Read the letter Dallas ISD trustees sent Miles on how to behave during independent investigation | Education Blog

Read the letter Dallas ISD trustees sent Miles on how to behave during independent investigation | Education Blog:

Read the letter Dallas ISD trustees sent Miles on how to behave during independent investigation

By Matthew Haag
mhaag@dallasnews.com
11:28 am on July 30, 2013 | Permalink

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Dallas ISD Superintendent Mike Miles received a letter Friday instructing him not to interfere or impede an independent investigation into whether he tried to manipulate the warding of a parent education services contract.

The letter, signed by board president Eric Cowan, lists 11 orders that Miles is expected follow.

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Matthew Haag writes about the Dallas Independent School District. Follow @matthewhaag on Twitter,@DallasISD_News on Twitter and the Education Blog on Facebook.

Dallas ISD urges other districts not to hire teachers that didn’t resign in time

Dallas ISD recently sent a letter to more than 150 Texas school districts essentially asking them not to hire DISD teachers who didn’t resign in time to leave the district. DISD teachers had until July 12 to submit their resignations for the upcoming school year. And now DISD’s personnel department is trying to stop teachers who didn’t announce their exits from going to other area districts. Educ

by Matthew Haag / 2min

MJS OP-ED: Recovery School District for Milwaukee? | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

MJS OP-ED: Recovery School District for Milwaukee? | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!:

MJS OP-ED: Recovery School District for Milwaukee?

Filed under: Recovery District — millerlf @ 12:21 pm 

Look closely at school reform initiative

By Larry Miller

July 29, 2013 MJS

There’s talk of a new education “reform” initiative directed at Milwaukee Public Schools, based on the experience of what’s been done in New Orleans. We are being told it’s a miracle — a claim we should take with a large dose of skepticism.

For the past two years, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce has been talking about introducing a New Orleans-style Recovery School District (RSD). Recently, the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute proposed the same idea in a report titled “Pathway to success for Milwaukee schools.”

WPRI’s proposal describes this as an independent school district, made up of schools identified as underperforming, chartered directly by the state and answering to an independent superintendent, who would in turn report to the state Department of Public Instruction.

The WPRI claims huge success over the past 10 years for the Louisiana Recovery School District. The data I’ve reviewed shows a different picture.

Academic performance for Louisiana schools is based on School Performance Scores (SPS) that lead to a letter grade for each school from the Department of Public Instruction. The RSD saw a one-year improvement in its SPS scores. But progress looks very different if one goes by the grade given to each school, based on the SPS scores. None of the 72 RSD schools received an A this year. All but 10 received an F or a D. Five got a B, and four a C. One was not given a grade.

Before last year, the RSD was 70th out of the 70 Louisiana school districts. It moved to 69 last year. This year saw a jump of six SPS points.

For those of us who follow education policy, the lack of clear incremental improvements since the RSD’s inception in 2003, and the individual school grades co-existing with the one-year jump for the district overall, is always a moment for caution.

Take what happened in Chicago when test scores increased significantly under Arne Duncan on Illinois standardized tests. The results from students 

Indiana Changes Grade System for Schools to Make Charters Look Good

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by millerlf / 7min 

Five Messages About Public Education That Don’t Sell (And Ones That Will)

Five Messages About Public Education That Don’t Sell (And Ones That Will):

Five Messages About Public Education That Don’t Sell (And Ones That Will)

By Jeff Bryant | July 30, 2013

[The following is from a talk given at a meeting of the Young Elected Officials last week in Washington, D.C.]

Thanks for having me here today. I’m feeling a little out of context at a meeting for the Young Elected Officials. And it’s not because I’m not an elected official.

But I suppose there are some advantages and benefits to aging. Wisdom, however, is not one of them, as the demographics of Fox News bear out.

In aging you have experiences that you can reflect and act on over time and experiences that are unique to your generational cohort. For instance, how many of you have deep expertise in junk mail? That happens to be my work in trade as I’ve been in that business for over 20 years; although, the industry is nothing like what it once was and is rapidly going the way of the dinosaurs.

Also, how many of you were in school in the South during the early years of forced 

LCFF money includes requirements, sanctions limiting K-3 class size SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources:

LCFF money includes requirements, sanctions limiting K-3 class size 
By Tom Chorneau
Tuesday, July 30, 2013

An overlooked but still key provision of Gov. Jerry Brown’s new funding formula for schools requires districts to maintain average class sizes at no more than 24 students – or risk losing some of their funding.

In a new report released Monday by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, researchers pointed out that the newly enacted Local Control Funding Formula provides a grade span differential generally intended to recognize the higher cost of services to older students.

But the LCFF also provides an adjustment that increases state support for kindergarten through grade three – additional money intended to cover the cost of limiting class sizes in those early years.

The adjustment increases the K-3 base rate by 10.4 percent (or initially $712 per average daily attendance)—for an adjusted initial K-3 base rate of $7,557, according to the LAO.

However, districts could lose all that additional funding if any particular school site exceeds the required class size, unless school officials have negotiated a collective bargaining agreement with their teachers’ union that sets class 

7-30-13 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.:

Back to work?

Glen Brown writes a different letter.

  Glen Brown. Photo: Fred Klonsky Illinois Legislator: “We write to inform you that [if and when you pass pension reform] we will file a lawsuit challenging [your unconstitutional actions, for they are] purely political, [opportunistic] and an unconstitutional attempt to coerce [public employees] to comply with [your] demands. “This matter is of fundamental constitutional importance, as [pension

by Fred Klonsky / 34min 

MadiganCullerton call on legislators to defend THEIR constitution. Not OURS.

  Dear Fellow Legislator: As you know, Governor Quinn took unprecedented action when he used the line item veto to eliminate General Assembly members’ salaries for the entire year. This action was purely political and an unconstitutional attempt to coerce the legislature to comply with his demands. We write to inform you that later today we will file a lawsuit challenging Governor Quinn’s uncons

by Fred Klonsky / 0min 

Hold the date. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky speaks to SORE.

It took some time. When I retired a year ago June I joined IEA Retired and was assigned to the Skokie chapter. Those who retired ahead of me laughed when I told them. “There is no IEA Retired Skokie chapter,” they said. That seemed a little crazy since I knew there were hundreds of dues paying members in the near north suburbs that were living in or had taught in the area covered by the Regional I

by Fred Klonsky / 8min 

Mayor Madigan?

  As the Sun-Times rumor monger Michael Sneed would say, it is no secret that there is no love lost between Rahm Emanuel and former-Mayor Richard Daley the younger. And it is just as obvious that the Sneed item about CTU President Karen Lewis having lunch with Richie at Gibson’s at was leaked by the Daley people. Speaking on behalf of the old Machine families, Richie wants  the message sent that

by Fred Klonsky / 2min 

TRS Trustee Bob Lyons. Investment returns.

TRS board of trustee member Bob Lyons represents retirees. He shares the latest information of TRS investment returns. For the most part our investment gains for the past fiscal year were known by July 1, but compiling the final returns from our private equity and real estate investments takes more time.  Our dear friends at the Illinois Policy Institute made a FIOA request asking for our latest

by Fred Klonsky / 39min 

Back to work?

Some of you may laugh at the idea of taking a vacation from retirement. But that’s what I did. Anne, her sister and brother-in-law (our frequent travel companions) and I just got back last night from twelve days on the road through the Olympic Peninsula, Seattle, Portland and the San Juan Islands. It is fantastically beautiful country. Although we rented a car, our total mileage was only 350 mile

by Fred Klonsky / 5min 

7-29-13 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: The in box. Mike Klonsky on the latest from my stalker, Kyle Olson.From Mike Klonsky’s Small Talk. Right-wing Loony Tunes. EAG’s Kyle Olson always appears on FOX in front of a faux bookcase. As if… Right-wing loony Kyle Olson is at it again. You might remember Kyle as a guy who has made a career out o

by mike simpson / 3h 

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, July 30, 2013

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team:

Education Headlines

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Adult ed returning to Sonora High

Sonora Union High School District will restart its adult education program after a one-year hiatus that narrowed options for older students seeking high school diplomas.

New Bassett Unified superintendent starts job with 48 years of post-retirement health care

Superintendent Jose Reynoso's contract, approved in a 3-2 vote July 18, includes a stipulation that upon retirement the district will provide two years of health benefits to both Reynoso and his spouse for every year the 54-year-old served as an administrator. Reynoso had 24 years of qualified time before accepting the position.

Irvine schools facing growth pains

When it comes to elementary school student populations, how big is too big? Stonegate Elementary will put this question to the test the next school year when its student body is projected to grow to nearly 1,200 students – up from about 975 students a year ago.

San Jose school district's labor dispute heads to fact-finding

Negotiations between the Evergreen School District and its teachers union have been halted, with the two sides preparing to submit their arguments to a fact-finding panel.

Parents to weigh in on how school districts spend new funds

A new report out Monday by the State’s Legislative Analyst spells out accountability measures school districts must meet under California’s new funding formula, which gives district with lots of low-income or English-learning students more money - and more control over how to spend it.

Monday, July 29, 2013

District to take huge hit to wallet

California's recently adopted system for funding public education is expected to dramatically reduce a financial windfall that has been enjoyed in recent years by New Jerusalem Elementary School District in rural Tracy.

Alisal intends to drop Youth Orchestra Salinas

The Alisal Union School District Board of Trustees faces a serious culture clash when it convenes its meeting Wednesday night.

Fontana Unified school board members see more cooperation

"You could feel a difference when you walked into the room," said Kathy Binks, a 25-year veteran of the school board. She was referring to the first Fontana Unified school board meeting after a recall election ousted Leticia Garcia and Sophia Green. 

Michigan's schools chief 1 of 28 education officials nationwide paid more than governor | MLive.com

Michigan's schools chief 1 of 28 education officials nationwide paid more than governor | MLive.com:

Michigan's schools chief 1 of 28 education officials nationwide paid more than governor

LANSING -- Michigan's top school official is one of 28 state education chiefs nationwide making more than their state's governor, a new survey from the Council of State Governments found.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan has a reported salary of $189,515, according to the survey, part of the annual "Book of the States" project produced by the Council of State Governments. That salary puts him ahead of Gov. Rick Snyder, who has a salary of $159,300.

HIGH-PAID EDUCATION OFFICIALS

State education officials in these states all make more than their governors:
• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• New Mexico
• New York
• Ohio
• Rhode Island
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• West Virginia
Source: Council of State Governments

Snyder refused to accept the bulk of his salary for his first year in office, taking only $1 in compensation and returning the rest to the state treasury. For 2012, Snyder accepted only 75 percent of his salary, with the remaining $40,000 given to charity, according to the governor's office. A decision about Snyder's 2013 salary has not been made.

Flanagan's reported salary is about $32,000 above the 50-state average of $157,662, although he is far from the highest-paid state education chief. Nine states have schools leaders making more than $200,000, and Mississippi's top education official makes the 

UPDATE: Seattle Schools Community Forum: Tuesday Open Thread

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Tuesday Open Thread:


Smile of the Day

I received an e-mail that Peter Maier is promoting Estey and Blanford for School Board.   And that's fine.What's funny is how he describes them (and given what he writes, I'm pretty sure he DID write it):EsteySuzanne Dale Estey is running to fill the District IV position vacated by retiring Seattle School Board Member Michael DeBell, who has endorsed her. From our work together on the School Board

by Melissa Westbrook / 20min 

Thoughts for STEM and APP in West Seattle

K-5 STEM at Boren needs a permanent home. The District is currently thinking of using the Schmitz Park building, but the school is already too big for that building. Are we spending tens of millions of BEX IV money to take kids out of portables at Schmitz Park just to put a lot of other kids into portables at Schmitz Park? That doesn't make any sense. E C Hughes is another possible location, but i

by Charlie Mas / 10min 

Tuesday Open Thread

Kind of an interesting story from Indie Reader to tell your art-inspired kids - the story of the first cover of The Great Gatsby and the ones that came after.

Remember kindergarten?  I do and it wasn't like this (from Boston.com).

Yet there is a growing disconnect between what the research says is best for children -- a classroom free of pressure -- and what’s actually going on in schools.

Take the example of a girl who was barely 5 when she entered Gerzon’s classroom. She didn’t know her ABCs, but one day in class she made up a song and taught it to the other children. But because of new requirements, “I had to send a letter to her parents saying that [she] is not proficient,” says Gerzon. 

How Do We Connect Educators? | My Island View

How Do We Connect Educators? | My Island View:

How Do We Connect Educators?

July 30, 2013 by tomwhitby

I am participating in the national plan to promote Connected Educators’ Month (CEM) for this year. I was very honored to even be asked to participate on this committee, because I am committed to collaborative learning for all educators. I believe that social media and technology afford our profession the best opportunity to date in order to connect educators for collaboration and exchanging ideas to develop and maintain relevance as professional educators. Technology offers our best tools to enable, promote, and practice life long learning, the very thing that educators hold up as the “Holy Grail” for their students. As I have pointed out in many posts, Life Long Learning should also be the personal goal of all educators, and ideally everyone else in our country as well, even if that reality may be unrealistic.

The leaders of this planning committee have their hands full, trying to orchestrate an effective plan with input coming from more than 30 individuals. Each of the committee members has his, or her own vision of what Connected Educators’ Month should look like. Each of the members has strong opinions, each has a strong personality, and each is a leader in his or her area of expertise. Trying to include everyone’s position in one plan will be a herculean task, but it is certainly doable through collaboration.

My position on the committee is simple. I want to connect the unconnected 

7-30-13 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online:

What Next From FOX? Challenging a Jew for Daring to Write About Jesus?

“You’re a Muslim, so why did you write a book about the founder of Christianity?” Ms. Green asked..... FOX Newsreaders of a fundamentalist/Evangelical persuasion are furious that a Muslim published a book about Christianity’s origins.”... NY TimesToday's NY Times business section has an interesting article, which in the context of my spending the past month reading Jeremy Scahill's "Dirty Wars" ma

by ed notes online / 1min 

The Little Theater That Could: Rockaway Cafe: The Comeback - Final perfomances this weekend

by ed notes online / 7min mark as read  //  save

Andy Borowitz: Weiner Names New Campaign Manager

NEW YORK (The Borowitz Report)—One day after his campaign manager quit, the mayoral candidate Anthony D. Weiner named his penis to the post, telling reporters, “He was already making most of the major decisions, anyway.” In announcing the new appointment, Mr. Weiner lavished praise upon his penis, calling him “a tough hombre” who “cares about the struggles of ordinary, middle-class New Yorkers.”Mo

by ed notes online / 7min  

7-27-13 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online: I Won't Post Video of Amateur Actor/Teacher's Mock Chippendale Routine in Review: Campbell Brown Might See ItSometimes people take off their shirts, and I don't personally see anything awfully wrong with that. It's certainly not grounds for dismissal... NYC Educator. Paranoia will destroya.Guilty!I taped the wonderful Rockaway Theatre Company's review, "Rockaway Cafe: The Comeback

by mike simpson / 9h