The Texas Miracle Revisited - Bridging Differences - Education Week

The Texas Miracle Revisited - Bridging Differences - Education Week

The Texas Miracle Revisited

by Diane Ravitch

Dear Deborah,

I am sure you recall that when No Child Left Behind was under discussion, there was a great deal of publicity about "the Texas Miracle." I remember newspaper accounts of the wonders that had been accomplished by the simple strategy of testing and accountability.

Soon after the election of George W. Bush as president, we learned that he was the architect of this miracle in Texas. The miracle occurred because of this strategy: the state tested every child every year in grades 3-8; disaggregated their scores by race, ethnicity, and other characteristics; published the scores; and then honored the schools where scores went up and shamed the schools where they did not. Mirabile dictu, it worked! Or so a credulous press told us. Test scores went up, graduation rates went up, and the achievement gap began to close.

A few scholars warned that the miracle was an illusion. Walt Haney of Boston College and Stephen Klein of the

Teacher Sabrina SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: Next South Bronx School Internet Radio Cast

SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: Next South Bronx School Internet Radio Cast

Next South Bronx School Internet Radio Cast

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bronx-teacher/2011/04/06/the-mind-of-a-bronx-teacher

Teacher Sabrina joins us Tuesday night, April 5 at 9 PM EDT. Teacher Sabrina is one of the tri-authors of the Failing Schools Blog; http://failingschools.wordpress.com/ The topic will be Michelle Rhee's failings, which are too many to list, and how the shine is starting to come off her apple. As always the call in # is 917 932 8721

Jersey Jazzman: Unserious Education Policy

Jersey Jazzman: Unserious Education Policy

Unserious Education Policy

by Duke

Atrios comments on the latest wingnut nonsense from Washington:

Yes Paul Ryan is a wingnut so it's to be expected, but anyone "serious," as Alice Rivlin is supposed to be, who thinks you can give vouchers to old people so that they can buy awesome insurance on the open market is someone who should never be listened to about anything ever again. All actual serious people should shun her.

I think this also summarizes the current education reform debate very well. A lot of really bad policy is being put out there by people who clearly have no idea what they are talking about, yet are taken "seriously."

Vouchers, vouchers everywhere - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Vouchers, vouchers everywhere - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Vouchers, vouchers everywhere

By Valerie Strauss

Public education is facing enough obstacles these days without another one, courtesy of the Supreme Court. But on Monday, in a 5-4 vote, the court issued a ruling that supports an Arizona program that permits public money to be used for private schools, which are mostly religious.

The court, in Winn vs. Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization, voted to bar regular people from challenging government programs that use tax credits for religious activity.

School choice supporters were pleased with the decision, but civil

A case against standards

By Valerie Strauss

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This post is about the draft version of standards for initial English teacher preparation for grades 7-12 being considered by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), which is the professional accrediting agency for teacher preparation. A number of academics were asked to review the standards, including Paul Thomas, an associate professor of education at Furman University in South Carolina. This is his response to the draft standards.

By Paul Thomas

While I appreciate the invitation to respond to the draft version of the

Task force releases new teacher evaluation framework for granting tenure, but faces union opposition

Task force releases new teacher evaluation framework for granting tenure, but faces union opposition

Recruited to teach, then abandoned Hundreds of teachers who left their homes in the Caribbean to work in city schools are still waiting for their promised green cards years later.

Teacher's death leads to visa limbo The long wait for a green card has left the family of one immigrant teacher in a precarious position - because he died before his was approved.

New ideas on tenure face union hurdle A state task force Monday released a blueprint for evaluating teachers that could make getting tenure more rigorous and less arbitrary.

Panel starts to plan $48.5 million in cuts to local early-childhood programs - Sacramento Bee

Panel starts to plan $48.5 million in cuts to local early-childhood programs - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Panel starts to plan $48.5 million in cuts to local early-childhood programs

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By Brad Branan
bbranan@sacbee.com

Published: Tuesday, Apr. 5, 2011 - 12:00 am | Page 1B

The First 5 Sacramento Commission on Monday began what is expected to become a wrenching process of cutting $48.5 million from local early-childhood programs.

The cuts have been necessitated by reductions from the state, where members of both legislative houses have agreed to take $950 million from First 5 agencies in counties across California. Tobacco taxes fund First 5 and its programs.

The one-time reallocation is being done to help close the state's massive budget deficit.

To handle the loss of funds in Sacramento County, First 5 staff members have recommended

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/05/3528112/panel-starts-to-plan-485-million.html#ixzz1IePtWQ34

Schools to unveil charter intentions - LA Daily News

Schools to unveil charter intentions - LA Daily News

Schools to unveil charter intentions

VALLEY: Campuses to seek 'affiliated' status.

By Connie Llanos, Staff Writer

Posted: 04/04/2011 07:07:31 PM PDT

Updated: 04/04/2011 07:25:36 PM PDT

IF YOU GO

The public hearings for these schools are scheduled for Tuesday's school board meeting, 3 p.m. at LAUSD headquarters, 333 S. Beaudry Ave., downtown Los Angeles.

Click here for the latest from the LAUSD.

Searching for more independence and flexibility, a half-dozen San Fernando Valley schools are expected to present Los Angeles Unified officials Tuesday with their plans to convert to charter campuses.

They are part of a growing number who are separating from LAUSD as the district struggles with declining enrollment and shrinking resources.

The six schools, most located in the West San Fernando Valley, are Beckford, Calabash, Pomelo, Riverside Drive and Welby Way elementary schools and Hale Middle School.

These schools are not seeking to become full charters, but instead are

Banning our studies | Being Latino Online Magazine

Banning our studies | Being Latino Online Magazine

Banning our studies

by Eric Cortes

by Eric Cortes

The concept of the Dream Act is simple: give immigrant children an education. But after President Obama’s townhall meeting a few days ago, you have to start wondering what’s going to happen in the future. First the Dream Act isn’t passed, then Arizona attempts to ban ethnic studies, and now you have other cities looking to ban minority studies. While the Census continuously shows the growing Latino population in the United States, it seems as though our educational opportunities are deteriorating.

A few days ago I heard Temple University was going to get rid of the Latin American Studies program. The message, and I quote, said, “As of July there will be no more Temple LAS program. The major and minor are to be administered by the History Department.” I am a product of the Latin American Studies minor and to me this

Boosting college rates for foster youth | Thoughts on Public Education

Boosting college rates for foster youth | Thoughts on Public Education

Boosting college rates for foster youth

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Bill gives preference in class registration

Posted on 4/05/11 • Categorized as Uncategorized

By Kathryn Baron

It takes exceptional tenacity – and a measure of good fortune – for a child who grows up in foster care in California to make it through college. A bill that would ease the way for these students moves a step forward tomorrow, when it goes before the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

AB 194, introduced by Democratic Assemblyman Jim Beall of San Jose, would give current and former foster youth priority registration for classes at California State University and California community colleges, and urges the University of California to do the same. The

Today’s Collection Of Good School Reform Posts & Articles | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

Today’s Collection Of Good School Reform Posts & Articles | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

Ben Franklin’s Daily Schedule This copy of Ben Franklin’s Daily Schedule has been floating around the blogosphere and Twitterverse for awhile. Ben’s morning and evening questions are a pretty good framework for anybody’s day. [image: Benjamin Franklin's daily schedule] Thanks ...

Today’s Collection Of Good School Reform Posts & Articles As usual, there have been a number of useful posts over the past few days on school reform issues: No merit in merit pay for teachers is by Walt Gardner and appeared in the Guardian. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning Why Teacher Merit ...

Resources On Workers At Stricken Nuclear Plant Here are new additions to Useful Updates On Japan Earthquake — Part Two, specifically about the workers staying to fix the nuclear plant: Here’s a video on the workers at the stricken nuclear power plant (thanks to The English blog for the tip): pp ...

Ben Franklin’s Daily Schedule This copy of Ben Franklin’s Daily Schedule has been floating around the blogosphere and Twitterverse for awhile. Ben’s morning and evening questions are a pretty good framework for anybody’s day. [image: Benjamin Franklin's daily schedule] Thanks ...

“Hot Spot” Interview With English Teacher Tarak Brahmi In Tunisia I recently began a new regular interview series. There are always lots of “hot spots” around the world — places where there are natural disasters, political upheavals, etc. And English teachers can be found in most of those places. If you are an ...

KOCH OUT AM News | www.kochwatch.org

News | www.kochwatch.org

2,000 March On Koch DC Offices WATCH ON YOUTUBE:

NYT: Op-Ed: Bring Donors Out of the Shadows *April 3, 2011-* The billionaire industrialist brothers Charles and David Koch have drawn sharp criticism for their extensive giving to libertarian causes. Though some of their organizational ties are public, many are unknown, thanks to a provision ...

AlterNet: What Is ALEC? Dragging the Secretive Conservative Organization Out of the Shadows This shadowy organization has played an extraordinary role in shaping pro-corporate legislation in a number of states. *March 31, 2011-* As puzzle master Will Shortz might say, what is a four-letter acronym for a virtually unknown, but politically ...

Ohio Daily: ALEC: The vast right-wing conspiracy *March 26, 2011-* Some of you undoubtedly remember Hillary Clinton in the 90s saying that there was a "vast right-wing conspiracy" out to get her husband. She was roundly ridiculed, but of course she turned out to be right. Many have commented that ...

Think Progress: Leader Of Koch Front Group Is Behind Ads Supporting Wisconsin Justice David Prosser *April 4, 2011-* As of last Friday, just three groups have spent nearly $1.4 million to keep Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) ally David Prosser on the Wisconsin Supreme Court — 40 percent more than Prosser’s opponents have spent to defeat him. Moreover, new ...

.Eating children: what Detroit teachers and students are saying

.Eating children: what Detroit teachers and students are saying

by Danny Weil

School is little more than a trauma unit now that the ruling elites have managed to derange the entire enterprise. Of course obedience training and historical amnesia were always the capitalist curriculum but now the situation is so bad that education remains a preposterous illusion under the current material conditions of capitalist life.

The Job of Parents - Hispanically Speaking News

The Job of Parents - Hispanically Speaking News

The Job of Parents

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April 4, 2011 | by Dr. Ellen McMahon

Photo Credits: The Job of Parents

As parents we have lots of responsibility for the details of our children’s lives. We cover the basics, food and shelter, which gets harder and harder in this economy, and we have their education. This means getting them into school as well as assuring they get to and from school. But, it also means educating them in the broadest sense of the word. So beyond the classroom our job is to provide an enriching environment and opportunities for our children. How do we do that?

There are many ways to provide an enriching experience for your children and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Of course there are all the museums in the Chicago area and most of them have a free day. These are great ways to stimulate interest in things beyond your own knowledge and

On Wisconsin! | Firedoglake

On Wisconsin! | Firedoglake

On Wisconsin!
By: Attaturk Tuesday April 5, 2011 1:30 am	Tweet1

Not to put too fine a point on it, but if the opposition cannot get people out in numbers to toss out Scott Walker’s sexist, pedophileenabling, Koch purchased rubber stamp David Prosser (other than that I’m sure he’s a nice guy) it is going to be real depressing.

But maybe people in Wisconsin want more ofthis:

Brian Deschane has no college degree, very little management experience and two drunken-driving convictions.

Yet he has landed an $81,500-per-year job in Gov. Scott Walker’s administration

Parent involvement bill passes Senate | EdNewsColorado

Parent involvement bill passes Senate | EdNewsColorado

Parent involvement bill passes Senate

by Todd Engdahl

The Senate Monday gave 22-13 final approval to House Bill 11-1126, which would require greater parent notification and involvement in school turnaround plans.

Monday roundup

• Charter bonds
• Budget wrangle

Senators rejected yet another attempt by Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, to change the terms used by the state to designate different levels of school performance.

The bill would require parent notification and meetings at schools that have been designated by the state Department of Education for improvement, priority improvement or turnaround plans because of inadequate

April 4th. Madison, Wisconsin. « Fred Klonsky's blog

April 4th. Madison, Wisconsin. « Fred Klonsky's blog

April 4th. Madison, Wisconsin.

by Fred Klonsky

John Boehner.

by Fred Klonsky

From an upcoming interview with Matt Taibbi in Rolling Stone:

Boehner: “Can’t pay your student loan? Face it your parents were lazy and you couldn’t afford college. The world needs ditch diggers and you were born into a family of them. Can’t pay your mortgage? Your house was too expensive and you couldn’t afford it. Your taxes going up too much? That’s what you get for electing a democrat president. Never had a job after you got a degree? You learned nothing in school and you’re lazy. I didn’t get to be a congressman by watching jersey shore or playing xbox. You think there’s no jobs for you? There used to be. There was when I was your age. You don’t have fee time because you have to work all days of the week for 16 hours a day and you don’t get paid

Divining Rod, or Rod of Discipline « InterACT

Divining Rod, or Rod of Discipline « InterACT

Divining Rod, or Rod of Discipline

by ACT Guest Blog Posts

Today’s ACT Guest Blogger is Alice Mercer, an ACT member and blogger from Sacramento. This post originally appeared at Reflections on Teaching.

photo: David B. Cohen

This post is about the larger lessons I took from ASCD. What do I mean by this? Looking at a lot of school reform, programs, schools, ideas, and changes are offered as either a promise, or a threat. It’s this ugly mix of an appeal to avarice, and a fear of failure that I feel created the toxic mess that is the DCPS testing scandal. It wasn’t just that folks wanted to earn bonuses, they also feared being fired. This isn’t an original thought of my own, but was suggested to me by fellow Sacramento teacher, Lori Jablonski. This approach will never

Education Industrial Complex

A video on the privatization of education

Why Rhee REALLY remains at the core of controversies « Failing Schools

Why Rhee REALLY remains at the core of controversies « Failing Schools

Why Rhee REALLY remains at the core of controversies

APRIL 5, 2011

by Sabrina

Michelle Rhee biographer Richard Whitmire published an op-edyesterday, claiming to explain why Rhee remains at the heart of controversies in education reform. Perhaps not surprisingly, given the awful state of education coverage in our mass media, Mr. Whitmire has missed the mark.

First, to clarify some of his “clarifications”—

• On her record: Whitmire attempts to dismiss the current DC CAS scandal and its potential to blemish Rhee’s alleged success as Chancellor of the DC Public Schools by appealing to DC’s NAEP scores during the time when she ran the district. He says that between 2007 and 2009, the district made significant progress not seen in comparable urban districts. Two