Billionaire-backed education “reform” organizations attack California teachers - World Socialist Web Site

Billionaire-backed education “reform” organizations attack California teachers - World Socialist Web Site:

Billionaire-backed education “reform” organizations attack California teachers

By Dan Conway 
13 January 2014

The coming year will witness multiple attempts—in the form of lawsuits, ballot initiatives and state-sponsored legislation—all of which are aimed at removing job protections and democratic rights for teachers. The aim of these initiatives is to punish teachers and students for the crisis of capitalism and funnel ever-greater amounts of public funds meant for public education into the pockets of the ultra-rich.

Billionaire-backed education reform groups, having failed to enshrine antidemocratic teacher dismissal procedures into law using the state legislature, are now seeking approval for two ballot measures which, if passed in the November 2014 election, would lead to mass teacher layoffs and lay the foundation for further public school closings and charter conversions.

The first measure, proposed by the organization EdVoice, makes use of recent teacher sexual abuse scandals to create a two-tier dismissal process for teachers. In a blatant attack on democratic rights, those teachers accused of more egregious types of misconduct would actually be subject to an accelerated dismissal procedure regardless of any actual legal findings or the veracity of the accusations made against them. EdVoice is among a number of pro-charter school organizations operating in California backed by large corporate interests. The group was founded in 2001 by Reed Hastings, founder and CEO of Netflix and also a founding member of Green Dot charter schools, which is among the largest charter school operators in the state. Also active in the organization’s founding were Los Angeles billionaire Eli Broad, former GAP CEO Don Fisher and former state assembly members Ted Lempert and Steve Poizner, the latter of whom mounted an unsuccessful 

BATS Swarm in Austin, TX March 1 and 2

BATS Swarm in Austin, TX March 1 and 2

Registration and Info Now Available! Network for Public Education Conference in Austin, TX March 1 and 2 | Cloaking Inequity

Registration and Info Now Available! Network for Public Education Conference in Austin, TX March 1 and 2 | Cloaking Inequity:

Registration and Info Now Available! Network for Public Education Conference in Austin, TX March 1 and 2

The Network for Public Education (NPE) 2014 National Conference will bring together some of the most important figures in the education reform debate. Diane Ravitch, Karen Lewis, and John Kuhn will present conference addresses. Learn more about the keynote speakers here. Stay tuned, over the next few days we may release a few more blockbuster names.

PANELS

Twenty-two panels on topics such as high-stakes testing, student data privacy, Teach For America, school choice, and the Common Core will take place over the course of the two-day conference. Panels will be led by national experts in the field. Learn more about the panels at the 2014 NPE National Conference here.

SCHEDULE

The NPE 2014 National Conference will begin at 8:30 AM on Saturday, March 1st. Check-in will begin at 7:30 AM at The Thompson Conference Center on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin. Check out the schedule page for more information.

Visit the conference page here.

The Problem With Sec. Duncan Playing HR Guru :: Frederick M. Hess

The Problem With Sec. Duncan Playing HR Guru :: Frederick M. Hess:

The Problem With Sec. Duncan Playing HR Guru

by Frederick M. Hess  •  Jan 13, 2014 at 2:36 pm
Cross-posted from Education Week

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I like our earnest Secretary of Education. I think he means well. That said, I've had serious reservations about the way he has approached his office, including his approach to Race to the Top, NCLB waivers, and the Common Core. Secretary Duncan has unapologetically and aggressively extended the federal role in education. Along the way, he has been dismissive of statutory constraints, allowed the whims of Department staff to become policy, run roughshod over the architecture of federalism, and bullied state officials. Duncan has seemed to regard concerns about separation of powers, federalism, or what statutes actually say as niceties that can't be allowed to slow his important work.

Against that backdrop, the Washington Post's Valerie Strauss recently reported that, "Duncan and at least one other Education Department official urged New York Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio and his team not to choose Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Joshua P. Starr as the city's next schools chancellor." Starr, of course, may be best known for having been publicly critical of elements of the Obama administration education agenda, including Race to the Top and teacher evaluation. When asked about Duncan's discussion with de Blasio, the Post reported that ED spokesman Massie Ritsch did not dispute this account.

My friend Andy Rotherham wrote about the story over at Eduwonk, dismissing the whole thing as a big nothingburger. I had a very different reaction, whether the call was initiated by de Blasio or Duncan.

I can kinda, sorta live with the Secretary of Education putting in a good word for certain people. I'm not crazy about it, but it's human nature and a decent impulse to support colleagues, friends, and protégés. And, if Duncan is asked for his take on a handful of candidates, putting in a good word about X and not Y obviously gets into a gray area of dissing Y. While the line may be vague, however, the distinction is still important.

Lists and Social Media | My Island View

Lists and Social Media | My Island View:

Lists and Social Media

January 13, 2014 by tomwhitby

As a tweeter of education tweets (many, many education tweets), I often find myself on lists that people put out as recommendations. Whenever that happens there will be a number of people who will pass their judgment over the quality of the list or the quality of the qualifications of individuals on that list. Of course, there are no rules in social media, so that will go on no matter what. I do think that we need a perspective on these lists in order to gauge the intensity of criticism.

First, we should state that anyone putting out a list, recommending people to follow, has found worth in the information that those people have put out. We can’t judge the value of that information to that individual, since we all come from varied backgrounds with varied experiences. What an inexperienced educator finds of value from others may not be as valuable to an educator of many years experience. That does not mean that the information is worthless. It is still valuable to a new educator. It indicates only that that particular list would not meet all the needs of a more experienced educator.

The biggest problem with any list is that someone is always left out. Even in listing your best ten recommendations there is sure to be someone you want on that list equal to all the others, but that would be eleven. Not gonna happen.

We should keep in mind that these are all personal recommendations. As we personalize our learning, we follow those people who best speak to our needs for learning. Again, who works for me might not work for you. I know that I 

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: New CPS Network Chief was at the center of Kansas testing scandal

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: New CPS Network Chief was at the center of Kansas testing scandal:

New CPS Network Chief was at the center of Kansas testing scandal

The word is that BBB has appointed Randy Josserand as District 3 Network chief. The news left lots of teachers I know, shaking their heads.

Who is Josserand, you ask? Most recently, he's worked as a deputy chief of 25 high schools and 24 elementary schools on the West Side, a director of the Office of School Improvement (OSI), and the director of Strategy and Knowledge Management in the Office of School Turnaround (yes Virginia, that's a real position in the CPS bureaucracy) .

I guess you'd say, he's an expert at managing knowledge (however you do that) and has obviously "turned around" lots of schools. I'll have to ask him, which ones?, next time I see him.

But before Josserand got to CPS he was principal of a school in Jefferson County, Ks. thatwas the center of a major testing scandal. It seems the school's strong test scores had been 

1-13-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online:

The Corporate Ed Reform Dog

Farina Punts on PS 106 Story

Teachers ought to try working the hours PS 106 principal Marcella Sims did and see if they get the same reaction from Farina. What I find outrageous by the coverage is the ignoring of the way Sills destroyed the careers of teachers. Once again the DOE seems to be sliding into a "defend principals" at all costs. Shame. Where is the accountability of Superintendent Lloyd-Bey who covered up

by ed notes online / 59min 

PS 106 Update: Councilman Donovan Richards Blames Sandy in Attempted Sills Coverup

Reporter to parent: Do you know the principal?Parent: I've never seen her.Reporter: You've never seen her? How long has your child been in the school?Parent: Over a year.Reporter turns to me and shakes his head with an incredulous look..... Ed Notes/WAVE coverage, Jan. 13, 2014BloomKlein empowered principals. So, what’s a little forgery? ... Ed Notes/The Wave, Feb. 2008PS 106: Desolation RowI just

by ed notes online / 2h 

Exclusive: PS 106 Library Funds Diverted by Sills as Llloyd-Bey Ignored Complaints

I'm heading down to PS 106 right now for The Wave - I was just interviewed in my house by Telemundo who sent their truck over to the school. I just got a call from a teacher who told me how the school was allocated about 3 grand a year for books but the books never arrived. Someone complained to Superintendent Michelle Lloyd-Bey every year and she did nothing. So no wonder there is no functioning

by ed notes online / 14min hide  //  save

Farina Responds to NY Post on PS 106 Rockaway Story Which Was 6 Years Behind Ed Notes/WAVE Stories

Capital NY is reporting that Carmen Farina is already responding to the Post story on PS 106 in Rockaway (see below) in contrast to how Tweed, Region 5 and Superintendent of District 27 Michelle Lloyd-Bey not only ignored but protected Marcella Sills when we wrote about PS 106 and its Leadership Academy principal in the past - March 11, 2008.One of the stories about Sills I wrote about was her for

by ed notes online / 14min 

1-11-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online: My Comment on Ravitch Defense of RandiDiane,I support your choice in defending Randi (Why I Defend Randi). When you changed your mind the turnaround has had an immense impact. But you as an academic affected policy. Randi's positions had a direct impact on the working conditions of teachers. As a union leader her pushing of positions that turned out to be wrong emasculated the uni

by mike simpson / 5h 

UPDATE: Jan. 14: No More Excuses Rally in Albany | National Opportunity to Learn Campaign #NoMoreExcuses

Jan. 14: No More Excuses Rally in Albany | National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Education Reform for Equity and Opportunity:

Budget Cuts Harm Students' College Prospects

Due to budget cuts, Philadelphia students face a two-week wait for an appointment with their school counselor to talk about college applications.  Here's a case in point why fair school funding is so crucial to improving our nation's education system:  read more

by jocelyn / 38min

Jan. 14: No More Excuses Rally in Albany

Posted on: Monday January 13th, 2014

The Alliance for Quality Education and Citizen Action NY will be hosting a rally in Albany, NY, on Jan. 14. "No More Excuses, Educate Every Student" will bring together students, parents, teachers and advocates from around the state to demand fair school funding and universal access to pre-k for all students. 

See the flyer below and click here for more information. Follow the rally and share your pictures on Twitter with hashtag #NoMoreExcuses.

1-13-14 THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG - I Saw the Future on a Snow Day — Whole Child Education

I Saw the Future on a Snow Day — Whole Child Education:

I Saw the Future on a Snow Day

Whenever I think about personalized learning, I drift toward the ways adults learn. We know what we like, how we remember things, the topics that interest us, and the best ways to absorb new information. It's easy for us. I know I'm a kinesthetic learner so I recall things much better if I'm active. For example, I like to listen to audiobooks and podcasts while I'm running, doing yard work, or dri

by Kevin Scott / 15min 

 

1-10-14 THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG - Pin to Win 2014 Education Resolutions with ASCD — Whole Child Education

Pin to Win 2014 Education Resolutions with ASCD — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGPin to Win 2014 Education Resolutions with ASCDJanuary 10, 2014 by Tina BylandGo to www.ascd.org/pin2014resolutions to submit the entry form.1-9-14 THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG - Moment on the Couch — Whole Child EducationMoment on the Couch — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGMoment on the CouchJanuary 9

by mike simpson / 19h 

1-9-14 THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG - Moment on the Couch — Whole Child Education

Moment on the Couch — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGMoment on the CouchJanuary 9, 2014 by Barry SaideI remember the moment clearly when it clicked for me. I was sitting on the couch with my three-year-old two weeks ago. We were both happy. Him watching Toy Story 2. Me sitting next to him. He reached out and grabbed my hand. For the next three minutes he held it. We didn't say a word.

by mike simpson / 20h 

Independent charter schools: Siphoning off public money to private interests : Dunn County News

Independent charter schools: Siphoning off public money to private interests : Dunn County News:

Independent charter schools: Siphoning off public money to private interests

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January 11, 2014 1:15 pm  •  SEN. KATHLEEN VINEHOUT For THE NEWS

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Wisconsin Sen. Kathleen Vinehout

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“Will the Legislature allow statewide expansion of charter schools, and how will that affect my local public school?”

This question is one I hear so often, particularly in communities where people are worried about the future of their small local schools.

Last fall, the Senate Education Committee debated Senate Bill 76, which takes away local control by requiring locally elected school boards to replicate charter schools when the charter performs 10 percent better then local district for two years in a row. It also allows certain charter schools to opt out of the state’s teacher evaluation system.

Private charter school companies lobbied hard for complete independence from state oversight, but SB 76 did not go that far. School officials and citizens expressed serious concern about how expanding charter schools would impact public schools.

Money to run independent charter schools comes from school aid set aside for all public schools. The more money going to independent charter schools means less money for all public schools. For small cash-strapped districts, the expansion of independent charter could be devastating.

Sixty percent of Wisconsin’s public school districts are rural. As the amount of state school aid