UPDATE: deal between We Are One and Cullerton? + The “Madigan 62″. Illinois House members who voted to violate the Illinois Constitution. | Fred Klonsky

The “Madigan 62″. Illinois House members who voted to violate the Illinois Constitution. | Fred Klonsky:

Breaking. Word on the deal between We Are One and Cullerton is coming out.

by Fred Klonsky

What I am hearing:
Cullerton’s plan is his “choice” theory. Two options if we want to keep compounded COLA. 1) No healthcare access. Any salary hikes are non-pensionable OR 2) 3-year COLA freeze and a 2% additional pension contribution.

The “Madigan 62″. Illinois House members who voted to violate the Illinois Constitution.

by Fred Klonsky

Here are the names of the “Madigan 62.” House members who voted to violate the Illinois Constitutions pension protection clause.

Edward J. Acevedo	Bills	Committees	2	D
Luis Arroyo	Bills	Committees	3	D
Patricia R. Bellock	Bills	Committees	47	R
Maria Antonia Berrios	Bills	Committees	39	D
John E. Bradley	Bills	Committees	117	D
Daniel J. Burke	Bills	Committees	1	D
Kelly Burke	Bills	Committees	36	D
Deborah Conroy	Bills	Committees	46	D
Fred Crespo	Bills	Committees	44	D
Tom Cross	Bills	Committees	97	R
Barbara Flynn Currie	Bills	Committees	25	D
Monique D. Davis	Bills	Committees	27	D
Tom Demmer	Bills	Committees	90	R
Scott Drury	Bills	Committees	58	D
Kenneth Dunkin	Bills	Committees	5	D
Jim Durkin	Bills	Committees	82	R
Marcus C. Evans, Jr.	Bills	Committees	33	D
Keith Farnham	Bills	Committees	43	D
Sara Feigenholtz	Bills	Committees	12	D
Jack D. Franks	Bills	Committees	63	D
Robyn Gabel	Bills	Committees	18	D
Jehan A. Gordon-Booth	Bills	Committees	92	D
Brad E. Halbrook	Bills	Committees	110	R
David Harris	Bills	Committees	53	R
Greg Harris	Bills	Committees	13	D
Kay Hatcher	Bills	Committees	50	R
Elizabeth Hernandez	Bills	Committees	24	D
Frances Ann Hurley	Bills	Committees	35	D
Jeanne M Ives	Bills	Committees	42	R
Charles E. Jefferson	Bills	Committees	67	D
Thaddeus Jones	Bills	Committees	29	D
Dwight Kay	Bills	Committees	112	R
Stephanie A Kifowit	Bills	Committees	84	D
Renée Kosel	Bills	Committees	37	R
David R. Leitch	Bills	Committees	73	R
Michael J. Madigan	Bills	Committees	22	D
Natalie A Manley	Bills	Committees	98	D
Emily McAsey	Bills	Committees	85	D
David McSweeney	Bills	Committees	52	R
Deborah Mell	Bills	Committees	40	D
Christian L Mitchell	Bills	Committees	26	D
Thomas Morrison	Bills	Committees	54	R
Martin J Moylan	Bills	Committees	55	D
Michelle Mussman	Bills	Committees	56	D
Elaine Nekritz	Bills	Committees	57	D
JoAnn D. Osmond	Bills	Committees	61	R
Al Riley	Bills	Committees	38	D
Pam Roth	Bills	Committees	75	R
Ron Sandack	Bills	Committees	81	R
Timothy L. Schmitz	Bills	Committees	65	R
Darlene J. Senger	Bills	Committees	41	R
Carol A. Sente	Bills	Committees	59	D
Joe Sosnowski	Bills	Committees	69	R
Cynthia Soto	Bills	Committees	4	D
Ed Sullivan, Jr.	Bills	Committees	51	R
Silvana Tabares	Bills	Committees	21	D
Jil Tracy	Bills	Committees	94	R
Arthur Turner	Bills	Committees	9	D
Barbara Wheeler	Bills	Committees	64	R
Kathleen Willis	Bills	Committees	77	D
Sam Yingling	Bills	Committees	62	D
Michael J. Zalewski	Bills	Committees	23	D

 

Modern School: Zero Tolerance for Science (or Common Sense)

Modern School: Zero Tolerance for Science (or Common Sense):

Zero Tolerance for Science (or Common Sense)

by Michael Dunn

Do an experiment, get arrested. This is what happened to 16-year old Kiera Wilmot, an African American high school student in Florida. Wilmot was arrested on federal charges for possessing a “weapon on school property and discharging a destructive device,” after mixing household chemicals in a water bottle, which ejected the lid and a small amount of smoke. Nobody was hurt and no property (other than her bottle) was damaged. Her former principal, Ron Prichard, said she had “never been in trouble before,” and called her a “good kid,” according to Alternet.

It does not appear that her experiment had been assigned or that her teacher was even aware that she was conducting such an experiment, which does draw into question whether or not it was a safe or “appropriate” school activity. However, she insists it was just an experiment and a mistake and her principal agreed. Call it a harmless lapse of judgment and naiveté by a 

ALEC Assembles "Most Wanted List," And Oklahomans Say "ALEC Is Not OK" | PR Watch

ALEC Assembles "Most Wanted List," And Oklahomans Say "ALEC Is Not OK" | PR Watch:

ALEC Assembles "Most Wanted List," And Oklahomans Say "ALEC Is Not OK"

by Brendan Fischer — May 6, 2013 - 7:44am

Topics: Corporations, Democracy, Politics

Projects: ALEC Exposed

 Share this

-- By Brendan Fischer and Nick Surgey --

In anticipation of protests at ALEC's recent meeting in Oklahoma City, state legislators were handed a set oftalking points that read "The American Legislative Exchange Council recognizes the first amendment rights of free speech and assembly, and asks that _____ do the same," apparently to prepare legislators for press questions about citizen activism. But ALEC didn't live up to those spoon-fed talking points: ALEC assembled a dossier of disfavored reporters and activists, kicked reporters out of its conference who might write unfavorable stories, and managed to boot a community forum critical of ALEC from its reserved room.

In what might be the biggest anti-ALEC rally yet, the ALEC legislators and lobbyists arriving at the Renaissance Hotel on May 2 were greeted by a wave of protesters that outnumbered the conference attendees.

More than 600 firefighters, teachers, environmentalists, and church leaders carried signs reading "ALEC is Not OK" and chanting "backroom deals are ALEC's game/sweetheart deals for corporate gain," while a giant inflatable pig wearing a banner reading "Hi, my name is ALEC" floated overhead. Two big rigs adorned with Teamsters logos circled the convention 

Monday on the Whole Child Virtual Conference — Whole Child Education

Monday on the Whole Child Virtual Conference — Whole Child Education:

THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG

Monday on the Whole Child Virtual Conference

May 6, 2013 by Whole Child Virtual Conference

We invite you to participate in ASCD's third annual Whole Child Virtual Conference. Entitled "Moving from Implementation to Sustainability to Culture," sessions will offer educators around the globe leadership discussions and strategies to support their work to implement and sustain a whole child approach to education.

A Whole Child Approach: Each Individual and All Tenets

10:00–11:00 a.m. eastern time
Presenter: Sean Slade, director of Whole Child Programs, ASCD, Alexandria, VA

• Download handout (PDF)

Sean Slade introduces the 2013 Whole Child Virtual Conference for North American participants and defines whole child education. The session will outline ASCD's Whole Child Initiative efforts to change the conversation about education and move from a vision for educating the whole child to action that results in successful, well-rounded young people, ensuring that each child, in each school, in each community—and in each country—is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.

Milwaukie High School, Oregon—Winner of the 2013 Vision in Action: The ASCD Whole Child Award

12:00–1:00 p.m. eastern time
Panel Discussion

• Download handout (PDF)

Milwaukie High School was selected as the 2013 Vision in Action: The ASCD Whole Child Award recipient because it has taken specific steps and produced exceptional results to ensure that high school students from all backgrounds are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. Milwaukie's staff members work tirelessly to improve their students' academic, 

UPDATE: David Green’s #TFA commentary @nytimes + End NJ Tax Subsidies for “Monster” Pearson – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

End NJ Tax Subsidies for High Stakes Testing “Monster” Pearson – @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER:

Friend David Green’s #TFA commentary @nytimes comes at a good time

by Chalk Face, PhD

I’m starting to feel as if the TFA brand is getting a tad tarnished. It’s not fooling a lot of people anymore, as is apparent from many of the responses Mr. Greene received. When I spoke at the 92Y last month, I was right after Wendy Kopp. She left immediately after her talk, the prima donna that she apparently must be at this point, Blackberry always going off with the next fundraising call.

We then see efforts from big clothing retailer J.Crew to raise money for the corps by selling T-shirts made God knows where. Why do they need money? Are they some kind of charity or something? But I’m more than sure that hitting up J.Crew fits the profile of TFA recruits perfectly. It’s as if you can actually wear J.Crew while teaching. Not if you’re doing it right.

At our Occupy2.0 event last month, friend Denisha Jones had an excellent idea during her speech, and Mr. Greene suggests as much. Rather than being catapulted right into classroom teaching, why does TFA not become TAFA, or Teachers’ Assistants for America? Get some experience by supporting career educators? In that regard, I would support the organization’s Peace Corps aspirations. 

Imagine it. Rather than replacing teachers, you have a legion of new assistants in 

End NJ Tax Subsidies for High Stakes Testing “Monster” Pearson

by freetoteach

 Pearson, Inc: Bad tax subsidies for bad education policies.

End NJ Tax Subsidies for High Stakes Testing Giant Pearson, Inc.

TUESDAY, May 14TH, 12:00PM

Hoboken River Ferry, 1401 Frank Sinatra Drive, Hoboken NJ

• End corporate welfare and fund our public schools!

• Protest tax subsidy ‘payoffs for layoffs’ to test publishing giant Pearson!

Governor Christie gave Pearson Education, Inc. an $80 million tax break to move offices from Bergen County to Hoboken, even though Pearson is making a killing off its high stakes testing contracts with states like New Jersey and New York. And what did Pearson do? They turned around and moved 650 jobs to New York, which is giving them millions more in additional tax breaks. The British-based multinational also took advantage of a Hurricane Sandy tax deferral to significantly lower its 2012 United States tax bill.

Pearson is one of the private companies that has profited most from the test-based 

Wall Street ♥ charter schools | Muckety - See the news

Wall Street ♥ charter schools | Muckety - See the news:

Wall Street ♥ charter schools

By Laurie Bennett

May 5, 2013 at 9:37am

Call them cynical, but the widespread involvement of financial firms in the charter school movement raises suspicion among many public school advocates.

The map below illustrates just a few entanglements of big league investors in national school-choice organizations.

View large map  |  View static map  |  Embed this map |  License Muckety technology

Many hedge funders and financiers contribute to state-level groups or to individual schools. Billionaire Carl Icahn founded the Bronx charter school named for him. Spencer Robertson, son of billionaire Julian Robertson, started PAVE Academy in Red Hook, NY.

Hedge funder John Arnold, founder of Centaurus Advisors, is one of the most generous advocates for school choice.

His foundation has given millions of dollars to charter school networks such as KIPP and YES Prep.

New Markets Tax Credit

One of the perks of investment in charter schools came with passage in 2000 of the New Markets Tax Credit, a federal tax break for investors in community development projects.

Big banks have seen the allure. The map below shows banks and other organizations that have put

UPDATE: No more AYP + DeKalb marches to own tune: Heigh ho, heigh ho, it's off to... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com

DeKalb marches to own tune: Heigh ho, heigh ho, it's off to... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com:

Get Schooled: No more AYP. Here comes College & Career Ready Index.

By Maureen Downey

The state releases scores for schools next week using the new College & Career Ready Performance Index.

We had a primer on the index with DOE on Friday. It's a complex and comprehensive system. It will be interesting to see if parents warm to it. The index awards schools a numerical grade on a 100-point scale. So, schools will be graded 75 or 80 or 95.  But behind those grades are loads of data.

The index replaces Adequate Yearly Progress as the measure of a school’s success. My colleage Nancy Badertscher would like to hear from parents and teachers, both pro and con on this.

Do you believe a numerical grade will be more illuminating? How much stock do you put in either 

Get Schooled: DeKalb marches to own tune: Heigh ho, heigh ho, it's off to court we go

 By Maureen Downey

The AJC has a story that will not surprise faithful DeKalb Schools watchers:  The DeKalb County School District has spent more on lawyers than comparable Atlanta school systems for years, and is on track to spend even more.

Cultures develop in any institution, and DeKalb seems to have developed one in which going to court to resolve issues is a way of life. Once a court fight starts, the school district is resolved to see it through,  no matter the mounting legal bills. The district also has more law firms on retainer than other districts, a situation for which no one has yet to offer a clear explanation.

According to the AJC:

The millions of dollars DeKalb pays for lawsuits and other legal expenses could instead be paying for badly needed teachers and classroom aides. Like other districts, DeKalb has watched tax receipts shrivel and has slashed its budget, imposing furlough days and driving up class sizes while cutting back on support services such as bus maintenance.

However, unlike other districts DeKalb has increased its anticipated legal expenses. The 

National Teacher Day, May 7, 2013

NEA - National Teacher Day:

National Teacher Day, May 7, 2013

What's New? 

• Parents: Show your support for educators by taking our pledge.
• Teachers: Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week with Carnegie Corporation and our partners. Upload your photo of inspired teaching and you could win $3,500 for your favorite school!
• Congratulations to the five outstanding teachers who have been selected for induction into the National Teachers Hall of Fame as members of the Class of 2013.

Help Us Spread the Word!

Join our celebration by updating your social media to thank a teacher. On Tuesday, May 7, change your Facebook status to thank a teacher who made a difference in your life. Orchange your profile and cover photos with images from our NEA Today Facebook page.

Send appreciation messages on Twitter. Be sure to use our #thankateacher hashtag.

Sample posts:

• If you can write your name, #thankateacher
• If you followed your dreams, #thankateacher
• If you can read, #thankateacher

You can also share our videos promoting National Teacher Day and encouraging your networks to thank a teacher.

Resources for Celebrating National Teacher Day

• Ideas and activities for celebrating National Teacher Day
• Five easy ways to make a difference in the lives of teachers
• Artwork and posters
• Sample proclamation
• Sample news release
• Quotes about teaching
• Celebrities Name Their Most Memorable Teachers (PDF, 306 KB, 38pp)
• History of National Teacher Day

Information on the Teaching Profession

• Key trends facing the teaching profession
• Want to Teach?

Show Your Support and Thank a Teacher by updating your profile and cover image!

Download a vibrant cover photo to feature on your Facebook Timeline. It's easy!

Instructions:

1. Choose an image below.
2. Right-click on the image and "Save Image As" to your computer.
3. Go to your personal Facebook Timeline and click "Change Cover" (or "Add a Cover" if you're new to Timeline).
4. Select "Upload Photo" and choose your saved image.
5. Click "Save Changes" and you're done!

Profile image (You can also use this one for Twitter)