Tuesday, May 7, 2013

by Fred Klonsky

In response to a reader comment that compared the We Are One coalition’s deal with Cullerton to Neville Chamberlain and appeasement, former IEA President and pension activist (and friend) responded:

I disagree with your analogy TOTALLY!
NO!!!!! negotiations does not mean appeasement. I negotiated 15 contracts for my local -I never felt like Chamberlain or an “appeaser”!!! Sitting down and talking, working through differences, compromising is a time honored way to settle differences. Collective bargaining is a long, long held Union tradition, technique, right — not some form of appeasement!
Going to court is rolling the dice -that process is out of our control!
- Bob Haisman

Kudos to Hais for defending the pension deal even more aggressively than the union leadership.

The in box. Hais says, “Support our union.” I do.

by Fred Klonsky

Dear Fred (and the IRTA)
Fred I have a lot of respect for you and your willingness to challenge ….
I understand the IRTA disappointment at not being at the table but they are not a union, they did not want to play the part of a union. I’m sorry they feel slighted.
I believe with all my heart that the IEA leadership “did the right thing”. Negotiations is the way to solve these things. “Just Say No” is just not a viable option – except to be run over.
Because it is a negotiated agreement not everyone will be happy. That often is the results in negotiations. I know you were a local negotiator — Criticism is to be expected — but just like back in our locals — criticize – ask tough questions — but support your union in the end.

IFT on the pension deal.

by Fred Klonsky

Dear Members,
We are writing with important and historic news. As you know, we have been fighting to protect our pensions for several years now. While defending against drastic attacks to our guaranteed benefits, we have also been proactively trying to address the state’s fiscal crisis.
For the past several weeks, our union coalition has been meeting with Senate President John Cullerton to try to negotiate a pension agreement, demonstrating our willingness to share in the sacrifice and be part of the solution in the fairest way possible.
And finally, we have reached an agreement.
The agreement echoes our principles. It includes an ironclad funding guarantee, revenue by dedicating additional payments to the pension system, contractual protections for access to health care in retirement under several options, and limits the shared sacrifice asked of workers and retirees who did not cause this problem. You will find a full summary of the agreement here.
President Cullerton calls our agreement “credible” and “constitutional.” It represents our willingness to help stabilize our retirement systems, but remains our final, best offer.
We have paid into the systems dutifully from every paycheck while Springfield skipped payments.

John Dillon on the pension deal.

by Fred Klonsky

As pre-teens, my brother and I used to fantasize and argue at night from our beds about illogical differences. For example, I held that the French Foreign Legion was a better choice than my brother’s favorite: British Commandos. The two bills remind me of one of our quickly settled arguments: how would you prefer to die – by sword or gun?
…If you are wondering about the “choice” bill when first brought up, Bayer was quick to dismiss it, and he earned the wrath of Cullerton for quite some time, probably still. Not only did Stevens, AFSCME’s lawyer describe the coerciveness of the choice but Mr. Bayer also reminded Cullerton

Where has this kind of pragmatism gotten us?

by Fred Klonsky

I sent an email to the local IEA office this morning canceling my seat on the bus to Springfield next Wednesday.
It wouldn’t feel right going to Springfield to lobby against SB2404 on a bus paid for by the IEA.
Even though I pay dues.
SB2404 is the deal worked out between Democratic Senate President John Cullerton and the We Are One coalition of state employee unions.
You can see the details of the deal here.
I asked my colleagues in our new Skokie chapter of IEA -Retired what they thought about going to Springfield.

The in box. The Illinois Retired Teachers Association (IRTA) opposes the pension deal.

by Fred Klonsky

As you are probably aware the We Are One Illinois coalition including the IEA negotiated an agreement with Senate President Cullerton concerning pension reform. The agreement is structured as a choice proposal affects current retirees.
The proposal will provide a choice between access to healthcare and accepting a staggered two-year COLA freeze or keeping your 3% compounded COLA and no retiree health care access.
The impairment and diminishment language in the proposal is clearly unconstitutional. The IRTA will continue to oppose legislation that diminishes benefits for retirees.

The in box. Express you views on the pension deal at Orland Park forum.

by Fred Klonsky

Southwest Suburban Federation of Teachers
AFT Local 943
AFT Local 943 and Orland Council 135
are proud to present
PENSION FORUM 2013
Monday, May 13th at 4:30 p.m.
Century Junior High
10801 W. 159th Street
Orland Park, Illinois
Please attend, share your concerns, and learn the latest on what’s happening in Illinois and how

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day! XOXO Walmart | EduShyster

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day! XOXO Walmart | EduShyster:

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day! XOXO Walmart

by edushyster2012

Imagine that you are possessed of the surname “Walton” and happen to be sitting on mad coin—say a cool $90 billion. How do you celebrate the occasion that is Teacher Appreciation Day? Do you chip in to give the nation’s teachers a raise, knowing they’ve been hard hit by the recession? Do you send them gift cards to Walmart, the store that hath so enrichethed you? If you are a teacher in Massachusetts, the Waltons have an extra special treat in store for you: a fully-funded gala at the Statehouse urging the replacement of the state’s many non-excellent teachers with fresh new innovators who will share their excellence one renewable year at a time. Happy Teacher Appreciation Day, xoxo Walmart!

You see, here in Massachusetts, the annual occasion on which politicians

Tuesday on the Whole Child Virtual Conference — Whole Child Education

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

THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG

Tuesday on the Whole Child Virtual Conference

May 7, 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.

Change: Making it Happen in Your School and System

10:00–11:00 a.m. eastern time
Presenter: Michael Fullan, professor emeritus, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and special advisor to the Minister of Education, Ontario, Canada

Download handout (PDF)

This presentation is a unique opportunity for educators to hear current research on the drivers that can ensure successful, whole-system reform. The presenter will discuss what we know about bringing about successful change in practice by helping participants assess their current change situation and help identify their key change priorities. The session will place special emphasis on the role of technology as it relates to teaching and deep learning goals for students.

ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award 2013 Winners

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

Hear about the ASCD Outstanding Young Educators Award (OYEA) and stories from the 2013 OYEA winners, Josh Garcia and Ryan Twentey. The OYEA program celebrates the next generation of teachers and administrators who demonstrate outstanding leadership. OYEA winners exemplify a passion for excellence in, educating the whole child; demonstrating leadership; improving student engagement, achievement, and learning; and contributing to the education profession. The panel members include

Josh Garcia, 2013 ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award winner and deputy superintendent, Federal Way Public Schools, Tacoma, WA
Ryan Twentey, 2013 ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award winner and photography teacher, Parkville High School, Baltimore, MD

Turning High-Poverty Schools into High-Performing Schools

2:00–3:00 p.m. eastern time
Presenters: William Parrett, ASCD author and director, Boise State University Center for School Improvement and Policy Studies, Boise, ID, and Kathleen Budge, ASCD author and coordinator, Boise State University Leadership Development Program, Boise, ID

Download handout (PDF)

This session focuses on a research-based framework for leadership and learning in high-poverty schools. Recent case studies from high-performing/high-poverty (HP/HP) schools provide concrete insight into what it takes to make a dramatic turnaround. Practical study and planning tools are provided to guide improvement in participants' own school or district. Through better understanding of how HP/HP schools achieve success with underachieving students who live in poverty, participants will acquire specific strategies and identify action steps to best support these students.

Working Toward the Next Evolution for School Health

4:00–5:00 p.m. eastern time
Panel Discussion

As the sectors of health and education align more closely, is it time for a new model or approach to structure how these entities can and should work together? Is it time for a new evolution for school health (and a new evolution of how education views health and wellbeing?). This session will host panel experts from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Coordinated School Health to discuss what changes are needed and why they are needed. Join us as we outline the next iteration of the Coordinated School Health and Health Promoting Schools models under a whole child framework ensuring that education and health not only work together but continuously strengthen each other. Panel members include Holly Hunt

Diane Allensworth, special advisor, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Wayne Giles, director Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Holly Hunt, branch chief, School Health Branch, Division of Population, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Lloyd Kolbe, professor emeritus of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

To Close the "Opportunity Gap," We Need to Close the Vocabulary Gap - Bridging Differences - Education Week

To Close the "Opportunity Gap," We Need to Close the Vocabulary Gap - Bridging Differences - Education Week:

To Close the "Opportunity Gap," We Need to Close the Vocabulary Gap

by Deborah Meier

Today, Michael J. Petrilli, the executive vice president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, joins Deborah Meier. He will blog with her for the next month.
Dear Deborah,
Petrilli_Blog100 (2).jpg

Thanks for inviting me to join you on your blog. Even though we disagree on many issues, I have great respect for you and the work you've done in your career.
As I write this, I'm returning from the Education Writers Association annual conference, held this year at Stanford. I spoke on a panel about the "opportunity gap" with professors Sean Reardon and Prudence Carter. Reardon, as you know, recently published a fascinating but sobering study about the growing income achievement gap. (ASCD's Educational Leadership has an accessible version of the study available online.) And Carter co-edited

Obama, defying political base, declares National Charter Schools Week | Strange Bedfellows — Politics News - seattlepi.com

Obama, defying political base, declares National Charter Schools Week | Strange Bedfellows — Politics News - seattlepi.com:

Obama, defying political base, declares National Charter Schools Week

Beware of AstroTurf Ed Reformers (click picture)

President Obama has proclaimed this as “National Charter Schools Week” in the United States, warmly embracing a cause that is anathema to teachers unions as it is in much of the president’s liberal base in this Washington.

The president, in praising charter schools, seemed to note the atrophy of the public school system, particularly in some urban areas.

“These learning laboratories give educators the chance to try new models and methods that can encourage excellence in the classroom and prepare more of our children for college and careers,” Obama wrote. “In return for this flexibility, we should expect high standards and accountability, and make tough decisions to close charter schools that are under, defying performing and not improving.

“But where charter schools demonstrate success and exceed expectations, we should share what they learn with other public schools and replicate those that produce dramatic results. Many charter schools choose to locate in communities with few high-quality educational options, making them an important partner in widening the circle of opportunity for students who need it most.”

Washington voters decided narrowly in November to authorize up to 40 publicly funded charter schools open to all students and run through approved non-religious, non-profit organization, and with government oversight. The measure was heavily backed by the state’s technology billionaires: State voters had rejected charter schools on three previous occasions.

Charter schools are generally defined as a public school governed by a charter school board and operated by a

Charter schools: The report card

Max Lockie

8:12 PM on 05/06/2013

(Illinois floor during session at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Ill., Wednesday, March 24, 2010. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman))

On Friday the White House issued a presidential proclamation naming May 5 -11 “National Charter School Week.” Charter Schools are publicly funded schools that are governed by an independent organization through a contract–or charter–with the state. This charter allows these schools to ignore some state or local rules in exchange for meeting standards written into the charter. About 5% of all schools in the U.S. are charter schools, with enrollment quadrupling from 1990-2000 to 2009-10 to 1.6 million students.

In Friday’s Proclamation, President Obama referred to charter schools as “learning laboratories” that offer educators “flexibility” to test new “new models and methods” in the classroom. “In return for this flexibility,” President Obama continues, “we should expect high standards and accountability.”

Accountability was the subject of a report from the Department of Education Office of the

Department Of Education 'Comes Out' On College Aid For Students Of Gay Parents - Forbes

Department Of Education 'Comes Out' On College Aid For Students Of Gay Parents - Forbes:

Department Of Education 'Comes Out' On College Aid For Students Of Gay Parents

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The US Department of Education “came out” last week with changes to its Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that are clearly aimed at the LGBT community. The changes serve more to

Students of Gay Parents Can Now List Both Parent's Incomes on the FAFSA College Aid Application; (Mother 1 and Mother 2 or Father 1 and Father 2)

recognize this community than to produce results in the form of college aid eligibility for students. Instead, students with parents who are not married will now have to report both parent’s incomes, decreasing their aid eligibility substantially.

The announcement stated that the 2014-2015 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, will provide a new option for dependent applicants to describe their parents’ marital status as “unmarried and both parents living together.” Additionally, where appropriate, the new FAFSA form will also use terms like “Parent 1 (father/mother/stepparent)” and “Parent 2 (father/mother/stepparent)” instead of gender-specific terms like

MORNING UPDATE LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-7-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | #thankateacher A site to discuss better education for all

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

#thankateacher

Researcher Says Louisiana DOE Hid Data

by dianerav

Louisiana deserves out attention because it is an extreme example of the corporate reform agenda at work.
As Reuters put it, the “reform” agenda targets the very existence of public education. The radical goal of Governor Bobby Jindal is privatization. Wiping out the teaching profession is a strategy to turn teachers into a compliant workforce, unable to challenge the privatization plan.
Testifying before the state senate education committee, a researcher pointed out

Breaking News: Louisiana Court Rules Funding Vouchers Unconstitutional

by dianerav

The Louisiana State Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to fund vouchers using money dedicated to public schools. The court split 6-1. The decision removes funding not only for vouchers but for “course choice,” which was supposed to fund courses offered by entrepreneurs–many of them online– outside the public schools.

CORRECTION: Louisiana Court 6-1 Against Vouchers

by dianerav

Sorry, I erroneously posted that the Louisiana State Supreme Court ruled the funding of vouchers unconstitutional by 2-1.
The vote was 6-1.

Why Did Educators Boo Duncan? Jennings Apologizes

by dianerav

I did not go to the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association in San Francisco, so was not aware of what is described in this post. Jennifer Jennings says that Arne Duncan was booed when he spoke, and she apologized to Secretary Duncan for the behavior of her fellow researchers.
Why was Secretary Duncan booed, and should AERA (or anyone else) apologize for the booing?
Booing is the behavior of the powerless. Educators are angry–and Jennings knows this–because of the top-down, authoritarian way in which Duncan has imposed policies that are bad for children, ruinous for teachers,

Will Public Education Survive in Arizona?

by dianerav

Edward F. Berger is a strong voice for sanity in the desert of Arizona education politics.
He attended a community meeting with a gubernatorial candidate.
The condition of public education after 20 years of failed policies is frightening.
“The politician, who has been involved in the demise of public education for well over a decade, is not naïve, he is not misinformed, he is, in fact, part of the insanity that has taken over the state and is openly destroying public education so that now private religious and charter schools have access to our public tax dollars. He stands before this hopeful group and omits what he knows, that these are dollars diverted from district schools, the very

Petrilli: Closing the Vocabulary Gap Will Close the Opportunity Gap

by dianerav

Mike Petrilli of the conservative Thomas B. Fordham Institute just posted his first blog exchange with Deborah Meier. Mike argues that the key to closing the opportunity gap between rich and poor children is to close the vocabulary gap. He cites the work of E.D. Hirsch to support his contention.
In his article, he refers to me as one of the people who say that nothing can be done until we fix poverty. To be sure I don’t misquote him, as he misquotes me, here is the relevant paragraph:
“Still, the message that comes through in Professors Reardon’s and Carter’s work—and from others on the left, including Diane Ravitch and Richard Rothstein—is that there’s not much schools can do about these gaps. They are visible before kids even enter kindergarten; they don’t grow much, if at all, while children are in the K-12

Ripping Off Taxpayers in Pennsylvania

by dianerav

A new report from the state auditor general shows how charters and cyber charters are overpaid, while the public system–which most children attend–get the short end of the stick.
“PA cybercharters avg cost of $10,145 was $3,500 more than national average of $6,500.
“PA charters spent avg $13,411 per student, about $3K more than

Why VAM Doesn’t Work: A Short Tutorial

by dianerav

In this video of 23 minutes, you will get a synopsis of why value-added modeling doesn’t work.
The video is a preview of a collection of research papers that will be available online in a few months, and published in 2014 by Teachers College Press in 2014.
The more we learn about the real consequences of VAM, the more we understand that it has perverse consequences.
We know already that it puts too much emphasis on test scores, and we saw what that

Is VAM Junk Science? Matt Di Carlo and I Disagree

by dianerav

I usually agree with Matt Di Carlo. He is one smart guy.
But not always.
That’s okay. Friends can disagree and still be friends (I proved that by blogging with Deborah Meier for five years).
I think that value-added methods of using test scores to

Diane in the Evening 5-6-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 32 minutes ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Will My School Die? by dianerav The teacher who wrote this post reequired anonymity, for obvious reasons: I am writing to tell you about a situation at my school — Shea High in Pawtucket, RI. At the start of last year, both Shea and Tolman High (the only two non-charter public high schools in Pawtucket) were told that they had failed to make AYP as per NCLB and would have to undergo transformation. Note that since RI has accepted RttT, last year was the last possible year that this could have happened. Despit... more »

Glen Brown asks, “What about that pension agreement between the We Are One Illinois Coalition and Senate President Cullerton?” | Fred Klonsky

Glen Brown asks, “What about that pension agreement between the We Are One Illinois Coalition and Senate President Cullerton?” | Fred Klonsky:

Glen Brown asks, “What about that pension agreement between the We Are One Illinois Coalition and Senate President Cullerton?”

by Fred Klonsky

Glen Brown.

Contracts supported by consideration are often one-sided, advantageous arrangements. In Illinois, any agreement with the General Assembly regarding a “guaranteed” funding to the pension systems, for example, may not be a “valid” consideration for public employees, especially since it would be in exchange for reductions of originally-vested benefits guaranteed by the Illinois and U.S. Constitutions. It is an expedient bargain for many members of the Illinois General Assembly, nonetheless, particularly since there haven’t been consequences for their past thievery and depravity.It wasn’t too long ago when John Stevens, Legal Consultant for the “We Are One” Labor Coalition stated: “To take away the Cost-of-Living Adjustment [COLA] for [current and future] retirees is not a free and fair choice. It is a coercive choice under duress.” Indeed, the concept of duress (or coercion) is a vitiating (legally defective) factor and; therefore, Illinois legislators are breaching a contract by forcing public employees to make a choice to

Louisiana Educator: Great News From the Legislature

Louisiana Educator: Great News From the Legislature:

Great News From the Legislature

by Michael Deshotels

A couple of weeks ago I got a comment to my blog from a teacher who in effect said that she appreciated the support the education profession was getting from this blog, but she said it was a bit depressing to always see so much bad news about education in Louisiana. I responded that when there was good news I would be happy to report it. Well here it is. Good news for a change!

Yesterday afternoon, the House of Representatives voted 102 to 0 to approve HB 160 by Rep. Reynolds. (See the Advocate story here) This bill will put off the punitive measures required in the Act 54 evaluation system for at least a year. The vote on this bill demonstrates a major turnaround in attitude of the legislature from last year when it seemed that teachers were just not being heard even when they showed up by the thousands at the capitol. I believe that teachers have finally done a good job of "educating" their legislators that evaluation reform must be based on solid and tested programs before it is allowed to affect the lives of dedicated professionals.There is so much wrong with the new evaluation system which I have discussed extensively in this blog!

The Neglected Purpose of Education | toteachornototeach

The Neglected Purpose of Education | toteachornototeach:

The Neglected Purpose of Education

by aristotlethewise

The Neglected Purpose of Education

by Jack Jennings

“To prepare all citizens to become responsible members of a democratic society”
“To develop socialization and citizenship skills in children”
“Preparing students for responsible, productive citizenship and imbuing them with values common to one democratic society”
These similar phrases were developed by diverse groups of citizens in three communities — Berwyn, Illinois; Chicago; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, respectively — to describe what they saw as a basic mission of public education.
These conclusions emerged from 72 citizens’ forums held in all regions of the country in 1996 through 1998 by the National PTA, Phi Delta Kappa, and the Center on Education Policy. Their purpose was to encourage local

Summer enrichment programs prove their value | EdSource Today

Summer enrichment programs prove their value | EdSource Today:

Summer enrichment programs prove their value - by John Fensterwald

by John Fensterwald

The organizers of a statewide campaign to encourage school districts to offer quality summer enrichment programs have documented gains in learning and growth in social skills that they anticipated would benefit low-income, minority students in their programs.

Through its Summer Matters initiative in a dozen communities, the Partnership for Children and Youth has promoted full-day programs that are more like summer camp than traditional summer schools. Most of the programs are partnerships between city departments of recreation and school districts.

Students at Sacramento's summer program at Sam Brannan Middle School meet at a community garden, one of of their summer learning projects. Photo courtesy of Partnership for Children and Youth.

Students at Sacramento’s summer program at Sam Brannan Middle School meet at a community garden, one of of their summer learning projects. Credit: Partnership for Children and Youth.

“Programs do not have to look like traditional summer school to get good results that are engaging and inspiring for students. There is not necessarily a better return on a boring program,” said Katie Brackenridge, senior director for Out of School Time Initiatives for the Partnership.

The evaluation of three summer programs – in Fresno, Los Angeles and Sacramento – found particular improvements in literacy skills, as measured by the San Diego Quick, a common vocabulary test. Participants

California Teachers Association turns 150 - by Kathryn Baron

by Kathryn Baron

The California Teachers Association is celebrating the 28th annual national Teacher Appreciation Week with a bigger milestone – the 150th anniversary of its founding. It was May 1863 when then state superintendent of schools John Swett, a passionate advocate for free public education, held a state teachers’ convention and established the California Educational Society with fewer than 100 members,...

Actually, Failing Our Children Is What’s Unflippingbelieveable « MomsRising Blog

Actually, Failing Our Children Is What’s Unflippingbelieveable « MomsRising Blog:

Actually, Failing Our Children Is What’s Unflippingbelieveable

by Bruce Lesley

A few weeks ago, Melissa Harris-Perry appeared in a “Lean Forward” promotional ad for MSNBC and said:

We have never invested as much in public education as we should have because we’ve always had kind of a private notion of children: Your kid is yours and totally your responsibility. We haven’t had a very collective notion of these are our children. So part of it is we have to break through our kind of private idea that kids belong to their parents, or kids belong to their families, and recognize that kids belong to whole communities. Once it’s everybody’s responsibility, and not just the household’s, then we start making better investments.

As an advocate for children, I appreciate her last point that, in this country, we do a poor job of making the needed investments in education, early childhood, child health, and child nutrition to ensure better outcomes for our nation’s children. For example, less than 8 percent of the federal budget is now invested in children and thesequestration cuts another $4.2 billion out of children’s programs.
As if to underscore the point, Congress moved into high gear to pass by overwhelming margins emergency