The expectations gap — Joanne Jacobs

The expectations gap — Joanne Jacobs

The expectations gap

by Joanne

Common Core Standards won’t mean much if some states ask students to learn 30 percent of the material while others demand 80 percent mastery, writes Sarah Garland on HechingerEd. The expectations gap is huge, twice the size of the achievement gap between white and black students, reports an American Institutes for Research study.

Tennessee’s eighth-graders are expected to perform at the level of Massachusetts’ fourth-graders.

Using a common performance standard, the 2007 state results for No Child Left Behind accountability look very different, the report found.

For example, in Grade 8 mathematics, Tennessee dropped from 88 percent proficient to 21

This Week In Education: Evaluations: Observation & Value Added Both Weak, Says Teacher

This Week In Education: Evaluations: Observation & Value Added Both Weak, Says Teacher

Evaluations: Observation & Value Added Both Weak, Says Teacher [image: Retro_great_teachers_inspire_greeting_cards-p137872526848721955q0yk_400]The discussion over #value added has gotten hopelessly confused with issues of journalistic ethics and individual privacy, and the chances of constructive use of VAM ...

Video: Shakespeare With The Original Pronunciations #classroom #shakespeare English and drama teachers of the world, rejoice (or not)! There's a push to perform Shakespeare with the original pronunciation (via The Daily What)

AM News: State Board Seats Also Part Of Campagin 2010 [image: News2]Accreditation at risk for Atlanta Public Schools AJC: City schools Superintendent Beverly Hall, who talked with Elgart by phone Wednesday morning, publicly called on the board to get its act together. Parents, too, expressed outrage... ...

Thursday Churn: Prof. Shepard’s dual role | EdNewsColorado

Thursday Churn: Prof. Shepard’s dual role | EdNewsColorado

Thursday Churn: Prof. Shepard’s dual role

by EdNews staff

What’s churning:

Colorado education leader Lorrie Shepard is among 10 authors of a new report that raises concerns about “heavy reliance” on standardized test scores to evaluate teachers. Shepard is dean of the School of Education at the University of Colorado-Boulder and, more interesting in the context of the report, a member of theState Council for Educator Effectiveness.

That’s the appointed group assigned to develop the details for implementing Senate Bill 10-191, the new state law that requires that 50 percent of educator evaluation be based on students’ academic growth, which is measured by test scores. In council meetings to date, Shepard has been a cautionary voice about testing and its use in evaluation. (As it happens, the council’s next meeting is Friday, and on the agenda is a discussion of the degree to which the state can dictate teacher evaluation methods to school districts.)

A statement signed by Shepard (and such big names as Stanford professor Linda Darling-Hammond and

Deus ex Madigan. � Fred Klonsky's blog

Deus ex Madigan. � Fred Klonsky's blog

Deus ex Madigan.

by Fred Klonsky

In Washington, divided government means the Democrats control one branch and the Republicans control the other. This is what most likely will exist over the next two years with the Republicans poised to win control of the House and the Dems holding on to the Senate and White House.

In Springfield it means something else.

In the weird world of Illinois politics divided government means that the Democrats control the Governor’s mansion and the Democrats control the fifth floor of City Hall.

Chicago’s mayors (and they are always Democrats) work well

Schools Matter: Legacy Admissions to Manhattan Preschools

Schools Matter: Legacy Admissions to Manhattan Preschools

Legacy Admissions to Manhattan Preschools

by Jim Horn

That's right--preferential admissions is not just for the Ivy Leagues, anymore. Those trying to get 4 year-old Winthrop and Emily into exclusive Upper East Side preschools that do business with the Eugenics Records Office Educational Records Bureau sometimes get second chances, even though ERB offers a one-time-only intelligence test (most of the time). It depends upon, well, certain connections with and commitments to the school, you understand.

From the NYTimes:

Parents of preschoolers who are applying to New York’s top private schools are now coming face to face with the test universally known as the E.R.B., a nerve-racking intelligence exam made

City, Teachers Union Reach New Contract Deal - Baltimore, Maryland News Story - WBAL Baltimore

City, Teachers Union Reach New Contract Deal - Baltimore, Maryland News Story - WBAL Baltimore

City, Teachers Union Reach New Contract Deal

Union To Make Sure Teachers Understand Revised Proposal

POSTED: 4:28 pm EDT October 27, 2010
UPDATED: 7:31 pm EDT October 27, 2010

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BALTIMORE -- Thousands of Baltimore city teachers will get to vote next month on what the union is calling a new and improved tentative contract.

The latest development came two weeks after the union membership turned down an earlier proposal.

A second contract vote could come as early as Nov. 12, but until then, union leaders said they'll continue to do their homework by making plain some of the fine print of the contract that initially threw teachers for a loop.

DPS Tries Perks for Parents - The Detroit Blog - TIME.com

DPS Tries Perks for Parents - The Detroit Blog - TIME.com

DPS Tries Perks for Parents

Posted by DARRELL DAWSEY Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at 8:00 pm

Submit a Comment • Related Topics: detroit, education, urban affairs, politics , detroit public schools

Unquestionably, it's a good thing to that the Detroit Public Schools are taking steps to encourage more parents to participate in their children's educations. According to reports, a new district initiative will allow parents to get discounts at local businesses for their involvement in the schools.

To earn the discounts, parents must register at the DPS Welcome Center or any of the district's seven Parent Resource Centers, where parents are encouraged to attend workshops, use free computers and participate in support groups to become more involved in schools.

And I suppose it beats Wayne County

Read more: http://detroit.blogs.time.com/2010/10/27/dps-offers-incentives-to-get-parents-involved/#ixzz13emEV3EG

Interview with Michelle Rhee | Washington Times Communities

Interview with Michelle Rhee | Washington Times Communities

Interview with Michelle Rhee

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 - Not Your Average Read by Amanda Read

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Since she announced her resignation from D.C. Schools and started her own website, Chancellor Michelle Rhee has been inundated with e-mails. In the midst of it all, she graciously offered to answer some questions that I had for her.

Amanda Read: The Washington Post reported that you and presumptive mayor Vince Gray arrived at a "mutual decision" that it would be best for you to step down now. In what ways did you and Gray agree and/or disagree about your reform plans for D.C. Schools?

Michelle Rhee: The mutual decision we came to was more about the fact that we decided to put the politics aside and make the decision we felt was right for the students in our school system. With all the speculation in the news about whether it was better for me to quit, or the chairman to fire me, it became clear that people were starting to get distracted. A long period of uncertainty wouldn't be good for either the children or the staff trying to do right by their students every day.

We didn't go through in our discussion and list where we disagreed and agreed on every issue, as that's something we've learned over working together for the past three years. Our disagreements are also pretty well documented in DC Council hearings, etc., but what we

New Jersey Senate Race a Referendum on Christie as Unions Back Democrat - Bloomberg

New Jersey Senate Race a Referendum on Christie as Unions Back Democrat - Bloomberg

New Jersey Senate Race a Referendum on Christie as Unions Back Democrat

By Dunstan McNichol - Oct 27, 2010 9:00 PM PT

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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said, “New Jersey has gone for too long and for too many decades ordering things that it can’t pay for.” Photographer/Tim Larsen/Office of the Governor via Bloomberg

New Jersey’s organized labor and major political parties are pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into a special election to serve one year of a vacated state Senate seat, a race that may test the strength of first- term Governor Chris Christie’s attack on employee unions.

Candidates in the 14th District, which includes suburbs of the capital city of Trenton and is home to thousands of state workers, have spent $1.2 million, more than 80 percent of the total for New Jersey’s legislative elections on Nov. 2. The Democrat seeking that seat, Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, raised $876,000 through Oct. 26 with help from unions for teachers and public employees, campaign-finance reports show.

Greenstein faces incumbent Tom Goodwin, the first New Jersey Republican to seek election

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: CITY CONTROLLER RELEASES PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF LAUSD’S FACILITIES SERVICES DIVISION, NEW CONSTRUCTION BRANCH: SELECTION PROCESS OF CONTRACT PROFESSIONALS USING CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: CITY CONTROLLER RELEASES PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF LAUSD’S FACILITIES SERVICES DIVISION, NEW CONSTRUCTION BRANCH: SELECTION PROCESS OF CONTRACT PROFESSIONALS USING CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS

CITY CONTROLLER RELEASES PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF LAUSD’S FACILITIES SERVICES DIVISION, NEW CONSTRUCTION BRANCH: SELECTION PROCESS OF CONTRACT PROFESSIONALS USING CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS

by smf

October 27, 2010 Ray Cortines, Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy, Los Angeles Unified School District Deputy Superintendent The Honorable Los Angeles Unified School District Board Members The enclosed audit represents a new chapter in the relationship between the City Controller and the LAUSD, because it’s the first time the City Controller has audited the

CITY AUDIT OF L.A. UNIFIED IS RELEASED; REPORT FOCUSES ON SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS

by smf

by Howard Blume – LA Times/LA Now | http://lat.ms/cd2ch0 October 27, 2010 | 10:00 am - The $20-billion school construction program of the nation’s second-largest school system was rife with conflicts of interest, but most problems were eliminated after 2006, independent auditors have concluded. These findings emerged from a long-awaited audit, released Wednesday morning, that was conducted

African and Caribbean students often target of bullying, activist tells city panel | Philadelphia Inquirer | 10/27/2010

African and Caribbean students often target of bullying, activist tells city panel | Philadelphia Inquirer | 10/27/2010

African and Caribbean students often target of bullying, activist tells city panel

By Kristen A. Graham

Inquirer Staff Writer

A growing population of African and Caribbean immigrant students in Southwest Philadelphia is often the target of racial teasing and violence in city public schools, a community activist told city officials Tuesday.

As an immigrant from Sierra Leone 30 years ago, Carol Bangura was teased and targeted, labeled a behavior problem, and kicked out of several schools.

"A lot of what the kids are experiencing now, I experienced years ago," Bangura said in testimony before the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations. "It's time to stop."

The commission Tuesday held the 10th in a series of hearings on intergroup tension and violence in city schools. The meetings were prompted by racial violence at South Philadelphia High.

After the hearings, the commission will present a report to the district highlighting not just trouble spots, but also best practices.

Bangura said that while the Philadelphia School District had been cooperative and met with her on several occasions, violence against African and Caribbean students was still a problem. Students are picked on because

Read more: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/education/20101027_African_and_Caribbean_students_often_target_of_bullying__activist_tells_city_panel.html#ixzz13eg0b8ny
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The Answer Sheet - Why are we failing in history, science education?

The Answer Sheet - Why are we failing in history, science education?

Why are we failing in history, science education?

This was written by Joy Hakim, a former teacher, journalist and now an author of award-winning textbooks in history and science. By Joy Hakim I keep a list. The story out of Virginia—that cities and hamlets around the state recently spent school funds on a book for 4th graders with an agenda that most Americans reject–-is the latest entry into what is becoming a catalog of schoolbook outrages. The Washington Post broke that story on Oct. 20th. Almost immediately some school districts began pulling the book from classrooms. A few days later the New York Times told us that the World Economic Forum ranked the U.S. 48th, out of 133 developed nations, in the quality of math and science instruction. “48th is not a good place,” said the Times.

School Tech Connect: Robert Reich at IEA Economic Summit: "The Right Fight"

School Tech Connect: Robert Reich at IEA Economic Summit: "The Right Fight"

Robert Reich at IEA Economic Summit: "The Right Fight"

by effacethefacade@yahoo.com (Tim)

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Kudos to IEA for posting this wonderful presentation by Robert Reich in early October at its economic summit, which I missed. Watch the whole thing for context, but it gets horrifying/interesting at around 31 minutes.

A few things. First of all, I really do believe that technology is at the point where it can easily transform education

Aunty Broad Says “NO” on the Levy | Seattle Education 2010

Aunty Broad Says “NO” on the Levy | Seattle Education 2010

Aunty Broad Says “NO” on the Levy

by seattleducation2010

And what do I think?

I have seen a lot of money be wasted over the last two years. First by closing schools, which was an expensive process in itself, $578,000 to be exact, just to open them again for a lot more money. The supe figured that there would be a savings of $5M to close these schools and programs which caused a re-shuffling of students throughout the district. This is a process that is difficult, time consuming and disruptive for students, teachers, staff and families. Then, just to have the supe decide within a few months that five school buildings needed to be re-opened to the tune of $47.8M.

Our Chief Financial Officer never provided the numbers last year that were requested by the school board

Secretary Duncan on a Well Rounded Education, Teachers, and Teacher Evaluation – ED.gov Blog

Secretary Duncan on a Well Rounded Education, Teachers, and Teacher Evaluation – ED.gov Blog

Secretary Duncan on a Well Rounded Education, Teachers, and Teacher Evaluation

On October 22, 2010, Secretary Duncan answered questions about…

• the arts and a well rounded education
• teachers and the need for more respect and recognition for their work
• the academic growth of students and evaluation of teachers.

Click here for an accessible version of the video.
See all the topics or all videos in the playlist.

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: NCRP report shows most big ed foundations not serving the neediest kids

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: NCRP report shows most big ed foundations not serving the neediest kids

NCRP report shows most big ed foundations not serving the neediest kids

by Mike Klonsky

NCRP, a philanthropic watchdog group, has released a blockbuster report, Confronting Systemic Inequity in Education, showing how few of the ed foundations focus their support on the neediest students.

"If no one thinks this report is pushing the envelope and is outrageous in some way, then maybe we didn't go far enough," said Aaron Dorfman, executive director of the committee, which was founded 35 years ago to be a voice for nonprofit and marginalized communities. (Huffington)

New analyses of education grant data suggests that of 672 foundations included in the sample, only 11%

Queens Teacher: New York Post Called Out on False Story

Queens Teacher: New York Post Called Out on False Story

New York Post Called Out on False Story

by Queens Teacher

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Brian Rafferty who was interviewed for a story on the release of the teacher evaluations claims the Post distorted his words. He speaks out against the paper at a CEC meeting.