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Saturday, September 5, 2020

TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 9/5/20 #REDFORED #tbats #COVID-19 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #BidenHarris2020 #SAFETYFIRST

  Big Education Ape



TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 9/5/20




TOP POSTS THIS MONTH 9/5/20


POSTS THIS WEEK 9/5/20



What happened? | JD2718
Big Education Ape / 15min
What happened? August 19 and August 20 the United Federation of Teachers leadership began work towards a school reopening job action. NYC and the NYC Department of Education had been mostly uncooperative all summer. 
Parents, Districts, and NAACP Win Major Victory over DeVos | Cloaking Inequity
by Mike Simpson / 24min
PARENTS, DISTRICTS, AND NAACP WIN MAJOR VICTORY OVER DEVOS I received the following press release from the Education Law Center about the DeVos defeat at the hands of the NAACP in court this past week. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Late this afternoon, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in NAACP v. DeVos , striking down a rule that imposes unlawful conditi
Charter Schools' Clear Statement in the Face of Ethics - LA Progressive
by Mike Simpson / 24min
Charter Schools’ Clear Statement in the Face of Ethics Charter Schools Find Gold in Federal Government Aid to Small Businesses While Black-Owned Firms Get the Shaft T he charter school industry has done much during the COVID-19 pandemic to add to systemic inequities that afflict Black communities by hijacking small business relief aid originally intended for minority-owned businesses and redirec
'No resources, just threats, bullying, and bluster:' AFT president on Trump's handling of back-to-school
by Mike Simpson / 24min
'No resources, just threats, bullying and bluster:' AFT president on Trump's handling of back-to-school Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden recently slammed President Donald Trump for his lack of leadership during the back-to-school season, a sentiment shared by the American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten. She joined Yahoo Finance to discuss the union’s concerns about
ACLU warns 500 Texas school districts to revise discriminatory dress codes | The Texas Tribune
by Mike Simpson / 24min
ACLU warns 500 Texas school districts to revise discriminatory dress codes The letter comes two weeks after a federal judge blocked the Barbers Hill Independent School District from keeping a dress code policy that advocates have called racist. The Texas arm of the American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter Wednesday to nearly 500 school districts across the state asking them to revise dress c
Steel Valley Schools Will Reopen Fully Remote Rather Than Compromise on Safety | gadflyonthewallblog
by Mike Simpson / 2h
Steel Valley Schools Will Reopen Fully Remote Rather Than Compromise on Safety Thursday would have been the first day of in-person classes for hundreds of students at Steel Valley Schools. But instead, district buildings will be closed and classes will be 100% virtual for all students. The Western Pennsylvania district just south of Pittsburgh had planned to reopen with a hybrid model during the
Breaking! Federal Judge Rejects DeVos’ Efforts to Give Federal Funding to Private Schools | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 2h
Breaking! Federal Judge Rejects DeVos’ Efforts to Give Federal Funding to Private Schools Secretary of Education DeVos issued a rule requiring states to share coronavirus relief funds with private schools, irrespective of need or low-income status. News from the NAACP, the Education Law Center, and the Southern Poverty Law Center: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 4, 2020 Contacts: Ashley Levett,
NYCDoE Denies Medical Accommodations for Serious Risk Factors | JD2718
by Mike Simpson / 2h
NYCDoE Denies Medical Accommodations for Serious Risk Factors Unconfirmed – but likely true. Update – they denied MOST, not all It appears that the New York City Department of Education has denied every request most requests for accommodation by a school nurse – even those with serious risk factors (eg. immunocompromised) and multiple risk factors. The DoE needs nurses in every building to open.
AN EMERITUS QUESTION – Dad Gone Wild
by Mike Simpson / 2h
AN EMERITUS QUESTION “Please don’t grow up to be one of those men who lie for the sport of it, and most men do. That’s a fact. That’s why the world is so messed up, Noah. That’s why history books are full of so much heartache, and tragedy. Politicians, dictators, kings, phoney-baloney preachers-most of ’em are men, and most of ’em lie like rugs” ― Carl Hiaasen, Flush “Remember the key to life,”
Choose a Teacher! | Live Long and Prosper
by Mike Simpson / 2h
Choose a Teacher! IN NOVEMBER: DUMP DEVOS The upcoming election gives us the chance to change the occupant of the White House, which would also, thankfully, remove the person who purchased the office of Secretary of Education . Betsy DeVos’s tenure at the US Education Department has not gone well. From her lack of educational qualifications to the “ Where are the pencils ” tweet to the attempt t
SSPI THURMOND STUFF THIS WEEK FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
by Mike Simpson / 2h
California Department of Education SEP 03 Parent Engagement Modules Series 1d The presents information and strategies for parents to develop their capacity to support their children at school and at home. Serie de módulos sobre la participación de padres 1d La tiene información y estrategias para que los padres desarrollen la capacidad de apoyar a sus hijos en la escuela y en su casa. SEP 01 Ini
THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE)
by Mike Simpson / 2h
NewBlackMan (in Exile) Claudia Rankine's 'Just Us' Is A Conversation, Not A Prescription by Mark Anthony Neal / 12h ' Claudia Rankine 's award-winning poetry collection Citizen came out in 2014 — the year of the protests in Ferguson, Mo., over the death of Michael Brown. Her latest book arrives as the same problems afflict the United States. It's called Just Us: An American Conversation , and it
THIS WEEK Education Research Report
by Mike Simpson / 2h
Education Research Report THIS WEEK Education Research Report Heavy TV and computer use impacts children's academic results by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 2d Grade 3 students who watch more than two hours of TV daily or spend more than one hour a day on a computer experience a decline in academic results two years later, a new study has found. The research led by the Murdoch Children's Research Institu
THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007
by Mike Simpson / 2h
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Around The Web In ESL/EFL/ELL by Larry Ferlazzo / 9h BiljaST / Pixabay Six years ago I began this regular feature where I share a few posts and resources from around the Web related to E
KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all
by Mike Simpson / 2h
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 David Dayen: How Little Can the GOP Do for Working People? by dianeravitch / 11min David Dayen writes a daily update on the pandemic crisis for the American Prospect. It is called “Unsanitized.” I highly recommend it. In this post , he recounts t

YESTERDAY

Maurice Cunningham: Why the Waltons and Koch Support Charter Schools | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 23h
Maurice Cunningham: Why the Waltons and Koch Support Charter Schools Maurice Cunningham, a political science professor at the University of Massachusetts, specializes in exposing the role of Dark Money in education. If you read my book, Slaying Goliath, you know that Cunningham’s research and blog posts helped to turn the tide against a state referendum in 2016 to expand the number of charter sc
It’s an honor to even be mentioned for US Secretary of Education | Cloaking Inequity
by Mike Simpson / 23h
IT’S AN HONOR TO EVEN BE MENTIONED FOR US SECRETARY OF EDUCATION There are many shortlists appearing nowadays for US Secretary of Education— upon a change of administration. I blogged a few weeks ago about an interesting list that covered the ideological spectrum in the post Biden’s U.S. Secretary of Education shortlist? It’s a blessing to even be mentioned in the @DiverseIssues article consider
A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007
by Mike Simpson / 23h
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Ed Tech Digest by Larry Ferlazzo / 4h Nine 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
Parent Engagement Modules Series - Migrant (CA Dept of Education)
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Parent Engagement Modules Series The Parent Engagement Modules Series presents information and strategies for parents to develop their capacity to support their children at school and at home. Versión en español de la Serie de módulos sobre la participación de padres A primary factor in student achievement and overall well-being, parents (or guardians) play an integral part in their children’s l
DeVos Stands Up For Testocracy
by Mike Simpson / 1d
DeVos Stands Up For Testocracy Thursday, Betsy DeVos issued a letter clarifying the Department of Education's position on postponing the Big Standardized Test this year, and it closes one of the few remaining gaps between DeVos and Arne Duncan. In a letter to chief state school officers, DeVos noted that there has been a pandemic. She thanked the school leaders for their efforts to meet the need
Video: Start off school by watching, “Teaching When The World Is On Fire”
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Video: Start off school by watching, “Teaching When The World Is On Fire” Dr. Lisa Delpit, Sarah Ishmael, Jonathan Tunstall, & Jesse Hagopian on the struggle for racial justice in education . Our world is literally on fire–whether it’s the climate change fueled fires in California or the police terror fulled fires from the uprising for Black lives–and educators have a special responsibility in t
The School Reopening Gamble
by Mike Simpson / 1d
The School Reopening Gamble In the next week or so, schools districts all over the country will reopen their buildings as their new year begins. During our pre-service training, a teacher colleague of mine described the process as a “grand experiment.” But he’s wrong; it’s not an experiment. It’s a gamble. An experiment, by definition, is a controlled, scientific procedure designed to gain knowl
Charter Schools Find Gold in Federal Government Aid to Small Businesses While Black-Owned Firms Get the Shaft - Citizen Truth
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Charter Schools Find Gold in Federal Government Aid to Small Businesses While Black-Owned Firms Get the Shaft During the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic fallout, the charter industry added to systemic inequities that afflict Black communities. The charter school industry has done much during the COVID-19 pandemic to add to systemic inequities that afflict Black communities by hijackin
Biden Calls School Reopening A 'National Emergency' | 89.3 KPCC
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Biden Calls School Reopening A 'National Emergency' There's a LOT of education news these days. Here's an overview of the stories from this week that you might have missed, plus some valuable links we've gleaned from around the web. First let's turn to the world of higher education. As we reported last week , college towns are driving coronavirus outbreaks nationwide . There were over 50,000 rep
Teacher Tom: And They Are Perfect
by Mike Simpson / 1d
And They Are Perfect I have spent my adult life trying to figure out why parents and society put themselves into a race -- what's the hurry? I keep trying to convey the pleasure every parent and teacher could feel while observing, appreciating and enjoying what the infant is doing. This attitude would change our educational climate from worry to joy. ~Magda Gerber It seems to me that the greates
A Seventh Grader Kicks Edgenuity's Dumb Robograding Butt
by Mike Simpson / 1d
A Seventh Grader Kicks Edgenuity's Dumb Robograding Butt The story comes to us from Francesca Paris at NPR's Here and Now , and it can serve as our sixty-gazillionth reminder that computer algorithms-- even ones that are marketed as Artificial Intelligence-- cannot grade student work to save their cybernetic lives. A student in LAUSD's virtual school was dismayed when his first history assignmen
Open Letter to Joe Biden: Ed Sec “That Has Been in Public Schools” is Not Enough
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Open Letter to Joe Biden: Ed Sec “That Has Been in Public Schools” is Not Enough Dear Candidate Biden: On September 01, 2020, I saw part of the interview your wife, Jill, did with CNN contributor, Biana Goldryga, on the topic of K12 education. In that interview, Jill said that you plan to replace Betsy DeVos as US secretary of education “with somebody that has been in the public schools.” On the
Talk out of School podcast with Jamaal Bowman and Randi Levine
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Talk out of School podcast with Jamaal Bowman and Randi Levine Check out our latest "Talk out of School" podcast with former principal Jamaal Bowman about his landslide primary win in NY's District16 and what he intends to do for our public schools when he gets to Congress. Then we spoke to Randi Levine, Policy Director of Advocates for Children, about what she thinks of the city's just-released

SEP 03

American Federation of Teachers Re-elects President Randi Weingarten | Black Star News
by Mike Simpson / 1d
AFT RE-ELECTS PRESIDENT RANDI WEINGARTEN The 1.7-million-member American Federation of Teachers announced the results of its biennial officer elections Tuesday, with delegates to the union’s convention voting overwhelmingly to re-elect President Randi Weingarten, elect Fedrick Ingram as secretary-treasurer and elect Executive Vice President Evelyn DeJesus to her first full term. The ballots were
Groups Jockey for COVID-19 Vax 'High Priority' Status | MedPage Today
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Groups Jockey for COVID-19 Vax 'High Priority' Status Advocates had their say at NASEM public comment hearing The wide swath of groups receiving the highest priority for any potential COVID-19 vaccine should expand to include particular races and ethnicities, as well as certain occupations, advocates told the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) on Wednesday. In addit
Grantee Partner Spotlight: Southern Echo on the Frontlines of Census Advocacy | Schott Foundation for Public Education
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Grantee Partner Spotlight: Southern Echo on the Frontlines of Census Advocacy As the 2020 population numbers will shape how political power and over 800 million dollars will be shared in the U.S. over the next ten years, an accurate Census count is of monumental importance, especially to communities of color. Schott Grantee partner Southern Echo understands this and has engaged its volunteers to
Open letter to Biden and Harris: How to undo damage DeVos did to public education - The Washington Post
by Mike Simpson / 1d
An open letter to Biden and Harris: 10 steps to undo the damage Betsy DeVos did to public education If Joe Biden becomes president, you can expect an overhaul of U.S. education policy. For nearly 3½ years, President Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos have made their top education priority — and pretty much their only one — the expansion of alternatives to traditional public school distric
A Study of Charter Schools and Special Education | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 1d
A Study of Charter Schools and Special Education The National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education has released a study of charter schools and special education by doctoral candidate Katherine Parham at Teachers College, Columbia University. From the dawn of the charter movement, the subject of charter schools and special education has generated significant controversy. Albert Shan
How Covid-19 Froze School Reform (Part 1) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
by Mike Simpson / 1d
How Covid-19 Froze School Reform (Part 1) Face-to-face schooling without minimal risk from getting infected with the coronavirus will be dicey until an approved vaccine shown to have high effectiveness and sufficient immunity is available to over 50 million students and nearly 4 million teachers. Already two school years in the U.S. have been seriously impacted (March 2020 through January 2021).
A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the 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 “Q&A Collections: Best of Classroom Q&A” by Larry Ferlazzo / 14h Q&A Collections: Best of Classroom Q&A is the headline of my latest Education Week Teacher column. The “Best” Classroom Q&A posts (from the past nine years!) are described and linked to in this compilation post. Here’s an excerpt from on
What Should Students Do with Text?: From Interpretation to Interrogation – radical eyes for equity
by Mike Simpson / 2d
What Should Students Do with Text?: From Interpretation to Interrogation Over the first week or so of my first-year writing seminars, I carefully explain to students that the course is not an English class, but a composition class. Most students have experienced writing assignments primarily in English classes and often anchored to literary analysis (interpreting fiction and poetry grounded in N
CURMUDGUCATION: As Schools Reopen, Beware These Five Bad Management Approaches
by Mike Simpson / 2d
As Schools Reopen, Beware These Five Bad Management Approaches Not all schools are blessed with excellent management teams (a million teachers just rolled their eyes and said, “No kidding.”) But while schools can succeed in spite of bad management in the good times, in times of crisis, bad management can really derail the whole train. Trying to launch a school year during a pandemic with little
glen brown: Zoom’s Security Nightmare Just Got Worse: But Here’s the Reality by Kate O'Flaherty
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Zoom’s Security Nightmare Just Got Worse: But Here’s the Reality by Kate O'Flaherty “Zoom’s security nightmare just got worse after its recent announcement that end-to-end encryption would be for paid users only. But here’s the reality. Let’s face it—there aren’t many people who haven’t used Zoom over the past few months during the COVID-19 crisis. “It’s no surprise that Zoom’s seen such a massi
Mind the Gap: Why It’s Time to Stop Talking about the Achievement Gap – Have You Heard
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Mind the Gap: Why It’s Time to Stop Talking about the Achievement Gap The achievement gap has driven education reform for the past twenty years. Guest David Stevens says it’s time to stop talking about the achievement gap and focus instead on the “headwinds” and “tailwinds” that hold some students back while pushing others along. With the pandemic exacerbating the inequality between students, St
NYC Educator: UFT Town Hall September 2, 2020
by Mike Simpson / 2d
UFT Town Hall September 2, 2020 by special guest Mindy Rosier-Rayburn UFT President Michael Mulgrew : This is the largest Town Hall we've ever done. This is a very good thing. People are getting on, wanting to hear all this information leading up to Tuesday. Thank you all for being here. I want to start by thanking you for all we've been through since March. We made a promise back in April at ou
Alfie Kohn: The Pandemic Pivot: Turning Temporary Changes into Lasting Reform | National Education Policy Center
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Alfie Kohn: The Pandemic Pivot: Turning Temporary Changes into Lasting Reform You know you really should walk or bike more often, but the car is just so darned convenient. Then one day it breaks down and the replacement part won’t be available for quite awhile. The fates have conspired to get you some much-needed exercise while also reducing your carbon footprint! But what happens when the repai
Mandatory Quarantines Should Not Bleed Teacher Sick Leave. | deutsch29
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Mandatory Quarantines Should Not Bleed Teacher Sick Leave. As teachers across the nation return to school in person amid the coronavirus pandemic, personal safety and safety of others are on our minds. We don’t want to contract the virus. We also don’t want to spread the virus, especially to vulnerable populations, including aging family members. But there is another looming concern: What will h
Diane Ravitch in Conversation with Steve Suitts - Network For Public Education
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Diane Ravitch in Conversation with Steve Suitts Start: Wednesday, September 16, 2020 • 7:00 PM • Eastern Daylight Time (US & Canada) (GMT-04:00) End: Wednesday, September 16, 2020 • 8:0 PM • Eastern Daylight Time (US & Canada) (GMT-04:00) The Network for Public Education invites you to join us for a video conference with NPE President Diane Ravitch. Diane's guest will be author and adjunct at th
2020 Medley #19 – Civics: A Subject Left Behind | Live Long and Prosper
by Mike Simpson / 2d
2020 Medley #19 – Civics: A Subject Left Behind Civics Education AMERICAN CIVICS EDUCATION Ask someone disappointed by the extreme political and social polarization in America today, and it’s possible that you’ll get a rant about how Civics isn’t being taught in our schools anymore. Fewer hours are now required in traditional Civics subjects — government, history, law, economics, and geography —
TALES OF THE SERIAL GRIFTERS – Dad Gone Wild
by Mike Simpson / 2d
TALES OF THE SERIAL GRIFTERS “If I had followed my better judgment always, my life would have been a very dull one.” ― Edgar Rice Burroughs “It takes just as much energy to be an asshole as it does to be kind.” ― LeVar Burton The education world ain’t nothing if it ain’t a big old hamster wheel. People exit stage right only to re-enter stage left in a new costume. In the early part of this decad
CURMUDGUCATION: TX: Why Vouchers For Private Schools Are A Bad Idea
by Mike Simpson / 2d
TX: Why Vouchers For Private Schools Are A Bad Idea Texas is a happy playground for charter operators, but fans of school voucher program using public taxpayer dollars to fund private school tuition-- well, they're been mighty disappointed on a regular basis. Even as US Senator Ted Cruz (yes, he's really from Texas) has tried to help push the Betsy DeVos voucher plan , a state-level program has

SEP 02

Education apps are sending your location data and personal info to advertisers - CNET
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Education apps are sending your location data and personal info to advertisers It's a back-to-school sale on your data. With the coronavirus pandemic pushing schools online out of public health concerns, parents and teachers are turning to digital alternatives like apps to bridge the virtual gap. While kids can learn via these apps, hundreds of advertisers are learning about them, too. Researche
Biden Plans a Speech Faulting Trump Over Reopening Schools - The New York Times
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Biden Plans a Speech Faulting Trump Over Reopening Schools On Wednesday, Joe Biden will seek to put a spotlight on President Trump’s handling of the pandemic, particularly when it comes to safely reopening the country’s schools. Joseph R. Biden Jr. , pressing his argument that President Trump is failing the country with his handling of the coronavirus, plans on Wednesday to make the case that Mr
Teacher Tom: Listening to Their Inner Voice of Experience
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Listening to Their Inner Voice of Experience The only rule we ever had surrounding our swing set is that the adults didn't push the kids. Other than that, we took things on an ad hoc basis, allowing the children to experiment and explore as they saw fit, negotiating and re-negotiating as new circumstances and new children arrived. Many of our four- and five-year-olds, partly because adults were
Science Writer: Should I Send My Children to School? | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Science Writer: Should I Send My Children to School? Apoorva Mandavilli is an award-winning science reporter for the New York Times. She is a mother of two children. She lives in Brooklyn. In this article , she thinks through the pros and cons of sending her children back to school. To read the links, open the story. Yesterday, Mayor de Blasio and UFT leader Michael Mulgrew announced that the ci
With A Brooklyn Accent: A Message to Trump Supporters- And To All of Us
by Mike Simpson / 3d
A Message to Trump Supporters- And To All of Us To all the people who will be voting for Trump in spite of, and perhaps because of, his cruelty, his lies, his incompetence and his fomenting of violence and racial divisions. You have your own reasons for doing this, your own moral calculus through which you can explain your actions. What you are doing not only saddens me, it enrages me. I may not
NYC Educator: The Big Sell Out -
by Mike Simpson / 3d
NYC Educator: The Big Sell Out The Big Sell Out For the last day or so I've been inundated with messages on Twitter that this agreement is a sell out, that we shouldn't have done it, and all sorts of other things. I understand the feeling. I also understand what our asks were, and what we got. I'm not entirely sure all the critics of what we did have that clear. For the record, I came into this d
NYC Public School Parents: Update: a deal to delay the reopening of NYC schools and a new plan to provide regular Covid testing to students and staff
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Update: a deal to delay the reopening of NYC schools and a new plan to provide regular Covid testing to students and staff Today, the Mayor, the Chancellor and the unions – the UFT, CSA and DC37—announced a deal that would move back the first day of school to Wednesday, September 16. All students will begin remote instruction on that day. In-person learning in schools will begin the week of Mond
Initial ELPAC Test Moves Online - Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)
by Mike Simpson / 3d
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces Major Step to Assess English Language Proficiency During Distance Learning SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announced this week that the assessment used to determine a student’s English proficiency has successfully transitioned online, giving educators a powerful tool to reach and support English learners while school campuses are closed.
CURMUDGUCATION: DeVos Continues Transformation Into Arne Duncan
by Mike Simpson / 3d
DeVos Continues Transformation Into Arne Duncan Arne Duncan said many not-so-swift things, often revealing his true attitudes about the dismantling and privatization of public education. But one of his truly revealing moments came in 2010 when he famously argued that Hurricane Katrina was "the best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans." For the many Black teachers who lost
Grassroots Education Network- August 2020 Newsletter - Network For Public Education
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Grassroots Education Network- August 2020 Newsletter The NPE Grassroots Education Network is a network of 150 grassroots organizations nationwide who have joined together to preserve, promote, improve, and strengthen our public schools. If you know of a group that would like to join this powerful network, please go here to sign on. If you have any questions about the NPE Grassroots Education Net

SEP 01

CURMUDGUCATION: Trump Demands Patriotic Classrooms
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Trump Demands Patriotic Classrooms Trump's education agenda is, well, terse. Eleven words, two items. And the second of the two is "Teach American Exceptionalism." Monday, Trump expanded on that idea, saying that the nation needs to install "patriotic education" in schools. It's his plan for quelling rebellion in cities and countering "lies" about US racism (i.e. the "lie" that it exists). Gotta
Shanker Blog: We Choose to Reimagine Education: Centering on Love and Emotionally Responsive Teaching and Learning | National Education Policy Center
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Shanker Blog: We Choose to Reimagine Education: Centering on Love and Emotionally Responsive Teaching and Learning This post is part of our series entitled Teaching and Learning During a Pandemic , in which we invite guest authors to reflect on the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic for teaching and learning. Our guest authors today are Tia C. Madkins, assistant professor in the Department o
An Ode to Coach John Thompson, a Black Educator - Philly's 7th Ward
by Mike Simpson / 3d
AN ODE TO COACH JOHN THOMPSON, A BLACK EDUCATOR The late, great John Thompson contributed more than college basketball wins. Much more. Black educators are incredibly important to the success of Black students. Black students who have had at least one Black teacher are more likely to graduate from high school, attend college and are less likely to drop out of school. Black students are also less
SSPI THURMOND STUFF TODAY FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
by Mike Simpson / 3d
California Department of Education Initial ELPAC Test Moves Online 15min State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces Major Step to Assess English Language Proficiency During Distance Learning USDA Summer Meal Program Waiver Extensions 18h On August 31, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released nine Summer Meal Program Waiver Extensions. COVID-19: CNP Response 44, 45, 46, and 47 1
John Jackson: Using Philanthropy to Build Loving Systems | Schott Foundation for Public Education
by Mike Simpson / 3d
John Jackson: Using Philanthropy to Build Loving Systems A recent QCityMetro profile of Black philanthropists featured Schott President & CEO Dr. John H. Jackson. In the profile John describes the intersection of philanthropy, racial justice, public education, and grassroots movements — precisely where he and the Schott Foundation do our work. John Jackson came to philanthropy through his work i
Russ on Reading: Vocabulary Instruction: Try Word Riffs
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Vocabulary Instruction: Try Word Riffs Many young readers hit a wall when their reading demands that they decode longer and longer words. Research has shown that instruction in morphology (roots and affixes) can help readers make this transition. Some excellent resources are available for teaching morphological understanding. One that I particularly like is the Word Ladder approach of Dr. Tim Ra
Teacher Tom: Big and Strong
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Big and Strong "Teacher Tom, look at my muscles." He was flexing his biceps in the classic muscle-making pose. "I'm looking at your muscles." He admired them himself for a moment, then said, "I made them." I nodded. Apparently, I'd not shown sufficient astonishment, so he added, "I did! I actually made them!" "You actually made them." He flexed for a moment then let his arms fall limply to his s
Dissenters | Bill Ayers
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Dissenters I’m helping launch a new anti-militarism youth movement! I’m helping launch Dissenters, a new anti-militarism youth organization. Will you join me in investing in this exciting new group of leaders? Click here: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/invest-in-a-new-anti-militarism-youth-movement/?source=email & Thanks! Dissenters | Bill Ayers
Are Students “Consumers”?(David Labaree) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Are Students “Consumers”?(David Labaree) David Labaree is a professor emeritus at the Stanford University Graduate School of Education. He blogs on schooling, history, and writing. Observers of American education have frequently noted that the general direction of educational reform over the years has not been forward but back and forth. Reform, it seems, is less an engine of progress than a pen
USDA Summer Meal Program Waiver Extensions - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education)
by Mike Simpson / 3d
USDA Summer Meal Program Waiver Extensions Coronavirus (COVID-19) Main Web Page On August 31, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released nine Summer Meal Program Waiver Extensions that allows schools that have started the new school year to use the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) through December 31, 2020 instead of the National School Lunch Prog
Jersey Jazzman: State Aid Is School Aid
by Mike Simpson / 3d
State Aid Is School Aid Here in the Northeast, schools are getting ready to reopen in what can only be called a gigantic experiment in the middle of pandemic with a virus we barely understand. I'm going to say a few more things about this soon... but I first want to discuss something that's been pushed to the back burner over the last few weeks. The Senate's complete abdication to do anything se
WHEN IS COMMON CORE NOT EXACTLY COMMON CORE? – Dad Gone Wild
by Mike Simpson / 3d
WHEN IS COMMON CORE NOT EXACTLY COMMON CORE? “This country’s drifting into serious trouble because of the clamor for simple and immediate solutions to complex problems that will take years to solve—even with total effort on both sides.” ― John Jakes, North and South “What would men be without women? Scarce, sir…mighty scarce.” ― Mark Twain Looking at my social media feed this AM makes for a stra
With A Brooklyn Accent: Official Statement: The Mission of Fordham's Department of African and African American Studies in a Challenging Time
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Official Statement: The Mission of Fordham's Department of African and African American Studies in a Challenging Time Official Statement: The Mission of the Department of African and African American Studies in a Challenging Time August 31, 2020 We, the faculty of the Department of African and African American Studies at Fordham University, write this statement during an extraordinary time when
Choosing Democracy: SCUSD Proposal for English Learners is Totally Inadequate
by Mike Simpson / 3d
SCUSD Proposal for English Learners is Totally Inadequate To: SCUSD School Board In the new Learning Accountability and Attendance plan, We know that English learners, particularly young English learners, require face to face social interaction to advance in English. We do not find plans to provide English learners with the required designated English Language Learning instruction. In your plan
CURMUDGUCATION: ME: Pandemic Excuses More Uncertified Teacher Replacements
by Mike Simpson / 3d
ME: Pandemic Excuses More Uncertified Teacher Replacements On August 26, Governor Mills of Maine issued an executive order that any warm body with any kind of college degree (or maybe even without) may be certified as a teacher. The executive order actually has three parts. One gives instructions on how to count attendance if you want your state subsidy. One gives some loose instruction on facil
A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/08/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_29.html “Q&A Collections: Instructional Strategies” by Larry Ferlazzo / 13h Q&A C

AUG 31

To “Be” or Not To “Be”: Moving Beyond Correctness and Stigmatized Language – radical eyes for equity
by Mike Simpson / 4d
To “Be” or Not To “Be”: Moving Beyond Correctness and Stigmatized Language ESPN radio has recently shaken up their on-air personalities across the daily schedule, notably replacing the morning slot held for many years by Mike & Mike (and a recent fractured version after Mike Greenberg left) with a clear signal toward diversity— as reported by Andrew Marchand : And now, look who is moving into th
Join the Black Lives Matter At School “Year of Purpose”–Reflection and action for educators, parents, students, and organizers, every month of the year! – I AM AN EDUCATOR
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Join the Black Lives Matter At School “Year of Purpose”–Reflection and action for educators, parents, students, and organizers, every month of the year! C alling all educators, parents, students, and antiracist community organizers: We call on you to join the Black Lives Matter at School new initiative, the “ Year of Purpose ”—a national program that calls on educators (and parents educating the
Students at Risk During Pandemic - LA Progressive
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Students at Risk During Pandemic Focus on At-Risk Students’ Basic Needs, or Lose Them, UCLA Expert Advises “W e are at risk of losing an entire generation of young people.” UCLA education professor Tyrone Howard made this bleak prediction at a virtual public meeting Wednesday while discussing Los Angeles County youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems who are heading back to upend
Health experts on how Texas school reopenings could affect COVID-19 spread | The Texas Tribune
by Mike Simpson / 5d
"We're all holding our breath": Health experts on school reopenings in Texas The Texas Tribune spoke to experts about what the state can expect as schools and universities start school remotely or in person. As schools and universities across Texas begin reopening, families, students and educators are adjusting to remote instruction , schools are preparing to file weekly reports on COVID-19 case
Education is a Public Obligation and Individual Right | Dissident Voice
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Education is a Public Obligation and Individual Right Part X: A Manifesto for the United States of America Read Part I , Part II , Part III , Part IV , Part V , Part VI , Part VII , Part VIII , and Part IX . The system of education in the US is failing at every level except for private, heavily endowed or extremely costly institutions for the wealthy and privileged. Students of all ages are incr
A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/08/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_29.html Colleges & Universities Are Having To Deal With “Classroom Management” Is
Newsweek: Teachers Resigning to Avoid COVID | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Newsweek: Teachers Resigning to Avoid COVID The most important concern about reopening schools is the health and safety of students and staff. The Trump administration has adamantly refused to provide funding to states and cities to enable them to make schools as safe as they should be. As a result, Newsweek reports, significant numbers of teachers are quitting. This is a blow to students and sc
Biden and Democrats Turn Away from Two Decades of Test-Based Public School Accountability and Privatization | janresseger
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Biden and Democrats Turn Away from Two Decades of Test-Based Public School Accountability and Privatization Joe Biden’s education plan and the Democratic Platform on education this year should be recognized as a significant development. Biden’s plan embodies something new for Democrats—a turn away from two decades when Democrats bought into neoliberal experimentation in education. Biden supports
Call in and let’s talk | Cloaking Inequity
by Mike Simpson / 5d
CALL IN AND LET’S TALK Join us Monday August 31, 2020 at 11 am EST to learn more about @ukcollegeofed new civil rights and education collaboration with @naacp Listen live and call in at https://www.facebook.com/wnhhradio/ Call in and let’s talk | Cloaking Inequity

AUG 30

CATCH UP WITH CURMUDGUCATION + ICYMI: This Month Can't End Too Soon Edition (8/30)
by Mike Simpson / 5d
CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: This Month Can't End Too Soon Edition (8/30) This Month Can't End Too Soon Edition Sometimes you're just really ready to get to te next chapter, or just the next page. Not an uncommon feeling these days, even though it's not clear that the next chapter will be any less troublesome than this one. We'll see soon enough. In the meantime, here are some readings from the week. A
Common Good, Community and UTLA - LA Progressive
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Common Good, Community and UTLA F ollowing is a recap of the first State of the Union address given by Cecily Myart-Cruz, president of the United Teachers of Los Angeles at the UTLA Leadership Conference in August. The theme for the conference is “We Rise Together”. Here is what Ms. Myart-Cruz had to say: I recognize the shoulders in which I stand on as the 3rd woman to ever lead UTLA in it’s 50
Texas: IDEA Corporate Charter Chain Plans Massive Expansion | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Texas: IDEA Corporate Charter Chain Plans Massive Expansion The IDEA charter chain hopes to double its enrollment in Texas. This is the free-spending chain that planned to lease a private jet for $2 million a year but backed off after bad publicity; that flies its e ecurives and their families in first-class; that bought premium box seats for professional basketball games; that pays its executiv
Derek Black: Betsy DeVos and the Theft of CARES Funding | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Derek Black: Betsy DeVos and the Theft of CARES Funding In this article in the New York Daily News, constitutional lawyer Derek Black explains how Betsy DeVos used her authority as Secretary of Educatiin to send federal dollars intended for public schools to elite private schools and religious schools. Black’s new book, “School House Burning,” is an outstanding read. He writes: Betsy DeVos’ agen
More Cartoons on Re-Opening Schools | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
by Mike Simpson / 6d
More Cartoons on Re-Opening Schools For this month, I found enough cartoons that tickled me (or at least got me to smile) at a time when I need being tickled, given the pandemic. I selected cartoons that deal with re-opening schools and the anxieties they arouse among parents, teachers, and students. Enjoy! CONTINUE READING: More Cartoons on Re-Opening Schools | Larry Cuban on School Reform and
CURMUDGUCATION: Brookings Makes A Bad Pro-Charter Argument
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Brookings Makes A Bad Pro-Charter Argument Mona Vakilifathi graduated from the4 University of California, San Diego, with a BS in political science and government back in 2009, and she's been working policy jobs ever since. Over at Brookings, she has some thoughts about Democrats, charter schools, and ed policy , and while she seems to mean well, she has missed a few spots here and there. I've r
NANCY BAILEYl De-professionalizing Public Schools During Covid-19: The Problem with Bill Gates’s Projects
by Mike Simpson / 6d
De-professionalizing Public Schools During Covid-19: The Problem with Bill Gates’s Projects De-professionalizing Public Schools During Covid-19: The Problem with Bill Gates’s Projects Many fear that the Gates Foundation is using this pandemic to end public education once and for all. De-professionalizing schools is an excellent way to do it. Covid-19 has made it easier for venture philanthropists
Education Matters: Something doesn't add up CARES edition
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Something doesn't add up CARES edition So the CARES act was designed to help schools set up and be safe during the Pandemic. Detroit a school system about 2/3rds our size received 85 million. I know we spent 4 million on screens, 200k on masks and I am sure that the bottle of hand sanitizer I received wasn't free but according to my calculations and I am no math major we are still a long way fro
With A Brooklyn Accent: I Know You: My Short Portrait of Trump Supporters
by Mike Simpson / 6d
I Know You: My Short Portrait of Trump Supporters I know you. You can't watch sports on television without feeling enraged, whether it is from athletes taking a knee during the national anthem, the proliferation of Black Lives Matter shirts and signs at sports events, or the Modelo Beer ads praising the heroism of Latino immigrants. You can't even turn on ESPN anymore because of all the talk abo
Quality vs Quantity: Distance Learning in SCUSD - Sacramento City Teachers Association
by Mike Simpson / 6d
QUALITY VS QUANTITY: DISTANCE LEARNING IN SCUSD To download a pdf of this comparison in English, click here . To download a pdf of this comparison in Spanish, click here. To view SCTA’s SmartStart Proposal, click here . To view SCTA’s Elementary Daily Schedules, click here . To view SCTA’s Secondary Daily Schedules, click here . Quality vs Quantity: Distance Learning in SCUSD - Sacramento City T
Betsy DeVos: Still Hoping to Divert CARES Act $$ to Private Schools | deutsch29
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Betsy DeVos: Still Hoping to Divert CARES Act $$ to Private Schools US ed sec Betsy DeVos’ first love is private school choice, and her second love is trying to slice off funding intendend for public education in favor of her first love. Keep that in mind as you read. On August 28, 2020, US ed sec Betsy DeVos did an interview with the Wharton Business Daily. Only 90 seconds of the interview is a
A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/08/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_29.html Do You Want To Write In Ed Week About Your Teaching Experience This Year?

AUG 29

TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 8/29/20 #REDFORED #tbats #COVID-19 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #BidenHarris2020 #SAFETYFIRST
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Big Education Ape TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 8/29/20 ‘Slaying Goliath’: Diane Ravitch argues in new book that public education advocates have beat back efforts to privatize schools - The Washington Post The real story of New 

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