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Saturday, March 20, 2021

TOP POSTS THIS WEEK Saturday, March 20, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #openonlywhensafe #edchat #K12 #learning #edleadership #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform

 Big Education Ape


TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 3/20/21






TOP POSTS THIS MONTH 3/20/21





POSTS THIS WEEK 3/20/21



Big Education Ape: Teachers Unions Want More Details on New CDC Guidance of Desks Only 3 Feet Apart | Common Dreams News - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/teachers-unions-want-more-details-on.html


Big Education Ape: California Approves Nation's First Ethnic Statewide Studies Curriculum - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/california-approves-nations-first.html


Big Education Ape: Cartoons on Teaching during the Pandemic | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/cartoons-on-teaching-during-pandemic.html


Big Education Ape: $6 Billion in Reopening/Expanded Learning Funding - Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education) - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/6-billion-in-reopeningexpanded-learning.html




Education Reinventers | Gary Rubinstein's Blog
Education Reinventers For the past ten years public education has been under assault by the self-proclaimed education ‘reformers.’ Strong personalities like Michelle Rhee, Joel Klein, Michael Bloomberg, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Corey Booker, and others led the movement that gave us Race To The Top, Race To The Top waivers, and the Every Child Succeeds Act. They got a chance to experiment with t
Mulgrew and Porter statements seem contradictory | JD2718
Mulgrew and Porter statements seem contradictory How can they both be right? I think that Mulgrew’s words have to be read very carefully. They have lawyers and others at 52 Broadway, I am guessing, who carefully help craft lawyerly ways of saying things. Everything written since last March has to be carefully parsed, not read at face value. Did he say something would not happen, or that he did n
CURMUDGUCATION: An Evaluation That Teachers Can Use
An Evaluation That Teachers Can Use A post from Jay Wamsted at Education Post (yes, that Education Post--I've said it before and I'll say it again--it's important to read from all over the edu-web) got me thinking about the sources of feedback that teachers can tap. He tells a story about a missed moment in which someone offered him feedback on his teaching that he didn't want to hear, and how h
JEFF BRYANT: The for-profit charter school industry is completely out of control - Alternet org
The for-profit charter school industry is completely out of control - Alternet.org The for-profit charter school industry is completely out of control A new report by the Network for Public Education (NPE) explains why charter schools are often nonprofit in name only when they are associated with a for-profit management group. NPE's report, titled "Chartered for Profit: The Hidden World of Charte
CDC Says Schools Can Now Space Students 3 Feet Apart, Rather Than 6 | 89.3 KPCC
CDC Says Schools Can Now Space Students 3 Feet Apart, Rather Than 6 Updated March 19, 2021 at 12:46 PM ET The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its guidance for schools. On Friday, the agency announced it "now recommends that, with universal masking, students should maintain a distance of at least 3 feet in classroom settings." Previously the guidance stated, "Physical dista
WHAT’S A SWEETHEART LIKE YOU, DOING IN A PLACE LIKE THIS? – Dad Gone Wild
WHAT’S A SWEETHEART LIKE YOU, DOING IN A PLACE LIKE THIS? “Steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king.” – Bob Dylan “We got a lot of kings out here.” – TC Weber I’ve spent a lot of time this week trying to wrap my head around the relationship between money and public education. On one hand, schools are perpetually underfunded. In Tennessee, state-level of fundi
Network for Public Education Blog Post of the Day This Week
Our NPE Blogs of the Day feature what we think are interesting and important blog posts centered on issues of public education. The views expressed by the bloggers are, of course, entirely their own. To submit links and tips for inclusion, please send an email to npeblog@outlook.com . March 20, 2021 Nancy Bailey: Kindergarten Learning Loss Message Is HORRIFYING for Children! By March 20, 2021 Ja
EDUCATION MATTERS: CATCH UP WITH MR. G - THIS WEEK IN DUVAL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DCPS
Education Matters CATCH UP WITH MR. G THIS WEEK IN DUVAL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DCPS Appeasement doesn't work, school board members should understand that. by Unknown / 1d In the 1930s, Nevile Chamberlain pushed a policy of appeasement towards Germany. The reasoning was, if we let them do what they want to do to those other people, they will leave them alone, and it worked for a while. The problem
THIS WEEK'S WILDNESS Dad Gone Wild Nobody reads it, everybody quotes it
Dad Gone Wild – Nobody reads it, everybody quotes it. WHAT’S A SWEETHEART LIKE YOU, DOING IN A PLACE LIKE THIS? by TC Weber / 20h “Steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king.” – Bob Dylan “We got a lot of kings out here.” – TC Weber I’ve spent a lot of time this week trying to wrap my head around the relationship between money and public education. On one hand,
TENNESSEE EDUCATION REPORT
TENNESSEE EDUCATION REPORT EDUCATION POLITICS AND POLICY IN THE VOLUNTEER STATE An Unattainable Burden by Andy Spears / 3d The current state of Tennessee’s school funding formula (the BEP) places an “unattainable burden” on local school districts, according to Katie Cour of the Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF). The Foundation released a policy brief highlighting the shortcomings of t
TEACHER TOM THIS WEEK IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Teacher Tom EdHeroes: What if Education Focused on the Needs of Children and Families? 200+ 23h Partnering With Parents 300+ 2d Thinking, Learning, and the Having of Wonderful Ideas 300+ 3d We Can't Teach Mindfulness to the Experts 1K 4d The Original Affluent Society 200+ 4d Thingmaker Featuring Creepy Crawlers 96 7d Teacher Tom
SSPI TONY THURMOND: STUFF THIS WEEK FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
California Department of Education SSPI TONY THURMOND STUFF THIS WEEK FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION $6 Billion in Reopening/Expanded Learning Funding 16h $6 Billion in Reopening and Expanded Learning Funding Amounts for TK-12 Schools Now Available SBE Approves Historic Ethnic Studies Guidance 1d State Board of Education Approves Historic Ethnic Studies Guidance for High Schools Scho
THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER
NewBlackMan (in Exile) THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight on The Verzuz Phenomenon by Mark Anthony Neal / 1h "When the pandemic shut down live concerts, pioneering hip hop producers Swizz Beatz and Timbaland wanted to give people a show, and developed what became a viral online music battle series: Verzuz , in which noted musical artists (such as John Legend and
THIS WEEK Education Research Report
Education Research Report Preschoolers' extensive electronic media use linked to emotional/behavioural issues by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 1d Associated with hyperactivity, short attention span, poor concentration and friendship issues BMJ Preschoolers' extensive use of electronic media, including game consoles, mobile phones, and tablets, is linked to a heightened risk of emotional and behavioural
THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Good Piece On The Bad Term, “Learning Loss” by Larry Ferlazzo / 26min Ron Berger, who is an exceptional educator and leads EL Education, just wrote a good piece in the Atlantic, How to Get Our Kids Back on Track . The quote in the textbox gives you an idea of the tone. I’m adding it to Trying To Bring
KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all #REDFORED #tbats #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #openonlywhensafe #CANCELTHETEST
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 Jan Resseger: How to Wreck Your State’s Public Schools by dianeravitch / 16min I said I would not reproduce blogs, with rare exceptions. Jan Resseger is that one rare exception. In this post, she explains how the costs of vouchers are destroying

YESTERDAY

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Friday, March 19, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #openonlywhensafe #edchat #K12 #learning #edleadership #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform
Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Why Common Core failed - https://brook.gs/3rYGUME on @BrookingsInst NYC Educator: Safety Last, Says Bill de Blasio - http://nyceducator.com/2021/03/safety-last-says-bill-de-blasio.html Education Research Report: Preschoolers' extensive electronic media use linked to emotional/behavioural issues - http://educationresearchreport.blogspot.
NANCY BAILEY: Kindergarten Learning Loss Message Is HORRIFYING for Children!
Kindergarten Learning Loss Message Is HORRIFYING for Children! Kindergarten Learning Loss Message Is HORRIFYING for Children! No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top, high-stakes testing, Common Core, and other bad school reform measures are coming together with Covid-19 to destroy the futures of America’s youngest learners! They include the same equity and disparity talk used to ramp up the above
Florida: Republicans Plan to Eviscerate Public Schools | Diane Ravitch's blog
Florida: Republicans Plan to Eviscerate Public Schools Kathleen Oropeza, parent activist in Florida, explains in The Progressive how Republicans intend to destroy public schools and turn the state into a publicly-funded voucher haven. Governor Ron DeSantis is accomplishing Betsy DeVos’s dream while tossing aside the future of the state’s children. In Florida, public schools are held accountable
Teacher Tom: EdHeroes: What if Education Focused on the Needs of Children and Families?
EdHeroes: What if Education Focused on the Needs of Children and Families? I was recently honored to be asked to shoot a short video for the Rybakov Foundation's 2021 EdHeroes conference . Their mission is to support families around the world by providing them access to quality education that is align first and foremost with the interests of families. I can think of no better way to transform ou
The Black-white wealth gap is widening - a racial equity stimulus can narrow it | Schott Foundation for Public Education
The Black-white wealth gap is widening - a racial equity stimulus can narrow it Even before the deadly COVID-19 pandemic swept America, the Black-white wealth gap remained stubbornly vast. The crisis is driving the gap to historic levels. Certainly, the recently passed $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan is a watershed moment. That such legislation has become law — that our federal government act
Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools through Phased Prevention | CDC
Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools through Phased Prevention Summary of Recent Changes Revised physical distancing recommendations to reflect at least 3 feet between students in classrooms and provide clearer guidance when a greater distance (such as 6 feet) is recommended. Clarified that ventilation is a component of strategies to clean and maintain healthy facilities. Removed recommendation
A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #openonlywhensafe
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 A VERY BUSY DAY 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 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/this-week-in-education-larry-f
CDC cuts school distancing requirements to 3 feet - POLITICO
CDC cuts school distancing requirements to 3 feet The new guidance says three feet of separation is safe — if everyone is wearing a mask. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that students attending in-person instruction only need to stay 3 feet apart, rather than 6, as long as universal masking is maintained. The agency’s new guidance, released Friday, recommends 3 feet of separa
Flast v. Cohen (1968) - Part Four: Oh No I've Said Too Much... | Blue Cereal Education
Flast v. Cohen (1968) - Part Four: Oh No I've Said Too Much... I’ve been posting some of my rough drafts for a book I hope will be out this summer, tentatively titled “Have To” History: It Followed Her To School One Day… and with a subtitle longer than several of the actual chapters in my effort to clarify what it’s about right there on the cover while still being saucy. What started off as a on
Michael J. Hynes: Beware the College Board Dragon! | Diane Ravitch's blog
Michael J. Hynes: Beware the College Board Dragon! Dr. Michael J. Hynes is superintendent of the Port Washington school district on Long Island in New York. He previously posted here his proposal for a new vision of education. He writes here about the College Board, which has become the gatekeeper whose tests decide which students go to which colleges. He writes: The College Board Monster and Wh
New Report Exposes Rip-Off of Tax Dollars by For-Profit Charter Management Companies | janresseger
New Report Exposes Rip-Off of Tax Dollars by For-Profit Charter Management Companies On Wednesday, the Network for Public Education released Chartered for Profit: The Hidden World of Charter Schools Operated for Financial Gain , a ground-breaking new report on what has become an old, old problem. Charter schools have now been around since the early 1990s, and here in Ohio, at least, soon after D
SBE Approves Historic Ethnic Studies Guidance - Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)
State Board of Education Approves Historic Ethnic Studies Guidance for High Schools SACRAMENTO—The California State Board of Education today approved guidance to assist local high schools in developing ethnic studies courses, classes that researchers say can improve graduation and college-going rates among all students—and especially teens of color. The vote makes California the first state in t
NYC Public School Parents: Please help us get smaller classes for NYC kids! Please sign our petition and testify on Tuesday!
Please help us get smaller classes for NYC kids! Please sign our petition and testify on Tuesday! Class Size Matters and NYC Kids PAC are advocating for one billion dollars of the approximately $2.5 billion in extra federal funds that NYC schools are due to get next year and the year after to be invested in smaller classes, for NYC students who will need them more than every before. This is a ch
Why a Public School Teacher is Running for Allegheny County Council | gadflyonthewallblog
Why a Public School Teacher is Running for Allegheny County Council People seem surprised when I knock on their doors. Perhaps it’s the fact that they weren’t expecting anyone to drop by. Perhaps it’s because we’re still in a global pandemic. But when they peek through their screens or poke their heads out with a quizzical look, the one thing that seems to put them at ease is when I tell them I’
Jersey Jazzman: Lakewood, NJ: Where Public Schools Are Left To Wither, Part III
Lakewood, NJ: Where Public Schools Are Left To Wither, Part III Here are the other parts of this series: - Part I - Part II What happens when a majority of citizens rejects its own public schools? We need look no further than Lakewood, NJ -- a town that I contend is an object lesson in the consequences of school privatization. Again, I believe at least three things will happen when public school
Marie Corfield: A Letter To My Students
A Letter To My Students Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash Dear Students, Oh how I have missed you! I've missed your noise and your chaos and your smiles which are hidden behind masks, and your laughter and your hard work, and even your frustrations and tears. I have missed your creativity and how you never cease to amaze me with it. I have missed your fearlessness and your fearfulness, your good choi
Arkansas: Voucher Forces Trying Again, Backed by Walton Money | Diane Ravitch's blog
Arkansas: Voucher Forces Trying Again, Backed by Walton Money Max Brantley writes in the Arkansas Times that the voucher lobby is determined to reverse their 44-52 loss in the Arkansas House. Backed by Walton money, they are naming and shaming the legislators who stood up for their community’s public schools. Although Sam Walton, founder of Walmart, and his children attended public schools, they

MAR 18

Why a Public School Teacher is Running for Allegheny County Council
People seem surprised when I knock on their doors. Perhaps it’s the fact that they weren’t expecting anyone to drop by. Perhaps it’s because we’re still in a global pandemic. But when they peak through their screens or poke their heads out with a quizzical look, the one thing that seems to put them at ease is when I tell them I’m a public school teacher. It’s certainly not that I’m running for Al
THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Thursday, March 18, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #openonlywhensafe #edchat #K12 #learning #edleadership #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform
Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Teachers union demands transparency after COVID-19 cases shut Philadelphia school - Chalkbeat Philadelphia - https://philadelphia.chalkbeat.org/2021/3/17/22336985/teachers-union-demands-transparency-after-covid-19-cases-shut-philadelphia-school on chalkbeat Top-Notch Language Conversation/Pronunciation Site “Peaksay” Now Lets Teachers C
Teacher Tom: Partnering With Parents
Partnering With Parents By nature, I consider myself an introvert, so when our daughter was born, I happily stepped into the role of stay-at-home parent. Of course, I looked forward to the "parenting" part, but I equally, and a bit secretly, embraced the "stay-at-home" aspect of the job title. As I held my newborn, I imagined our cozy life, snuggling, puttering around the house, eating snacks, r
NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER
NewBlackMan (in Exile) NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile-blm_13.html Reimagining Blackness & Architecture: A Spectrum of Blackness | Germane Barnes by Mark Anthony Neal / 3h "What do the kitchen, the front porch, and the water surrounding Miami, Florida all have in
A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #openonlywhensafe
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 A VERY BUSY DAY 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 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/this-week-in-education-larry-f
Cancel the F**king Tests! | The Merrow Report
Cancel the F**king Tests! Last week in this space I put forth nine reasons why it was absolutely essential that students be required to take machine-scored, multiple-choice bubble tests once they return to school. This was an entirely facetious essay that maintained, among other things, that NOT giving tests would cause an economic recession but that GIVING tests would make it easier for student
Bad News in Kentucky: Legislature Passes Voucher Bill | Diane Ravitch's blog
Bad News in Kentucky: Legislature Passes Voucher Bill Kentucky Republican legislators passed a voucher bill, which now goes to Democratic Governor Andy Bashear. The Governor will likely veto the bill, but the legislature can override his veto with a simple majority. This is the ultimate vengeance against teachers, who organized in 2018 to fight the Republican plan to change teachers’ pensions. T
Education Matters: Tallahassee Republicans continue to attack schools, students and teachers
Tallahassee Republicans continue to attack schools, students and teachers Representative Dennis Baxley out of Ocala, whose day job is that of a mortician has proposed radically changing the Bright Futures scholarship program, a program that annually pays the college tuition for tens of thousands of high school graduates that attend Florida schools. He says some college degrees do not lead to emp
Closing America’s Education Funding Gaps
Closing America’s Education Funding Gaps America is in the midst of a profound political reckoning. Against the backdrop of an unprecedented public health crisis and steadily rising death toll, a historically deep economic recession, and widespread protests against police brutality and racial injustice, people across the country are awakening and grappling anew with longstanding issues of inequa
Urge the Mayor and the Council to use a big chunk of the federal funds to reduce class size next year! | Class Size | A clearinghouse for information on class size & the proven benefits of smaller classes
Urge the Mayor and the Council to use a big chunk of the federal funds to reduce class size next year! | Class Size Matters Urge the Mayor and the Council to use a big chunk of the federal funds to reduce class size next year! | A clearinghouse for information on class size & the proven benefits of smaller classes Urge the Mayor and the Council to use a big chunk of the federal funds to reduce cl
Bruce D. Baker and Robert Cotto Jr.: The underfunding of Latinx-serving school districts - kappanonline org
The underfunding of Latinx-serving school districts - kappanonline.org The underfunding of Latinx-serving school districts An analysis of spending in U.S. public schools reveals dozens of districts — many with large Latinx enrollments — that are underfunded compared to other districts in their region, even though they serve children with much greater needs. When analyzing questions of fairness in
CURMUDGUCATION: School Choice Dinner Party
School Choice Dinner Party Pairagraph is a website set up around the idea of conversations, or debates, around a particular question. The website organizers invite a pair of people to address the question in turn for a total of four posts of no more than 500 words each. It's a fun little concept that has, so far, been applied to a broad range of topics. I was recently invited to join in one of t
Biden needs to pursue student loan forgiveness - USA TODAY
Biden needs to pursue student loan forgiveness Student loan forgiveness: Biden can restore a broken promise We found a minefield of deceptions by student loan companies and negligent indifference by government officials. Kelly Finlaw is a middle school art teacher in New York City. Over the last year, she has also been called an “essential employee,” a “frontline worker” and — a term she has cert
In Which I Think of Ways to Respond to My Legislators | Live Long and Prosper
In Which I Think of Ways to Respond to My Legislators Indiana is ready to add more public money to the state voucher program for private — mostly religious — schools. House Bills 1001 and 1005 would give nearly a third of the state’s increase in education funding to the 5% (10% if you count charters) of the students who go to private schools . I had written to my local state rep, Dave Heine , bu

MAR 17

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Wednesday, March 17, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #openonlywhensafe #edchat #K12 #learning #edleadership #edtech #engchat #literacy #edreform
Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Biden admin unveils $10B school testing plan for Covid-19 https://politi.co/3cCTfj0 via @politico Department of Education to Host National Safe School Reopening Summit on Wednesday, March 24 | U.S. Department of Education - https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/department-education-host-national-safe-school-reopening-summit-wednesday-m
Additional Spring Testing Flexibility for Schools - Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)
State Superintendent Board of Education Approves Additional Testing Flexibility for Schools This Spring SACRAMENTO—The State Board of Education today voted to give California school districts the opportunity to use either state tests or other standards-aligned assessments to gauge student learning this spring. The vote builds on last month’s Board action to apply for the maximum flexibility offe
Classroom Teaching Then and Now | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
Classroom Teaching Then and Now Most policymakers, researchers, and parents believe that good teachers and teaching are the keys to school improvement yet these very same folks know little about how teachers teach daily. And that is the rub. Good teachers and teaching are the agreed-upon policy solutions to both high- and low-performing students yet reliable knowledge of how most teachers teach
A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #openonlywhensafe
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 A VERY BUSY DAY 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 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/this-week-in-education-larry-f
Tulsa, Okla., Schools Plan To Use Latest Stimulus To Expand Learning Opportunities : NPR
Tulsa, Okla., Schools Plan To Use Latest Stimulus To Expand Learning Opportunities NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Jorge Robles, chief financial officer for Tulsa Public Schools about plans for using the latest stimulus funding for expanded learning opportunities. AILSA CHANG, HOST: Schools around the country are about to get a massive infusion of funds. The coronavirus relief package signed into
Three Feet or Six? Distancing Guideline for Schools Stirs Debate - The New York Times
Three Feet or Six? Distancing Guideline for Schools Stirs Debate Some public health officials say it’s time for the C.D.C. to loosen its social distancing guidelines for classrooms, but the idea has detractors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is clear and consistent in its social distancing recommendation: To reduce the risk of contracting the coronavirus, people should remain at
MAGA Politics Have Arrived at a San Diego School District - OB Rag
MAGA Politics Have Arrived at a San Diego School District MAGA Politics Have Arrived at a San Diego School District Election of Mike Allman to San Dieuito Union High School Board Achieves MAGA Majority By Thomas Ultican / Tultican / March 15, 2021 One of America’s wealthiest public school districts typifies the damage MAGA Republicans are doing to public schools. San Diego County’s San Dieguito U
Parents want to be more involved in SCUSD decisions | abc10 com
Parents want to be more involved in SCUSD decisions | abc10.com Sacramento Unified School District parents say they want to be more involved in district decisions SCUSD Parents came together today to voice their frustrations with the school district’s lack of support when it comes disadvantage students SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. — Elvia Vasquez has three children that attended Sacramento City Unif
An Unattainable Burden – Tennessee Education Report
AN UNATTAINABLE BURDEN T he current state of Tennessee’s school funding formula (the BEP) places an “unattainable burden” on local school districts, according to Katie Cour of the Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF). The Foundation released a policy brief highlighting the shortcomings of the BEP this week. Here’s more from the Tennessean : The Nashville Public Education Foundation is re
Don’t Believe the “Learning Loss” Hoax | Diane Ravitch's blog
Don’t Believe the “Learning Loss” Hoax The mainstream media are filled with warnings about “learning loss” and how we must measure it and why students should go to summer school to make up for what they have “lost.” If we can’t quantify it, they say, how can we know which students are behind? This is silly. There was no “pre-test,” so there can’t be a “post-test.” A test that students take this
Teacher Tom: Thinking, Learning, and the Having of Wonderful Ideas
Thinking, Learning, and the Having of Wonderful Ideas The word "education" has two Latin roots: educare and educere . Educare means to train or mold someone and specifically refers to a processes of passing along knowledge from one generation to the next, with the goal of shaping youth in the image of their parents through rote learning and future employment in the economy. Educere , in contrast
Disciplining Ourselves to Stay On Message and Make a Difference for Our Children and Their Public Schools | janresseger
Disciplining Ourselves to Stay On Message and Make a Difference for Our Children and Their Public Schools Over 50 million children and adolescents attend public schools in the United States. Our public schools are spread across every city, town, suburb and rural area. And because they are established and regulated by laws, they embody a promise to protect the rights and serve the needs of all ch
NYC Educator: The Myth of Learning Loss
The Myth of Learning Loss Life is simple for people like Bill Gates. Everything has a formula. You and I are no different from computer programs. But Bill's brain is also similar to a computer program. You know, garbage in, garbage out. That's why we keep reading about this "learning loss." The assumption is, when school is stopped, or changed, students lose something. Whatever this is, it's so
Guidance on Implementation of CNP Waivers + CEP Application Information - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education)
Guidance on Implementation of CNP Waivers - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education) Guidance on Implementation of CNP Waivers On February 19, 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service released memo SP 07-2021 to provide U.S. Department of Education Guidance on Implementation of Child Nutrition Program (CNP) Waivers. The memo provides guidance developed by the U.S. Department of
Chartered for Profit: The Hidden World of Charter Schools Operated for Financial Gain - Network For Public Education
Chartered for Profit: The Hidden World of Charter Schools Operated for Financial Gain In this report, we focus on the world of charter schools run for profit, a world both hidden and misunderstood. We pull back the veil on tactics and practices designed to reap as many public dollars as possible from charter schools while hiding behind laws designed to keep profit-making hidden from the public’s
CURMUDGUCATION: The Trouble With Data
The Trouble With Data Yesterday the Atlantic published an exceptionally helpful piece in the Science section by Robinson Meyer and Alexis C. Madrigal that offers some excellent explanation of why the nation has dropped the data ball for this pandemic. It's a good read from that perspective. But for education folks, there's more. In the body of the article, Meyer and Madrigal share some observati

MAR 16

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Tuesday, March 16, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #openonlywhensafe
Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES On eve of possible SFUSD reopening, S.F. schools superintendent announces retirement - https://www.sfchronicle.com/education/article/On-eve-of-SFUSD-reopening-S-F-schools-16015116.php on @sfchronicle Education Research Report: Internet-access spending improves academic outcomes - http://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/ COVID-19 cas
NOLA Public Schools: Two charter networks violated state law on background checks | The Lens
NOLA Public Schools: Two charter networks violated state law on background checks James M. Singleton Charter School failed to conduct criminal background checks for some of its employees and employed someone ineligible to work at the school because of a criminal conviction, according to a Wednesday letter to the school from the NOLA Public Schools district warning that the school’s practices on
Wayne Au: The futility of standardized testing in a crazy pandemic year - The Washington Post
The futility of standardized testing in a crazy pandemic year - The Washington Post The futility of standardized testing in a crazy pandemic year Critics of federally mandated K-12 standardized tests were upset when the Biden administration recently said it would require states to administer them this year. They raised pre-pandemic questions about reliability and validity of test scores — as well
We Need a Bigger Pie – Tennessee Education Report
WE NEED A BIGGER PIE T he League of Women Voters (LWV) is calling on Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly to take bold action on school funding. The group notes that the state historically underfunds schools and suggests that now is the time to change that reality. In fact, the push from the LWV comes as the state is experiencing an unprecedented revenue surplus . Here’s more from LW
A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #openonlywhensafe
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 A VERY BUSY DAY 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 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/this-week-in-education-larry-f
Teacher Tom: We Can't Teach Mindfulness to the Experts
We Can't Teach Mindfulness to the Experts I was recently asked in a public forum if I've ever taught mindfulness to children. The question threw me. Yes, no, maybe, I don't know, can you repeat the question? Mindfulness is a radical Buddhist practice in which one focuses one's full attention on the present moment. This is something toward which I strive, even as I find it exceedingly difficult t
Chicago Charter Chain Apologizes for “Racist, No-Excuses” Regime | Diane Ravitch's blog
Chicago Charter Chain Apologizes for “Racist, No-Excuses” Regime The Noble Network is the leading charter chain in Chicago. It boasts of high test scores. It is the darling of the Chicago white elite, including such luminaries as former Republican Governor Bruce Rauner and billionaire Penny Pritzker, who served as Obama’s Secretary of Commerce. White apologists and admirers of the strict no-excu
Photos on Schooling during the Pandemic | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
Photos on Schooling during the Pandemic Meghan Gallagher at The 74 Million gathered photos that capture some of the effects of the pandemic year when schools were shuttered and then slowly reopened. I have selected a few of them for this post. All 52 can be seen here . Children play in front of a school in Orlando, Florida on March 20, 2020 that was closed due to the coronavirus but will begin d
A School System Adrift: New York City Schools Search for Direction as the Political Landscape Evolves | Ed In The Apple
A School System Adrift: New York City Schools Search for Direction as the Political Landscape Evolves The theory of action that describes the Board and the successor Department of Education are known as Newton’s First Laws of Motion … sometimes referred to as the law of inertia. An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction.
RE-IMAGINATION, OR JUST REBRANDING – Dad Gone Wild
RE-IMAGINATION, OR JUST REBRANDING “Once I called Miami City Hall a “bribe factory,” and another time described Tallahassee as a “festival of whores.” Too subtle? Possibly.” – Carl Hiaasen An interesting event occurred Last Friday, MNPS announced its new literacy initiative, Literacy Re-imagined . A more appropriate title would have been, Literacy Rebranded. Rest assured there was nothing here t
Evidence In Education: Is Supply Meeting Teachers' Demand | Shanker Institute
Evidence In Education: Is Supply Meeting Teachers' Demand In today’s public schools, teachers and administrators are constantly pressured to implement new reforms and initiatives, most of which claim to be research- or science-based. Schools are often viewed as the recipients of new policies and new knowledge generated by research. In So Much Reform, So Little Change , Charles Payne states “Best
Maurice Cunningham - Massachusetts Parents United, National Parents Union, and the Christian Right - MassPoliticsProfs
Massachusetts Parents United, National Parents Union, and the Christian Right Massachusetts Parents United, National Parents Union, and the Christian Right Two of the important props of the far right in America are Christian conservatives and economic royalists like the Waltons and Charles Koch. Those ties are becoming evident in school privatization including in financial support the Massachuset
CURMUDGUCATION: Donors Chose Monday: Books and Understanding
Donors Chose Monday: Books and Understanding Donors Choose lets you set up filters, so that you can focus on what you choose. The most obvious is a geographic one that allows you to find classrooms in your area looking for help. But you can also set for the types of classrooms and the types of resources, as well as setting (as I usually do) for rural schools. So one of the classrooms chosen for

MAR 15

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Monday, March 15, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #openonlywhensafe
Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES How the stimulus will affect schools, explained https://www.chalkbeat.org/2021/3/12/22328181/schools-stimulus-money-questions via @Chalkbeat Many LAUSD parents don't plan to send kids back to campus, early survey results find http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/lanowblog/~3/m0sGvSHZbBk/parents-worry-kids-in-school-bad-la-covid-areas Reopening c
Bill Lee vs. Tennessee Schools + ANOTHER $200 MILLION – Tennessee Education Report
Bill Lee vs. Tennessee Schools – Tennessee Education Report BILL LEE VS. TENNESSEE SCHOOLS Gov. Bill Lee apparently isn’t all that excited about the billions of dollars in money coming into Tennessee by way of the American Rescue Plan. Here’s a recent tweet from Lee expressing his dismay with the proposal that means money in the pockets of many Tennesseans and will send $2.6 billion to our state
A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #openonlywhensafe
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 A VERY BUSY DAY 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 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/this-week-in-education-larry-f
Segregation factories, pt. 3: how to shop in a Jeb Crow voucher marketplace built to cheat and grift and harm your child - Public Enemy Number 1
Segregation factories, pt. 3: how to shop in a Jeb Crow voucher marketplace built to cheat and grift and harm your child Grift inflation is coming. Know your voucher grifters now to avoid them in the ESA future. Also regulate voucher schools like banks so public schools don't have to be the FDIC of education. Part 1: Florida's Low Capital, Jim Crow Voucher and ESA programs imitate pre-Brown Amer
Black Reconstruction 2.0 Begins With Great Schools For Black Children - Philly's 7th Ward
BLACK RECONSTRUCTION 2.0 BEGINS WITH GREAT SCHOOLS FOR BLACK CHILDREN One morning during my junior year of high school, I remember my homeroom teacher saying to me in a dismissive tone that Malcolm X was a bad person. I am unsure how we got on the topic of figures in Black history, but I mentioned his name and that was the response. That evening, I told my mom. After her phone conference with my
Why Zip Codes Matter | Diane Ravitch's blog
Why Zip Codes Matter From the earliest days of corporate reform, which is now generally recognized to have been a failed effort to “reform” schools by privatizing them and by making standardized testing the focal point of education, we heard again and again that a child’s zip code should not be his or her destiny. Sometimes, in the evolving debates, I got the sense that some people thought that
Teacher Tom: The Original Affluent Society
The Original Affluent Society One thing that the pandemic has done for many of us is to cut commute times down to zero. I live in an apartment building surrounded by Amazon, Google, and Apple offices that have been more or less vacant for a year. That's tens of thousands of people who have not been getting up early, eating, grooming, dressing, and transporting themselves, which translates to mil
An Interview with Jennifer Berkshire and Jack Schneider About ”A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door” | Diane Ravitch's blog
An Interview with Jennifer Berkshire and Jack Schneider About ”A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door” This interview was recorded by Town Hall in Seattle, which is a great venue for speakers but in COVID Times was recorded remotely. I interviewed them about their important new book, A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door. They had some very valuable insights, and the time flew by. I hope you will take a few mi
NANCY BAILEY: Questions About The AFT and NEA’s “Learning After Covid Vision”
Questions About The AFT and NEA’s “Learning After Covid Vision” Questions About The AFT and NEA’s “Learning After Covid Vision” Teachers are the most important individuals in a child’s schooling, and during the pandemic, they have gone above and beyond to reach out to students. AFT President Randi Weingarten and NEA’s Becky Pringle are to be commended for speaking out about Covid-19 in support of
Russ on Reading: Henny Penny Discovers Learning Loss
Russ on Reading: Henny Penny Discovers Learnng Loss Henny Penny Discovers Learning Loss It was a difficult year in the barnyard with all the animals confined to their own homes because of a mysterious and devastating avian flu. Henny Penny, cooped up in her humble abode with a half dozen chicks scurrying about unable to go school, was at her wits end. She barricaded herself in the TV room and tur
For Decades America Has Blamed and Punished Public Schools Serving Poor Children: Biden’s Plan Addresses the Underlying Poverty | janresseger
For Decades America Has Blamed and Punished Public Schools Serving Poor Children: Biden’s Plan Addresses the Underlying Poverty For over fifty years sociologists of education have documented the correlation between the ravages of child poverty and challenges for children at school. Hunger, homelessness and the family anxiety that accompanies the struggle to survive make it hard for many students
Schools are MAGA Targets | tultican
Schools are MAGA Targets By Thomas Ultican – 3/15/2021 One of America’s wealthiest public school districts typifies the damage MAGA Republicans are doing to public schools. San Diego County’s San Dieguito Union High School District (SDUHSD) serves just over 13,000 students in five middle schools and five high schools. With former Republican congressional candidate Mike Allman’s narrow school boa
NYC Educator: Farewell from the Chancellor
Farewell from the Chancellor Dear Colleagues, Today is my last day serving as New York City’s Schools Chancellor, and I write to you to both say goodbye and to express my gratitude for each one of you. During the last three years, I have made about a million bucks, and haven’t paid a dime in rent. And honestly, my expense account has covered just about everything—travel, meals, donuts, unnatural
March 14, 2020 | JD2718
March 14, 2020 TOP POSTS THIS MONTH 3/14/20 One year ago today. One year ago today was Saturday. NYC public school attendance had been plummeting. But schools were scheduled normally for Monday, March 16. Cuomo and de Blasio were still insisting that schools stay open. Not just de Blasio, but Cuomo too. Those of you blinded by him not being batshit nuts during his press conferences, don’t forget
CURMUDGUCATION: A Learning Loss Debunkery Reader
A Learning Loss Debunkery Reader Apparently we are going to be hearing about learning loss all the flipping time now, so I've tried to collect in one place some of the better responses to the crisis du jour. Feel free to bookmark this and to share the articles listed ever time someone pops up to holler that because of Learning Loss we must have testing or school choice or no summer vacation or i

MAR 14

THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Sunday, March 14, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #openonlywhensafe
Big Education Ape THE TOP BANANA TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Student asks teacher to give bonus points to 'whoever scores the lowest' https://www.wlwt.com/article/student-asks-teacher-to-give-bonus-points-to-whoever-scores-the-lowest-1/31198488 Debate, angst and many questions emerge over L.A. school reopening plans http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/lanowblog/~3/8zOa7QXzgP4/more-debate-angst-over-schoo
CATCH UP WITH CURMUDGUCATION + ICYMI: Blue Screen of Death Edition (3/14)
CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Blue Screen of Death Edition (3/14) Blue Screen of Death Edition So the main desktop computer here at the institute is in a state, and we're working from the mobile office, which guarantees a 150% increase in typo frequency. But meanwhile, there are things to read. First, a reminder that NPE's Blog of the Day now provides a daily sampling of the best public education posts
A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #openonlywhensafe
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 A VERY BUSY DAY 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 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/this-week-in-education-larry-f
Friday, March 12, 2021 NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER
NewBlackMan (in Exile) NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2021/03/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile-blm_13.html Disrupt & Dismantle: Soledad O'Brien and Bevy Smith Discuss The Future Of Police Reform by Mark Anthony Neal / 12h " Join Soledad O'Brien and Bevy Smith for a conversation to explore the recurring
New Study: School Streets Improve Air Quality - Popular Resistance Org
New Study: School Streets Improve Air Quality - PopularResistance.Org NEW STUDY: SCHOOL STREETS IMPROVE AIR QUALITY New Study Finds That School Streets Reduced Nitrogen Dioxide By Up To 23 Per Cent During Morning Drop Off. 81 per cent of parents and carers supported the measures at their children’s school and 18 per cent of parents reported driving to school less as a result of School Streets. Lo
The Crumbling Facade of “No Excuses” and Educational Racism – radical eyes for equity
The Crumbling Facade of “No Excuses” and Educational Racism Sarah Karp offers a long overdue and somewhat surprising opening lede for WBEZ Chicago, home to a number of charter school chains: Chicago’s largest charter school network sent a letter to alumni this week admitting that its past discipline and promotion policies were racist and apologizing for them. The apology is notable not just as a
Ed Notes Online: Outrage at Randi Grows -- Schumer and a Teachers’ Union Leader Secure Billions for Private Schools, NYT -- Oh, the Optics
Outrage at Randi Grows -- Schumer and a Teachers’ Union Leader Secure Billions for Private Schools, NYT -- Oh, the Optics "This one is too much - good old Randi and Chuck" - Email from retired teacher The pandemic relief bill includes $2.75 billion for private schools. How it got there is an unlikely political tale, involving Orthodox Jewish lobbying, the Senate majority leader and a teachers’ u
Union Leader Weingarten: Excluding Private Schools from $1.9 Trillion Relief Would Be a Shonda | The Jewish Press
- JewishPress.com | David Israel | 1 Nisan 5781 – March 13, 2021 | JewishPress.com Union Leader Weingarten: Excluding Private Schools from $1.9 Trillion Relief Would Be a Shonda The $1.9 trillion pandemic relief law, passed by the Democrats in both houses with zero Republican support, includes close to $3 billion earmarked for private schools – quite a surprise from the pro-public school Democra
EdAction in Congress March 14, 2021 - Education Votes
EdAction in Congress March 14, 2021 American Rescue Plan makes biggest education investment in U.S. history, cuts child poverty in half President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law on March 11, the day after Congress finally passed it. The $1.9 trillion stimulus package will provide critical funding for public schools, create and support millions of jobs, cut child poverty in half, m
Should the Black Lives Matter Agenda Be Taught at School? - The Atlantic
What Happens When a Slogan Becomes the Curriculum Last month, a public-school district that serves mostly elementary and middle-school students in Evanston, Illinois, held its third annual Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action—using a curriculum, created in collaboration with Black Lives Matter activists and the local teachers’ union, that introduces children as young as 4 and 5 to some of
A Florida Blogger You Should Read | Diane Ravitch's blog
A Florida Blogger You Should Read I said I won’t repost blogs anymore, except for very rare occasions. I intend to stick to my promise. So don’t consider this a repost. Consider it an introduction. An ally in Florida sent me two blogs by Billy Townsend. Here are the ones I read. I subscribed to his blog. He wrote this blog for the benefit of Jennifer Berkshire, co-author of A Wolf at the Schoolh
Teachers I Respect and Admire–Myrtle Davis | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
Teachers I Respect and Admire–Myrtle Davis I n this series of posts on teachers drawn from my 14 years of experience teaching history in three urban high schools between the mid-1950s and early 1970s and my experiences as a district superintendent, I write about teachers who I came to respect and admire. The first post was about an elementary school teacher whose classroom I visited many times w
FLASH BACK: How Education Reform Ate the Democratic Party | Jennifer C. Berkshire
How Education Reform Ate the Democratic Party | Jennifer C. Berkshire FLASH BACK: How Education Reform Ate the Democratic Party The Democrats and DeVos have more in common than they’d care to admit IN A FACEBOOK POST THIS SUMMER, hedge fund billionaire Daniel Loeb took aim at the highest ranking Black woman in the New York legislator, Andrea Stewart-Cousins. “[H]ypocrites like Stewart-Cousins who
How My Theory Of Knowledge Students Evaluated Our Class – And Me! | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...
HOW MY THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE STUDENTS EVALUATED OUR CLASS – AND ME! As regular readers know, I usually have students in my class do anonymous class evaluations three or so times each year (I don’t just wait until the end because then it’s too late to make any adjustments, at least for that class). You can find many related previous posts at Best Posts On Students Evaluating Classes (And Teachers)

MAR 13

TOP POSTS THIS WEEK Saturday, March 13, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #TOPBANANAHEADLINES #openonlywhensafe #CANCELTHETEST
Big Education Ape TOP POSTS THIS WEEK 3/13/21 Blog Post of the Day - Network For Public Education EdAction in Congress March 7, 2021 - Education Votes THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Sunday, March 7, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #openonlywhensafe THE TOP BANANA: TODAY'S EDUCATION HEADLINES Friday, March 5, 2021 #REDFORED #tbats #REOPENSCHOOLSSAFELY #openonlywhensafe Bide

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