12-17-13 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School:

De Blasio Uses Ed Deformer-Tied Consulting Group For Transition Team

That story that Dana Rubenstein broke at Capital NY about Mayor-Elect Bill de Blasio using a Bloomberg-funded consultant group suggested by Rahm Emanuel to run his transition team in secret just gets worse and worse:Civic Consulting Alliance role in Chicago schl closings & charter expansion; now working w/de Blasio transition team http://t.co/jOzzb5IIWt— leonie haimson (@leoniehaimson) Decembe

by reality-based edu... / 1h 

Jerry Brown Really Gets What Education Is All About

These are truly amazing statements from a 21st century politician:MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Gov. Jerry Brown blasted the notion of government-imposed standards for public schools, saying he opposed efforts from Washington and Sacramento to dictate education policy.Using "data on a national or state level I think misses the point — that learning is very individual, very personal," Brown sai

by reality-based edu... / 15min 

De Blasio Has Private Consulting Group Partly Funded By Bloomberg Running His Transition Team

This is just another example of why Bill de Blasio needs to be watched very, very carefully by his "progressive" base (from an excellent piece at Capital NY by Dana Rubenstein):Bill de Blasio has two transition teams.There's the public one, announced in late November. It's a diverse, 60-person assortment of nonprofit leaders, political types, educators, rabbis, Cynthia Nixon. More than h

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It's Official: NYSED & Regents Plan No Major Changes To Their Reform Agenda

For those of you paying close attention to the Gospel of the Common Core Tour in which SED Commissioner King and Regents Chancellor Tisch went around the state trying to drum up support for their reform agenda after King had a public meltdown in Poughkeepsie when some parents dared to challenge him over CCSS, you won't be surprised by this news:There will be no major changes to the SED/Regents age

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12-16-13 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School: Wash Post & Politicker: Carmen Farina Likely To Be Named ChancellorFrom Politicker:According to The Washington Post, Bill de Blasio is reportedly “likely” to name Carmen Farina, a former adviser and deputy schools chancellor, to be the schools chancellor in his incoming administration–possibly on an interim basis. A source following the process relayed similar informatio

by mike simpson / 8h

Why New York Isn't Ready For The Common Core [PhilanthropyNY] - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson

Why New York Isn't Ready For The Common Core [PhilanthropyNY] - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson:

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Why New York Isn’t Ready For The Common Core [PhilanthropyNY]

by JOSE VILSON on DECEMBER 17, 2013

in JOSE

I was recently asked to write for the Education Funders Research Initiative, a collective of education funders and researchers from around New York City, and their first question was, “Is New York City ready for Common Core implementation?” Of course, I saw plenty of problems with this statement:

Right now, however, I don’t see how New York City, much less our state, can meet or exceed the expectations laid out for us as a result of the Core nor get students “college and career ready.” Academic standards are only as effective as the organizational standards we hold for our system, and currently, we still have far too many structural issues. For one, curriculum publishers still work under the auspices of the previous way of thinking about instruction: “If we slap a sticker on our textbooks and say they’re Common Core, districts will pick it up and they won’t know any better.” Developing coherent curriculum is far more than just following the textbook. Teachers have to develop their own materials to accompany and bolster any textbook, new and old.

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Shanker Blog » The Year In Research On Market-Based Education Reform: 2013 Edition

Shanker Blog » The Year In Research On Market-Based Education Reform: 2013 Edition:

The Year In Research On Market-Based Education Reform: 2013 Edition

Posted by Matthew Di Carlo on December 17, 2013

In the three most discussed and controversial areas of market-based education reform – performance pay, charter schools and the use of value-added estimates in teacher evaluations – 2013 saw the release of a couple of truly landmark reports, in addition to the normal flow of strong work coming from the education research community (see our reviews from 2010, 2011 and 2012).*

In one sense, this building body of evidence is critical and even comforting, given not only the rapid expansion of charter schools, but also and especially the ongoing design and implementation of new teacher evaluations (which, in many cases, include performance-based pay incentives). In another sense, however, there is good cause for anxiety. Although one must try policies before knowing how they work, the sheer speed of policy change in the U.S. right now means that policymakers are making important decisions on the fly, and there is great deal of uncertainty as to how this will all turn out.

Moreover, while 2013 was without question an important year for research in these three areas, it also illustrated an obvious point: Proper interpretation and application of findings is perhaps just as important as the work itself.

After something of a lull since the release of seminal analyses a few years ago, the research on teacherperformance pay may be picking up again, as several states are in the earlier stages of implementing various types of incentives along with their new evaluation systems. This year, the first shot was fired – a study of D.C.’s teacher evaluation system (IMPACT), by which teachers receiving “highly effective” ratings are eligible for large salary increases.

Although the study’s performance pay-relevant component focused solely on the (relatively small) group of teachers near the “highly effective” threshold, the researchers did find an association between receiving an IMPACT score near that threshold and improvement in those scores the following year, at least in the second year of the system’s 

Moneyed school district eschews Transitional Kindergarten | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC

Moneyed school district eschews Transitional Kindergarten | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC:

Moneyed school district eschews Transitional Kindergarten

Deepa Fernandes | December 17th, 2013, 6:00am

Mae Ryan/KPCC

Children in the transitional kindergarten (TK) program play during recess at the Martha Escutia Primary Center. TK was created by a new law called the Kindergarten Readiness Act in 2010.

As universal PreK gains steam nationwide, California has been somewhat ahead of the curve with the introduction of the Transitional Kindergarten grade last year to serve children turning 5 between Sept 1 – Dec 1, just under the cutoff to enter Kindergarten.

State law required each district to offer at least one transitional kindergarten class. Butthe Vallejo Times Herald is reporting on one school district that has found a way to bypass the law: money.

The Las Lomitas School District in San Mateo County, which encompasses Atherton, Portola Valley and the western edge of Menlo Park – home to Stanford University – earns enough revenue from property taxes that it doesn’t have to accept state funding. And herein lies the loophole: the language of the law stipulates districts must provide transitional kindergarten to get state funding to offer it.

"It's an optional program that wasn't the right thing for our district," Richard Ginn, the district's board president, told the Vallejo Times Herald. "I'm not against the 

Kansas Attempt to Create “Recovery School District” | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

Kansas Attempt to Create “Recovery School District” | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!:

Kansas Attempt to Create “Recovery School District”

Filed under: Recovery District — millerlf @ 8:30 am 

Emails detail a hidden plan for Kansas City Public Schools

By JOE ROBERTSON

The Kansas City Star Posted Sat, Dec. 07, 2013

Backed by two of the most influential foundations in Kansas City, Missouri Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro and a state-hired consultant are planning the future of Kansas City Public Schools as a slate wiped clean.

Revelations in emails obtained by The Star and dating to April show a state education department eager to create a new school system, even as the long-beleaguered but stabilized district was preparing to celebrate its best academic improvement in years.

The electronic trail exposes a rushed bidding process, now criticized, that ultimately landed Indianapolis-based CEE-Trust a $385,000 contract to develop a long-range overhaul for the district’s failing schools.

Summer discussions in emails reveal Nicastro’s wish for a statewide district to gather poor-performing schools under new leadership, with an office for innovation and charter school expansion.

In mid-August, days before the state’s district report cards were to be released to the public showing a surprisingly high score for Kansas City, a CEE-Trust partner shared his talking points with Nicastro and staff debunking the performance of a district where 70 percent of the students still perform below proficiency.

“It suggests a conspiracy against our success,” said Kansas City Superintendent Steve Green.

Even as Green and his cabinet gathered in Jefferson City on Sept. 4 with Nicastro and staff to plead Kansas City’s case for provisional accreditation and a reprieve from state intervention, emails show Nicastro had other plans.

Three weeks earlier at the Kauffman Foundation, unknown to Green, Nicastro had introduced her planning team to the person she selected to lead a potential statewide distric

Important Funding Proposal for Wisconsin Public Schools

From:   Rep. Pope, Rep. Wright, Rep. Clark, Rep. Hesselbein and Sen. Lehman, Sen. Vinehout, Sen. Cullen Re:  Co-sponsorship of LRB 2673/2 – Public School Funding Reform  December 9, 2013 The past two budget cycles have placed additional strain on the funding formula by which we provide aid to our public schools. In an effort to advance the dialogue regarding the funding problems public school d

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Ed. Secretary Duncan dodges charter school issue during Chicago visit - Chicago Sun-Times

Ed. Secretary Duncan dodges charter school issue during Chicago visit - Chicago Sun-Times:

Ed. Secretary Duncan dodges charter school issue during Chicago visit

BY ART GOLAB Staff Reporter December 16, 2013 6:50PM

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U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, left, speaks with a senior student Stephanie Gil, right, after roundtable discussion with local students, parents and educators at the Benito Juarez Community Academy in Chicago, Monday, Dec. 16, 2013. The topics included work at the academy and progress toward increasing graduation rates, as well as access for Hispanics to postsecondary programs. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

RELATED STORIES

• A passionate debate over CPS’ 21 proposed charter schools

Updated: December 17, 2013 2:21AM

 

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan came to Benito Juarez Community Academy on Monday to find out how the school boosted its attendance and graduation rates and climbed out of its Chicago Public Schools probationary status.

Duncan, who formerly headed CPS, heard from Juarez administrators, teachers, students and parents who described a success story based on a rigorous curriculum, dedicated staff, motivated students and supportive families at the public school near Ashland and 22nd that serves the Pilsen area.

The education secretary however dodged questions on a local hot topic, charter schools. Asked what he thought of CPS’ proposal to open 21 new charters after closing more the 52 regular schools, Duncan said he’s for anything that will improve results for students, but that 

A passionate debate over CPS’ 21 proposed charter schools

A hearing on 21 proposed new Chicago Public Schools charters drew at least 300 people to CPS headquarters on a snowy Monday evening, with supporters and opponents equally passionate about the need to propel or squash charter efforts.

UPDATE My December 2013 Michigan Board of Education Testimony + 2013 Legislative Audit of Louisiana Voucher Schools | deutsch29

The 2013 Legislative Audit of Louisiana Voucher Schools | deutsch29:

My December 2013 Michigan Board of Education Testimony

In November 2013, I was asked if I would testify at the December 17, 2013, Michigan State Board of Education meeting. Michigan is considering emulating the New Orleans so-called model Recovery School District (RSD) (including the supposed “parental choice” afforded by open enrollment)  as well as using letter grades for schools. Since I could not be in Michigan on December 17, I provided the follo

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The 2013 Legislative Audit of Louisiana Voucher Schools

December 16, 2013

On December 11, 2013, Louisiana Legislative Auditor (LLA) Daryl Purpera released the 2013 Performance Audit of Louisiana’s voucher program.

The purpose of this audit is to inform legislators of the state of the Louisiana voucher program as the legislators consider the actions they might take regarding the voucher program in the upcoming legislative session.

I sure hope the legislators take Purpera’s report to heart.

In this post, I will touch on a number of critical issues related to the circus that is the Louisiana Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program (i.e., the voucher program).

If Louisiana State Superintendent John White “regulated” traditional public schools with as much “rigor” as he does the voucher program, no traditional public school would fear closure; no traditional public school teacher would be concerned about being graded using student test scores, and no traditional public school student would experience high-stakes, standardized test anxiety.

John White has been hired to ensure the unregulated privatizing of public education. It is his unwritten job description. Just watch him in action.

As to the audit: Let me begin with the fact that just over half (51%, or 2,556 students) in the voucher program are very young (grades K-2). The report does not include 

Segregation, Poverty and Inequality: What Ravitch Calls the Toxic Mix At School | janresseger

Segregation, Poverty and Inequality: What Ravitch Calls the Toxic Mix At School | janresseger:

Segregation, Poverty and Inequality: What Ravitch Calls the Toxic Mix At School

Posted on December 17, 2013 by janresseger

In her 2013 book, Reign of Error, education historian Diane Ravitch identifies what she believes are the factors that affect academic achievement: “Segregation is most concentrated in the nation’s cities.  Half of the more than sixteen hundred schools in New York City are more than 90 percent black and Hispanic.  Half of the black students in Chicago and one-third of the black students in New York City attend apartheid schools.  Many black students are doubly segregated, by race and by poverty.”(p. 292)

Several important articles published this week explore the issues of poverty—and the related issue, inequality—and racial segregation, the factors Ravitch calls “the toxic mix.” According to all three writers, we misunderstand our history and hence the issues that plague us today.

In a piece memorializing Nelson Mandela, Richard Rothstein of the Economic Policy Institute remembers that in South Africa, Mandela believed that deep confession—getting at the truth of the history that makes us who we are—is necessary as the path to reconciliation.  Rothstein asks Americans to be more honest about the factors that have segregated our neighborhoods, our cities, and our public schools.  “One of the worst examples of our historical blindness is the widespread belief that our continued residential racial segregation, North and South, is ‘de facto,’ not the result of explicit government policy but instead the consequence of private prejudice, economic inequality, and personal choice to self-segregate.”  Explaining the policy choices that caused housing and transportation patterns in the half-century after World War II, Rothstein examines high school history textbooks that make it appear instead as though 

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The Alderman From UNO Cuts Deal With Another Toxic Corp.

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The Alderman From UNO Cuts Deal With Another Toxic Corp.:

The Alderman From UNO Cuts Deal With Another Toxic Corp.

The potential site for Pure Metal at 2201 S Loomis across the street from Benito Juarez High School on Nov. 29 2013. (The Gate/ Theresa Campagna)

The Alderman from UNO, Danny Solis, has cut a deal with (not so) Pure Metal Recycling Corp. to put another dangerously toxic plant in the Pilsen community. If Ald. Solis, a close ally of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and a founder of charter school scandal-ridden UNO,  is successful in reining in mounting opposition, the company would be the only indoor recycling plant in the neighborhood, taking up 15 acres of land just across the river from predominantly Mexican Benito Juarez High School, It would also be the second recycling plant in Pilsen next to Sims Metal Management – one of the largest in the area. Students and other residents are threatened by a measurable rise in particle and diesel pollution from the truck traffic around the plant..

Last year, community protests forced the shut down of Fisk, a coal-fired power plant that was emitting health-hazardous contaminants like coal dust into the air and soil in the