Latest News and Comment from Education

Friday, March 4, 2016

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 3/4/16



CORPORATE ED REFORM





Judge: Plaintiffs may still access complete California student database, but with tightened security | 89.3 KPCC
Judge: Plaintiffs may still access complete California student database, but with tightened security | 89.3 KPCC: Judge: Plaintiffs may still access complete California student database, but with tightened securityA massive database that includes sensitive information on every student who attended California public schools since 2008 will no longer be handed over in its entirety to a small team of
CURMUDGUCATION: Britain Is Also Hemorrhaging Teachers
CURMUDGUCATION: Britain Is Also Hemorrhaging Teachers: Britain Is Also Hemorrhaging TeachersHemorrhaging TeacherJust in case you thought only the US had decided to gut teaching as a profession, thereby driving people out of it, here's Nick Morrison in Forbes pointing out that the UK has some issues as well.In fact, the article hinges on one striking factoid--According to the Department for Educati
Incredulous: Watching CT Department of Education officials lecture school administrators on how to mislead parents - Wait What?
Incredulous: Watching CT Department of Education officials lecture school administrators on how to mislead parents - Wait What?: Incredulous: Watching CT Department of Education officials lecture school administrators on how to mislead parents Just when I thought I had truly seen everything when it comes to the arrogance, elitism, audacity and contemptuousness of those associated with the corporat
U.S. Dept of Ed Names Committee Members to Draft Proposed Regulations for Every Student Succeeds Act | U.S. Department of Education
U.S. Department of Education Names Committee Members to Draft Proposed Regulations for Every Student Succeeds Act | U.S. Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Names Committee Members to Draft Proposed Regulations for Every Student Succeeds Act The U.S. Department of Education today named committee members who will draft proposed regulations in two areas of Title I, Part A of the Ev
ESSA says tests can’t collect personal beliefs. – Missouri Education Watchdog
ESSA says tests can’t collect personal beliefs. – Missouri Education Watchdog: ESSA says tests can’t collect personal beliefs.The law of the land, Every Student Succeeds Act, ESSA, got something right: we shouldn’t be collecting information about how students feel, their personal beliefs, their attitudes.From ESSA, page 24-25:(B) REQUIREMENTS.—The assessments under subparagraph (A) shall— (iii) be
Student Privacy Protections in Morgan Hill Case - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education)
Student Privacy Protections in Morgan Hill Case - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education):Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Applauds Federal Court Order Strengthening Student Privacy Protections in Morgan Hill Case SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today applauded a federal court order strengthening protections for student data in the case of Morgan Hill Concerned Parents Asso
Oakland District at Heart of Drive to Privatize Urban Schools - The New York Times
Oakland District at Heart of Drive to Transform Urban Schools - The New York Times:Oakland District at Heart of Drive to Transform Urban Schools OAKLAND, Calif. — The 70 teachers who showed up to a school board meeting here recently in matching green and black T-shirts paraded in a circle, chanting, “Charter schools are not public schools!” and accusing the superintendent of doing the bidding of “
La. House Ed Chair Nancy Landry Wants to Pay Teachers Less | deutsch29
La. House Ed Chair Nancy Landry Wants to Pay Teachers Less | deutsch29: La. House Ed Chair Nancy Landry Wants to Pay Teachers Less Rep. Nancy Landry (R-Lafayette) is the 2016 chair of Louisiana’s House Education Committee.In 2012, Landry was responsible for the motion to require teachers who attended House education hearings to first tell what kind of leave they had taken from their classrooms in
Civil rights groups asks feds to keep an eye on states as new education law moves forward | | Dallas Morning News
Civil rights groups asks feds to keep an eye on states as new education law moves forward | | Dallas Morning News: Civil rights groups asks feds to keep an eye on states as new education law moves forwardPresident Barack Obama at the December signing of the Every Student Succeeds Act, the new federal education law. (AP) The country’s most vulnerable children need assurances that their interests ar
Garn Press Chapters: The Educator and the Oligarch by Anthony Cody - Garn Press
Garn Press Chapters: The Educator and the Oligarch by Anthony Cody - Garn Press: Garn Press Chapters: The Educator and the Oligarch by Anthony Cody Garn Press Chapters: A new series from Garn Press. Featured in this post, Chapter 20 of The Educator and the Oligarch, which is available in paperback on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and as an ebook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, andiBooks.It t
If the PA Legislature Won’t Pass a Budget, Schools Shouldn’t Give High Stakes Tests | gadflyonthewallblog
If the PA Legislature Won’t Pass a Budget, Schools Shouldn’t Give High Stakes Tests | gadflyonthewallblog: If the PA Legislature Won’t Pass a Budget, Schools Shouldn’t Give High Stakes Tests No one gives a high stakes test because he or she thinks it helps kids learn.Public schools give tests because they are threatened by the state: give this test or we’ll withhold your funding.In Pennsylvania, t
“Resistance against corporate education reform”: Noam Chomsky, scholars warn Senate not to approve John King as secretary - Salon.com
“Resistance against corporate education reform”: Noam Chomsky, scholars warn Senate not to approve John King as secretary - Salon.com: “Resistance against corporate education reform”: Noam Chomsky, scholars warn Senate not to approve John King as secretaryLeading teachers and public education activists warn Obama's choice for education secretary would be a disasterNoam Chomsky, John B. King Jr. (C
Will the US Department of Education take your school’s Title 1 funds if you opt your student out of the SBAC? Short answer, no. | Seattle Education
Will the US Department of Education take your school’s Title 1 funds if you opt your student out of the SBAC? Short answer, no. | Seattle Education: Will the US Department of Education take your school’s Title 1 funds if you opt your student out of the SBAC? Short answer, no. There is no federal or state law that requires financial penalties to schools’ Title I funds if parents refuse to allow the
What is Florida’s education chief talking about? - The Washington Post
What is Florida’s education chief talking about? - The Washington Post: What is Florida’s education chief talking about? Pam Stewart, the education commissioner of Florida, said something recently that struck a bad note with a number of people in the state about what are known as “opt outs,” students who refuse to take state-mandated standardized tests used for “accountability” purposes.With the 2
Candidates: How Will You Fight for the Children? - LA Progressive
Candidates: How Will You Fight for the Children? - LA Progressive: Candidates: How Will You Fight for the Children?We are America’s public school teachers. We are the parents of America. As American citizens we have the fundamental civil right to a strong, free, and appropriate public education system. Yet public schools, public school children,  and public school teachers are under attack by spec
Public schools’ new public enemy: Inside a Netflix billionaire’s charter crusade - Salon.com
Public schools’ new public enemy: Inside a Netflix billionaire’s charter crusade - Salon.com: Public schools’ new public enemy: Inside a Netflix billionaire’s charter crusadeMogul Reed Hastings is ponying up $100 million in the hopes of ultimately replacing teachers with computers This article originally appeared on AlterNet.When pondering the best way to transform and improve America’s K-12 publi
Donald Trump is wrong about Common Core — but he’s not the only candidate who is - The Washington Post
Donald Trump is wrong about Common Core — but he’s not the only candidate who is - The Washington Post:Donald Trump is wrong about Common Core — but he’s not the only candidate who isFrom left, Republican presidential candidates Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and John Kasich during a presidential primary debate at Fox Theatre on March 3 in Detroit. (Paul Sancya/AP) Donald Trump is wrong about
What John Kasich got wrong about Detroit’s troubled schools in last night’s debate - The Washington Post
What John Kasich got wrong about Detroit’s troubled schools in last night’s debate - The Washington Post:What John Kasich got wrong about Detroit’s troubled schools in last night’s debate Thursday night’s Republican presidential debate in Detroit did not only feature vulgar conversation about genitalia. It also featured the first really substantive question about K-12 education in the 11 GOP debat
STOP Malloy/Wyman from punishing students, parents, teachers and taxpayers on testing opt out! - Wait What?
STOP Malloy/Wyman from punishing students, parents, teachers and taxpayers on testing opt out! - Wait What?: STOP Malloy/Wyman from punishing students, parents, teachers and taxpayers on testing opt out!A bill that would – at least partially – prohibit the Malloy administration from punishing students, parents, teachers and taxpayers when parents utilize their unalienable right to opt their childr
Inglewood schools lagging under state takeover, auditor says | 89.3 KPCC
Inglewood schools lagging under state takeover, auditor says | 89.3 KPCC:Inglewood schools lagging under state takeover, auditor saysThe Inglewood Unified School District's finances and operations have not significantly improved under the administration of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, officials with the California State Auditor's office told residents at a public hearing Thursda
Exposing the Effects of Child Poverty Hidden in Plain Sight | janresseger
Exposing the Effects of Child Poverty Hidden in Plain Sight | janresseger: Exposing the Effects of Child Poverty Hidden in Plain Sight While there is widespread agreement that family poverty is highly correlated with low achievement at school, it is a difficult issue to discuss because people immediately become defensive.  “Don’t tell me poor kids can’t learn,” people say.  Many children living in
School and Classroom Cultures: Easy To Describe but Tough To Create and Sustain | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
School and Classroom Cultures: Easy To Describe but Tough To Create and Sustain | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: School and Classroom Cultures: Easy To Describe but Tough To Create and SustainProbably the most important—and the most difficult—job of an instructional leader is to change the prevailing culture of a school. The school’s culture dictates, in no uncertain terms, ‘
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Now It Gets Real for Charter Law in Washington State
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Now It Gets Real for Charter Law in Washington State: Now It Gets Real for Charter Law in Washington State Update: What's the torque that the Republicans are going to use to try to do this?The levy cliff that districts face.So let's threaten to throw 1M+ traditional school students over a levy cliff to save 1,000 former charter students.I urge you to write your leg
Calling all students! Paul Robeson’s birthday party celebration performances and art requested | Seattle Education
Calling all students! Paul Robeson’s birthday party celebration performances and art requested | Seattle Education: Calling all students! Paul Robeson’s birthday party celebration performances and art requested A celebration of Paul Robeson’s April 9, 1898 birthdayApril 9, 2016. 1:00 PM to 5:00 PMSouthside Commons in Columbia City3518 S Edmonds St., SeattleA Seattle teacher who is committed to his
VAMs: A Global Perspective by Tore Sørensen | VAMboozled!
VAMs: A Global Perspective by Tore Sørensen | VAMboozled!: VAMs: A Global Perspective by Tore SørensenTore Bernt Sørensen is a PhD student currently studying at the University of Bristol in England, he is an emerging global educational policy scholar, and he is a future colleague whom I am to meet this summer during an internationally-situated talk on VAMs. Just last week he released a paper publi
Detroit Public Schools will be completely broke by April. Here's how things got to this point. - Vox
Detroit Public Schools will be completely broke by April. Here's how things got to this point. - Vox:Detroit Public Schools will be completely broke by April. Here's how things got to this point. One of Michigan's most controversial public figures had his last day as emergency manager of Detroit Public Schools this week. To replace him is another state-appointed manager: Judge Steven Rhodes, the m
More Money Really Does Make Schools Better - Bloomberg View
More Money Really Does Make Schools Better - Bloomberg View:More Money Really Does Make Schools Better It has become an article of faith among education reformers that throwing more money at public education doesn’t improve student performance. But a steady drumbeat of careful research studies is calling this into question. What if more money really does work?The case against spending more on scho
Elizabeth Warren: This report’s ‘a stunning indictment’ of the Department of Education - MarketWatch
Elizabeth Warren: This report’s ‘a stunning indictment’ of the Department of Education - MarketWatch:Elizabeth Warren: This report’s ‘a stunning indictment’ of the Department of EducationThe senator and other Dems slam feds’ oversight of student loan companies Active duty military members missed out on a key student loan benefit and the government failed to ensure they received it, say Massachuset
Dear Republican Candidates: Children Are Listening
Dear Republican Candidates: Children Are Listening: Dear Republican Candidates: Children Are Listening I've been thinking a lot lately about the dinners of my childhood.My family was one of those nutty units that used to eat dinner together every night. The six of us crowded around that dark glass round circle and sat on the white-cushioned, dark Lucite chairs that perfectly matched both the table
GOP Debate: Candidates Talk Detroit Public Schools, Common Core - Politics K-12 - Education Week
GOP Debate: Candidates Talk Detroit Public Schools, Common Core - Politics K-12 - Education Week: GOP Debate: Candidates Talk Detroit Public Schools, Common Core If you've been holding your breath for seven months waiting for an education question in a GOP debate, you can let it out. Ohio Gov. John Kasich was asked in Thursday's debate whether the federal government should bail out Detroit's nearl
Ann Arbor teachers' union ends boycott of EMU student teachers | MLive.com
Ann Arbor teachers' union ends boycott of EMU student teachers | MLive.com: Ann Arbor teachers' union ends boycott of EMU student teachers Eastern Michigan University students will once again be able to teach in all Ann Arbor Public School classrooms this fall.The Ann Arbor Education Association (AAEA), a teachers' union representing employees of the Ann Arbor Public Schools, had been boycotting s
Teach Resilience, Don't Test It - NYTimes.com
Teach Resilience, Don't Test It - NYTimes.com: Teach Resilience, Don’t Test It Diane Ravitch, a historian of education, is the author, most recently, of "Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America’s Public Schools."UPDATED MARCH 4, 2016, 9:39 AMAmerican education has a history of falling for silly fads. The latest is the idea that “grit” can be taugh

YESTERDAY

Marc Tucker and Common Core Fuel Injection | deutsch29
Marc Tucker and Common Core Fuel Injection | deutsch29: Marc Tucker and Common Core Fuel Injection On March 03, 2016, president of the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE), Marc Tucker, published an EdWeek opinion piece entitled, “Why the Common Core Will Be Declared a Failure.” (Based on the link, Tucker’s original title was, “Why the Common Core Will Be Declared a Failure and Why
Teachers union: Furlough days 'all but assures' strike April 1 | Chicago Sun-Times
Teachers union: Furlough days 'all but assures' strike April 1 | Chicago Sun-Times: Teachers union: Furlough days ‘all but assures’ strike April 1Chicago Teachers Union protest over the use of TIF funds for development instead of using the money for schools last month. File Photo. Brian Jackson/ for the Sun-TimesChicago Public Schools abruptly announced Thursday that all of its employees, includin
District settles lawsuit, agrees to share parcel tax with charters | EdSource
District settles lawsuit, agrees to share parcel tax with charters | EdSource: District settles lawsuit, agrees to share parcel tax with charters The West Contra Costa Unified School District has agreed to share parcel tax revenue with charter schools located in the district under the terms of a lawsuit settlement announced Thursday.The California Charter Schools Association, which brought the law
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 3/3/16
CORPORATE ED REFORMSchools find campaign talk conflicts with no-bullies message :: WRAL.comSchools find campaign talk conflicts with no-bullies message :: WRAL.com:Schools find campaign talk conflicts with no-bullies messageBUFFALO, NEW YORK — Ryan Lysek rose to become vice president of his fifth-grade class at Lorraine Academy in Buffalo, New York, after the sitting vice president was ousted for