Monday, April 18, 2011

Feds insist on giving Oregon millions more to pay high-performing teachers | OregonLive.com

Feds insist on giving Oregon millions more to pay high-performing teachers

Published: Monday, April 18, 2011, 9:00 AM

Doug Beghtel/The OregonianTeachers at six Oregon City schools will be eligible for a collective $2 million in bonus pay beginning next year. A new system for evaluating teacher and principal performance and determining how performance pay will be awarded is still under design.

The Chalkboard Project had a nice problem to solve recently: After the Obama administration awarded the Portland-based nonprofit group $13 million to try to improve the quality of teaching in seven Oregon school districts, the feds circled back and insisted the group apply for even more money to pay to top-performing teacher and principals.

The group did so, naturally, andlearned late last week that it has been awarded an additional $11 million. All of that will be paid to high-performing educators in Oregon City, Salem, Redmond and four other districts beginning in 2012.

"We are grateful to be able to give our educators more money for the excellent work they do,” said Jerry Hudson, chairman of the board of the Chalkboard Project, a nonprofit collaboration of several leading Oregon charities that works to improve teacher quality in the state.

Each school district, in collaboration with its teachers union, will design its own methods for

National Teachers Initiative | StoryCorps

The National Teachers Initiative celebrates and honors the courageous work of public school educators nationwide. By recording, sharing, and preserving the diverse stories of teachers, we hope to bring larger public awareness of their work and call attention to the invaluable influence they have on us all. The National Teachers Initiative will focus on these heroic teachers, inclusive of all ethnicities, cultures, and ages.

The National Teachers Initiative places special attention on the work of teachers in public school districts striving to increase the number of students who graduate prepared for college and careers; these stories are collected from both rural and urban public schools across the country.

Interview pairs for the National Teachers Initiative may consist of two teachers interviewing one another, friends discussing the impact an exemplary teacher had on their lives, a student or former student interviewing a memorable teacher, or other relevant pairings. As with all StoryCorps interviews, participants will receive a CD copy of the interview; a second copy will be archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress for future generations. Select National Teachers Initiative interviews will be edited for nationwide public radio broadcasts throughout the 2011–2012 school year.

The National Teachers Initiative is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Hechinger Report | Incoming NYC schools chancellor sets a new tone

Incoming NYC schools chancellor sets a new tone

by Davin McHenry

Dennis Walcott makes his first speech at Teachers College. (Photo by Davin McHenry)

Dennis Walcott takes over the New York City public schools today, becoming its third chancellor in four months. He is also the fourth chancellor in a row to need a waiver for the job.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s appointment of Walcott is the latest in a series of moves by high-ranking education officials, both in the Big Apple and around the country. Los Angeles and New Orleans have named new leaders — John Deasy and John White, respectively — while many other cities are still looking. Atlanta, Chicago and

Pay Your Taxes? These 10 Companies Didn’t. | MoveOn.Org

Pay Your Taxes? These 10 Companies Didn't.

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Alicia

Share this now!

Come April 15, everybody ponies up their fair share, right? Not so much. Thanks to corporate tax cuts and loopholes, these big companies will be rollin’ in the green instead of paying Uncle Sam. Read Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) corporate freeloaders list now:

Spread the word. Share this on Facebook today.

ASCD Inservice: Early Reading Proficiency Closes Achievement Gaps

Early Reading Proficiency Closes Achievement Gaps

Last year, the Annie E. Casey Foundation issued the report, Early Warning! Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters. A new report sponsored by the foundation looks at the likelihood of graduation by different reading skill levels and poverty experiences.

Double Jeopardy: How Third-Grade Reading Skills and Poverty Influence High School Graduation, by Hunter College professor Donald Hernandez, found that low reading skills are an even stronger predictor of failure to graduate than spending at least one year in poverty.

"In fact, 89 percent of students in poverty who did read on level by 3rd grade graduated on time, statistically

“When Bad Ideas Happen to Good Columnists” | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

“When Bad Ideas Happen to Good Columnists”

by Larry Ferlazzo

When Bad Ideas Happen to Good Columnists is an excellent post by Robert Pondiscio responding to my question “Why Do So Many Ordinarily Thoughtful Columnists “Lose It” When They Write About Schools?”

He draws on his many years of working in the national media to offer some insightful analysis.

And I’m not just saying that because he includes very kind words about me in his post

“Writing Better Blog Posts: What You NEED to Know”

by Larry Ferlazzo

Sue Waters has done it again!

Surprised?- NO: Schools Matter: Disclosures, Anyone??

Schools Matter: Disclosures, Anyone??

Disclosures, Anyone??

by Kenneth Libby

The NY Daily News ran a pro-NCLB piece written by Sandy Kress, but they neglected a good deal of relevant information. Nowhere does the DN mention that Kress is a lobbyist for Pearson (a beneficiary of NCLB), Teach for America, or Wireless Generation (among others). See the clip below, or this list of companies Kress lobbies for in TX:

Likewise, today's Eduwonk post links to an article about the recent reforms in IL, but forgets to mention that his consulting firm, Bellwether Education Partners, lists Stand for Children and Advance Illinois as clients. SFC is

How much did you pay for war this year?

Based on figures provided by the National Priorities Project.

Click here to see How much did you pay for war this year?

Disturbing (But, Alas, Predictable) Policy Outcomes for Teachers and Doctors’ Pay-4-Performance | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Disturbing (But, Alas, Predictable) Policy Outcomes for Teachers and Doctors’ Pay-4-Performance

by larrycuban

Counting up the many differences between doctors and teachers make comparisons about pay-for-performance policies unlikely. Here’s a few:

*Doctors go to school four years to secure an M.D. and then another two to six years (of which most are clinical practice) to garner a specialty; most teachers spend two years, maybe three (of which six months to a year are in supervised classroom practice) to earn a bachelors and then a master’s degree in education; those who receive alternative certification

Blank Slate: Private School Leaders Step Up! « School Finance 101

Blank Slate: Private School Leaders Step Up!

by schoolfinance101

I’ve noted on several occasions on Twitter (@schlfinance101) and on my blog that I am actually a supporter of high quality private independent schools. In the 1990s, I was a middle school science teacher at The Fieldston School in Riverdale, NY. That experience sticks with me to this day as I write about public education policy issues. In fact, Fieldston helped provide the financial support for the pursuit of my doctoral studies at Columbia University, and for that I thank them. Yes, they helped pay for the meaningless advanced degree that eventually led me to leave (so perhaps it was worth it for them?). Being at a school that supported my own academic/intellectual endeavors was important for me, and I expect I’m not alone in that regard. In high school, I summered at Phillips Exeter Academy after my sophomore year. I attended an expensive, competitive small

When Bad Ideas Happen to Good Columnists « The Core Knowledge Blog

When Bad Ideas Happen to Good Columnists

by Robert Pondiscio
April 18th, 2011

Tags: education journalism, Education News, media
Posted in Education News, Opinion | No Comments »

The prolific Larry Ferlazzo, arguably the most thoughtful and consistently fair-minded teacher-blogger currently drawing breath, makes an interesting observation about education journalism. “I really am surprised to see so many ordinarily thoughtful national columnists, show such poor judgment when they write about schools, Larry writes.” He points to recent entries by David Brooks, Ruben Navarrete and Matthew Yglesias.

“What is it that blinds these columnists? In fact, what is it that does the same to so many school reformers and legislators? Do they think that since they went to school when they were children, that makes them experts in figuring out how they should be run? They all have gone to see a doctor at some point, too, but they don’t seem to be as critical or prescriptive about how they think a medical professionals should treat their patients.

I’ve observed this phenomenon quite a bit, having spent far more time in my career working in the national media than in education, but my response is exactly the opposite of Larry’s. When I see poor judgment writing about schools, I don’t think “how can someone so smart be so ill-informed?” Rather, I wonder, “if you’re this ill-informed on a

Daily Kos: Why are so many education "reformers" graduates of non-public schools?

Why are so many education "reformers" graduates of non-public schools?

by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken)

That is what Michael Winerip writes about in today's New York Times in a piece titled In Public School Efforts, a Common Background: Private Education Let me list those whom he mentions:

Three of the four original sponsors of No Child Left Behind
Sen. Judd Gregg Phillips Exeter, Exeter NH
Sen. Ted Kennedy Milton Adademy, Milton MA
John Boehner Archbishop Moeller, Cincinnati OH

The Bush Brothers, George W and Jeb, both Phillips Andover in MA

President Barack Obama Punahoe School, Honolulu HA
Sec. of Education Arne Duncan U of Chicago Lab School, Chicago IL
Michelle Rhee Maumee Valley Country Day School, Toledo, Oh
Mitt Romney Cranbrook School Bloomfield Hills MI
Davis Guggenheim ("Waiting for Superman") Sidwell Friends School, Washington DC
Bill Gates Lakeside School, Seattle WA
Chester Finn President of the Fordham Foundation Phillips Exeter
David Levin, co-founder of KIPP Riverdale Country Day School, Bronx NY
Cathy Black, immediate past Chancellor NYC Schools Aquinas Dominican High School, Chicago
Merryll H. Tisch Chair NY State Board of Regents Ramaz School, NY City (Manhattan)
David M Steiner, NY State Commissioner of Education Perse School, Cambridge, England
Steven Brill - advocate for charters Deerfield Academy, Deerfield MA
Marc Sternberg Deputy Chancellor NYC who moves charters into public buildings
Episcopal School, Baton Rouge, La

Let me offer a few observations from Winerip and a few comments of my own

Rahm’s Schools Agenda | Rahmapalooza Blowback | Blago, the Sequel / Chicago News Cooperative

Rahm’s Schools Agenda | Rahmapalooza Blowback | Blago, the Sequel

By DAN MIHALOPOULOS
April 18, 2011

NEW (LONGER) DAY AT SCHOOL?
The Chicago News Cooperative looks at the obstacles that stand between new school-reform legislation and turning Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel’s campaign promise of a longer school day into reality. http://bit.ly/hCTU5i

A charter school advocate summed it up for CNC columnist James Warren: “The mayor-elect just got dealt a much better hand.” http://bit.ly/eti3wy

RAHMAPALOOZA
The Tribune’s Eric Zorn contrasts the Emanuel inauguration plans with the far more modest festivities that marked the beginning of Richard M

In Praise of Factory Education | Tran|Script

In Praise of Factory Education

by Michael Caulfield

Yes, I know the title is a bit #slatepitches. But I really mean it.

As some of you know, I work at the same college I graduated from almost 20 years ago. I did a lot of stuff in between, but I ended up back here, in part because I really believe in state provided education.

Twenty years ago the marketing of Keene State was pretty minimal. My decision to go to Keene State was based on the town of Plymouth (our rival college) seeming too depressing and the major NH university having a lot of people heading to it that I didn’t like. My parents basically told me that with my grades (my high school record was not exemplary) I should pick a state school and try to make a go. I choose Keene State, which seemed nice enough. That was it.

My sister, who was head of her high school class, had a different experience. She went on college tours to the Ivys, to MIT, corresponded with folks at Carnegie Mellon. Even back then they had plenty of glossy material to

Private school reformers. Solutions for the masses come easily for Phillips Exeter alums. « Fred Klonsky's blog

Private school reformers. Solutions for the masses come easily for Phillips Exeter alums.

by Fred Klonsky

Michael Winerip’s NY Times story on the private school backgrounds of today’s crop of education reformers will be linked to on hundreds of blogs today.

The reason is that it cuts to the core of the hypocrisy of those like billionaire boys club member Whitney Tilson who would deny to the common folk what they had for themselves: small class size, little emphasis on testing

I Hate Autism Awareness Month

by California Father

Because it is the loneliest month of all. Let mother Maia Chung tell you why:

AUTISM sucks. It’s like kryptonite to your soul. No matter how much you follow the rules, take them (children) to therapies, change their diets, take them to the right schools, it’s still a jacked up way to spend your life. How do you cope when your son is on the autism spectrum and cannot

Shanker Blog » The High Cost Of Closing Public Libraries

The High Cost Of Closing Public Libraries

by Matthew Di Carlo

Government budget cuts, at all levels, can have tragic effects. It will take us a long time to recover from the damage the current cuts have done and will do. There are many vital public services – such as health care, aid to the homeless, and schools – that we must do our utmost to protect. But, at least for me, there are few cuts more bothersome than the closing of public libraries.

Sadly, these closings are happening all over the nation, including New York, Ohio, Michigan and elsewhere.

At the same time, use of libraries has been increasing for years. In 2008, according to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the average person visited a public library 5.1 times, an increase of almost 20 percent since 1999. Of course, this use is not equally distributed – some people visit regularly, while others not at all.

In part, this is because many low-income Americans rely on libraries, not only for books and periodicals, but as their primary source of internet access. As a result, the number of computers in public libraries has almost

Diane Ravitch -- Education Funding Saved: What Does It Mean?

National Journal Online -- Education Experts -- Education Funding Saved: What Does It Mean?

Education Funding Saved: What Does It Mean?

President Obama did a remarkably good job protecting education funding in the recent pitched battle with congressional Republicans over spending. Despite disparaging comments from House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., about how Pell Grants are overfunded, there will be money this year to provide the full $5,550 tuition grant for all college students who qualify. Questions from Capitol Hill about Education Secretary Arne Duncan's signature Race to the Top program have been more muted, but it would have been easy for Republicans who think the competitive grants are too dictatorial to zero them out. They didn't. The department has $700 million to continue Race to the Top.

Other domestic programs haven't been so lucky. Public housing revitalization programs, for example, lost a collective $1.5 billion in the compromise spending deal that was enacted last week. One program for severely

Diane Ravitch responded to Education Funding Saved: What Does It Mean? on April 18, 2011 08:25 AM

Nothing to Celebrate It is not surprising that Race to the Top survived the GOP attack on federal funding. After all, Race to the Top reflects the long-standing Republican agenda of choice and accountability. So we will see more public schools closed, more privately managed charter schools opened, despite the clear evidence that charter schools do not produce better results than regular public schools. Privatization of public education will proceed, not only in Tea Party states like Florida, Wisconsin, Ohio, and New Jersey, but in other states hoping for more federal funding. The Obama-Duncan-GOP-Tea Party assault on public education,...

Schools Matter: Inner Oklahoma City Teacher Considers Neighboring KIPP

Inner Oklahoma City Teacher Considers Neighboring KIPP

by Jim Horn

Part of John Thompson's post at HuffPo:

. . . .I notice that Oklahoma City's KIPP was one of the 22 schools studied [in recent Mathematica working paper], but its attrition data was excluded due to the way the numbers were kept. Our KIPP does a great job, but you simply can not compare a charter which had a decade to build up to serving 285 students, with 8.5 percent being on special education IEPs, with its neighboring school. KIPP replaced Moon Middle School which had served 792 students, with 26 percent on IEPs. Last year, KIPP recommended 21 percent of students for retention, while the old Moon had recommended 3 precent of students for retention. The old Moon was cited in Harpers Index for a lunch room riot. KIPP's neighboring school had a one year middle school dropout rate of 11.5 percent. At Moon, latecomers sometimes arrived in a deputy's car, in handcuffs, as they reentered a school with no transition services. One of their forms of attrition was 30 expulsions; the old

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