Top Posts This Week 3/16/19 #Unite4SACKids #WeAreSCTA #WeAreCTA #strikeready #REDFORED #SCTA #CTA

Top Posts This Week 3/16/19

Reading Instruction, The Attack on Teachers, and Two Areas of Concern

2019 Medley #5: Privatization | Live Long and Prosper

California: Tony Thurmond Called Me | Diane Ravitch's blog

CURMUDGUCATION: Gigging, Progress, and the Unmaking of American Work

The Charter School Movement Washes Out in California

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Actually Nice Out Edition (3/10)

Book shows how leaders cemented segregation in New Orleans schools

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

CURMUDGUCATION: Bug-In-Ear Coaching: Why Is This Still A Thing?

Top Posts This Month  3/10/19

A Roadmap to Reducing Child Poverty : Health and Medicine Division

TEXT OF SB-126 Charter Schools Transparency BILL + California AG Addresses Charter Schools and Public Integrity Laws - Opinion Confirms Applicability of the Brown Act, Public Records Act, and Conflicts of Interest Laws

Reading Instruction, The Attack on Teachers, and Two Areas of Concern

Why Donald Trump Jr.'s ‘loser teachers’ comment was 'a chilling moment’ for educators around the world - The Washington Post

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

2019 Medley #5: Privatization | Live Long and Prosper

California: Tony Thurmond Called Me | Diane Ravitch's blog

CURMUDGUCATION: Gigging, Progress, and the Unmaking of American Work

Why teacher strikes are touching every part of America - ABC7 News

The Rise of the *Portfolio* Model for Schools – Have You Heard

Posts This Week 3/16/19 

Look at Me! The Problem with Quotas, Caps, and Disparaging Special Education

by mike simpson / 39min

Look at Me! The Problem with Quotas, Caps, and Disparaging Special Education Look at Me! The Problem with Quotas, Caps, and Disparaging Special Education Special education, which includes gifted education, is about helping students who learn differently. It’s distressing when a student needs academic support and there is none, or when quotas and caps get in the way of a child’s needs. It’s also c

Education Gurus 30 - Global Gurus

by mike simpson / 1h

Education Gurus 30 - Global Gurus Education Gurus 30 - Global Gurus Diane Ravitch is Research Professor of Education at New York University and a historian of education. She is also president and co-founder of the Network for Public Education, with 350,000 followers. She blogs at dianeravitch.net, Her blog has had more than 32 million page views since she started it April 26, 2012. From 1991 to 1

Great News! Two Civil Rights Legal Teams Join to Fight Theft of Public Schools! | Diane Ravitch's blog

by mike simpson / 1h

Great News! Two Civil Rights Legal Teams Join to Fight Theft of Public Schools! | Diane Ravitch's blog Great News! Two Civil Rights Legal Teams Join to Fight Theft of Public Schools! This is great news! The Education Law Center and the Southern Poverty Law Center have joined to fight privatization. AMICUS BRIEF SUPPORTS APPEAL CHALLENGING MICHIGAN’S UNCONSTITUTIONAL DIVERSION OF PUBLIC FUNDS TO P

The Growth Mindset Problem (Carl Hendrick) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

by mike simpson / 2h

The Growth Mindset Problem (Carl Hendrick) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice The Growth Mindset Problem (Carl Hendrick) This appeared in Aeon , March 11, 2019 “Dr Carl Hendrick is the co-author of What Does This Look Like In The Classroom: Bridging The Gap Between Research And Practice (2017). He holds a PhD in education from King’s College and lives in Berkshire, England wher

Repenning edges closer to facing Goldberg in runoff for L.A. school board seat - Los Angeles Times

by mike simpson / 2h

Repenning edges closer to facing Goldberg in runoff for L.A. school board seat - Los Angeles Times Repenning edges closer to facing Goldberg in runoff for L.A. school board seat With nearly all votes tallied for a pivotal Los Angeles school board seat, Heather Repenning holds second place by 31 votes, a margin that is probably enough to get her into a runoff against Jackie Goldberg, election offi

CURMUDGUCATION: OK: The Four Day Week

by mike simpson / 2h

CURMUDGUCATION: OK: The Four Day Week OK: The Four Day Week Oklahoma has been a great demonstration of what happens when state leaders decide that they just don't want to spend money on education. Oklahoma has led the nation in education spending cut s, and schools and teachers have paid the price. But Oklahoma performed an interesting little experiment, one that is apparently about to end. The p

What We Lose By Commodifying Education – redqueeninla

by mike simpson / 3h

What We Lose By Commodifying Education – redqueeninla What We Lose By Commodifying Education I’m frustrated by the howls of shocked people across this country following Tuesday’s College Admissions scandal . There are so many layers of context, missed, when we focus merely on privilege and its purchases. This is a scandal that every family of children in America’s cities, at least, feel every sin

TFA CEO’s Recent Podcast Interview | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

by mike simpson / 3h

TFA CEO’s Recent Podcast Interview | Gary Rubinstein's Blog TFA CEO’s Recent Podcast Interview For the past six years, Elisa Villanueva Beard has been a CEO of Teach For America. Over the years I have followed her various speeches and interviews to get a sense if TFA is evolving at all about its historically distorted view of education in this country. In a podcast called SwampED , hosted by form

Who’s Afraid of Public Schools? | gadflyonthewallblog

by mike simpson / 3h

Who’s Afraid of Public Schools? | gadflyonthewallblog Who’s Afraid of Public Schools? Public schools are the bogeymen of American life. We so often hear the bedtime story of “Failing Schools” that it’s no wonder some folks will do anything to ensure their kids get in elsewhere. And let’s be honest. It’s the same impulse behind the latest college admissions cheating scandal . A group of wealthy –

NYC Public School Parents: Mayoral control hearings and video: It's time for a change

by mike simpson / 3h

NYC Public School Parents: Mayoral control hearings and video: It's time for a change Mayoral control hearings and video: It's time for a change I just came from the NY Senate hearings on mayoral control, where Senator Shelley Mayer, chair of the Education Committee, Senator John Liu, chair of the NYC Education Committee, and Senators Robert Jackson, Velmanette Montgomery and others asked piercin

Education Reformers Keep Pushing the Same Old Stuff | Teacher in a strange land

by mike simpson / 4h

Education Reformers Keep Pushing the Same Old Stuff | Teacher in a strange land Education Reformers Keep Pushing the Same Old Stuff One of the people I respect most, in edu-journalism, is Joan Richardson . Mostly, this is because I used to read her fine pieces in the Detroit Free Press, and later, her work as editor of Kappan magazine, and she always seemed like the epitome of a concept that gets

YESTERDAY

Teachers union votes to authorize strike against Sacramento City Unified

by mike simpson / 18h

Teachers union votes to authorize strike against Sacramento City Unified Teachers union votes to authorize strike against Sacramento City Unified The teachers union at Sacramento City Unified School District announced Friday that its members have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. The Sacramento City Teachers Association spent three weeks collecting votes , and said turnout was 70 percen

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

by mike simpson / 1d

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all Texas: Owner of Migrant Shelters Cashes in on Charters by dianeravitch / 26min The New York Times published a searing account of the charter schools operated by Southwest Key. “At East Austin College Prep in Texas, raccoons and rats invade offices and classrooms. Whe

Southwest Key, Known for Migrant Shelters, Cashes In on Charter Schools - The New York Times

by mike simpson / 1d

Southwest Key, Known for Migrant Shelters, Cashes In on Charter Schools - The New York Times Southwest Key, Known for Migrant Shelters, Cashes In on Charter Schools The schools are struggling with debt even as the charity sits on tens of millions. At East Austin College Prep in Texas, raccoons and rats invade offices and classrooms. When it rains, the roof of the main building leaks. Room 106 was

Testimony at California SBOE about Gülen charter school | Cloaking Inequity

by mike simpson / 1d

Testimony at California SBOE about Gülen charter school | Cloaking Inequity TESTIMONY AT CALIFORNIA SBOE ABOUT GÜLEN CHARTER SCHOOL On Thursday I went to the California Board of Education to offer public testimony about the California SBOE approval of Magnolia Science Academy Santa Ana. Here is my testimony: I am Julian Vasquez Heilig, Professor and Education Chair for the California NAACP. Donal

CURMUDGUCATION: Micro-Credentials 101: Do We Need Badges?

by mike simpson / 1d

CURMUDGUCATION: Micro-Credentials 101: Do We Need Badges? Micro-Credentials 101: Do We Need Badges? Micro-credentials are one of the hot rising ideas in the education space. To understand the basics, go look at your child's Xbox or PlayStation. For most of the major games, there is an accompanying set of achievements, or badges. Every time a player achieves a particular task (kill 50 zombies with

Judge Tells DeVos She Can’t Delay “Significant Disproportionality Rule” in Special Education | janresseger

by mike simpson / 1d

Judge Tells DeVos She Can’t Delay “Significant Disproportionality Rule” in Special Education | janresseger Judge Tells DeVos She Can’t Delay “Significant Disproportionality Rule” in Special Education The goal at school ought to be providing appropriate curricula and support to enable each child to realize her or his promise. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, special education

Teacher Tom: The Promise Of Democracy

by mike simpson / 1d

Teacher Tom: The Promise Of Democracy The Promise Of Democracy A cooperative is an enterprise that is owned and operated by its customers. It's a model for organizing people toward common ends that's been around for centuries and over that time it has been successfully applied to both non-profit and for-profit ventures alike. I've spent the better part of the past two decades, more than half of m

About That College Admissions Scandal: Use of a Fake Nonprofit Was Critical | deutsch29

by mike simpson / 1d

About That College Admissions Scandal: Use of a Fake Nonprofit Was Critical | deutsch29 About That College Admissions Scandal: Use of a Fake Nonprofit Was Critical On March 12, 2019, I happened to be discussing with a few of my students the extent to which some individuals will go in order to benefit from academic fraud because college admission is a high-stakes issue. Little did we know, that ve

California: Charter Advocates Rally to Fight Accountability and Regulation | Diane Ravitch's blog

by mike simpson / 1d

California: Charter Advocates Rally to Fight Accountability and Regulation | Diane Ravitch's blog California: Charter Advocates Rally to Fight Accountability and Regulation While the State Board of Education was deliberating the fate of the low-performing Thrive Charter Schools, which they voted to close down, the charter lobby rallied thousands of allies in front of the State Capitol in Sacramen

New Truth For America podcast episode: How TFA network to make $$ | Cloaking Inequity

by mike simpson / 1d

New Truth For America podcast episode: How TFA network to make $$ | Cloaking Inequity NEW TRUTH FOR AMERICA PODCAST EPISODE: HOW TFA NETWORK TO MAKE $$ Truth For America is a podcast about Teach For America (TFA) that provides voice to educators, parents, students, and other key stakeholders. Truth For America is co-hosted by Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig and Dr. T. Jameson Brewer. Episode 18 feature

Jersey Jazzman: Only You Can Prevent Bad Tax Policy Discussions

by mike simpson / 1d

Jersey Jazzman: Only You Can Prevent Bad Tax Policy Discussions Only You Can Prevent Bad Tax Policy Discussions When I started this blog up again earlier this year, I told myself I wasn't going to waste a lot of time debunking nonsense in the local media. Life is short and there's a lot to write about. But some stuff I come across is so bad, I just can't let it go : Q. Gov. Phil Murphy wants to r

Marie Corfield: @NJSenatePres 's @Path2ProgressNJ & the 800lb Gorillas In The Room

by mike simpson / 1d

Marie Corfield: @NJSenatePres 's @Path2ProgressNJ & the 800lb Gorillas In The Room @NJSenatePres 's @Path2ProgressNJ & the 800lb Gorillas In The Room Expert analysis and witnesses are essential to the successful outcome of a trial, but in the court of public opinion, politicians often fail to enlist experts who may raise red flags about the policies they're trying to sell to the general public. I

Badass Teachers Association Blog: Public Education Funding MUST become a National Priority!

by mike simpson / 1d

Badass Teachers Association Blog: Public Education Funding MUST become a National Priority! Public Education Funding MUST become a National Priority! It is clear that President Trump has an agenda that does not support public education. His recent budget proposal is evidence of this. This year’s 2019 budget proposal includes the following cuts: - $2 billion from the Supporting Effective Instructi

MAR 14

Thurmond Swears in Linda Darling-Hammond to SB. - Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education)

by mike simpson / 1d

Thurmond Swears in Linda Darling-Hammond to SB. - Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education) Thurmond Swears in Linda Darling-Hammond to SB. SACRAMENTO—Linda Darling-Hammond, Governor Gavin Newsom’s choice to lead the California State Board of Education, was sworn into office today by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who serves as the Board’s Executive Secretary. “Linda Darling-Ham

California: Who Chose the Members of the Charter Task Force? | Diane Ravitch's blog

by mike simpson / 2d

California: Who Chose the Members of the Charter Task Force? | Diane Ravitch's blog California: Who Chose the Members of the Charter Task Force? The task force appointed to reform California’s weak charter school law has 11 members; six of them have ties to the charter industry. Two of the 11 are part of the California Charter School Association, the official lobbying group, which spends $20 mill

Privatization Is Fundamentally An Attack on Democracy. The Teachers Strikes Show Why.

by mike simpson / 2d

Privatization Is Fundamentally An Attack on Democracy. The Teachers Strikes Show Why. Privatization Is Fundamentally An Attack on Democracy. The Teachers Strikes Show Why. Charter schools are anti-democratic by nature. (Ray Chavez/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images) One key feature of the Trump era is a renewed public focus on the issue of democracy. Last year’s congressional elect

Separate and Unequal: The Real Education Scandal Is America’s Affirmative Action Program for White People

by mike simpson / 2d

Affirmative Action for White People Separate and Unequal: The Real Education Scandal Is America’s Affirmative Action Program for White People While the conversations surrounding the newly uncovered college cheating scandal have focused on the advantages of the wealthy, the hypocrisy of those who demonize affirmative action, and the outrageous hubris of the elite, there is one indisputable fact th

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDAL SCANDAL SCANDAL NC virtual charter school wants to separate from Pearson | Raleigh News & Observer

by mike simpson / 2d

NC virtual charter school wants to separate from Pearson | Raleigh News & Observer A virtual charter school ‘divorce’ leaves 2,400 students caught in the middle RALEIGH More than 2,400 students are caught in the middle of a fight between one of North Carolina’s two virtual charter schools and the for-profit education company that receives millions of dollars a year to manage the school. N.C. Conn

Book shows how leaders cemented segregation in New Orleans schools

by mike simpson / 2d

Book shows how leaders cemented segregation in New Orleans schools How New Orleans leaders built a segregated city Using schools as the building blocks, New Orleans leaders cemented residential segregation that persists today according to a new book R eview: “Race & Education in New Orleans” by Walter C. Stern (Louisiana State University Press, 2018) Just over 100 years ago, the first public high

Selective Outrage: Revisiting the Atlanta School Cheating Scandal – Have You Heard

by mike simpson / 2d

Selective Outrage: Revisiting the Atlanta School Cheating Scandal – Have You Heard Selective Outrage: Revisiting the Atlanta School Cheating Scandal In March of 2013, thirty five Atlanta educators, all of them Black, were charged with racketeering and conspiracy for allegedly changing student answers on standardized tests from wrong to right. The teachers were accused of the worst-possible wrongd

Trump’s Proposed 2020 Budget Favors the Rich, Increases Inequality, and Shorts Public Education | janresseger

by mike simpson / 2d

Trump’s Proposed 2020 Budget Favors the Rich, Increases Inequality, and Shorts Public Education | janresseger Trump’s Proposed 2020 Budget Favors the Rich, Increases Inequality, and Shorts Public Education Nobody paid much attention to President Trump’s 2020 federal budget proposal for education when it was released on Monday. The 2020, K-12 education budget is similar to what Trump and Education

CURMUDGUCATION: Maybe We Should Talk About College Readiness Again

by mike simpson / 2d

CURMUDGUCATION: Maybe We Should Talk About College Readiness Again Maybe We Should Talk About College Readiness Again College and career ready. College and career ready. College and career ready. How long have we been reading and listening to that magical phrase, quietly at first and now omnipresent as the euphemism of choice for people who no longer dare say "Common Core." It is a hollow phrase,

Opposing Mediocre Minds: Einstein on Education | Live Long and Prosper

by mike simpson / 2d

Opposing Mediocre Minds: Einstein on Education | Live Long and Prosper Opposing Mediocre Minds: Einstein on Education Today, March 14 is Pi day (3.14) and the birthday (#140) of Albert Einstein. Albert Einstein is remembered as the physicist who developed the theories of special, and general relativity . the laws of physics are the same for all non-accelerating observers, and that the speed of li

Charter Profiteer in Arizona Plans to Open Charter Chain in North Carolina | Diane Ravitch's blog

by mike simpson / 2d

Charter Profiteer in Arizona Plans to Open Charter Chain in North Carolina | Diane Ravitch's blog Charter Profiteer in Arizona Plans to Open Charter Chain in North Carolina Last year, the Arizona Republic wrote an expose of the millions made by Glenn Way, founder of a charter chain in Arizona, primarily by real estate deals and construction of the schools by “related” companies. He previously ran

Choosing Democracy: SCUSD Budget Fiasco- #Unite4SACKids #WeAreSCTA #WeAreCTA #strikeready #REDFORED #SCTA #CTA

by mike simpson / 2d

Choosing Democracy: SCUSD Budget Fiasco- 2 SCUSD Budget Fiasco- 2 Big Education Ape: UPDATE: Community leaders come together to launch 'Save Sac Schools' from state takeover | abc10com #Unite4SACKids #WeAreSCTA #WeAreCTA #strikeready #REDFORED #SCTA #CTA - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2019/03/community-leaders-come-together-to.html Big Education Ape: Choosing Democracy: SCUSD Plans for Te

MAR 13

What Linda Darling-Hammond's Appointment Means for Education

by mike simpson / 2d

What Linda Darling-Hammond's Appointment Means for Education What Linda Darling-Hammond's Appointment Means for Education Democrats once fought to keep her from becoming Obama's education secretary. Now she's set to lead California's State Board of Education, where she could influence the national party's education stances When Barack Obama was first assembling his White House Cabinet in late 200

The diversity gap for public school teachers is actually growing across generations

by mike simpson / 2d

The diversity gap for public school teachers is actually growing across generations The diversity gap for public school teachers is actually growing across generations Editor's Note: This post is part of " Teacher diversity in America ," a series from the Brown Center on Education Policy that examines minority underrepresentation among public educators in the U.S. The public teacher workforce has

A hidden scandal: America's school students exposed to water tainted by toxic lead | Environment | The Guardian

by mike simpson / 2d

A hidden scandal: America's school students exposed to water tainted by toxic lead | Environment | The Guardian A hidden scandal America's school students exposed to water tainted by toxic lead Elevated levels of lead have been found in schools across the US, alarming experts who say it is particularly harmful to children W hen Shakima Thomas came home one day last October, she found a piece of p

Operation Varsity Blues: One Corrupt Tree in the Forest of White Wealth Privilege | radical eyes for equity

by mike simpson / 3d

Operation Varsity Blues: One Corrupt Tree in the Forest of White Wealth Privilege | radical eyes for equity Operation Varsity Blues: One Corrupt Tree in the Forest of White Wealth Privilege It’s called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it. — George Carlin Andrew Lelling, the US attorney for Massachusetts, made a nearly laughable opening claim in his press conference abou

CURMUDGUCATION: OH: Beating Back School Takeovers

by mike simpson / 3d

CURMUDGUCATION: OH: Beating Back School Takeovers OH: Beating Back School Takeovers If there is any benefit at all to the complete hash of the takeover of Lorain City Schoo ls, it's that it has brought renewed attention to Ohio's terrible takeover law and renewed energy to attempts to bust that law. There are actually two proposals floating around currently, both bipartisan. State Reps. Kent Smit

5 Key Trends in the Teacher Workforce - NEA Today

by mike simpson / 3d

5 Key Trends in the Teacher Workforce - NEA Today 5 Key Trends in the Teacher Workforce Thanks largely to a nationwide campaign by educators, the country is finally talking about how we can recruit, support and retain teachers. This is an important discussion, says Richard Ingersoll, professor of education and sociology at the University of Pennsylvania, because “the teaching force has been trans

Six Things More Important than that Desperate Housewife Cheating to Get Her Kid into a Prestigious College | Teacher in a strange land

by mike simpson / 3d

Six Things More Important than that Desperate Housewife Cheating to Get Her Kid into a Prestigious College | Teacher in a strange land Six Things More Important than that Desperate Housewife Cheating to Get Her Kid into a Prestigious College I was mildly shocked by the network news leading off with the ‘cheating to get into college scandal’ last night. Were they just sick of starting each broadca

The Benefits of Libraries for Teachers and Students - Teacher Habits

by mike simpson / 3d

The Benefits of Libraries for Teachers and Students - Teacher Habits The Benefits of Libraries for Teachers and Students For a long time, libraries have served as sanctuaries for many students and teachers. Libraries aren’t being visited as often as they once were , but educators can still benefit from utilizing libraries in their lessons. Additionally, they provide a place of solitude and refuge

Louisiana Bamboozles! – Educate Louisiana

by mike simpson / 3d

Louisiana Bamboozles! – Educate Louisiana Louisiana Bamboozles! Raise your hand if you’ve ever checked your weight against one of those charts that tells you how much you should weigh based on your height. You know. The ones with unrealistic goals that you immediately dismiss because of their ridiculousness. Well, I have. I can tell you that in all my 35 adult years, even at my thinnest and best

DeVos opens door to taxpayers funding religious orgs by stopping enforcement of church-state separation rule

by mike simpson / 3d

DeVos opens door to taxpayers funding religious orgs by stopping enforcement of church-state separation rule DeVos opens door to taxpayers funding religious orgs by stopping enforcement of church-state separation rule S ecretary of Education Betsy DeVos has announced she will no longer enforce the provision of federal law that bans religious organizations from being funded with taxpayer dollars f

Improving Democracy: Ranked Choice Voting

by mike simpson / 3d

Improving Democracy: Ranked Choice Voting Improving Democracy: Ranked Choice Voting In the end, the ultimate winner has the support of at least half of voters — not a terribly radical idea in a democracy. ” – Lawrence Lessig In Los Angeles, the allegedly cash-strapped school district will spend approximately $2.4 million in the special elections to replace disgraced former Board member Ref Rodrig

CURMUDGUCATION: NY: Rochester, Mayoral Control, Vultures, and the Problems of Democracy.

by mike simpson / 3d

CURMUDGUCATION: NY: Rochester, Mayoral Control, Vultures, and the Problems of Democracy. NY: Rochester, Mayoral Control, Vultures, and the Problems of Democracy. It has been almost a decade since a mayoral school coup was a hot topic in Rochester . Mayor Robert Duffy wanted to implement NYC style mayoral control. There seemed to be support for the move; the superintendent even had a nifty portfol

Politicians Forget that Cut Scores on Standardized Tests Are Not Grounded in Science | janresseger

by mike simpson / 3d

Politicians Forget that Cut Scores on Standardized Tests Are Not Grounded in Science | janresseger Politicians Forget that Cut Scores on Standardized Tests Are Not Grounded in Science Last week the NY Times ‘ Dana Goldstein and Manny Fernandez reported on a political fight in Texas over the scoring of the STAAR—the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness—the state’s version of the achiev

MAR 12

Pam Harbin Wants to Go From Pittsburgh School Board Watchdog to School Board Member | gadflyonthewallblog

by mike simpson / 3d

Pam Harbin Wants to Go From Pittsburgh School Board Watchdog to School Board Member | gadflyonthewallblog Pam Harbin Wants to Go From Pittsburgh School Board Watchdog to School Board Member My friend Pam Harbin is trying to undergo a startling metamorphosis. She wants to transform from an education activist into a Pittsburgh School Director. Now that Board President Lynda Wrenn is stepping down a

California’s Teachers Are Finally Going After the Original Sin That Wrecked the State’s Public Schools – Mother Jones

by mike simpson / 3d

California’s Teachers Are Finally Going After the Original Sin That Wrecked the State’s Public Schools – Mother Jones California’s Teachers Are Finally Going After the Original Sin That Wrecked the State’s Public Schools “There’s no reason that California shouldn’t be the state that spends the most on students.” On February 20, just before Oakland’s teachers went on strike, Carmelita Reyes organi

How for-profit charter schools are ripping off California taxpayers

by mike simpson / 3d

How for-profit charter schools are ripping off California taxpayers How for-profit charter schools are ripping off California taxpayers Across California and the country, corporations are expanding their ownership and operation of charter schools and their profits, subsidized by taxpayers. In California, 34 charter schools operated by five for-profit education management organizations enroll abou

California: Tony Thurmond Called Me | Diane Ravitch's blog

by mike simpson / 4d

California: Tony Thurmond Called Me | Diane Ravitch's blog California: Tony Thurmond Called Me Many of the readers of this blog were disappointed, as was I, to see that the new Superintendent of Public Instruction in California, Tony Thurmond, appointed a task force to review charter law in which six of the 11 members are or were connected to the charter industry. We know how hard that industry h

Don't Be Fooled: Charter Schools Are Not About Choice - LA Progressive

by mike simpson / 4d

Don't Be Fooled: Charter Schools Are Not About Choice - LA Progressive Don’t Be Fooled: Charter Schools Are Not About Choice In a moral society, “Single Payer” is the singular, optimal solution. Steve Lopez says : “…There’s a place for both [innovative, popular charters and regular district schools], and a need for greater support of all public schools”. These are separate, and non-touching, conc

Teachers speak out at Indianapolis rally to defend public education - World Socialist Web Site #REDFORED

by mike simpson / 4d

Teachers speak out at Indianapolis rally to defend public education - World Socialist Web Site Teachers speak out at Indianapolis rally to defend public education On Saturday, over a thousand teachers from across Indiana rallied in the state Capitol to oppose the growing attacks on public education. The rally, sponsored by the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA), was officially billed as th

NYC Public School Parents: John Pane of RAND writes to correct my post on Teach to One and my response

by mike simpson / 4d

NYC Public School Parents: John Pane of RAND writes to correct my post on Teach to One and my response John Pane of RAND writes to correct my post on Teach to One and my response About two weeks ago, I posted a history of the program Teach to One (TtO): how it had first been developed in NYC Department of Education as a blended learning math program called School of One, how after it had spun off

Argosy University Collapse Exemplifies Lax Protection of Students—and Taxpayers—Under DeVos | janresseger

by mike simpson / 4d

Argosy University Collapse Exemplifies Lax Protection of Students—and Taxpayers—Under DeVos | janresseger Argosy University Collapse Exemplifies Lax Protection of Students—and Taxpayers—Under DeVos Argosy University, a for-profit college serving 8,800 students at 22 sites across the country , shut down suddenly last Friday. Actually the collapse has been happening since 2017, but somehow across A

Betsy DeVos’s $5 billion school tax-credit plan is being slammed. And not by whom you might think. - The Washington Post

by mike simpson / 4d

Betsy DeVos’s $5 billion school tax-credit plan is being slammed. And not by whom you might think. - The Washington Post Betsy DeVos’s $5 billion school tax-credit plan is being slammed. And not by whom you might think. You might think that allies of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos would applaud the announcement that the Trump administration is seeking $5 billion for a federal tax credit program

Principals As Instructional Leaders: Hype and Reality | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

by mike simpson / 4d

Principals As Instructional Leaders: Hype and Reality | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice Principals As Instructional Leaders: Hype and Reality Six years ago, I published a post on the highly popular slogan of principal as instructional leader. Following up on this blog’s post of Chicago Mayor’s Rahm Emmanuel’s publicized reversal of his initial school reform beliefs and what he

The True Cost Of This Election In LAUSD5 – redqueeninla

by mike simpson / 4d

The True Cost Of This Election In LAUSD5 – redqueeninla The True Cost Of This Election In LAUSD5 The $100K PAC-drop of Eli Broad was heard around LA this week, but it’s not the first or even tenth time this sort of thing has gone on. It’s basically just SOP to use money as a political bludgeon, at the last second – for after when the polls are open and association with shady doings will no longer

Thrive Public Schools Renewal Petition Hearing on Friday | tultican

by mike simpson / 4d

Thrive Public Schools Renewal Petition Hearing on Friday | tultican Thrive Public Schools Renewal Petition Hearing on Friday 3/11/2019 by T. Ultican Thrive Public Schools has petitioned the state of California to renew its charter. San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) and the San Diego County Office of Education (COE) both recently denied Thrive’s renewal petition. It is the last hope for th

The Unbearable Whiteness of Being: The Permanent Vacation from Race | radical eyes for equity

by mike simpson / 4d

The Unbearable Whiteness of Being: The Permanent Vacation from Race | radical eyes for equity The Unbearable Whiteness of Being: The Permanent Vacation from Race Over my spring break last week, I made a trip to IUPUI in Indianapolis to present as part of a series spanning their academic year, White Racial Literacy Project Speakers Series , addressing whiteness as part of their diversity and inclu

MAR 11

‘Common sense regulations’ or ‘an extended middle finger’— How far will California go on charter schools?

by mike simpson / 4d

How far will Ca lifornia go on charter schools? ‘Common sense regulations’ or ‘an extended middle finger’—how far will California go on charter schools? With new fast-tracked transparency rules for charter schools in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom has fulfilled a January pledge to bring “long overdue” accountability measures to this growing sector of public schools. But the open meeting and disclo

Education Reform’s Deep Blue Hue: Are School Reformers Right-Wingers or Centrists—or Neither? - Education Next : Education Next

by mike simpson / 5d

Education Reform’s Deep Blue Hue: Are School Reformers Right-Wingers or Centrists—or Neither? - Education Next : Education Next Education Reform’s Deep Blue Hue Are school reformers right-wingers or centrists — or neither? Introduction Close observers of 21st-century education reform know that champions of charter schooling, teacher evaluation, and accountability are routinely characterized as ri

CURMUDGUCATION: Gigging, Progress, and the Unmaking of American Work

by mike simpson / 5d

CURMUDGUCATION: Gigging, Progress, and the Unmaking of American Work Gigging, Progress, and the Unmaking of American Work This is not really about education, and it is totally about education. Over at The Nation, Malcolm Harris has written a review of Sarah Kessler's Gigged: The End of the Job and the Future of Work. It's a thoughtful and worthwhile read, even if you decide not to tackle the enti

Ensuring Racial Equality – from Classrooms to Bathrooms – Depends on Federal Regulations Trump Wants to Roll Back Education Law Prof Blog

by mike simpson / 5d

Education Law Prof Blog Ensuring Racial Equality – from Classrooms to Bathrooms – Depends on Federal Regulations Trump Wants to Roll Back Derek W. Black , University of South Carolina The Trump administration is considering eliminating one of the federal government’s most basic tools for preventing racial discrimination. When the government runs or funds programs, those programs are obligated to

The Math Of Finite Resources And Fixed Margins – redqueeninla

by mike simpson / 5d

The Math Of Finite Resources And Fixed Margins – redqueeninla The Math Of Finite Resources And Fixed Margins In a moral society, “Single Payer” is the singular, optimal solution. Steve Lopez says : “…There’s a place for both [innovative, popular charters and regular district schools], and a need for greater support of all public schools”. These are separate, and non-touching, concepts. The latter

Federal Judge Vacates Betsy DeVos’ Special Education Regulation “Delay” | deutsch29

by mike simpson / 5d

Federal Judge Vacates Betsy DeVos’ Special Education Regulation “Delay” | deutsch29 Federal Judge Vacates Betsy DeVos’ Special Education Regulation “Delay” On July 1, 2018, states and local education agencies (LEAs) receiving federal funding were supposed to be in compliance with US Department of Education (USDOE) “2016 Regulations” in order to demonstrate consistency across states in determining

How Sacramento City Unified got into financial crisis By The Sacramento Bee (NOT A WORD ABOUT CORPORATE DARK MONEY AND THE IMPACT ON SAC CITY SCHOOLS)

by mike simpson / 5d

How Sacramento City Unified got into financial crisis How Sacramento City Unified got into financial crisis (NOT A WORD ABOUT CORPORATE DARK MONEY AND THE IMPACT ON SAC CITY SCHOOLS) Sacramento City Unified School District is chipping away at expenses in a last-ditch effort to close its $35 million budget gap, but time is running out and a state takeover seems imminent. The unprecedented rejectio

MAR 10

Take All The Space You Need (For Now) | The Jose Vilson

by mike simpson / 5d

Take All The Space You Need (For Now) | The Jose Vilson TAKE ALL THE SPACE YOU NEED (FOR NOW) It was a humid summer afternoon. I ventured with my son to a few stores along East 86th Street, enjoying parts of the city we don’t normally venture. I wore a black and orange Free Minds Free People shirt, my young one a white t-shirt and shorts. The sidewalks felt like people were walking shoulder to sh

Schools Matter: The Mind Trust’s Neo-colonial War on Parents: Part One

by mike simpson / 5d

Schools Matter: The Mind Trust’s Neo-colonial War on Parents: Part One The Mind Trust’s Neo-colonial War on Parents: Part One I am busy finishing my new book--a follow-up to Hoosier School Heist that will be released next year--and will be blogging again this summer. Please read John Harris Loflin's new and significant piece posted below. Thanks! Doug Martin The Mind Trust’s Neo-colonial War on P

ALL ABOARD THE CRAZY TRAIN: All about Fla SB 7070 - YouTube

by mike simpson / 5d

All about Fla SB 7070 - YouTube ALL ABOARD THE CRAZY TRAIN: All about Fla SB 7070 Already, on the second day of this year’s legislative session, the Florida Senate Education Committee decided it would be a good idea to advance another controversial omnibus education bill to the full senate floor. Sometimes referred to as a “train bill,” this type of legislation is expressly prohibited by the stat

CURMUDGUCATION: Bug-In-Ear Coaching: Why Is This Still A Thing?

by mike simpson / 5d

CURMUDGUCATION: Bug-In-Ear Coaching: Why Is This Still A Thing? Bug-In-Ear Coaching: Why Is This Still A Thing? You're a young teacher, working hard to get the hang of running a classroom, sequencing instruction, monitoring a roomful of students, tracking the clock, and otherwise managing your role as educational Boss Of The Room. It reminds you of when you first started driving, and it was taxin

California: Did Tony Thurmond Give the Charter Task Force to the Charter Lobby? | Diane Ravitch's blog

by mike simpson / 5d

California: Did Tony Thurmond Give the Charter Task Force to the Charter Lobby? | Diane Ravitch's blog California: Did Tony Thurmond Give the Charter Task Force to the Charter Lobby? Last November, there was a bitter contest for the position of Superintendent of Public Instruction in California. The charter lobby pumped millions of dollars into the campaign of Marshall Tuck, former CEO of Green D

CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Actually Nice Out Edition (3/10)

by mike simpson / 6d

CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Actually Nice Out Edition (3/10) ICYMI: Actually Nice Out Edition (3/10) Here's an assortment of goodies to read from last week. I know I say this all the time, but it takes readers to make a piece of writing spread. So always share what you think needs to be shared. Everyone can amplify the important voices, and these days that is super-important. Winning At Any Cost Arkan

Is Career And Technical Education Good News Or Bad?

by mike simpson / 6d

Is Career And Technical Education Good News Or Bad? Is Career And Technical Education Good News Or Bad? In the last two decades of education reform, a great deal of emphasis has been put on sending high school graduates to college. President Obama in his 2009 State of the Union address proclaimed that by 2020 America would " once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world

Reading Instruction, The Attack on Teachers, and Two Areas of Concern

by mike simpson / 6d

Reading Instruction, The Attack on Teachers, and Two Areas of Concern Reading Instruction, The Attack on Teachers, and Two Areas of Concern Almost every day there’s another report attacking teachers for how they teach reading. It divides parents and teachers. It’s also dangerous at a time when there’s a teacher shortage and teachers are banding together to try to save not only their profession, b

Jersey Jazzman: The Case For Stable, Adequate, and Predictable School Funding

by mike simpson / 6d

Jersey Jazzman: The Case For Stable, Adequate, and Predictable School Funding The Case For Stable, Adequate, and Predictable School Funding Here in New Jersey, we're entering budget season -- and that means the beginning of the annual ritual of declaring "winners and losers" in state aid to school districts. Governor Phil Murphy just released his budgetary plan for schools, showing which district

Top Posts This Week 310/19 #Unite4SACKids #WeAreSCTA #WeAreCTA #strikeready #REDFORED #SCTA #CTA

by mike simpson / 6d

Top Posts This Week 3/10/19 A Roadmap to Reducing Child Poverty : Health and Medicine Division Education Research Report: Trends in Education Philanthropy Breaking News: Eli Broad Gave $100,000 to Defeat Jackie