LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-19-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all:

More Cheering from Wall Street for School Closures

by dianerav

Good news for Wall Street! More school closings!
Does Wall Street think it would be a good idea to close down all public schools? Think of the savings to municipalities if we just stopped offering free public education!
A reader writes:
And Bloomberg reports this about Philadelphia school closures:
Closing 12% of Philadelphia Schools Creates Winners: Muni Credit

from Bloomberg

“The nation’s fifth-largest city anticipates saving $24.5 million a year by shutting 29 of its 249 buildings in June. The average building is 64 years old, according to a financial audit. More than 82 percent of students are 

Report: Detroit’s New Emergency Manager Has Tax Liens on His Home

by dianerav

Governor Rick Snyder selected an emergency manager to put Detroit’s financial house in order.
The EM will have dictatorial authority and will displace all elected officials and have the power to break all contracts.
A report in the Detroit News says the new emergency manager has his own financial problems:

Who Is Right? Students or Adults?

by dianerav

“And a little child should lead them.”
The Providence Student Union had the audacity to ask successful adults to take the math section of the test that will determine whether they graduate from high school. Three dozen brave souls accepted their invitation to take a test made up of released items.
The results will be released today.
Some Warwick, RI, students sent some angry, possibly tasteless tweets to State Commissioner Gist. None of these students are part of the Providence Student Union. They were threatened with disciplinary action. The 

Wall Street Cheers Philly School Closures

by dianerav

Joy Resmovits reports on Huffington Post that Moody’s rating service is happy about the school closures in Philadelphia. She writes;0:
“School Closures: Good For Wall Street? Philadelphia recently voted to close 23 schools, and a Moody’s analyst thinks that the move, which frees up privately-run charter organizations to set up shop, is a good thing financially. Why? The analyst writes that it shows the district is willing to cut costs even when faced with tremendous opposition. “The SRC has introduced deep expenditure cuts over the past 18 months, reducing a fiscal 2012 deficit of $720 million to $20.5 million through a variety of revenue and expenditure measures that 

What About the First Amendment?

by dianerav

An earlier post reported that students in Warwick, Rhode Island, were being disciplined because of tweets they wrote about state commissioner Deborah Gist. Who was reading the tweets? Who has that job?
A reader commented:
“This is scarier than all the testing malarky… we need to guard the first amendment with all the zeal the NRA uses to protect the second amendment! We’ve already indoctrinated kids that walking through metal detectors is 

Schneider: NCTQ and the Corporate Reform Agenda

by dianerav

In recent weeks, Mercedes Schneider reviewed the members of the board of the National Council on Teacher Quality.
She did so because NCTQ is now often perceived as a nonpartisan, independent evaluator of teacher education programs, teacher colleges, and teacher quality. It has been the recipient of grants from many foundations, including Gates. Its investigation into the nation’s teacher preparation programs is considered authoritative by US News and World Report. Its report on teacher quality in Los Angeles, produced in cooperation with the Gates-

TeacherKen on Three Decades of Reform

by dianerav

Kenneth Bernstein is an award-winning NBCT who recently retired as a teacher of government. He is now caring for his wife, who is recovering from a major illness. He usually blogs at the Daily Kos but has taken the time to share his insights here as a comment. Thank you, Ken.
He writes:
We have had a decade of the “reforms” of No Child Left Behind. The approach embodied therein actually is traceable back 30 years, to the release of A Nation at Risk, continued through Goals 2000 which claimed that it would result in America being first in the world in math and science by that date, has seen policy doubling down through Race to the Top and the proposals in the Obama administration’s “Blueprint,” and now we continue the 

Sirota: Getting Rich Off School Children

by dianerav

David Sirota of Denver has been trying for some while to send a wake up call to the American public: billionaires and entrepreneurs are scoping out the schools as an emerging market for their goods and services. What they call “reform” has nothing to do with education and everything o do with money, power, control, and ideology. What they call “reform” is a shell game to hoodwink the public and divert attention from privatization.
As Sirota writes:
“…though it is rarely mentioned, the truth is that the largest funders of the “reform” movement are the opposite of 

Diane in the Evening 3-18-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Students in R.I. Punished for Their Tweets by dianerav The ACLU is protesting disciplinary actions taken against high school students in Warwick, Rhode Island. The students tweeted something negative about State Superintendent Deborah Gist. Whatever they tweeted was not reported in this story. The story said: “Several students called Gist names on Twitter following a story in the Journal in which about 35 adults took a portion of the New England Common Assessment or NECAP, deeming it very difficult. Several qu... more »

Guess when this was written:

Guess when this was written

Posted by Valerie Strauss on March 19, 2013 at 4:00 am

5

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Consider that the implementation of No Child Left Behind, known as the era of high-stakes testing, began in 2002 under president George W. Bush, and that Race to the Top, which critics call NCLB  “on steroids” for its reliance on standardized testing, began in 2009 under President Obama. Now read these passages and guess when they were written:

Testing has assumed a prominent role in recent efforts to improve the quality of  education …. Policymakers believe that testing sets meaningful standards to which school systems, schools, teachers, and students can aspire; that test data can help shape instruction; that it serves important accountability purposes; and that coupled with effective incentives and/or sanctions, testing is a powerful engine of change. Proponents point with pride to rising test scores.

and

Recent studies raise questions about whether improvements in test score performance 

Jesus painting moved from school after lawsuit — to another school

by Valerie Strauss

A devotional painting of Jesus Christ that hung for decades on a wall of a public middle school in Ohio was moved after challenges from First Amendment organizations — but now it is being displayed in a nearby public high school. The … Continue reading →

Florida Senate Will Be the Key Battleground on Charter School Legislation | Scathing Purple Musings

Florida Senate Will Be the Key Battleground on Charter School Legislation | Scathing Purple Musings:

Florida Senate Will Be the Key Battleground on Charter School Legislation

by Bob Sikes

Two news reports on yesterday’s Senate Education meeting yesterday provided tidbits which revealed the Senate’s cautious nature on charter school legislation. Lynn Hatters report in WFSU indicates the biggest fights will be over amendments as the committee wants to merge two “competing” bill. It appears that Parent Trigger will remain separate. Writes Hatters:

Florida Senator David Simmons (R-Maitland) wants to strengthen state laws governing financial transparency and accountability for charter schools. He says high-profile closures of charter schools due to failing grades and financial instability have hurt the charter school movement, “and if it keeps going on, I think the charter school movement will be significantly injured.”
Some proposals require local school districts share a portion of their building fund with charters or turn over unused facilities.  Others place caps on payouts after a school closes. Both provisions are in a similar House charter school overhaul bill.
But the Senate proposals also work the other way around.  For example, under a bill by Senator 

Missouri Education Watchdog: Who Endorses Common Core and Who Opposes It?

Missouri Education Watchdog: Who Endorses Common Core and Who Opposes It?:

Who Endorses Common Core and Who Opposes It?

by stlgretchen

Missouri DESE published a news release stating it had over 400 endorsements supporting Common Core State Standards.  From dese.com:

More than 400 school districts, businesses, individuals, and colleges and universities have stepped forward to endorse Missouri’s implementation of the Common Core State Standards for math and English language arts.

The Common Core State Standards have been endorsed by more than 200 Missouri school districts, 90 individuals, 50 educational organizations, 40 businesses and business organizations, and 35 institutions of higher education. A complete list of endorsements is 

Louisiana Educator: More Outrageous Education Deforms

Louisiana Educator: More Outrageous Education Deforms:

More Outrageous Education Deforms

by Michael Deshotels

Louisiana Supreme Court to Decide on Vouchers: The Louisiana Supreme Court will hear final arguments today on Louisiana's voucher and course choice programs. Those are the Jindal reforms that allow some public school students to get “scholarships” to attend private and religious schools or to take individual courses next year provided by various private groups. The Supreme Court has already received written briefs from both the plaintiffs and defendants of the voucher system and today will only hear limited oral arguments. There is concern among opponents of the voucher system that even though the constitution seems to clearly prohibit the use of the MFP for private schools, the election recently of a new Justice who campaigned on a conservative platform could sway the court against public school supporters.

In another development, new litigants have joined opponents and are challenging the vouchers on the grounds of separation of church and state. This story in the Monroe New Star points out that the ACLU and some religious groups are concerned that Louisiana's voucher program to religious schools is not only a violation of church and state but also has opened the door to many non-conventional religious groups receiving state aid to run their schools. If the Court agrees to consider this argument, we would have a much more powerful argument against religious school vouchers. The challenge to vouchers would no longer be limited to just the source of funding. My 

Cheating or collaboration? Do students really not know the difference? | Get Schooled

Cheating or collaboration? Do students really not know the difference? | Get Schooled:

Cheating or collaboration? Do students really not know the difference?

by Maureen Downey

A reader sent me this note about cheating and asked that I put the issue before the Get Schooled blog readership:

I am wondering if you have done much on student cheating? I have read about teacher cheating but don’t remember anything on the student side of the equation.
Now that my child is in high school, I am amazed at what online resources are available at the click of the button. I am aware of an instance where a teacher used an online study guide as a test….most of the students used it (teacher was unaware it was public domain) and received 100 percent on the test.  Smart on the students’ part, I’d say yes. Lazy on the teacher’s part, I’d say yes.
I’ve had some discussions with parents. Teachers don’t change their test, and the students share what’s on the test with their classmates who have not taken yet taken it.
That is cheating. But the parents I’ve spoken to call it “collaboration” and see nothing wrong with it. Teachers are aware it goes on but say it is …

Occupy the DOE 2.0; Save Our Schools Webinar/Fundraiser

Occupy the DOE 2.0; Save Our Schools Webinar/Fundraiser:

Occupy the DOE 2.0; Save Our Schools Webinar/Fundraiser

by Server

Occupy the DOE 2.0; Save Our Schools Webinar

with Drs. Morna McDermott and Shaun Johnson, Educator Ceresta Smith and a Special Guest Speaker 
March 27, 2013 – 9:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time [EDT}
Please Join Us as We Occupy the Department of Education for a Second Time!! Drs. Morna McDermott, Shaun Johnson, Veteran Educator Ceresta Smith and a Special Guest Speaker will share the details during this Save Our Schools hosted Webinar. Contribute to the Occupy the DOE 2 Fund!


Please join administrators of the public education advocacy group UNITED OPT OUT NATIONALhttp://unitedoptout.com/ for a powerful presentation, a Webinar Fundraiser in support of Occupy the DOE 2.0.
UOO Board Members and Organizers, Morna McDermott, Shaun Johnson, and Ceresta Smith will speak about the second annual event. Save Our Schools, in support will host the Webinar/Fundraiser. Together let us help raise funds so that student scholars might attend the Washington DC Rally and March.
UOO and SOS ask all of those who support teachers, students and public schools to join this discussion and learn more about the four-day gathering of progressive education activists who endeavor to resist the destructive influences of corporate and for-profit education reforms.
Morna, Shaun, Ceresta, and a Special Guest will share their reasons for attending the April 4-7 Occupy the DOE 2.0 action, a Rally and March to the White House.
Please join us as we explore opportunities for resisting destructive ed. reform policies and for rebuilding our public education system.
See the Full Schedule for Occupy the DOE Occupy2.0: The Official Schedule for Occupy DOE 2.0: The Battle for Public Schools 
via  @unitedoptout
Save Our Schools wishes to further awareness for the cause. We ask you to contribute what you are able. Please help defray the cost of their travel. Donate Now!



Morna McDermott

Morna McDermott – United Opt Out – Associate Professor at Towson University, Maryland
Morna McDermott is one of the six administrators for the national movement United Opt Out National. She has been working in, with, and around public schools for over twenty years. Currently she is also an Associate Professor at Towson University, in Maryland where she teaches various theory and methods courses in the College of Education. Her scholarship and research interests focus on democracy, social justice, and arts-informed inquiry in K-post secondary educational settings, and working with beginning and experienced educators.
Morna explores how the arts serve as a form of literacy that challenges traditional classroom learning and dominant narratives. Her recent book published by IPA Press is entitled The Left Handed Curriculum: Creativity for Empowering Teachers. Dr. McDermott currently serves as the Arts Based Educational Research section editor for the Journal of Curriculum and Pedagogy. In addition to publishing in educational journals and books, she writes for her blog www.educationalchemy.com. She currently lives in Baltimore with her husband and two children. Contact Morna at mcdermottmax@yahoo.com.
Shaun Johnson

Shaun Johnson – Towson University
Dr. Shaun Johnson is an assistant professor of elementary education at Towson University. Johnson is a former public school teacher and blogger. He returns to his roots every summer, teaching 5th graders in a DC public charter school. Shaun earned his PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from Indiana University and researches and publishes about gender in education, social studies, and education reform. He is the founder ofAt the Chalk Face, an education blog, podcast, and now nationally syndicated radio show.
 @thechalkface
Ceresta Smith

Ceresta Smith – Miami Florida
Ceresta Smith, an American University alumna, is a twenty-three-year veteran educator who has taught grades six through twelve reading and language arts, as well as beginning and advanced television production. Contact Ceresta at cerestas@yahoo.com or 786-303-4785.
She earned her National Board Certification in Adult/Young Adult English/language arts in 2002 and now serves as a teacher leader and mentor. In September of 2008, she moved from a school deemed “high performing” to serve as a teacher leader and literacy coach in a school deemed “low performing.” While there, she became a 2009 – 2010 recipient of a Jordan Fundamental Grant that facilitated the implementation of Text Titans, a literacy building initiative designed by her and funded by Brand Jordan. A private foundation created by basketball great Michael Jordan, Brand Jordan honors teachers who motivate and inspire students toward achieving excellence.
As a committed educator and activist, Ms. Smith founded the Concerned Teacher Coalition in 2009 to address the inequities in Miami-Dade County’s predominantly African-American public schools. One of the original organizers of Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action, she continues to champion for equity and quality pedagogy in America’s public schools.
Save Our Schools wishes to further awareness for the Occupy the DOE 2.0 cause. We ask you to contribute what you are able. Please help defray the cost of student, parent, and interested in education persons travel. Donate Now!

Please Join Us!

NYC Educator: Anything that Can Go Wrong, Will Go Wrong

NYC Educator: Anything that Can Go Wrong, Will Go Wrong:

Anything that Can Go Wrong, Will Go Wrong

by NYC Educator

Yesterday was a rough day. I had taken my schoolbag out of its home in back of my car to write a lesson Friday night, which was a pretty good idea. Unfortunately, I followed up by forgetting to put it back on Monday morning. This was unfortunate on several levels. First, it would be tough to follow a plan I didn't actually have using books I also didn't have. Second, while some people find them quaint, I still kind of like the Delaney cards I've been using for decades.

My students cooperated with me by all showing up, except for the one who moved to Boston without officially notifying the school. However, since she never comes anyway, I'm not overly concerned about today's absence.

I'd received an urgent DOE email last Friday informing me about an important guest speaker, who was to address my one group of my ESL students in a foreign language. In a way, this worked out. The 

Shanker Blog » Poor Implementation Undermines Promise Of The Common Core

Shanker Blog » Poor Implementation Undermines Promise Of The Common Core:

Poor Implementation Undermines Promise Of The Common Core

by Stephen Lazar

Our guest author today is Stephen Lazar, a founding teacher at Harvest Collegiate High School in New York City, where he teaches Social Studies. A National Board certified teacher, he blogs at Outside the Cave. Stephen is also one of the organizers of Insightful Social Studies, a grass roots campaign of teachers to reform the newly proposed New York State Social Studies standards.
The Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS) seek to define “college and career readiness expectations.” Forty-five states have adopted them, and are moving briskly towards full implementation in the coming year. Last January, I wrote that the standards “represent the greatest opportunity for history teaching and learning to be widely re-imagined since the Committee of Ten set the basic outlines for American education over a hundred years ago.”
While I stand by that statement, with each step towards implementation I see the opportunity being squandered. 

UPDATE: Persepolis not banned at Lab School Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Arundhati Roy speaks in Chicago. Book banning, no small thing

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Arundhati Roy speaks in Chicago. Book banning, no small thing

Persepolis not banned at Lab School or New Trier

by Mike Klonsky

Persepolis not banned at Lab School

Funny. It seems the Klonsky brothers are the best news source in town on this one. Clair Kirch quotes from both our blogs as she tries to make some sense out of the continuing book-banning fiasco at CPS. But as folks in the community say, "the Common Sense Bus doesn't stop on Clark St."


If the banning and restrictions on Persepolis was just a "clumsy, at best, and brainless at worst", "ham-handed" 

Arundhati Roy -- Chicago book banning, no small thing

by Mike Klonsky

Arundhati Roy reads from The God of Small Things (M. Klonsky pic)

Listening to author/activist (The God of Small Things), Arundhati Roy last night at Northwestern's Thorne Auditorium, was a powerfully provocative experience. As her narrative, on the 10th anniversary of the Iraq War, wound around and through the global struggle for peace, democracy,  human dignity, Arundhati couldn't avoid mention of the banning by CPS of Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel, Persepolis. She noted how strange it was that in countries that routinely practice torture, it is considered inappropriate to learn or talk about it.

The packed auditorium applauded loudly when Anthony Arnove of event sponsor Haymarket Books, announced that there were copies of Persepolis for sale at the book table, alongside of Roy's own Field Notes on Democracy and Walking With the Comrades. Arnove drew a laugh when he offered a discount to Chicago 7th-grade students.

The mayor was tactfully nowhere in sight last night. In fact, Rahm has been conspicuously AWOL from the 

TAVIS SMILEY'S "EDUCATION UNDER ARREST" IGNORES THE CAUSES - Perdaily.com

TAVIS SMILEY'S "EDUCATION UNDER ARREST" IGNORES THE CAUSES - Perdaily.com:

TAVIS SMILEY'S "EDUCATION UNDER ARREST" IGNORES THE CAUSES

by Leonard Isenberg

(Mensaje se repite en Español)

When the bubonic plague spread through Europe in the 14th century, people noticed that if you burned enough infected bodies and the houses where they died, you would ultimately get rid of the plague- but not until your population had been significantly decimated. People at the time did not as yet understand what caused the plague, which was actually being carried by fleas on rats that were feeding on human garbage and waste. As long as they dealt only with the symptoms and not the underlying disease, one might say they remained 

All Things Education: Indeed, let’s celebrate the defeat of Prop 8 but know it’s far from the end of hate

All Things Education: Indeed, let’s celebrate the defeat of Prop 8 but know it’s far from the end of hate:

Indeed, let’s celebrate the defeat of Prop 8 but know it’s far from the end of hate

by Rachel Levy

Blogger's note: This is the first in a series of posts that I wrote in February of 2012 as part of a writing fellowship application. See the introduction to this series here. That DOMA and Prop 8 cases are soon to go before the Supreme Court is what reminded me of this piece.

Yesterday, Proposition 8, California’s ban on gay marriage, was struck down by a federal appeals court in San Francisco. Gay rights supporters erupted in celebration, though those paying close attention to the decision were quick to point out that,

“. . . the Ninth Circuit did not hold that same-sex couples have a right to marry. It held 

Native Americans Challenge Teach For America in New Mexico - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Native Americans Challenge Teach For America in New Mexico - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:

Native Americans Challenge Teach For America in New Mexico

by Anthony Cody

Two weeks ago we learned about some questionable practices in the state of New Mexico. These things were revealed by investigator Michael Corwin, as part of the confirmation process for would-be Secretary of Education Hanna Skandera. One part of his testimony that was of special interest was his discussion of the role of Teach For America in his state. As readers know, I have explored the impact of TFA on this blog in some detail.
The first detail uncovered by Mr. Corwin was a bit mind boggling. In 2011, Mr. Corwin was summoned to Gallup to investigate some improper conduct by assistant superintendents. He discovered that Landon Mascareñaz, then TFA's executive director for the state, had billed the Gallup-McKinley School District $110,000 for recruiting and training 55 teachers. The problem was TFA had already been paid $127,000 by the state for these same services. When Mr. Corwin interviewed Mr. Mascareñaz, he was told the reason for the double billing was that Mascareñaz did not feel the payment from the state was enough, so he intentionally double billed the school district. TFA was forced to pay back the school district $110,000, and two district administrators who had approved the payments were terminated. Mr. Mascareñaz is no longer working in the state.
But the bigger question I wanted to understand was why $800,000 in funds approved to implement the Indian Education Act were going to pay for Teach For America corps members. I reached out to several sources to gain insight. First, to Nate Morrison, who is Teach For America's current executive director in New Mexico. I then shared his responses with two experts in Native American education, Dr. Christine Sims and Dr. Carlotta Bird of 

Hey, Bill Gates: You Evaluatin’ Me? (Part I) [Future of Teaching] | The Jose Vilson

Hey, Bill Gates: You Evaluatin’ Me? (Part I) [Future of Teaching] | The Jose Vilson:

Hey, Bill Gates: You Evaluatin’ Me? (Part I) [Future of Teaching]

by Jose Vilson

Here’s the first in a two-part essay about Bill Gates’ interview with The Washington Post:

He is correct in stating that students get evaluated all the time, from the first time they enter a classroom all the way through college and beyond. Getting a degree demands having plenty of tests getting thrown at you, high-stakes or otherwise. These tests often determine if you achieve the next level or not, and whether we like them or not. That’s our current education system, so ramping up the amount of tests only perpetuates the status quo. I’m not in the camp that says, “Teachers shouldn’t get evaluated, but students should.” Professionals get evaluations all the time.
I just can’t help but wonder if we actually evaluate students the right way, and if the measure we currently have for student achievement helps determine success in life after college. One shouldargue that far too many factors come into play when looking on a case-by-case basis.

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Treasurer calls school bond election deals 'illegal' | school, bonds, political - News - The Orange County Register

Treasurer calls school bond election deals 'illegal' | school, bonds, political - News - The Orange County Register:

Lockyer: School bond election deals appear illegal

Melody Petersen / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

State Treasurer Bill Lockyer asked the California attorney general Monday to investigate whether school officials were breaking the law by hiring banks and their political strategists to promote bond measures before voters.

Lockyer did not name the schools or banks involved in these deals. But some of the examples he describes in a letter to Attorney General Kamala Harris are the same as the Register found in place at Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified in a recent investigation.

Borrowing through capital appreciation bonds is helping to pay for a 600-seat Performing Arts Center at El Dorado High in Placentia. The expensive bonds, which delay payments for decades, were sold by Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified officials after voters approved Measure A in 2008.

JEBB HARRIS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

MORE PHOTOS »

His letter focuses on agreements where school districts give banks exclusive contracts to sell bonds approved by voters in return for the firms providing pre-election campaign services.

Placentia-Yorba Linda hired a bank named George K. Baum & Co. before a bond election in 2008. Voters agreed in the election that the district could issue $200 million in bonds to continue an ambitious building spree. School officials denied they had hired the bank for political work on the bond campaign, but public documents and interviews showed that the firm's strategists were extensively involved in getting the measure passed.

Under state law, it is illegal for school officials to 

Jersey Jazzman: The Reformy Argument, And The Response

Jersey Jazzman: The Reformy Argument, And The Response:

The Reformy Argument, And The Response

by Duke

Watching Michelle Rhee once again on Real Time with Bill Maher, it becomes clear what the reformy argument all boils down to:

1. There is a shameful "gap" in performance between affluent white students and poor minority students.
2. But even our affluent white students suck compared to the rest of the world.
3. The problem, then, must be in our schools.
4. While there may be other factors involved, we really can't wait to fix those; we need immediate action, and we can take that by "reforming" schools.
5. These "reforms" will create innovation and accountability, which is what has been missing from the public school "blob."
6. These reforms - charter expansion, test-based teacher evaluation, vouchers, de-unionization, gutting tenure, merit pay, ending seniority - will raise student achievement.

The answer to these, in turn, is:

1. No one argues that the lower performance of poor minority students is shameful and must be fixed. But in every country in the world, the poor have worse educational outcomes than the rich. Doesn't that tell you something?
2. Affluent white students in America actually perform well in international comparisons. The few "studies"