Lessons from Chicago: Good Reform, Bad Reform? | Seattle Education

Lessons from Chicago: Good Reform, Bad Reform? | Seattle Education

Lessons from Chicago: Good Reform, Bad Reform?

by seattleducation2011

This commentary was written by Kristin, one of our contributors.

Dora

Lessons From Chicago: Good Reform, Bad Reform?

Talking with other parents about the corporate-funded “education reform” that’s currently taking place in the United States, I have been really surprised to the extent at which other parents – parents I respect – support policies that I see as extremely destructive to education in general. While I see charter schools, increased standardized testing, and replacement of certified teachers with Teach for America recruits as harming our children, others see them as desperately needed solution for longstanding inequalities in education. Why the difference?

Part of the answer is that a lot of money has been put into movies and news articles that support these reforms. It’s really surprising, once you start to follow the money, how many billionaires and corporations have been putting grant money into public relations campaigns, otherwise known as propaganda.

But that’s not the whole answer. Public schools are failing many of our children, and we know it. How could we

NYC Public School Parents: Will the Regents allow ideology to trump research and good sense?

NYC Public School Parents: Will the Regents allow ideology to trump research and good sense?

Will the Regents allow ideology to trump research and good sense?

by Leonie Haimson

The NY State Regents are voting tomorrow on whether to allow student scores on state tests, filtered through value-added formulas, to account for 40 percent of a teacher’s evaluation. The new law – rushed through the Legislature to get Race to the Top funds - said that the state tests would account for only 20 percent, with another 20 percent should be devised by districts using locally agreed upon assessments – that would not necessarily be standardized tests.

According to the NY Times, “The new system is scheduled to be used in the coming school year for English and math teachers in Grades 4 through 8, and then for all teachers the following year.” The article also says there will be new “state tests by 2012-13, for middle school science and social studies, and ninth- and 10th-grade English, where none exist now. “

And then we are supposed to get a whole new raft of standardized tests for the Common Core by 2014?

All this will be hugely expensive, at a time of rampant budget cuts, when parents are already up in arms because of their children’s steady diet of standardized tests and test prep, all to evaluate teacher performance by means of a dysfunctional method that few experts believe in.

Governor Cuomo has entered into the controversy, signing a letter supporting this notion, as well as

For LA Teacher Librarians, brutal interrogations are used to justify firings… « Teacher Reality

For LA Teacher Librarians, brutal interrogations are used to justify firings… « Teacher Reality

For LA Teacher Librarians, brutal interrogations are used to justify firings…

by TeacherReality

The following is an unbelievable account of some of the brutal interrogations being conducted of Teacher Librarians in LAUSD who have been targeted for layoffs…

Monday, May 9, 2011

by Mizz Murphy at http://mizzmurphy.blogspot.com/2011/05/settle-in-its-long-one.html?spref=tw

Settle in. It’s a long one.

In the basement of the California Mart building in downtown Los Angeles, one can find a series of bright, cavernous rooms buzzing with the sound of the fluorescent panels that hang from a ceiling of exposed ducts and wiring. In the back of one of these rooms sits three long tables decorated with black table skirts along with perhaps a dozen rows of hard, plastic chairs. The room is exceptionally cold. Footsteps can be heard echoing each time someone makes his way to the restroom or to take a phone call. This is the setting for the Los Angeles Unified School District’s hearings for educators who have received a Reduction in Force notice. In other words, this is where teachers come to defend their qualifications in front of a judge in the hopes that someone in the legal system will understand what the students of this city really need. From what I’ve seen in the last two days, that just doesn’t seem likely.

A bit of a disclaimer, before I dig in. I am not a reporter. I am a teacher, a librarian, and a writer. This account i

What Matters Most by AFT President Randi Weingarten

AFT - A Union of Professionals - Investing in a Strong Start

What Matters Most

by AFT President Randi Weingarten

Investing in a Strong Start
NY Times, May 15, 2011

If high-quality early childhood education were a stock or commodity, investors would be racing to invest in these programs that routinely yield a high rate of return. Indeed, savvy policymakers and education leaders have invested in “futures,” so to speak, by devoting funds to programs aimed at children between the ages of 3 and 5, before they start elementary school. But the ongoing economic downturn has squeezed the ability of local districts and states to support many programs that benefit young children. Now, however, we have a rare opportunity to devote much-needed federal funds to greatly expand access to high-quality preschool and other early learning programs.

Decades of experience and evidence clearly show that high-quality early childhood programs can produce significant educational and economic benefits. While such programs benefit all children, they offer a potent opportunity to level the playing field for disadvantaged children in particular—helping close the school-readiness gap and the social-skills gap, and providing a powerful vehicle to help break the cycle of poverty.

The achievement gap between children born in poverty and those of adequate means begins as early as 9 months old. By the time disadvantaged children enter elementary school, the gap often has grown so large that they begin their elementary education with a need to catch up. Too often, that gap is never closed.

Since there is such a doable way to help children keep up, America must stop playing catch-up. High-quality early learning programs lead to improved school readiness, greater literacy, decreased need for special education services,

BOE President Calls Charter Schools "Bad Public Policy" - Summit, NJ Patch

BOE President Calls Charter Schools "Bad Public Policy" - Summit, NJ Patch

BOE President Calls Charter Schools "Bad Public Policy"

Jack Lyness says bringing charter schools to Summit could mean negative results for taxpayers and students.

By Natalie Davis | Email the author | 12:00pm

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Speaking before the Board of Education during its meeting Thursday night, President Jack Lyness expressed strong feelings in opposition to the nation's burgeoning "charter school movement."

Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that are funded by government but operate independently from local boards of education in exchange for meeting academic standards stipulated by the state Commissioner of Education. Unlike private schools, charter schools are not permitted to charge tuition, and they are considered part of the public school system.

Many parents of New Jersey school children are considering charter schools as an alternative to traditional public schools. As of January, there are 73 charter schools in New Jersey–the state is the fourth largest charter authorizer in the U.S.–and the state Department of Education website predicts there will be more than 100 by the fall. This year, more than 22,000 children in grades pre-K through 12 throughout the state are enrolled in a charter school. According to the New Jersey

Schooling in the Ownership Society: The Kochtopus spreads it tentacles into schools

Schooling in the Ownership Society: The Kochtopus spreads it tentacles into schools

The Kochtopus spreads it tentacles into schools

From the New Yorker
Covert Operations: The billionaire brothers who are waging a war against Obama.
by Jane Mayer August 30, 2010

In the mid-eighties, the Kochs provided millions of dollars to George Mason University, in Arlington, Virginia, to set up another think tank. Now known as the Mercatus Center, it promotes itself as “the world’s premier university source for market-oriented ideas—bridging the gap between academic ideas and real-world problems.” Financial records show that the Koch family foundations have contributed more than thirty million dollars to George Mason, much of which has gone to the Mercatus Center, a nonprofit organization. “It’s ground zero for deregulation policy in Washington,” Rob Stein, the Democratic strategist, said. It is an unusual arrangement. “George Mason is a public university, and receives public funds,” Stein noted. “Virginia is hosting an institution that the Kochs practically control.”

The brothers have given money to more obscure groups, too, such

This Week In Education: Weekend Reading: How Academia Got Rid Of Rick Hess

This Week In Education: Weekend Reading: How Academia Got Rid Of Rick Hess

Weekend Reading: How Academia Got Rid Of Rick Hess

by Alexander Russo

Weekend reading from Slate, Salon, and some of the other magazines -- tell me what I missed: Nothing, Absolutely Nothing, to See Here, Folks Rick Hess: David Imig, the then-president of the AACTE, suggested that the University of Virginia (my then-employer) really ought to consider whether, given my skepticism about teacher education, I deserved to be employed at its School of Education... The secret sex lives of teachers Salon: The revelation that Judy Buranich, the same woman teaching classics like "Catcher in the Rye" to high school students, also writes erotic novels with names like "Rednecks 'n' Romance" shocked a small group of parents in the town of Middleburg, Penn... I.R.S. Moves to Tax Gifts to Groups Active in Politics NYT: Big donors like David H. Koch and George Soros could owe taxes on their millions of dollars in contributions to nonprofit advocacy groups that are playing an increasing role in American politics... State ignores teacher licensing violations Star Tribune: More than 900 Minnesota teachers over the past five years have violated licensing rules aimed at making sure that children get a proper education, including 62 instructors who taught with no license at all...New Autism Findings WBUR On Point: A new study finds 1 in 38 children have traits of autism. We'll ask how that can be. And what it means... Death to high school English Salon: I lived for English, for reading. I spent so much of my adolescence feeling different and awkward, and those first canonical books I read, those first discoveries of

Bipartisan Family Engagement in Education Act Introduced Today in U.S. Senate, House of Representatives

PTA | For Immediate Release

Bipartisan Family Engagement in Education Act Introduced Today in U.S. Senate, House of Representatives

Legislation Would Encourage Families as Partners in Raising Student Achievement

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 11, 2011) –Congressional champions for education introduced on Tuesday, May 10th the Family Engagement in Education Act of 2011 (S.941/H.R.1821). The legislation would strengthen family engagement in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which both Congress and the Administration have placed as a top priority this year. The bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Todd Russell Platts (R-PA/19) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY/4), and in the U.S. Senate by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Christopher Coons (D-DE). “It’s simple, children succeed when families are engaged. That’s why this legislation makes sense," says Charles J. “Chuck” Saylors, National PTA President. “We commend these Senators and Representatives for taking a stand for America’s families and children. This legislation is a critical first step in ensuring a sound partnership between families, schools and the community to increase student success.” The bill would provide incentives to districts and schools to implement best practices, such as parent leadership academies, place family engagement coordinators in schools, and provide professional development for educators on how to partner with families. “Consistent family engagement in a child’s education can improve student achievement and enhance educational opportunities,” said U.S. Congressman Todd

Family Engagement in Education Act of 2011 Introduced | Engaging Parents In School...

Family Engagement in Education Act of 2011 Introduced | Engaging Parents In School...

Engaging Parents In School... (3)

“Working with Immigrant, Refugee Students and Families To Help Them Understand School Transportation” “Working with Immigrant, Refugee Students and Families To Help Them Understand School Transportation” is a useful article written by a Maryland family involvement specialist, Young-chan Han. It’s worth a look.

Family Engagement in Education Act of 2011 Introduced The Family Engagement in Education Act of 2011 was introduced in Congress this past week. The PTA has been pushing the bill, and you can read their press release about its introduction. Here is an excerpt: *The bill would provide incentives to ...

Podcast On Community Engagment The curriculum support group ASCD has a new podcast titled Beyond our halls and walls: Getting to community engagement that’s publicly available. Here’s how they describe it: *The May episode of the Whole Child Podcast is all about involving members ...

“The Public” Disappears | Firedoglake

“The Public” Disappears | Firedoglake

“The Public” Disappears

by Glenn W. Smith

“]“There is no such thing as society.”

– Margaret Thatcher

The word public, as in public schools or public option, has become a dirty word in, uh, public life. The question is, can a nation survive once it has abandoned not just moral notions of the public good but the positive notion that there is a public?

Authorities in Fort Worth, Texas, apparently at the urging of their oil industry benefactors, removed the word “public” from the name of the city library. It’s now the Fort Worth Library, not the Fort Worth Public Library. Why? They explain the reason in their press release: the word “public” has “negative connotations.”

Chisara N. Asomugha, a Connecticut physician and ordained minister, wrote in the Washington Post:

Have you ever noticed that when “public” is used descriptively in conversation — public school, public transportation, public (or county) hospital — the quality of the item is called into question?

Census: In California, More Empty Houses, More Families "Doubling Up" | California Progress Report

Census: In California, More Empty Houses, More Families "Doubling Up" | California Progress Report

Census: In California, More Empty Houses, More Families "Doubling Up"

by megan

By Nina Martin
New America Media

The number of empty houses and rental units in California has jumped over the past decade, according to new Census data released Thursday—another sign of how the Great Recession and housing bust have continued to batter the nation’s largest state.

Some 8.1 percent of all housing units in the state were vacant in 2010, up 55 percent from 2000.

Meanwhile, the number of extended-family households jumped by 27 percent and average household size edged up slightly—an indication that many families are sharing their homes in part because young adults and elders can’t afford to live on their own.

While the American dream of homeownership is associated with California perhaps more than any other part of the country, the latest Census data show another reality. As demographers crunch the numbers over the next few days, the portrait that emerges of a state in crisis will be telling, says Hans Johnson, an expert in population and migration issues at the Public Policy Institute of California.

read more

Sunday links + .The Wall. « Fred Klonsky's blog

Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky's blog

Sunday links.

by Fred Klonsky

Los Angeles school librarians are treated as if they were the new Taliban.

You know the Koch brothers? Now meet the De Vos family. A couple of billionaire families get to decidewhat happens to public schools. Is that what Democracy looks like?

Thousands return to the

The Wall.

by Fred Klonsky

What would make a teacher do that? | Reflections on Teaching

What would make a teacher do that? | Reflections on Teaching

What would make a teacher do that?

by alicemercer

“It’s so sad that teachers have to go this far to get the attention of some lawmakers.”
–David Sanchez, President of CTA

Since I was at the State of Emergency held by CTA all week, I got to know some of the participants in Thursday’s sit-in. I thought I would share the story of one participant, George Sheriden.

George went with me to visit Senator Darrell Steinberg’s office on day one. He is a soft-spoken first grade teacher, but as you see from this video, he is also a man of convictions, and you get hints even then of why he would do this when he talks about being in Sacramento. He speaks of MLK, a historical figure that he teaches his young students about:

Popout

You can see his dignity as he marches to the bus that will carry him to jail, head held high:

Data-Driven Instructional Practice in Action (Part 2) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Data-Driven Instructional Practice in Action (Part 2) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Data-Driven Instructional Practice in Action (Part 2)

by larrycuban

Studying the daily practices of those teachers whose students register high standardized test scores in reading and math has begun to alter preparing, selecting, and evaluating teachers. Journalists (here and here) andresearchers ( Allington) have reported (and shown on videos) what such teachers do to manage their classrooms as they teach content and skills from kindergarten through geometry and senior English. Data-driven instructional practice in action.

A short hop-ski-and-jump away are new policies to evaluate teachers on the basis of student test scores (often called “value-added measures”) and use of these data-driven practices in their classrooms. That is happening inWashington, D.C., Cincinnati, Houston, and other cities.

The road from data-driven instructional practice to evaluation and (don’t forget pay-4-performance bonuses), however, has potholes aplenty. Judging teacher performance on the basis of using data-driven practices and

NYC Educator: A Little Ditty for the Koch Brothers

NYC Educator: A Little Ditty for the Koch Brothers

A Little Ditty for the Koch Brothers

by NYC Educator

IMoore: Cornering the education market By Michael Moore- ProTeacher Community

Interesting Article if You Have Time to Read... - ProTeacher Community

Moore: Cornering the education market
By Michael Moore
Created 2011-05-04 22:13

It’s testing time around Georgia, despite widespread criticism about the inability of the state’s standardized tests to reflect student — let alone teacher — performance.
Georgia is hip-deep in the school assessment racket, which quietly lines the coffers of corporations beyond the view of an unsuspecting public.
Unfortunately, Georgia may soon be even deeper in the grip of these corporate interests.
Looming on the horizon is the multi-billion dollar battle for common core assessments. But what we don’t realize is that the real battle is over far more than assessments; it covers all aspects of curriculum.

A quick reminder of how we got to this point.
Georgia’s tests are not made by our state. CTB/McGraw-Hill, which is in the fifth year of a five-year, $62.5 million contract, makes our tests. CTB/McGraw-Hill also makes

What’s the problem? And how does taking my seniority away solve it. « Fred Klonsky's blog

What’s the problem? And how does taking my seniority away solve it. « Fred Klonsky's blog

What’s the problem? And how does taking my seniority away solve it.

by Fred Klonsky

Thanks to Valerie Struass’ WaPo column.

I spend a lot of time answering the question, “Why don’t we make it easier to get rid of bad teachers. Why do you defend tenure?”

I answer by using an old family practice. Answer a question with another question. What is the problem that is being solved by firing more teachers faster. Schools on the north shore have had unions, tenure and seniority. So do schools on the west side of Chicago. Why aren’t we addressing the real problem?

The United States is ranked #1 in:

• CEO pay compared to average worker pay.

• Income for top 0.1%