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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Nite Cap 7-30-13 #BATsACT #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2


James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."


A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP



TODAY

A Generational Shift in the Value of Institutions — Whole Child Education
A Generational Shift in the Value of Institutions — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGA Generational Shift in the Value of InstitutionsJuly 30, 2013 by Leader to LeaderAt the the recent ASCD Leader to Leader (L2L) conference, attendees had a series of passionateunconference conversations. Several groups refined their thoughts into a series of presentations to share with other attendees in
by mike simpson / 43min 
7-30-13 Schools Matter @ The Chalk Face
SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE: To follow up on Chris Cerrone’s great post on #ECEChris Cerrone has a great post up including some examples of first-grade vocabulary from CCSS. Can it be argued as a good thing that first graders are now going to be taught the meaning of Ziggurat? I thought the CCSS was not supposed to be a checklist of things. Check out our most recent interview […]by Chalk Face,
by mike simpson / 2h 
Department of Education Invites Districts to Apply for $120 Million in Race to the Top Funds to Support Classroom-Level Reform Efforts | U.S. Department of Education
Department of Education Invites Districts to Apply for $120 Million in Race to the Top Funds to Support Classroom-Level Reform Efforts | U.S. Department of Education: Department of Education Invites Districts to Apply for $120 Million in Race to the Top Funds to Support Classroom-Level Reform EffortsJULY 30, 2013Contact:   Press, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov The U.S. Department of Education announ
by mike simpson / 2h 
Those who can magically turn a 'C' into an 'A' - The Maddow Blog
Those who can magically turn a 'C' into an 'A' - The Maddow Blog: Those who can magically turn a 'C' into an 'A' - The Maddow Blog Last year in Indiana, a charter school called Christel House had a small problem. Students' poor algebra test scores had dragged down the school's overall letter grade in the state system to a "C," which in turn put state funding in jeopardy.At the same time, Republic
by mike simpson / 2h 
Diane in the Evening 7-30-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: NC Teacher: These “Reforms” Are InsaneA reader from North Carolina explains how the legislatures so-called reforms will affect her: “I have been teaching in NC for 13 years now. To be honest, having to sign a new contract each year or not getting a raise yet again doesn’t concern me as much as having 25+ 7 year olds with no assista
by mike simpson / 2h 
Et tu England? English education policy is based on a nasty little theory | Education | The Guardian
English education policy is based on a nasty little theory | Education | The Guardian: English education policy is based on a nasty little theoryUnderlying education policies in England is the misguided idea that only a few children are clever and that the rest are less valuable, argues Prof Danny DorlingDanny DorlingThe Guardian, Monday 22 July 2013 15.00 EDTJump to comments (334)Danny Dorling: ‘
by mike simpson / 4h 
Chiefs for Changing Grades? - United for Public Schools
Chiefs for Changing Grades? - United for Public Schools: Chiefs for Changing Grades?SHARE:facebooktwitterPosted by admin | July 30, 2013 | Category: corporate agenda | Write CommentFormer Indiana schools chief and current Florida education commissioner Tony Bennett changed Indiana’s school grading system to benefit one of his donors. But he and other Chiefs for Change have changed more than grades
by mike simpson / 4h 
State Advisory Council (SAC) Resources - State Advisory Council on Early Learning and Care (CA Dept of Education)
State Advisory Council (SAC) Resources - State Advisory Council on Early Learning and Care (CA Dept of Education): State Advisory Council (SAC) ResourcesResources developed for the State Advisory Council (SAC) on Early Learning and Care.Access to Quality: Early Learning for California Preschoolers in Subsidized License-Exempt Settings (PDF; 1MB)Summary of findings and policy recommendations on imp
by mike simpson / 4h 
NYC Public School Parents: The most shocking scandal of Teach for America?
NYC Public School Parents: The most shocking scandal of Teach for America?: The most shocking scandal of Teach for America?There has been much discussion and debate about how Teach for America undermines our public schools by encouraging the deprofessionalization of the teaching force, and“perpetuates systemic inequalities” especially in urban schools. In many districts, TFA has used its political
by mike simpson / 4h 
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 investigationBy Matthew Haagmhaag@dallasnews.com11:28 am on July 30, 2013 | Permalink240Dallas ISD Superintendent Mike Miles received a letter Friday instructing him not to interfere or impede an indepe
by mike simpson / 4h 
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 initiativeBy Larry MillerJuly 29, 2013 MJSThere’s talk of a new education “reform” initiative directed at Milwaukee Public Schools, based on the experience of what’s been
by mike simpson / 5h 
Five Messages About Public Education That Don’t Sell
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 Official
by mike simpson / 5h 
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 ChorneauTuesday, July 30, 2013An 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 th
by mike simpson / 5h 
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?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
by mike simpson / 6h 
Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, July 30, 2013
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Education HeadlinesTuesday, July 30, 2013Adult ed returning to Sonora HighSonora 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 careSuperintend
by mike simpson / 6h 
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 governorLANSING -- 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
by mike simpson / 7h 
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Tuesday Open Thread
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Tuesday Open Thread: Tuesday Open ThreadKind 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 classr
by mike simpson / 7h 
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 tomwhitbyI 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 professi
by mike simpson / 7h 
7-30-13 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: The Little Theater That Could: Rockaway Cafe: The Comeback - Final perfomances this weekendby ed notes online / 7min mark as read  //  saveAndy Borowitz: Weiner Names New Campaign ManagerNEW 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 m
by mike simpson / 7h 
Morning Wink 7-30-13 AM Posts #BATsACT #edreform #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSTODAYMissouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Standards Opponents Unite from the Left and the RightMissouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Standards Opponents Unite from the Left and the Right: Common Core Standards Opponents Unite from the Left and the RightEmail ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookCitizens from all political sides want to recl
by mike simpson / 7h 
Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Standards Opponents Unite from the Left and the Right
Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Standards Opponents Unite from the Left and the Right: Common Core Standards Opponents Unite from the Left and the RightEmail ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookCitizens from all political sides want to reclaim educational freedomThe Left-Right Alliance for Education has issued a statement on its objection to Common Core State standards.  The gro
by mike simpson / 8h 
Options growing for bilingual education for the preschool set | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC
Options growing for bilingual education for the preschool set | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC: Options growing for bilingual education for the preschool setDeepa Fernandes | July 30th, 2013, 6:00amMaya Sugarman/KPCCTransitional kindergarten dual language student Jesus Lopez goes through a keycard exercise with his classmates on Wednesday, March 20 at Foster Elementary School. Half of the school is in a
by mike simpson / 9h 
The Characteristics Of SIG Schools
Shanker Blog » The Characteristics Of SIG Schools: The Characteristics Of SIG SchoolsPosted by Matthew Di Carlo on July 30, 2013A few years ago, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) launched the School Improvement Grant (SIG) program, which is designed to award grants to “persistently low-achieving schools” to carry out one of four different intervention models.States vary in how SIG-eligible s
by mike simpson / 9h 
NYC Educator: TFA Becomes Scab for America
NYC Educator: TFA Becomes Scab for America: TFA Becomes Scab for AmericaI've read a lot of criticism of Teach for America over the last few years. For one thing, they provide a scant five weeks of training, and that's clearly insufficient preparation to teach in urban schools. This is particularly true when you compare it to student teaching, which is basically a full year shadowing and experience
by mike simpson / 9h 
Charter schools are rebuilding the walls of segregation: As I See It | PennLive.com
Charter schools are rebuilding the walls of segregation: As I See It | PennLive.com: Charter schools are rebuilding the walls of segregation: As I See ItBy Bill MaxwellCharter schools are seen by many parents, policymakers and educators as the panacea in public education. Each year, these campuses are increasing in number nationwide.In a recent survey of research on school choice and charter schoo
by mike simpson / 10h 
California Moving Away From Washington's Corporate Education Reform | John Affeldt
California Moving Away From Washington's Corporate Education Reform | John Affeldt: California Moving Away From Washington's Corporate Education ReformPosted: 07/29/2013 6:42 pmCalifornia's shift to a new weighted student funding model represents just the most recent example of how Democratic state policymakers here are charting a different course in education policy than the Obama administration
by mike simpson / 10h 
Get to Know the American Academic System - International Student Counsel
Get to Know the American Academic System - International Student Counsel (usnews.com): Get to Know the American Academic SystemBy EMILY BURTJuly 30, 2013 RSS Feed PrintInternational students should take time to adjust to the standard grading and testing systems at universities in the U.S.The adjustment to new classes and grading systems can sometimes be a confusing process for international studen
by mike simpson / 10h 
The Rich R Different | EduShyster
The Rich R Different | EduShyster: The Rich R Different Reader: the rich are different than you and I. For one thing they keep getting richer. But that’s not the only good news. The days when the rich were content to sit around grooming theircorgies and watching their portfolios blossom are over. Today’s wealthy want to give back, using their wealth, or at least a small part of it, to address the
by mike simpson / 10h 
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-30-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Nancy Flanagan Dissects the Latest Harebrained Reform IdeaNancy Flanagan taught music in Michigan for many years. She now blogs at Edweek. In this post, she dissects a new reformy idea called “the opportunity culture.” The bottom line is that if you are in the top 25% of teachers, determined by test scores, then you should teach la
by mike simpson / 10h 
7-30-13 teacherken at Daily Kos
teacherken at Daily Kos: ... and now the return to the classroom beginsI will not have students until August 26, but today I begin my transition back to being a classroom teacher.  I will spend from 8:30-3:30 in an AP Summer Institute presented by two experienced AP US Govt and Politics teachers in Anne Arundel County.   Strictly speaking, I did not have to attend this, as I am an experienced AP t
by mike simpson / 10h 
Reclaiming the Promise of Public Education | toteachornototeach
Reclaiming the Promise of Public Education | toteachornototeach: Reclaiming the Promise of Public Education by Randi WeingartenThe idea that teachers have the summer off is something of a myth. I recently spent a few days with several thousand teachers — not at the beach, but at TEACH, the AFT’s largest gathering of educators focused on their professional practice and growth. Teachers spent long d
by mike simpson / 10h 
The Washington Teacher: 400 DCPS Teachers RSVP'd For July Job Fair
The Washington Teacher: 400 DCPS Teachers RSVP'd For July Job Fair: 400 DCPS Teachers RSVP'd For July Job FairWilson Senior High SchoolBy Candi PetersonIn April, DC Human Capital Chief, Jason Kamras testified before the DC City Council that 500-600 DCPS teachers would be excessed this school year. With the advent of 15 school closings in 2013 and two school reconstitutions at Patterson Elementary
by mike simpson / 10h 
Tony Bennett’s Emails Reveal His Personal Agenda | Scathing Purple Musings
Tony Bennett’s Emails Reveal His Personal Agenda | Scathing Purple Musings: Tony Bennett’s Emails Reveal His Personal AgendaPosted on July 30, 2013by Bob Sikes      Rate ThisThe Magic of Tony BennettIn the aftermath of revelations that then superintendent of public education Tony Bennett changed a school grade for the charter school belonging to a wealthy campaign donor, editorial boards from Indi
by mike simpson / 10h 
More Common Core SNAFUs
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » More Common Core SNAFUs: More Common Core SNAFUs One inherent weakness in Common Core is how they tried to avoid controversy at their inception, by not wading into the troubled shoals of  curriculum and content. They discovered that since they were offering standards that were so “new” and “different” they had to show exactly what folks should be doing tha
by mike simpson / 10h 
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The Safe passage charade
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The Safe passage charade: The Safe passage charadeThe mayor and Byrd-Bennett are hoping that warring gangs and assorted shooters will read and obey the new signs posted along school routes by the Dept. of Transportation. I hope so too, but I'm somehow not reassured.  (DNAInfo)As we approach the opening of school, everyone in the school community is hoping that the 40
by mike simpson / 10h 
EduDEformistas are all about data — how to “massage” it until it looks good to their wealthy backers | Crazy Crawfish's Blog
EduDEformistas are all about data — how to “massage” it until it looks good to their wealthy backers | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: EduDEformistas are all about data -- how to "massage" it until it looks good to their wealthy backersPosted on July 30, 20130  Reblogged from GFBrandenburg's Blog:Educational Deformers like Tony Bennett, Michelle Rhee, and others proclaim that they are "data-driven".They do
by mike simpson / 10h 

YESTERDAY

Governor Cuomo and DFER Screw First Graders southbronxschool.com
http://www.southbronxschool.com: Governor Cuomo and DFER Screw First GradersI was not planning on writing anything tonight. I was cruising through Facebook, catching up on the latest person's dinner, reading the 60th birthday wishes to Geddy Lee, and checking out Badass Teachers Association. I came across this disturbing post by the blogger, Chris Cerrone, over on@thechalkface.I rarely post someon
by mike simpson / 18h 
Seattle Schools Community Forum: You Can't Make This Stuff Up
Seattle Schools Community Forum: You Can't Make This Stuff Up: You Can't Make This Stuff UpSo continuing on the parade that charters are better, more innovative and, above all, allow more accountability, we have Exhibit 1.  That would be former Indiana and now current head of schools Tony Bennett.  I'll let the Fort Wayne Journaltell you what "Mr. Accountable" did (bold mine)(graphic by Jersey Jaz
by mike simpson / 19h 
Data Center: 2012 Base API school scores and rankings - Inside Bay Area
Data Center: 2012 Base API school scores and rankings - Inside Bay Area: Data Center: 2012 Base API school scores and rankingsDaniel J. WillisBay Area News GroupPOSTED:   05/24/2013 01:42:19 PM PDT | UPDATED:   6 DAYS AGO County:AllAlamedaAlpineAmadorButteCalaverasColusaContra CostaDel NorteEl DoradoFresnoGlennHumboldtImperialInyoKernKingsLakeLassenLos AngelesMaderaMarinMariposaMendocinoMercedModo
by mike simpson / 19h 
Former Republican Indiana school chief made sure GOP donor’s charter school got top marks | The Raw Story
Former Republican Indiana school chief made sure GOP donor’s charter school got top marks | The Raw Story: Former Republican Indiana school chief made sure GOP donor’s charter school got top marksBy Eric W. DolanMonday, July 29, 2013 22:11 EDTTopics: Christel House Academy ♦ tony bennett 0 The Magic of Tony BennettA former Indiana school superintendent frantically overhauled a school grading syste
by mike simpson / 19h 
The Network For Public Education | We are many. There is power in our numbers. Together, we will save our schools.
The Network For Public Education | We are many. There is power in our numbers. Together, we will save our schools.: TODAYDiane’s New Book Gets Early RecognitionThe first review of Diane’s upcoming book was published online this week. This week the first review of Diane’s new book was published by Kirkus. Diane’s book, entitled Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger t
by mike simpson / 21h 
Detroit, Chicago and then… YOU. | Reclaim Reform
Detroit, Chicago and then… YOU. | Reclaim Reform: Detroit, Chicago and then… YOU.Posted on July 29, 2013by Ken PrevitiToday’s New York Times has an article about greedy teacher, cop and firefighter pensions that presents “The Plan” for all the world to see. It begins in Detroit with its Republican appointed overseer and proceeds to cite Democratic controlled Chicago as examples.The NYT front page
by mike simpson / 22h 
Sacramento group forms to push for strong mayor - Sacramento City News - The Sacramento Bee
Sacramento group forms to push for strong mayor - Sacramento City News - The Sacramento Bee: Sacramento group forms to push for strong mayorBy Ryan Lillisrlillis@sacbee.comPublished: Saturday, Jul. 27, 2013 - 12:00 am | Page 1ALast Modified: Monday, Jul. 29, 2013 - 10:25 amMaybe the problem is that the Mayor doesn't know his own strength:  The Rise and Fall of Kevin Johnson http://bit.ly/15WnS99Re
by mike simpson / 22h 
The Difference Between "Best Practices" and Teacher Expertise - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson
The Difference Between "Best Practices" and Teacher Expertise - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson: The Difference Between “Best Practices” and Teacher Expertiseby JOSE VILSON on JULY 29, 2013My latest at TransformED. It’s been a long time, but I thought I’d share. Check this:Obviously, I would love for the students to prove me wrong, but in my experience, I haven’t yet. If anything, it tells me th
by mike simpson / 22h 
Perdido Street School: Now We Know What Tony Bennett Means By "No Excuses!"
Perdido Street School: Now We Know What Tony Bennett Means By "No Excuses!": Now We Know What Tony Bennett Means By "No Excuses!"Another education reformer exposed as a cheater and a liar -Chiefs For Change chief, Tony Bennett:INDIANAPOLIS — Former Indiana and current Florida schools chief Tony Bennett built his national star by promising to hold "failing" schools accountable. But when it appeared
by mike simpson / 23h 
The Emails and the Money Trail in Tony Bennett’s Grade Change Scandal | Scathing Purple Musings
The Emails and the Money Trail in Tony Bennett’s Grade Change Scandal | Scathing Purple Musings: The Emails and the Money Trail in Tony Bennett’s Grade Change ScandalPosted on July 29, 2013by Bob Sikes      Rate ThisTony Bennett knew he was in a bind with Indiana voters last year and so did the wealthy education privatization movement who eventually donated $1,885, 304 to his ill-fated campaign. A
by mike simpson / 23h 
In The Nation's First Black High School, A Blueprint For Reform : Code Switch : NPR
In The Nation's First Black High School, A Blueprint For Reform : Code Switch : NPR: In The Nation's First Black High School, A Blueprint For Reformby NPR STAFFEnlarge imageDunbar High School has a notable list of graduates, including the first black presidential Cabinet member, the first black general in the Army and several of the lawyers who argued the Brown v. Board of Education decision.Court
by mike simpson / 23h 
Nite Cap 7-29-13 #BATsACT #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2
James Baldwin said it best: "For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAPTODAYEd-tech without educators is doomed | DigitalEd-tech without educators is doomed | Digital: Ed-tech without educators is doomedElements 4D is a current project on Kickstarter featuring a set of wooden blocks engraved with the elements of the Periodic
by mike simpson / 23h




Posted by at

A Generational Shift in the Value of Institutions — Whole Child Education

A Generational Shift in the Value of Institutions — Whole Child Education:

THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG

Leader to Leader

A Generational Shift in the Value of Institutions

July 30, 2013 by Leader to Leader
At the the recent ASCD Leader to Leader (L2L) conference, attendees had a series of passionateunconference conversations. Several groups refined their thoughts into a series of presentations to share with other attendees in an "idea marketplace." During the idea marketplace, unconference groups presented for four rounds of 10-minute sessions, giving their peers the opportunity to learn from several groups in one session.
This post, written by Mike Rulon, a member of ASCD's Whole Child Faculty and facilitator for theAssessment for Learning ASCD Professional Interest Community, shares his group's experience. Join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #ASCDL2L.
There has been a dramatic shift in young peoples' thinking about the value of institutions. For example, they are more comfortable with changing jobs; the research states that newcomers to the job market say they expect to change jobs about every three years. This is a drastic change in thinking from my generation. We believed that we would have one or two jobs in our lifetime and with the same company or school. We believed this idea represented stability and we found comfort in having our benefits and retirement secure.
At the L2L conference we discussed other shifts in thinking about the value of the institution of education. These points were made:
  • There is more choice now than ever for parents and students, charters, private, and virtual schools.
  • Parents are becoming more comfortable with homeschooling, in part because technology makes it easier to deliver content, and there is a movement afoot for families to group together to share the responsibility of home schooling children from several families at a time.
  • The U.S. Congress has passed bills that could become law that will make voucher systems in states easier to institute.
  • One of Florida's largest school districts is a virtual district with thousands of students never setting foot in a school building for their high school careers.
We left with these questions for educators to ponder:
  1. How can we recapture parents and students to value public schooling?
  2. Should we consider partnering with the groups that are pulling our students away from our schools?
We believe that ASCD can:
  1. Collect or sponsor research into why students are leaving our schools and where are they going.
  2. Make the ASCD membership aware of this trend and the consequences of continuing "business as usual" will have on our schools.
  3. Ramp up the support for the ASCD Whole Child Initiative. We believe that is what today's parents and students want from education.
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7-30-13 SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE

SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE:

gears




Parcc 90210
PARCC will be field testing its assessments in fourteen states and DC next spring. Normally I would be firing up the opt out machine to protest another waste of my children’s time but a fellow education advocate gave me a different idea: She stated “the only thing worse than no data is bad data” referencing how […]
by Chris Cerrone / 14min 




With support from @drjohnthompson, the case of the missing teaching experience #optorcop
This is really the last time I need to comment on this because we have to move on. I told you, dear reader, of my attendance at a recent Fordham event on the potential for opt outs of test-based accountability.  Here’s video of my question, comment. When I try to assert my credibility in debates […]
by Chalk Face, PhD / 5min 


To follow up on Chris Cerrone’s great post on #ECE
Chris Cerrone has a great post up including some examples of first-grade vocabulary from CCSS. Can it be argued as a good thing that first graders are now going to be taught the meaning of Ziggurat? I thought the CCSS was not supposed to be a checklist of things. Check out our most recent interview […]
by Chalk Face, PhD / 7min 




7-29-13 Schools Matter @ The Chalk Face
SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE: Hey… hey power? Meet truth. Watch this exchange. Amazing.Former school employee, not sure if she was a teacher or not, but she’s absolutely right: middling class individuals are held to a standard such that private or public errors in judgment have the potential for long-lasting consequences. Then you have this guy, blasts his junk all over the Internet, and he wan
by mike simpson / 37min 
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Department of Education Invites Districts to Apply for $120 Million in Race to the Top Funds to Support Classroom-Level Reform Efforts | U.S. Department of Education

Department of Education Invites Districts to Apply for $120 Million in Race to the Top Funds to Support Classroom-Level Reform Efforts | U.S. Department of Education:

Department of Education Invites Districts to Apply for $120 Million in Race to the Top Funds to Support Classroom-Level Reform Efforts

JULY 30, 2013

Contact:  
 Press, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov 

The U.S. Department of Education announced today that it has finalized the application for the 2013 Race to the Top-District competition, which will provide nearly $120 million to support bold, locally directed improvements in learning and teaching that will directly improve student achievement and educator effectiveness.
"The Race to the Top-District competition is an opportunity for trailblazing districts across the country to implement models of personalized learning so that every child graduates college and career ready," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "The program is designed to support teachers and school leaders in their use of innovative strategies as we seek to build a stronger future for America's students."
Race to the Top, launched in 2009, has inspired dramatic education reform nationwide, leading 46 states and the District of Columbia to pursue higher college- and career-ready standards, data-driven decision making, greater support for teachers and leaders, and turnaround interventions in low performing schools.
In 2012, the Department rolled out Race to the Top-District to support bold, locally directed improvements in learning and teaching. The program sets a high bar to fund those districts that have a track record of success, clear vision for reform, and innovative plans to transform the learning environment and accelerate student achievement. The Department awarded approximately $383 million to 16 Race to the Top-District grantees representing 55 local educational agencies (LEAs), with grants ranging from $10 to $40 million.
This year, the Race to the Top-District competition seeks to build on the innovative strategies already employed in classrooms across the country. This year's competition invites applicants to demonstrate how they can personalize education for all students and is aimed squarely at classrooms and the all-important relationship between teachers and students. The competition will encourage transformative change within schools, providing school leaders and teachers with key tools and support in order to best meet their students' needs.
Applicants from all districts are invited to apply. The Department plans to support high-quality proposals from applicants across a variety of districts, including rural and non-rural as well as those already in a State with a Race to the Top grant and districts that are not. These 4-year awards will range from $4 million to $30 million, depending on the population of students served through the plan.
Grantees will be selected based on their vision and capacity for reform as well as a strong plan that provides educators with resources to accelerate student achievement and prepare students for college and their careers. Plans will focus on transforming the learning environment so that it meets all students' learning abilities, making equity and access to high-quality education a priority. Teachers will receive real-time feedback that helps them adapt to their students' needs, allowing them to create opportunities for students to pursue areas of personal academic interest—while ensuring that each student is ready for college and their career.
The program also offers competitive preference to applicants that form partnerships with public and private organizations to offer services that help meet students' academic, social, and emotional needs, outside of the classroom.
More information, including the application for the Race to the Top-District competition, can be found at:www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop-district. The Department is requesting interested districts to submit their intent to apply by August 23, 2013. Applications are due Oct. 3, 2013 with awards being announced no later than Dec. 31, 2013.
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Those who can magically turn a 'C' into an 'A' - The Maddow Blog

Those who can magically turn a 'C' into an 'A' - The Maddow Blog:

Those who can magically turn a 'C' into an 'A' - The Maddow Blog

 Last year in Indiana, a charter school called Christel House had a small problem. Students' poor algebra test scores had dragged down the school's overall letter grade in the state system to a "C," which in turn put state funding in jeopardy.
At the same time, Republican politicians saw a related problem. Christel House is owned and operated by Christel DeHaan, a major Republican donor with great influence in Indiana's GOP circles.
And that's when things got interesting. The Associated Press reported yesterday that Tony Bennett -- Indiana's former schools chief who has since become Florida's education commissioner -- "frantically overhauled" its school grading system last fall in order to ensure the Republican donor's charter school got an "A," even though it earned a "C."
[T]rouble loomed when Indiana's then-grading director, Jon Gubera, first alerted Bennett on Sept. 12 that the Christel House Academy had scored less than an A.
"This will be a HUGE problem for us," Bennett wrote in a Sept. 12, 2012 email to [then-chief of staff Heather Neal, who is now Gov. Mike Pence's chief lobbyist]. Neal fired back a few minutes later, "Oh, crap. We cannot release until this is resolved." [...]
A weeklong behind-the-scenes scramble ensued among Bennett, assistant 
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Diane in the Evening 7-30-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

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





Mitch McConnell Explains Why Privatization Is Good for You
I received the following email today from Senator Mitch McConnell. He really needs to get some people on his staff who can read and understand education research. It is not that hard. So should Rand Paul, Lamar Alexander, and the other senators who are pushing vouchers. He would learn, for example, that students in voucher schools have not outperformed students in public schools anywhere. He doesn
by dianerav / 18min 

To Rand Paul: Why Should Kentucky Copy Tennessee’s Unsuccessful Corporate Reforms?
A blogger in Tennessee notes that Rand Paul of Kentucky is excited about what is happening in Tennessee. He wants Kentucky to follow Tennessee’s lead. But this is very odd because by almost every measure, Kentucky is more successful in education than Tennessee. Unlike Tennessee, Kentucky has no charter schools. It does not aspire to enact vouchers. It is doing none of what the corporate reformers
by dianerav / 1min 

NC Teacher: These “Reforms” Are Insane
A reader from North Carolina explains how the legislatures so-called reforms will affect her: “I have been teaching in NC for 13 years now. To be honest, having to sign a new contract each year or not getting a raise yet again doesn’t concern me as much as having 25+ 7 year olds with no assistant. I’ve had to share an assistant with 3 other teachers for the past few years, and that is better than
by dianerav / 20min


LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-30-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Nancy Flanagan Dissects the Latest Harebrained Reform IdeaNancy Flanagan taught music in Michigan for many years. She now blogs at Edweek. In this post, she dissects a new reformy idea called “the opportunity culture.” The bottom line is that if you are in the top 25% of teachers, determined by test scores, then you should teach la
by mike simpson / 2h 

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Et tu England? English education policy is based on a nasty little theory | Education | The Guardian

English education policy is based on a nasty little theory | Education | The Guardian:

English education policy is based on a nasty little theory

Underlying education policies in England is the misguided idea that only a few children are clever and that the rest are less valuable, argues Prof Danny Dorling
Danny Dorling: ‘Pupils in free and private schools and academies need not be taught their place’
Danny Dorling: ‘Pupils in free schools, academies and private schools need not be taught their place so rigidly’. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian
At the very core of the latest version of the national curriculum for maintained schools in England is a nasty little assumption. It is an assumption that has been harboured by a few for many decades, and one that often rises to the fore during hard times. It is what underlies the current government's approach to education. This assumption first gained popularity following the popularisation of Darwin and Wallace's discovery of evolution. The assumption is that children vary greatly in what they might be able to achieve, that some have far greater potential to do well than others, but all have only a fixed potential.
The job of government is routinely described as being to aid children to achieve within limits. As the deputy prime minister put it last week when announcing tests for five-year-olds: "I make no apology for having high ambitions for our pupils. But for children to achieve their potential we need to raise the bar."
In July 2013 the Department for Education made it clear that the underlying purpose of the new national curriculum had remained unchanged since Michael Gove first announced the detail of his int
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Chiefs for Changing Grades? - United for Public Schools

Chiefs for Changing Grades? - United for Public Schools:

Chiefs for Changing Grades?

Posted by admin | July 30, 2013 | Category: corporate agenda | Write Comment

Florida education commissioner Tony BennettFormer Indiana schools chief and current Florida education commissioner Tony Bennett changed Indiana’s school grading system to benefit one of his donors. But he and other Chiefs for Change have changed more than grades to enrich their funders—they’ve changed states’ education policies, too.
Yesterday, news broke that former Indiana schools chief and current Florida education commissioner Tony Bennett overhauled Indiana’s school grades system in order to benefit a charter school owned by an influential Republican donor, Christel DeHaan. Seeing that the school was set to receive a C, Bennett—who received $130,000 in political contributions from DeHaan– and several top staff members of the Indiana Department of Education worked frantically to adjust both the grading system and the charts used to present the data, in order to make her school look more successful than it had been.
Bennett, who helped establish Chiefs for Change with former Florida governor Jeb Bush, claims to support a tough, data-driven brand of “accountability” when it 
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State Advisory Council (SAC) Resources - State Advisory Council on Early Learning and Care (CA Dept of Education)

State Advisory Council (SAC) Resources - State Advisory Council on Early Learning and Care (CA Dept of Education):

State Advisory Council (SAC) Resources

Resources developed for the State Advisory Council (SAC) on Early Learning and Care.


  • Access to Quality: Early Learning for California Preschoolers in Subsidized License-Exempt Settings (PDF; 1MB)
    Summary of findings and policy recommendations on improving access to school readiness experiences for preschoolers in license-exempt care in California. This project examined: 1) the reasons why parents choose license-exempt child care, and their knowledge of the options that may be available to them; 2) the opportunities for and barriers to improving school readiness experiences for at-risk children who attend full-time, license-exempt child care; and 3) how license-exempt providers, and school readiness and preschool programs, might better coordinate and blend their offerings for families.
  • California Comprehensive Early Learning Plan (PDF; 7MB)
    California's Comprehensive Early Learning Plan (CCELP), or the "Plan," provides key direction for the State in the development of a high-quality birth-to-age-five system that provides all children with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve long-term success. The Plan is based on extensive research and stakeholder engagement, and it suggests changes that, if implemented, would make California's early learning system more coherent and effective.
    Background Information on the development of the CCELP External link opens in new window or tab.
  • Condition of Children Birth to Age Five and Status of Early Childhood Services in California
    A meta-analysis of the existing research on the condition of California‘s young children and the status of the state’s early childhood services.
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NYC Public School Parents: The most shocking scandal of Teach for America?

NYC Public School Parents: The most shocking scandal of Teach for America?:

The biggest scandal of Teach for America?


There has been much discussion and debate about how Teach for America undermines our public schools by encouraging the deprofessionalization of the teaching force, and“perpetuates systemic inequalities” especially in urban schools. In many districts, TFA has used its political clout to get its recruits hired, as in Chicago, while thousands of experienced teachers are being laid off.  Gary Rubinstein, a former TFA corps member, has been a fierce critic of the inadequate training that the organization provides.  Edushyster recently wrote that the TFA has become a primarily a “placement agency” to staff charter schools rather than public schools – and in the process is fueling the privatization movement. 
All the above is true; but in my mind, the most shocking aspect of the organization is how in many districts, including NYC, raw TFA recruits are assigned to special education classrooms almost exclusively --because this is the biggest shortage area.  See the recent Independent Budget Office report  on p. 24 – showing that 80 percent of TFA recruits in NYC public schools in 2010-11 were working as special education teachers; and 68 percent of Teaching Fellows (a similar program for mid-career recruits, run by TNTP).
That to me is the biggest scandal.  Instead of doing something to stanch the outflow of special education teachers assigned to those children who clearly need teachers with the MOST training and experience,  TFA and TNTP fill in the gap, year after year, with the least-trained recruits, who only stay one or two years and perpetuate the problem.
For all the endless rhetoric about teacher quality that issues from TNTP, about the need for more rigorous teacher evaluation and getting rid of sub-par teachers, they along with TFA are actively participating and benefiting from a system in which children with disabilities -- who require the most specialized instruction -- are relegated to the poorest-trained 

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