Friday, December 17, 2010
Hilda Solis helped undocumented students succeed in California's education system | CAIVN
Hilda Solis helped undocumented students succeed in California's education system | CAIVN
Pay cut sparks teachers strike | SocialistWorker.org
Pay cut sparks teachers strike | SocialistWorker.org
Pay cut sparks teachers strike
report from a teachers' fight in Southern California.
December 17, 2010
TEACHERS IN an Orange County, Calif., school district were back on the job December 16 after a week on the picket line in a strike-turned-lockout.
The teachers, members of the La Habra Education Association (LHEA), walked off the job December 8 to force the district to the negotiating table in an effort to stop a permanent 2 percent pay cut imposed by the school board in November.
Teachers voted to go back to work December 14 because the district agreed to negotiations. Nothing had been settled, but for the first time in California history, teachers were locked out of their classrooms for two days after the return-to-work vote
Why American students lag behind - CNN.com
Why American students lag behind - CNN.com
Why American students lag behind
December 17, 2010 9:17 a.m. EST
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Mike Honda: International Student Assessment report shows equity in education matters
- U.S. students lag because nation not committed to high-quality education for all, he says
- Honda: High-ranked nations help disadvantaged students, expect high performance
- Honda: All U.S. schools need equal financing, well-qualified teachers, adequate resources
Editor's note: Rep. Mike Honda, D-California, serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, and is a former teacher, school principal and school board member.
(CNN) -- One of the greatest lessons to be learned from the Program for International Student Assessment report released this month is that equity matters.
Others might argue that economic competitiveness is the real issue here, considering that assessments of American 15-year-olds' capabilities in reading, math and science rank low among the 34 nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which performed the study.
America's performance reveals an "average" showing, with dangerous disparities: The 113-point gap in math literacy between the United States and No. 1 spot-holder Shanghai-China is the equivalent of more than two school years of schooling, a statistic
Thomas M. Stephens: Test scores play too large a role in education | The Columbus Dispatch
Thomas M. Stephens: Test scores play too large a role in education | The Columbus Dispatch
Test scores play too large a role in education
Friday, December 17, 2010 02:51 AM
The mantra that teachers are the biggest factor in students' success and failure is fueled by those who demand that teachers should be evaluated, paid and retained or dismissed, based upon their students' test scores. The mantra is music to the ears of those who believe that all students would test above average if only they had good teachers.
But researchers chant another tune.
The clich that good teachers produce good students comes with several caveats. Controlled studies show that one type of teacher isn't effective with all students and in all subjects. Surprisingly, knowledge of subject matter, beyond a certain point, doesn't make much difference either. And teachers' level of education doesn't contribute to more than 5 percent of their effectiveness.
A through review of studies found that between 7 percent and 21 percent of teaching contributes to student achievement. Teachers' effects can be greater, or lesser, depending upon students' aptitudes, attitudes and family income. And subject matter matters. For instance, math teachers have a greater effect on success or failure than do
Education Week: Taking Teacher Evaluation to Extremes
Education Week: Taking Teacher Evaluation to Extremes
Taking Teacher Evaluation to Extremes
New York state’s recent success in winning approximately $700 million in federal Race to the Top money might be attributed to its concept for a new teacher-evaluation system that holds teachers accountable for the performance of their students on state and standardized measures in math and English in grades 4-8.
In that vein, New York’s school district leaders were strongly encouraged to sign a “memorandum of understanding” last summer to ensure that they “understood” the general concept behind the proposal, even though the details of the plan remained vague. Superintendents and boards of education were assured that all would be fine in the end as New York would receive its money—and then worry about the details. The state requested time, patience, and a little faith from those running the school districts.
In an article on the New York State School Boards Association’s website, state Commissioner of Education David Steiner challenged skeptics of the not-yet-fully-
DPS board mulls re-thinking reform plans - The Denver Post
DPS board mulls re-thinking reform plans - The Denver Post
DPS board mulls re-thinking reform plans12/16/2010Some board members on Thursday suggested that the Denver Public School reform plan be revised after the state said the district needs to improve. 
Westwood College placed on state probation12/15/2010 - Westwood College's Colorado campuses were placed on probation Tuesday by state officials who say they worry the school still has unresolved problems with national accreditors regarding recruitment tactics and student achievement.
Hamilton Middle School under modified lockdown Wednesday12/14/2010 - Hamilton Middle School in Denver will be on a modified lockdown during classes Wednesday as a precaution following a bomb scare even though police found nothing suspicious.
NJ Spotlight | Lawmakers and Lobbyists Alike Begin to Explore Tenure Strategies
NJ Spotlight | Lawmakers and Lobbyists Alike Begin to Explore Tenure StrategiesLawmakers and Lobbyists Alike Begin to Explore Tenure Strategies
Lawmakers and Lobbyists Alike Begin to Explore Tenure StrategiesLonger time to tenure, mentors, a streamlined dismissal process, and meaningful teacher evaluations are all on the agenda
With tenure reform on everyone’s lips in Trenton, some of the ideas are starting to be put on paper, too, as lawmakers begin to frame their strategies for what coming legislation could look like.
State Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex), the Senate’s lead player on the issue as chairman of its education committee, yesterday laid out some of the core principles that she said would likely be included in legislation she is beginning to draft.
They would include lengthening the time it takes to receive tenure from the current three years, adding a strong mentoring piece for new teachers and streamlining the dismissal process. In between, there would be some periodic review tied to teacher evaluations, Ruiz said, although she did not say if that would be a renewal or recertification.
"This tenure reform bill is not about a first-time employee,” Ruiz said in an interview. “It’s to ensure an individual who gets hired in a public school system has an opportunity to be monitored in a fair
NYC Educator: Hazadous Pursuits
NYC Educator: Hazadous Pursuits
I have a girl in my class who's a quick study. At least she's quick. She doesn't get everything right all the time, but she finishes assignments rapidly. She's a pretty good student--I think I gave her a 90 this semester, but she can't wait to finish. Consequently, she looks bored a lot of the time.
The other day, she took out a pair of knitting needles and started making a sweater. I was shocked. I think I've been doing this for 26 years, and I've never seen a high school kid do such a thing. I suppose I labor under the stereotype that knitting is something grandmothers do, and for all I know, her grandmother taught her. But it was one of those
Hazadous Pursuits
The other day, she took out a pair of knitting needles and started making a sweater. I was shocked. I think I've been doing this for 26 years, and I've never seen a high school kid do such a thing. I suppose I labor under the stereotype that knitting is something grandmothers do, and for all I know, her grandmother taught her. But it was one of those
The Answer Sheet - The disaster California schools face, and a teacher's call to action
The Answer Sheet - The disaster California schools face, and a teacher's call to action
The disaster California schools face, and a teacher's call to action
This was written by educator Anthony Cody, who taught science for 18 years in inner-city Oakland and who now works with a team of science teacher-coaches that supports novice teachers. He is a National Board-certified teacher and an active member of the Teacher Leaders Network. This post appeared on his Teachers Magazine blog, Living in Dialogue. By Anthony Cody California Gov.-elect Jerry Brown has a better understanding than most politicians of education issues, as we discovered last year when he sent some cogent advice to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. However, he can't seem to find a way to conjure $25 (or perhaps now $28) billion out of thin air, and is warning educators that the schools will suffer a 20-25 percent cut in funding next year. California already is in 49th place in the nation in terms of student/teacher ratio, and is dead last in the ratio of students
The carrot, the stick ... or something else?
My guest is Sean Slade, director of Healthy School Communities, part of the Whole Child Initiative at ASCD, an educational leadership organization. By Sean Slade A study on chronic student truancy that was generally ignored by the news media concluded that punishing parents when their children skip school -- an idea under discussion in some places -- is counterproductive. “Hauling parents into family court is not the best way to combat a rising tide of kids who chronically miss school," it says. Chronic truancy has been long hailed as a key indicator of other youth risk-taking behavior, including drug and alcohol abuse, and an indicator of a host of social, emotional, and mental health issues.
Carrot for changing teacher evaluations | Thoughts on Public Education
Carrot for changing teacher evaluations | Thoughts on Public Education
Carrot for changing teacher evaluations - by John Fensterwald - Educated Guess
Last month, State Board of Education President Ted Mitchell couldn’t get any votes for his plan to encourage districts to change the way they evaluate teachers and administrators. Education groups didn’t like the proposal any better. But this week, with the California School Boards Association and the Association of California School Administrators now praising it, the [...]
Del Valle talks school business at mayoral forum. Watch! « Fred Klonsky's blog
Del Valle talks school business at mayoral forum. Watch! « Fred Klonsky's blog
Del Valle talks school business at mayoral forum. Watch!
“It’s time to focus on neighborhood schools,” said Miguel Del Valle at the UIC Forum the other night.
Schools Matter: The Media Bullpen
Schools Matter: The Media Bullpen
The Media Bullpen
Keep an eye on this new "media/policy platform," The Media Bullpen. It's put together by the Center for Education Reform and is funded, at least in part, but the Gates Foundation.
From Idealist:
From Idealist:
The Center for Education Reform is seeking a top-notch Managing Editor as it prepares for the launch of The Media Bullpen, a groundbreaking journalistic media/policy platform dedicated to dedicated to: a) correcting the record on K-12 education issues and; b) improving the media/public understanding of topics in K-12 education and education reform.
The ideal candidate will lead The Media Bullpen’s editorial program, under the supervision of CER senior executives, through an evolving combination of hands-on content creation and
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Teachers union hosts 3rd mayoral forum
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Teachers union hosts 3rd mayoral forum
It looked to me like about 600-700 (mostly teachers) packing the Operating Engineers union hall last night. I didn't hear much new from any of the five candidates who showed up--Miguel del Valle, Carol Moseley Braun, James Meeks, Gery Chico and William "Dock" Walls.
As expected, Rahm Emanuel didn't deem the crowd worthy of his presence (I wonder what's really in those 20 boxes he has hidden in that crawl space in his former house?). Congressman Danny Davis was also a no-show. He phoned in a brief statement from D.C. where he rushed to heed Obama's call to vote yes on the $858 billion tax-break-for-the-rich bill. How sad.
Lots of ed clichés tossed about. We learned that all kids can learn, we should leave no child behind, and that it
Teachers union hosts 3rd mayoral forum
 |
| M. Klonsky photo |
As expected, Rahm Emanuel didn't deem the crowd worthy of his presence (I wonder what's really in those 20 boxes he has hidden in that crawl space in his former house?). Congressman Danny Davis was also a no-show. He phoned in a brief statement from D.C. where he rushed to heed Obama's call to vote yes on the $858 billion tax-break-for-the-rich bill. How sad.
Lots of ed clichés tossed about. We learned that all kids can learn, we should leave no child behind, and that it
An end to regulation?
Spencer Bachus, the incoming G.O.P. chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, told
Rep. Spencer Bachus (R., Ala.), the incoming chairman of the House Financial Services Committee (left) huddles with the current chairman, Rep. Barney Frank (D., Mass.) at a hearing in September. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Hoover Experts Strike Out « InterACT
Hoover Experts Strike Out « InterACT
Hoover Experts Strike Out
photo: Jawed Karim (commons.wikimedia.org)
Eleven “education experts” at the Hoover Institution have recently offered up their review of the Best and Worst in American Education, 2010, and totally missed the mark in eight of their ten conclusions. Regarding a math teaching study, and a voucher system in Washington D.C., I don’t have an opinion. On every other count I disagree strongly, and will highlight the worst of their review, leading to the conclusion that this type of thinking
My First Vlog: On Arne Duncan and the Poverty of The Discussion of Poverty — The Jose Vilson
My First Vlog: On Arne Duncan and the Poverty of The Discussion of Poverty — The Jose Vilson
My First Vlog: On Arne Duncan and the Poverty of The Discussion of Poverty
My first webcam video, where I discuss Secretary Arne Duncan, poverty, Black and Latino males, and teacher effectiveness. This was liberating.
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