Federal Voucher Bill Offers Big Returns For Wealthy
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The Educational Choice for Children Act of 2024 is the federal school
voucher program that Betsy DeVos always dreamed of, combining the
privatization of ed...
Whiplash: Worst Teacher Movie Ever
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If you’ve been paying attention to the DOGE Brothers—Elon-n-Vivek—lately,
as they explain their personal theories around the failures of American
parents t...
Brushing Up on Polio.
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When the New York Times article, “Lawyer, Author and TikTok Star Spent 72
Years in an Iron Lung,” was published in March 2024, it did not hold the
same mea...
Christmas Miracles
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“People don’t want children to know what they need to know. They want their
kids to know what they ought to need to know. If you’re a teacher you’re in
a c...
MEMES THAT MADE ME LAUGH TODAY 12-27
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*MEMES THAT MADE ME LAUGH TODAY 12-27*
Big Education Ape: HAIRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAIRY HANUKKAH TOO!
https://bigeducat...
Perhaps this is a meaningless ramble
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but I am choosing to reflect on a number of disparate topics that are
currently on my mind. Perhaps I should start by explaining that I have been
at leas...
"You Climbed Up There!"
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"Teacher Tom, look at me!"
The boy called out from where he stood, clinging to the trunk of one of our
playground cedars. He was standing on a root that...
80 years old today!!
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It’s true: I’m 80 years old today! When I was 24, I thought making it to 30
would be a miracle–it was and it is. Keep rising, keep fighting for a world
at ...
December Parent Engagement Resources
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Parent involvement in schools ⬆️. 87% of K–12 students from
English-speaking families had parents who reported attending a general
school meeting in 2019, ...
The 2024 NPE “Coal in the Stocking” Awards
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At NPE, we know who is naughty and nice when it comes to supporting our
public schools and their students.
The post The 2024 NPE “Coal in the Stocking” A...
Big Lies of Education: Grade Retention
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The Big Lie of grade retention in the US is that it is often hidden within
larger reading legislation and policy, notably since the 2010s: Westall and
Cumm...
Juntos lo haremos
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En el año que viene, tendremos que tomar decisiones difíciles sobre quienes
queremos ser en cada comunidad y como nación. Ha sido un año muy intenso.
Desde...
WTF, Democratic Caucus?
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Why is the failure of this current budget bill being blamed on Republicans
when almost every single Democrat voted against it? If only half of the
Dems had...
San Diego School Board Election Outcomes
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By Thomas Ultican 12/17/2024 Before the recent election, I wrote
recommendations for several school board seats in San Diego County. The San
Diego County R...
SPI Supports SB 48 to Keep ICE Off School Campuses
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State Superintendent Tony Thurmond sponsors Senate Bill 48 to keep
Immigration and Customs Enforcement off of school campuses, protecting
school attendance...
Schrödinger’s Cat
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Schrödinger’s cat is a famous thought experiment in which the renowned
scientist pondered how a cat in a closed box could be thought of as
simultaneously a...
In Memoriam: Nikki Giovanni
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The literary and cultural world has lost an irreplaceable voice with the
passing of Nikki Giovanni. As one of the most celebrated poets and
activists of ou...
Education Has Failed and What Can We Do Next?
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Education has failed to prepare children for the world today. Despite the
increased investment, impactful reforms, hardworking teachers and school
leaders,...
Defining Productivity, Cost, and Efficiency
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Recycled material here… The central problem with US public schools is often
characterized as an efficiency problem. We spend a lot and don’t get much
for i...
Try Substack?
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Seems like the popular new thing. Here’s my first try – it’s about
yesterday’s UFT Retired Teachers Chapter meeting – first ever not run by
Unity. (Spoiler...
Number 18 — A barely-hanging-on Blogoversary
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Blogoversary #18 SEPTEMBER 14, 2006 I started this blog while I was still
teaching, in 2006. I had just begun my 31st year as an educator. Just like
in pre...
Student "Growth" Measures Are STILL Biased
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This caught my attention:
New Jersey school districts may soon be evaluated differently, *with a
greater emphasis on student growth* as compared to stud...
AIN’T IT AWFUL
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As the terrible feelings of dread and angst spread across the world the
great majority of the American people feel powerless before the onslaught
of those ...
The Sky is Falling, or is it?
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Well, this is the first anniversary of the introduction of Generative AI in
the form of ChatGPT to the world of education. Before it was a week old,
over o...
Vote NO on the UFT Contract. Here is Why:
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The best reason to vote no on this contract is this: UFT Unity* lied* to us
in 2018. They misrepresented that contract. It was predicated on deals we
wer...
Metaphors in ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech
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In this article, we will explore the powerful use of metaphors in Martin
Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” ...
Read more
Testimony to the CPS Truancy Task Force
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I prepared testimony for one of two public hearings held by the Chicago
Public Schools Truancy Task Force, a body mandated by state legislation.
The meetin...
There Is A Teacher Shortage.Not.
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THERE IS A TEACHER SHORTAGE. And just to be sure you understand, it’s not
that teachers don’t want to teach. It’s not that there aren’t enough
teachers cer...
Book Banning Turns to Dick and Jane
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Breaking News: Dateline February 4, 2022 - Parents in Dimwitty, Alabama
have asked the Dimwitty Board of Education to ban the children's primer *Fun
with...
Have You Heard Has a New Website
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TweetHave You Heard has a new website. Visit us at
www.haveyouheardpodcast.com to find our latest episodes and our entire
archive. And be sure to check out...
Follow me at Substack
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I've moved. Follow me at Substack
I'm now posting regularly at Substack. You can subscribe for free to my new
Edu/Pol blog at michaelklonsky.substack.com
...
Aspiring Teachers Get New Help Paying For College
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[image: colorful classroom pattern]
*; Credit: shuoshu/Getty Images*
Cory Turner | NPR
New rules kick in today that will help aspiring teachers pay for c...
Tips Akses Situs Judi Qq Tanpa Perlu Takut Nawala
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Kegiatan berjudi slot melalui situs judi qq online, sekarang sudah
dilakukan oleh banyak penjudi Indonesia. Tentu, Kamu yang sedang membaca
artikel ini a...
The Threat of Integration
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I have lived in the same house in the Miracle Mile section of Los Angeles
for over 30 years, where up until now I have had little or no interaction
with th...
We fight for a democracy worthy of us all!
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The nation stands at a crossroads, said NEA President Lily Eskelsen García
in her final keynote address to the 2020 NEA Representative Assembly and
it’s up...
The Passing Of Chaz 1951-2020 Age 69
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I am the son of Chaz and like to inform you that he passed away this
afternoon from the COVID virus. My father passed in peace beside his loved
ones. We ar...
The Fight For Our Children
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*The number of suicides among people ages 10 to 24 nationally increased by
56 percent between 2007 and 2017, according to a new federal report showing
the ...
Read to Self: Just a Kid and a Book.
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Date: Monday, January 5, 2020 Place: My classroom Student: Mrs.Mims, could
we start doing Read to Self again because I got this great book for
Christmas an...
Keeping Progressive Schools Alive
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Dear Friends and Colleagues, Happy New Year and a special thanks to those
who respond to past blogs about choice, et al. I always mean to respond to
each c...
Reminiscences
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I just finished dumping the rest of my lesson plans. I guess I held on to
the calculus ones for so long because I spent so much time working on them
an...
Just Asking for some Teachers I know.
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Recently Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers stated, We must … recognize that
part of supporting our kids in the classroom means supporting the educators
who t...
Cara Menang Bermain Judi Bola Online
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Bermain judi bola online tentu saja memiliki kesenangannya tersendiri baik
itu mendapatkan keuntungan maupun ketika menantikan hasil skor pada sebuah
perta...
A Critique of Standards-Based Grading
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It first happened to me about ten years ago. I was beginning my third year
of teaching in a new school in Washington, DC. Social studies teachers were
si...
My First and Last Visit to Hudson Yards
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Figuring I did not need to invite any more darkness and vulgarity into my
head than that provided on a daily basis from Trump’s White House, and
after read...
The World According to Michelle Rhee
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The men behind the curtain fashioning the brave new world of corporate run
education in America! Michelle Rhee is the founder of StudentsFirst, The
New T...
Whose Opinions Matter in Education World?
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It's hard to identify education heroes and sheroes. And perhaps even harder
to pinpoint just whose work is slanted, paid-for and dishonest.
Blockchain: Life on the Ledger
-
Originally posted on Wrench in the Gears:
I created this video as a follow up to the one I prepared last year on
Social Impact Bonds. It is time to examine...
New Local Businesses in Sacramento
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Starting a new local business in Sacramento is a monumental task, but can
be accomplished with footwork, perseverance and knowledge. One must learn
the loc...
Lesson Plan: Rhyme and Rhythm in Poetry
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I’ve started a recent unit on poetry with my class. I’m not a poet, and I’m
not a poetry fan (I don’t hate it, but I’m a prose gal), so this makes it
harde...
The Apotheosis of Betsy DeVos
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Betsy Devos has drawn few headlines in recent months, and that is a good
thing for the Secretary of Education. Her tenure began with Vice President
Mike P...
Education Is a Civic Question
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In their final post to end Bridging Differences' decade-long run, Deborah
Meier and Harry Boyte urge readers to put the energy, talents, wisdom, and
hard w...
Site News: New Home for Education News & Commentary
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Quick! Get over there! The daily education news roundup and education
commentaries that you're probably looking for are now being published over
at The Gra...
Should We Be Grateful?
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In an odd turn of events, and with little explanation, Michigan Governor
Rick Snyder has decided to return the state’s School Reform Office back to
the Dep...
An Open Letter to NC Lawmakers
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An Open Letter to NC State Lawmakers and NC State Superintendent Mark
Johnson: I am a NC native, voter, and public school teacher. I am
addressing you all ...
The Secret to Fixing Schools (My Next Bestseller)
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The Secret to Fixing Schools (My next bestseller) Prologue I just finished
watching a fascinating documentary on Netflix entitled, “The Secret”. The
film p...
Farewell, Sleep
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Today is the official last day of my spring break. I've done a scientific
survey: My natural bedtime is 2 AM, and my natural wake up time is 9:41
AM. Tom...
REPORT: States With the Best and Worst Schools
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States With the Best (and Worst)Schools
By *Evan Comen, Michael B. Sauter, Samuel Stebbins and Thomas C. Frohlich*
January 20, 2017- http://247wallst.com
...
Test Refusal = People Power
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In recent months, social media has been ablaze with talk of regular folk
taking action to resist the Trump agenda. Protests are a daily occurrence,
and ev...
Random Musings and Observations. . . .
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I’ve been gone a while from the blogging scene. Some of my more regular
readers no doubt noticed but did not hassle me about it. Thank you for
that. Sinc...
AB 934: A LEGISLATIVE FIX FOR VERGARA?
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By Michael Stratford | in the Politco Morning Education Report | via email
05/24/2016 10:00 AM EDT :: Two national education groups are backing a
Califor...
MY NEW BLOG
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My new blog will consist of fictitious headlines, meant to be a blend of
humor and satire. I apologize ahead of time if any other satirical site has
simila...
Thank you
-
Dear Readers,
Thank you for visiting *The Perimeter Primate*. This blog is being retired
for the time being. Although I no longer post here, I do still s...
I am Retiring
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I have some news: I am retiring from the PBS NewsHour and Learning Matters.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other
conte...
New Beginnings: Kickstarter and EdWeek Teacher
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Greetings to InterACT readers one and all! If you’ve been following posts
here recently you might recall that I’m moving my blogging activity to
other loca...
Adelaide L. Sanford Charter School
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*“With Adelaide L. Sanford Charter School closing, Newark families must
move on.”* The Star-Ledger (NJ), 6/25/2013
NEWARK — Bobby and Troy Shanks saw the...
Torlakson Announces CA Teachers of the Year - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education) : State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces California Teachers of the Year SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today selected five outstanding educators as the 2017 California Teachers of the Year. “I am pleased to honor five dedicated and hardworking teachers who use their creativity
Podesta emails show NEA behind the scenes on the Clinton endorsement | Seattle Education : Podesta emails show NEA behind the scenes on the Clinton endorsement Candidate Hillary Clinton and NEA president Lily Eskelsen Garcia There should be concern when union leaders cozy up to established power rather than work in the best interest of their members. I keep my ear to the ground on what teachers a
Do you know five other people in your school? Ask them to do this. - Lily's Blackboard : Do you know five other people in your school? Ask them to do this Anyone who’s worked in a school — from elementary to high school — has seen the same thing. Popular kids sit together at “their table;” sports stars sit together at “their table.” Occasionally, but not nearly enough, we see a student being espe
NYC Public School Parents: Serious privacy concerns with the new Summit/Facebook platform, used in 100 schools across the nation : Serious privacy concerns with the new Summit/Facebook platform, used in 100 schools across the nation Our concerns about the open-ended data sharing of the Summit/Facebook software platform was featured on the front page of today’s Washington Post . This software is i
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Billionaire pipeline investor Hamm is also a big charter school backer : Billionaire pipeline investor Hamm is also a big charter school backer Billionaire Hamm is Trump's main energy advisor. Billionaire Harold Hamm is the founder CEO of energy giant, Continental Resources. Continental is the largest leaseholder in the nation’s premier oil play, the Bakken Pla
State Senator To Propose Rewriting PA Charter School Law To Hold the Industry Accountable | gadflyonthewallblog : State Senator To Propose Rewriting PA Charter School Law To Hold the Industry Accountable Pennsylvania’s charter school law is a national disgrace. It allows charters to defraud the public and provide a substandard education to our children. Charter school managers pay themselves with
Flint resident requests grand jury investigation of Gov. Rick... : Flint resident requests grand jury investigation of Gov. Rick Snyder Lawyer claims Snyder broke law using public money to pay for legal defense DETROIT - An Ingham County judge is being asked to OK a grand jury investigation of Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder over his authorizing public monies to pay for legal fees. The legal maneuver c
The educator exodus - The Echo News : Indiana struggles to keep teachers in-state By Megan Herrema | Echo Taylor’s education students may be surprised to learn that Indiana has one of the lowest teacher retention rates in the nation. Two main issues—working conditions and teacher compensation—resulted in Indiana’s score of only 2.17 out of a total of five possible points, according to a review of
Now, the teachers get to say. | Fred Klonsky : Now, the teachers get to say Teachers at International High School at Prospect Heights in Brooklyn congratulate Chicago teachers on their contract win today. “Your fight is our fight!” Some contract settlements make me scratch my head in negative amazement. Some put a smile on my face. But as a career union teacher who led a local and sat long hours
Schools Matter: Trade you a backpack of badges for a caring teacher & well-resourced school. : Trade you a backpack of badges for a caring teacher & well-resourced school. This is the third in a series intended to describe the process by which education reformers are transitioning us from neighborhood schools to learning eco-systems. For additional background you can read “ From Neighborhood Scho
Prop. 55: Initiative to extend income tax increases to benefit schools | EdSource : Prop. 55: Initiative to extend income tax increases to benefit schools With Gov. Jerry Brown vowing to cut $6 billion in funding to K–12 schools and community colleges if they didn’t approve a temporary tax increase, voters in 2012 passed Proposition 30, raising the state sales tax and personal income tax on the w
Obama administration releases long-delayed regulations for teacher-preparation programs - The Washington Post : Obama administration releases long-delayed regulations for teacher-preparation programs The U.S. Education Department published regulations Wednesday governing programs that prepare new K-12 teachers, a long-delayed effort meant to ensure that graduates emerge ready for the nation’s cla
Three L.A. charter schools could be shut down, largely because of their practice of bringing in teachers from Turkey - LA Times : Three L.A. charter schools could be shut down, largely because of their practice of bringing in teachers from Turkey Th ree Los Angeles charter schools could be shut down, largely because of their practice of bringing in teachers from Turkey, The Times has learned. The
How America's Past Shapes Native Americans’ Present - The Atlantic : How America's Past Shapes Native Americans’ Present A Minneapolis community seeks to counteract centuries of federal policies that have put its people at a disadvantage. A mural outside of Minneapolis's Little Earth of the United Tribes, the only federally-subsidized housing project for Native Americans MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.—Native
Schools Matter: FairTest Fumes and Obfuscates : FairTest Fumes and Obfuscates There was much disgust expressed when Diane Ravitch promoted FairTest's NEA-supported report, Assessment Matters: Constructing Model State Systems to Replace Testing Overkill. In the report, FairTest managed to do some major league pimping for the New Hampshire competency-based child plug-in learning model and competenc
Homelessness in NYC Poses Problems for Families, Children, and Schools: We Blame the Schools | janresseger : Homelessness in NYC Poses Problems for Families, Children, and Schools: We Blame the Schools It is so easy to attack the public schools for failing to solve society’s intractable problems. For twenty years, that has been the strategy of test-and-punish school accountability. As an incentiv
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: A life changer : A life changer Arely Morales photo The trip to Standing Rock was a "life changing experience" for these Chicago students . Our group of 11 young people and 3 “old heads” from Chicago got back on the afternoon of “Indigenous People’s Day.” We are not the same people who left last Thursday. The stories and the people we met, the way were welcomed by e
About That Write-In-Vote Option for President… | deutsch29 : About That Write-In-Vote Option for President… In response to the October 08, 2016, Washington Post release of the 2005 “lewd comments” tape, many leaders in Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s own party are publicly stating their plans to not vote for Trump and instead opt to “write in” a name on the November 08th, 2016, pre
Support the NAACP's Moratorium on Charters - Network For Public Education : Support the NAACP’s Moratorium on Charters This week the NAACP Board of Directors will vote on the charter school moratorium passed by its delegates earlier this year. We are hearing the vote will be this weekend. The charter lobby is on fire contacting them. Call these two numbers and express your support for a moratoriu
CURMUDGUCATION: FL: Oh, Come On Now! : FL: Oh, Come On Now! I don't even want to be still writing about this story, but apparently Florida's flock of school administrators include some of the most terrible people ever. So here we are. You will recall that several Florida parents sued their district, the state, and anyone else connected to the baloney-faced rule about refusing to pass third grader
Corporate think tank sensationalizes teacher absences - NonDoc : Corporate think tank sensationalizes teacher absences T he National Council on Teacher Quality ( NCTQ ) recently found teacher absences in Oklahoma City averaged 11 days in 2013, and 18 percent of teachers missed more than 18 days, as reported earlier this month in The Oklahoman . The NCTQ is one of many astroturf think tanks that p
Have charter schools fulfilled promise as innovators? Debate persists - The Boston Globe : Are charter schools truly innovative? The answer can depend on your definition For decades, charter schools have been billed as “laboratories of innovation,” conjuring up images of teachers and administrators brainstorming and testing cutting-edge instruction that — if proven successful — could deliver salv
N.Y. Congressional Race Highlights Testing, Charters, Common Core - Politics K-12 - Education Week : N.Y. Congressional Race Highlights Testing, Charters, Common Core Zephyr Teachout, who ran against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo two years ago in the Democratic primary by attacking his policies about testing and the Common Core State Standards, is now campaigning on a similar platform as she seeks a
Republicans have lost the education debate - Your Voice - News-Sentinel.com : Republicans have lost the education debate Education? This is the missing issue in the current Election Cycle. Why? Answer: There has been progress in the fight for public education. Meaning what? Republicans are losing this battle because the results are coming in from their “reforms.” Probably one of the surest signs
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Black Lives Matter Day of Solidarity in SPS : Black Lives Matter Day of Solidarity in SPS The Seattle Teachers Association has been planning a Day of Solidarity on October 19th for African-American students in Seattle schools. As well, the teacher group, Social Equality Educators, is part of the planning for this day. I support this day and I support the district'
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 10/11/16 Featured Post Addressing Rape Culture in the Age of Trump - SF Public School Mom GULEN: Lawyer for Turkey Refers Ohio Charter Schools to Auditor - ABC News by mike simpson / 39min Lawyer for Turkey Refers Ohio Charter Schools to Auditor - ABC News :