Monday, February 29, 2016

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 2/29/16



CORPORATE ED REFORM




Dr. Jill Stein is the Best 2016 Presidential Candidate, But Can She Win? | gadflyonthewallblog
Dr. Jill Stein is the Best 2016 Presidential Candidate, But Can She Win? | gadflyonthewallblog: Dr. Jill Stein is the Best 2016 Presidential Candidate, But Can She Win?In 2008, I shook Barack Obama’s hand.Yesterday Dr. Jill Stein gave me a hug.Eight years ago, I was so inspired by Obama’s campaign speech in my hometown of Pittsburgh that I rushed forward along with the crowd to grab his hand. It w
Parents do What Teachers Can't: Opt Out of Standardized Test
Parents do What Teachers Can't: Opt Out of Standardized Test Message From An Anonymous Teacher in New York Stateby Mark NaisonFrom Anonymous Teacher"Last week I made the decision to become a Teacher of Conscience and refuse to administer the state tests to my elementary students. Not knowing exactly all the proper steps to go through, I reached out to some of the folks at NYSAPE and one teach
‘Work Hard, Be Hard’ and ‘Work Hard, Be Nice,’ dueling takes on KIPP - The Washington Post
‘Work Hard, Be Hard’ and ‘Work Hard, Be Nice,’ dueling takes on KIPP - The Washington Post:‘Work Hard, Be Hard’ and ‘Work Hard, Be Nice,’ dueling takes on KIPPCambridge College education professor Jim Horn presents his new book, “Work Hard, Be Hard: Journeys Through ‘No Excuses’ Teaching,” as a necessary antidote to my 2009 book, “Work Hard. Be Nice: How Two Inspired Teachers Created the Most Prom
Rhodes faces skepticism, defiance as he takes DPS the state’s largest school district
Rhodes faces skepticism, defiance as he takes DPS reins: Rhodes faces skepticism, defiance as he takes DPS reinsteven Rhodes, the retired United States Bankruptcy Judge who presided over the City of Detroit's historic bankruptcy case. Photos taken on Friday, October 23, 2015. (John T. Greilick, The Detroit News)(Photo: John T. Greilick / Detroit News) Retired bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes’ appoin
The Obama Administration - and the Democratic Party's - War On Teachers - BK Nation
The Obama Administration - and the Democratic Party's - War On Teachers - BK Nation: The Obama Administration — and the Democratic Party’s — War On TeachersPresident Barack Obama shakes hands with Education Arne Duncan in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, where the president announced that Duncan will be stepping down in December after 7 years in the Oba
Phony School Reform Wilts, A New Education Story Takes Root | PopularResistance.Org
Phony School Reform Wilts, A New Education Story Takes Root | PopularResistance.Org: 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 acros
Children are more than test scores: It’s time to RISE UP and TURN UP CT BATs and SOSers for Black, Brown and poor children
Children are more than test scores: It’s time to RISE UP and TURN UP CT BATs and SOSers for Black, Brown and poor children: It’s time to RISE UP and TURN UP CT BATs and SOSers for Black, Brown and poor childrenReaders, Dr. Fran Huckabee an Associate Professor from Texas Christian University was a panelist on media messaging at the United Opt Out Conference this past weekend. She spoke about danger
Los Angeles area teachers stage “sickouts” over pay - World Socialist Web Site
Los Angeles area teachers stage “sickouts” over pay - World Socialist Web Site: Los Angeles area teachers stage “sickouts” over payTeachers in the Compton Unified School District (CUSD), south of Los Angeles, stayed out of their classrooms twice last week as part of organized “sickouts” designed to protest low wages and bad working conditions.On Monday, more than 200 CUSD teachers called out sick,
U.S. legislators give Obama’s education pick an astounding pass - The Washington Post
U.S. legislators give Obama’s education pick an astounding pass - The Washington Post: U.S. legislators give Obama’s education pick an astounding passNews emanating from the U.S. Senate these days centers on Republican determination not to give even a passing glance to any nomination that President Obama sends to fill the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court created by the recent death of Associate J
Schools Matter: Jay Mathews and KIPP Journalism
Schools Matter: Jay Mathews and KIPP Journalism: Jay Mathews and KIPP Journalism by Jim HornBefore my book on teaching in KIPP Model schools went on sale yesterday, Jay Mathews and the “No Excuses” charter empire were already at work.  In fact, Jay had already delivered to hisWashington Post editors a two-part response/review to my book.  Part 1 appeared yesterday.Jay’s dubious assessment of Work
Vergara v. California Appeal Underway: The Case that Will Yield No Winners | VAMboozled!
Vergara v. California Appeal Underway: The Case that Will Yield No Winners | VAMboozled!: Vergara v. California Appeal Underway: The Case that Will Yield No WinnersIn June of 2014, defendants in “Vergara v. California” in Los Angeles, California lost the case. Plaintiffs included nine public school students (backed by some serious corporate reformer funds as per Students Matter) who challenged fiv
As protests rise over high-stakes tests, more students likely to opt out
As protests rise over high-stakes tests, more students likely to opt out: As protests rise over high-stakes tests, more students likely to opt outMICHAEL BRYANT / STAFFYard signs in Lower Merion urge parents to forgo student testing.Last year, a small, angry band of parents and teachers in the Lower Merion School District took on a big challenge: convincing their neighbors that the intensifying em
CURMUDGUCATION: MA: Charters Hate Compromise
CURMUDGUCATION: MA: Charters Hate Compromise: MA: Charters Hate CompromiseThis morning's Boston Post reports that a "Bitter Fight Brewing over Mass. Charter School Expansion" (though it could also have been "Mass Charter Expansion"). And while the battle has not been "brewing" so much as "going on for a while now," the article centers on one question-- can t
Moskowitz offers rare apology in private memo to staff | POLITICO
Moskowitz offers rare apology in private memo to staff | POLITICO: Moskowitz offers rare apology in private memo to staffSuccess Academy CEO Eva Moskowitz offered a rare, albeit brief, apology on behalf of her charter school network in a private memo to staff on Thursday night, a contrast to her publicly defiant stance in the wake of a recent spate of negative media coverage."No matter how yo
Fear of Deportation Is Driving Migrant Kids to Stay Home from School | VICE | United States
Fear of Deportation Is Driving Migrant Kids to Stay Home from School | VICE | United States: Fear of Deportation Is Driving Migrant Kids to Stay Home from SchoolIt was 6:30 AM when Wildin David Guillen-Acosta stepped outside his house in Durham, North Carolina, headed to school. The 19-year-old had just begun his second semester of senior year at Riverside High School, where teachers considered hi
Letter Grades, Assigned by States to School Districts, Tell Us Little about Real Opportunity | janresseger
Letter Grades, Assigned by States to School Districts, Tell Us Little about Real Opportunity | janresseger: Letter Grades, Assigned by States to School Districts, Tell Us Little about Real OpportunityOhio’s release last Friday of school district report cards that rate schools and school districts and assign letter grades for a range of calculations that remain incomprehensible to the general publi
Analytics.usa.gov: Now with Agency-Specific Dashboards| The US government's web traffic.
analytics.usa.gov | The US government's web traffic.: Analytics.usa.gov: Now with Agency-Specific DashboardsBY TIM LOWDEN, GRAY BROOKS, GABRIEL RAMIREZ, ERIC MILL, JULIA WINN AND COLIN CRAIG FEBRUARY 18, 2016 DATA, OUR WORK ADD REPLYWe’ve added agency-specific dashboards to analytics.usa.gov!Starting today, you’ll see a dropdown from the main analytics.usa.gov page that allows you to view the same
When Integrating A School, Does It Matter If You Use Class Instead Of Race? : NPR Ed : NPR
When Integrating A School, Does It Matter If You Use Class Instead Of Race? : NPR Ed : NPR: When Integrating A School, Does It Matter If You Use Class Instead Of Race?LA Johnson/NPR"Stronger Together" is not the name of the latest social-media fitness app. It's a grant proposed in President Obama's new budget, reviving an idea that hasn't gotten much policy attention in decades: diversit
Something Doesn’t Add Up With National PTA’s Intimidation Letter To Delaware PTA… – Exceptional Delaware
Something Doesn’t Add Up With National PTA’s Intimidation Letter To Delaware PTA… – Exceptional Delaware: Something Doesn’t Add Up With National PTA’s Intimidation Letter To Delaware PTA…I was thinking about this a lot the past two days.  Since I posted theNational PTA “Comply Or We Will Make You” letter to the Delaware PTA, something didn’t feel quite right.  Was it the absolute absurdity and gal
Navigating the legal threats posed by LCAPs :: SI&A Cabinet Report
Navigating the legal threats posed by LCAPs :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: Navigating the legal threats posed by LCAPs(Calif.) Two prominent attorneys who tend to face-off from opposite sides of most public school issues have found common ground on one thing – that districts face significant legal threat over the development and execution
Will Democrats Malloy, Wyman and the CT Dem Party disavow Ed Marcus’ disgusting attack on Sanders and all Democrats? - Wait What?
Will Democrats Malloy, Wyman and the CT Dem Party disavow Ed Marcus’ disgusting attack on Sanders and all Democrats? - Wait What?: Will Democrats Malloy, Wyman and the CT Dem Party disavow Ed Marcus’ disgusting attack on Sanders and all Democrats?Former Connecticut Democratic State Chairman Ed Marcus is, among other things, a thug.After serving for ten years in the Connecticut General Assembly, si
More Bad Journalism about Bad Edu-Books (and Why the New Media Can Rock) – the becoming radical
More Bad Journalism about Bad Edu-Books (and Why the New Media Can Rock) – the becoming radical:More Bad Journalism about Bad Edu-Books (and Why the New Media Can Rock) So Ed Boland wrote a really bad edu-book that all the mainstream media adores because, well, you know, nobody gives a crap what a teacher thinks, but let ANYbody dip a toe in education who isn’t an educator and then everyone is all
Students of Color Are Much More Likely to Attend High-Poverty Schools - The Atlantic
Students of Color Are Much More Likely to Attend High-Poverty Schools - The Atlantic: The Concentration of Poverty in American SchoolsAn exclusive Next America analysis uncovers that students of color in the largest 100 cities in the United States are much more likely to attend schools where most of their peers are poor or low-income.In almost all major American cities, most African American and H
With Fewer Members, a Diminished Political Role for Wisconsin Unions - The New York Times
With Fewer Members, a Diminished Political Role for Wisconsin Unions - The New York Times: With Fewer Members, a Diminished Political Role for Wisconsin UnionsMILWAUKEE — Gov. Scott Walker’s foray into the Republican presidential field ended months ago, but he may yet have sway over the outcome.Mr. Walker led a push five years ago to cut collective bargaining rights for most public sector workers,
Idaho: Boise Superintendent Stands Up to the Privatizing Albertson Foundation | Diane Ravitch's blog
Idaho: Boise Superintendent Stands Up to the Privatizing Albertson Foundation | Diane Ravitch's blog: Idaho: Boise Superintendent Stands Up to the Privatizing Albertson FoundationDr. Don Coberly, the superintendent of the Boise, Idaho, school district,wrote a blunt letter to the district’s staff telling them not to believe the smears disseminated by the rich and powerful Albertson Foundation. This
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES: WEEKEND QUOTABLES“I’m not a superpredator!” Ashley Williams, a young Black Lives Matter protester, tells Hillary."Oink oink" "And this is who your going after? This is where we start the battle? You fucking idiots!" That's consummate liberal racist Bill Maher going after young, black activist, Ashley Williams after she protested
Every Student Succeeds Act Helps Put Equity Front and Center, Say Experts - NEA Today
Every Student Succeeds Act Helps Put Equity Front and Center, Say Experts - NEA Today: Every Student Succeeds Act Helps Put Equity Front and Center, Say ExpertsWhile the U.S. child poverty rate is higher today than ever before, its impact is compounded by education policies that fail to address poverty-related impediments to teaching and learning. At a recent panel discussion held at the U.S. Capi
Inquiry: District sought to keep immigrants out of schools - Yahoo News
Inquiry: District sought to keep immigrants out of schools - Yahoo News:Inquiry: District sought to keep immigrants out of schoolsFILE - In this Feb. 11, 2016 file photo, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman speaks during a news confer WESTBURY, N.Y. (AP) — A suburban New York school district is changing its policies following complaints that it denied or delayed access to immigrant stud
Special Report: Plugged-in groups snag $40M in no-bid Boston schools contracts | Boston Herald
Special Report: Plugged-in groups snag $40M in no-bid Boston schools contracts | Boston Herald: Special Report: Plugged-in groups snag $40M in no-bid Boston schools contractsWorried experts, parents see a ‘privatization’ trend Cash-strapped Boston schools have inked $40 million worth of no-bid contracts with plugged-in “strategic partners” in recent years, raising concerns that a lack of oversight
Gov. Andrew Cuomo Faces Criticism for Reversals - WSJ
Gov. Andrew Cuomo Faces Criticism for Reversals - WSJ:Gov. Andrew Cuomo Faces Criticism for ReversalsMajor policy changes unsettle state capital; governor calls criticism ‘nasty and derogatory’ALBANY—More than five years into New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s tenure, some legislators, lobbyists and political players said his tendency to change positions has left them unsure where he stands on issues an
How will the new education secretary shape the law replacing No Child Left Behind? | News OK
How will the new education secretary shape the law replacing No Child Left Behind? | News OK: How will the new education secretary shape the law replacing No Child Left Behind?Six months after Arne Duncan announced he was retiring as education secretary, President Obama formally nominated acting Secretary John King this week for a short tenure of great significance.Less than a year in office, most
Federal government has a continued role in implementing ESSA | TheHill
Federal government has a continued role in implementing ESSA | TheHill:Federal government has a continued role in implementing ESSA In December, I was honored to be at the White House when President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) – the reauthorization of our nation’s education law that was passed with bi-partisan support in Congress and broad support from across the country. At
Guilty plea good reason to reform charter school process | SanDiegoUnionTribune.com
Guilty plea good reason to reform charter school process | SanDiegoUnionTribune.com: A union for charter school teachers?There’s a whole lot of shaking going on as the long-simmering tension between school districts over charter schools seems to be coming to a boil.The guilty plea this past week by charter school broker Steve Van Zant to a conflict-of-interest charge is a symptom of broader issues
Are Publicly Funded Charter Schools Accountable to Parents and Taxpayers? Apparently Not.
Are Publicly Funded Charter Schools Accountable to Parents and Taxpayers? Apparently Not.: Are Publicly Funded Charter Schools Accountable to Parents and Taxpayers? Apparently Not. Several weeks ago, the New York Times published a surreptitiously recorded videoof a charter school teacher berating a first grade student and ripping up her work in front of the class for being unable to explain how sh

YESTERDAY

Groups want early ed block grant pulled from this year’s state budget | EdSource
Groups want early ed block grant pulled from this year’s state budget | EdSource: Groups want early ed block grant pulled from this year's state budgetStephanie Baltazar, left, and Yaretzi Orozco enjoy a book at a Kidango preschool in San Jose.As the deadline for the May Revision of the state budget approaches, a group of education organizations is asking Gov. Jerry Brown to remove his proposed ea
Which Delaware Charter School Is Under Investigation By The State Now? How About ALL Of Them!!!!
Which Delaware Charter School Is Under Investigation By The State Auditor Now? How About ALL Of Them!!!! – Exceptional Delaware:Which Delaware Charter School Is Under Investigation By The State Auditor Now? How About ALL Of Them!!!!It turns out the Delaware State Auditor’s office is investigating the September 30th Enrollment Counts at certain charter schools in Delaware.  Which ones?  How about A
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 2/28/16
CORPORATE ED REFORMSeattle Schools Community Forum: Opting Out Heats UpSeattle Schools Community Forum: Opting Out Heats Up:Opting Out Heats UpIt's getting to be testing time and BOY, are there a slew of states and groups and people worried that the opt-out movement will continue to grow.First, for great information on opting out, United Opt Out is a national group.There are two interesting develo