NANCY BAILEY: Researching DeVos’s $185 Million School Funding Plan During a Pandemic

Researching DeVos’s $185 Million School Funding Plan During a Pandemic  

Researching DeVos’s $185 Million School Funding Plan During a Pandemic 

During this pandemic, public school funding is critical. The American public deserves to know as best as possible how their tax dollars are being spent on education and every area for that matter. That’s why it’s disappointing to review Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’s recent spending of $185 million on education innovation and acceleration.

Program emphasis is on STEM, social-emotional learning, and teacher professional development. There’s no mention of reading, geography, the arts, or child-find programs to locate children who did not sign up for school due to the virus.

A teacher’s needs when it comes to remote learning are not well addressed. Nor is there specific attention to math, aside from STEM. It has been stated that students are behind in math, although those reports seem faulty.

Mental health is vaguely addressed by SEL programs, but not necessarily by school psychologists, social workers, or professionals at the school level. More local outreach is needed.

I asked her this question on Twitter, and am still waiting for an answer. I will likely wait CONTINUE READING: Researching DeVos’s $185 Million School Funding Plan During a Pandemic  

California teachers unions mobilize against Democratic school reopening bill

California teachers unions mobilize against Democratic school reopening bill

California teachers unions mobilize against Democratic school reopening bill

SACRAMENTO — California teachers unions are demanding that the Legislature maintain pandemic restrictions on school reopenings and have begun mobilizing against a Democratic bill introduced last week that could force schools to reopen in March.

In separate letters to legislative leaders, the California Teachers Association and the California Federation of Teachers urge lawmakers to avoid rushing to reopen K-12 schools as Capitol momentum builds to address learning loss and education inequities. Most of the state's 6 million public schoolchildren remain at home with distance learning.

"The teachers and classified professionals of CFT ask that science and community safety, not political pressure, be the guiding force in any discussion about reopening our schools to in-person instruction," California Federation of Teachers President Jeff Freitas said in a letter obtained by POLITICO on Wednesday.

In a letter dated Tuesday, also obtained by POLITICO, CTA President E. Toby Boyd added that safety "should not be a relative or subjective term up to regional or political interpretation" and called for uniform state standards for reopening schools.

The unions' December rush to address newly introduced legislation is unusually early — and a sign of how they are trying to stop a reopening requirement before it gains steam.

AB 10 criticism: Both CFT and CTA say their members want to be back in classrooms but that it is still not safe to do so, pointing to a surge in Covid-19 cases this month and widespread shutdown orders from Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The unions voiced particular concerns with CA AB10 (21R), which would require CONTINUE READING: California teachers unions mobilize against Democratic school reopening bill

Reaganland: Public Education and America’s Right Turn – Have You Heard

Reaganland: Public Education and America’s Right Turn – Have You Heard

Reaganland: Public Education and America’s Right Turn

In the latest episode of Have You Heard, we talk to Rick Perlstein, author of the monumental new history Reaganland, about America’s ‘right turn’ against public education. As Perlstein recounts, public schools were at the very center of the culture wars of the 1970’s. From parents in the northeast revolting against court-ordered busing to the textbook wars of Kanawha County, West Virginia that culminated in the bombing of the school board offices, 1970’s America was a site of simmering resentment, which was then weaponized by a rising generation of new right activists.

Complete transcript of the episode is here. The financial support of listeners like you keeps this podcast going. Subscribe on Patreon or donate on PayPal.

Jennifer and Jack’s book, A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door, is out and available wherever you buy books!

Have You Heard · #103 Reaganland: Public Education and America’s Right Turn

Reaganland: Public Education and America’s Right Turn – Have You Heard

Leslie Fenwick, Miguel Cardona seen as contenders for education secretary - The Washington Post

Leslie Fenwick, Miguel Cardona seen as contenders for education secretary - The Washington Post

Two outsiders emerge as top contenders for Biden’s education secretary

Two lesser-known educators have emerged as top candidates for education secretary — a former dean at Howard University and the commissioner of schools in Connecticut, people familiar with the process said.

The first is Leslie T. Fenwick, dean emeritus of the Howard University School of Education and a professor of educational policy and leadership. The second is Miguel Cardona, who last year was named the top education official in Connecticut.

Both have positions that could draw fire, though in different ways. Fenwick is a fierce critic of many attempts at education reform, including some touted by President Barack Obama’s Education Department. Cardona has promoted a return to school buildings during the pandemic, saying it is imperative to get children back to face-to-face learning.

The situation remains fluid, and no decisions have been made. Three people familiar with the process said the transition committee is focusing its attention on these two candidates at the moment. Another person cautioned that others are in the mix. All four spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal conversations.

Fenwick and a spokesman for Cardona declined to comment Wednesday on the education secretary post.

An announcement has been expected by next week, as President-elect Joe Biden works to name his entire Cabinet before Christmas, but it’s possible that timing will change. Education has proved to be a tricky position to fill, as transition officials consider competing opinions within the Democratic Party over education policy and Biden’s effort to assemble a diverse set of leaders.

Who Biden is picking to fill his White House and Cabinet

As a candidate, Biden promised to choose a public school educator as secretary, raising expectations that the nominee will come from the world of K-12 schools. He’s also expected to name a person of color to the post, and most of the people considered have been Black or Latino. Fenwick is a Black woman, and Cardona is a Latino man. Both have experience as classroom teachers, though Fenwick has worked as a dean and scholar in higher education for many years.

“The Biden-Harris Cabinet will be a historic Cabinet,” Biden said Wednesday at an event introducing CONTINUE READING: Leslie Fenwick, Miguel Cardona seen as contenders for education secretary - The Washington Post

Teacher Tom: Projection, Empathy, Compassion

Teacher Tom: Projection, Empathy, Compassion

Projection, Empathy, Compassion

During my first year as a teacher, I had a student, a two-year-old, who loved her hugs. She would hug me hello in the morning. She would hug her mother and father goodbye. She would hug total strangers if given the chance. It was a charming instinct, one for which she had grown accustomed to receiving praise. "She is such a loving girl!" "Oh, how sweet!" However, her hugging did not always go over particularly well with her peers. Indeed, more often than not, her unsolicited hugs, which were generally quite enthusiastic, bordering on tackling, would frighten other children, often causing tears.

The Golden Rule, most commonly cited as "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," is one of the underpinning principles of many of the world's major religions and cultures. As a moral guide, it relies on individuals to look inside themselves, to perform the mental experiment of putting themselves into the shoes of others, and to act accordingly. The problem, of course, is that the way I want to be treated isn't necessarily a good guide to how others want to be treated. This little girl enjoyed a good hug, but doing unto others was, in this case, obviously the wrong thing to do.

Over the next couple of years, with the support of the adults CONTINUE READING: Teacher Tom: Projection, Empathy, Compassion

Report: Two New Top Contenders for Secretary of Education | Diane Ravitch's blog

Report: Two New Top Contenders for Secretary of Education | Diane Ravitch's blog

Report: Two New Top Contenders for Secretary of Education

The Washington Post reported that two new names have emerged as top contenders for Secretary of Education in the Biden Administration.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/biden-education-secretary-fenwick-cardona/2020/12/16/5811142e-3fb4-11eb-8bc0-ae155bee4aff_story.html

Laura Meckler and Valerie Strauss wrote:

Two lesser-known educators have emerged as top candidates for education secretary — a former dean at Howard University and the commissioner of schools in Connecticut, people familiar with the process said.
The first is Leslie T. Fenwick, dean emeritus of the Howard University School of Education and a professor of educational policy and leadership. The second is Miguel Cardona, who last year was named the top education official in Connecticut.


Both have positions that could draw fire, though in different ways. Fenwick is a fierce critic of many attempts at education reform, including some touted by President Barack Obama’s Education Department. Cardona has promoted a return to school buildings during the CONTINUE READING: Report: Two New Top Contenders for Secretary of Education | Diane Ravitch's blog

NYC Educator: UFT Delegate Assembly December 16, 2020--With Vaccine Coming, What's in the Future?

NYC Educator: UFT Delegate Assembly December 16, 2020--With Vaccine Coming, What's in the Future?

UFT Delegate Assembly December 16, 2020--With Vaccine Coming, What's in the Future?

UFT President Michael Mulgrew--Welcome to last DA of 2020. People on this call are the leadership of the union. We understand how much people lean on leaders during normal times. During these times, dealing with shutdown, fear and anxiety, people look to you. What you have done in terms of moving schools to remote, opening safely, and COVID response teams has been phenomenal. Recognize what you've done. None of our work matters unless it works at the building where people go to work. 

Our number one priority in mayoral race will be that DOE be completely revamped, in that their responsibility will be to support school buildings, not themselves. We remember what happened in March April and May and now it's happening all over the country. You've protected the school system.

Snow--City has given notice that tomorrow is an instructional day. Last year they forced us to report during spring break. We had a ruling that remote is instructional and when we're out of COVID our first act will be to seek compensation. We agreed that two snow days in our calendar were instructional days. We need to meet minimal mandate or state can tell us to cancel holidays, and in that case we wouldn't have agreement. This agreement is only for this year. We will look at things we want to see and things we don't. Our calendar now has more holidays than any system in US. Most snow days we could ever have would be two. Don't want to see days from Spring break canceled. 

There's no substitute for in-person instruction, but there are some things that are valuable in remote, as well as some that are definitely not.

NYC--State plan for COVID, geographically based. City has right to modify plan if it meets minimum NYC requirements. Our position was they have a right, but we stress testing, social distancing, ventilation, and CONTINUE READING: NYC Educator: UFT Delegate Assembly December 16, 2020--With Vaccine Coming, What's in the Future?

Outsmarted by Michael Mulgrew | JD2718

Outsmarted by Michael Mulgrew | JD2718

Outsmarted by Michael Mulgrew

I submitted a resolution to move away from blended learning last month. It was next on the agenda, 3 minutes left in the motions period, and they didn’t even tell me to get ready to speak. Mulgrew filibustered away the full 3 minutes.

So I was going to reintroduce the resolution this month.

Background – The UFT/DoE blended learning plan never made much sense pedagogically. It was going to disorganize teaching when we needed to be more organized than usual.

But until today, the UFT leadership had been strongly committed to blended learning. They adopted it as the union’s position – without ever putting it up for a vote.

So I was going to reintroduce it. But I got outsmarted.

I never got the email to submit a resolution, I thought, so I wrote to Leroy Barr and asked what was up. He told me it had been emailed on Sunday.

Sunday? What? I looked through my old emails. And found it.

The email came on Sunday. I opened it. I did not recognize it as the email to submit resolutions. Bad on me.

Here it is: CONTINUE READING:  Outsmarted by Michael Mulgrew | JD2718

Mini Grants to Address Equity Now Available - Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

Mini Grants to Address Equity Now Available - Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces Mini Grants Now Available to Educators to Address Equity and Opportunity Gaps

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today announced that California school districts and charter schools can now begin applying for mini grants to address equity and opportunity gaps in student learning.

Announced earlier this month as part of its ongoing efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic’s continued impact on students, the California Department of Education (CDE) will award grants of up to $20,000 each to schools, districts, and charter schools that can demonstrate how they will address equity and opportunity gaps by utilizing the funds to target educators’ or students’ needs in distance learning, in-person instruction, or hybrid models.

The application process and criteria were emailed to all county and district superintendents and charter school administrators in California earlier today, and the deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Friday, January 8, 2021. The grants have been funded through a $200,000 contribution from the Stuart Foundation.

“Educators need every tool possible to implement strategies that support students who have been hit hardest by the inequitable impacts of this public health crisis,” Thurmond said. “I am proud to continue providing direct resources to our schools, and while they are small in size, these mini grants can go a long way in a community trying to reach and engage its struggling students.”

The funds must be used to advance equity and to close equity gaps. The grantees are given discretion to decide how they will address the topic of equity. For example, grantees can address equity and opportunity gaps by utilizing the funds to target educators’ or students’ needs with in-person instruction or distance learning.

Other examples of how grants can be used include supporting educator and/or staff professional development that has proven to be successful in targeting or closing equity gaps. Professional development could be in the form of training or a mentoring program. Providing stipends for mentors who assist mentees in adjusting to the current distance learning landscape is another eligible use.

Additionally, funds can be used for purchasing items or materials needed to address inequity; however, they should not be used solely for the purpose of purchasing materials.

Local educational agencies are encouraged to consider ways grant dollars can be used to support activities that address equity gaps in the form of community and family engagement. For instance, families that have been disengaged with schools may benefit from activities that support and strengthen engagement. Funding can be used to support activities that have been proven to strengthen family connection and involvement with their children’s learning.

All questions regarding the mini grant process can directed by email to equitygrants@cde.ca.gov.

# # # #

Tony Thurmond — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

Last Reviewed: Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Mini Grants to Address Equity Now Available - Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

ITS ALL IN THE PERSPECTIVE – Dad Gone Wild

ITS ALL IN THE PERSPECTIVE – Dad Gone Wild

ITS ALL IN THE PERSPECTIVE

“Memory,’ wrote the Lebanese novelist Elias Khoury, is a process of organizing what to forget.”
― Ben Ehrenreich, The Way to the Spring: Life and Death in Palestine

Today is the last day of classes for Metro Nashville Public Schools. As I sit here and craft my latest missive, I am uplifted by the sounds of my youngest’s chortles wafting through his bedroom door. His teachers are throwing a pajama party this morning for all of the children who completed their assigned work. To earn the reward, he worked especially hard this week – frequently checking and rechecking to make sure everything was completed. As a result, his morning holds promises of quizzes, jokes with classmates, and prizes. A grand time for all.

My daughter has a book club meeting later today, in which they’ll discuss several recently read titles. She enjoys the time spent with her classmates and teacher. Along with her brother, she has spent the last couple of days, checking and re-checking work to ensure that everything is completed. Back in mid-October, she struggled for a bit, but found her mojo and has since re-applied herself, mostly making up lost ground. She’ll still only earn a “C” in Social Studies, due to her earlier transgressions. Not the expected grade, but the one she earned and one that comes with its own lessons. It’s safe to say that she has learned as much from that “C” as any “A” she ever got

Meanwhile, out in the world, there continues to be a steady drumbeat for the narrative that the CONTINUE READING: ITS ALL IN THE PERSPECTIVE – Dad Gone Wild

Normality in Sayaka Murata – radical eyes for equity

Normality in Sayaka Murata – radical eyes for equity

Normality in Sayaka Murata

What is normal? Are you normal? Am I normal?

“Normality was contagious, and exposure to the infection was necessary to keep up with it,” explains Natsuki in Sayaka Murata’s Earthlings.

If we accept that “normal” describes what is typical, and thus, what we may expect in any circumstance, then the novels of Murata are themselves not normal.

And the central characters in both Earthlings and Convenience Store Woman are certainly not normal either.

Having focused for the last couple of years on fiction in translation (see links below)—prompted in part by my scholarly and personal interest in Haruki Murakami—I think part of the appeal of fiction from other cultures, crafter originally in languages other than my native English, is that the works confront and challenge my perceptions of normal, even though my critical CONTINUE READING: Normality in Sayaka Murata – radical eyes for equity

NYC Public School Parents: Josh Karan on Mayoral control

NYC Public School Parents: Josh Karan on Mayoral control

Josh Karan on Mayoral control

Tomorrow on Dec. 17, the NY State Assembly Standing Committee on Education will hold hearings on Mayoral control tomorrow, starting at 10 AM.  You can view the hearings live streamed here.  Testimony is by invitation only. 

Josh Karan was a member of the Parent Commission on School Governance, whose 2009 report is posted here.  Other documents created by the Commission, as well as summaries of the proposals of other organizations at the time, are posted here and in this google drive folder, in case you'd like to check them out.  Josh wrote the following about this issue.

NYC Public School Parents: Josh Karan on Mayoral control

NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY #BLM #BLACKLIVESMATTER

 NewBlackMan (in Exile)

NewBlackMan (in Exile) TODAY

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK WITH NEWBLACKMAN (IN EXILE) - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/12/this-week-with-newblackman-in-exile_12.html

Stakes Been High: Mychal Denzel Smith on Life After the American Dream | Review by Mark Anthony Neal

by Mark Anthony Neal / 40min

Stakes Been High: Mychal Denzel Smith on Life After the American Dream Review by Mark Anthony Neal | @NewBlackMan | NewBlackMan (in Exile) When the group De La Soul released Stakes is High in 1996, it was the culmination, and thus the final break, with any claim they held to being stars. The trio was always ambivalent about their place in Hip-Hop’s hierarchy of fame – proclaiming six years earlie

Underground, Monroe, and the Mamalogues: Three Plays -- Playwright Lisa B. Thompson in Conversation with Imani Perry

by Mark Anthony Neal / 13h

'Dr. Lisa B. Thompson , award-winning playwright and Professor of African and African Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas at Austin in conversation with Dr. Imani Perry , Hughes-Rogers Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University. They will discuss Thompson's newly published book, Underground, Monroe and The Mamalogues: Three Plays .'

Ming Smith on 'Working Together: Louis Draper and the Kamoinge Workshop'

by Mark Anthony Neal / 13h

'Inspired by the archive of Richmond native Louis Draper , Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has organized an unprecedented exhibition that chronicles the first twenty years of the Kamoinge Workshop, a group of African American photographers he helped to found in 1963. More than 180 photographs by fifteen of the early members—Anthony Barboza, Adger Cowans, Danny Dawson, Roy DeCarava, Louis Draper, Al

Who was the first Black movie icon? Many would argue in favor of the unparalleled and unmatched Paul Robeson . Known fo...

by Mark Anthony Neal / 13h

Who was the first Black movie icon? Many would argue in favor of the unparalleled and unmatched Paul Robeson . Known for his immense presence on the silver screen and his baritone singing voice, Robeson also shook up the status quo of his day as political activist for Civil Rights drawing praise and scrutiny on the world stage. Dr. Shana L. Redmond , Professor of Musicology and African American S

DREAMWEAVERS: In / Conversation - Carrie Mae Weems and Terence Nance

by Mark Anthony Neal / 14h

'Episode 3 of UTA Artist Space's Dreamweavers series featuring artist Carrie Mae Weems and Random Acts of Flyness creator and Space Jam 2 director Terence Nance – in partnership with Lyft Entertainment. Weems and Nance cover everything from establishing identity and community through art to the role gender has played in Weems' career.'

Showcase: In Conversation with Chris Obehi

by Mark Anthony Neal / 14h

' Chris Obehi is a 22-year-old guy from Nigeria, who is known for playing his guitar on the streets of Palermo while singing in Sicilian. For many Italians, it is quite the story. Here's that story in his own words.' -- Showcase

 NewBlackMan (in Exile)