Which Schools Might Close?
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One item - A reader said that the district really should use clear language
in what is happening.
*The message to parents talks about “consolidating” fi...
Two Front Pages: 2016 and 2024
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Veteran journalist James Fallows put up a post today on his blog comparing
the front page of the New York Times on October 29, 2016 to the front page
of th...
The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books
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https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/11/the-elite-college-students-who-cant-read-books/679945/?gift=zXzXUEZZZLHi5sK2YilNUD9CLqEES1pTD-XJg_PM...
Seditious Trump is a criminal.
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Donald Trump “resorted to crimes” in a failed bid to cling to power after
losing the 2020 election, federal prosecutors said in a newly unsealed
cour...
Science of Learning; an Education Fraud
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By Thomas Ultican 10/2/2024 On September 24, The 74 headline read, “What
Happens When a 48K-Student District Commits to the ‘Science of Learning’ –
In Fred...
Only 1% of math teachers say they use AI “a lot”
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In the Spring of 2024, RAND found that 82% of surveyed math teachers
have never used AI tools for their mathematics teaching. 1% said they use
it “Often.” ...
“Union Mouth”
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So—when we’re immersed in the pre-election floodwaters of political revenge
speech, it’s easy to snicker at the misfortune, if that’s the word, of
right-wi...
Prime Palindromes
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I haven’t done a math puzzle in a while. Maybe a year? But I play with
math. A lot. If I see puzzles, why not share them? What is the largest
4-digit prime...
Names and Places: Asheville, NC 2024
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Names My mother’s parents can be fairly described as “characters.” Even as
a small child, I found them fascinating, fun, and a treat to visit. The
thing th...
¿Cuál es el poder de su voto?
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En People's Action, creemos que la gente como tu y yo podemos tomar las
decisiones correctas para nuestras vidas y la de nuestro país. Por eso
estamos pasa...
TWO UPCOMING READINGS WITH TWO DAZZLING COMRADES.
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PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD FAR AND WIDE!! Friday, Oct. 4 City Lit Books w/
Alice Kim 6:30 – 7:30pm @ 2523 N Kedzie Blvd, Chicago Details Monday, Oct.
7 Volumes...
Be Wary of the Well Intentioned Man
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“Don’t blame the boss. He has enough problems.” ― Donald Rumsfeld
Everybody talks about how tired parents are during the infant years of
child-rearing. I...
“Necessary But Not Sufficient”
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Many schools, both public and private, are banning cellphones. Is this a
good idea? Let me present three connected points and a (seemingly) logical
conclus...
September’s Parent Engagement Resources
-
A Back-to-School Guide for Connecting with Families is from ASCD. What all
parents can learn from the troubled AI in Los Angeles schools
https://t.co/4I5Q7...
The Jea Street Article
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I would be hard pressed to find anyone who has fought for the students of
Wilmington schools more than Jea Street. I first heard of him when he led
the cha...
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...
Could there be a "Silver Wave" for Harris/Walz?
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Bill McKibben raises this question, and goes beyond the obvious concern
that those of us who are seniors (I am 78) have for Social Security and
Medicare....
Dear AD55 Voters: She Se Puede!
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Click here for image I am so grateful for your support in the March primary
LACDP race …I do not…
The post Dear AD55 Voters: She Se Puede! first appeared...
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...
Time to Rein in Vouchers
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Universal voucher programs have, in many states led to substantial budget
stress (Baker, 2024;[1] Hager, 2024). Initial cost estimates in Florida
were that...
A Challenge for the UFT and NYSUT
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After my July 23 blog post, a legal eagle fanboi reached out to a member of
The Crack Team with a solution to the plight of those waiting years to have
a...
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 ...
15 Questions for the Candidates
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Those citizens who fantasize about defying tyranny from within fortified
compounds have never understood how liberty is actually threatened in a
modern bur...
Bibliography for History Posts on This Blog
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I remember when school reformers insisted the biggest problem
in education was that teachers didn't come from the best colleges.
Bibliography
VER...
We are making a CPESS documentary!
-
In 2020, I was approached by Deborah Meier and Jane Andrais and I decided
we should document the story of Central Park East Secondary School (CPESS).
This ...
Volunteer in 2024
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Be the change, volunteer and make the difference! Let’s face it, the world
is in turmoil, and divisive politics in our country is threatening our
democracy...
The Sky is Falling, or is it?
-
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
-
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...
Skin Deep
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She spends so much time on her outward appearance. There is never a hair
out of place. Her makeup is perfect and her clothes are stylish and match
to ...
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...
-
*Defeating the Purpose of Education*
*Updated: May 2024*
*Most people would agree that the primary purpose of education is to
prepare children for a good a...
THERE IS A TEACHER SHORTAGE. NOT!
-
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 certi...
Abortion: Only For Those Who Need It!
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NOTE: This post contains my opinions on Catholicism based on my experiences
as a child in the 1960's and 70's. Take what you like and leave the rest. I
m...
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...
On the Edge of Silence
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“There is but one truly serious philosophical problem and that is suicide.
Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the
fundamen...
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
-
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...
GA run-offs need your help!
-
Extremely important. Volunteer if you can. Thank you if you are already
doing so. Out of state opportunities here: Ralph …
Continue reading →
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...
A Fundamental Redesign of Our Schools
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I climbed the hill leading up to one of my favorite coffee shops in Seattle
this morning to enjoy a coffee while taking in a phenomenal view of the
city o...
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...
Thoughts on schooling in the era of COVID-19
-
Well, a whole lot has changed since I returned to blogging a month and half
ago. In case you didn't notice, and I'm sure everyone reading this did,
there's...
NAEP scores and "the science of reading"
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*Sent to US News. They just informed me that they no longer publish
letters to the editor. *
*Re: “National reading emergency” November 12*
*[https://www...
2019 NAEP Scores: Achievement Gap or …?
-
Here you go: A ‘Disturbing’ Assessment: Sagging Reading Scores,
Particularly for Eighth-Graders, Headline 2019’s Disappointing NAEP Results
NAEP 2019: Re...
Cara Menang Bermain Judi Bola Online
-
Bermain judi bola online tentu saja memiliki kesenangannya tersendiri baik
itu mendapatkan keuntungan maupun ketika menantikan hasil skor pada sebuah
perta...
A Storm is Coming! (…again)
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A new Commissioner will have as much impact on our state ed system as a new
meteorologist will have on …
Continue reading →
Déjà vu: 2019 ELA Assessment: Dear Board of Regents
-
Dear Board of Regents,
I have copied below an email I sent to you almost a year ago, after the
2018 ELA assessment's computer-based testing failures and mo...
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...
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
-
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...
3rd Grade Reading: Who is Failing?
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Education Trust Midwest has just released its study on third grade reading
and, predictably, the results aren’t great. This study uniquely compares
Michiga...
Opting out of the Dinosaur (end of year test)
-
Today I sent in a second letter to refuse PARCC/CMAS for my son, Luke. The
first email I sent at the beginning of the year was not sufficient as they
requi...
Resurrection
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I realized it's Lent, but this blog, bless Jesus Christ, can't wait.
Ok, so with that said, I plan to discuss Class Action suits in existence,
as well as w...
IDEA Is Still The Law Of The Land
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Unless you've been living under a rock, you know the US Department of
Education (USDOE) rescinded 72 Dear Colleague and other letters of
explanation to ...
Education Is a Civic Question
-
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...
An Open Letter to NC Lawmakers
-
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)
-
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
-
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...
Capturing the Spark
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It’s been a long time since InterACT was an active education blog, though I
remain quite proud of what we did here. Those of us who wrote blog posts
here h...
Random Musings and Observations. . . .
-
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...
WTU Peterson Slate: Not a 1 Woman Dictatorship
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Candi Peterson & GeLynn Thompson
Candidates for WTU Prez & GVP 2016By Candi Peterson, WTU Gen. Vice President
*Statements or expressions of opinions herein...
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
-
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...
Flaws at the Heart of Current Education Reforms
-
Originally posted on Creative by Nature:
“Teaching is an art form rooted in the wise and careful use of educational
research and assessment tools. When gove...
The MAP Test
-
Teachers will be voting this afternoon on the contract that has been
tentatively agreed upon. I am asking all teachers to not allow an
evaluation system th...
The Israel loyalty oath. Teachers in Texas. Pensions in Chicago and Illinois. – Fred Klonsky The Israel loyalty oath. Teachers in Texas. Pensions in Chicago and Illinois. Ilhan Omar, the courageous Congress member from Minnesota, has introduced a bill affirming that Americans have the right to participate in economic boycotts for political purposes. The legislation doesn’t specifically mention th
Tone deaf DeVos disrespects educators in South Carolina - Education Votes Tone deaf DeVos disrespects educators in South Carolina Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos demonstrated her apathy toward underpaid educators yet again during a visit to Nephron, a South Carolina pharmaceutical company, on Thursday. While the purpose of DeVos’ visit was to call attention to a Trump administration initiative
What Should You Do If Your Students Start Using Chatspeak in Assignments? - Teacher Habits What Should You Do If Your Students Start Using Chatspeak in Assignments? Guest Writer: Agatha Singer As it always is with the matters related to teaching, your reaction to some issue should be determined on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, if your students start using chatspeak in their creative writing as
John Thompson: The Cruel Policy of Punishing Little Children to Raise Their Test Scores | Diane Ravitch's blog John Thompson: The Cruel Policy of Punishing Little Children to Raise Their Test Scores John Thompson, historian and retired teacher in Oklahoma, posts frequently about education in his state. Last week, National Public Radio’s Alexandra Starr first reported on Florida’s mandatory retent
School District Threatens Kids Could End Up In Foster Care Over Unpaid Lunches | HuffPost Life School District Threatens Kids Could End Up In Foster Care Over Unpaid Lunches A letter sent to parents in Pennsylvania's Wyoming Valley West School District says parents could be taken to court over children's lunch debt. KINGSTON, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania school district is warning that children coul
eBackpack Bankruptcy May Put Student & Teacher Data in Peril | gadflyonthewallblog eBackpack Bankruptcy May Put Student &\ Teacher Data in Peril Teachers put their assignments into an on-line data base. Students access them on their computers, iPads or other devices and then submit their work via the Internet. What could go wrong? Plenty. Especially when the company that provides this service goe
New Orleans: One of City’s Oldest Charter Organizations Closes Down Amid Multiple Scandals | Diane Ravitch's blog New Orleans: One of City’s Oldest Charter Organizations Closes Down Amid Multiple Scandals The University of New Orleans was one of the first to jump into chartering after Hurricane Katrina, and it just announced that it is closing down its charter organization, New Beginnings, as a r
Education Research Report THIS WEEK Education Research Report Teachers should have broader access to high-quality professional development x by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 10min A new report by EPI Economist Emma García and Research Associate Elaine Weiss looks at the career supports and professional development available to teachers and discusses how they can exacerbate the teacher shortage. The autho
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 This Week With Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 August 9th Is The International Day Of The World’s Indigenous People – Here Are Related Teaching & Learning Resources by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h Greenstock / Pixabay The United Nations has declared
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all Big Education Ape: My New Book Was Just Announced! | Diane Ravitch's blog - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2019/05/my-new-book-was-just-announced-diane.html New Orleans: One of City’s Oldest Charter Organizations Closes Down Amid Multiple S
Once Again Public School Students Are Left Holding The Bag Once Again Public School Students Are Left Holding The Bag “ Our intention in establishing GANAS Academy was to provide families with an alternative option to public education for their child. ” - GANAS Academy The LAUSD budgeted $15,920,300 to renovate facilities for charter schools in 2019 When the GANAS Academy Charter School applied t
Sacramento City Unified officials slammed by fiscal adviser | The Sacramento Bee ‘No confidence’: State adviser slammed Sac City Unified officials in fiscal crisis, emails show An independent fiscal adviser blasted the Sacramento City Unified School District this spring while it was calculating huge cuts to jobs and programs, saying he had “no confidence” in its business staff or their data. “It
Teachers Pay Teachers Is Not the Problem - Teacher Habits Teachers Pay Teachers Is Not the Problem (A few disclosures: I have a Teachers Pay Teachers account. I think I have two products for sale. Last month, I made 24 cents. So this isn’t something vital to my financial survival. Second, I don’t often buy things from Teachers Pay Teachers. I’ve probably downloaded five or six freebies and purcha
What school segregation looks like in the US today, in 4 charts – Raw Story What school segregation looks like in the US today, in 4 charts Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, a senator from California, has spoken about how she benefited from attending Berkeley’s desegregated schools . “There was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public sch
Michael Kohlhaas: Charter School Pays Consultant $850 for Every Student He Signs Up | Diane Ravitch's blog Michael Kohlhaas: Charter School Pays Consultant $850 for Every Student He Signs Up Blogger Michael Kohlhaas continues to pore through the treasure trove of leaked emails that he received concerning the charter industry in Los Angeles. There apparently are thousands of them, and he reports t
Student Test Scores May Play a Smaller Role in Future PA Teacher Evaluations | gadflyonthewallblog Student Test Scores May Play a Smaller Role in Future PA Teacher Evaluations Pennsylvania lawmakers may have finally realized that treating teachers like crap isn’t a good way to improve public schools. Across the country it’s getting harder to fill teaching positions with qualified educators. And t
Ohio Budget Sets Moratorium on New State Takeovers of School Districts, Fails to Resolve Lorain Crisis | janresseger Ohio Budget Sets Moratorium on New State Takeovers of School Districts, Fails to Resolve Lorain Crisis State budgets outline what sort of public investment is possible within the revenue constraints of any state government. They also outline the spending priorities of the majority.
Here’s what’s missing in music education: Cultural and social relevance - The Washington Post Here’s what’s missing in music education: Cultural and social relevance Lee Whitmore is executive director of the Grammy Music Education Coalition , a nonprofit collective dedicated to expanding music education in elementary and secondary schools. A former music teacher who says he was trained in “the tr
USDOE Alert: Security Breach at 62 Colleges Using the Ellucian Banner Tech/Data System | deutsch29 USDOE Alert: Security Breach at 62 Colleges Using the Ellucian Banner Tech/Data System On July 17, 2019, the US Department of Education (USDOE) Office of Federal Student Aid posted the following security breach announcement “regarding the active and ongoing exploitation of a previously identified vu
Badass Teachers Association Blog: Charter Scandal a Product of Shabby Law and Ignored Oversight by Thomas Ultican Charter Scandal a Product of Shabby Law and Ignored Oversight by Thomas Ultican Originally posted at: https://tultican.com/2019/07/07/charter-scandal-a-product-of-shabby-law-and-ignored-oversight/?fbclid=IwAR23CqY7_uOiqKG_6WiJ0zsck4iY_kUeX2ZzSrZEkBqeFn-TyKa2Uws8v6k Notoriously clever
NYS Education Commissioner Resigns (to move to another “Educational Opportunity”): Should the Next Commissioner Be an Innovator, a Reformer, an Administrator? | Ed In The Apple NYS Education Commissioner Resigns (to move to another “Educational Opportunity”): Should the Next Commissioner Be an Innovator, a Reformer, an Administrator? The July meeting of the Board of Regents is usually a discussio
THE PURPOSE OF SCHOOL: "TO HELP GROW AMERICAN CITIZENS" THE PURPOSE OF SCHOOL: "TO HELP GROW AMERICAN CITIZENS" What exactly is the public purpose of school? Why do communities invest in the education of all their young, instead of simply leaving the task of education to families? We know that parents send children to school for a host of reasons, but the larger purpose--the communal goal--is wor
Charter School Case Exposes Big Loopholes in How the State Funds Schools - Voice of San Diego Charter School Case Exposes Big Loopholes in How the State Funds Schools Here are three vulnerabilities the alleged A3 charter school scam revealed in how California tracks attendance and allocates funding that could be exploited by bad actors. Last month, an explosive indictment filed in San Diego alleg
Teachers Union President: Illegal Immigrants Don't Cause Overcrowding Teachers Union President: Illegal Immigration Doesn't Cause Overcrowding, It Makes Public Schools 'Stronger' WASHINGTON -- Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, the second-largest teachers' labor union in the nation, said illegal immigration makes America's public school system "stronger" by bringi
Los Angeles: Board Member Shares Secret Information with Charter Lobbyists First | Diane Ravitch's blog Los Angeles: Board Member Shares Secret Information with Charter Lobbyists First Jack Covey, a regular reader and contributor, posted the following comment about the latest revelation from blogger Michael Kohlhaas in Los Angeles. Kohlhaas (which may be a pseudonym) somehow gained access to a tr
Congratulations to Breanna Hall, Schott's Proud #PublicSchoolGrad Scholarship Winner | Schott Foundation for Public Education Congratulations to Breanna Hall, Schott's Proud #PublicSchoolGrad Scholarship Winner Local public schools and their educators have produced America’s most brilliant artists, scientists, doctors, musicians, lawyers, presidents, and more — people from all walks of life, cont
MetWest High School Story (Part 2) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice MetWest High School Story (Part 2) Part 2 deals with MetWest High School principals, the design of the school, and the Big Picture Learning network of schools to which MetWest belongs. School Leadership The founding teachers left in 2005 and since then there have been four principals who have accepted and ada
Casey, Aspen, United Way & The Two-Generation Con – Wrench in the Gears Casey, Aspen, United Way & The Two-Generation Con In a previous post, When We’re The Packages , I discussed the role the Annie E. Casey Foundation (UPS $) played in developing the field of human capital impact investing. One infrastructure element developed and promoted by the foundation is data collection across multiple-gen
FCC changes its rules, puts educational broadband service on free market FCC changes its rules, puts educational spectrum up for open auction Rural school districts had hoped to close “homework gaps” via access to wireless spectrum set aside for educational use 50 years ago A lot has been written about the “homework gap” in recent years, meaning the disadvantage placed on students in low-income a
Law enforcement seizes records of closed L.A. charter school - Los Angeles Times Law enforcement seizes records of closed L.A. charter school Federal law enforcement agents have seized records from the home of the former director of Community Preparatory Academy, a Los Angeles charter school that recently closed amid allegations of fiscal mismanagement. The raid was carried out Tuesday morning by
Reforming California’s Dysfunctional Charter School Law | tultican Reforming California’s Dysfunctional Charter School Law By T. Ultican 7/17/2019 Members of the California legislature have engaged in an internecine battle over charter schools. Even the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) has expressed concern over lawless cyber charters and filed the first known complaint with the Cali
A Storm is Coming! (…again) | lacetothetop A Storm is Coming! (…again) A new Commissioner will have as much impact on our state ed system as a new meteorologist will have on the weather. We will be told a storm is coming, to buy milk, and stay tuned after to see how badly some were hit in the most underserved areas. Then the new Commissioner will unveil a “new” plan (that will sound identical to
Oakland Parent Jane Nylund Writes a Letter to Governor Gavin Newsom | Diane Ravitch's blog Oakland Parent Jane Nylund Writes a Letter to Governor Gavin Newsom Dear Governor Newsom : It is with profound disappointment that I heard that your office was responsible for essentially gutting the main features of these charter reform bills. While I can only speculate on the reasoning for essentially cav
NYSAPE Calls for a Commissioner Who Puts the Needs of Students First | Diane Ravitch's blog NYSAPE Calls for a Commissioner Who Puts the Needs of Students First NYSAPE-New York State Allies for Public Education-is the leading voice for parents and educators who want a forward-looking education agenda, not one that slavishly promotes No Child Left Behind-style policies of test-and-punish. It has l
Trump Picked the Perfect Education Secretary in Betsy DeVos - Bloomberg Trump Picked His Perfect Education Secretary in Betsy DeVos For all the years since Jimmy Carter picked Shirley Hufstedler in 1979 to be the first holder of the title, it’s been a tradition for the U.S. education secretary to address the annual gathering of the hundreds of journalists covering their department. Two years ago,
Moneyball For Government: Poverty Mining in Philadelphia – Wrench in the Gears Moneyball For Government: Poverty Mining in Philadelphia We finally got a new computer with enough memory for me to be able to edit the talk I gave at Wooden Shoe Books on May 9, 2019. It’s two hours long and covers quite a bit of ground. We had a couple dozen folks attend in person and many wanted to stay after and co
OSBI warrant: 'Ghost students' at Epic OSBI warrant: 'Ghost students' at Epic A state investigation alleges Epic Charter Schools, the state’s largest virtual charter school system, embezzled millions in state funds by illegally inflating enrollment counts with “ghost students.” The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation alleged Epic co-founders David Chaney and Ben Harris “devised a scheme to use
The AFT: Betsy DeVos Is Shortchanging Teachers - The Atlantic The Financial Calamity That Is the Teaching Profession Teachers are suing the government over debt relief that never came—but their financial problems go much deeper than student loans. America needs teachers: A majority of the country’s most experienced K–12 educators are expected to retire in the next few years, while research sugges
Jake Jacobs: Democratic Candidates Speak Double-talk about Charters | Diane Ravitch's blog Jake Jacobs: Democratic Candidates Speak Double-talk about Charters Jake Jacobs, a teacher in New York and BAT activist, writes in the Progressive about the pathetic evasion s of Democratic Candidates when asked directly about their stance on charter schools. Public school educators and advocates have been
Myths and Hype Fueled Charter School Expansion: Here Are 8 Essential Facts | janresseger Myths and Hype Fueled Charter School Expansion: Here Are 8 Essential Facts If you value the role of public schools—locally governed, publicly owned and operated—whose mission is to serve the needs and protect the rights of every child, you can be more supportive if you know the facts about charter schools. Th
Mike Klonsky's Blog: The power in a word The power in a word Response to the R-word, from the right was violent and swift. Trump's former ICE director threatened our congressman, Chuy Garcia with a "beating" after Chuy aggressively questioned him about the horrid conditions in the detention centers. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi got in trouble Tuesday for calling President Donald Trump’s racist twee
Charters and Dalios: What Do You Have To Hide? | Real Learning CT Charters and Dalios: What Do You Have To Hide? True enough: A Hartford Courant editorial (Sunday, July 14, 2019) strongly criticized the stipulation that the Dalio Foundation put on its offer to Connecticut public schools. The Dalio Foundation has committed 100 million dollars to Connecticut public education if we taxpayers also co
NYC Public School Parents: Commissioner Elia resigns; let's hope for a better one next time! Commissioner Elia resigns; let's hope for a better one next time! The serious concerns we expressed yesterday and shared with the Board of Regents about NYSED's new proposed privacy regs were overwhelmed in news of Commissioner Elia's sudden resignation . What wasn't reported on in the media crush, at lea
CURMUDGUCATION: Eight Weeks Of Summer: Getting It Done Eight Weeks Of Summer: Getting It Done This post is week 6 of 8 in the 8 Weeks of Summer Blog Challenge for educators . I've been doing this challenge because why not. I answer the prompts as my pre-tirement self. Here's this week's question: How are you planning to implement change next school year? This often depended on the change. For lot
As Hate Incidents Rise, States Require Teaching the Holocaust | The Pew Charitable Trusts As Hate Incidents Rise, States Require Teaching the Holocaust The Pew Charitable Trusts WASHINGTON, D.C. — Claire Sarnowski of Lake Oswego, Oregon, met Holocaust survivor Alter Wiener at a school event five years ago when she was 9 years old. Because her aunt had arranged the talk by the Holocaust survivor,
DeVos' use of personal email as secretary probed by House Democrats - POLITICO DeVos' use of personal email as secretary probed by House Democrats House Oversight Chairman Elijah Cummings said Monday that he is expanding an investigation into the use of personal email by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Cummings told DeVos in a letter that his move came after "disturbing new revelations" released
Are Phones Distracting Teachers Too? - Teacher Habits Are Phones Distracting Teachers Too? Guest Writer: Frankie Wallace It’s hard to find anyone without a smartphone nowadays. Adults and kids alike seem to be glued to these handheld devices around the clock. While smartphones are meant to keep us connected and help us access useful information and tools, they can also end up causing a lot of pro
AFT PRESIDENT WEINGARTEN: PUERTO RICO GOVERNOR RICARDO ROSSELLO IS “REPREHENSIBLE” MUST RESIGN “IMMEDIATELY” | Black Star News AFT PRESIDENT WEINGARTEN: PUERTO RICO GOVERNOR RICARDO ROSSELLO IS “REPREHENSIBLE” MUST RESIGN “IMMEDIATELY” [Puerto Rico News] AFT's Weingarten: says to Puerto Rico's Governor Ricardo Rossello "it’s time to uphold your promise to lead by example and quit.” Photo: Wikimed
With A Brooklyn Accent: The Faces of Deported Children in the French Holocaust Museum The Faces of Deported Children in the French Holocaust Museum Along with the literally scores of positive memories that I will treasure from our 10 day trip to France, there is one image that will haunt me for all my days . It comes from the Shoah ( Holocaust) Museum in Paris and it was inspired by a small room,
The MetWest High School Story (Part 1) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice The MetWest High School Story (Part 1) Readers who have followed this blog know that I am writing a book about success and failure in American schools. Over the past year I have posted sections including descriptions of teachers I observed in two California high schools: Social Justice Humanitas Academy i
Schooling in the Ownership Society: K12 Inc. Data Breach Puts thousands of students at risk K12 Inc. Data Breach Puts thousands of students at risk It's hard to believe school districts are still contracting with this horrible company. K12 Inc. is the largest for-profit online alternative to actual public schooling. Trump's Ed Secretary Betsy DeVos touts the company and other for-profit cyber cha
How eight elite San Francisco families funded Gavin Newsom’s political ascent - Los Angeles Times How eight elite San Francisco families funded Gavin Newsom’s political ascent Gavin Newsom wasn’t born rich, but he was born connected — and those alliances have paid handsome dividends throughout his career. A coterie of San Francisco’s wealthiest families has backed him at every step of his politic
Why MaryEllen Elia, the New York education commissioner, is surprisingly set to resign Why MaryEllen Elia, the New York education commissioner, is surprisingly set to resign ALBANY - MaryEllen Elia, the New York education commissioner, will resign at the end of August to take a position with a national education group. Elia, the state's first woman education commissioner, submitted a resignation
What Can We Learn From An Experimental High Tech Wunderschool Failure? What Can We Learn From An Experimental High Tech Wunderschool Failure? Max Ventilla launched AltSchool quietly enough in 2013, but within two years it was a hot Silicon Valley startup. In 2015, $100 million of investment dollars from major education reform players like Mark Zuckerberg and the Emerson Collective spurred an impr
NYC Public School Parents: NYSED attempts to radically weaken NY Student privacy law to allow for the selling of student data NYSED attempts to radically weaken NY Student privacy law to allow for the selling of student data Here and below is a letter that NYSAPE, Class Size Matters and the Parent Coalition for Student Privacy sent to the Board of Regents last night. The Regents were set to discu
Tax credit for stay-at-home parents: the new proposal, explained - Vox Parenting can be a full-time job. Activists want the tax code to treat it that way. A “caregiver EITC” would reward parents who stay at home. About 11 million parents in the US don’t work for a wage. Most of those are stay-at-home moms primarily at home for caregiving reasons, but it’s a group that also includes ill or disable
Bill Phillis: Who Is Protecting Imam Gulen? | Diane Ravitch's blog Bill Phillis: Who Is Protecting Imam Gulen? Charter schools associated with the Gulen movement are found in many states. They have many different names, like Magnolia, Harmony, Sonoran and more. There are more than 150 of them. If asked, they always deny that they are Gulen schools. The best source for identifying Gulen schools is
PA Officials Want to Replace Bad Keystone Exams with Bad College Entrance Exams | gadflyonthewallblog PA Officials Want to Replace Bad Keystone Exams with Bad College Entrance Exams Pennsylvania officials are scandalized that the Commonwealth is wasting more than $100 million on unnecessary and unfair Keystone Exams . They’d rather the state spend slightly less on biased college entrance exams. S
Jeff Bryant: Why Won’t the Charter Industry Admit Its Failures and Clean House? | Diane Ravitch's blog Jeff Bryant: Why Won’t the Charter Industry Admit Its Failures and Clean House? Jeff Bryant notes the escalating scandals surrounding the charter industry, creating a stench that can’t be covered up and hidden. Yet the charter industry refuses to acknowledge its problems and act to correct them
AFT Sues Betsy DeVos over Mismanaged, Deceptive Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program | janresseger AFT Sues Betsy DeVos over Mismanaged, Deceptive Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program The federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program has denied 99 percent of borrowers who—with the expectation their student loans would be forgiven after a decade—have worked for ten years in public service
Former TFAer/TFA Exec (shh…) Allison Serafin: From Texas, to Nevada, and Back to Texas | deutsch29 Former TFAer/TFA Exec (shh…) Allison Serafin: From Texas, to Nevada, and Back to Texas In April 2016, the Las Vegas Review-Journal published an article about former VP of the Nevada State board of Education, Allison Serafin, who resigned from the board in December 2015 because of a conflict of inter
The Science and Science Labs that Students Miss at a Time When Science is Critical The Science and Science Labs that Students Miss at a Time When Science is Critical Why are students being held back from being the best they can be in science? Making scientific advancements through exploration involves good preparation of the ninety percent of students who attend public schools across the country.
CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: House Painting Edition (7/14) ICYMI: House Painting Edition (7/14) Yes, we're getting the house painted. If that's not fun, I don't know what is. But in the meantime, here's some reading for you. How Did We Miss This? The story of the Indiana cyberschool collecting money for ghost students. Palm Beach Real Estate What can you do when you're a charter school entrepreneur? Se
Ideology at work: The politics of school choice research | Cloaking Inequity IDEOLOGY AT WORK: THE POLITICS OF SCHOOL CHOICE RESEARCH Ever wonder why a lion’s share of positive (non-peer reviewed) findings about school choice come from certain places? We take on that question in our new piece published in the 2nd edition of the Handbook of Research on School Choice . To conceptualize the politics
Betsy DeVos shows her true colors | Salon.com Betsy DeVos shows her true colors Education Department won’t give up blocking efforts to help disabled minority students T he U.S. Department of Education’s various attempts to stall the implementation of federal regulations created by the Obama administration to address racial disparities in special education has blown up into a civil rights issue th
States Are Ratcheting Up Reading Expectations For 3rd-Graders : NPR States Are Ratcheting Up Reading Expectations For 3rd-Graders Changes in education policy often emanate from the federal government. Think Common Core, the set of standards established in 2010 for what U.S. students should know. But one policy that has spread across the country came not from Washington, D.C., but from Florida. "M
Powerful, First-Ever Federal Hearing on “Identifying, Preventing and Treating Childhood Trauma” | LucidWitness.com POWERFUL, FIRST-EVER FEDERAL HEARING ON “IDENTIFYING, PREVENTING AND TREATING CHILDHOOD TRAUMA” Riveting and emotional: The full, first-ever Congressional hearing on “Identifying, Preventing and Treating Childhood Trauma” by the Oversight Committee chaired by Representative Elijah Cu
Beware! Powerful Koch Network Starts New Group to Fight Public Schools | Diane Ravitch's blog Beware! Powerful Koch Network Starts New Group to Fight Public Schools Charles Koch and his network of wealthy donors have created a new Astroturf organization called “Yes Every Kid” to promote school choice and take public money away from public schools. Yes, they are targeting “every kid” as a prime pr
Big Education Ape Top Posts This Week 7/13/19 The real story of New Orleans and its charter schools - The Washington Post Bill Gates spent hundreds of millions of dollars to improve teaching. New report says it was a bust. - The