Monday, August 30, 2010

12,000 Oregon students fail reading test they must pass to graduate | OregonLive.com

12,000 Oregon students fail reading test they must pass to graduate

Published: Monday, August 30, 2010, 7:13 PM Updated: Monday, August 30, 2010, 8:05 PM

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Ross William Hamilton/The OregonianEducators say the desire to earn a high school diploma was a powerful motivator when sophomores took the state reading test this spring. A record high 71 percent passed.

This year, knowing their diplomas depend on it, Oregon high school sophomores made unprecedented gains in reading, with a record 71 percent of students passing the state reading exam.

Still, 12,000 Oregon students will begin their junior year next week at risk of failing to graduate.

They must pass the state reading test or its equivalent by senior year to get a diploma.

Students who reach the halfway point of high school unable to read well probably will require extra reading classes and instruction targeted to their skill level if they are to improve enough to earn a diploma, said Julie Anderson, Oregon's reading and writing specialist.

Staff in the office of Oregon schools Superintendent Susan Castilloare phoning every district's superintendent this week to alert them how many of their students have yet to pass and the importance of helping

Listen to us, teachers tell Arne Duncan in Albany | GothamSchools

Listen to us, teachers tell Arne Duncan in Albany

by Maura Walz

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan (right) and NYSUT President Richard Ianuzzi listen to a teacher at a roundtable at NYSUT's Albany headquarters today.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan (right, blue shirt) and NYSUT President Richard Ianuzzi listen to a teacher at a roundtable at NYSUT's Albany headquarters today.

ALBANY, N.Y. — Teamwork was the watchword as U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan took his national

Remainders: Taking a long, personal view on student success

by Philissa Cramer

Tracking down South Bronx students eight years later, with disappointing results. (Robert Pondiscio)
A kindergarten teacher’s son was murdered by one of her former students. (Baltimore Sun)
An inspiring story about a student who tried, failed, and tried again. (Pissed Off Teacher)
A historical argument for why translating memos to parents is a really good idea. (Tablet)
Unpacking the New York Post’s high school rankings. (Leonie Haimson)
Budget documents suggest the city is cutting funds to lower class size. (Norm’s Notes)
The Economic Policy Institute finds issues with score-based value-added evaluations. (Answer Sheet)
Race to the Top and the problem of trying to do too much at once. (Sara Mead)
Why D.C.’s mayoral primary is “a caution for overcaffeinated fans of mayoral control.” (Rick Hess)
What teachers really want: Well-rested students. (Dan Willingham)
D.C.-area schools are growing more diverse, maybe because of the recession. (Washington Examiner)
Or maybe because schools are actively recruiting white families. (Washington City Paper)
And congratulations to Elizabeth! She’s writing a book based on “Building a Better Teacher.” (Russo)

Blog U.: Ask the Administrator: Swimming Upstream - Confessions of a Community College Dean - Inside Higher Ed

Ask the Administrator: Swimming Upstream
By Dean Dad August 30, 2010 9:22 pm
A new correspondent writes:
I am thinking of making a change in my career path. I am a non-tenure track, full time instructor, starting my 8th year in this job. While I enjoy my job and it is reasonably stable even in a terrible economy & job market, it is obviously untenable as a seriously-long-term career option. But I really like working in a University community and I want to find a way to stay in that environment.
I have also done some administrative work at this same campus and find that I am reasonably good at it and willing to do it (boring meetings, aside, and yes I know there are lots of those). And the work is never-ending, it seems. So I am considering going back to school and getting an MA (possibly PhD) in Higher Ed Admin from a well-regarded program. Now admitting this to fellow faculty on my campus would be like announcing that I have an undesirable social disease. The relationship between faculty and administrators on our

Value-Added Mashup � The Core Knowledge Blog

Value-Added Mashup

by Robert Pondiscio
August 30th, 2010

Posted in Assessment and Testing, Teaching, accountability | No Comments »

The Los Angeles Times clearly gave the wrong impression when it put a teacher on its front page and described him as “among the least effective of the district’s elementary school teachers.” We now learn the purpose was not to single out or embarrass bad teachers. The reason the paper has published a database with value-added scores for 6,000 LAUSD teachers is to correct the intolerable injustice of excellent teachers notgetting the credit they deserve.

“The Los Angeles Unified School District has hundreds of Jaime Escalantes — teachers who preside over remarkable successes, year after year, often against incredible odds,” notes the paper’s latest. “But nobody is making a film about them.”

It’s an outrage, I tell you! Emboldened by the Times support for teachers, perhaps theworkers should strike for fame. More VAM commentary from veteran L.A. teacher Walt

San Jose Unified's online school a first in the Bay Area - Inside Bay Area

San Jose Unified's online school a first in the Bay Area
San Jose Unified's Liberty Online is aimed at independent learners who don't thrive in traditional schools. It is open to any student in grades 6-12 living in Santa Clara County. The school targets truants and students who are 70 or more credits behind.

San Jose man charged with murdering woman

David Ellison: Computers becoming a key part of education

Fremont family donates hundreds of school supplies to foster families

Five East Bay districts to receive nearly $45 million in federal grants to reform a dozen low-achieving schools

Where are they now? Alums produce trove of info on Skyline High School Class of 1970

Reprieve for 5 of 7 Oakland child care programs

Santa Clara Unified board: Trustee Bendis overstepped role

The Education Report

» More from The Education Report

Rory Reid releases budget plan: Cut bureaucracy, Fund education : The Rebel Yell

Rory Reid releases budget plan:
Cut bureaucracy, Fund education

August 30, 2010 by Haley Etchison

Governor hopeful promises to do opposite of incumbent: give money to higher education

File photo

Nevada’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid released a budget plan Thursday that promises to reduce state spending by $3 billion without touching education funding.

The document, called “Moving Nevada Forward,” claims Reid will bridge an almost 50 percent state budget shortfall without raising taxes by consolidating state agencies and eliminating government redundancies. But it holds to the candidate’s campaign claims about a plan that would protect state spending on education and use Nevada’s college system as an engine of economic growth.

Reid is banking on that growth to fill in a $500 million gap in his new budget. He asserts that Nevada

Education secretary praises educators for their courageous look at evaluating teachers, principals | syracuse.com

Education secretary praises educators for their courageous look at evaluating teachers, principals

Published: Monday, August 30, 2010, 5:01 PM Updated: Monday, August 30, 2010, 5:02 PM

Maureen Nolan / The Post-Standard
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Stephen D. Cannerelli / The Post-StandardU.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan (right) speaks during a visit Monday to NYSUT headquarters in Latham, near Albany. Duncan visited the largest the stateâ€™s largest union days after New York was awarded nearly $700 million in Race to the Top funds. A round table discussion was held as school administrators from around the state talked about their concerns on education. Listening to Duncan make a point is NYSUT President Richard Iannuzzi.

Latham, NY -- U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan today told a coalition of New York State educators who are developing a new teacher evaluation model that they are working in a national spotlight.

The coalition of labor and management represented six school districts, including North Syracuse.

District Superintendent Jerome Melvin, North Syracuse Education Association President John Kuryla and recent past association President Sylvia Matousek were among the group to meet with Duncan for about an hour at the offices of New York State United Teachers in Latham, outside Albany.

“As you guys know, the implications aren’t just for your state or your district, but the country,” Duncan said.

Duncan and the Obama Administration are pushing to have states hold teachers and principals more accountable for student performance, and states, including New York

Monday, August 30, 2010