Thursday, July 29, 2010

Obama Takes On Critics of Education Plan - NYTimes.com

Obama Takes On Critics of Education Plan - NYTimes.com

Obama Takes On Critics of Education Plan


Doug Mills/The New York Times
President Obama spoke at the 100th anniversary convention of the National Urban League in Washington on Thursday.

By JACKIE CALMES

Published: July 29, 2010

WASHINGTON — Saying that reforming education is perhaps “the economic issue of our time,” President Obama went before a major civil rights organization on Thursday to defend his main education program against criticisms from some minority and teachers groups.

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“It’s an economic issue when the unemployment rate for folks who’ve never gone to college is almost double what it is for those who have,” Mr. Obama said, according to prepared remarks. “It’s an economic issue when eight in 10 new jobs will require workforce training or a higher education by the end of this decade. It’s an economic issue when we know countries that outeducate us today will outcompete us tomorrow.”
Mr. Obama, in his speech before the 100th anniversary convention of the National Urban League, acknowledged “some controversy” about his education initiative, which he
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This Week In Education: Books: Talking To Teachers, Classroom And Otherwise

This Week In Education: Books: Talking To Teachers, Classroom And Otherwise

Books: Talking To Teachers, Classroom And Otherwise

by Alexander Russo
image from www.iupress.indiana.edu
Lots of interesting books coming out. Here's one called Conversations with Great Teachers in which author Bill Smoot (himself a teacher) goes out to find and talk to great teachers of all kinds, in the spirit of Studs Terkel's Working.
"What is it that passes between the best teachers and their students to make learning


Media: Time To Embed Reporters At The USDE?

by Alexander Russo
Stanley-Lunch-Box-Cooler-SetWhile everyone else seems to be moving towards shorter, sillier stories (or long boring "I know this already" ones) -- or just covering the USDE storyline, Slate and a few other outlets are trying to revive the tradition of in-depth, investigative journalism that tells us something we don't already know (this is key). A reader suggesting story ideas comes up with one that's especially
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Student activists: Leadership conference opp. this summer | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Student activists: Leadership conference opp. this summer | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Student activists: Leadership conference opp. this summer

by Guest blogger
This week's guest blog post comes from Candace Carter a PSU graduate of Sayre High School class of ‘09 and Youth Strategy Team member, Alliance for Educational Justice.
The Philadelphia Student Union is preparing for our annual Summer Leadership Institute, Building A Youth Movement (BAYM). BAYM is a free, week-long gathering designed to help discover and support the emerging leader in every young person.
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Obama: We have meet the Enemy and the Enemy is US

Obama: We have meet the Enemy and the Enemy is US

Obama says the problem is us.

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In the News: More opposition to Duncan's reform policies; defending Obama's education agenda Catalyst Notebook

Catalyst Notebook
Catalyst Notebook Blog
Catalyst writers and editors share their perspectives, analyses and the news behind the news on improving Chicago area public schools. Our on-the-ground reports will tell you what’s happening in schools and education circles here and elsewhere. Our views will tell you what to make of it.

In the News: More opposition to Duncan's reform policies; defending Obama's education agendaThe growing ranks of opposition to Arne Duncan’s education policies can count a new member: Communities for Excellent Public Schools, a nationwide coalition that launched this week.


Continue Reading In the News: More opposition to Duncan's reform policies; defending Obama's education agenda »
Posted By: Cassandra West On Thu Jul 29, 2010 In In the News
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Union pickets meeting, releases negotiation details; district passes new probation policy

About 70 Chicago Teachers Union members and others who oppose the district’s teacher layoffs picketed outside today’s School Board meeting. Jesse Sharkey, the union’s new vice president, rallied them with a megaphone.


Continue Reading Union pickets meeting, releases negotiation details; district passes new probation policy »
Posted By: Rebecca Harris On Wed Jul 28, 2010 In Teachers
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In the News: State's largest pre-K program closes; CPS high schools test scores improveThe largest pre-kindergarten program in Illinois – Through a Child’s Eyes, in Cicero – closed last week because of delayed state payments. Before the closure, it had served about 400 3- to 5-year-olds. Of those, more than 90 percent are at or below the poverty level, and 75 percent speak Spanish as their first language.

Continue Reading In the News: State's largest pre-K program closes; CPS high schools test scores improve »
Posted By: Cassandra West On Wed Jul 28, 2010 In In the News
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Illinois among finalists for second round of Race to the Top

The starter pistol has just gone off for the second heat of the $4 billion Race to the Top grant competition, and Illinois is in the race.


Continue Reading Illinois among finalists for second round of Race to the Top »
Posted By: Chase Castle and Rebecca Harris On Tue Jul 27, 2010 In Government and Policy
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In the News: Civil rights groups call for new education agenda; debating school reform

Seven leading civil rights groups, including the NAACP and the National Urban League, called on U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to dismantle core pieces of his education agenda, arguing that his emphases on expanding charter schools, closing low-performing schools, and using competitive rather than formula funding are detrimental to low-income and minority children. The groups released their own education policy framework and launched the National Opportunity to Learn campaign to advance their ideas. They also want Duncan to make big changes to his draft proposal for reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.


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'We can't accept failure,' Obama says in defense of education reforms

'We can't accept failure,' Obama says in defense of education reforms

'We can't accept failure,' Obama says in defense of education reforms

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President Barack Obama gestures while delivering remarks at the National Urban League 100th Anniversary Convention in Washington, Thursday, July 29, 2010. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
President Barack Obama gestures while delivering remarks at the National Urban League 100th Anniversary Convention in Washington, Thursday, July 29, 2010. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (Pablo Martinez Monsivais - AP)
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Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 29, 2010; 11:56 AM

President Obama pushed back Thursday against critics of his policy of forcing staff shake-ups and other major interventions in struggling schools, asserting that "something needs to be done differently" when schools fail year after year, according to excerpts from a speech to a civil rights organization.
Obama said he wants to help educators raise achievement, not punish them.
"Still, sometimes a school's problems run so deep that better assessments, higher standards and a more challenging curriculum aren't enough," the president said in advance excerpts of his speech to the National Urban League. "If a school isn't producing graduates with even the most basic skills -- year after year after year -- something needs to be done differently. If we want success for our country, we can't accept failure in our schools."
This year, the Obama administration is distributing $3.5 billion in grants for perennially low-performing schools, with conditions that rile some educators. To qualify for the aid, local educators must choose one of four options: replacing the school's principal and at least half the staff; converting the school to a charter school or a similar alternative;



Fairfax principal apologizes for yearbook ad, stops selling weight-loss products

by Michael Alison Chandler
An advertisement that Principal Nardos King placed in the Mount Vernon High School yearbook, for weight-loss products she sold in her free time, surprised and upset many parents this summer, and prompted an apology.
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LA schools ask parents to pay for athlete buses

LA schools ask parents to pay for athlete buses

LA schools ask parents to pay for athlete buses

Thursday, July 29, 2010
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(07-29) 08:16 PDT Los Angeles, CA (AP) --
The nation's second-largest school district is asking the parents of Los Angeles student athletes to help pay for buses to high school away games.
The financially distressed Los Angeles Unified School District says games could be canceled if enough money isn't raised.
It's the first time the district has asked for parent help in transporting athletes to games. The goal is to cover $650,000 slashed from the athletics transportation budget.
Campus athletic directors will request a $24 per-student contribution at the beginning of


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/07/29/state/n081617D49.DTL&type=education#ixzz0v5h38lty
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Beneath the thousands of teacher layoffs are stories of uncertain futures for Inland families | Local News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

Beneath the thousands of teacher layoffs are stories of uncertain futures for Inland families | Local News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

Beneath the thousands of teacher layoffs are stories of uncertain futures for Inland families


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10:15 PM PDT on Tuesday, July 27, 2010

By DAYNA STRAEHLEY
The Press-Enterprise

The Inland area's laid-off teachers are cutting their household budgets and learning to tell their children no.

They have turned off their air conditioners and no longer can buy the things they used to take for granted.

They are looking for jobs, even though Inland districts have cut hundreds of positions.

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Stan Lim/The Press Enterprise
Kristy Orona Ramirez, 37, of Riverside, has a garage full of school supplies she used as a teacher for 13 years. She is among the many Inland teachers who have been given layoff notices and says she and her husband are "looking at filing for bankruptcy."

Public education in California has received $17 billion less in state funding than

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Obama says the problem is us. � Fred Klonsky's blog

Obama says the problem is us. � Fred Klonsky's blog

Obama says the problem is us.

by preaprez

Responding to recent rejection of his education policies by the NEA and seven prominent Civil Right organizations, President Obama said the problem is us. He spoke today to the national meeting of the Urban League.

Mr. Obama, in his speech before the 100th anniversary convention of the

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