2-27-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online:

"Dear Randi" From a Newark Teacher

...your generosity in donating AFT funds to the Teacher Village being built to house Teach for America novices in Newark could not have come at a better time.... Newark teacher to AFT President Randi Weingarten (satire alert)While TFA scabs live in subsidized government housing, real teachers will go into foreclosures.... Teacher in Newark -- no satire here Diane Ravitch posted a "Dear Chris

by ed notes online / 2h 

2-26-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online: The Lies Randi Tells on TwitterRandi Weingarten ‏@rweingarten  @beth_dimino @pfh1964-be4 u criticize know the facts-@uft had a rank & file comm including all caucuses & got overwhelming support at DA mtgWhile New Action enthusiastically supported the UFT charters, ICE -- if I am not mistaken, a caucus in the UFT, opposed it with Michael Fiorillo leading the charge and in f

by mike simpson / 8h 

2-27-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE:

Wisconsin #commoncore Senate Bill 619: A conundrum?

Here it is as plain and simple as I can make it. Wisconsin Republicans in the state Senate drafted a bill that essentially turns over the writing of education standards to politicians and kills the common core. Someone has to say it: “Any bill that would allow politicians the ability to directly and/or indirectly write learning […]

by Timothy D. Slekar / 7min 

Beware of Education Reformers who Co-Opt the Language of the Civil Rights Movement

Originally published by emPower Magazine on 2/27/14 The legacy of the Civil Rights Movement is so great, that it come as no surprise that many groups would try and use the movement to bolster their own cause. Utilizing the lessons learned from the Civil Rights Movement to continue to fight against all forms of oppression […]

1 by denishanjones / 27min 

More History Ignored by Common Core Advocates

A grandiose vision of school reform took off during the 1990s as the digital revolution seemed to be freeing society and the economy from the constraints of the industrial era. It was a time that inspired book titles such as Francis Fukuyama’s The End of History. It was even suggested that computer technology, through “just […]

7 by John Thompson / 55min 

A Brief Meditation on Choice

A Brief Meditation on Choice. via A Brief Meditation on Choice.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical

1 by plthomasedd / 1h 

2-26-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE: “Hunting Scapegoats”: WWII Literacy Crisis and Current Education Reform“Hunting Scapegoats”: WWII Literacy Crisis and Current Education Reform. via “Hunting Scapegoats”: WWII Literacy Crisis and Current Education Reform.1 by plthomasedd / 16min  2-25-14 @ The Chalk Face@ THE CHALK FACE: A Liberal and a Conservative Reach Remarkable Agreement on Edu-PhilanthropyRichard Kahlenberg

by mike simpson / 8h 

2-27-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD

the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University):

A Brief Meditation on Choice

Deborah Meier reminds us that “one can’t  ’choose’ to be the children of the wealthy,” adding later: You and I—or some other somebodies—are deciding the future of “other people’s children” [hyperlink added] unless we provide ways for “them” to have a voice, a vote, and the resources to decide their own future.   We need to restore a better balance between local communal life (with its power to eff

11 by plthomasedd / 1h 

2-26-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD

the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): “Hunting Scapegoats”: WWII Literacy Crisis and Current Education Reform“Historians often mention World War II as a time when expectations for schooling and literacy really took off,” explains Deborah Brandt, “when what was considered an adequate level of education moved

by mike simpson / 8h

2-27-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School:

Poor Eva

Love the frame from the NY Post on this story - De Blasio starts his war on charter schools:The de Blasio administration is blocking the opening or expansion of three Success Academy charter schools run by Eva Moskowitz. The charter schools received approval last year from former Mayor Mike Bloomberg to operate rent-free in existing city buildings starting in the fall. But at de Blasio’s behest, t

by reality-based edu... / 1min

Chancellor Farina May Get Another Beautiful Day

There is the possibility of a major storm early next week that could make for an interesting school day on Monday.Here's the National Weather Service from this morning:from upton...MODELS HAVE COME IN BETTER AGREEMENT ON A POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANTSTORM WHICH SHOULD IMPACT THE AREA FROM SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAYNIGHT. THE ECMWF HAS TRENDED FARTHER OFFSHORE WITH ITS SURFACELOW...AND ALSO TOWARDS A

by reality-based edu... / 31min hide  //  save

Andrew Cuomo Looks To Help State Senate Stay Republican

Tony Avella joined with the Republican-leaning "Independent Democrats" yesterday, so the chances of the State Senate going back to the Dems is fading fast, but the NY Times reports Governor Cuomo may also be helping to try and keep the State Senate Republican:ALBANY — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has raised an imposing $33 million, is riding high in the opinion polls and is expected to cruise to

by reality-based edu... / 2h

2-26-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School: Eva Moskowitz Only Closes Success Academies When She Needs Kids For A Photo OpStudents at Success Academies don't get too many days off from school - except when Eva Moskowitz needs them for political reasons. New York City charter school leaders are planning a massive rally at the state Capitol next Tuesday, as they pivot their advocacy to Albany afer failing to make progre

by mike simpson / 8h 

Relating to Students, and Staff | InterACT

Relating to Students, and Staff | InterACT:

Relating to Students, and Staff

FEBRUARY 27, 2014

tags: advice, Dan Pink, English Companion, Jim Burke, Larry Ferlazzo

by David B. Cohen

I dropped in to the English Companion Ning last night – something I used to do more often and realized I was missing. It’s a thriving online community of English teachers from all over the country, created almost five years ago by über-English-teacher Jim Burke. (I think I was one of the people who signed up in the first couple days of its existence). By random chance I read a post from a pre-service teacher trying to connect with a class of second-semester seniors. I decided to offer a little support, and before I knew it, had composed some thoughts about relating with students that I realized might make a good blog post. I realized I don’t write many blog posts that are strictly about classroom practice – but then I also realized that my advice to this pre-service teacher is similar to advice I’d offer to a school leader trying to work effectively with a teaching staff. Post a comment at the end and let me know if you agree.

Here’s what I wrote on the English Companion (with minor edits).

———————————————————-

Hello! Sounds like a challenging situation! You hit on one key point on your own: it takes time for relationships to develop. You seem to understand where seniors are at in life, and why this teaching placement will be a challenge. I would suggest focusing even more on them, and on the curriculum, and less on the idea of students having an interest in getting to know you. Not to suggest they shouldn’t get to know you, but let it happen on its own rather than as an intended focus.

You didn’t mention what type of class it is, or if you have any input regarding the curriculum. I’

Which is worse? A California district makes a tough choice between No Child Left Behind and Obama education policies | Hechinger Report

Which is worse? A California district makes a tough choice between No Child Left Behind and Obama education policies | Hechinger Report:

Which is worse? A California district makes a tough choice between No Child Left Behind and Obama education policies

By Sarah Amandolare

SANGER, California – At a table strewn with papers, four eighth-grade boys with gelled hair and flashy sneakers comb through lyrics, discussing everything from girls to grammar. Only one remains silent, nodding lazily.

When they reach the line, “You were my pills, you were my thrills,” the unofficial leader shouts: “That’s a metaphor!” He asks the silent one what he thinks.

Sixth-graders in Chuck Yeh’s classroom at Fairmont School share their thoughts during a group work session. (Photo: Chuck Yeh)

Suddenly, the quiet boy comes to life, offering his opinion in Lisa Johnson’s English Language Arts class at Sanger Unified School District’s Fairmont School, where clusters of four to six students meet often to talk about test scores and work through lessons. This is collaboration in action: Teachers place students by ability and temperament, balancing outspoken kids with shy types and stronger students with strugglers. Teachers work the same way with each other, sharing ideas and teaching classes as a team.

But morale used to be so low in Sanger Unified that a sign reading “Welcome to the home of 400 unhappy teachers” lined a highway in this central California region dotted with rolling ranches and dusty farms. The sign went up in 1999. In 2004, the state ruled that the rural area was one of its worst performing districts.

By 2012, though, things had changed for the better: Sanger Unified ranked third in achievement gains among California districts with high populations of minority, English language learners and 

De Blasio's school fight: Democrat vs. Democrat battle.

De Blasio's school fight: Column:

New York disagreement over charter schools spotlights Democrat vs. Democrat battle.

(Photo: Pool photo by Seth Wenig)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• He's waging a war over education issues that could spill into the 2016 Democratic presidential primary.
• De Blasio has singled out a special foe, Eva Moskowitz, who runs 22 Success Academy charter schools.
• At the heart of this confrontation is a fundamental philosophical divide over what constitutes a common school.

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Most non-New Yorkers know only two things about Bill de Blasio, the city's new progressive mayor: Heeats pizza with a knife and fork, and Al Roker attacked him for sending students to school in a snowstorm.

But parents should know a third: He's waging a Democrat vs. Democrat battle over education issues that could spill into the 2016 Democratic presidential primary and into your community.

The issues involved range from how to pay for preschool to how fast to pursue new Common Core standards. But the most revealing clash involves independently run public charter schools.

It would be comforting to tell parents that something positive could emerge from this fight, but that's not true. If the de Blasio faction of this battle among Democrats prevails, you can expect to witness a pullback from recent decades' major school reforms.

With charter schools, de Blasio has singled out a special foe, fellow Democrat Eva Moskowitz, who runs 22 Success Academy charter schools that educate 6,700 students. The mayor cites Moskowitz as the kind of charter operator who needs reining in. Classroom and office space that Success 

School Boards Association rises to challenge, proposes teacher dismissal bill | EdSource Today

School Boards Association rises to challenge, proposes teacher dismissal bill | EdSource Today:

School Boards Association rises to challenge, proposes teacher dismissal bill

February 26th, 2014 | 2 Comments | 
By John Fensterwald

6

Picking up pieces from two failed attempts to rewrite the law on teacher dismissals, the California School Boards Association will lead this year’s attempt to make it easier and less expensive to fire teachers accused of serious misconduct and sex crimes against children.

State Sen. Lou Correa discusses SB 843 at a Sacramento press conference on Wednesday.

At a press conference Wednesday, the School Boards Association (CSBA) and Sen. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana, presented Senate Bill 843. It would shorten the time it would take to fire a teacher accused of “egregious” misconduct, including sex crimes, abuse and immoral conduct, and expand the ability to gather more evidence to support the allegations. It would also give an administrative law judge the sole authority to hear those cases instead of the current setup of a three-person hearing commission that includes an administrative law judge and two educators.

“Sadly our current process to dismiss such predators in the classroom is usually bogged down by complex requirements that are unfair to the victim and the public,” said Correa. “Yes, let’s keep due process but let’s not forget the victims, the children.”

Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill (AB 375, by Joan Buchanan, D-Alamo) with some of the same provisions, calling it an “imperfect solution” with “procedural complexities” that could create “new problems.” Correa, the new bill’s author, and CSBA said they were responding to the governor’s invitation to pursue a better bill. Since CSBA had actually opposed AB 375 and lobbied 

Backlash Against Governor Christie’s Overseer Superintendent Grows in Newark | janresseger

Backlash Against Governor Christie’s Overseer Superintendent Grows in Newark | janresseger:

Backlash Against Governor Christie’s Overseer Superintendent Grows in Newark

Posted on February 27, 2014 by janresseger

Articles at Politico Pro are almost always behind a pay wall, but this morning somehow Diane Ravitch has forwarded yesterday’s piece about the school crisis in the Newark, New Jersey’s public schools, Chris Christie Faces New Uproar in State’s Largest City.

The reporter, Stephanie Simon, does an excellent job of tracing the escalation of tension in Newark  as Governor Chris Christie, his appointed state overseer superintendent Cami Anderson, and outgoing state school commissioner Christopher Cerf attempt to close so called “failing” schools, most of them located in Newark’s poorest black neighborhoods, silence principals who have spoken out, and now fire masses of experienced school teachers by overriding the due-process protections in the union contract.

Neither Cami Anderson nor Christopher Cerf is a career educator; both were trained at the Broad Academy, where financier Eli Broad’s short program turns business and military leaders into superintendents.  Broad-trained leaders tend to endorse school closure and privatization as strategies for so-called school turnaround.  In Newark today Anderson and Cerf— imposing policy on a majority African American school district—are white.

Ravitch also shares an interview published by Salon with Ras Baraka, a school principal and member of Newark’s city council, who is running for Mayor of Newark.  Baraka shares his

BELIEVE IN NEWARK - RAS J. BARAKA FOR MAYOR 2014

UPDATE: Cerf’s Amplify gets $2.3 million from Newark + Teacher seniority waiver to be dropped | Bob Braun's Ledger

BULLETIN: Teacher seniority waiver to be dropped | Bob Braun's Ledger:

Cerf’s Amplify gets $2.3 million from Newark

Cami Anderson, the Christie-appointed superintendent of Newark schools, has awarded three contracts worth $2.3 million to Amplify Education, Inc.—a company that, in a few days, takes on a new  executive, New Jersey Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf, Anderson’s immediate boss. When Cerf announced he was leaving Feb. 10, he told The Star-Ledger he didn’t know whether […]

38 by Bob Braun / 29min 

BULLETIN: Teacher seniority waiver to be dropped

Cami Anderson, the Christie-appointed superintendent of Newark schools, is expected to drop her request for a waiver from state regulations to she can ignore seniority rights when and if she lays off hundreds of city teachers. That doesn’t mean she won’t lay off teachers—but she will have to abide by current law and regulations when she does.

The main characters in the drama won’t talk about the report I received that Anderson won’t try to persuade outgoing Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf or his successor to set aside regulations that protect experienced teachers. Tomorrow is Cerf’s last day.

I first reported here Feb. 21 that Anderson would try to use a little-used provision in state regulations that permits school districts to ignore, or waive,  regulations if they come up with an “equivalency” plan that achieves the same goal as the ignored rules. In this case, she wanted to skip traditional standards—experience within appropriate certifications—and to add so-called “effectiveness” ratings as a measure of experience. As a consequence, a teacher with less experience but 

CURMUDGUCATION: VAM for Dummies

CURMUDGUCATION: VAM for Dummies:

VAM for Dummies

If you don't spend every day with your head stuck in the reform toilet, receiving the never-ending education swirly that is school reformy stuff, there are terms that may not be entirely clear to you. One is VAM-- Value-Added Measure.

VAM is a concept borrowed from manufacturing. If I take one dollar's worth of sheet metal and turn it into a lovely planter that I can sell for ten dollars, I've added nine dollars of value to the metal.

It's a useful concept in manufacturing management. For instance, if my accounting tells me that it costs me ten dollars in labor to add five dollars of value to an object, I should plan my going-out-of-business sale today.

And a few years back, when we were all staring down the NCLB maw requiring that 100% of our students be above average by this year, it struck many people as a good idea-- let's check instead to see if teachers are making students better. Let's measure if teachers have added value to the individual student.

There are so many things wrong with this conceptually, starting with the idea that a student is like a piece of manufacturing material and continuing on through the reaffirmation of the school-is-a-

The Education Spring’s ‘Year Of Action’ Revs Up

The Education Spring’s ‘Year Of Action’ Revs Up:





The Education Spring’s ‘Year Of Action’ Revs Up

 When President Barack Obama, in his State of the Union address, called for a “year of action,”he probably didn’t have this in mind.

An extensive and diverse coalition of forces opposed to the education policies pushed by his administration, and many state governors, is organizing on an unprecedented scale to spur a variety of protest actions, including street rallies, sit-ins, walk-outs, strikes, boycotts, and disruptive legislative actions and lawsuits.

It’s clear, last year’s emerging Education Spring that revealed a nationwide movement of diverse factions opposed to unpopular education policies has now developed substantial new organizational capacity and a more powerful voice.

The “new populism,” as my colleague Robert Borosage reveals, that is defining the economic debate in 2014 is also firing a new populist movement to reject failed education policy mandates and call for new reforms of our public education system.

“Movements grow,” Borosage reminds us, “only when harsh reality is combined with dedicated organizers and teachers.” Well, the “dedicated organizers and teachers” for a populist education movement have arrived.

Meet The Organizers And Teachers

This week, hundreds of activists are gathering in Austin, Texas for the first annual meeting of the Network for Public Education, a group with a stated opposition to the status quo education policies pushed by federal and state governments, including “high-stakes testing, privatization 

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Suspensions/expulsions key to building charter school 'culture'

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Suspensions/expulsions key to building charter school 'culture':

Suspensions/expulsions key to building charter school 'culture'

"Charter schools should not be allowed to 'expel' their way to better performance if they are truly public schools." -- Ald. Bob Fioretti

Last month, the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. attorney general's office released national guidelines on student discipline codes, acknowledging many urban school districts' zero-tolerance policies have created school-to-prison pipelines.

Chicago schools CEO Byrd-Bennett claims she wants to reduce expulsions and suspensions that hit hardest on African-American students. She claims that she "inherited a really punitive zero-tolerance code of conduct." But in fact, every district she has led, from Cleveland to Detroit became notorious for black-student expulsions and suspensions.

BBB and Rahm's problem now is, they're both afraid to take on the privately-run charter schools where, according to this morning's Sun-Times, students in Chicago are 11 times more likely to be expelled than students in traditional schools. They've both made their total political investment in the expansion of charter schools, at the expense of publicly-run neighborhood schools but can't move the needle on expulsion/suspension numbers without