James Baldwin said it best:
"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."
A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP
Education, 'the great equalizer'
Education, 'the great equalizer': Education, ‘the great equalizer’ 08/21/2012 By Hector Luis Alamo, Jr. 4 Comments Latinos are getting their learn on. From the Pew Hispanic Center: [image: Diverse students]*“For the first time, the number of 18- to 24-year-old Hispanics enrolled in college exceeded 2 million and reached a record 16.5% share of all college enrollments. Hispanics are the largest minority group on the nation’s college campuses, a milestone first achieved last year (Fry, 2011). But as their growth among all college-age students continues to outpace other groups, His... more »
Really, Rick? So FCAT is OVERemphasized Now? | Scathing Purple Musings
Really, Rick? So FCAT is OVERemphasized Now? | Scathing Purple Musings: Really, Rick? So FCAT is OVERemphasized Now? by Bob Sikes Here’s what Governor Rick Scott says in a new ad: “I’ve learned a lot as governor – you can study all the numbers you want, but listening to parents and teachers is still the best education,” Scott says in the ad. “I’ve listened to the frustrations parents and teachers have with the FCAT,” Scott says. “Next year we begin improving our testing system. No more teaching to the test.” Even Florida republicans aren’t buying this lame “me, too” angle. *News ... more »
Modern School: AB 5: Union Victory After All?
Modern School: AB 5: Union Victory After All?: AB 5: Union Victory After All? by Michael Dunn Huck/Konopacki Labor Cartoons In a new twist to California’s teacher evaluation “reform” efforts, Assembly Bill 5 has been amended to require that all aspects of teacher evaluations be collectively bargained. The bill passed the assembly last week and is up for a full vote by the legislature later this week. Many school districts believe that current law allows them to impose evaluation regimes on their teachers. Some, like Los Angeles Unified (LAUSD), already have plans in place to start... more »
School Tech Connect: Fun With Twitter
School Tech Connect: Fun With Twitter: Fun With Twitter by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) Can't make the 19th Ward Parents forum tonight--- I hope someone films it. Meanwhile, I got a micro-chuckle out of this hacked Twitter direct message. I try to follow this senator's account, although it's a tedious festival of talking points--- I think I once saw a really dumb Chick-fil-A retweet that was deleted before I could screenshot it. Maybe I imagined it. Anyway, it could happen to anyone, so change your passwords and keep them complex! OMG!
NYC Public School Parents: On Thursday, let's go visit the billionaire hedge-funders out to privatize our schools!
NYC Public School Parents: On Thursday, let's go visit the billionaire hedge-funders out to privatize our schools!: On Thursday, let's go visit the billionaire hedge-funders out to privatize our schools! by Leonie Haimson Please join us this Thursday 8/23 at 9:30 am at Columbus Circle to go on a tour and teach-in of the billionaire hedge-fund managers that want to privatize education... Billionaire Dan LoebBillionaire Kenneth Langone Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones Q: What do these “fat cat” billionaires all have in common? A: They crashed the economy and now they want to crash NYC... more »
Schools Matter: Walmart Soon Selling Monsanto's Poison Corn
Schools Matter: Walmart Soon Selling Monsanto's Poison Corn: Walmart Soon Selling Monsanto's Poison Corn by Jim Horn When bugs eat Monsanto's genetically-engineered corn, they die, and when Roundup is sprayed on Monsanto's Roundup resistant corn, the weeds around the corn die. And yet Monsanto's and Walmart's paid scientists say the corn is entirely safe for humans. When the same corn was marketed in Europe with the mandated labels for genetically-modified food, no one bought it, just like no one would here if they knew. Since labeling became mandatory in Europe, these product... more »
PSAT for 8-21-12: Go local or go Hollywood Parents United for Responsible Education
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » PSAT for 8-21-12: Go local or go Hollywood: PSAT for 8-21-12: Go local or go Hollywood by admin Things are really heating up in the fight over the parent trigger propaganda movie, “Won’t Back Down.” Corporate reformers concerned that their secret agenda behind the big Hollywood movie is being exposed have now launched an attack on Parents Across America. Folks, the best response to this is to continue to tell parents the truth about the movie and the parent trigger. Please continue to share PAA’s Rita Solnet’s review of the ... more »
The in box: Four Illinois state unions file suit over health care bill. « Fred Klonsky
The in box: Four Illinois state unions file suit over health care bill. « Fred Klonsky: The in box: Four Illinois state unions file suit over health care bill. by Fred Klonsky *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* Date: August 21, 2012* Contact: *Dave Comerford * *217/544-8562* * Four unions representing state of Illinois and state university employees are backing a class action lawsuit challenging a new law that threatens to saddle state retirees with unaffordable new health insurance premiums. A group of representative plaintiffs charge that Senate Bill 1313 violates the Illinois Cons... more »
First Lady Michelle Obama Hosts First-Ever Kids’ State Dinner | ED.gov Blog
First Lady Michelle Obama Hosts First-Ever Kids’ State Dinner | ED.gov Blog: First Lady Michelle Obama Hosts First-Ever Kids’ State Dinner Posted on August 21, 2012 by Guest Blogger *Click here for an alternate version of the video with an accessible player. * *Cross-posted from the White House Blog.* Yesterday, First Lady Michelle Obama hosted the first-ever Kids’ “State Dinner” at the White House, welcoming 54 budding chefs to a formal luncheon in the East Room. The guests, all between the ages of 8 and 12, represent all U.S. states, three territories and the District of Columbia.... more »
Fact Checking, Spin, Media, Money and Education | AMPS
Fact Checking, Spin, Media, Money and Education | AMPS: Fact Checking, Spin, Media, Money and Education by Thomas J. Mertz Television – “Prove It” (click to listen or download) Three stories I read today got me thinking about the relationship between media companies and education. The first, on the Huffington Post included this revelation from Politco’s Dylan Byers: *Newsweek* did not fact-check [Niall] Ferguson’s cover story, according to Dylan Byers, a media reporter at Politico. Byers wrote on Twitter that a * Newsweek* spokesman said the magazine does not have a fact-checking d... more »
John Affeldt: Teachers-in-Training Should Not Be Designated 'Highly Qualified'
John Affeldt: Teachers-in-Training Should Not Be Designated 'Highly Qualified': Teachers-in-Training Should Not Be Designated 'Highly Qualified' As the long hot Washington summer lingers on and the appropriations process heats up, Congress is once again working hard to foist untrained teachers on low-income students and other disadvantaged learners. Lawmakers appear on the verge of breathing new life into legislation that defines teachers-in-training as "highly qualified" and facilitates their stealth concentration in schools and classrooms serving low-income students, English l... more »
Educators are key for Dreamers... - Lily's Blackboard | Lily's Blackboard
Educators are key for Dreamers... - Lily's Blackboard | Lily's Blackboard: [image: Lily's Blackboard Rotating Header Image] Educators are key for Dreamers… Aug 21st, 2012 by LilysBlackboard. Check out this article about the role the National Education Association along with High School teachers across the nation in helping DREAMers as they navigate the new immigration policy changes. *And Lily is quoted!* Educators should also choose their words carefully when talking with students about deferred action, says Lily Eskelsen, vice president of the National Education Association. “We... more »
More Than 30 NYC Candidates Refuse to Accept ‘RomneyFirst’ Cash | Politicker
More Than 30 NYC Candidates Refuse to Accept ‘RomneyFirst’ Cash | Politicker: More Than 30 NYC Candidates Refuse to Accept ‘RomneyFirst’ Cash By Colin Campbell 3:04pm - Twitter11 - Facebook5 - Reddit - Email - Print - (Photo: RomneyFirst campaign) The campaign against the pro-charter school political organization “StudentsFirstNY” is amassing support from current and aspiring politicians. The anti-StudentsFirst group formed last week and quickly caused a number of 2013 mayoral candidates looking at signing on a pledge to avoid any contributions from StudentsFir... more »
In Ohio, Obama rallies students, hits Romney on education funding - The Washington Post
In Ohio, Obama rallies students, hits Romney on education funding - The Washington Post: In Ohio, Obama rallies students, hits Romney on education funding *View Photo Gallery —* President Obama shakes hands at Sloopy’s diner inside the student union of the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday. View more photos from the campaign trail. - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - E-mail - Reprints By David Nakamura, Updated: Tuesday, August 21, 12:00 PM COLUMBUS, Ohio — President Obama made an impassioned appeal Tuesday to the types of ... more »
Shaun Johnson: Connections Between Teach for America and Parent Trigger
Shaun Johnson: Connections Between Teach for America and Parent Trigger: Connections Between Teach for America and Parent Trigger [image: Shaun Johnson] Shaun Johnson Teacher educator and former elementary teacher A new fantasy film is on the horizon pushing "legitimate" education reform: *Won't Back Down.*Activist Leonie Haimson recently published a helpful list of FAQs on this film to get the reader started. But I'm going to take a closer look at the troubling connections between the film and the much-admired organization Teach for America (TFA). TFA is ubiquitous. Everyone and ... more »
Why Is the Most Popular TED Talk of All Time About Education? - Education - GOOD
Why Is the Most Popular TED Talk of All Time About Education? - Education - GOOD: Why Is the Most Popular TED Talk of All Time About Education? by Liz Dwyer Popout It's been six years since TED began making its informative talks available online, enabling the world to watch some of our most brilliant thinkers and activists share their ideas. There are so many good ones that watching them can be addicting. But what's the most viewed TED Talk of all time? According to the TED blog, creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson's 2006 talk on why our education system is killing student creativit... more »
Mitt Romney: Honor Students Do It All Themselves | Crooks and Liars
Mitt Romney: Honor Students Do It All Themselves | Crooks and Liars: Mitt Romney: Honor Students Do It All Themselves 57 comments By karoli DOWNLOADS: (28) [image: Download WMV] [image: Download Quicktime] PLAYS: (416) [image: Play WMV] [image: Play Quicktime] Embed I n his town hall appearance in New Hampshire this morning, Mitt Romney celebrated the individual, who clearly needs no support system to succeed in RepublicanLand. Speaking to a crowd of FreedomWorks devotees and other New Hampshire residents, he said this: *"We celebrate and recognize the success of each individual ... more »
Des Moines Education Association: DMEA Standing for Something - Part 1
Des Moines Education Association: DMEA Standing for Something - Part 1: DMEA Standing for Something - Part 1 by Andrew Rasmussen In the current education environment it seems like educators are so busy reacting to the latest education "reforms" proposed by non-educators that we rarely get a chance to state what we stand for. The DMEA feels like it is time to draw some lines in the sand and state some of the things we stand for. This blog will be a starting point for sharing what we are willing to fight for in order to truly improve the teaching and learning conditions in our school... more »
Hechinger Report | Thinking we know what we test
Hechinger Report | Thinking we know what we test: Thinking we know what we test from Hechinger Report by Justin Snider *An op-ed in* The New York Times *on August 20th*,* “Testing What We Think We Know,” argued that many medical procedures are carried out in the United States despite a very thin evidence-base for their efficacy. It’s high time to invest more in research, the author wrote, to figure out first what actually works.** The op-ed’s author, H. Gilbert Welch, is a professor of medicine at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice and a co-author of ... more »
Friday’s General Assembly fiasco. What happened and why? « Fred Klonsky
Friday’s General Assembly fiasco. What happened and why? « Fred Klonsky: Friday’s General Assembly fiasco. What happened and why? by Fred Klonsky PopoutWhat happened in Springfield on Friday? We know that the Governor called the General Assembly into session to address the pension issue. We know that they adjourned Friday afternoon after failing to do anything but flap their jaws. To quote the north shore Democratic Representative Dan Biss, *“We all look like idiots.”* Who would argue? I was in the Capitol Friday with several hundred other state pensioners. Mostly they were from SEIU...more »
The Big Business of Charter Schools — MUST READ | K-12 News Network
The Big Business of Charter Schools — MUST READ | K-12 News Network: The Big Business of Charter Schools — MUST READ by admin Don’t take it from me. Meet David Brain, an investor who also owns commercial real estate, movie theatre chains, and other businesses. He talks baldly to CNBC about what a great deal it is to have taxpayer dollars subsidize your investment. As highlighted in Valerie Strauss’ Answer Sheet, at the Washington Post: If you are wondering why you should add charter schools to your investment portfolios, here’s David Brain, head of a major investment concern calle... more »
What is Paul Vallas doing to Bridgeport’s Special Education Students? - Wait, What?
What is Paul Vallas doing to Bridgeport’s Special Education Students? - Wait, What?: What is Paul Vallas doing to Bridgeport’s Special Education Students? by jonpelto When Bridgeport’s City Council approved this year’s $511.1 million city budget, it included a core school budget of $215.8 million. That is the same amount that was budgeted last year. Last year’s school budget was balanced, in part, from a series of budget cuts proposed by Paul Vallas, Bridgeport’s $229,000, part-time, interim superintendent of schools, and approved by Bridgeport’s illegal board of education. The ... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Perth Amboy: Enough Is Enough
Jersey Jazzman: Perth Amboy: Enough Is Enough: Perth Amboy: Enough Is Enough by Duke A quick note on Perth Amboy, NJ, the new center of education reforminess in America: Janine Caffrey - hypocritical anti-tenure crusader and PA's superintendent - has been at war with members of her own Board of Education for months. Members of the PA Board of Education voted to remove Caffrey based on an evaluation of her performance she says was too late to count against her. The board counters that she was late (*around 11:00 on the video*) in submitting her portion of the evaluation. When th... more »
Reminder: Thursday IRTA pension meeting in Wilmette. « Fred Klonsky
Reminder: Thursday IRTA pension meeting in Wilmette. « Fred Klonsky: Reminder: Thursday IRTA pension meeting in Wilmette. by Fred Klonsky The north suburban chapter of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association will be hosting a meeting on Thursday evening at 7PM at the Wilmette Public Library, 1242 Wilmette Avenue in Wilmette. The topic: *The current fight to defend public pensions in Illinois.* Speaking are teacher and noted blogger Glen Brown and me, just back from Friday’s General Assembly session, which caused north shore Representative Dan Biss to claim, *“We’re all idiots.”* N... more »
When Charters Enroll Students with Disabilities « Diane Ravitch's blog
When Charters Enroll Students with Disabilities « Diane Ravitch's blog: Denial as a Reform Strategy by dianerav Reformers constantly deny any evidence that contradicts their narrative. They insist that our public schools are failing, despite the clear evidence in the national assessments that test scores have never been higher for every group tested. They insist that merit pay is necessary, even though it has never “worked,” in any sense of the word, not in raising test scores or in making teaching more attractive as a profession. They insist that charters are better than public scho... more »
FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, August 21, 2012
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: [image: California Dreaming « Shannon Philpott] Education Headlines *Tuesday, August 21, 2012* Brown visits SD, promises 'real suffering' if tax failsJerry Brown on Monday in San Diego peddled his tax measure to raise $6 billion annually for education and other state services, promising “real suffering by you and really our whole future” if the proposal fails in November. Twin Rivers probes allegation of unauthorized sports physicalsTwin Rivers Unified School District officials are investigating an allegation that an unauthorized... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Education Experience Not Required
Jersey Jazzman: Education Experience Not Required: Education Experience Not Required by Duke The Broad infestation of our nation's schools is accelerating. Ken Libby and Stan Karp give us the latest news about billionaire Eli Broad's plans to buy up our nation's education policy: The Broad Foundation wants to step on the gas. The California-based foundation, built on the housing and insurance empire of billionaire Eli Broad, has made “transforming K-12 urban public education” a major priority. Its training and placement of top administrators in urban districts across the cou... more »
UPDATE: It’s really about the principals - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post
It’s really about the principals - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: It’s really about the principalsBy Valerie Strauss This *was written by Ed Fuller, associate professor in the Education Leadership Department at Penn State University. He is also the director of the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy Analysis as well as the associate director for policy of the University Council for Educational Administration. This first appeared on the blog of the Albert Shanker Institute.* By Ed Fuller “No one knows who I am,” exclaimed a senior in a high-poverty, predominantly mi... more »
What the Hell? She didn't say Vagina! Okla. valedictorian denied diploma over 'hell' in speech
Okla. valedictorian denied diploma over 'hell' in speech: Okla. valedictorian denied diploma over 'hell' in speech - Comments - - - - [image: E-mail] - [image: Print] - [image: Share] By Michael Winter, USA TODAY Updated 16h 41m ago CAPTION From Prague Public Schools An Oklahoma valedictorian is having a devil of a time receiving her high school diploma because of an ad-libbed "hell" in her graduation speech, KFOR-TV reports. Kaitlin Nootbaar, soon to be a college freshman on a full scholarship, was a straight-A, 4.0 student during her fours years at Pra... more »
Educators Strive to Provide Students a Well-Rounded Education — Whole Child Education
Educators Strive to Provide Students a Well-Rounded Education — Whole Child Education: [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers]Educators Strive to Provide Students a Well-Rounded Education August 21, 2012 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers *Post written by Matthew Swift and originally featured in *Policy Priorities *.* Teachers, students, and administrators are aware that any major changes to ESEA could have a huge effect on their school districts. Issues such as common core state standards and waivers are among the many policies that could be affected. Even without reauthorization, ESEA (curre... more »
Modern School: FL Teachers Required to Work Longer Without Compensation?
Modern School: FL Teachers Required to Work Longer Without Compensation?: FL Teachers Required to Work Longer Without Compensation? by Michael Dunn Huck/Konopacki Labor CartoonsModern School has covered several of the ways that No Child Left Behind and the testing/accountability mania benefit private business (see here, here and here), such as forcing schools to convert to charter schools, hiring private tutors and increasing purchases of canned curriculum and test preparation materials. Florida is on the verge of implementing a new backdoor gift to private education profiteers: u... more »
Shanker Blog » College For All; Good Jobs For A Few?
Shanker Blog » College For All; Good Jobs For A Few?: College For All; Good Jobs For A Few? by Randall Garton A recent study by the Center for Policy Research (CEPR) asks the question that must be on the minds of college grads, now working as coffee shop baristas: “Where Have All the Good Jobs Gone?” The answer: swallowed by corporate profits and the personal portfolios of the ultrawealthy. Despite the fact that the American economy has experienced “enormous” productivity gains since the late 1970’s, the study finds that the number of “good jobs” (defined as those paying at least ... more »
Educator Musing: Parent Empowerment? Let Parents Vote!
Educator Musing: Parent Empowerment? Let Parents Vote!: Parent Empowerment? Let Parents Vote! by Educator Musing What is parent empowerment? I hope it is not a powerful corporation (like Parent Revolution) using a law (like Parent-Trigger) and lawsuits to impose their will on a school that is contrary to the parents' original stated goals. That seems to be the case in Adelanto, California. If so, then let's simply bring the issue back to the parents in a secret ballot vote. Parent-Trigger (really called the Parent Empowerment Act), allows parents to submit a petition represe... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: Local Control is Another Name for Special Interest Driven Education Policy
Missouri Education Watchdog: Local Control is Another Name for Special Interest Driven Education Policy: Local Control is Another Name for Special Interest Driven Education Policy by stlgretchen You pay for it. You send your children. You have no decision making abilities on how your money is spent or what is taught....but private foundations sure do. Does your state worry about funding Common Core? My state should. It's estimated to cost Missouri $350 Million. As Missouri can't even fund its basic educational formula, it's a mystery on how it will come up with this funding for... more »
Letters: When a charter cheats - latimes.com
Letters: When a charter cheats - latimes.com: Letters: When a charter cheats - [image: print] - Comments 0 - Email Share - - - [image: John Allen] Two separate investigations into the cheating scandal blamed Crescendo founder and chief executive John Allen, who was driven, as one official said, by a desire to be “better, better, better, best." (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times / March 4, 2011) Re "How charter schools' cheating scandal began," Aug. 18 As a former high school teacher, I am outraged at the cheating appar... more »
Morning UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 8-21-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Who Is Promoting Vouchers in Pennsylvania? by dianerav An astonishing $6 million plus has been pumped into the voucher campaign in Pennsylvania in the last year alone. As this article notes, Tea Party activists were getting cold feet about vouchers because they objected that vouchers might be too generous to poor children. Not to worry: Governor Tom Corbett and his allies in the Legislature changed the formula to make sure that some TFA Alum Criticizes Obsession with College Readiness by dianerav A friend ... more »
Thank you, academia! « Deborah Meier on Education
Thank you, academia! « Deborah Meier on Education: Thank you, academia! by debmeier After I finished writing that last blogette I received a blog from Steve Zemelman. (teacherspeakup.com). Good stuff. And, of course, Mike Rose who writes irregularly but always stirs me to think more deeply, but not rigorously. (see below for the definition of rigor. What do YOU think it means?) I could go and on. rigor: (America Heritage – old fashioned heavy book style) 1. strictness or severity of action or judgement. 2. A The scary grown-up world by debmeier U used to think when I was young,... more »
Pregnant Girls Pushed Out of School - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher
Pregnant Girls Pushed Out of School - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: Pregnant Girls Pushed Out of School by Nancy Flanagan [image: FGG.jpg]*The story last week from Delhi Charter School in Louisiana--girls being forced to undergo pregnancy tests, then booted if they were indeed pregnant--was another in a series of school-based civil rights outrages that have become increasingly familiar, in the wave of education privatization sweeping across the country. Thanks to Fatima Goss Graves of the National Women's Law Center for sharing these facts about teen moms and... more »
AB 5 falls short of meeting NCLB waiver requirements | EdSource Today
AB 5 falls short of meeting NCLB waiver requirements | EdSource Today: AB 5 falls short of meeting NCLB waiver requirements ** August 21st, 2012 | Add a Comment | By John Fensterwald Share on twitterShare on facebookShare on emailShare on google_plusone More Sharing Services Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes said that the passage of AB 5, the teacher evaluation bill that he authored, could “potentially serve as a key piece” of the state’s application for a waiver from the No Child Left Behind law – and free up hundreds of millions of federal dollars to fund districts’ evaluations and ot... more »
Obama To Hit Romney On Education With Two Tuesday Speeches, DNC Video
Obama To Hit Romney On Education With Two Tuesday Speeches, DNC Video: Obama To Hit Romney On Education With Two Tuesday Speeches, DNC Video by Joy Resmovits David Driscoll, who recently served as Massachusetts' education commissioner, remembers touring the state's high schools to promote a new scholarship that promised free college tuition at in state universities for top-performing students. Often by his side was a political heavyweight who was bound to increase interest in the program: Mitt Romney, then the state's governor, and now the presumptive Republican presidential nomine... more »
Broad Foundation’splan to expand influence in school reform - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post
Broad Foundation’splan to expand influence in school reform - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: Broad Foundation’splan to expand influence in school reform By Valerie Strauss This* was written by Ken Libby and Stan Karp. Libby is a doctoral student at the University of Colorado at Boulder and Karp is director of the Secondary Reform Project for New Jersey’s Education Law Centerand an editor of Rethinking Schools magazine.* By Ken Libby and Stan Karp The Broad Foundation wants to step on the gas. The California-based foundation, built on the housing and insurance empire of bil... more »
Daily Kos: Bob Kerrey is supporting gay marriage
Daily Kos: Bob Kerrey is supporting gay marriage: Bob Kerrey is supporting gay marriage by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) as you can read in Frank Bruni's *New York Times* column, titled Principle Over Politics Bob Kerrey might not be our cup of tea. Certainly on financial issues his approach is one with which most here might take issue. When Bruni found out that Kerrey was speaking about gay marriage he sought an interview, which Kerrey's staff tried to prevent but the candidate overruled them. Here are two key paragraphs from the column, with words from Bob Kerrey: “What I usu... more »
School Tech Connect: More Passing of the Buck
School Tech Connect: More Passing of the Buck: More Passing of the Buck by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) Another thing I never have time to say is this: The cost-shift of the pension system is another exercise in magical thinking. Illinois already has a cost-shifted school district--- the Chicago Public Schools, even though the state still makes a contribution.. So what happens when the cost is shifted? The individual district uses the pension fund as a credit card, and doesn't pay in, just like the spineless legislature. Did you ever read this? In May 1995, CPS sought and re... more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: There's a man going round taking names
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: There's a man going round taking names: There's a man going round taking names by Mike Klonsky There's a man going 'round taking names There's a man going 'round taking names He's been taking my father's name an' he left my heart in vain there's a man going 'round taking names -- Leadbelly By asking CPS principals to spy on their own teachers and report "lawful" union activity back to the central office, Rahm and Brizard have taken their anti-teacher, anti-union crusade to a whole to level. By doing it openly, in the form of a "confidential" memo, ... more »
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE LAUSD BOARD REGARDING REED vs. LAUSD - Perdaily.com
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE LAUSD BOARD REGARDING REED vs. LAUSD - Perdaily.com: AN OPEN LETTER TO THE LAUSD BOARD REGARDING REED vs. LAUSD by Leonard Isenberg [image: LAUSD Board.jpg] *(**Mensaje se repite en Español) (For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)* *Before giving Superintendent John Deasy authorization to ask the California Supreme Court to reverse the recent appellate decision overturning the Reed vs LAUSD decision, I think the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board of Directors should consider the following regrettable facts:... more »
Deflating the Rhetoric in the Evaluation Debate « InterACT
Deflating the Rhetoric in the Evaluation Debate « InterACT: Deflating the Rhetoric in the Evaluation Debate by David B. Cohen *This blog post started out as a series of comments I offered in response to a blog post by Educators 4 Excellence Executive Director Ama Nyamekye; she argues that the amended version of Assembly Bill 5,currently headed to the state Senate, will weaken teacher evaluation in California by requiring districts to bargain with unions if there is to be any use of standardized test scores in teacher evaluations. Her prediction is that unions will prevent that fr... more »
Nas, Lil’ Wayne, and Adolf Hitler: A Rap and Education Memo | The Jose Vilson
Nas, Lil’ Wayne, and Adolf Hitler: A Rap and Education Memo | The Jose Vilson: Nas, Lil’ Wayne, and Adolf Hitler: A Rap and Education Memo by Jose The latest news that may signal a sea change for hip-hop is that Nas, one of the most prolific and legendary artists in rap, may have asked for help with a few concepts in his album *N*gger*, or, as a few people have described it, had ghostwriters. The term “ghostwriting” has been reserved for guys like Dr. Dre and Diddy (Puff Daddy), those who would prefer to just let an unknown rapper write rhymes for them while they make executive d... more »
Parent Trigger District Heading Back to Court « Diane Ravitch's blog
Parent Trigger District Heading Back to Court « Diane Ravitch's blog: Parent Trigger District Heading Back to Court by dianerav *Rightwing website attacks Diane for post- they Lost * The only school in the nation ever to vote to invoke the state “parent trigger” law is in Adelanto, California. Parent Revolution, the organization funded by Gates, Walton and Broad to promote the trigger has been funding the fight in Adelanto. It helped dissident parents form a union, organize a petition drive, collect signatures, and push for a charter school. When the school board resisted the idea o... more »
School Tech Connect: We Lied and We Lied
School Tech Connect: We Lied and We Lied: We Lied and We Lied by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) As you know, I basically stalk Rep. Daniel Biss. Mainly because he's tall and nearby, but also because he's going to be a senator soon, and then God only knows what. His cash-balance plan is awful, and in my mind, he represents a kind of Democratic party that I could do without, at least in terms of education policy. In five years, he and Heather Steans will be opening charter schools inside every 7-11. Other than that, he's okay. And he's at least an honest man, even a brave on... more »
Another Conveniently Timed Study With Jeb Bush’s Fingerprints On It | Scathing Purple Musings
Another Conveniently Timed Study With Jeb Bush’s Fingerprints On It | Scathing Purple Musings: Another Conveniently Timed Study With Jeb Bush’s Fingerprints On It by Bob Sikes Fund Education Now founder Kathleen Oropeza was having none of the most recent study that gushed over another Jeb Bush initiative. Noting the Harvard study which supports Florida’s 3rd grade retention based on FCAT came from a researcher works for a center chaired by Bush, Oropez had this for *StateImpact* reporter John O’Connor: This is an echo chamber, a self-licking ice cream cone,” said Kathleen Orop... more »
USDA RELEASES CHECKLISTS FOR SCHOOL LUNCH AND BFAST TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE
USDA Releases Memo and Validation Review Checklists for School Lunch and Breakfast to Ensure Compliance with the Meal Pattern USDA RELEASES MEMO AND VALIDATION REVIEW CHECKLISTS FOR SCHOOL LUNCH AND BREAKFAST TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE MEAL PATTERN Permanent link On August 8, 2012, the USDA released prototypes of validation review checklists for compliance with the meal pattern. These are prototype lunch and breakfast Validation Review Checklists which support the School Year (SY) 2012-13. As indicated in the interim rule, during a validation review, State agencies must obser... more »
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Big Education Ape Nite Cap 8-20-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 8-19-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
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