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Saturday, July 27, 2019

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Posts This Week 7/27/19



Are you an educator ready to run for office? This could be your chance. - Education Votes

by Mike Simpson / 1h
Are you an educator ready to run for office? This could be your chance. “I was so excited about attending the See Educators Run training in Dallas, and even more excited about running for office by the time I left,” said North Carolina member Joseph Sorce, who attended the program in 2017. NEA’s See Educators Run training is especially designed for educators who are ready to run for office. Atte
From Hot Meals to PB&Js: The Realities Of School Lunch Debt - 1A

by Mike Simpson / 2h
From Hot Meals to PB&Js: The Realities Of School Lunch Debt What happens when a student incurs debt from meals provided at school? One Pennsylvania school district tried to collect on that debt by sending parents a letter threatening that their children could be taken from them. The New York Times reported on the case: “Your child has been sent to school every day without money and without a bre
Who Elected the California Charter School Association?

by Mike Simpson / 2h
Who Elected the California Charter School Association? We ask that you please do not forward or otherwise share this document. ” – CCSA Staffer Cassy Horton While Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) District 4 Board Member Nick Melvoin has laughed off the idea of holding public meetings in the evening when more stakeholders can attend, an agenda secured by Michael Kohlhaas dot org shows
5 Tips for Classroom Fundraising When Traditional Routes Aren’t Cutting It - Teacher Habits

by Mike Simpson / 2h
5 Tips for Classroom Fundraising When Traditional Routes Aren’t Cutting It Guest Writer: Anica Oaks Raising enough funds to bring additional materials and activities to the classroom isn’t always easy, and the traditional routes don’t always work. This is especially true if you’re teaching in a non-“core” curriculum subject like art, theatre, or sports. Educators, it’s time to think outside of t
Learning to Read | Teacher in a strange land

by Mike Simpson / 2h
Learning to Read When educators talk about the Reading Wars , they’re not overexaggerating. With the possible exception of the similarly bitter Math Wars, there’s no pedagogical battlefield more littered with sacred-cow theories, bold statements, unsubstantiated policy and outright acrimony. Recently, the combat has heated up again, with a handful of irate but organized parents and a spokesperso
Portrait of a Charter Entrepreneur: Ron Packard | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 3h
Portrait of a Charter Entrepreneur: Ron Packard When we consider the charter industry, it’s hard not to notice how it has become fertile territory for entrepreneurs with no education experience. Take a case in point: The meteoric career of Ron Packard. Begin by reading this dated biography, posted on SourceWatch. When it was written, Ron was making $5 million a year as CEO of the online charter
CURMUDGUCATION: FL: Next Surveillance State Deadline Approaching

by Mike Simpson / 3h
FL: Next Surveillance State Deadline Approaching In the wake of the murders at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, the great state of Florida decided to make a giant leap forward in establishing a surveillance state , proposing a data base that would collect giant massive tanker cars full of data from every public sources imaginable as well as social media. It will provide a one-stop shop for singlin
Seattle Schools Community Forum: People For Seattle Are Telling Tales (and no surprise who's part of it)

by Mike Simpson / 4h
People For Seattle Are Telling Tales (and no surprise who's part of it) It came to my attention that there was a recent article in The Stranger about linking the candidacies of both Zachary DeWolf and current CM Kshama Sawant who are both running for City Council in a flyer. The flyer comes from the "People for Seattle" PAC. It's a group that has no Facebook page, no Twitter handle and no way to
On What Page Are The New Connecticut Commissioner of Education And The State Board Of Education? | Real Learning CT

by Mike Simpson / 4h
On What Page Are The New Connecticut Commissioner of Education And The State Board Of Education? After the embarrassing and ungracious offering of the job of Connecticut Commissioner of Education to one person, then withdrawing the offer, and then offering the job to a second person, the reason given to the public for choosing the second person was that the State Board of Education wanted a Comm
THIS WEEK Education Research Report

by Mike Simpson / 4h
Education Research Report THIS WEEK Education Research Report Comparing effects of educational interventions on literacy skills in Grade 1 by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 1d Two large-scale studies examined the effects of policy and educational interventions on literacy skills in children schooled in zones with specific educational needs. To calculate the potential effects of such interventions, treatme
This Week With Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007

by Mike Simpson / 4h
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 New Resources On Race & Racism by Larry Ferlazzo / 9h I’m adding these new resources to various “Best” lists. You can find links to all of those many lists that relate to race and racism at “Bes
KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all

by Mike Simpson / 4h
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 Portrait of a Charter Entrepreneur: Ron Packard by dianeravitch / 26min When we con

YESTERDAY

CURMUDGUCATION: Eight Weeks of Summer: Where Are We Now? Deprogramming.

by Mike Simpson / 1d
Eight Weeks of Summer: Where Are We Now? Deprogramming. This post is week 7 of 8 in the 8 Weeks of Summer Blog Challenge for educators. I've been doing the challenge because why not? Mostly I've been answering as my pre-retirement self, but we may mix it up a bit this week. Here's the prompt: Check-in on where you are in your summer learning journey and your overall professional journey . When I
CURMUDGUCATION: The Busing Conversation We Should Be Having

by Mike Simpson / 1d
The Busing Conversation We Should Be Having Originally posted at Forbes (June 29) So apparently, thanks to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, we're all going to talk about busing some more. That's a conversation many Americans have been having, sort of, for a long time. When Joe Biden was a freshman congressman, I was a high school junior. In my rural small town and mostly white high school, we were a
The MetWest High School Story (Part 6) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

by Mike Simpson / 1d
The MetWest High School Story (Part 6) I now sum up what I have learned about this small Oakland high school and render a judgment about its “success.” As I have stated “success” is not an either/or verdict. It has as many facets as does the crown of a cut diamond. Depending upon the available light, these facets shine brilliantly. MetWest’s ”success” is multi-faceted, highly political, yet mark
It's Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... A VERY BUSY DAY | The latest news and resources in education since 2007

by Mike Simpson / 1d
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Ed Tech Digest by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h Six years ago, in another somewhat futile attempt to reduce the backlog of resources I want to share, I began this occasional “” post where I share three or four links I think are particularly useful and related to…ed tech, including some Web 2.0 apps. You might al
State Takeovers: Radical Seizure of School Districts vs. Organic, Community Grounded School Improvement | janresseger

by Mike Simpson / 1d
State Takeovers: Radical Seizure of School Districts vs. Organic, Community Grounded School Improvement This blog will take a one-week, mid-summer break. Look for a new post on Monday, August 5. We are in the midst of a wave of state school takeovers. On Tuesday evening In Providence, Rhode Island , the state Council of Elementary and Secondary Education granted the authority for Rhode Island’s
National Charter School Advocacy Exec’s Lackluster State Advocacy Results | deutsch29

by Mike Simpson / 1d
National Charter School Advocacy Exec’s Lackluster State Advocacy Results On July 19, 2019, West Virginia Public Broadcasting published a piece entitled, “Q&A: National Charter School Proponent Weighs in on W.Va.’s Education Bill.” The piece opens as follows: Emily Schultz is the director for state advocacy and policy with the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools [NAPCS]. Lawmakers consu
Shanker Blog: The Role of States in Teacher Pay Gaps | National Education Policy Center

by Mike Simpson / 1d
Shanker Blog: The Role of States in Teacher Pay Gaps We recently published a research brief looking at gaps in pay between teachers and comparable non-teacher professionals. These gaps are sometimes called “teaching penalties.” The brief draws on data from the School Finance Indicators Database (SFID), a collection of school finance and resource allocation measures published by the Shanker Insti

JUL 25

Growing Scandal at Sacramento School District: Additional Email Reveals More Deception - Sacramento City Teachers Association

by Mike Simpson / 1d
FCMAT Emails Show District Deceived Community - Sacramento City Teachers Association Growing Scandal at Sacramento School District: Additional Email Reveals More Deception, Hiding Facts and Fiscal Mismanagement From the Public District aware of $7 million per year windfall due to undercounting students on April 1, but pushed ahead with layoffs in May and higher class sizes for students Link Avail
Does Twitter’s new design make you grumpy? Use this extension to turn back time | Digital Trends #newtwitter #newtwitterdesign

by Mike Simpson / 1d
Craving the Old Twitter Design? This Browser Extension Will Help | Digital Trends Does Twitter’s new design make you grumpy? Use this extension to turn back time Twitter for desktop now looks a bit more like the Twitter app — but not everyone is in love with the new design. For the change-wary users already referring to Twitter’s “good old days,” there’s a new browser extension that will make Twi
Inside Betsy DeVos’ Billions: Just How Rich Is The Education Secretary?

by Mike Simpson / 2d
Inside Betsy DeVos’ Billions: Just How Rich Is The Education Secretary? This is the fifth in a series that explores the personal fortunes of President Trump’s cabinet officials. See more on Mike Pence , William Barr , Steven Mnuchin and Wilbur Ross . A mong Donald Trump’s historically rich cabinet members, Betsy DeVos is the richest. But for more than two years, the extent of her finances has be
Dissent within statewide task force adds tension to California’s charter school debate | EdSource

by Mike Simpson / 2d
Dissent within statewide task force adds tension to California’s charter school debate There was disagreement over which proposals to forward to Gov. Newsom Sitting on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk is a document that has added fuel to the roiling debate over legislation that would limit the growth of charter schools in California. Newsom hasn’t taken a public position on the 13-page report by the Cal
Milliken v. Bradley: Supreme Court Case Has Helped Keep Schools Segregated : NPR

by Mike Simpson / 2d
This Supreme Court Case Made School District Lines A Tool For Segregation Roughly 9 million children — nearly 1 in 5 public school students in the U.S. — attend schools that are racially isolated and receive far less money than schools just a few miles away. That's according to a sweeping new review of the nation's most divisive school district borders from EdBuild, a nonprofit that investigates
Jersey Jazzman: What's Really Happening In Camden's Schools

by Mike Simpson / 2d
What's Really Happening In Camden's Schools This latest series on Camden's schools is in three parts: Part I Part II Part III (this post) I want to wrap up this series of posts about Camden's schools with a look at the latest CREDO report , which the supporters of recent "reforms" keep citing as proof of those reforms' success. Long time readers know the CREDO reports, issued by the Center for R
How segregation keeps students of color out of richer nearby districts - Vox

by Mike Simpson / 2d
How segregation keeps poor students of color out of whiter, richer nearby districts See how your local school district compares. Much of the conversation about school segregation in America is about how to lessen segregation within a school district , ensuring students of all races in the same district can study together in the same school. That’s the kind of policy Joe Biden opposed in the 1970
CURMUDGUCATION: FL: Trees and the Taj Mahal

by Mike Simpson / 2d
FL: Trees and the Taj Mahal Florida Education Commissioner is angry with Duval Schools Superintendent Diana Greene. Grr mad. Really really mad. Corcoran was previously the speaker of the house, where he pushed a variety of privatization moves. In particular, he pushed the " Schools of Hope ," a cool plan in which public schools that were having trouble w ould be targeted for direct charter compe
‘Home-school charters’ let families use state dollars for Disneyland, horseback riding lessons and more - Los Angeles Times

by Mike Simpson / 2d
‘Home-school charters’ let families use state dollars for Disneyland, horseback riding lessons and more In California, there’s a way parents can use money from the government to buy multi-day Disneyland Park Hopper passes, San Diego Zoo family memberships, tickets to Medieval Times and dolphin encounters at SeaWorld. There are a handful of charter schools that give students’ families as much as
La. Supt. John White Fabricates Three Years Of Teaching Into Five To Garner Questionable Certification | HuffPost

by Mike Simpson / 2d
La. Supt. John White Fabricates Three Years Of Teaching Into Five To Garner Questionable Certification Louisiana has three levels of ed leader certification. Ed Leader 1 requires no teaching experience. Ed Leader 2 requires three years of teaching experience in one’s area of certification. And Ed Leader 3 requires five years of teaching experience in one’s area of certification. White does not h
The MetWest High School Story (Part 5) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

by Mike Simpson / 2d
The MetWest High School Story (Part 5) Internships Forty percent of the school week is devoted to Learning Through Internships (LTI). Every teacher/advisor meets with their students in and out of school to discuss the work done at the intern site, the on-site mentor, and any issues that have arisen. As in all Big Picture schools, MetWest has structured the academic year to have students search f

JUL 24

America’s New School Lunch Policy: Punishing Hungry Students for Their Parents’ Poverty | gadflyonthewallblog

by Mike Simpson / 2d
America’s New School Lunch Policy: Punishing Hungry Students for Their Parents’ Poverty There are few things as bad as a hungry child. Hunched over an aching stomach as the school day creeps toward its end, one in six children go hungry in America today. It’s harder to learn when you’re malnourished and in pain – especially for children. It should be harder for adults to let them go hungry . Yet
CURMUDGUCATION: CA: Any Warm Body

by Mike Simpson / 3d
CA: Any Warm Body California is in the midst of a legislative battle over charters , with the charter business suffering the prospect of a crackdown after years of happy life in the Land of Do As You Please. There are many issues and voices flying about, but the Pasadena Star-News just chose to speak up for one of the odder old arguments of charter fans-- that charter schools shouldn't have to h
MATT BARNUM : When school turnarounds backfire: North Carolina’s effort offers a cautionary tale

by Mike Simpson / 3d
When school turnarounds backfire: North Carolina’s effort offers a cautionary tale When school turnarounds backfire: North Carolina’s effort offers a cautionary tale A few years ago, North Carolina school officials looked at a group of its struggling schools and decided: we need to help. State officials designed a turnaround strategy for those 75 schools, which were largely rural and served mostl
Teacher's union head calls DeVos handling of student loan forgiveness program 'a travesty' | TheHill

by Mike Simpson / 3d
Teacher's union head calls DeVos handling of student loan forgiveness program 'a travesty' The head of the teachers union suing the Department of Education is slamming Secretary Betsy DeVos , calling her mismanagement of the public service student loan forgiveness program a “travesty” and a “betrayal” to millions of Americans. Randi Weingarten , who is president of the American Federation of Tea
Emails Show DeVos Aides Pulled Strings for Failing For-Profit Colleges - The New York Times

by Mike Simpson / 3d
Emails Show DeVos Aides Pulled Strings for Failing For-Profit Colleges WASHINGTON — Dream Center Education Holdings, a subsidiary of a Los Angeles-based megachurch, had no experience in higher education when it petitioned the federal Education Department to let it take over a troubled chain of for-profit trade schools. But the organization’s chairman, Randall K. Barton, told the education secret
Beyond Suspensions: Examining School Discipline Policies & Connections to the School-to-Prison Pipeline for Students of Color with Disabilities

by Mike Simpson / 3d
Today, July 23, the Commission released "Beyond Suspensions: Examining School Discipline Policies & Connections to the School-to-Prison Pipeline for Students of Color with Disabilities." Join Chair Catherine E. Lhamon & Commissioner Karen K. Narasaki for a conference call on the report at 10:45 am EDT. Dial-in: 800-353-6461, conf. ID 7829324. See just-released report at: https://bit.ly/2xJve5Z #
How the 'School Choice' Movement Has its Roots in Racism - Citizen Truth

by Mike Simpson / 3d
How the ‘School Choice’ Movement Has its Roots in Racism “We have experimented educationally on children who are poor, who are of color, who go to underfunded schools. We come up with ways of teaching them that are experiments and have absolutely no kind of basis in research.” Charter schools and the “school choice” movement have become a major part of the fabric of the American education system
Corporate, data-driven education has been an 'Epic' failure

by Mike Simpson / 3d
Corporate, data-driven education has been an ‘Epic’ failure G rowing up in Oklahoma , physical evidence of corruption was always in plain sight. Riding down the highway, my father would tell me how the road’s surface just changed from one type of asphalt to another because that was all the contractor’s bribes paid for. When I became old enough to work blue collar jobs , I realized how the disreg
Raj Chetty Believes His New Harvard Institute Will Re-Energize the American Dream | janresseger

by Mike Simpson / 3d
Raj Chetty Believes His New Harvard Institute Will Re-Energize the American Dream Raj Chetty, the superstar, big-data economist, has returned to Harvard from Stanford to establish his own Opportunity Insights research and policy institute, a project seeded with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative. Chetty’s research has created an Opportunity Atlas,
Jersey Jazzman: Camden, Charter Schools, and a Very Big Lie

by Mike Simpson / 3d
Camden, Charter Schools, and a Very Big Lie Let's get back to the deeply flawed editorial from this week's Star-Ledger that I wrote about yesterday. In that post , I explained how "creaming" -- the practice of taking only those students who are likely to score high on standardized tests -- is likely a major contributor to the "success" of certain charter schools. Charter school advocates do not
Does high stakes testing lead to drill and kill, aka, poor instructional practices or is testing necessary to provide accountability and assure equity for poor students of color? | Ed In The Apple

by Mike Simpson / 3d
Does high stakes testing lead to drill and kill, aka, poor instructional practices or is testing necessary to provide accountability and assure equity for poor students of color? Education in New York State is edging towards a crossroads: will the next commissioner and the Board of Regents begin to challenge high stakes testing, namely federally mandated grades three to eight testing and the reg

JUL 23

Great Books Great Reading Experiences Garn Press

by Mike Simpson / 3d
Garn Press GarnPress on Tweeter @ GarnPress WEBSITE: garnpress.com At Garn we promise to continue publishing great books and providing great reading opportunities for readers that encourage all of us to be brave, be fearless, and not forget to imagine the extraordinary opportunities of being human in these most challenging times. Garn Press publishes award-winning nonfiction that explores compel
Peter Greene: The Problem With Comparisons In Education

by Mike Simpson / 3d
The Problem With Comparisons In Education The Problem With Comparisons In Education Which is the best movie: Ghostbusters , Singin' In The Rain , Casablanca , or Avengers: Endgame ? It depends, of course, on how we choose to compare them. Based on level of romance? On the happiest ending? Best dancing? Most money made? Best use of Sigourney Weaver? Criteria make all the difference. But it's not j
MSDE releases digital devices safety guidelines, receives backlash | Spotlight | stardem.com

by Mike Simpson / 3d
MSDE releases digital devices safety guidelines, receives backlash BALTIMORE — The Maryland State Department of Education, Monday, July 1, released a long-anticipated list of health and safety practices for digital device use by children in schools. The list, which came after a push by parents and lawmakers to protect children against the effects of excessive exposure to device screens, offered
John Merrow: Why We Have Public Schools

by Mike Simpson / 3d
Why We Have Public Schools Why We Have Public Schools Why do we have public schools? Prior to the pervasive growth and ubiquity of the internet, it was easy to answer that question because a school’s objectives were clear and rarely questioned: 1) teach, 2) socialize and 3) provide custodial care. Today, two of the three do not apply, and that means big trouble. Let me address them in order. Prov
'We Should Send Her Back,' Democrat Says of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos

by Mike Simpson / 4d
'WE SHOULD SEND HER BACK,' DEMOCRAT SAYS OF EDUCATION SECRETARY BETSY DEVOS S enator Debbie Stabenow took a page from the president's political playbook on Monday, repeating a controversial phrase used by Donald Trump to say that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos should be sent back to her home state of Michigan, a suggestion that she should be removed from her post in Donald Trump's cabinet. "I r
Education groups accuse AG's office of 'harassment' | The Daily Gazette

by Mike Simpson / 4d
Education groups accuse AG's office of 'harassment' Over two dozen advocacy groups have been subpoenaed in statewide education funding lawsuit Over two dozen education advocacy groups have been subpoenaed by Attorney General Tish James' office in an ongoing lawsuit challenging New York's education funding – subpoenas the groups argue detract from their core missions of serving students, parents
Jan Resseger: Eight Essential Facts About Charter Schools | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 4d
Jan Resseger: Eight Essential Facts About Charter Schools The Charter Industry has led a sterling marketing campaign to persuade the public that they are public schools, that they are far better than “traditional” public schools, and that they are hotbeds of innovation. None of this is true. They are privately managed schools. They receive public money but they are not public schools. Other than
Multiple boards oversee Epic Charter Schools

by Mike Simpson / 4d
Multiple boards oversee Epic Charter Schools ( Editor’s note : This story was authored by Jennifer Palmer of Oklahoma Watch and appears here in accordance with the non-profit journalism organization’s republishing terms . ) In his request for a search warrant, a law enforcement agent described Epic Charter Schools as being set up a decade ago as a profit-generating “scheme.” And he described the
Congress broke a promise to properly fund a law protecting students with disabilities. Here are the serious consequences. - The Washington Post

by Mike Simpson / 4d
Congress broke a promise to properly fund a law protecting students with disabilities. Here are the serious consequences. In January 2017, Betsy DeVos, who was soon to become President Trump’s education secretary, appeared before Congress at her confirmation hearing and displayed ignorance about a key federal law aimed at protecting students with disabilities. The law is the Individuals With Dis
CURMUDGUCATION: How School Choice Undermines Democratic Processes

by Mike Simpson / 4d
How School Choice Undermines Democratic Processes Opponents of school choice in its many forms often talk about processes and institutions and policies, but one way to grasp choice-created problems is simple, old fashioned, and non wonky. Just look at who is holding the purse strings. In the public school system, the money is controlled by some combination of taxpayer-elected local school board
Results for America: Nonprofits Manfacturing Nonprofits | deutsch29

by Mike Simpson / 4d
Results for America: Nonprofits Manfacturing Nonprofits I give you newly-formed (sort of) Results for America (RFA), which started as an “initiative” of the self-described “nonprofit accelerator,” America Achieves. In other words, America Achieves became a nonprofit that works to create other nonprofits to promote corporate-styled-and-advertised change. (” America Achieves is a nonprofit acceler

JUL 22

Cynthia Liu: California’s Strong Charter Accountability Bills Weakened by the Governor—Why? - Progressive.org

by Mike Simpson / 4d
California’s Strong Charter Accountability Bills Weakened by the Governor—Why? - Progressive.org California’s Strong Charter Accountability Bills Weakened by the Governor—Why? A grassroots effort to close charter loopholes made its way to the State Assembly, just to be undermined by the state’s highest office. Cynthia Liu T wo 2019 teacher strikes in California capped a series of walkouts in 2018
Jersey Jazzman: How Student "Creaming" Works

by Mike Simpson / 4d
How Student "Creaming" Works There is, as usual, so much wrong in this Star-Ledger editorial on Camden's schools that it will probably take several posts for me to correct all of its mistakes. But there's one assertion, right at the very top, that folks have been making recently about Newark's schools that needs to be corrected immediately: Last year, for the first time ever, the low-income, mos
CURMUDGUCATION: What Killed Lesson Planning?

by Mike Simpson / 4d
What Killed Lesson Planning? Are lesson plans a big fat waste of time? Well, yes, and no. But is something currently killing them? Sadly, yes. Why Lesson Planning Is Invaluable I read this piece arguing against them and kind of dismissed it and forgot about it until Nancy Flanagan brought the subject up again (Do you follow Nancy Flanagan regularly? You should). As usual, I agree with most every
2019 Medley #12: Reading | Live Long and Prosper

by Mike Simpson / 4d
2019 Medley #12: Reading What is reading? Is it more than decoding? Is it only comprehension? Reading Hall of Fame member Richard Allington has a nuanced discussion about it here. When should we teach reading? Do four-year-olds need “reading instruction? Five-year-olds? High achieving Finland doesn’t teach five- or six-year-olds to read …unless the teacher determines that they’re ready. In the U
MetWest High School Story (Part 4) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

by Mike Simpson / 4d
MetWest High School Story (Part 4) Big Picture Learning schools have as part of their design “Authentic Assessment.” It means that “[s]tudents are assessed not by tests, but by public displays of learning that track growth and progress in the student’s area of interest. Assessment criteria are individualized to the student and the real world standards of a project. Students present multiple exhi
Charter school management in other states if full of schemers and scams Kentucky should avoid them | Lexington Herald Leader

by Mike Simpson / 4d
Charter school management full of schemers and scams. Kentucky should avoid them. In 2016, Jeff Yass, the billionaire founder of a Pennsylvania global trading company donated $100,000 to a political action committee called Kentuckians for Strong Leadership. The PAC, according to its website, is dedicated to preserving the political fortunes of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and in 2016,
Opinions harden amid Epic investigation

by Mike Simpson / 5d
Opinions harden amid Epic investigation Over the past several years the Epic Charter Schools system has become one of the most disruptive forces in Oklahoma education, quickly growing into the state’s largest virtual school that critics say operates in the shadows of the law, while supporters see an alternative education model bringing necessary change to the status quo. Those differing opinions
The Country’s Largest Charter School Expands into a Construction Zone

by Mike Simpson / 5d
The Country’s Largest Charter School Expands into a Construction Zone Planning: A basic management function involving formulation of one or more detailed plans to achieve optimum balance of needs or demands with the available resources. The planning process (1) identifies the goals or objectives to be achieved, (2) formulates strategies to achieve them, (3) arranges or creates the means required
Lesson Plans and Other Problematic Tools of Teaching | Teacher in a strange land

by Mike Simpson / 5d
Lesson Plans and Other Problematic Tools of Teaching Once, back in the early days of teacher blogging, I was part of a cadre of ‘recognized’ educators (I know—the term makes me cringe, too), who were pumping out blogs for a national magazine making the transition to an online format. We were posting every two days, because our editor was a little manic about fresh content as key to increased tra
Should all teachers be certified? Charter school leaders say no… | Eclectablog

by Mike Simpson / 5d
Should all teachers be certified? Charter school leaders say no… “I wouldn’t want to be the one that tells Gov. Jerry Brown that he can’t teach a government class because he would otherwise have to go back to college,” said Myrna Castrejón, president and CEO of the California Charter Schools Association. I would. Because Jerry Brown is in no way qualified, prepared, certified, or remotely capabl
St. Paul: Will a Historic Church Be Razed to Make Room for a Segregated White Charter School? | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 5d
St. Paul: Will a Historic Church Be Razed to Make Room for a Segregated White Charter School? Sarah Lahm wrote in The Progressive about a community battle in St. Paul, Minnesota, over the fate of a historic church building. The church in question is St. Andrew’s. Built in 1927 in the Romanesque Revival style, the brown brick church boasts an impressive, multicolored terra-cotta tile roof and a h
Illinois pension buyout plan is a bust and I’m shocked – shocked – to know there’s gambling going on. – Fred Klonsky

by Mike Simpson / 5d
ILLINOIS PENSION BUYOUT PLAN IS A BUST AND I’M SHOCKED – SHOCKED – TO KNOW THERE’S GAMBLING GOING ON. Those running this state never give up on trying to avoid confronting the state’s huge public pension debt with anything but stupid schemes instead of timely, actuarial payments. They tried their schemes again when they all praised themselves for agreeing to Rauner’s third budget try. They inclu
A Tempest in a Sterling Silver Teapot | janresseger

by Mike Simpson / 5d
A Tempest in a Sterling Silver Teapot Fortunately, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recognizes injustice at least in instances when it results from political fights among those who can manipulate power and money on a grand scale. We can be thankful that he vetoed one amendment slipped into the state budget right at the last minute without any debate. The amendment was added by Ohio Senator Matt Dolan,

JUL 21

What School Segregation Looks Like in the US Today

by Mike Simpson / 5d
What School Segregation Looks Like in the US Today 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 schools and she was bused to school every day. And that little girl was me,” Harris said in
Catch Up With Curmudgucation

by Mike Simpson / 5d
CURMUDGUCATION AND DON'T FORGET PETER GREENE ON FORBES CLICK HERE Eight Weeks Of Summer: Getting It Done 25 by Peter Greene / 5d 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 o
Force and Flunk, Tougher Kindergarten Lead to Parental Dissatisfaction with Public Schools

by Mike Simpson / 5d
Force and Flunk, Tougher Kindergarten Lead to Parental Dissatisfaction with Public Schools When children aren’t reading according to the corporate time frame set by Jeb Bush and his ilk (non-educators who want to privatize public education), parents become dissatisfied, even angry with public school officials and teachers when their children fail. The goal of many corporations is to end public e
What Does 'Personalized Learning' Even Mean?

by Mike Simpson / 5d
What Does 'Personalized Learning' Even Mean? Personalized learning is all over the educational landscape these days, even though nobody can offer a clear and consistent explanation for what it might be. The field encompasses everyone from teachers designing more effective methods to businesses with a new edu-product to sell. Assuming for the moment that there is no solid, universal definition, l
Why won’t the charter school industry acknowledge its failures? | Salon.com

by Mike Simpson / 6d
Why won’t the charter school industry acknowledge its failures? Nationwide, the litany of charter school outrages continues to grow. Why won't the industry reform? N ews broke recently about what may be the single biggest charter school scam ever in which an online charter school organization is alleged to have bilked the state of California for $80 million by enrolling tens of thousands of stud
Shawgi Tell: Charter Schools Fetishize Parents and “The Kids” While Ignoring the Role of Education in a Modern Society | Dissident Voice

by Mike Simpson / 6d
Charter Schools Fetishize Parents and “The Kids” While Ignoring the Role of Education in a Modern Society | Dissident Voice Charter Schools Fetishize Parents and “The Kids” While Ignoring the Role of Education in a Modern Society The role of education in a society is to consciously pass on the accumulated knowledge of humanity to the next generation so that society keeps moving forward. This is e
A defining moment for democracy - AFT Voices

by Mike Simpson / 6d
A defining moment for democracy Teachers have always had a huge responsibility for the next generation: To teach and nurture students so they have the opportunity to live fulfilling lives. To make our classrooms and schools safe and affirming. To help young people develop the skills, confidence and sense of responsibility to be engaged citizens. Today the role of America’s teachers is even bigge
Laura Chapman on the Center for American Progress Plan to Return to the Bush-Obama Agenda | Diane Ravitch's blog

by Mike Simpson / 6d
Laura Chapman on the Center for American Progress Plan to Return to the Bush-Obama Agenda Laura Chapman has been doing research on the Center for American Progress, which the media views as the voice of the Democratic Party. This may be the most depressing thing you read today. It calls for a return to the principles of No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top. Both failed. CAP wants to resuscit
The making you old face app. – Fred Klonsky

by Mike Simpson / 6d
THE MAKING YOU OLD FACE APP. The Face App thing may have run its course. You know the one. It was supposedly invented by the Russians to divert us from Trump or something. And then Trump, obsessed with attention, diverted us back away from an app that would show us what we looked like when we got old. Some people were freaking out that this was a Russian plot to get pictures of your face. I just
Oklahoma’s EPIC Virtual Charter School: Too Much Money, Too Fast, and More | deutsch29

by Mike Simpson / 6d
Oklahoma’s EPIC Virtual Charter School: Too Much Money, Too Fast, and More According to the July 17, 2019, Oklahoman , the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) served Epic Charter Schools, the largest virtual charter school chain in the state, with a search warrant; OSBI alleges that Epic’s co-founders, David Chaney and Ben Harris, have been stealing public money via inflating school en
Rutgers–again–betrays the legacy of Paul Robeson. For $11 million. |

by Mike Simpson / 6d
Rutgers–again–betrays the legacy of Paul Robeson. For $11 million. Paul Robeson was nothing less than a “force of nature,” according to the cover article in the most recent Rutgers Magazine , an alumni publication. He lived a “remarkable life” that “stirred the world.” He left behind “an extraordinary legacy in athletics, the arts, and…the fight for human rights.” But, no matter how powerful a f
The MetWest High School Story (Part 3) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

by Mike Simpson / 6d
The MetWest High School Story (Part 3) Here is a class I observed at the school. From Design to Classroom: A 27 year veteran of teaching in OUSD, Shannon Carey greets me at the door when I arrive at 8:30. She is wearing a UC Berkeley shirt (teachers that day wore clothes that advertised where they attended college) over jeans and dark ankle boots. The classroom furniture is arranged in a horsesh

JUL 20



Top Posts This Week 7/20/19 #REDFORED

by Mike Simpson / 6d
Big Education Ape Top Posts This Week 7/20/19 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 Washington Post The Science and Science Labs that Students Miss at a Time When Science is Critical Casey, Aspen, United Way & The Two-Generation Con – Wrench in the Gears


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