Sunday, March 16, 2014

School voucher bill could triple money for politically... | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

School voucher bill could triple money for politically... | www.mypalmbeachpost.com:

School voucher bill could triple money for politically connected group

Posted: 9:00 a.m. Sunday, March 16, 2014

BY JOHN KENNEDY - PALM BEACH POST CAPITAL BUREAU

TALLAHASSEE —

A proposal expanding private school vouchers in Florida could pour millions of dollars into a politically connected nonprofit, creating what a rising chorus of Democrats, public school officials and business rivals are condemning as a taxpayer-financed monopoly.

Step Up for Students, which administers the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program created under former Gov. Jeb Bush, could more than triple the amount of money it collects under voucher legislation that Republican leaders are terming a priority this session.

The bill makes the scholarship program eligible for sales tax money for the first time in its 12-year history. With the new cash, the 60,000 students now getting private-school scholarships could double in four years, rivaling the size of larger public school districts in Florida.

While Republicans are rallying around the expansion, the proposal also is drawing fierce critics.

“The issue is not simply an argument between public schools and

UPDATE: U.S. Inequality by Region | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

U.S. Inequality by Region | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!:

What would Einstein say about VAM: the Value Added Measurement for Evaluating Teachers?

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by millerlf / 1h

We Can’t Grow the Income Gap Away

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by millerlf / 1h

U.S. Inequality by Region

Filed under: Inequality — millerlf @ 10:37 am

NY Times 3/16/14

Fairfax County, Va., and McDowell County, W.Va., are separated by 350 miles, about a half-day’s drive. Traveling west from Fairfax County, the gated communities and bland architecture of military contractors give way to exurbs, then to farmland and eventually to McDowell’s coal mines and the forested slopes of the Appalachians. Perhaps the greatest distance between the two counties is this: Fairfax is a place of the haves, and McDowell of the have-nots. Just outside of Washington, fat government contracts and a growing technology sector buoy the median household income in Fairfax County up to $107,000, one of the highest in the nation. McDowell, with the decline of coal, has little in the way of industry. Unemployment is high. Drug abuse is rampant. Median household income is about one-fifth that of Fairfax.

One of the starkest consequences of that divide is seen in the life expectancies of the people there. Residents of Fairfax County are among the longest-lived in the country: Men have an average life expectancy of 82 years and women, 85, about the same as in Sweden. In McDowell, the averages are 64 and 73, about the same as in Iraq.

There have long been stark economic differences between Fairfax County and McDowell. But as their fortunes have diverged even further over the past generation, their life expectancies have diverged, too. In McDowell, women’s life expectancy has actually fallen by two years since 1985; it grew five years in Fairfax.

“Poverty is a thief,” said Michael Reisch, a professor of social justice at the University of Maryland, testifying before a Senate panel on the issue. “Poverty not only diminishes a person’s life chances, it steals years from one’s life.”

That reality is playing out across the country. For the upper half of the income spectrum, men who reach the age of 65 are living about six years longer than they did in the late 1970s. Men in the lower half are living just 1.3 years longer.

This life-expectancy gap has started to surface in discussions among researchers, public health officials and Washington policy makers. The general trend is for Americans to live longer, and as lawmakers

Christie’s charter school nightmare: “White flight, and they’re bankrupting us” - Salon.com

Christie’s charter school nightmare: “White flight, and they’re bankrupting us” - Salon.com:

Christie’s charter school nightmare: “White flight, and they’re bankrupting us”

“We are creating separate but equal school systems,” Hoboken school board president warns Salon

Chris Christie (Credit: Reuters/Lucas Jackson)

While New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie deals with burgeoning scandals surrounding accusations he used the Port Authority and development deals for political ends, he now finds himself in a flap surrounding charter schools in Hoboken.

As charters in the city have exploded in number and size, “they’re fostering white flight, and they’re bankrupting us,” the city’s school board head charged in a Wednesday interview. “We are creating separate but equal school systems,” warned Hoboken Board of Education president Leon Gold. (As Salon has reported, Christie-style ed reform has also sparked controversy in Newark.)

Gold, an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s School of Engineering & Applied Science, decried the Christie administration’s approval of the HoLa charter school’s bid to add middle school grades, which was opposed by the city’s superintendent. (Gold emphasized that he is speaking in a personal capacity, and not on behalf of the entire Board of Education.) State data shows that 11 percent of HoLa students qualify for reduced-cost or free lunch, whereas 72 percent of their counterparts in Hoboken’s traditional public schools do, according to the

Christie breaks the law. Again. | Bob Braun's Ledger

Christie breaks the law. Again. | Bob Braun's Ledger:

Christie breaks the law. Again.

Kids get busted for possession of small amounts of marijuana. Motorists are given tickets for burned-out brake lights. Small-time stuff, not even real crimes, but the municipal courts are jammed with it. Now, how about a governor—like, say Chris Christie–who consistently flouts the law, keeping as much as $5 billion from the public schools? What happens to him? He gets re-elected and thinks he can be President.

The Education Law Center (ELC) reminded us again this week of what a genuine lawbreaker Christie is—and the public advocacy law firm isn’t talking about closed lanes on bridges or twisting arms to help friends make bucket-loads of money in Hoboken, Belleville, and New Brunswick. It’s talking about depriving tens, maybe hundreds, of thousands of children of their constitutional right to a thorough and efficient education by failing to ensure the school aid formula (SFRA) is funded.

You know, unimportant stuff like that.

So that’s not a criminal offense? Neither is driving with broken tail-lights or even smoking a joint—but schlubs like us and most of the rest of the world are held

3-16-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL:

Around The Web In ESL/EFL/ELL

I’ve started a somewhat regular feature where I share a few posts and resources from around the Web related to ESL/EFL or to language in general that have caught my attention: Next Blog Carnival Announcement from David Deubelbeiss: On April 1st, Sylvia Guinan will be hosting the 40th edition of the ELT Blog Carnival. It will be about “Ideas For Teaching With Technology”. A great topic! Share

by Larry Ferlazzo / 8min

Excellent (& I Mean EXCELLENT!) Post On Asking Questions

MindShift has published an absolutely great post titled Why It’s Imperative to Teach Students How to Question as the Ultimate Survival Skill, written by Warren Berger. My colleagues and I were just discussing different strategies to help students value the importance of asking thoughtful questions — we’re teaching lessons on the difference between literal and interpretative questions now (I’ve wr

by Larry Ferlazzo / 23min

Will It Ever Be Possible For A Teacher To Trust Bill Gates?

I posted Gates Foundation Makes Its Move In California — And It Looks Like Somebody Is Giving Them Good Advice a couple of months ago, and I still believe what I wrote. However, I’ve just got to say that every time Bill Gates speaks in public, he makes me question whether I should…. Rolling Stone just published an interview with him. Here’s an excerpt: Come on, Bill. Perhaps you should read The B

by Larry Ferlazzo / 4min

Videos Of The Week

In yet another effort to get at my backlog of resources to share, I recently began this feature to share useful videos. I’ll still periodically highlight certain ones on their own, but the rest will be found on this regular post: Here’s an interesting video with Neil Degrasse Tyson that might, or might not, be viewable on an RSS Reader: I’m adding this next from The Wall Street Journal to The Be

by Larry Ferlazzo / 15min

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Week… 3-15-14 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EF

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFLLARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE DAYThe Best Resources On The Dangers Of MultitaskingI’m beginning to prepare and short lesson on dangers of multitasking, and thought I’d bring together some of the resources I’ll be using for it. Additional suggestions are welcome: Don’t Multitask: Your Brain Will Thank You is from TIME. Why

by mike simpson / 59min

3-16-14 @ THE CHALK FACE

@ THE CHALK FACE:

Gates and Duncan and Their Common Core “Freedom” Charade

In his purchased keynote at the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) (I know, huh?), billionaire-with-zero-teaching-experience Bill Gates insisted that the feds are getting the bum rap when it comes to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). As Huffington Post’s Joy Resmovits notes, Gates went on to address critiques that the Common Core represents a national curriculum, […]

by deutsch29 / 34min

YOU are @thechalkface!

DON’T BE CONFUSED @the chalkface is still the punk rock thrill ride that delivers readers, viewers, and listeners the unfiltered truth about education reform. We don’t take corporate contributions from Gates and Walton. But what about this new Chalkbeat? Sadly they do take funds from Gates and Walton. This is your brain on Chalkbeat. This […]

by Timothy D. Slekar / 9min

#WhatCouldGoWrong

Originally posted on Math Minds:On Tuesday, I received a book entitled “Accelerating Learning for All Students” in which all of the teachers in the district will receive professional development in the upcoming week. I cannot speak to the ELA piece of the material, however the math examples made me cringe. I quickly got out…

by Michael Paul Gold... / 8min

Common Core As “Technologically Necessary”: A Looming Shift In Sales Pitch?

The term Common Core is so negatively charged that Common Core State Standards (CCSS) proponents are trying their hardest to ditch the term– not ditch CCSS– just the term. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee suggested that states “rebrand” the CCSS product– give it a shiny new name in order to fool the public into thinking its gone. In my […]

4 by deutsch29 / 1h

Common Core = “College Ready” ?

From New York parent Loy Gross: Why do we need Common Core? Experts tell us it will make kids “college and career ready.” And let me add, potatoes don’t have wings because my bicycle is a 10-speed. Out of those two statements, only one has a measure of truth. Potatoes don’t have wings. And my […]

1 by Chris Cerrone / 7min

To our bosses and our bosses’ bosses, the #edreform hiearchy

First, a vocabulary lesson. To the left, the simple Google definition of the word “priority.” It would seem as if thought and policy leaders in many school systems, particularly those in tenuous political climates, try to put schools in low-income communities of color in a position of “priority.” That is, divert the most resources to […]

5 by Shaun Johnson / 22min

The Self-Defeating South, Words Not Spoken: Racism as a Scar and Cancer

The Self-Defeating South, Words Not Spoken: Racism as a Scar and Cancer. via The Self-Defeating South, Words Not Spoken: Racism as a Scar and Cancer.

by plthomasedd / 1min

All Week 3-15-14 @ THE CHALK FACE

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: All Week @ THE CHALK FACE Bill Gates Tries to Fashion Teacher Support for His Beloved Common CoreOne would think that if teachers supported the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), then teachers would take the initiative to rally around said CCSS. Not so. It seems that we need Bill Gates to tell us that we need CCSS. He did so today (Friday, March 14, 2014), i

by mike simpson / 1h

3-16-14 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):

The Self-Defeating South, Words Not Spoken: Racism as a Scar and Cancer

Born and raised in a very small rural town in upstate South Carolina, I have lived my entire 53 years in the South. Most of that life has been spent teaching, and a large span of that career was in the high school I attended, among children mostly just like me, where we explored literature. A key text for me each year was William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily,” and if you are not from the South, an

by plthomasedd / 8min

3-15-14 the becoming radical EMPATHYEDUCATES! | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD

THE BECOMING RADICALRadical ScholarshipEMPATHYEDUCATES!the becoming radical A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by Status Quo at Elite New York Schools: Few Blacks and HispanicsPhotograph; Hill Street Studios/Getty By Al Baker | Originally Published at The New York Times. March 11, 2014 Seven black students have been offered a chance to start classes at Stuyvesant High School in September, two few

by mike simpson / 54min

The Answer Sheet 3-16-14

The Answer Sheet:

Parent to officials: ‘if you know it’s wrong but remain silent, you’re complicit in educational malpractice’

Here’s a letter from Massachusetts parent Ricardo D. Rosa to the New Bedford School Committee and Superintendent Pia Durkin about high-stakes standardized testing. Rosa explains why he wants to opt his children out of this month’s Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exams and all upcoming high-stakes test, including the Common Core-aligned tests being designed by […]

9 by Valerie Strauss / 53min

Town judge — and ‘spiritual’ weight loss consultant — elected to New York Regents

This is a good example of why it is important to do your homework before you vote. On anything. New York legislators elected — and last week the entire body confirmed — four new members of the state Board of Regents, which makes and oversees education policy and has been under attack for the botched […]

2 by Valerie Strauss / 6min

How three teachers are dealing with Common Core in class

Love them or hate them, the Common Core State Standards in math and English/Language Arts are being implemented in classrooms in most of the country — in some places better than others. A nonpartisan organization called Young Education Professionals asked a few teachers how they are dealing with the new standards, and their reports are […]

by Valerie Strauss / 23min

All Week @ The Answer Sheet 3-15-14

The Answer Sheet:All Week @ The Answer SheetTen clueless things people say to teachers — and comebacks teachers can throw right backPeople say the craziest things to teachers about their profession. Like what? Like how easy their jobs are, and how anybody can do it. Here is a list of some of the common idiocies along with some useful comebacks, compiled and written by Cindy Long and originally pub

by mike simpson / 8h

PCAPS To Launch Election Campaign for the Education Pennsylvania’s Children Deserve | WeArePCAPS

PCAPS To Launch Election Campaign for the Education Pennsylvania’s Children Deserve | WeArePCAPS:

PCAPS To Launch Election Campaign for the Education Pennsylvania’s Children Deserve

Posted on March 16, 2014by wearepcaps

On March 29th the Philadelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools will kick off a seven month campaign to make this year’s gubernatorial election about fully funded, quality schools for all children. The heart of this effort will be getting 25,000 registered voters to sign a pledge to vote for candidates who are committed to the following five points:

1) Support a funding formula that will distribute state dollars based on student needs and the local district’s ability to pay.

2) Provide more revenue for education and human services by closing corporate tax loopholes, taxing natural gas production, and cancelling prison expansion.

3) Hold charter schools accountable and give local districts the power to monitor them.

4) Shutdown the school to prison pipeline. Replace harsh, zero tolerance polices that criminalize students or minor offenses with restorative justice.

5) Abolish the School Reform Commission and return our schools to Local Control.

We will be canvassing and tabling in neighborhoods throughout the city to sign up education voters. We will continue to demonstrate and take direct action to press these demands. And we will monitor the candidates as to where they stand on this platform. Registering new voters and getting out a big education vote come election day will be part of our campaign.

The event on March 29th will be a kick off rally with speakers, a training for canvassers and then going door to door with the education voter pledge.

WHEN: March 29th, 11a.m.

WHERE: Media Mobilizing Project, 4233 Chestnut St.

PCAPS member organizations aim to turn out over a hundred volunteers for this first canvass. Please join us.

The PCAPS 5 point election platform is here: 5pt platform2

Email Us at Pcaps201@gmail.com or call 267 908 4201