Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Notes from the news, Feb. 23

Submitted by Erika Owens on Tue, 02/23/2010 - 09:27 Posted in Notes from the news | Permalink

Report on S. Phila. High violence expected [today]Philly.com
A retired federal judge who was hired to investigate the situation at South Philly will issue his report today.

West Philly community responds to 'Renaissance' label The Notebook blog
About 50 people attended West's community meeting last week. They expressed support of Principal Cruz and her current turnaround efforts.

See also: Questions About Renaissance Schools Philly Weekly

Schools must teach what not to say, too The Inquirer (opinion)
In order to teach kids about free speech the lesson must include "some basic principles of civility."

Letters: Teachers need tools to do their jobs properly The Inquirer
Response from Len Rieser and Kelly Darr to last week's op-ed about students with disabilities and English language learners.

Local Elementary Kids Take Part in Annual Science Fair KYW

Having Your Cake and Eating It Too Philly School Search blog

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Notes from the news

voiceofsandiego.org | News. Investigation. Analysis. Conversation. Intelligence.

Bright and Early: The Education Newsblitz

The San Diego Unified board is slated to make some budget decisions tonight -- follow the action with me on Twitter! Now for your morning newsblitz:

Poway teachers are protesting a proposed second, deeper pay cut that would slash salaries by another 4.8 percent, the Union-Tribune reports. The North County Times writes about the protest, too.

Our guest blogger Bey-Ling Sha explains why she's so mad at the legislators in Sacramento.

We blog that yes, teacher furloughs would mean a shorter school year in San Diego Unified.

San Diego News Network continues its series on Advanced Placement exams. This section takes on whether school districts change grades later for good scores on the AP tests.

Also in the UT: A South Bay teacher who was acquitted of sexual misconduct with a student got her teaching credential back, but it isn't clear if her school district will reinstate her.

A University of San Diego student asks where the turnover in superintendents leaves school reform in San Diego Unified.

EducationNews.org - A Global Leading News Source

Rare ban in laptop lawsuit

The next time Lower Merion school administrators want to talk to students and parents about their laptop-camera controversy, they will have to get a lawyer's blessing.

U.S. students need to play catch-up, Obama says

He tells the National Governors Assn. that states will be required to help students be 'college- and career-ready.' Decrying shortcomings of the No Child Left Behind Act, President Obama on Monday pledged to make American students more competitive in the global economy by encouraging highe

Publisher Releases Updated and Re-written “From Slavery to Freedom”

Black history scholar-activist Dr. John Hope Franklin’s influential work comes alive in its ninth rendition under the direction of his mentee Dr. Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, bringing the narrative into the 21st century

Social conservative faces tough battle for state ed board seat

Critical board decisions loom, including how new science textbooks cover evolution and which political figures are included in new history books. The two GOP candidates are slugging it out in a primary contest that will signal what those decisions might be. No Democrat filed, so the GOP winner is expected to cruise to election in November

Schools ax teachers, blame state

Chicago-area school districts are blaming massive layoffs and program cuts on the recession and the state's chronic financial woes.

Blacks also appeal action by judge in TUSD deseg

Black plaintiffs are appealing a federal judge's decision to end court oversight of the Tucson Unified School District's effort to bring its schools into racial balance.

Where the Bar Ought to Be

Deborah Kenny talks a lot about passion — the passion for teaching, for reading and for learning. She has it. She wants all of her teachers to have it. Above all, she wants her students to have it.

Houston teachers cram for revamped science curriculum

Kindergarten science instruction will evolve beyond dinosaurs next August when Texas tots are introduced to chemistry and other tough topics under the state's new curriculum.

This Week In Education

Turnarounds: New Providers Organizations Appear

by Alexander Russo

I'm told that a handful of new turnaround provider organizations are coming online, including ones in Massachusetts, New York City, and New Orleans.

In Massachusetts, the former principal of Excel, the top performing middle school in the state, is forming a new turnaround organization. In New York City, a charter school provider called Explore is planning to expand its work to include turnarounds. In New Orleans, an organization called Renew Schools set to go for this fall. (No confirmation yet.)
Lack of turnaround providers has been a big problem for turnaround advocates. The obvious choices -- charter networks -- turn out not to be so obvious. Districts and state agencies don't want or can't do the job. But all the public attention and new dollars out there seem to be attracting some attention. Crossed fingers this turns out OK.

Thompson: The CEP's Wisdom

by john thompson

The Center for Education Policy's series of outstanding reports confirm that "we still know painfully little about some key questions in education reform" such as "what makes an effective teacher," and it concludes "the current drive to improve elementary and secondary education cannot be fulfilled solely within the present structure of public schools." "With greater consequences attached to test results, the testing aspect of standards-based reform has become the main driver of accountability, overshadowing the standards themselves." ... "It would be foolish to abandon it (standards) now. Research has not revealed any better framework ..." So, the CEP recommends that we eliminate federal sanctions for not meeting NCLB targets. (emphasis mine)

The CEP, which has been scrupulous in documenting the weaknessness of the Obama administration's four preferred plans for school turnarounds, politely notes that they "are not supported by research," and "it is unwise to prescribe them." The CEP recommends that the federal government safeguards against states being too lenient in identifying and intervening in failing schools by requiring the Education Department to approve state plans, documenting whether they are ambitious but achievable, whether they are based on student performance growth and disagregation of data for subgroups, and transparent.
The CEP recommends the extension of Stimulus funding beyond 2011 for states that adopt stronger requirements for funding adequacy and equity. It appears more critical of the logic of the Race to the Top, however, noting the inconclusive evidence of a correlation between test score growth and teacher effectiveness. This leads to the recommendation for "complementary learning," or "a coherent partnership among k-12 education, early childhood education, and out-of-school learning."

Rise & Shine: Construction industry creating new school for Smith | GothamSchools

Rise & Shine: Construction industry creating new school for Smith

by Philissa Cramer

The UFT says using test scores in tenure decisions reflects an illicit rule change. (GothamSchools,Post)
The DOE will work with the construction industry to develop a non-charter school for Smith HS. (Times)
Bob Herbert praises Harlem Village Academy and its founder for “raising the bar” in Harlem. (Times)
President Obama urged governors yesterday to improve education. (Times, Wall Street Journal)
A mom says her child is being bullied at Brooklyn’s PS 161, but the school isn’t so sure. (Daily News)
More than 900 San Francisco teachers and school staff are set to be laid off this year. (S.F. Chronicle)
Chicago’s schools chief says he will improve the school closure process there. (Chicago Sun-Times)

Schools Matter: Young Conservative Loves Obama Education Agenda, RttT, Merit Pay

Jonathan Krohn, the 14 year old wunderkid of the conservative/Tea Party movement, spoke to progressive radio host, Thom Hartmann, after absorbing the scene at the recent CPAC gathering. You can skip to the 3:25 mark of the video to hear Jonathan "give credit where credit is due" - in this case, Krohn thinks our "socialist" President deserves support for his pro-competition, pro-charter, pay for test score, pro-merit-pay agenda. "Public education is already there and we're not going to be able to abolish it," chimes in the kid - but you sure get the impression that he'd like to.

Rae Belisle leaving EdVoice The Educated Guess

The Educated Guess

Rae Belisle leaving EdVoice

Posted in Advocacy organizations

Rae Belisle, a savvy advocate for change as well as an influential Sacramento insider with the governor’s ear, has resigned as president and CEO of EdVoice, and her bid for a full term on the State Board of Education is in trouble. Her departure from both EdVoice and the board would leave low-income and minority children with one less strong voice.
Belisle submitted her resignation for health reasons to the non-profit EdVoice board in January, though she had not made that public until now. Her last day at work is March 1.
Belisle has been taking medication for breast cancer, which is in remission. She says she stopped the medicine for two months while helping with the state’s Race to the Top application. When she resumed taking it, the side effects were worse.
(Read more and comment on this post)

Temple to study how to help students lose weight | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/22/2010

Temple to study how to help students lose weight | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/22/2010:

"Early in her college career, Kimberly Davidson fell into the typical campus lifestyle, a tailor-made prescription for weight gain: Study hard. Party. Watch TV. Eat junk food.

Davidson, 21, a junior at Temple University, had put on the so-called Freshman 15. Now she would like to lose about 30 pounds, which would place the 5-foot-9 social-work major at 140, well within the healthy weight range for her height.

She will join more than 20 other female Temple students in an 11-week weight-loss program that will aim to break ground and fine-tune methods that work best with the college crowd.

'There are very few weight-loss programs designed specifically for college students, and there isn't a lot of data about the efficacy of the programs,' said Nicole Patience, a clinical dietitian at Temple Student Health Services.

The campus setting can be particularly challenging - with irregular sleep patterns, budget constraints, the stress of being away from home for the first time, and the prevalence of parties."

This Week In Education: AM News: Budget Cuts Vs. New Ideas

AM News: Budget Cuts Vs. New Ideas

For school districts on the edge, busing halt considered Detroit Free press: Some districts are asking parents to dig deeper to pay for athletic uniforms or to purchase classroom supplies. Class sizes are rising. And many school boards are involved in heated discussions about closing schools.

Computerized state assessments to save time, money Wichita Eagle: The Wichita district spent $1.9 million on Netbooks and $20,400 on updating Internet connections this year to help students practice for and take assessments outside of computer labs. Most schools only have one lab.

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Math Wiz Adds Web Tools to Take Education to New Limits PBS NewsHour: From a bedroom in the San Francisco Bay area, Salman Khan is using the Web to teach math and science to millions.

Obama Pitches Education Proposal to Governors NYT: The president praised efforts by 48 states — all but Alaska and Texas — to develop common standards in math and reading, coordinated by the National Governors Association. The collaboration was a bipartisan project at variance with the highly polarized political mood in Washington that has frustrated many of Mr. Obama’s top priorities in Congress.

Disabled kids could get more access to charter schools Houston Chronicle: Encouraging a crop of charters for special-needs students won't be easy. Current funding structures and accountability laws for Texas charter schools are prohibitive, said Houston advocate Louis Geigerman, who abandoned a plan several years ago to open a charter for children with Asperger's syndrome.

Boston gets an F in teacher appraisals Boston Globe: A new state law that bolsters a superintendent’s ability to fire teachers at underperforming schools could be undermined in Boston because administrators routinely neglect a basic task: evaluating teachers.

Education | Bill would ease way to demote Seattle principals | Seattle Times Newspaper

Bill would ease way to demote Seattle principals

A dozen Seattle legislators want to make it easier to demote school principals in Seattle — and Seattle only.

By Linda Shaw

Seattle Times education reporter

State Rep. Reuven Carlyle wants to lower bar on Seattle principals.

A dozen Seattle legislators want to make it easier to demote school principals in Seattle — and Seattle only.

In an effort led by state Rep. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, the lawmakers hope to amend an education bill — one aimed at helping Washington compete in the federal Race to the Top competition — by adding a section that would lower the bar for removing Seattle principals from their jobs.

If they are successful, Seattle school officials eventually could demote experienced principals from schools for a "valid reason." As it stands now, principals who've worked in any school district for more than three years can't be moved down without "probable cause," a higher bar.

In Carlyle's view, the measure would help strengthen school leadership in Seattle, where he says school officials appear to have more trouble than any other school district in the state when it comes to dealing with subpar principals.

Colorado could be stuck in a race to the middle - The Denver Post

Colorado could be stuck in a race to the middle - The Denver Post:

"At first glance, Colorado's wimpy entry in the national 'Race for Big Education Bucks' wouldn't seem to stand much chance in the first round of the competition.

But don't bet that we'll get shut out when the feds get ready to dole out the grants. Other states aren't exactly racing toward the top, either.

Legislators and lawmakers from coast to coast are having great difficulty approving tough reform measures for public schools despite the fact that $4.2 billion is on the table.

It was explained — facetiously — by the independent Center for Education Reform this way: 'States feel that it's the little things that count.'

That may be a slightly harsh assessment. But the 'Race to the Top,' proposed by President Obama, has largely turned into a tug-of-war between school reformers and the champions of the status quo — primarily the National Education Association, the nation's No. 1 special interest group."

Local teachers unions join statewide protest | teachers, statewide, protest - Local News - Recorderonline.com

The two largest teachers unions in the Porterville area plan to participate fully in a statewide protest scheduled for Mar. 4, aimed at convincing state legislators to increase funding for public education.

Sponsored by the California Teachers Association — the largest teachers union in the nation — local educators hope to draw community support for a Thursday morning showing.

On Tuesday, CTA launched a series of radio advertisements statewide asking parents and community members to join in the “Day of Action” alongside union members.

“We’re trying to get all the associations and all the schools to stand up for education and let the Governor know that taking money away from education is not the right thing to do,” Porterville Educators Association President Stan Ennis said.

Ennis, a Bartlett Middle School math teacher, said the demonstration will take place directly prior to school at major intersections throughout Porterville.

Though plans are not finalized, Ennis said he expects the protest to involve holding signs and passing out information about education funding.

Fidel Banuelos, president of the Burton Elementary Teachers Association (BETA), is making similar plans.

Feminist Wire Daily Newsbriefs: U.S. and Global News Coverage

Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against CA Anti-Affirmative Action Measure

A class action lawsuit was filed last week alleges that the civil rights of Black, Latina/o, and Native American applicants to California schools are violated due to an amendment, Proposition 209, to the state constitution. The Proposition 209 amendment to the California constitution passed in 1996 and prohibits affirmative action in public employment, education, and contracting. The so-called California Civil Rights Initiative effectively ended affirmative action policies in the state and gutted sex discrimination law.

The suit, which claims that Proposition 209 is unconstitutional because it violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution was filed by Michigan-based group By Any Means Necessary. Lead counsel Shanta Driver told the Associated Press, "Thirteen years of a ban on affirmative action in the state of California has left, in particular UCLA and Berkeley, with just pitiably low numbers of black and Latino students...You can't have a white majority create a situation in which the only people who are barred from going to their regents and saying, 'Adjust the admissions system so more of our sons and daughters can get in' are black, Latino and Native American."

California Attorney General Jerry Brown wrote a letter (see PDF) to the California state Supreme Court last

Contrary to Perception, Santa Barbara School District Not Top Heavy with Salaries, Staff - Noozhawk.com

Contrary to Perception, Santa Barbara School District Not Top Heavy with Salaries, Staff - Noozhawk.com:

"With more budget cuts looming, a Noozhawk review finds administrative spending below state's average. We've got the lists, too"

The Santa Barbara school board is expected to trim $6 million from its $120 million discretionary budget Tuesday night, with about 9.3 percent of the reductions coming from the administration side in the cash-strapped district.

With the Santa Barbara school board poised to cut millions of dollars from the school district’s budget for the fourth consecutive year Tuesday, the perennial call to keep the knife “as far away from the classroom as possible” has come to sound almost cliché. So, too, have the demands to cut what many perceive to be the administrative bloat.

So it begs the question: How bloated is the administration in Santa Barbara’s K-12 school system? Comparatively speaking, not very, according to a statewide school consulting agency based in Sacramento.

The Santa Barbara school board is expected to trim $6 million from its $120 million discretionary budget Tuesday night, with about 9.3 percent of the reductions coming from the administration side in the cash-strapped district. (Kirsten Macfadyen / Noozhawk photo)

Throughout California, in 2008-09, the average school district spent about 7.2 percent of its budget on administrative salaries. The Santa Barbara School District spent about 6 percent, according to School Services of California, whose director of management consulting, Suzanne Speck, providedNoozhawk the figures last week.

The findings do not jibe with widespread opinion.

“There’s no question the general consensus is that the administration is top heavy,” school board president Ed Heron