Monday, May 24, 2010

Before Promise Academies, came the Dream Schools. How have they done? | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Before Promise Academies, came the Dream Schools. How have they done?

by Ron Whitehorne

Next year Philadelphia will see the first wave of Promise Academies, turnaround schools that will be directed by Superintendent Arlene Ackerman herself.
Ackerman’s conception of a turnaround school with a longer school day, a centrally prescribed set of curricula, interventions and programs, and a contract with parents is not new. She did it before in San Francisco. In 2004,she introduced the first three Dream Schools; 10 schools would become Dream Schools.

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West to decide on its provider recommendation today

Notes from the news, May 24

by Erika Owens

Before Promise Academies, came the Dream Schools. How have they done? The Notebook blog
Dream Schools were Ackerman's office-run turnaround schools in San Francisco. Of the six Dream Schools that remain open today, four are on California's list of lowest-performing schools.
Ackerman's brief tenure does not merit bonus The Inquirer (opinion)
Compares Ackerman to Alfred E. Neuman and says her accomplishments sound like part of a basic job description, not bonus material.
To fight 'dropout factories,' school program starts young USA Today
Profile of Feltonville School of Arts and Sciences and its work with the Diplomas Now program.

Formula could cost Phila.'s needy students free lunch The Inquirer
Philadelphia's universal feeding program again faces uncertainty.

How big is the central office? The Notebook blog
Budget documents show growth in size of 440.
Turnaround charter getting high marks for college prep The Inquirer
Profile of Mastery's turnaround of Thomas Middle School.
How the 'Corrective' program unfolded at one high school The Notebook blog
A current teacher recounts how the roll out of Corrective Reading and Math at his high school disrupted the first quarter of the school year.
Trifecta of bad behavior Daily News (opinion)
The Philly principals who lacked certification should give back the money earned while they were out of compliance.
Different entrances, times for Childs/Barratt pupils Daily News
Childs Elementary is being relocated to Barratt in the fall. The 90 remaining Barratt 8th-graders will have their own floor, separate entrance, and different start/end time.
How to Save Philadelphia Schools A Very Public Education

Are liberals reconsidering school choice? Sun-Sentinel (opinion)
Hot Topic – Helping Your Child Get a Summer Job! The Frankford Gazette
Nikki Giovanni's poetic life: Her journey from civil rights observer to inspirational sage Daily News
Gunfire Erupts During Germantown Celebration CBS 3
Please email us if we missed anything today or if you have any suggestions of publications, email lists, or other places for us to check for news.
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Notes from the news

9 accused in Obama loan records breach case face arraignment | Seattle Times Newspaper

Nation & World | 9 accused in Obama loan records breach case face arraignment| Seattle Times Newspaper

9 accused in Obama loan records breach case face arraignment

Nine people accused of accessing President Barack Obama's student loan records while employed by a Department of Education contractor in Iowa are to be arraigned on federal charges.

The Associated Press

DAVENPORT, Iowa —

Nine people accused of accessing President Barack Obama's student loan records while employed by a Department of Education contractor in Iowa are to be arraigned on federal charges.

The former employees of Vangent Inc. are accused of accessing Obama's records at the contractor's office in Coralville while he was either a candidate for president, president-elect or president.

They are charged with exceeding authorized computer access. Their arraignment planned for Monday at the U.S. District Court in Davenport, Iowa.

The charge is punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

High court to hear Arizona school case

The Supreme Court says it will consider ending a lawsuit that challenges Arizona's tax breaks for donations for private school scholarships.

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON —

The Supreme Court says it will consider ending a lawsuit that challenges Arizona's tax breaks for donations for private school scholarships.

The court on Monday said it will hear an appeal filed by the state and supporters of the 13-year-old program that provides dollar-for-dollar income tax breaks for donations to school tuition organizations.

Some Arizona taxpayers challenged the program as unconstitutional because religious organizations award most of the scholarships and require children to enroll in religious schools. The suit says the program amounts to an unconstitutional state endorsement of religion.

AM News: Districts Cutting Summer School This Week In Education

This Week In Education

Media: Mainstream News Outlets Point To Outside Coverage

by Alexander Russo

Last week, the New York Times magazine story about teachers unionslinked out to EdWeek for additional coverage of the RTTT process. Today, the Washington Post's Ezra Klein links out to the Wall Street Journal's Stephanie Banchero for her story on the NAEP results. This kind of thing is a small but important shift in the way traditional media outfits have operated for years, refusing in many situations to link out much less acknowledge the existence of other news outlets. It's a good thing, over all. Readers know

AM News: Districts Cutting Summer School

by Alexander Russo

Colorado education law may mark a national shift LA Times: A landmark Colorado law that ties teacher evaluations to the progress of their students on achievement tests could help build momentum for a national movement that seeks to overhaul how instructors' tenure and pay is earned, education leaders say... Cash-strapped districts cutting summer school AP: Amber Bramble had to scramble to arrange summer plans for her 5- and 7-year-old daughters after their suburban Kansas City school district gutted its summer school program this spring...Educators push a college alternative NYT: What’s the key to success in the United States? Short of becoming a reality-TV star, the answer is rote and, some would argue, rather knee-jerk: Earn a college degree... RI to submit new bid for federal education moneyBoston Globe: Rhode Island's getting ready to submit another application in the Race to the Top competition for federal education funding... Texas board approves social studies standards that perceived liberal bias Washington Post: The Texas state school board gave final approval Friday to controversial social studies standards that minimize the separation of church and state and say that America is not a democracy but a "constitutional republic.".. Education" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/fashion/23STUDIED.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(34, 68, 187); ">Studied: Studies Show Bullies Want Friends, Too NYT: Bullies are “looking for attention and affection from their own peer group,” a recent report says.

“Law & Order” Investigates Teachers’ Union | Intercepts

“Law & Order” Investigates Teachers’ Union

by Mike Antonucci

While shooting the season finale, the producers of Law & Order were unaware that NBC was about to cancel the long-running hit television series. Otherwise I’m sure they would have chosen a different story for the show’s swan song.
The plot of the finale centers around New York City’s rubber rooms. The villain is an anonymous blogger who threatens to blow up a city school. One plot element features “a site in which city teachers gossip about their jobs.” Edublogging makes the big time!
And there’s a teachers’ union subplot. The detectives visit the headquarters of the fictional “Teachers Union of

Stop the Cuts, Close the Loopholes! | California Progress Report

Stop the Cuts, Close the Loopholes!

by christine

By Sara Flocks
California Labor Federation
California was once the envy of the country for our top-notch schools and universities, infrastructure and quality of life. Now California may become the only state in the nation to completely eliminate welfare-to-work assistance and job training for low-income families and their children.
The Governor’s May revision to the state budget proposes $17.9 billion in cuts to state programs, including eliminating welfare-to-work. Over the last two years, state programs have been slashed by $32.5 billion—and there is no relief in sight from this Governor.
It doesn’t have to be this way. The non-partisan Legislative Analysts’ Office clearly presented the Governor and Legislature with other options:
read more

ACA4: A Little Something for Everyone

by kaldveer

By Peter Schrag

Beware of goo-goos bearing gifts. Today’s lesson comes from ACA4, a Christmas tree of proposed constitutional changes in the legislative budget process.
The gift-bearer is California Forward, a foundation-funded collation of fully certified honorable citizens seeking, as they proclaim, to “improve the quality of life for all Californians by creating more responsive, representative and cost-effective government.”
The official sponsor of ACA 4, which comes up for action in the Assembly Budget Committee today (May 24) , is Assembly member Mike Feuer, a Los Angeles Democrat who hopes it “would not only help restore public trust but likely save taxpayers million of dollars as well.”
read more

Preschools in forests take root in the US - Boston.com

Preschools in forests take root in the US

By Manuel Valdes

Associated Press Writer / May 24, 2010

Text size – +

VASHON ISLAND, Wash.—When they're outside, the children in Erin Kenny's class don't head for cover if it rains or snows. They stay right where they are -- in a private five-acre forest. It's their classroom.

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They spend three hours a day, four days a week here, a free-flowing romp through cedar and Douglas fir on Vashon Island in Puget Sound.

The unique "forest kindergarten" at Cedarsong Nature School is among several that have opened in recent years in the U.S., part of movement that originated in Europe to get kids out from in front of televisions and into the natural world.

"American children do not spend much time outdoors anymore," Kenny says. "There's a growing need and an awareness on parents' part that their children really need to do more connecting with nature."

In addition to Kenny's, at least two other schools have been established: one in Portland, Ore., and another in Carbondale, Colo.

Kenny opened Cedarsong's doors in 2008, starting out with five children. She plans to expand the school to five days a week next year. She charges $100 a day, whether it's one day a week or three. Kenny says there's a growing waiting list.

Springfield has one week. Feel lucky? Do ya? � Fred Klonsky's blog

Springfield has one week. Feel lucky? Do ya?

by preaprez

The General Assembly gathers today with one week to solve the budget issues of funding and revenues.
What are the odds?
Not good.
If General Assembly won’t do their job by the end of the week, any further decisions will require Republican votes and you can forget about that happening.
Whatever chance we have to pass a tax increase and prevent education cuts will come by our mobilization.
On Tuesday in Chicago parents, teachers and students will be rallying against any education budget cuts. The rally will be at 4PM at the Board of Education, 125 S. Clark Street in the Loop.

Southwest Frisco residents' effort to leave Lewisville school district gains ground | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Latest News

Southwest Frisco residents' effort to leave Lewisville school district gains ground | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News| Latest News

Southwest Frisco residents' effort to leave Lewisville school district gains ground

07:07 AM CDT on Monday, May 24, 2010

By WENDY HUNDLEY / The Dallas Morning News

For residents in southwestern Frisco, there's no question where their loyalties lie.

They love Frisco. They identify with the fast-growing city. But they say there's one obstacle preventing them from feeling fully integrated into their community: Their children don't attend Frisco ISD schools, but are part of the Lewisville school district.

"We live our lives in Frisco, so we want our children to go to school here," said Alvin Huerta, one of the founders of WeAreFrisco.org, a grassroots movement that seeks to have the 2.2-square-mile area deannexed from LISD and join Frisco's school system.

Also Online

More news, information about Frisco

Blog: Frisco

More news, information about Lewisville

Blog: Lewisville

Said Fran Wilson, whose children attend LISD schools, "Lewisville is a wonderful school system. But our children are missing so much by not going to school in their own community."

The effort, begun two years ago by three people and a website, appears to be gaining momentum, with a record turnout for the recent LISD election that ousted three incumbents and put the first Frisco resident on the school board.

The discontent among Frisco parents is no surprise to LISD. "The school board is well aware that they want to be part of Frisco ISD,"

My Concerns About Charters| Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

“Week-In-Review Sites | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

“Week-In-Review Sites

by Larry Ferlazzo

I’ve just updated The Best “Week In Review” Sites For English Language Learners.
As usual, feel free to suggest additions.

One Week Left For Submissions To The Next ESL/EFL/ELL Blog Carnival

by Larry Ferlazzo

The June 1st edition of the next ESL/EFL/ELL Blog Carnival will be hosted by Mary Ann Zehr at Learning the Language.
Any blog posts, including examples of student work, that are related to teaching or learning English as a

Global Media Literacy Resources

by Larry Ferlazzo

I’ve just updated another “The Best…” list — The Best Tools To Help Develop Global Media Literacy.
Again, ideas for additions are welcome.

Pirates!

My Concerns About Charters

by Larry Ferlazzo

I’ve previously written about the concerns I have about charter schools (see Charter Schools and Creaming). I can certainly see their value in some circumstances, especially where districts are not being responsive to the needs of local communities. But they are often oversold by some as THE key way to improve schools.
The New York Times Magazine ran an article today titled The Teachers’ Unions Last Stand that — in my mind, at least — had a number of inaccuracies. One of them was an inaccurate comparison of a “regular” public school and a charter school that was described as having the same kind of student population, but the charter students