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Friday, February 5, 2016

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 2/5/16



CORPORATE ED REFORM



Pearson to Host Orwellian Conference NEXT WEEK! – Save Maine Schools
Pearson to Host Orwellian Conference NEXT WEEK! – Save Maine Schools:Pearson to Host Orwellian Conference NEXT WEEK!Hurry! Next week, Pearson is hosting its annual online learning conference, and there’s still time to register.If you can get yourself to Amelia Island by Tuesday, you can consider yourself among “the nation’s top educators, administrators, and corporate leaders.” Become a corporate
He’s the stinkweed at the Teach for America garden party - The Washington Post
He’s the stinkweed at the Teach for America garden party - The Washington Post: He’s the stinkweed at the Teach for America garden partyTeach for America, the program that places newly minted college graduates in some of the nation’s most difficult classrooms for two-year teaching stints, is holding a summit this weekend in Washington to mark its 25th anniversary.The list of speakers reads like a
Whose Opportunity? Profiting Off of School Takeovers & Turnaround in Atlanta - Rise Up
Whose Opportunity? Profiting Off of School Takeovers & Turnaround in Atlanta - Rise Up: Whose Opportunity? Profiting Off School Turnaround & Takeover in AtlantaThis November, Georgia voters will decide whether to approve or reject Governor Nathan Deal's proposed “Opportunity School District” (OSD). Modeled on similar initiatives in Louisiana and Tennessee, where state takeover districts tu
What’s on your mind? Let us know! - Lily's Blackboard
What’s on your mind? Let us know! - Lily's Blackboard:What’s on your mind? Let us know!NEA members, your voices matter. And we want to hear them.Through the Ask an Educator 2016 National Listening Tour, NEA is capturing the perspectives and experiences of members in schools and communities across the nation. We are engaging educators across the country on a range of issues, using the feedback to e
A Call to Action: You Control Accountability! - Badass Teachers Association
Badass Teachers Association: A Call to Action:  You Control Accountability!By:  Artie Leichner I have been given the opportunity to write a piece to address this very significant organization. My name is Artie Leichner. I am a retired teacher, former union leader and a current candidate for the Florida House of Representatives.I want to talk to all of you about accountability. It used to be such a
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) was Eliminated by ESSA (CA Dept of Education)
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) (CA Dept of Education): Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)A statewide accountability system mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 which requires each state to ensure that all schools and districts make Adequate Yearly Progress.Reports and Data FilesAYP ReportsAYP Data FilesProgram Improvement ReportsProgram Improvement Data Files2015 AYP InformationFAQs for 20
How to Cheat without Breaking the Law | The Merrow Report
How to Cheat without Breaking the Law | The Merrow Report: How to Cheat without Breaking the LawGather round, children. Grandpa Johnny wants to show you how to cheat and lie without doing anything illegal.  This will come in handy, especially if you want to run charter schools in New York when you grow up.The story I am going to tell you, kids, involves something grownups call ‘Attrition,’ which m
Local control, charter schools focus of testimony over $715M Detroit schools reform package | MLive.com
Local control, charter schools focus of testimony over $715M Detroit schools reform package | MLive.com:Local control, charter schools focus of testimony over $715M Detroit schools reform packageTestifying Thursday before a state senate committee, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan pushed lawmakers – considering a $715 million proposal to reform the debt-plagued Detroit Public Schools – to restore local co
Barbara Madeloni - Dissent among teachers union over charter fight - The Boston Globe
Dissent among teachers union over charter fight - The Boston Globe: Dissent among teachers union over charter fightThe Massachusetts Teachers Association has positioned itself as perhaps the most aggressive foe of a charter school expansion in the state.Barbara Madeloni, the fiery president of the union, has pledged an all-out fight. “We’re going to put everything we’ve got into it,” she said last
Confronting “Bad Journalism” in an Era of “Bad Teachers” – the becoming radical
Confronting “Bad Journalism” in an Era of “Bad Teachers” – the becoming radical: Confronting “Bad Journalism” in an Era of “Bad Teachers” A couple of weeks ago, I posted Addressing Teacher Quality Post-NCLB in order to examine the impact of ESSA on the growing “bad teachers” narrative found in political and media commentary on the state of education in the U.S.My speculations have now been given c
What Gives Campbell Brown Standing to Spin the News about Public Education? | janresseger
What Gives Campbell Brown Standing to Spin the News about Public Education? | janresseger: What Gives Campbell Brown Standing to Spin the News about Public Education?Campbell Brown is a former news anchor from CNN who has launched her own attack on teachers’ unions and established a web-based news service to report on public education.Last July, Campbell Brown launched her education news site.  Sh
Louisiana Educator: Where is the accountability for Pearson and John White?
Louisiana Educator: Where is the accountability for Pearson and John White?: Where is the accountability for Pearson and John White?Pearson, the same multi-national company that profits by millions based on the incessant testing of our students, has basically destroyed the futures of thousands of adult education students byrevamping their GED test to make it just as tricky and difficult as the PAR
CURMUDGUCATION: USED: King's Big Fail
CURMUDGUCATION: USED: King's Big Fail:USED: King's Big Fail It took Danny Harris's collapse to draw many people's attention. We should have been paying attention sooner.Harris is the Chief Information Officer for the Department of Education. Prior to taking on that job in 2008, he was with the department's CFO office. He is a government lifer. And he was in front of the House Committee on Oversigh
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Parent and community support builds as teachers hit the streets
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Parent and community support builds as teachers hit the streets: Parent and community support builds as teachers hit the streetsLeft Coast -- I'm excited to see this, even from 1,800 miles away.The best news is that the embattled CTU is gaining mass support from parents and community members as another teachers strike seems more likely. According to the latest Tribun
U.S. Department of Ed video, CIO investigation – Missouri Education Watchdog
U.S. Department of Ed video, CIO investigation – Missouri Education Watchdog: U.S. Department of Ed video, CIO investigationThis is one of those times you must set down the coffee cup, stop doing what you are doing and WATCH THIS SHORT VIDEO CLIP.  You simply must.Thanks go to Diane Ravitch for reporting on this Congressional investigation of Danny Harris, Chief Information Officer for the U.S. De
We Must Rethink Online Learning | The Walton Family Foundation
We Must Rethink Online Learning | The Walton Family Foundation:We Must Rethink Online LearningCREDO study finds most online charters have a negative impact on students' academic achievement By its very definition, innovation will always lead to some failed starts. And when that innovation involves educating children, it's especially important to learn from mistakes and adjust quickly.The Walton Fa
Flint’s Former Manager Resigns as Head of Detroit Schools - The New York Times
Flint’s Former Manager Resigns as Head of Detroit Schools - The New York Times: Flint’s Former Manager Resigns as Head of Detroit Schools CHICAGO — The state-appointed emergency manager of the Detroit Public Schools, who had also managed the city of Flint and oversaw its decision to draw its water from the Flint River, resigned on Tuesday, the day before a congressional committee hearing in Washin
Every school wants ‘good’ teachers — but what does ‘good’ actually mean? - The Washington Post
Every school wants ‘good’ teachers — but what does ‘good’ actually mean? - The Washington Post: Every school wants ‘good’ teachers — but what does ‘good’ actually mean? What is a “good” teacher? A teacher who raises student test scores? Who gets students interested in subjects they thought were boring? Who inspires students to be more thoughtful people? Here is a post on how to be a “good” teacher
Every Student Can’t Succeed | Al Jazeera America
Every Student Can’t Succeed | Al Jazeera America: Every student can’t succeedEducation isn’t scarce, but money isWhen President Barack Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act into law in December, he gushed about Antonio Martin, the eighth-grader who had introduced him. “He’s taking advanced classes to get a head start on high school credits. He plays the violin. He plays sports. He volunteers
K12: This is how Bernie or Hillary wins: The speech that would seal the nomination - Salon.com
This is how Bernie or Hillary wins: The speech that would seal the nomination - Salon.com: This is how Bernie or Hillary wins: The speech that would seal the nominationWe're days from New Hampshire and the battle keeps tightening. Here's how either candidate could gain separationBERTIS DOWNSHillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders (Credit: AP/Reuters/Brian Snyder/Joshua Roberts/AVAVA via Shutterstock/Photo
Alexander Russo: School Segregation In The North — Then & Now | The Grade | The Washington Monthly
WNYC: School Segregation In The North — Then & Now | The Grade | The Washington Monthly: WNYC: School Segregation In The North — Then & Now Kudos to education reporter Yasmeen Khan and the education team at WNYC (NYC public radio) for Demand for School Integration Leads to Massive 1964 Boycott — In New York City, which finds a refreshing new way to tell a very old but very important story
Thousands rally downtown for Chicago Teachers Union - Chicago Tribune
Thousands rally downtown for Chicago Teachers Union - Chicago Tribune: Thousands rally downtown for Chicago Teachers UnionChicago Teachers Union members and supporters marched Feb. 4, 2016, in the Loop to show opposition to the district's decision to slash school budgets and stop paying the bulk of teachers' pension contributions.rongs of protesters organized by the Chicago Teachers Union clogged
Detroit Teachers Union Says Threats Of Arrest Made Should Independent Inspectors Be Let In « CBS Detroit
Detroit Teachers Union Says Threats Of Arrest Made Should Independent Inspectors Be Let In « CBS Detroit:Detroit Teachers Union Says Threats Of Arrest Made Should Independent Inspectors Be Let InDETROIT (WWJ) – The Detroit teachers’ union says the district is threatening to have its members arrested if they allow independent inspectors in school buildings.DFT Interim President Ivy Bailey says afte
State revises number of magic charter schools to get federal grant money | The Columbus Dispatch
State revises number of failing charter schools to get federal grant money | The Columbus Dispatch:State revises number of failing charter schools to get federal grant money As state education officials seek the release of a $71 million federal charter school grant, they now say Ohio has nearly 10 times as many failing charter schools as previously claimed. The Department of Education says there a
Louisiana school vouchers cripple academic achievement, national report says | The New Orleans Advocate — New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana school vouchers cripple academic achievement, national report says | The New Orleans Advocate — New Orleans, Louisiana: Louisiana school vouchers cripple academic achievement, national report saysAdvocate staff file photo by BRYAN TUCK -- School buses parked outside a school in Lafayette. One of former Gov. Bobby Jindal’s signature education laws is actually hurting student achievement,
Fighting “corporate control of education”: A millennial education wonk goes to war against neoliberal reform - Salon.com
Fighting “corporate control of education”: A millennial education wonk goes to war against neoliberal reform - Salon.com: Fighting “corporate control of education”: A millennial education wonk goes to war against neoliberal reformRefuting reformers is not enough. The left must also offer an alternative, activist/author Nikhil Goya tells SalonWhen it comes to the world of elite education reform — t

YESTERDAY

The Beautiful Teacher Struggle | The Jose Vilson
The Beautiful Teacher Struggle | The Jose Vilson: The Beautiful Teacher StruggleMy feet on the ground actions are simple-not-easy. For the last three weeks sans EduCon weekend, I spent every “free” period plus lunch, after-school, and my birthday weekend grading papers. It’s the type of paper streak that makes non-teachers go from “Your job is so easy, plus you have summers and religious holidays
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 2/4/16
CORPORATE ED REFORMCURMUDGUCATION: Breaking Down the Walls for CBECURMUDGUCATION: Breaking Down the Walls for CBE:Breaking Down the Walls for CBEIn the discussions of Competency Based Learning (or Outcomes Based Education or Performance Based Stuff), a support that emerges from time to time is that CBE will "break down the walls between curriculum and assessment."On the one hand, I see t