Top Posts This Week 3/30/19 #WeAreCTA #RedForEd #WeArePublicSchools #CTAStateCouncil #UnionStrong

Top Posts This Week 3/30/19

California: An Alert for Supporters of Public Schools! | Diane Ravitch's blog

Is School Funding Fair? A National Report Card

CURMUDGUCATION: What Did We Learn From DeVos Hearings This Week?

NJ charter schools: Tax money is disappearing into a flawed experiment

CURMUDGUCATION: The Red Flags In Kamala Harris's Pay Raise Proposal

Report: U.S. government wasted up to $1 billion on charter schools and still fails to adequately monitor grants - The Washington Post

Thurmond Stands With Educators - California Educator

Stand Up For LAUSD Parent Voices

Children should not be a number.: NYSED Debunked 2019

The Wisdom and Wit of Diane Ravitch — Garn Press Coming Soon April 2, 2019

Top Posts This Month 3/30/19

A Roadmap to Reducing Child Poverty : Health and Medicine Division

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

Bill Gates says AI should improve education and medicine - CNET

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

2019 Medley #5: Privatization | Live Long and Prosper

Education Gurus 30 - Global Gurus

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

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

50-State Comparison: K-12 Special Education Funding

Jersey Jazzman: Only You Can Prevent Bad Tax Policy Discussions

Posts This Week  3/30/19

Betsy DeVos Wants More "Innovation" in Public Schools: How About Public School Food Trucks? | Eclectablog

by Mike Simpson / 14min

Betsy DeVos Wants More "Innovation" in Public Schools: How About Public School Food Trucks? | Eclectablog Betsy DeVos Wants More “Innovation” in Public Schools: How About Public School Food Trucks? Photo credit: credit Michael Vadon, https://www.flickr.com/photos/ 80038275@N00 /33073563866 One of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ favorite “talking points” is that public schools are not “ innova

Standards Based Education is Bad Education Theory | tultican

by Mike Simpson / 25min

Standards Based Education is Bad Education Theory | tultican Standards Based Education is Bad Education Theory While discussing a student’s next class schedule with an outstanding student counselor, I learned my colleague had become dependent on testing data to place her students. That is not a surprise; it is one of the fundamental errors permeating education globally. Standards based testing is

Why I was Shaking My Head at Betsy DeVos - Living in Dialogue

by Mike Simpson / 39min

Why I was Shaking My Head at Betsy DeVos - Living in Dialogue Why I was Shaking My Head at Betsy DeVos By Anthony Cody. A video of Betsy DeVos responding to questions from Lucille Roybal-Allard of the House Appropriations Committee hearing has gone viral, and has been watched now by many thousands of people. I appear in the background, shaking my head as DeVos asserts that larger class sizes migh

Kamala Harris’ Big Plan for Teacher Pay Is Promising—But It’d Require a Major Change for How the Feds Handle Education – Mother Jones

by Mike Simpson / 2h

Kamala Harris’ Big Plan for Teacher Pay Is Promising—But It’d Require a Major Change for How the Feds Handle Education – Mother Jones Kamala Harris’ Big Plan for Teacher Pay Is Promising—But It’d Require a Major Change for How the Feds Handle Education The 2020 presidential candidate has a plan to close the pay gap for educators. California Sen. Kamala Harris wants to see teachers across the coun

AFT members to drive presidential endorsement – People's World

by Mike Simpson / 2h

AFT members to drive presidential endorsement – People's World AFT members to drive presidential endorsement WASHINGTON—This time around, members of the American Federation of Teachers will drive its presidential endorsement process – and it’s going to demand Oval Office hopefuls walk in teachers’ shoes, too. The March 20 decision came after a 30,000-person mass conference call convened the night

CURMUDGUCATION: Is CTE Good News Or Bad News + Squeezing the Clock

by Mike Simpson / 2h

CURMUDGUCATION: Is CTE Good News Or Bad News Is CTE Good News Or Bad News 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" (though he hedged that a bit

Jersey Jazzman: Jersey Jazzman: Year 9

by Mike Simpson / 2h

Jersey Jazzman: Jersey Jazzman: Year 9 Jersey Jazzman: Year 9 I keep of list of stuff I'm supposed to blog about, and right now that list is long. I've yet to give my thoughts on Bruce Baker's excellent report on New Jersey school funding, which you really need to read. There's also the tax incentive nonsense happening here in Jersey, which is a cautionary tale for the rest of the country. There

50 Years of Affirmative Action: What Went Right, and What It Got Wrong - The New York Times

by Mike Simpson / 3h

50 Years of Affirmative Action: What Went Right, and What It Got Wrong - The New York Times 50 Years of Affirmative Action: What Went Right, and What It Got Wrong On cold mornings, Les Goodson shows up early outside the University Club, on a wealthy stretch of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, and races two panhandlers he has nicknamed Catman and Pimp-the-Baby for a warm spot in front of a steam vent. H

Part Two: Cashing In On Charter Schools

by Mike Simpson / 3h

Central Jersey Arts Charter School was struggling, but kept getting tax money New Jersey kept sending tax money to troubled charter school and its building project CASHING IN ON CHARTER SCHOOLS: PART TWO A series in five parts Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four Part Five Millions of NJ tax dollars were used by Central Jersey Arts Charter School, which was put on probation for a host of defici

With One Reply, Betsy DeVos Told Us Her Real Plan for America’s Public Schools

by Mike Simpson / 4h

With One Reply, Betsy DeVos Told Us Her Real Plan for America’s Public Schools With One Reply, Betsy DeVos Told Us Her Real Plan for America’s Public Schools In one of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’s most troubling responses of both days of testimony, she responded to an inquiry by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) about this nation’s crumbling school infrastructure. It comes about 1:09:45 into the tape (b

Family Empowerment voucher paves the way: Choice 2.0 Education Savings Accounts | The Edvocate Blog

by Mike Simpson / 4h

Family Empowerment voucher paves the way: Choice 2.0 Education Savings Accounts | The Edvocate Blog Family Empowerment voucher paves the way: Choice 2.0 Education Savings Accounts Choice 2.0, Education Savings Accounts (ESA) are the “reform” endgame and they won’t live up to Florida’s “choice” lore. With the Family Empowerment Voucher , former Governor Jeb Bush, the Milton Friedman Foundation /Ed

Did you think Betsy DeVos’s terrible, horrible, very bad, no-good week would drive her to quit as education secretary? Guess again. - The Washington Post

by Mike Simpson / 4h

Did you think Betsy DeVos’s terrible, horrible, very bad, no-good week would drive her to quit as education secretary? Guess again. - The Washington Post Did you think Betsy DeVos’s terrible, horrible, very bad, no-good week would drive her to quit as education secretary? Guess again. If you were hoping Betsy DeVos’s terrible, horrible, very bad, no-good week would drive her to quit as U.S. educa

NYC Public School Parents: Hilarious video of DeVos testimony on class size - with a more serious message lurking behing it

by Mike Simpson / 5h

NYC Public School Parents: Hilarious video of DeVos testimony on class size - with a more serious message lurking behing it Hilarious video of DeVos testimony on class size - with a more serious message lurking behing it Check out hilarious clip below of Anthony Cody reacting to Betsy Devos testifying before the US House of Representatives on Wednesday that larger classes have benefits to student

YESTERDAY

CURMUDGUCATION: What Did We Learn From DeVos Hearings This Week?

by Mike Simpson / 1d

CURMUDGUCATION: What Did We Learn From DeVos Hearings This Week? What Did We Learn From DeVos Hearings This Week? So during Betsy DeVos's terrible horrible no-good very bad week of hearings, what did we learn? Opposition Parties Matter This is the third budget in which DeVos tried to zero out Special Olympics. The third. So why so much fuss this time around? Perhaps because somebody made her go b

Guess Who’s Not Here for Your Nonsense? | Teacher in a strange land

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Guess Who’s Not Here for Your Nonsense? | Teacher in a strange land Guess Who’s Not Here for Your Nonsense? First off, I have to credit Shanna Peeples , all-around cool edu-person and 2015 National Teacher of the Year, for the title of this blog, swiped from her Twitter feed. It’s about those marvelous young ladies, high school students in Maryland who confronted the boys who were rating their lo

DonorsChoose fundraising: Some school districts banning crowdfunding - Vox

by Mike Simpson / 1d

DonorsChoose fundraising: Some school districts banning crowdfunding - Vox Teachers often have to crowdfund for classroom supplies. Some districts are banning the practice. DonorsChoose and other crowdfunding sites are coming under scrutiny. As public school budgets get tighter and teacher pay stagnates , a growing number of teachers are turning to crowdfunding sites to pay for everything from cl

Essential California: On charter school reform, what will break the gridlock? - Los Angeles Times

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Essential California: On charter school reform, what will break the gridlock? - Los Angeles Times California’s broken charter school law has defied reform. Can Newsom break the gridlock? California is home to about one out of every five charter schools in the United States, but state oversight of them is far from a national model. Since the Charter Schools Act of 1992 was passed more than a quart

Fighting teacher stress: Will resilience training exercises help teachers with stress?

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Will resilience training exercises help teachers with stress? Fighting teacher stress A growing number of mindfulness trainings help teachers cope, but critics say the real problem’s much deeper A few years ago, Amy Lopes, a veteran fifth-grade teacher in Providence, Rhode Island, learned that teachers at her school could try a mindfulness and yoga training along with their students. Her immediat

After betrayal of Oakland teacher strike, district lays off hundreds, prepares school closures - World Socialist Web Site

by Mike Simpson / 1d

After betrayal of Oakland teacher strike, district lays off hundreds, prepares school closures - World Socialist Web Site After betrayal of Oakland teacher strike, district lays off hundreds, prepares school closures The betrayal of the seven-day teacher strike by the Oakland Education Association (OEA) has opened the door for the school officials in Oakland, California to accelerate their assaul

Doing the Same Thing and Expecting Different Results | Live Long and Prosper

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Doing the Same Thing and Expecting Different Results | Live Long and Prosper Doing the Same Thing and Expecting Different Results FLORIDA’S THIRD GRADE READING LAW IS JUST LIKE THE OTHERS Florida has a third-grade retention law, just like Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, fifteen other states and the District of Columbia. Learning to read by third grade is so important, according to The National Council o

What Has Betsy DeVos Accomplished? Part II | janresseger

by Mike Simpson / 1d

What Has Betsy DeVos Accomplished? Part II | janresseger What Has Betsy DeVos Accomplished? Part II THIS BLOG WILL TAKE A SHORT SPRING BREAK. LOOK FOR A NEW POST ON APRIL 9. Yesterday’s post covered Betsy DeVos’s record as U.S. Secretary of Education—examining her failed quest to privatize the public schools and Congress’s success in blocking her K-12 agenda. But there are other important departm

Social Justice Humanitas Academy (Part 2) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

by Mike Simpson / 1d

Social Justice Humanitas Academy (Part 2) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice Social Justice Humanitas Academy (Part 2) Geological strata reveal historical periods of plant and animal life eons ago. Schools birthed in reform unveil similar strata. In Part 1 , I recounted teacher-founders’ (Jose Navarro and Jeff Austin) creation story of Social Justice Humanitas Academy, a Los An

After Trying for Three Years, Betsy DeVos Fails to Nix Special Olympics Funding | deutsch29

by Mike Simpson / 1d

After Trying for Three Years, Betsy DeVos Fails to Nix Special Olympics Funding | deutsch29 After Trying for Three Years, Betsy DeVos Fails to Nix Special Olympics Funding US Department of Education (USDOE) secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, has been in the news this week for her unfavorable (insensitive? foolish?) decision to propose– and ardently defend– $17.6M in cuts to Special Olympics in

MAR 28

NEA - U.S. Senate approves bill recognizing education support professionals and classified school employees

by Mike Simpson / 1d

NEA - U.S. Senate approves bill recognizing education support professionals and classified school employees U.S. Senate approves bill recognizing education support professionals and classified school employees Legislation creates national, annual award program for ESPs WASHINGTON - March 28, 2019 - The U.S. Senate today approved the Recognizing Achievement in Classified School Employees Act (H.R.

How Charter Schools Lost Real Democrats' Support

by Mike Simpson / 2d

How Charter Schools Lost Democrats' Support How Charter Schools Lost Real Democrats' Support Last December, after two years of negotiation that hadn’t produced a contract, the United Teachers of Los Angeles took to the streets. Thousands of them marched in their red shirts past the glimmering towers of revitalized downtown Los Angeles. They finished their march at The Broad, a contemporary art mu

California: Now Is the Time to Reform Charter Schools | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 2d

California: Now Is the Time to Reform Charter Schools | Diane Ravitch's blog California: Now Is the Time to Reform Charter Schools California has more charter schools and students than any other state, due to its size and its notoriously weak charter law. Add to that a progressive Governor with a blind spot for charters (Jerry Brown opened two when he was mayor of Oakland) and to a gaggle of bill

“A case for why both sides in the ‘reading wars’ debate are wrong — and a proposed solution” Is 50% Wrong | radical eyes for equity

by Mike Simpson / 2d

“A case for why both sides in the ‘reading wars’ debate are wrong — and a proposed solution” Is 50% Wrong | radical eyes for equity “A case for why both sides in the ‘reading wars’ debate are wrong — and a proposed solution” Is 50% Wrong In her The Answer Sheet , Valerie Strauss offers yet another post about the current Reading War/Crisis: A case for why both sides in the ‘reading wars’ debate ar

Does Homework Work? - The Atlantic

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Does Homework Work? - The Atlantic The Cult of Homework America’s devotion to the practice stems in part from the fact that it’s what today’s parents and teachers grew up with themselves America has long had a fickle relationship with homework. A century or so ago, progressive reformers argued that it made kids unduly stressed , which later led in some cases to district-level bans on it for all g

SAT and ACT costs: Why college admission testing is so expensive - Vox

by Mike Simpson / 2d

SAT and ACT costs: Why college admission testing is so expensive - Vox The cost of taking the SAT and ACT, explained The SAT’s baseline price is $47.50 and the ACT’s is $50.50. Where does that money go? It costs a lot of money to get into college. There’s the cost of high school extracurriculars and test prep, all the things that are supposed to give a student a better shot at getting into the “b

Struggling districts profit by approving charter schools with little oversight - Los Angeles Times

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Struggling districts profit by approving charter schools with little oversight - Los Angeles Times Struggling districts profit by approving charter schools with little oversight The superintendent’s plan was born of necessity. In the aftermath of the Great Recession, as tax revenue plummeted, small school districts across California quickly felt the pain. Many were already lean, where administrat

Teachers union lawsuit says layoff call made in closed session | The Sacramento Bee

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Teachers union lawsuit says layoff call made in closed session | The Sacramento Bee Lawsuit says Sacramento school district made teacher layoff decision behind closed doors The city teachers union filed a lawsuit against the Sacramento City Unified School District on Monday, claiming the district unlawfully engaged in discussions regarding budget cuts in closed session meetings in recent months.

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

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all Diane Ravitch's blog A site to discuss better education for all A Teacher in Arizona Reports on the Slow Strangulation of Public Schools by dianeravitch / 10min An Arizona Teacher left this comment: “I teach in an AZ public school–title 1 school. The poverty in this school is astonishing. This is my first year teaching in AZ after

CURMUDGUCATION: What To Look For In A Teacher School

by Mike Simpson / 2d

CURMUDGUCATION: What To Look For In A Teacher School What To Look For In A Teacher School Robert Pondiscio just reviewed a new NCTQ book for high school students about how to become a teacher. I haven't seen the book, so I'm in no position to comment on it, but it does remind me that we don't spend nearly enough time talking about teacher prep, not from a policy point of view, but the point of vi

What Has Betsy DeVos Accomplished? Part I | janresseger

by Mike Simpson / 2d

What Has Betsy DeVos Accomplished? Part I | janresseger What Has Betsy DeVos Accomplished? Part I The other day I had the opportunity to talk with a U.S. senator’s staffer who told me that opposition to the appointment of Betsy DeVos early in 2017 was unprecedented as measured by the number of calls—tens of thousands against DeVos’s confirmation and only three or four thousand in favor. Those of

Wild Wild West: Arizona’s Charter School Experiment – Have You Heard

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Wild Wild West: Arizona’s Charter School Experiment – Have You Heard Wild Wild West: Arizona’s Charter School Experiment Did you hear the one about the Arizona state legislator who made a cool $14 million from selling his network of charter schools to a nonprofit that he set up, which then inked a lucrative lease deal with him, hired him as a consultant, and hired his brother as the chief executi

MAR 27

Betsy DeVos vs. the disabled: What is wrong with this woman? - New York Daily News

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Betsy DeVos vs. the disabled: What is wrong with this woman? - New York Daily News Betsy DeVos vs. the disabled: What is wrong with this woman? Lost amid the swirl of post-Mueller analysis and gloating, the Jussie Smollett case and Donald Trump’s renewed push to gut Obamacare, on March 26, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos went before a House panel to discuss her proposed 10% cut to her department’

As Purdue Pharma Settles Oklahoma Lawsuit, Those Receiving Sackler Money Need to Make a Decision | deutsch29

by Mike Simpson / 2d

As Purdue Pharma Settles Oklahoma Lawsuit, Those Receiving Sackler Money Need to Make a Decision | deutsch29 As Purdue Pharma Settles Oklahoma Lawsuit, Those Receiving Sackler Money Need to Make a Decision On Tuesday, March 26, 2019, the drug company Purdue Pharma has agreed to settle with the State of Oklahoma, which sued Purdue Pharma, Johnson & Johnson, and Teva Pharmaceutical for the state’s

Sell Your Soul to the Testocracy: Kamala Harris’s Faustian Teacher Raises | gadflyonthewallblog

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Sell Your Soul to the Testocracy: Kamala Harris’s Faustian Teacher Raises | gadflyonthewallblog Sell Your Soul to the Testocracy: Kamala Harris’s Faustian Teacher Raises I love the idea of Kamala Harris’ plan to give teachers a pay raise. But once we get past ideas, it’s way more troubling . The California Senator and Democratic Presidential hopeful is proposing a $13,500 pay increase for the ave

California School Accountability Report: Sign this petition to hold charter schools accountable – In the Public Interest

by Mike Simpson / 2d

California School Accountability Report: Sign this petition to hold charter schools accountable – In the Public Interest California School Accountability Report: Sign this petition to hold charter schools accountable Here’s our pick of recent news about the ongoing effort to privatize public education in California. Not a subscriber? Sign up here. Sign this petition to hold charter schools accoun

Dr. Jackson Speaks in Support of the Education PROMISE Act | Schott Foundation for Public Education

by Mike Simpson / 2d

Dr. Jackson Speaks in Support of the Education PROMISE Act | Schott Foundation for Public Education Dr. Jackson Speaks in Support of the Education PROMISE Act The following is testimony in support of the Education PROMISE Act (S.238/H.586), which aims to provide public schools the funding they need to deliver high-quality, equitable education across Massachusetts. Members of the committee, My nam

Webinar: What if We Used Wealth to Heal, not Harm? | Schott Foundation for Public Education

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Webinar: What if We Used Wealth to Heal, not Harm? | Schott Foundation for Public Education Webinar: What if We Used Wealth to Heal, not Harm? What if we used wealth to heal, not harm? What if money was spent trying out concepts that challenge or shatter the structures and systems that have created inequity and disparity? This is the core argument explored by author and nationally-recognized phil

AFT President Randi Weingarten Celebrates Public Schools Week | American Federation of Teachers

by Mike Simpson / 3d

AFT President Randi Weingarten Celebrates Public Schools Week | American Federation of Teachers AFT President Randi Weingarten Celebrates Public Schools Week WASHINGTON —March 25-29 is Public Schools Week, a time when the nation comes together to celebrate one of our greatest values: the promise of public education. The AFT is proud to join educators, parents, community advocates, businesses and

NJ charter schools: Tax money is disappearing into a flawed experiment

by Mike Simpson / 3d

NJ charter schools: Tax money is disappearing into a flawed experiment Millions of your tax dollars have disappeared into NJ's flawed charter school experiment CASHING IN ON CHARTER SCHOOLS: PART ONE NJ taxpayers are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to construct and renovate charter school buildings, but the public doesn't own them. S chool buildings that are paid for with millions of dol

The teacher shortage is real, large and growing, and worse than we thought: The first report in “The Perfect Storm in the Teacher Labor Market” series | Economic Policy Institute

by Mike Simpson / 3d

The teacher shortage is real, large and growing, and worse than we thought: The first report in “The Perfect Storm in the Teacher Labor Market” series | Economic Policy Institute The teacher shortage is real, large and growing, and worse than we thought The first report in “The Perfect Storm in the Teacher Labor Market” series Download PDF This report is the first in a series examining the magnit

Compass Community Schools agree to morality clause with Catholic Church

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Compass Community Schools agree to morality clause with Catholic Church Six Memphis charter schools agree to morality clause with the Catholic Church in lease Six Memphis public schools set to open in the fall could face legal trouble after agreeing to a morality clause in a two-year lease for classroom space from the Catholic Diocese of Memphis. The Compass Community Schools network signed a lea

“Educational Freedom” is False Advertising!

by Mike Simpson / 3d

“Educational Freedom” is False Advertising! “Educational Freedom” is False Advertising! It sounds so patriotic…Educational Freedom. But public education in traditional public schools is what is truly educational freedom. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and other conservatives like former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and current Tennessee Governor Bill Lee are touting their idea of Educational Freedo

Scathing New Report Demands Moratorium on New Grants from Federal Charter Schools Program | janresseger

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Scathing New Report Demands Moratorium on New Grants from Federal Charter Schools Program | janresseger Scathing New Report Demands Moratorium on New Grants from Federal Charter Schools Program The Network for Public Education has released Asleep at the Wheel: How the Federal Charter Schools Program Recklessly Takes Taxpayers and Students for A Ride , a scathing condemnation of the federal Charte

CURMUDGUCATION: The Red Flags In Kamala Harris's Pay Raise Proposal

by Mike Simpson / 3d

CURMUDGUCATION: The Red Flags In Kamala Harris's Pay Raise Proposal The Red Flags In Kamala Harris's Pay Raise Proposal I was so determined not to get into the 2020 election this early, dammit. But the Kamala Harris teacher pay raise proposal hit my screen this morning, and there I was on twitter. I've addressed the larger concerns with the proposal here , but there are other concerns that are le

Children should not be a number.: NYSED Debunked 2019

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Children should not be a number.: NYSED Debunked 2019 NYSED Debunked 2019 As the NYS Education Department and Commissioner Elia continue to pressure local districts and schools to increase their state assessment participation, we have seen basically the same letter used as communication with families across the Empire State. Here is the basic version of what we are seeing as schools mirror the NY

Join the Network for Public Education: It Is Free and Gives You Power | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 3d

Join the Network for Public Education: It Is Free and Gives You Power | Diane Ravitch's blog Join the Network for Public Education: It Is Free and Gives You Power If you liked the NPE report ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL, released today by the Network for Public Education, please consider joining. It is free. We rely on donations. We believe in the power of numbers, combined with a small but amazing staff.

MAR 26

CHECKLIST of Parental Involvement Under ESSA

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Overview of Parental InvolvementUnder ESSA Overview of Parental Involvement Under ESSA The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) serves as the latest reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) which was last reauthorized in 2002 as the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Since its inception, the intent of the law has been to provide all children significant opportunity

DeVos, testifying before Congress, refuses to say whether schools should be allowed to discriminate on basis of sexual orientation or gender identity - The Washington Post

by Mike Simpson / 4d

DeVos, testifying before Congress, refuses to say whether schools should be allowed to discriminate on basis of sexual orientation or gender identity - The Washington Post DeVos, testifying before Congress, refuses to say whether schools should be allowed to discriminate on basis of sexual orientation or gender identity Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was asked repeatedly Tuesday by a member of C

Women’s History Month should have a place women educators

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Women’s History Month should have a place women educators Women’s History Month should have a place for teachers Teachers deserve more credit in the history and financial books G iven that teachers are charged with imparting the contributions of women to their students throughout Women’s History Month, a special place should be reserved during March for the women teachers who go unrecognized. “Yo

4 Important Ways to Help a Grieving Student - Teacher Habits

by Mike Simpson / 4d

4 Important Ways to Help a Grieving Student - Teacher Habits 4 Important Ways to Help a Grieving Student A guest post by Meghan Belnap As a teacher, watching over the mental and emotional health of your students can be difficult. Students who face tragedy are often in need of comfort and extra support, but it can often feel as if your options are limited in regards to how to help. 20 percent of a

Education Research Report

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Education Research Report Education Research Report Prevalence and Treatment of Depression, Anxiety, and Conduct Problems in US Children by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 15min Mental health conditions in childhood have the potential to negatively impact healthy development, interfering with a child’s ability to achieve social, emotional, and cognitive milestones. This has important implications for socia

Network For Public Education uncovers how U.S. DOE wastes a billion on defunct charter schools | Cloaking Inequity

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Network For Public Education uncovers how U.S. DOE wastes a billion on defunct charter schools | Cloaking Inequity NETWORK FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION UNCOVERS HOW U.S. DOE WASTES A BILLION ON DEFUNCT CHARTER SCHOOLS A blistering new report from the Network for Public Education (NPE) documents how the federal government, through the U.S. Department of Education, wastes hundreds of millions of taxpayer d

Long Awaited Bipartisan School Funding Plan Proposed for Ohio | janresseger

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Long Awaited Bipartisan School Funding Plan Proposed for Ohio | janresseger Long Awaited Bipartisan School Funding Plan Proposed for Ohio Yesterday Ohio Representatives Robert Cupp (R-Lima) and John Patterson (D-Jefferson) released a much needed, bipartisan proposal for a new Ohio school funding formula. The Cupp-Patterson Fair School Funding Plan, of course, is preliminary. It will be proposed a

The Geology of School Reform: Social Justice Humanitas Academy in Los Angeles (Part 1) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

by Mike Simpson / 4d

The Geology of School Reform: Social Justice Humanitas Academy in Los Angeles (Part 1) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice The Geology of School Reform: Social Justice Humanitas Academy in Los Angeles (Part 1) Many readers have visited the majestic Grand Canyon. It is an unforgettable sight. What is obvious to visitors are the strata, geological layers of different shades of red

Six Fixes for the College Admissions Scandal | The Merrow Report

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Six Fixes for the College Admissions Scandal | The Merrow Report Six Fixes for the College Admissions Scandal If you Google ‘College Admissions Scandal’, you’ll get 157 MILLION citations. That’s how it is dominating our conversations. It is absorbing stuff, the story of rich people getting yet another advantage in gaining access to the top shelf–but this time getting caught in the act. Some of th

Choosing Democracy: Community Coalition on SCUSD Budget Crisis

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Choosing Democracy: Community Coalition on SCUSD Budget Crisis Community Priority Coalition March 6, 2019 Superintendent Jorge Aguilar Re: SCUSD financial crisis Dear SCUSD Board Members: The Community Priority Coalition (CPC) is very concerned about the Sacramento City Unified School District's financial health and deficit spending that will negatively impact students in the District. The Commun

MAR 25

Report: U.S. government wasted up to $1 billion on charter schools and still fails to adequately monitor grants - The Washington Post

by Mike Simpson / 4d

Report: U.S. government wasted up to $1 billion on charter schools and still fails to adequately monitor grants - The Washington Post Report: U.S. government wasted up to $1 billion on charter schools and still fails to adequately monitor grants The U.S. government has wasted up to $1 billion on charter schools that never opened, or opened and then closed because of mismanagement and other reason

Why School Psychologists Are Worried About the Mental Health of America’s Students | American Civil Liberties Union

by mike simpson / 5d

Why School Psychologists Are Worried About the Mental Health of America’s Students | American Civil Liberties Union Why School Psychologists Are Worried About the Mental Health of America’s Students Earlier this month, thousands of school psychologists met in Atlanta at the annual convention of the National Association of School Psychologists. One of the hottest topics among attendees was exhaust

Asleep at the Wheel: How the Federal Charter Schools Program Recklessly Takes Taxpayers and Students for a Ride - Network For Public Education

by mike simpson / 5d

Asleep at the Wheel: How the Federal Charter Schools Program Recklessly Takes Taxpayers and Students for a Ride - Network For Public Education Asleep at the Wheel: How the Federal Charter Schools Program Recklessly Takes Taxpayers and Students for a Ride Download [6.63 MB] This report details the Network for Public Education’s two month examination of the U.S. Department of Education’s Charter Sc

If the LAUSD’s Goal is “Parent Engagement”, What is the Plan of Action?

by mike simpson / 5d

If the LAUSD’s Goal is “Parent Engagement”, What is the Plan of Action? If the LAUSD’s Goal is “Parent Engagement”, What is the Plan of Action? Complaints about the many obstacles that the public faces when they attempt to participate in meetings of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board are close to universal. Parents of children enrolled in charter schools and those in District schools a

The Wisdom and Wit of Diane Ravitch — Garn Press Coming Soon April 2, 2019

by mike simpson / 5d

The Wisdom and Wit of Diane Ravitch — Garn Press The Wisdom and Wit of Diane Ravitch “DIANE’S RECORD OF SCHOLARSHIP AND ACTIVISM SETS A POWERFUL EXAMPLE FOR US TO GET INVOLVED AND STAY INVOLVED UNTIL THE FIGHT IS WON” – YOHURU R. WILLIAMS, PROFESSOR OF HISTORY, DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS, MINNESOTA Diane’s unwavering support of public education has ma

The UTLA Victory in Context - International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine

by mike simpson / 5d

The UTLA Victory in Context - International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine The UTLA Victory in Context The United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) have won a big, although limited victory, as detailed in Peter Olson’s on-the-ground account in this issue of Against the Current. [ 1 ] The strike is part of a nationwide teachers’ upsurge that began with, and was largely made possible by, the 20

CURMUDGUCATION: OK: Bogus School Efficiency Report

by mike simpson / 5d

CURMUDGUCATION: OK: Bogus School Efficiency Report OK: Bogus School Efficiency Report PIC charter schools are boasting about the results of a new efficiency study of Oklahoma schools, and there are so many layers of deep-fried baloney here it takes a minute or two to dig through them. But when charter boosters start talking about "accountability" and "transparency," this is the kind of bullshit t

Amy O’Rourke’s Charter School Dropped Two Grade Levels That It Still Advertises | deutsch29

by mike simpson / 5d

Amy O’Rourke’s Charter School Dropped Two Grade Levels That It Still Advertises | deutsch29 Amy O’Rourke’s Charter School Dropped Two Grade Levels That It Still Advertises In listening to a news report on presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke’s wife, Amy Sanders O’Rourke, I caught a quick mention of her having started a charter school in El Paso, Texas. La Fe Preparatory School is the name. O’Rour

Badass Teachers Association Blog: Educator's Touch More Lives Than We Realize by Vickie Lynn Harmon

by mike simpson / 5d

Badass Teachers Association Blog: Educator's Touch More Lives Than We Realize by Vickie Lynn Harmon Educator's Touch More Lives Than We Realize by Vickie Lynn Harmon This day during another recent surgery has to be the most profound for me as a teacher. When my assigned nurse anesthetist came to my room to discuss my previous history of anesthesia, (his badge was not on at the time), I looked int

What You're Not Gonna Do [Vox] | The Jose Vilson

by mike simpson / 5d

What You're Not Gonna Do [Vox] | The Jose Vilson WHAT YOU’RE NOT GONNA DO [VOX] This weekend, I’ve spent the majority of my Internet time swatting detractors of my latest piece on Vox about the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT). Here, an excerpt: Essentially, these schools enshrined into law the right to ignore school performance, grades, interviews, standardized state exams, or any

MAR 24

California: An Alert for Supporters of Public Schools! | Diane Ravitch's blog

by mike simpson / 6d

California: An Alert for Supporters of Public Schools! | Diane Ravitch's blog California: An Alert for Supporters of Public Schools! A reader in California asks for help to fix one of the charter reform bill that has a big loophole. He writes: “Thank you for all you do for public education. In California right now are 4 assembly Bills – AB-1505 – AB-1508. “AB-1508 in particular is intended to ena

Is School Funding Fair? A National Report Card

by mike simpson / 6d

School Funding Fairness Is School Funding Fair? A National Report Card The ability of state school finance systems to fairly deliver resources to students is an essential precondition for the delivery of high quality ed ucation. States must provide a sufficient level of funding that is fairly distributed to address the additional needs generated by poverty, English language learner status, studen

CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: My Brother's Birthday Edition (3/24)

by mike simpson / 6d

CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: My Brother's Birthday Edition (3/24) ICYMI: My Brother's Birthday Edition (3/24) It's my brother's birthday today. I'll have to tell you my brother's story someday-- it's an object lesson in how predicting a child's future when they are still in school is, in fact, a fool's game. In the meantime, here is your weekly batch o'reading. If More Teachers Were Men Another way of

NYC Educator: Can This Happen Here?

by mike simpson / 6d

NYC Educator: Can This Happen Here? Can This Happen Here? Some geniuses in Indiana thought it would be a cool idea, during an "active shooter drill," to actually shoot teachers . They decided to be sports about the whole thing and used non-lethal bullets. However, just because they didn't kill the teachers, don't assume they didn't injure them: Teachers at an elementary school in Indiana were lef

2019 Medley #6: WTF Edition | Live Long and Prosper

by mike simpson / 6d

2019 Medley #6: WTF Edition | Live Long and Prosper 2019 Medley #6: WTF Edition Dear Life: WTF, Shooting Teachers as PD, Children are Trying to Save the Planet, Intelligence: Not a Plus for Presidential Candidates WTF! Some days are like that. DEAR LIFE: WTF A lifelong teacher Everyone who knows me or reads this blog knows by now that our BFD of NEIFPE, Phyllis Bush, passed away last week. Last y

My Favorite Posts That Appeared In March | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

by mike simpson / 6d

My Favorite Posts That Appeared In March | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... MY FAVORITE POSTS THAT APPEARED IN MARCH I regularly highlight my picks for the most useful posts for each month — not including “The Best…” lists. I also use some of them in a more extensive monthly newsletter I send-out. You can see older Best Posts of the Month at Websites Of The Month (more recent lists can be

Stand Up For LAUSD Parent Voices

by mike simpson / 6d

Stand Up For LAUSD Parent Voices Stand Up For LAUSD Parent Voices We are looking at our Board rules soon to make sure that we can hear all voices. Time of meetings and all things I think are valid concerns.” – LAUSD Board Member Nick Melvoin While other local school districts hold School Board meetings in the evening when working parents can attend, the LAUSD holds their meetings during the schoo

MAR 23

Top Posts This Week 3/23/19 #Unite4SACKids #WeAreSCTA #WeAreCTA #strikeready #REDFORED #SCTA #CTA

by mike simpson / 6d

Top Posts This Week 3/23/19 Bill Gates says AI should improve education and medicine - CNET Jeff Bryant: Our Schools - Independent Media Institute Education Gurus 30 - Global Gurus The LAUSD Empire Strikes Back