Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top AM Posts

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top AM Posts

Sacramento Press / Sacramento leaders learn from New Orleans tour

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 19 minutes ago

Sacramento Press / Sacramento leaders learn from New Orleans tour:Sacramento leaders learn from New Orleans tourby Melissa CorkerA delegation of Sacramento business and political leaders returned from a four-day tour of New Orleans with fresh insight into what it takes for a city to recover and thrive after a disaster, including improving transportation methods, sustainable housing and flood protections.“New Orleans had a unique opportunity to reinvent itself because of all the investments made there after Katrina,” City Councilman Kevin McCarty ... more »

Schools Matter: Sanity Returns to Wake County School Board: Koch Candidates Crushed

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 19 minutes ago

Schools Matter: Sanity Returns to Wake County School Board: Koch Candidates Crushed:Sanity Returns to Wake County School Board: Koch Candidates Crushedby Jim Horn In a repudiation of the segregationist policies that have caused turmoil in Wake County, NC for the past two years, voters have returned a pro-diversity majority that we can only hope will vote to restore the most successful socioeconomic integration plan in the U. S. Particularly sweet to diversity and public school advocates is the crushing of ... more »

Charter School Revolving Loan Fund 2011-12 (CA Dept of Education)

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 19 minutes ago

Funding Profile (ID 2064): Charter School Revolving Loan Fund 2011-12 (CA Dept of Education):Charter School Revolving Loan Fund 2011-12The purpose of the Charter School Revolving Loan Fund is to provide loans to charter schools to assist them with activities that meet the purposes of their approved charters. A charter school may receive up to $250,000, and priority for funding will be given to new charter schools for initial expenses.EligibilityEligibleApplicantsLocal educational agencies, nonprofit organizationsRequiredEligibilityCriteriaThe Revolving Loan program is available to a... more »

Maria Shriver Narrates "One Window of Opportunity" | Maria Shriver

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 19 minutes ago

Maria Shriver Narrates "One Window of Opportunity" | Maria Shriver:Maria ShriverConnect with MariaSubmitHomeMy BooksBlogMy CausesSocial MediaMaria Shriver Narrates "One Window of Opportunity"Follow Us on TwitterJoin Us on FacebookMeet baby Jonah. He has serious problems may not survive but my dear friends are celebrating his inspirational life.t.co/Pgxxk2Iz1 day 8 hours agoRT @KSchwarzenegger: At pier del aol in Santa Monica with my mama @mariashriver for @SpecialOlympics !! Yummy and fun day!!2 days 4 hours agoFollow Me on TwitterWatch uson YouTube

Statement by the President on the Senate Vote on the American Jobs Act | The White House #ows

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 19 minutes ago

Statement by the President on the Senate Vote on the American Jobs Act | The White House:Statement by the President on the Senate Vote on the American Jobs ActTonight, a majority of United States Senators voted to advance the American Jobs Act. But even though this bill contains the kind of proposals Republicans have supported in the past, their party obstructed the Senate from moving forward on this jobs bill. Tonight’s vote is by no means the end of this ... more »

2012 California Distinguished School Awards - Letters (CA Dept of Education)

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 19 minutes ago

2012 California Distinguished School Awards - Letters (CA Dept of Education):October 11, 2011Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:2012 CALIFORNIA DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL AWARDSI am pleased to announce the launch of the California School Recognition Program’s (CSRP) 2012 California Distinguished School Awards for elementary schools.This year we look forward to some exciting changes to the California Distinguished School Awards Program that will reflect the priorities set forth in A Blueprint for Great Schools. The program will also continue its ... more »

Anti-violence resolution approved by L.A. Unified - latimes.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 19 minutes ago

Anti-violence resolution approved by L.A. Unified - latimes.com:Anti-violence resolution approved by L.A. UnifiedOctober 11, 2011 | 3:37 pm 05The Los Angeles Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday to create programs in high schools that would teach students about healthy dating and how to avoid abusive relationships.Although the board voted in favor of the program and said it would allocate money for it, no funds have been designated yet.Board member Steven Zimmer said the program could cost about $2 ... more »

Tom Harkin Releases No Child Left Behind Overhaul Plan

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 19 minutes ago

Tom Harkin Releases No Child Left Behind Overhaul Plan:Joy ResmovitsJoy.resmovits@huffingtonpost.comBecome a fan of this reporterGET UPDATES FROM JOYLike571Tom Harkin Releases No Child Left Behind Overhaul PlanPosted: 10/11/11 05:49 PM ETSen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) released his draft of the Elementary and Secondary Achievement Act -- known as "No Child Left Behind" -- on Tuesday, defending its much-criticized rollback of federally mandated targets for student performance as a product of compromise."I would have liked to have had performance targets," Harkin said during ... more »

I’m an accountant. « Fred Klonsky's blog

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 19 minutes ago

I’m an accountant. « Fred Klonsky's blog:I’m an accountant.by Fred KlonskyIt happened again Saturday night.Anne and I were as a social event with people I didn’t know. We were seated at a table along with two other couples, both much younger than we are.“What do you do?”“I’m a K-5 art teacher.”As I often point out, in the old days this answer would have produced a smile and a response like, “Oh, that must be fun.” There would be nowhere to ... more »

All Education Matters: We are the 99 Percent Tumblr: 17-year-old Indentured Educated Girl #ows

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

All Education Matters: We are the 99 Percent Tumblr: 17-year-old Indentured Educated Girl:We are the 99 Percent Tumblr: 17-year-old Indentured Educated Girlby Cryn JohannsenI can't take credit for this image. It comes from the outstanding blog, "We are the 99 Percent Tumblr." THIS. LOOK AT THIS. Her sign speaks volumes about how we have stopped investing in our children - our future. She is one of us now. She is an indentured educated citizen, and she is only 17-years-old. This ... more »

LAUSD RESPONSE-TO AGREEMENT-WITH US DEPT OF ED /OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTICATION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER & BLACK STUDENTS

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: LAUSD RESPONSE-TO AGREEMENT-WITH US DEPT OF ED /OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTICATION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER BLACK STUDENTS:LAUSD RESPONSE-TO AGREEMENT-WITH US DEPT OF ED /OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTICATION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER BLACK STUDENTSFROM AN INTERNAL LAUSD DOCUMENTsmf: An expert on language acquisition within LAUSD – involved in this investigation from the get-go - opines: “As well thought out as this is - and it provides policies that are an ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Mid Day Posts

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Mid Day PostsBecause Mos Def Can Say It Better Than I Can Right Now | The Jose VilsonBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-23 minutes agoBecause Mos Def Can Say It Better Than I Can Right Now | The Jose Vilson:Because Mos Def Can Say It Better Than I Can Right Nowby JoseMos DefBecause Mos Def can say it better than I can (all emphases mine) …The fresh, the author and associates are ... more »

Glimmers of Hope | The Forum for Education and Democracy

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

Glimmers of Hope | The Forum for Education and Democracy:Glimmers of HopeOctober 11, 2011 - George WoodOK, I’m a ‘glass half full’ kind of guy. And to start this week, what I read in the press gives me just a little hope that thinking about our schools, at least at the state levels, might be a little clearer.First there was Governor Jerry Brown’s veto of the education bill in California. In hisletter, the governor chided the legislature for continuing to ... more »

Jerry Brown Borrows a Line from Randi Weingarten - Dana Goldstein

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

Jerry Brown Borrows a Line from Randi Weingarten - Dana Goldstein:Jerry Brown Borrows a Line from Randi Weingartenby Dana GoldsteinOn Friday, California governor Jerry Brown vetoed SB547, a bill that would have changed the state's school accountability law to encompass high school drop-out rates, graduation rates, participation in career and technical education programs, and student achievement data for subjects and grades that are currently un-tested, such as art, music, and physical education. The bill would have likely led to the ... more »

CHICAGO – 20 YEARS OF REFORM « Teachers Fight Back

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

CHICAGO – 20 YEARS OF REFORM « Teachers Fight Back:CHICAGO – 20 YEARS OF REFORMleave a comment »Researchers at the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research tracked Chicago school progress from 1988 through 2008 and concluded: “Elementary reading scores didn’t budge much over that time, despite a massive effort of reform. While white and Asian students showed modest gains, African-American students did not improve at all.”“African-American students, particularly males, fell further behind all other students over the two decades. ... more »

Education Dept. gives $200,000 grant to charter school not allowed to open - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

Education Dept. gives $200,000 grant to charter school not allowed to open - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:Education Dept. gives $200,000 grant to charter school not allowed to openBy Valerie StraussNew Jersey state officials recently declined — for the third time — to give permission to a group that wanted to open a charter school that offered a Hebrew-language immersion program. Still, the school was awarded a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Education Department.According to The Star-Ledger, U.S. ... more »

On #OccupyBoston, Occupy Boston, and Twitter’s Trending Topics Algorithm « Student Activism #ows

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

On #OccupyBoston, Occupy Boston, and Twitter’s Trending Topics Algorithm « Student Activism:On #OccupyBoston, Occupy Boston, and Twitter’s Trending Topics Algorithmby Angus JohnstonThe ongoing saga of Twitter’s trending topics’ relationship to activists got new datapoint in the wake of the arrest of a hundred Occupy Boston demonstrators late last night — the phrase “Occupy Boston” trended globally for a while this morning, while #OccupyBoston, with three times the total traffic, did not.What’s curious about this is the fact that the trendlines ... more »

Schools Matter: Resolution: NCTE will oppose common core standards and national tests

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

Schools Matter: Resolution: NCTE will oppose common core standards and national tests:Resolution: NCTE will oppose common core standards and national testsby skrashenResolution on National Standards and TestsSubmitted to National Council of Teachers of English, Committee on Resolutions, via e-mail, on October 10, 2011.The movement for national standards and tests is based on these claims: (1) Our educational system is broken, as revealed by US students' scores on international tests; (2) We must improve education to improve the economy; (3) The ... more »

Some Truth About Urban Prep and Why It Matters | AMPS

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 8 hours ago

Some Truth About Urban Prep and Why It Matters | AMPS:Some Truth About Urban Prep and Why It Mattersby Thomas J. MertzVeritas, by Walter S. AllwardThe Undisputed Truth – ” Smiling Faces” (click to listen or download)IntroductionTo bolster their case and push their agendas, advocates for market-based education reform and market-based policies in general tout “miracle schools” that have supposedly produced amazing results . Urban Prep in Chicago is often exhibit A.As Diane Ravitch wrote of Urban Prep and other ... more »

Modern School: Educational Pseudoscience and Reform Mumbo Jumbo

Modern School: Educational Pseudoscience and Reform Mumbo Jumbo:

Educational Pseudoscience and Reform Mumbo Jumbo

by Michael Dunn

In order to make educational reforms seem more compelling, advocates attempt to serve them smothered in data. The problem is that very little educational research is done with double blind, randomized samplings or adequate controls, drawing into question the validity of the data collected, as well as the assertions made in their support. Furthermore, many of the “self-evident” and “obvious” assumptions and premises upon which these reforms are based are simply not true.

As a consequence, there are numerous popular reforms being imposed on teachers and children, often at great cost in time, stress, money and resources, without good reason to believe that they will improve learning outcomes.

Fortunately, the scientific community is now jumping into the educational reform fracas, with a number of good critiques of some of this bogus research. Science, one of the world’s

Engaging Parents In School… - The Best Sources Of Parent Engagement Advice For Teachers

Engaging Parents In School… - The Best Sources Of Parent Engagement Advice For Teachers:

The Best Sources Of Parent Engagement Advice For Teachers

by Larry Ferlazzo

I’ve posted many resources providing parent engagement for teachers, and thought I’d bring them all together in a “The Best….” list. The resources listed here provide practical advice to teachers. You can see all my parent engagement-related “The Best” lists here.

Here are my picks for The Best Sources Of Parent Engagement Advice For Teachers:

You can read my article in Teacher Magazine, What ‘Star Wars’ Can Teach Educators About Parent Engagement, without having to register first at this link.

Maybe This Is Why Attacking Teachers Is So Popular…And Why It’s So Important To Speak Positively About

Team Up for 21st Century Teaching and Learning: What Research and Practice Reveal About Professional Learning « Whole Child Education

The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education:

THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG

Team Up for 21st Century Teaching and Learning: What Research and Practice Reveal About Professional Learning

October 11th, 2011 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers

Studies show that many teachers want to work collaboratively and that they actually teach better when they do. But just cobbling together a group of teachers and calling it a “professional learning community” doesn’t lead to results. So what are the elements of an effective professional learning community?

A book by the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future, Team Up for 21st Century Teaching and Learning, offers case studies and a synthesis of research about how “learning teams can positively affect school culture, teacher retention, teacher effectiveness, and student achievement.”

The report puts forth six principles of successful professional learning teams:

• Shared Values and Goals: “The team should have a shared vision of the capabilities of students and

Parent trigger laws: Part of school reform’s ‘silly season’ - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Parent trigger laws: Part of school reform’s ‘silly season’ - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:

NCLB bill: The problem with ‘continuous improvement’

by Valerie Strauss

This was written by Richard Rothstein, a research associate at the Economic Policy Institute, a non-profit organization created in 1986 to broaden the discussion about economic policy to include the interests of low- and middle-income workers. This appeared on the institute’s website.

By Richard Rothstein

Read full article >>

Parent trigger laws: Part of school reform’s ‘silly season’

by Valerie Strauss

By Mark Phillips

One of my earliest recollections as a high school teacher is of a meeting in which the chairman of my department angrily fired a pencil across the table at the leader of a parent group. The parent was demanding a voice in setting our department’s curriculum. While my department chair’s behavior was straight out of a black comedy movie, his voice was clear: “Curriculum should be left to the experts. A parental voice is out of the question.”

Read full article >>

LAUSD and feds reach civil rights accord | Thoughts on Public Education

LAUSD and feds reach civil rights accord | Thoughts on Public Education:

LAUSD and feds reach civil rights accord

Share

Focus on English learners and Black students

Posted on 10/12/11 • Categorized as Equity issues

By Kathryn Baron

Los Angeles Unified School District agreed to vast improvements in the way it teaches English learners and African American students after a 19-month investigation by the U.S.Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights found students were being denied equal educational opportunities.

Even after years in the district, many English learners were languishing in ESL classes, never becoming fluent in English and therefore being shut out of the core academic classes they needed to graduate and enroll in college or job-training programs. Nearly 30 percent of

NYC Educator: Wave of the Future

NYC Educator: Wave of the Future:

Wave of the Future

by NYC Educator

When I see stories like this one, I'm not remotely surprised. When you put a gun to the head of a principal and say, "Get higher grades or I'll kill you," that principal may just decide the hell with all that achievement nonsense--I'm just gonna pass everyone any damn way I can. Then, said principal will pressure staff to do the same.

In fact, this has been going on for years, in varying degrees, in just about every school in the city. Teachers are told it's their fault if kids fail, and run around trying to figure ways to pass every kid. So what if he's asleep every day. He passed that test three months ago. Sure he copied, but that showed initiative.

This mania for testing will not end well. It's not at all surprising that kids with apparently good grades are not college ready. But when it's entirely the fault of the school when kids fail, that's what you get. Who wants to have 500K per year Geoffrey Canada label you a

The New Black History Out Now, Featuring Yours Truly « Outside the Cave

The New Black History Out Now, Featuring Yours Truly « Outside the Cave:

The New Black History Out Now, Featuring Yours Truly

by Stephen Lazar

I had totally forgotten about this until my mail arrived today, but I am now officially a published historian. It’s a huge honor to have been included in The New Black History. My article, “Septima Clark: Organizing for Positive Freedom,” is chapter 13. Only 4 copies left on Amazon, so order fast!

It’s also quite humbling to be a portion of what will sadly prove to be Manning Marable’s last book. He taught me so much as a mentor, so I was stunned when I was initially asked to be part of this collection, filled with so many prominent and up-and-coming historians of the African American experience. To have the book come ou

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Littering the state with ineffective, profit-minded operators

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Littering the state with ineffective, profit-minded operators:

Littering the state with ineffective, profit-minded operators

Michigan leads nation in the percentage of charter schools run by for-profit companies

A legislative proposal to lift the state cap on charter schools would provide parents unprecedented options for K-12 education, but some critics fear it would litter the state with ineffective, profit-minded operators. The legislation, part of a sweeping package wending its

Sacramento Press / Sacramento leaders learn from New Orleans tour

Sacramento Press / Sacramento leaders learn from New Orleans tour:

Sacramento leaders learn from New Orleans tour

by Melissa Corker

A delegation of Sacramento business and political leaders returned from a four-day tour of New Orleans with fresh insight into what it takes for a city to recover and thrive after a disaster, including improving transportation methods, sustainable housing and flood protections.

“New Orleans had a unique opportunity to reinvent itself because of all the investments made there after Katrina,” City Councilman Kevin McCarty said Tuesday. “We need to look at how we can reinvent ourselves here, too.”

On Tuesday, Council Members Angelique Ashby, Steve Cohn and Kevin McCarty and Mayor Kevin Johnson shared the lessons learned from the people in New Orleans about methods of recovery the city has used to rebuild itself after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005.

“(New Orleans) Mayor (Mitch) Landrieu is a vibrant, energetic mayor,” Johnson said, “and he is an excellent example of the focus it takes to turn things around after a disaster. We went (there) to learn from the work they have done in New Orleans.”

Schools Matter: Sanity Returns to Wake County School Board: Koch Candidates Crushed

Schools Matter: Sanity Returns to Wake County School Board: Koch Candidates Crushed:

Sanity Returns to Wake County School Board: Koch Candidates Crushed

by Jim Horn

In a repudiation of the segregationist policies that have caused turmoil in Wake County, NC for the past two years, voters have returned a pro-diversity majority that we can only hope will vote to restore the most successful socioeconomic integration plan in the U. S.

Particularly sweet to diversity and public school advocates is the crushing of Cynthia Matson, one of the original group of resegregationist loudmouths, by Jim Martin, who supports diversity. The other high point has to be the victory of Susan Evans over Board Chair and chief teabagger puppet, Ron Margiotta.

Kevin Hill also turned back a challenge by Tea