Long and Prosper
Look! Something Shiny! | Live Long and Prosper: Look! Something Shiny!Look, it’s a shiny New Improved! Test guaranteed to distract you from the dirty, faded, ISTEP+ test that cost the state billion$ and never really worked.The ISTEP+ is gone (or at least, it will be…soon…um, maybe), and the supermajority in the state legislature, composed almost exclusively of non-educators, will choose which stan
National “Broader, BOLDER Approach to Education” Campaign Re-Launches This Week | janresseger
National “Broader, BOLDER Approach to Education” Campaign Re-Launches This Week | janresseger: National “Broader, BOLDER Approach to Education” Campaign Re-Launches This WeekOn Tuesday afternoon, a group of educators and key policy experts gathered in Washington, D.C. to re-launch a campaign for holistic education and social policy reform to surround America’s poorest children and their families w
Washington’s Charter School Battle—Let’s Set the Record Straight | Seattle Education
Washington’s Charter School Battle—Let’s Set the Record Straight | Seattle Education: Washington’s Charter School Battle—Let’s Set the Record StraightOriginally posted in The Progressive.Washington’s Charter School Fight—Let’s Set the Record Straight Washington State has been ground zero in the fight over charter schools this past year, and misinformation abounds.Over the last several years Bill G
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Charters and McCleary: A Round-Up
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Charters and McCleary: A Round-Up: Charters and McCleary: A Round-Up From Cascadia Weekly:YOU HAD ONE JOB: With fewer than 20 days left in their short legislative session, a nearly paralyzed state House and Senate in Olympia passed watered-down education funding plans on razor-thin margins divided along extremely partisan lines hours before a cutoff deadline that w
Changes coming to LCAP, pressure for more continues :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet
Changes coming to LCAP, pressure for more continues :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: Changes coming to LCAP, pressure for more continues(Calif.) Based on public feedback – and increasing legislative pressure – the Brown administration says it will take action to simplify and make clearer the disclosure mechanism designed to reveal how school
Senators want to know more about how districts spend funding | EdSource
Senators want to know more about how districts spend funding | EdSource: Senators want to know more about how districts spend fundingState Sen. Richard Pan questions State Board members Michael Kirst and Sue Burr.State senators pressed members of the State Board of Education on Wednesday to tell them whether dollars spent for schools under a new system of local control are being spent effectively.
Education Research Report: Center for American Progress Report Makes Feeble Effort to Claim Success for Standards-Based Reform
Education Research Report: Center for American Progress Report Makes Feeble Effort to Claim Success for Standards-Based Reform:Center for American Progress Report Makes Feeble Effort to Claim Success for Standards-Based Reform A recent report from the Center for American Progress (CAP) examines the standards-based policies that have dominated the national landscape over the last few decades. The r
THE BIG SELLOUT: The extra state aid is going to charters, NOT public school children. |
THE BIG SELLOUT: The extra state aid is going to charters, NOT public school children. |:THE BIG SELLOUT: The extra state aid is going to charters, NOT public school children.Newark’s state-appointed schools chief Christopher Cerf has spent a lot of time lately praising the Christie Administration for increasing Newark’s state aid–“The first time in years we haven’t had flat funding,” he told the
21 new charter proposals to CPS doesn’t sound like there’s a cap to me. | Fred Klonsky
21 new charter proposals to CPS doesn’t sound like there’s a cap to me. | Fred Klonsky: 21 new charter proposals to CPS doesn’t sound like there’s a cap to me. Graphic: CatalystThe contract offer from CPS to the Chicago Teachers Union included a cap on charter schools.One of the reasons I heard for rejecting the offer by the CTU’s Big Bargaining Committee was that the offer to cap charters was an
Using Teacher Shortage Talk to Justify Online Instruction
Using Teacher Shortage Talk to Justify Online Instruction: Using Teacher Shortage Talk to Justify Online InstructionA few weeks ago Nick Morrison wrote an article for Forbes titled “Sleepwalking Our Way into the Teacher-Less Classroom.” He insists that technology, specifically the takeover by online instruction in schools, is not the real danger facing education.Instead, he claims it is a teacher
Student can’t attend school because he’s African-American | FOX2now.com
Student can’t attend school because he’s African-American | FOX2now.com: Student can’t attend school because he’s African-AmericanST. LOUIS (KTVI) - A St. Louis mother is in shock after learning her son’s skin color will keep him from attending the school of his choice.  Edmund Lee is an African-American 3rd grader at Gateway Science Academy, a charter school in south St. Louis.  His family is mov
Mother of Girl Berated in Video Assails Success Academy’s Response - The New York Times
Mother of Girl Berated in Video Assails Success Academy’s Response - The New York Times: Mother of Girl Berated in Video Assails Success Academy’s ResponseNadya Miranda, 23, is the mother of a student whose treatment by an angry teacher at Success Academy in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, was surreptitiously videotaped. Ms. Miranda has withdrawn her daughter from the school. Credit Kirsten Luce for The Ne
Senate Hearing Today to Nominate John King as Secretary of Education. Another Bipartisan Disaster or A Blessing in Disguise? – Missouri Education Watchdog
Senate Hearing Today to Nominate John King as Secretary of Education. Another Bipartisan Disaster or A Blessing in Disguise? – Missouri Education Watchdog: Senate Hearing Today to Nominate John King as Secretary of Education. Another Bipartisan Disaster or A Blessing in Disguise? (The hearing will be held at 2 PM EST and you can watch it live here:  http://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/nomination-o
With A Brooklyn Accent: The Obama Administration- and the Democratic Party's- War On Teachers:
With A Brooklyn Accent: The Obama Administration- and the Democratic Party's- War On Teachers::The Obama Administration- and the Democratic Party's- War On Teachers:One of the most disturbing legacies of the Obama Administration's 7 years in office, which it shows every sign of continuing through its nomination of John King to be Secretary of Education, has been its war on the nation's public scho
How easy should it be for schools to get rid of bad teachers? A landmark case may decide for California - LA Times
How easy should it be for schools to get rid of bad teachers? A landmark case may decide for California - LA Times: How easy should it be for schools to get rid of bad teachers? A landmark case may decide for California e sides squaring off in a Los Angeles appeals courtroom on Thursday in the landmark case of Vergara vs. California agree on this: Teachers are key to whether students founder or th
Phony School Reform Wilts, A New Education Story Takes Root | The Progressive
Phony School Reform Wilts, A New Education Story Takes Root | The Progressive: Phony School Reform Wilts, A New Education Story Takes RootFor years, our public schools have been burdened by a “reform” narrative that education is “failing,” and that only a regime of standardized testing and charter schools will make administrators and teachers more “accountable.” Politicians and pundits across the
Souza brings back revised parental rights bill, gets it through Senate Education | The Spokesman-Review
Souza brings back revised parental rights bill, gets it through Senate Education | The Spokesman-Review: Souza brings back revised parental rights bill, gets it through Senate Education Idaho Sen. Mary Souza has brought back her “parental rights” bill, with one change: An added paragraph defining “reasonable accommodation.” The bill still permits parents to withdraw their child from any program or
A South Dakota Bill Shows How K-12 Schools Are Becoming a Hotbed for Debates Over Transgender Students - The Atlantic
A South Dakota Bill Shows How K-12 Schools Are Becoming a Hotbed for Debates Over Transgender Students - The Atlantic: The Power Struggle Over Transgender StudentsWho should have the ultimate say over school policies pertaining to trans youth?Last year, states across the country considered 17 bills that would’ve regulated transgender people’s use of sex-segregated spaces such as bathrooms. None of
New Texas education boss Morath offers intriguing option for standardized testing | | Dallas Morning News
New Texas education boss Morath offers intriguing option for standardized testing | | Dallas Morning News: New Texas education boss Morath offers intriguing option for standardized testingMike Morath has been the Texas education commissioner only since Jan. 4 and already he’s bringing some common sense to STAAR-replacement ideas. (NYT Photo) Former Dallas ISD trustee Mike Morath has spoken publicl
The Times They are a-Changin', Broader Bolder Approach
The Times They are a-Changin': The Times They are a-Changin' June 2008 isn't really all that long ago. But in the education policy world, it feels almost like a different era altogether.That month saw the launch of the Broader, Bolder Approach to Education, a national campaign with the mission of calling attention to the many impediments posed by poverty to student's achievement and school success
Hundreds converge on city school board meeting to fight for higher teacher salaries - Sacramento News & Review -
Sacramento News & Review - Hundreds converge on city school board meeting to fight for higher teacher salaries - News - Local Stories - February 25, 2016: Hundreds converge on city school board meeting to fight for higher teacher salariesBoard President Christina PritchettIn what was not a typical school board meeting, hundreds of teachers, parents and students marched into the Sacramento City

YESTERDAY

Jeb Bush’s Presidential Failure | deutsch29
Jeb Bush’s Presidential Failure | deutsch29: Jeb Bush’s Presidential FailureOn June 15, 2015, former Florida governor Jeb Bush formally announced his intention to run for president.Eight months and $130 million later, he dropped out.  Jeb BushWhat is intriguing about Bush’s failure in vying for the Republican presidential bid is that for years, it was assumed that Bush would run for president and
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 2/24/16
CORPORATE ED REFORMCURMUDGUCATION: MD: Asking the Wrong Questions about TestingCURMUDGUCATION: MD: Asking the Wrong Questions about Testing: MD: Asking the Wrong Questions about Testing The Maryland state school board has noticed what many other folks have noticed as well-- if you make the PARCC test your state graduation requirement, a huge number of young'uns in your state are not going to gradu