An Interview with Philanthropist Eli Broad - WSJ.com

An Interview with Philanthropist Eli Broad - WSJ.com:

"Which brings us back to the unions. Mr. Broad says that he doesn't blame teachers for organizing. 'If you have poor management that's not doing the right job, you end up with unions filling the void and . . . page after page of work rules and thicker and thicker contracts. If you have strong management and the teaching corps is relatively pleased with the relationships, you do not end up with a strong regressive union.'

In one of the foundation's brochures, you will find a picture of New York City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein embracing then-United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten. The two are at a ceremony in which Mr. Broad awarded the city $1 million for improving student performance. Mr. Broad cites Ms. Weingarten's acceptance of a merit pay program for teachers in New York, albeit one based on school—rather than individual—performance. 'Look, is Randi the second coming of Al Shanker?' Mr. Broad asks, referring to the UFT founder, whom many consider more moderate. 'I don't know. But Randi is the most progressive national labor leader you'll find in education.'

Mr. Broad tells me in no uncertain terms that it is time to get rid of education schools—'they're the lowest ranking students at a university.' And he is enthusiastic about all the change that is possible when urban school districts go bankrupt—as Oakland, Calif., did a few years ago—'or what happened in New Orleans, which is the equivalent of bankruptcy.'"

Chicago Arne Duncan presided over a schools grade changing scandal

Chicago Arne Duncan presided over a schools grade changing scandal:

"Rossi and Golab wrote: Teachers reported pressure from principals, ’upset’ (euphemism for wild, crazy, and frightening) parents and even other CPS employees who were parents of their students. They said the squeeze was put on them to pass failing students, to give ill students a break or to help athletes. Some felt prodded to goose up grades to help kids graduate, avoid summer school or get into an elite high school (uh ho!). Such heat was twice as common among teachers in high schools, where the push is on to reduce failure rates. (Duncan reform scam at work) One teacher said her school lowered its grading scale and ’still we are pressured to change grades.’"

La Opinión - noticias locales, nacionales e internacionales desde Los Ángeles - impre.com - LAUSD’s next step

La Opinión - noticias locales, nacionales e internacionales desde Los Ángeles - impre.com - LAUSD’s next step:

"It should be apparent to all that simply shifting a school to a charter system doesn’t guarantee success as a site of excellence in teaching and learning. While some studies have shown better results than from public schools, other studies have shown no improvement. The LAUSD has as much responsibility in the selection of a school operator as it does in its oversight.

Selecting new management will be the key for low-performing schools. The goal is to stimulate innovation with rigorous and creative curriculum as well as with the provision of extra-curricular activities and an environment conducive to learning.

In this respect, LAUSD needs to correct current problems with the division that addresses charter schools. Some administrators of smaller charter schools have complained that they do not receive the same treatment as larger operators, charging that they are measured by different standards and that the LAUSD guidelines lack consistency."

Editorial: Avoiding strike raises teachers' reputation | burlingtonfreepress.com | The Burlington Free Press

Editorial: Avoiding strike raises teachers' reputation burlingtonfreepress.com The Burlington Free Press:

"Foregoing a strike is indeed the 'high road' that will help tone down the rhetoric and bring relations between the teachers union and school boards back to a more constructive level.

The unions bolster their credibility in saying they are putting the interest of students first and are willing to look forward, as union negotiator Jon Harris told the Free Press, to take the high road to avoid disrupting the start of the school year.

The decision to forego a strike opens the door for repairing relations between the union and the school boards in each community -- strained by past contract negotiations -- an opportunity school board members must embrace."

Examiner Editorial: Tough teaching assignments get recognition | San Francisco Examiner

Examiner Editorial: Tough teaching assignments get recognition San Francisco Examiner:

"San Francisco teachers will receive more money if they opt to work at one of the 25 lowest scoring schools in The City — instead of transferring to more easily controlled classrooms as soon as they build up enough seniority.

The San Francisco Unified School District incentive program pays teachers $2,000 more a year to remain in the more arduous assignments. There will also be an extra $2,500 bonus to teachers finishing their fifth year at hard-to-staff schools and $3,000 for completing eight years.

This largely symbolic monetary “carrot” could significantly help the district’s lowest achieving students. Educators have long understood that hard-to-staff schools have high turnover and are mostly taught by inexperienced teachers less skilled dealing with discouraged and somewhat unmotivated students."

U.S. schools chief seeks big changes, has money to spend - Las Vegas Sun

U.S. schools chief seeks big changes, has money to spend - Las Vegas Sun:

"Some of the program’s requirements, such as replacing staff, have teachers worried. How are you addressing that?

I’ve had long conversations with the leadership of the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association. What the teachers unions have asked is that these ideas and reforms happen with them, not to them, and that’s absolutely fair. There are examples of real innovation and ideas coming from local union leaders. Albert Shanker (former president of the AFT) is considered the godfather of charter schools.

Are we asking unions to move outside their comfort zone and do things differently? Absolutely. But we’re asking everybody to do that. It’s not just unions that have to change. We’re pushing parents harder than ever to step up. Students have to do more. Principal leadership is hugely important."

Parents play critical role in education

Parents play critical role in education:

"Even those who assess student performance as part of the No Child Left Behind Act stray from placing too much blame. In their reports on outcomes, at one end of the spectrum they speak of high-performing students and at the other, they talk about low-performing schools.

Certainly there are a number of parents who are deeply immersed in raising their children and most likely there are stories of classroom success and behavior to match. Among the factors related to student success, those involving parents are the most profound.

Says Oregon's Chalkboard Project, 'The research is clear: when families are engaged in their children's education, those children do better in school.'"

Schools have cut many jobs, programs : Local News : Ventura County Star

Schools have cut many jobs, programs : Local News : Ventura County Star:

"The districts reported a total of 770 positions lost this year, including 445 teacher jobs — about 58 percent of the total cuts.

About three-quarters of the districts raised class sizes in kindergarten through third grade, which used to top out at 20 students under a statewide reduction program. Most have increased to 22 to 24 students this fall.

About half of the districts used furloughs to cut workdays and save cash but kept the same number of student instruction days. Only Ojai Unified School District cut instructional days, shaving five from the end of the school year.

Still, it could have been worse if school districts had not received federal stimulus funds, about $64 million locally. Without that cash, next year could be even bleaker, educators say.

“A lot of people have been describing it as a cliff — or Niagara Falls,” said Stan Mantooth, county superintendent of schools. “It’s putting off a day of reckoning. Things are going to be potentially catastrophic in 2011 unless schools get some other source of relief.”"

Our education system cheats blacks, here's why | thestarpress.com | The Star Press

Our education system cheats blacks, here's why thestarpress.com The Star Press:

"The education system is fundamentally broken, and all attempts at artificial reform would only prove futile in the long run. What is needed at this junction is a transformation of not only school policies, but of attitudes, values and perceptions in a way that holds sacred the humanity of every child -- especially the black ones.

For too long, misconceptions about black students' academic abilities have gone unchallenged, creating an atmosphere in which teachers, principals and, inevitably, parents believe that African American kids lack the intellectual capacity to function parallel with their white and Asian counterparts. And, for too long, much has either not been done about it, or much too little has been done to bridge this ever-widening gap of inequality. It's time for substantive engagement of these issues that deeply affect kids whose socio-economic background is often the indicator of how far toward the goal of success they're likely to get."

AFP: Recession, swine flu cloud US back-to-school

AFP: Recession, swine flu cloud US back-to-school:

"But that did not stop some states from having to cut back their education budgets including New York and California, which is grappling with an historic deficit.

'Larger class sizes, canceled summer school, a shorter school year, and no new textbooks are just a few of the painful results,' said California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell.

'It's not uniform,' noted Whitehurst. 'In most states we are not dealing with cuts but rather the school's districts are having to work with the same budget or close to it.'
'Some states have... cut back the transportation budget to save (for) education,' he said.

While some school districts have a limit on how much parents can be asked to spend, Whitehurst said, 'at the other end, you'll find districts that are requiring parents to cover more the cost of sports and other extracurricular activities.'

With the recession making lower spending the watchword parents are also tightening pursestrings. This year they will spend an average 82.62 dollars on supplies, down 7.7 percent from 2008."

Study Finds Widespread Grade Inflation at L.A. County Schools | The Daily Mirror | Los Angeles Times

Study Finds Widespread Grade Inflation at L.A. County Schools The Daily Mirror Los Angeles Times:

"The county Board of Education finds 'deplorable laxness and inefficiency' in most Los Angeles County schools.

By 1899, California required each county to send standardized tests to all its schools for students in fifth grade and above. The graded exams were to be returned to the county boards as a check on teachers' effectiveness.

In previous years, the magnitude of the paperwork precluded a detailed study of the exams. This time, however, thorough scrutiny of the tests reveals widespread falsification of grades. 'Some of the teachers have sent in correctly marked examination papers, but the great majority have marked their pupils' examination papers from 5 to 50 percent higher than deserved,' says Luther G. Brown, president of the Board of Education.

'In a number of instances the children of trustees were graded with very much more leniency than other pupils,' Brown says"

Appearance of conflict | Recordnet.com

Appearance of conflict Recordnet.com:

"A clause in Amato's contract permits 'outside professional activities,' which apparently is interpreted as consulting work.

That's deeply troubling for at least two reasons. First, it sets the stage for exactly the kind of potential conflict of interest that is being investigated. Second, the many and complex problems facing SUSD are more than enough for any superintendent without being pulled away to address the energy-draining problems of others.

Amato is being paid a full-time salary to devote his full energies to Stockton Unified. That should be enough without consulting, too.

It is common for superintendents, trustees and other school officials to attend educational conferences. Valuable information and personal connections can result.

But there are dangers in such conferences, too, especially those sponsored by companies trying to sell their products or services.

As Lincoln Unified Superintendent Steve Lowder said, 'It's easy to make mistakes.'"

Ted Kennedy buried, most influential liberal of our time?

Ted Kennedy buried, most influential liberal of our time?:

"It was onto that final point that Senator Ted Kennedy held the strongest. Ted Kennedy’s actions as a senator championed a long list of causes to not only give all citizens equal rights, but also to give them equal access to services and a helping hand when nobody else would.

He proposed Head Start in 1964, to provide comprehensive education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families.

He strongly supported Title IX, 'No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.'

He fought for the Family and Medical Leave Act, allowing an employee to take job-protected unpaid leave due to a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform his or her job, to care for a sick family member, or to care for a new child (including by birth, adoption or foster care).

Though proposed by Republican President George W. Bush immediately after he took office, Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy believed in its principal and led the fight as a sponsor of the No Child Left Behind Act which was a form of standards-based education reform in hopes of improving education in this country."

Back to school tips: Play even if your child won't

Back to school tips: Play even if your child won't:

"But when you have a child with special needs in a neurotypical school, sometimes you may feel it's hard to find a place for both you and your autie child.

This is why volunteering is so much more important for us AU parents. Being a part of your child's school will give you many chances to educate other parents about your child and what autism means in the public schools. You would be surprised at how many parents in your child's school don't know what autism is or even that there are children diagnosed with autism there in the school.

It also gives you a chance to get to know other parents and learn about what the typical kids are up to in their school classrooms and activities. If your child is in a contained or clustered classroom (with only other AU children) you may feel a bit isolated from the other activities going on in school.

Many parents of autie children feel that the school activities just aren't made for their kids. For instance, my child's school has an evening dance every year. Even though this event isn't yet suitable for my seven year-old, I still attend every year and help with the festivities. When the year arrives that my child is ready to attend, I'll know just what to expect."

Boston schools to help parents take a wider role in education - The Boston Globe

Boston schools to help parents take a wider role in education - The Boston Globe:

"Boston school officials, increasingly concerned about a lack of parental involvement, will launch a program this fall to give mothers and fathers an opportunity to learn how to help their children with homework, talk with teachers, or take on a volunteer leadership role.

Parent University will also help parents write résumés and develop career goals and will hold a graduation for participants at year’s end.
The program opens as state and national policy makers stress the need for urban parents to take an active role in their children’s education."

Tweet the Governor about Education… and other topics too

Tweet the Governor about Education… and other topics too:

"On Tuesday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger launched www.MyIdea4CA.com, a Web site for Twitter users to share their ideas about improving California. The website acts as a Twitter forum, and follows up from the June 2009 public invitation to tweet the Governor about new ideas on the state budget. Not everyone thinks this is a great idea, however.

A recent USA Today article explores the perspectives of “Twitter haters”. In sum, “Twitter haters” lament the way that Twitter and other forms of social media seem to dull users’ desire for face to face interaction.

There is an alternate, and perhaps more popular, perspective: The adoption of social media by public figures from President Obama to Ashton Kutcher and everyone in between, have provided a way for everyday Americans to be more engaged than ever in public life."

Larry Levine: I want the California spirit of my childhood back - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

Larry Levine: I want the California spirit of my childhood back - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:


"California was a place of soaring hopes and dreams, of optimism and strength. We paid our taxes and enjoyed the fruits of what we sowed. Our community colleges were the envy of the nation; our highway system was unrivaled; we created a conveyance system to move water to build great cities and a giant agricultural economy; our university and state college systems set a standard to which others would aspire. Republican and Democratic legislators put their partisan ideologies aside to focus on what was best for California and its people. Besides, I could play golf in January and drive around with the top down on my car in February."

Cloonan grouping pilot offers lessons for middle school reform - The Advocat

Cloonan grouping pilot offers lessons for middle school reform - The Advocate

"Students assigned to lower ability groups said that it felt good to 'feel equal,' " according to the report. Teachers, too, remarked the difference and worried that returning to the old grouping system would be a "huge disappointment" for these students.

At the other end, high-achieving students reported, "It felt good to support and help others;" however, they also complained of more disruptions and receiving less support and leniency from teachers.

"Not one person interviewed mentioned that this pilot was beneficial in any way for high-achieving children, other than 'helping' lower-achieving children," Arda Arslanian, the mother of a former sixth-grade participant, wrote in an e-mail. "This point is what many parents who have questioned the district's non-ability grouping drive are concerned about."

While some students perceived a jump in discipline problems, Rudolph said that disciplinary referrals dropped to zero during the seven weeks. By comparison, the administration typically received three or four disciplinary referrals during a regular week.

As for concerns about higher achieving students, he said, they had received a rigorous curriculum, and for the most part were challenged by it. However, instruction wasn't perfect.

"That's why we wanted to do the pilot," he said. "We needed to see where we had to tighten up, and where we fall short -- and we found out at times we did."

Oakland's big algebra push - Inside Bay Area

Oakland's big algebra push - Inside Bay Area:

"It's widely agreed that students' success in high school and even college can hinge on whether they master algebra — and that far too many fall short, especially in poor communities. An Oakland school district analysis this spring found that students were no more likely to pass Algebra I as ninth-graders, after an extra year of preparation, than as eighth-graders, said Brad Stam, the district's chief academic officer.
But the algebra problem itself is so deeply rooted, its solutions so complex, that some say the 'algebra for all' approach is too simplistic and that it will end up hurting some students."

Why teachers like me can't stay | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Why teachers like me can't stay detnews.com The Detroit News:

"But high teacher turnover, in my millennial opinion, still matters, even with eager rookies waiting in the wings.

Having a base of teachers who teach for more than a token few years is critical to school reform. It helps principals and school leaders develop trusting relationships with teachers. It helps teachers collaborate with one another. Most of all, it helps students. A teacher with experience is not always a good teacher, but a good teacher is always better after a few years of experience. As my former principal not-so-subtly put it: 'The kids don't need one-year wonders. There is no such thing as a one-year wonder.'

Four-year wonders are better than nothing, but still not enough.
Sarah Fine was a teacher, department chair and instructional coach"