Race to Top Side Deals: An Alarming Trend? - Politics K-12 - Education Week

Race to Top Side Deals: An Alarming Trend? - Politics K-12 - Education Week

Race to Top Side Deals: An Alarming Trend?

by Michele McNeil

My colleague Lesli Maxwell highlighted over at State EdWatch a disturbing trend in Florida, where some districts and their local teachers' unions are signing side deals that seem to fly in the face of the spirit of the Race to the Top competition.
Intrepid St. Pete Times reporter Ron Matus first wrote about the issue here, and has since uncovered more side deals.
Florida improved its round two application by getting 54 local unions on board (versus five in the first application.) Apparently, many of those signatures were given with a wink, wink.
Florida law requires districts to bargain wages and other factors affecting teachers. So its MOU says that to receive grant funds, districts and unions agree to bargain in good faith and that a failure to negotiate ALL the terms will mean the districts lose their grant money. But language in these side deals, at least the one in Hernando County, says: "The parties further agree that said signature does not constitute agreement to modify the existing [contract] or to negotiate additional language consistent with all elements of the [Florida Department of Education] Preliminary Scope of Work."
And another disturbing thing is that these side deals also say that any changes successfully negotiated

In Teacher Layoffs, Seniority Rules. But Should It? : NPR

In Teacher Layoffs, Seniority Rules. But Should It? : NPR

In Teacher Layoffs, Seniority Rules. But Should It?

by LARRY ABRAMSON

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All Things Considered

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EnlargeMark Duncan/AP

Cleveland schools CEO Eugene Sanders, pictured here in 2007, is facing a $54 million spending gap and says he may have to shed more than 500 teachers. But he says he's bound by a state law to keep the more senior teachers "without regard to productivity, efficiency, accountability, performance or outcomes."

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June 2, 2010

School districts around the country are planning massive layoffs as they struggle to bridge big budget deficits.

And as they select which teachers go and which ones stay, many can only use one factor as their guide: seniority. Many districts will have to cast out effective teachers, because local contracts and even state laws require it.

Like many of his counterparts around the country, Cleveland schools CEO Eugene Sanders is facing a monster $54 million spending gap.

According to Sanders, there's no room left to trim, and he may have to shed more than 500 teachers. He says that when he sent out pink slips earlier this year, he had no flexibility.

"The last hired are the first ones to go without regard to productivity, efficiency, accountability, performance or outcomes," Sanders says.

'You Just Don't Do That To People'

That means some schools face a complete staff turnover.

MC2 STEM High School, with its freshman campus located on the lakeshore at the Great Lakes Science Center, is only two years old. It has attracted lots of teachers new to the Cleveland school district.

"This is my first year in the district, and because of layoffs my last," says Christa Krohn, one of

More high-schoolers passing mandatory tests | School Zone | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

More high-schoolers passing mandatory tests | School Zone | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

More high-schoolers passing mandatory tests

High school juniors made huge gains on the exit-level state test, according to results released today by the Texas Education Agency.

Eighty-two percent of the juniors passed all four portions of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, compared to 75 percent in 2009.

In Houston ISD, 79 percent of juniors passed all parts, up from 72 percent in 2009.

These incoming seniors will have four more chances to pass all sections of the exam -- English, math, social studies and science -- before they graduate in 2011.

The math portion had the lowest passing rate at 89 percent statewide, up 8 percentage points from 2009. Ninety-eight percent passed the social studies portion. HISD mirrored those trends with 87 percent passing the math portion of the test and 97 percent passing social studies.

State officials credited the gains to a more rigorous curriculum.

"This year's juniors are the first class that must meet the state's 4x4 requirement, which requires them to earn four credits of English, mathematics, science and social studies,"

This Week In Education

This Week In Education

Thompson: The Question Brill's Editor Should have Asked

Edweek questioner: Has anyone carefully read the research put forth by Duncan to justify RTTT?

Steven Brill: I think there is multiple research the reformers would cite, some of which I mentioned in the article. The Gates Foundation in particular has done a great deal. But I would put that question to the Department.

Media: Times Buys Another Blog - Why Not GothamSchools? [image: image from blogs.psychsterdata.com] Kottke tells us that the NYT is absorbing yet another blog. It's taken in Freakonomics and several others in the recent past. Which makes me wonder why it doesn't take GothamSchools, the NYC-based blog ...

Video: Beyond "The Ideology Of Carrots & Sticks" This Dan Pink video podcast is especially appropriate given the poor results some of the much-touted pay for performance pilots are turning in: Stop treating workers like `slower, smaller, better smelling horses' (Eric Zorn, Chicago Tribune) Turn it ...

Thompson: The Question Brill's Editor Should have Asked [image: Research] Edweek questioner: Has anyone carefully read the research put forth by Duncan to justify RTTT? Steven Brill: I think there is multiple research the reformers would cite, some of which I mentioned in the article. The Gates ...

NJ Gov. Christie Relentless In His Attack On Teacher Unions: "Selfish" & "Greedy" - THE DAILY RIFF - Be Smarter. About Education.

NJ Gov. Christie Relentless In His Attack On Teacher Unions: "Selfish" & "Greedy" - THE DAILY RIFF - Be Smarter. About Education.

NJ Gov. Christie Relentless In His Attack On Teacher Unions: "Selfish" & "Greedy"

Are Teacher Unions Overplaying Their Hand And
Hurting "Teacher Love"?
Video Below

The growing consensus or the play from the loudest voices?

Via Real Clear Politics, NJ Governor Chris Christie continues his rampage against education bureaucracies and teacher unions in this 3 min. video below with his main accusations at the 2:20 benchmark.

New Jersey displays one of the most contentious battles being played out on multiple levels.
Rick Hess at Edweek recently suggested:

"The AFT and NEA might want to start rethinking their "we're special and should be protected from budget cuts because we're there for the kids" strategy. Kevin Manahan, of the Newark Star-Ledger editorial board, wrote a column last week suggesting that, at least in New Jersey, the union shtick has worn thin. His beat down of the New Jersey Education Association may serve as a useful cautionary flag for teachers unions across the land. (Just check out the raft of reader comments Manahan has attracted; a quick scan seems to suggest they're running

What does Hamas do with cumin, cardamom and sage? How does it threaten Israel? � Fred Klonsky's blog

What does Hamas do with cumin, cardamom and sage? How does it threaten Israel? � Fred Klonsky's blog

What does Hamas do with cumin, cardamom and sage? How does it threaten Israel?

by preaprez

According to reporter Jeremy Scahill, the following is a list of what the Israeli authorities treat as contraband and will not be allowed into Gaza:

Online "Learning" Revisited - Perdaily.com

Online "Learning" Revisited - Perdaily.com

Online "Learning" Revisited

by Leonard

Several days ago we did a post about the absurdity of LAUSD's latest proposal to do online learning as a way for students to make up credits in courses they have failed. While such an online program might have had possibilities, if it was fairly and honestly implemented, it did not take a genius or any precognitive abilities to know how LAUSD would implement such a program.

More important than continuing to point out the criminal manner in which LAUSD is run is to finally get teachers, students, and parents to understand that this incompetence will not be changed by continuing to talk about how LAUSD leadership cannot do anything right. Rather, the next step for us here at perdaily is to posit an alternative of good educational practices in dealing with our population of intentionally damaged students.

How many more of you out there can give a specific example about what we write about at perdaily like the

March on Alzheimer's The Women's Conference 2010

March on Alzheimer's

Maria Shriver's March on Alzheimer's

The Women's Conference 2010
Join Maria Shriver's March on Alzheimer's & Candlelight Vigil
Sunday, October 24, 2010 3PM - 7PM
Long Beach, CA

If you’d like to join Maria’s March, click the button below.

A minimum donation of $25 is required to participate.

“Alzheimer's is a mind-blowing disease that disproportionately impacts women – both as victims and caretakers of loved one's suffering from it. With more than 5 million people diagnosed with Alzheimer's in this country and a new diagnosis every 70 seconds, I believe it's time to pick up the pace and start marching to defeat this devastating disease. We are inviting both women and men of all ages to join us in Long Beach." -- Maria Shriver

For the first time ever, The Women's Conference will expand to three days in 2010 with the addition of Maria Shriver's March on Alzheimer's.

The 4K march and Candlelight Vigil will kick off the conference at Shoreline Village in Long Beach on Sunday afternoon, October 24 from 3pm – 7pm.

Leeza Gibbons will be the Event Emcee and Peter Gallagher will serve as Event Co-Chair. Additional celebrity co-chairs and event entertainment will be announced in the coming weeks.

3:00pm – Registration Opens

4:30pm – Opening Ceremonies

5:00pm – The March Begins

6:00pm – Food & Entertainment

6:30pm – Candlelight Vigil

Maria Shriver has been a long-time advocate for families like hers who are struggling with Alzheimer's. The march will bring together thousands of families, friends, caregivers, concerned community members and conference attendees to raise funds and awareness to fight the disease.

The March will benefit the Alzheimer's Association, the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. A minimum donation of $25 is required to sign-up for the march and all participants are encouraged to raise additional funds to support the organization's work.

JOIN US!

Online registration for the march is now OPEN - clickhere to sign up.

More details about the march, including route logistics, will be posted here in the coming weeks.

You can also become a fan on our new Facebook page to get all event updates.

For more information on Maria Shriver’s March on Alzheimer’s, contact us at marchonalzheimers@gmail.com.

Photo credits: Alzheimer's Association

Mark your calendars for other key Women’s Conference 2010 dates!

The full line-up of speakers and programming details for The Women's Conference 2010 events will be announced on Thursday, June 17.

Tickets to all conference events will then go on sale to the public one week later onWednesday, June 23 at 9:00am PDT. Last year, all conference events sold out and tickets to the Main Event sold out in the record-breaking time of less than one hour. We're expecting an even greater demand for tickets this year.

Denied: One-third of kids don't friend their parents on Facebook | School Zone | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Denied: One-third of kids don't friend their parents on Facebook | School Zone | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Denied: One-third of kids don't friend their parents on Facebook

A recent new Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions survey of nearly 1,000 high school students shows that 56 percent of kids whose parents are on Facebook provide their parents full access to their Facebook pages -- status updates, photos, etc. About 34 percent provide no access at all. And 9 percent allowed parents limited profile access.

About 58 percent of teens reported that their parents are not on Facebook at all. Moms are more likely than dads to have taken the plunge at 35 percent and 27 percent, respectively.

I can't say that I blame teens for denying access. I'm just grateful that this technology wasn't around when I was younger . ... What do you think? Are you FB friends with your child? If so, how much snooping and worrying do you do about their posts, photos and friends, etc.?

If you've been denied, don't

Hechinger Report | Massachusetts wonders if Race to the Top is worth winning

Hechinger Report | Massachusetts wonders if Race to the Top is worth winning

Massachusetts wonders if Race to the Top is worth winning

by No Byline

By Ricki Morell
Thirty-five states and Washington, D.C. submitted applications today for the second round of President Barack Obama’s Race to the Top competition, with a few states deciding the race isn’t worth winning.
Delaware and Tennessee were the lone winners in the first round of the competition in March, beating out 14 other finalists. The two states will receive a combined $600 million, with another $3.4 billion available in the second round for what is anticipated to be another 10-15 winners, to be announced this fall.

Courtesy Milken Family Foundation

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan conceived of Race to the Top as an education “stimulus” for change. The program rewards states that promise to raise achievement using the Obama administration’s preferred methods: adopting common core standards, promoting charter schools, linking teacher pay to student performance and turning around low-achieving schools. The unprecedented federal intervention into local schools has been

Fee hikes weigh on state students - The Boston Globe

Fee hikes weigh on state students - The Boston Globe

Fee hikes weigh on state students

Campuses try to offset cuts

Sam Dreyfus of Brookline says his parents have taken out a second mortgage to pay for him and his younger sister to attend UMass Amherst. ((Yoon S. Byun/ Globe Staff) )

By Tracy Jan

Globe Staff / June 3, 2010

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Tens of thousands of students and their families will be shelling out more money next school year to attend Massachusetts public universities, colleges, and community colleges as campuses raise fees to make up for anticipated cuts in state funding.

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University of Massachusetts students will be expected to pay $1,100 more in fees under a plan approved yesterday that cemented last year’s 15.8 percent increase, the largest since 2004. At state and community colleges, at least 17 out of 24 campuses are seeking fee increases of between 3 percent and 13 percent.

Fees, which make up the bulk of student costs, cover faculty salaries and other academic costs. Tuitions will remain the same for next year.

The extra burden looms large for financially struggling families who have turned to the public system in strong numbers for its lower cost.

Former top speller is voice of national bee

by Lauren Sausser, Associated Press Writer

The only hard copy of the official Scripps National Spelling Bee word list is under lock and key somewhere inside the Grand Hyatt Washington, and even Jacques Bailly, the bee's official pronouncer, is unsure of its exact location.

Charters: All About The Authorizers This Week In Education

This Week In Education

Charters: All About The Authorizers

by Alexander Russo

It's all about the authorizers, Greg Richmond from NACSA will tell you. And he might be right. Do they know what to look for? Are they politically and financially independent? Do they (can they) review and close low performing charters? Check out this new map of who's in charge of approving and supervising charters in various states.