Wednesday, May 15, 2013

All Education Matters: Huffington Post: Obama Student Loan Policy Reaping $51 Billion Profit - This is not news . . .

All Education Matters: Huffington Post: Obama Student Loan Policy Reaping $51 Billion Profit - This is not news . . .:

Huffington Post: Obama Student Loan Policy Reaping $51 Billion Profit - This is not news . . .

by Cryn Johannsen

Nevertheless, I am glad to see that pieces from this article are being disseminated widely by mainstream media. For years, AEM has been providing data, analysis, and personal stories to demonstrate the way in which the student loan crisis has been hurting the economy.

And here you have it from agencies and Regulators:

Regulators and officials at agencies [at] the Federal Reserve, Treasury Department, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Reserve Bank of New York have all warned that student borrowing may dampen consumption, depress the economy, limit credit creation or pose a threat to financial stability.

Finally! Finally! Finally! Finally. Finally? Wait a minute. I shouldn't be that excited. Yup, I am getting ahead of myself. We're not there yet. We're only kinda talkin' . . .

Because the language is important here. After all, the student loan crisis may:

a) hurt consumption
b) is depressing the economy
c) is limiting credit creation, and
d) is a threat to overall financial stability.

I think the word may is inappropriate here. It's not that it may dampen things, but rather that it has dampened

Ed Notes Online: I Echo Jersey Jazzman in Support for CORE in CTU Election on Friday

Ed Notes Online: I Echo Jersey Jazzman in Support for CORE in CTU Election on Friday:

I Echo Jersey Jazzman in Support for CORE in CTU Election on Friday

by ed notes online

Aside from everything else, just look at the ed deformers supporting Karen Lewis' opponents: The soon to be owned by Koch brothers Chicago Tribune and Fox News. And it a group like MORE were to ever seriously challenge Unity you would see the same type of reaction from the local ed deformers to those "anti reform radicals."

In Chicago they vote in the schools on one day - Friday May 17. Poll watching is in important factor. They have a much higher percentage of voters than here in NYC and retirees have no impact on the election. George and Sharron Schmidt are coming town this weekend and I'm getting together with them for breakfast Sunday morning so I hope to get the firsthand scoop.

There is no point in my writing something when someone like Jersey Jazzman does it so well.

Karen Lewis for CTU President
Up until now, I've stayed out of the internal politics of teachers unions. I outlined my many reservations about the Newark contract, but I didn't feel it was right to tell teachers to vote it up or

Second Chance for Neighborhood Schools Resolution | The Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education

Second Chance for Neighborhood Schools Resolution | The Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education:

Second Chance for Neighborhood Schools Resolution

by Kate_Lenox

The following resolution was adopted by the SCUSD District Advisory Committee on May 14th. It will be presented to the SCUSD board at the meeting on May 16th by Leo Cauchon. If you'd like to help him present it in its entirety by attending the meeting and filling our a comment card, meet Leo at the back of the baord meeting room at the Serna Center at 6:15. The item is on the agenda for Public Comment at 6:55 PM.

WHEREAS, the Sacramento City Unified School District of Education (Board) has received documents and heard oral presentations, including presentations by the public, regarding the recommended "wise sizing" of school facilities at its regular meetings in March, April and May; and

WHEREAS, vigorous neighborhood opposition was expressed at community meetings held at the school sites for the proposed School Closures; and

WHEREAS, the proposed School Closures will decrease, District wide, the quality of the curricula and educational programs which are currently dispersed among most traditional neighborhoods to the detriment of

Liberal House Democrats slam ‘cruel and harmful’ cuts to school meals for poor children | The Raw Story

Liberal House Democrats slam ‘cruel and harmful’ cuts to school meals for poor children | The Raw Story:

Liberal House Democrats slam ‘cruel and harmful’ cuts to school meals for poor children

By Eric W. Dolan
Wednesday, May 15, 2013 18:49 EDT

Representative Steven Horsford screenshot

Several Democrats took to the House floor on Wednesday to denounce large cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program.

Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) described the proposed cuts as “cruel and harmful” because it would “increase hunger in America.” Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) said the “morally wrong” $21 billion cut would hurt the U.S. economy along with low-income families.

The cuts to SNAP would remove about 2 million people from the program, according to theCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities. Additionally, roughly 210,000 children would lose access to free school meals.

“We cannot allow the budget to be balanced on the backs of the poor and most vulnerable in our country,” Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX) said on the House floor.

“We should not be cutting the safety net for our most vulnerable while maintaining costly

IRS Scandal: What Is A 501(c)(4)? | WHNT.com

IRS Scandal: What Is A 501(c)(4)? | WHNT.com:

IRS Scandal: What Is A 501(c)(4)?

Posted on: 4:15 pm, May 15, 2013, by David Kumbroch

Controversy swirls around the IRS and its scrutiny of Tea Party groups.

The IRS says some of its employees singled out conservative groups for extra scrutiny when they applied for tax-exempt status as 501(c)(4)’s.

So what qualifies as a 501(c)?

Attorney Stephen Wilson explains, “There’s a plethora of subdivisions under 501(c). I think there’s fifteen or twenty of them, and they all deal with separate areas.”

So how do you define the specific 501(c) that these groups say they aimed for?

Wilson says, “501(c)(4) is that section that covers social welfare organizations and local employee associations.”

In the tax code, Wilson explains, these groups must benefit the whole community, “The volunteer fire department would be a 501(c)(4), because its purpose is to benefit the community as a whole, whereas a police benevolent society, which has a purpose of benefitting its members, would not.”

Even if you try to go by the book though, there’s gray area here.

Wilson notes Tea Party groups are likely to claim they’re educating the whole community, and that’s how they claim the status.

Some high-ranking IRS officials have already admitted that these groups faced extra scrutiny, but don’t be fooled into thinking there’s not already a ton that goes into

Pelosi: IRS Scandal "An Opportunity" To Scrutinize 501(c)(4)s And "Overturn Citizens United"

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): Well, I think it's an opportunity. Let me say it this way, if, in fact, the IRS was targeting people because of their title, that would be wrong. It should be condemned. The whole idea, of 501(c)(4)s being engaged in politics is something we've got to put in a spotlight and maybe this is that opportunity.

The fact is that the law says that as long as the funds, the 501(c)(4)s do not use as the primary purpose politics but instead promoting social well being, welfare. Well, that's what primary purpose means, could be the secondary purpose. And here's what I'm calling for: As we look at this and we should, and I think it's very wrong that they would have targeted them, we should be saying what are these groups? Let's have transparency, disclosure. Who are these contributors, a.? B., Let's have accountability for what it is. This is a very vague law, let's bring a clear definition of what a 501(c)(4) -- is that somebody could give them money and they don't have to pay taxes on it.

We need accountability at the IRS, of course, as to how this happened. But we've really got to overturn Citizens United which has exacerbated the situation. So I've called for DISCLOSE, that's a dare, disclose… I've been calling for it for over a year, disclose, who are these people? Transparency, amend the constitution to overturn Citizens United, reform the political system, let's take money down as far as possible. Public financing of campaigns, clean campaigns and empowerment of people because people feel very left out of the loop. But I do think that some scrutiny has to be placed on what these 501(c)(4)s are. (All In With Chris Hayes, May 13, 2013)

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 5-15-13 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2

James Baldwin said it best:

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal’s Meaningless Common Core Executive Order | Truth in American Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 minutes ago

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal’s Meaningless Common Core Executive Order | Truth in American Education: Georgia Governor Nathan Deal’s Meaningless Common Core Executive Order by Shane Vander Hart Georgia Governor Nathan Deal issued an executive order to address concerns with the Common Core State Standards. *The Atlanta Journal-Constitution* sees it as an attempt to stave off a GOP mutiny. Based onpushback I’m seeing and hearing about, it could very well be headed toward a repeal and that has to make Governor Deal nervous as he is on the wrong side of this. You can read his ex... more »

Suit accuses Compton school district of abuse, racial profiling - latimes.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 9 minutes ago

Suit accuses Compton school district of abuse, racial profiling - latimes.com: Suit accuses Compton school district of abuse, racial profilingA group of parents and students have sued the Compton school district, alleging a pattern of abuse and racial profiling of Latinos by school police. [image: Compton school district sued] Victor Lopez, 21, a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit against the Compton Unified School District, stands near photos related to an incident in the suit. In the incident, school officers allegedly beat, pepper sprayed and used a chokehold on Lopez, who was takin... more »

THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: The Gulen Movement’s subsidized, guided trips to Turkey

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 15 minutes ago

THE PERIMETER PRIMATE: The Gulen Movement’s subsidized, guided trips to Turkey: The Gulen Movement’s subsidized, guided trips to Turkey by The Perimeter Primate In addition to having acquired the operation of the largest network of privately-managed, taxpayer-funded charter schools in the US (currently 135 in 26 states), members of the Gulen Movement are very active with efforts to recruit sympathizers. One of their approaches is to invite academics, journalists, politicians, public officials, and religious community leaders on one of their subsidized, guided trips to Turkey. The ... more »

Wisconsin Budget Policy and Poverty in Education | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 17 minutes ago

Wisconsin Budget Policy and Poverty in Education | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Wisconsin Budget Policy and Poverty in Education by millerlf Posted on May 15, 2013 Forward Institute Forward Institute has released its new study at a press conference in Milwaukee’s City Hall. The following remarks were made by Chair Scott Wittkopf, highlighting the most important findings of the comprehensive study. Wisconsin has always been a leader in K-12 public education because we have long valued the right of every child to receive a quality public education. The fundamental n... more »

Randi Weingarten responds to my blog post on pensions. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 25 minutes ago

Randi Weingarten responds to my blog post on pensions. | Fred Klonsky: Randi Weingarten responds to my blog post on pensions. by Fred Klonsky [image: A2cvXITCYAAXN4P] *NY UFT President Michael Mulgrew and AFT President Randi Weingarten.* The following statement was sent to me from American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten. From Randi Weingarten: Illinois’ pension system is facing huge financial hurdles; the right wing was having a field day using that as a reason to dismantle it and with it, retirement security for today and tomorrow’s retirees. To ensure a solvent ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Byrd-Bennett under wraps? Rahm supports the 'thrust..."

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Byrd-Bennett under wraps? Rahm supports the 'thrust...": Byrd-Bennett under wraps? Rahm supports the 'thrust..." by Mike Klonsky “I support the thrust of what Barbara said. We’re 100 percent hand-in-glove ...The glove metaphor is an appropriate one. *Barbara Byrd-Bennett* is under wraps again, like she was a year ago. We've hardly heard a peep from her since her comical and embarrassing comments which followed months of school closing hearings. You may remember, 20,000 Chicagoans spoke in one voice at those hearings---"Fix 'em. Don't close 'em!" But ... more »

Malloy visits Jumoke at Milner: Says don’t confuse me with the facts: - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Malloy visits Jumoke at Milner: Says don’t confuse me with the facts: - Wait, What?: Malloy visits Jumoke at Milner: Says don’t confuse me with the facts: by jonpelto According to the Hartford Courant’s Vanessa De La Torre, Governor Malloy joined former Hartford Mayor Thirman Milner yesterday in the library of Jumoke Academy at Milner to celebrate the success of Malloy’s “education reform” proposals. Milner explained, “You walk in the school, you can see the difference.” And Malloy was all too happy to take credit for the changes claiming that it was the privatization effort of h... more »

Lessons from Finland and Wisconsin – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Lessons from Finland and Wisconsin – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: How many times do we have to remind reform apologists like @alexanderrusso? by Chalk Face, PhD *Alexander Russo Boot Licker Alert * According to Mr. Russo, 2013 may be the year of teacher preparation. Too bad it’s half over. To wit: Since 2009, the California-based NewSchools Venture Fund, with the support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, has been convening Learning to Teach, a 40-member group of teacher prep organizations that includes both traditional and alternative providers. A coalition ca... more »

Massive Bradley Foundation Education Privatization Campaign Exposed - One Wisconsin Now

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Massive Bradley Foundation Education Privatization Campaign Exposed - One Wisconsin Now: *Massive Bradley Foundation Education Privatization Campaign Exposed* One Wisconsin Now Report 'P is For Payoff' Reveals $31 Million Plus Privatization Propaganda Campaign Madison - New research from One Wisconsin Now reveals a web of right-wing groups are part of a $31 million plus propaganda campaign pushing a massive privatization of public education in Wisconsin. Underwriting the effort is the Milwaukee based Bradley Foundation, headed by Gov. Scott Walker's campaign co-chair, Michael Gre... more »

Diane in the Evening 5-15-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: EduShyster Discovers an Excellent Teacher-School Matching Service by dianerav EduShyster gets great tips! In this post, she describes a dating service that matches teachers with just the right charter school. What will they think of next? Columnist: Tucson’s Top Charters Are Highly Selective by dianerav This year, once again, Tucson will bask in the knowledge that two of its charter schools–Basis and University High School– are among the top schools in the nation, according to the US News and World Report surve... more »

Whiteboard Insider Results on Common Core | Truth in American Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago

Whiteboard Insider Results on Common Core | Truth in American Education: Whiteboard Insider Results on Common Core by Shane Vander Hart Whiteboard Advisors did a poll this month of “education insiders.” They define an education insider as people who “influential leaders who are shaping federal education reform, including individuals who or are currently serving as key policy and political “insiders,” such as: - Current and former White House and U.S. Department of Education leaders; - Current and former Congressional staff; - State education leaders including state sc... more »

IEA leaders slam Illinois Retired Teachers Association. IRTA leaders stand with retirees, the law and justice. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

IEA leaders slam Illinois Retired Teachers Association. IRTA leaders stand with retirees, the law and justice. | Fred Klonsky: IEA leaders slam Illinois Retired Teachers Association. IRTA leaders stand with retirees, the law and justice. by Fred Klonsky I received these two letters today that I thought you would be interested in. Dear IEA-Retired members,We know many of you are members of both IEA-Retired and IRTA. We ask for your help in talking to your IRTA colleagues about the path they are taking as it will jeopardize getting a fair and constitutional bill passed. IRTA has come ... more »

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee and the Washington Post | Taking Note

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee and the Washington Post | Taking Note: Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee and the Washington Post by John Merrow The disturbing news of yet another testing scandal comes from Columbus, Ohio. Kudos to the Columbus Dispatch for its reporting on erasures and the ‘scrubbing’ of attendance records, and to the paper’s editorial pages for demanding action. The paper’s editorial on May 7 quotes Secretary of Education Arne Duncan as follows: *In a visit to Columbus last month, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan was emphatic that this district lacks stro... more »

UPDATE: Seattle Schools Community Forum: Odds and Ends

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Odds and Ends: Give Big Day Going on Now by Melissa Westbrook Have you given to your favorite charity today? Through the Seattle Foundation's Give Big Day you can see that donation increased (from their "stretch pool"). If you are going to donate sometime this year, make it now. Lots of great supporters of public education on the list. Why Do School Leaders Allow this to Happen? by Melissa Westbrook This comes from a reader whose child is at Washington. I am appalled at the poor judgment on the part of these teachers. *Why, in 2013, does anyo... more »

Summer Meals Programs Help Stretch Summertime Food Budgets — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Summer Meals Programs Help Stretch Summertime Food Budgets — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers]Summer Meals Programs Help Stretch Summertime Food Budgets May 15, 2013 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers [image: No Kid Hungry - Share Our Strength] *Post written by Kim Caldwell with the No Kid Hungry Center for Best Practices* Teachers, parents and kids tell us all the time that childhood hunger doesn't take a vacation during the summer months. That's because kids who normally get a lunch or breakfast at school lose access to those meals when clas...more »

"Second Chance for Neighborhood Schools" Sacramento City Unified School District

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

*Second Chance for Neighborhood Schools* * "Second Chance for Neighborhood Schools"* Good morning, Attached please find attached the "Second Chance for Neighborhood Schools" resolution. I am very appreciative of the DAC for voting its approval last night. On behalf of the DAC, I will have the honor of presenting it to our School Board this comingThursday May 16th at about 6:55 PM. It would be appreciated if folks would consider joining me in this presentation. Please send me an e-mail response or find me in the back of the meeting room at about 6:15 PM. I will wear a name tag :)... more »

Letter to Obama: We need data on ‘highly qualified’ teachers

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago

Letter to Obama: We need data on ‘highly qualified’ teachers: Letter to Obama: We need data on ‘highly qualified’ teachers By Valerie Strauss, Published: May 15, 2013 at 11:08 amE-mail the writer [image: abc]Should students still learning how to be teachers be considered “highly qualified teachers“? Should new college graduates with only five weeks of teacher training (that’s what Teach For America gives its recruits before sending them into high-poverty schools) be considered highly qualified? Well, Congress, which was lobbied by Teach For America and other organizations, said “yes... more »

Monty Neill: Building Effective Campaigns for Testing Reform - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Monty Neill: Building Effective Campaigns for Testing Reform - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Monty Neill: Building Effective Campaigns for Testing Reform by Anthony Cody *Guest post by Monty Neill.* *Part three of a three part series. Read part one here and part two here.* It will take public education, incessant pressure, and massive public resistance to win reforms to our current damaging test policies. We need to define clear, widely supported goals. And we need to offer a compelling vision of effective alternatives to high-stakes testing. In this post, I'll dig ... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, May 15, 2013

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Fensterwald Brown commits $1 billion for Common Core, sticks with funding formula Education Headlines *Wednesday, May 15, 2013* Fillmore schools chief expects more money for district next yearThe Fillmore Unified School District would benefit from additional funding if legislators pass Gov. Jerry Brown's revised California budget proposal, which calls for nearly $3 billion more for K-12 schools and community colleges. San Juan district superintendent to be placed on administrative leaveSan Juan Unified Superintendent Glynn Thom... more »

UPDATE: Governor attempts to prevent Common Core mutiny + New report: Can't judge pre-K to third grade teachers on how... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

New report: Can't judge pre-K to third grade teachers on how... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: Get Schooled: Governor attempts to prevent Common Core mutiny by his GOP colleagues By Maureen Downey Apparently in an effort to stave off a repeal of the Common Core State Standards, *Gov. Nathan Deal signed an executive order today *affirming state sovereignty **in education, prohibiting a federal curriculum to be imposed in Georgia and banning collection of identifiable student data for the feds. The carefully worded order still allows Common Core to continue in Georgia since it i... more »

Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago

Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública:

Chicago parent on school closings: “I cry a lot…Nobody wants their school closed.” | Hechinger Report

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Chicago parent on school closings: “I cry a lot…Nobody wants their school closed.” | Hechinger Report: Chicago parent on school closings: “I cry a lot…Nobody wants their school closed.” by Sarah Garland The Chicago school system plans to shutter 54 schools next year to save money and improve academics. Among them is Lafayette Elementary in Humboldt Park on the West Side of the city, a school with a treasured school orchestra and a program for autistic children. Valerie Nelson, 43, is a home health care worker who sends her two daughters there. A frequent volunteer at the school an... more »

Modern School: In Response to Valerie Strauss’ Criticism of Stephen Hawking

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago

Modern School: In Response to Valerie Strauss’ Criticism of Stephen Hawking: In Response to Valerie Strauss’ Criticism of Stephen Hawking by Michael Dunn Last week, Valerie Strauss wrote, “Why Stephen Hawking made a mistake backing Israel boycott,” in her Answer Sheet blog in the Washington Post. Here is my extended response: Academic boycotts may be ineffective forms of protest and it is certainly difficult to maintain philosophical consistency—both legitimate reasons for not using this tactic. However, Strauss’ claim that “Academics is [sic] supposed to be about the pursuit of... more »

The thanks they get for voting Obama | SocialistWorker.org

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

The thanks they get for voting Obama | SocialistWorker.org: The thanks they get for voting Obama Barack Obama is giving a whole new meaning to the phrase "adding insult to injury." May 15, 2013 [image: President Obama on the campaign trail (Christopher Dilts)] NATIONAL TEACHERS Appreciation Week, traditionally the first full week of May, passed this year without even a token statement from Barack Obama. Instead, the White House issued a presidential proclamation honoring the same weeklong period as...National Charter Schools Week. Yep, you read that right. Barack Obama--who got the v... more »

Stemming the Flow of the School-to-Prison Pipeline | NEA Today

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Stemming the Flow of the School-to-Prison Pipeline | NEA Today: Stemming the Flow of the School-to-Prison Pipeline May 15, 2013 by twalker Filed under Featured News, Top Stories Leave a Comment [image: Email][image: Share] *By Cindy Long* There’s a disturbing trend taking place in our public schools, especially in high poverty neighborhoods – where hallways and grounds are patrolled by police and disciplinary problems are no longer handled by counseling and detention but by suspension and arrest. Known as the school-to-prison pipeline, the trend is turning our adolescent students i... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Watching the DESE Countdown Clock. Citizens Still Waiting for Answers to Questions from the May 2 Hearings.

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Missouri Education Watchdog: Watching the DESE Countdown Clock. Citizens Still Waiting for Answers to Questions from the May 2 Hearings.: Watching the DESE Countdown Clock. Citizens Still Waiting for Answers to Questions from the May 2 Hearings. by stlgretchen Time elapsed since DESE Common Core May 2 meetings: We've installed a DESE clock to determine how long citizens have to wait for the answers to questions DESE promised to answer from its May 2 Common Core standards statewide meetings. Citizens were told questions/answers would be listed within a week on the DESE website.... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-15-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] How Wisconsin’s Government Is Cheating the State’s Children and Public Schools by dianerav The Forward Institute of Wisconsin released a new study of education policy in the state. This is a statement made by the Institute’s Chair, Scott Wittkopf: Wisconsin has always been a leader in K-12 public education because we have long valued the right of every child to receive a quality public education. The fundamental nature of our values is reflected in the State Con... more »

Brown commits $1 billion for Common Core, sticks with funding formula | EdSource Today

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Brown commits $1 billion for Common Core, sticks with funding formula | EdSource Today: Brown commits $1 billion for Common Core, sticks with funding formula - by John Fensterwald by John Fensterwald [image: Gov. Brown explains how the Local Control Funding Formula would work during a press conference in Sacramento on the May revision of the state budget.] Gov. Brown explains how the Local Control Funding Formula would work during a press conference in Sacramento on the May revision of the state budget Gov. Jerry Brown proposed Tuesday to direct all ofthe extra $2.8 billion in rev... more »

America’s Education Spring: A Growing Revolt Against ‘Reform’ Mandates

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

America’s Education Spring: A Growing Revolt Against ‘Reform’ Mandates: America’s Education Spring: A Growing Revolt Against ‘Reform’ Mandates by Jeff Bryant “It’s always hard to tell for sure exactly when a revolution starts,” wrote John Tierny in *The Atlantic* recently. “I’m not an expert on revolutions,” he continued, “but even I can see that a new one is taking shape in American K-12 public education.” Tierney pointed to a number of signs of the coming “revolution:” - Teachers refusing to give standardized tests, parents opting their kids out of tests, and students boyco... more »

Daily Kos: country with most Catholics effectively legalizes gay marriage

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Daily Kos: country with most Catholics effectively legalizes gay marriage: country with most Catholics effectively legalizes gay marriage by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) RIO DE JANEIRO — The council overseeing Brazil’s judiciary ruled on Tuesday that notary publics cannot refuse to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies, a decision that opens the way for gay couples across Latin America’s largest country to marry. That is the lead paragraph in Brazilian Court Council Removes a Barrier to Same-Sex Marriage.A few things to note 1. the council is headed by the the Chief Justice of th... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Yesterday's Tweets

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Yesterday's Tweets: Yesterday's Tweets by Mike Klonsky Fred Klonsky toon.Tweet from Randi Weingarten ‏@rweingarten *The Illinois Senate pension proposal is a good and fair agreement: http://bit.ly/10FkSub #1u * Reply from Mike Klonsky ‏@mikeklonsky *It's that much harder to fight cuts to our pensions and health care when @rweingarten is calling them "good" & "fair".. But we will.* Tweet from SmallSchoolsWorkshop‏@Smallschools *@rweingarten How can you call SB 2404 which calls for major cuts in retired teachers' pensions and health care, a "fair solut... more »

Why we need a moratorium on the high stakes of testing

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Why we need a moratorium on the high stakes of testing: Why we need a moratorium on the high stakes of testing By Valerie Strauss, Published: May 15, 2013 at 4:00 amE-mail the writer 5 Comments More [image: test]The president of the American Federation of Teachers, Randi Weingarten, called late last month for a moratorium on the high stakes attached to new Common Core-aligned standardized tests. (You can read about that here.) Here’s a piece in support of that call, written by Jeff Bryant, an Associate Fellow at the Campaign for America’s Future and the owner of a marketing and com... more »

solidaridad: Reason LA Fund feeds expired food to poor children of color—see any color on their board?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

solidaridad: Reason LA Fund feeds expired food to poor children of color—see any color on their board?: Reason LA Fund feeds expired food to poor children of color—see any color on their board? Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene at solidaridad - 4 hours ago Reason @lafund feeds expired food to poor children of color—see any color on their board? #LAUSD #ArtsMatter #LA2050 twitter.com/rdsathene/stat… — Robert D. Skeels (@rdsathene) April 4, 2013 5th Grade Schoolteacher Monica Ratliff, a LAUSD candidate endorsed by both UTLA and AALA Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene at solidaridad - 4 hours ... more »

Illinois retirees. Tweet Randi Weingarten. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Illinois retirees. Tweet Randi Weingarten. | Fred Klonsky: Obama is spying on us? I thought the Patriot Act was just for Muslims. by Fred Klonsky [image: Patriot Act] Illinois retirees. Tweet Randi Weingarten. by Fred Klonsky From by bro’s Small Talk blog Tweet from Randi Weingarten ‏@rweingartenThe Illinois Senate pension proposal is a good and fair agreement: http://bit.ly/10FkSub #1u Reply from Mike Klonsky ‏@mikeklonsky It’s that much harder to fight cuts to our pensions and health care when @rweingarten is calling them “good” & “fair”.. But we will. Tweet from SmallScho... more »

NYC Educator: AP Sapenbottom and the Creative Solution

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

NYC Educator: AP Sapenbottom and the Creative Solution: AP Sapenbottom and the Creative Solution by NYC Educator * by special guest blogger Curious Teacher* Assistant Principal Ms. Sapenbottom was irked. She was in her office and tired, and trying to take her afternoon power nap. But teachers kept coming in to make copies. She sighed. She made faces. She angrily stomped out to the bathroom and came back and said pointedly, "Can you guys hurry up?" Finally the teachers were done with their xeroxing, and Ms. Sapenbottom was free to take her nap. Except this kept happening over and ... more »

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 5-14-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago

*Nite Cap UPDATE* *UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* ** *CORPORATE ED REFORM* North, South, East, West NPE News Briefs are the BEST ← from The Network for Public Education mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education: *NPE News Briefs* * * * * 1 2 3 4 5 6 … 103 Next » The pieces are all starting to come together. ..and the picture ain’t good | Crazy Crawfish’s Blog MAY 14 2013 by Crazy Crawfish – Thanks to Lefty, Dave Lefkowith, John White’s data scam is starting to take on a clearer shape. I just got another document from go... more »

Congress must act now to address mental illness in schoolchildren - The Hill's Congress Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Congress must act now to address mental illness in schoolchildren - The Hill's Congress Blog: *Congress must act now to address mental illness in schoolchildren* By Andrea Spencer - 05/13/13 02:30 PM ET The raft of school shootings across the country is dramatic evidence of the need to provide a better support system for children with mental illness. As schools have focused more and more narrowly on academic performance, early warning signs of mental and behavioral health disorders have been all too frequently overlooked. The Mental Health in Schools Act of 2013 (S. 195) has p... more »

IRS Fallout: The Real Scandal Is Secret Money Influencing US Elections | The Nation

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

IRS Fallout: The Real Scandal Is Secret Money Influencing US Elections | The Nation: IRS Fallout: The Real Scandal Is Secret Money Influencing US Elections Ari Berman on May 14, 2013 - 12:24 PM ET - The IRS is under siege for investigating conservative political groups applying for tax-exempt status. But the real problem wasn’t that the IRS was too aggressive. It was that the agency focused on the wrong people—“none of those groups were big spenders on political advertising; most were local Tea Party organizations with shoestring budgets,” writes *The New York Times*—... more »

Six Reasons Why Race-and-IQ Scholarship is an Intellectual and Moral Dead End |

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Six Reasons Why Race-and-IQ Scholarship is an Intellectual and Moral Dead End |: Six Reasons Why Race-and-IQ Scholarship is an Intellectual and Moral Dead End by Angus Johnston In his post today on the Jason Richwine race-and-IQ controversy, Andrew Sullivan begins by acknowledging that Richwine’s recent study of ethnicity and immigration for the Heritage Foundation is worthless as a work of scholarship or public policy . He goes on to acknowledge that Richwine himself has a habit of consorting with white supremacists — his phrase, not mine. So far so good. But Sullivan goes on t... more »

Panel to discuss pushback on high-stakes testing | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Panel to discuss pushback on high-stakes testing | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Panel to discuss pushback on high-stakes testingby Helen Gym on May 14 2013 Posted in Commentary ="" style="color: rgb(76, 153, 72); cursor: pointer; float: left; padding: 0px 2px;">Share on email COMMENTS (0)PRINT A panel on high-stakes testing features prominent speakers Michelle Fine and Stan Karp. High-stakes testing and communities pushing back have been all over the news lately. Just this week, Senate Democratic leaders held a press conference opposing the implementation of Keystone exams,... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: A Good Day for Seattle Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago

Seattle Schools Community Forum: A Good Day for Seattle Education: A Good Day for Seattle Education by Melissa Westbrook I just got back from a news conference where it was announced that the City of Seattle will be investing $500,000 in arts education in Seattle Public Schools. This will advance the already established partnership between the City and SPS called The Creative Advantage. The goal is one hour of music and one hour of visual arts per week for every single student in SPS by 2020. The investment dollars came from something of a surprising source - admission tax reve... more »

More on Opting Out of SOL Exams in Virginia | PWC Education Reform Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

More on Opting Out of SOL Exams in Virginia | PWC Education Reform Blog: More on Opting Out of SOL Exams in Virginia by pwceducationreform Parents refusing to allow their children to be tested on state exams has been a hot topic of late across the nation. The Washington Post recently ran several stories about the issue focusing on the statutes in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC. One article stated that Students in the DC area can’t opt out state standardized tests. The article quoted Charles Pyle, spokesman for the Virginia Department of Education, as stating, *“all stu... more »

Torlakson Reacts to May Revise - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education)

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Torlakson Reacts to May Revise - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Issues Statement on Governor's May Revision SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today issued the following statement after Governor Brown released his May Revision of the 2013-14 state budget: "As a teacher, it's heartening to finally see new resources directed to California's schools after so many years of painful cuts. Californians want our schools back on solid financial ground, and Governor Brown's proposal represents another important step in ... more »

The Real Truth About CPS School Closings- Substance News

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

News from James Patrick - Substance News: The Real Truth About CPS School Closings James Patrick - May 14, 2013 Seventy-seven percent of African Americans in Chicago do not approve of CPS's plans to close schools and move children to other schools. CPS a few weeks ago announced 54 school closings, 11 school co-locations (with charter schools), and 6 turnarounds, estimating that approximately 30,000 students would be impacted by these actions. However, this is not true. These school actions will affect 133 schools and 47,500 students in these proposed school actions. There are three... more »

Retirement Heist: Illinois Style | Reclaim Reform

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Retirement Heist: Illinois Style | Reclaim Reform: Retirement Heist: Illinois Style Posted on May 14, 2013by kenpreviti Retirees and active teachers, along with many other public employees, are being scammed, pillage, ripped-off and betrayed. The script of this cruel Kabuki Theater of Absurd Greed has been performed, word-for-word, many times before. The 2011 nonfiction book by Ellen E. Schultz, Retirement Heist, has been plentifully awarded and updated. [image: Retirement_Heist] Jon Stewart has had Ellen Schultz on as a guest to discuss the book. The New York Times and the Wall Str... more »

Victory in Seattle as Teachers Win Battle in Standardized Test Boycott | Common Dreams

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Victory in Seattle as Teachers Win Battle in Standardized Test Boycott | Common Dreams: Victory in Seattle as Teachers Win Battle in Standardized Test Boycott Controversial test will not be given in high schools next year, but teachers vow to continue until test is removed at all grade levels - Jon Queally, staff writer Seattle teachers who took a strong and public stance by refusing to administer a "flawed" but mandatory standardized test earlier this school year are celebrating a victory after an announcement by the school district saying the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) te... more »

The most important problem facing American children today

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

The most important problem facing American children today: The most important problem facing American children today By Valerie Strauss, Published: May 14, 2013 at 2:19 pmE-mail the writer [image: poverty chart]What is the most important problem facing American children today? According to the Academic Pediatric Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is the effects of poverty on the health and well being of young people. But, they concede, there is no sustained focus on childhood poverty, or a unified pediatric voice speaking on the problem, or a comprehensive appr... more »

Breaking the Glass Ceiling of Achievement for Low-Income Students and Students of Color | Education Trust

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Breaking the Glass Ceiling of Achievement for Low-Income Students and Students of Color | Education Trust: Breaking the Glass Ceiling of Achievement for Low-Income Students and Students of Color [image: Printer-friendly version]Printer-friendly version[image: Share this] While gaps between student groups have narrowed over time at the below basic level of performance, gaps at the advanced level have widened. And among higher income groups, gap-widening between white students and students of color is more pronounced. Educators seeking to close gaps must raise the bar for *all* st... more »

Ed Notes Online: NATIONAL TEACHER PETITION: Tell Teachers College to take a stand for REAL teaching and learning! No award for Merryl Tisch!

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Ed Notes Online: NATIONAL TEACHER PETITION: Tell Teachers College to take a stand for REAL teaching and learning! No award for Merryl Tisch!: NATIONAL TEACHER PETITION: Tell Teachers College to take a stand for REAL teaching and learning! No award for Merryl Tisch! by ed notes online In the field of slime that is corporate deform, I put Merryl Tisch pretty high up on the list. That bastion of so-called progressive education, Teachers College, is giving Tisch an award at their graduation ceremony this month. And TC President Susan Fuhrman is quickly closing in. Many people are not h... more »

It’s About the Kids | EduShyster

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

It’s About the Kids | EduShyster: It’s About the Kids by edushyster2012 When a major Wall Street investor and the CEO of a fast growing chain of charter schools get together for a chat, what do you suppose they talk about? Well that’s obvious. They talk about the kids of course, and their shared dream of *crushing* the achievement gap in order to put those kids on a path leading straight to 21st century skills and success. In fact, when an executive from Prudential Financial and the CEO of the UNO Charter Schools in Chicago conversated this spring, the kids were topic #1. Let’s li... more »

Unified Backlash to Education Mandates Grows, Spreads

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Unified Backlash to Education Mandates Grows, Spreads: Unified Backlash to Education Mandates Grows, Spreads ** “It’s always hard to tell for sure exactly when a revolution starts,” wrote John Tierny in *The Atlantic* recently. “I’m not an expert on revolutions,” he continued, “but even I can see that a new one is taking shape in American K-12 public education.” Tierney pointed to a number of signs of the coming “revolution:” - Teachers refusing to give standardized tests, parents opting their kids out of tests, and students boycotting tests. - Legislators reconsidering ... more »

Governor to add $1 billion for schools to adopt common core standards | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

Governor to add $1 billion for schools to adopt common core standards | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC: Governor to add $1 billion for schools to adopt common core standards by Julie Small Governor Jerry Brown's revised budget plan being released Tuesday morning will add an extra $1 billion for K-12 schools to fund districts’ adoption of new common core standards — about $170 per student. The Governor will also propose an extra $240 million for base district funding as part of his funding overhaul. Administration officials revealed the details to the Associated Press on the eve of the b... more »

UPDATE: MAY REVISE Governor Brown Boosts Investment in Schools California State Budget

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago

California State Budget: Governor Brown Boosts Investment in Schools, Continues Call for Fiscal Restraint in Revised State Budget 5-14-2013 SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. released a revised and balanced state budget today that strengthens California’s fiscal integrity by investing in California's schools, chipping away billions from the "Wall of Debt" and maintaining a prudent reserve. "This budget builds a solid foundation for California's future by investing in our schools, continuing to pay down our debts and establishing a prudent reserve," said Governor Brown. "Bu... more »