2-27-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida ALL Week

Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education:

Florida Democrats File Bills to Pause Exams, Accountability Regimes

From Miami Herald reporter Kathleen McGrory: For months, school superintendents have been asking the state to slow down the transition to new standards, statewide exams and accountability measures. On Thursday, the CEO of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents (a.k.a. Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee) put that request into a formal legislative proposal. The bill, SB 1368, seek

by Bob Sikes / 13min 

“Absurdity of Florida’s VAM Scam”

Writes Palm Coast teacher Jo Ann C. Nahirny in her column at FlaglerLive: Now fully armed with my own VAM scores, (and since I’d paid the fee to access the site anyway) I decided to compare my scores to that of a couple of colleagues, for kicks, just to see how we’d stacked up against one another. Isn’t that what any reasonable parent would do? Compare VAMs to figure out whose classes to put their

by Bob Sikes / 3h hide  //  save

Charter Schools USA Founder Won’t Put His Own Children in His Own Schools

Writes Coral Springs Talk reporter Sharon Aron Baron: Imagine your neighbor owns a Ford dealership, however not only will he not drive a Ford, none his family will either, preferring to drive BMW’s. Now imagine this: the state is giving his dealership money because they believe in his business. Charter Schools USA operates 58 schools in several states, including Florida, for a combined 48,000 stud

by Bob Sikes / 4h

2-2614 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida ALL Week

Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education: Has Top FLDOE Numbers Cruncher Changed Her Tune On VAM?The Florida Department of Education vigorously opposed the release of controversial VAM data. FlaglerLive quotes chief of staff Kathy Hebda on the release: Monday, the Department of Education released masses of data

by mike simpson / 8h 

2-27-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher

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

Bill Drew. The Menominee Warrior Society.

- Bill Drew is a friend, long-time radical and activist. Responding to my post on Wounded Knee, he sends a long a chapter from his memoir, Fortunate Son. When a group of young Menominee Indians occupied the Alexian Brothers Monastery on land adjacent to their reservation, we traveled up there to give publicity and support.  Theirs was an action modeled on the occupation of Wounded Knee by the Sio

1 by Fred Klonsky / 49min hide  //  save

Ten minute drawing. How to get high test scores.

7 by Fred Klonsky / 1h 

Wounded Knee.

  With my green 1968 Volkswagon Beetle attached to the tow bar of a recreational vehicle that we contracted to deliver, my brother, a friend Nancy and I left LA for Chicago. Nancy and Mike would return to LA. I would stay. March 3rd it will be 41 years. I was 24 years old and all that I owned I could back into three cardboard boxes. And as we loaded them in into the RV, the radio reported that ac

by Fred Klonsky / 31min 

  

2-26-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Karen Lewis. Standardized testing and the Eugenics movement.- Karen GJ Lewis is the President of the Chicago Teachers Union and National Board Certified Teacher. Many people who are convinced that standardized tests are reliable and valid indicators of student learning are not only sadly mistaken, but

by mike simpson / 8h

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