4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 4-25-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:

Board District 3: TWO CANDIDATES FILE TO SEEK GALATZAN SCHOOL BOARD SEAT …AND THEN TAMAR DOES TOO!

Two candidates file to seek Galatzan school board seat by Michael Janofsky, L.A.  School Report | http://bit.ly/1fBhfgN Posted on April 24, 2014 11:30 am Whether LA Unified board member Tamar Galatzan runs for reelection or not, voters in her District 3 will have two other candidates to consider in the 2015 board election. Carl Petersen, Director of Logistics for a Glendale manufacturing

by smf / 3min 

WHAT THE L.A. UNIFIED iPAD INVESTIGATION COULDN’T FIND

The Inspector General couldn’t find the scoring sheets …but had no problem locating the bungling bureaucracy. By Karin Klein, L.A. Times Editorialist, http://lat.ms/1mLvB5M   April 24, 2014, 3:57 p.m. :: The most troubling aspect of an internal Los Angeles Unified School District report on its purchase of iPads for its students isn't what it found out, but what it couldn't find out

by smf / 12min 

L.A. Teacher Wins Job Back After Removal For Science Projects

  By Howard Blume, L.A. Times | http://lat.ms/1jLjDCE 7:20 PM PDT, April 24, 2014  ::  A Los Angeles high school science teacher is returning to the classroom two months after being suspended over concerns that two students had assembled "dangerous" science projects under his supervision. Both projects overseen by teacher Greg Schiller were capable of launching small objects. A staff mem

by smf / 41min 

L.A. Unified Doesn’T Have To Release Teacher’S Names With Performance Ratings

A state appellate court panel tentatively finds a stronger public interest in keeping the names confidential than in publicly releasing them. By Teresa WatanabE, L.A. Times | http://lat.ms/1rsTbng Kyle Hunsberger explains a problem to Robert Gunter as he teaches his pre-algebra Math 7 class at Johnny Cochran Middle school in Los Angeles. He participated in L.A. Unified's controversial

by smf / 50min 

L.A. Unified Battles Lawyers Over Miramonte Disclosures, Lausd Accused Of Destroying Evidence

L.A. Unified battles lawyers over Miramonte disclosures By Howard Blume, LA Times | http://lat.ms/1il0c2j April 23, 2014, 6:42 p.m.  ::  The litigation over sexual misconduct at Miramonte Elementary has resulted in a struggle over which documents should be part of the public record. This includes testimony that a former teacher had alerted her principal about sexual misconduct by Mark Berndt,

by smf / 1h 

YESTERDAY

Science Teacher Returning To School

Published on United Teachers Los Angeles (http://utla.net | http://bit.ly/PzcKvY Back in the classroom 24 April 2014  ::  Greg Schiller, the LAUSD science teacher who was removed from his school in February—in a flap over science fair experiments, will be back at Cortines School of Visual & Performing Arts tomorrow.  Schiller has been languishing in “teacher jail” since February, unable to

by smf / 8h hide  //  save

Media Alert: SCIENCE TEACHER GREG SCHILLER RETURNS TO HIS CLASSROOM TODAY FROM TEACHER JAIL

to 4LAKids by email from Esther & Gerald Schiller Sent 10pm Thursday April 24, 2014 Hi Scott - For your information:TO: Assignment Editor Media News Alert Please consider covering a student celebration at Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts tomorrow, April 25 from 8 am to 8:45 am.Where: 450 N. Grand Ave. Los Angles, 90012 (Cesar Chavez Avenue between Grand Ave. and HIll StreetWhat:

1 by smf / 8h

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 4-24-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: CHARTER OF VAN NUY’S CHAMPS IN JEAPARDY OVER STAFFER’S $27,000 CREDIT-CARD MISUSE + smf’s 2¢By Thomas Himes, San Bernardino Sun | http://bit.ly/1fa4qPp 4/22/14, 1:03 PM PDT | UPDATED: 4/23  ::  Charter High School of the Arts officials have 10 days to convince Los Angeles Unified they’ve fixed mismanagement that let a former staffer rack up $27,000 in p

by mike simpson / 7h 

4-25-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University)

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

What do College Professors Want from Incoming High School Graduates?

The focus of this post was prompted by a thread on the NCTE Connected Community: What do College Comp instructors want from incoming High School Graduates? But the essence of this question has been at the core of my work as a teacher for 31 years—18 years as a high school English teachers, two years as lead instructor for the summer institute of the Spartanburg Writing Project, and my current posi

2 by plthomasedd / 53min 

4-24-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University)

the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): Common Core Movement Never about Teaching and Learning, Always about TestingAs of April 24, 2014, I am tired to the core of writing about the Common Core because I know three things: I’ve said everything I need to say about Common Core: (a) Arguing about the quality of t

by mike simpson / 9h 

Schools’ English-only mandate set to resurface :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet

Schools’ English-only mandate set to resurface :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet:



APRIL 25, 2014

Schools’ English-only mandate set to resurface

by Tom Chorneau

(Calif.) A much-anticipated bill aimed at repealing the state’s controversial ban on most bilingual education in K-12 schools faces its first legislative test next week, as supporters seek to reshape the debate from one that generates ethnic divide to a question of global competitiveness.

SB 1174 by state Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, would put an initiative before voters in November, 2016 that would enable California’s public schools to teach foreign language immersion classes.

It would also, however, strike out key elements of Proposition 227 – that landmark 1998 voter initiative that requires all public school instruction to be conducted in English with some limited exceptions.

That measure, overwhelmingly approved, sparked one of the most politically-charged campaigns in California history that was characterized by a painful subtext of wedge issues from race to immigration and poverty.

Lara’s bill has so far received limited coverage in the mainstream press but that is likely to change as it is set to go before the Senate Education committee next Wednesday. Perhaps in anticipation of that hearing, the bill underwent some revision this week including a new name, the California Education for a Global Economy Initiative – a move that might better emphasize the state’s linguistic diversity as a gift rather than a barrier.

“This is about giving our students the educational and employment edge to be competitive in the global economy,” said Lara. “In an increasingly interconnected world, we have to prepare our Schools’ English-only mandate set to resurface :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet:

 

New study demystifies learning styles

Over one decade into the 21st century, more than a century and a half since the birth of Pavlov, a group of theorists has constructed a cognitive framework that is both well-founded and useable.

by Lee Funk / 6h 

Russ on Reading: Chris Christie's Curious Commencement Speech

Russ on Reading: Chris Christie's Curious Commencement Speech:

Chris Christie's Curious Commencement Speech

Rowan University, in Glassboro, NJ, will present Governor Chris Christie with an honorary degree and Christie will present the commencement address to this year’s graduating class. The invitation has stirred controversy among supporters of public education and Rowan grads, including a Change.org petition asking Rowan to rescind the invite. Some educators question the appropriateness of inviting the Governor, who has shown his disdain for teachers, teacher unions and who has labeled urban schools “failure factories”, to speak at the commencement of at this public institution, which has as a central mission the educating of future public school teachers.

In our never ending search for truth, justice and the American Way, the Russ on Reading blog has discovered a draft of Governor’s Christie’s commencement speech in a stack of documents released by the lawyers the Governor hired to whitewash, ahem, I mean investigate, Bridgegate. Here is the draft as we discovered it.

Dear Rowan Class of 2014,

It is a pleasure for me to be here today on this lovely South Jersey campus. In fact, it is a pleasure for me to be anywhere that is at least 100 miles away from the George Washington Bridge. Heh. Heh. Heh.

I want to thank the Rowan Board of Directors and especially Rowan President, Dr. Ali Houshmand, for inviting me and for the honorary degree. I understand that Dr, Houshmand has been under some intense criticism since he decided to invite me, but don’t worry, Ali, if you lose this job, I have some openings at the Port Authority to fill. Heh.Heh.Heh.

Now, to those of you who have decided to use masking tape to spell out “Christie Sucks” on top of your mortarboards, with my reputation as a bully you might expect to get a rise out of me with that stunt. But I am a bigger man than that, literally. I would, however, like you to meet my new Director of Security, Bridget Kelly. Bridget just sent me a text that read, “Time for some graduation problems in Glassboro.” Heh.Heh.Heh.

Now, I know some of you graduates will be going into careers in business, Russ on Reading: Chris Christie's Curious Commencement Speech:

Nonprofit Charters Turn Taxes into Profits for Board Members | janresseger

Nonprofit Charters Turn Taxes into Profits for Board Members | janresseger:

Nonprofit Charters Turn Taxes into Profits for Board Members

Posted on April 25, 2014 by janresseger

Yesterday the Economic Policy Institute published a stunning new report that examines Rocketship Charter Schools and the financial backers tied to the success of the Rocketship chain of schools.  The report’s author is political economist Gordon Lafer, who examines Rocketship Charter Schools in the context of Wisconsin, where corporate lobbies such as the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, a member of the far-right State Policy Network, working together with the American Legislative Exchange Council, have supported recent legislative efforts to privatize public schools in Milwaukee.   While these advocates did not succeed in the recently concluded Wisconsin legislative session, Lafer warns, “Nevertheless, the more ambitious proposals will likely remain at the core of Wisconsin’s debates over education policy, and legislative leaders have made clear their desire to revisit them in next year’s session.”

Why should efforts to privatize schools in Wisconsin matter to you and me?  The corporate lobbies and investors working to privatize public schools are active in your state and mine just as they are in Wisconsin.  Vouchers, for example, began in Milwaukee over 20 years ago.

Lafer’s focus in the new report is the Rocketship chain of charter schools, launched originally in California by promoters who intend to expand into Wisconsin and other states.  The Rocketship charter chain uses “‘blended learning,” which substitutes computers for teachers for part of each day, thereby permitting far larger classes.  According to Lafer, “The profit margins of ‘blended learning’ schools—which split students’ days between in-person and online instruction—aren’t as high as those of entirely virtual schools, but they may be the next best thing. For this reason, investment banks, hedge funds, and venture capital firms have increasingly looked to ‘blended learning’ as a preferred model for urban school districts.”  Rocketship’s philosophy incorporates four principles: replacing teachers with computers for part of the day, relying on young and inexpensive teachers, narrowing the curriculum to math and reading, and focusing on preparing students for standardized tests.

This is a rather long, in-depth report about school privatization in Wisconsin, not only the influence of ALEC and the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, but also the role of the business community including the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.  Most fascinating to me, however, is Lafer’s documentation of the power behind the development of Rocketship’s “blended learning” model and the not-for-profit’s plans for rapid expansion.  “While Nonprofit Charters Turn Taxes into Profits for Board Members | janresseger:

The lawsuit's called Vergara, but the name you should know is Welch | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC

The lawsuit's called Vergara, but the name you should know is Welch | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC:

The lawsuit's called Vergara, but the name you should know is Welch

Adolfo Guzman-Lopez | April 25th, 2014, 5:00am

Adolfo Guzman-Lopez/KPCC

David Welch is the main funder of the Vergara vs. California lawsuit. He founded the Silicon Valley tech company Infinera.

Silicon Valley entrepreneur David Welch made his money creating breakthrough technology in fiber optic communication and building hardware to run the massive interenet networks of the future.

He's spending it - at least some of it - on a pet project that could substantially change teaching in California and the rest of the country.

Welch is the man behind Students Matter, the advocacy group that recruited nine public school students to sue the state of California, saying teacher job protections harm their ability to get the 'adequate' education they are promised in the state constitution.

Despite not having a background in public education, he said he had no choice but to take on the issue.

“About four years ago, I got to the point where there was too many children that were being harmed in the system,” he said. “If I had the capability of doing the right thing to make life better for someone else or for my society, then I try to do it.”

In interviews, Welch wouldn't say how much money the case has cost him. It's no doubt been substantial.

Tax records for 2012 show he loaned Students Matter nearly $1 million that year alone, half of which was spent on public relations. The group paid $1.1 million to lawyers which ultimately filed the suit, called Vergara vs. California.

That was before the suit was filed, before a legal team led by high powered lawyer The lawsuit's called Vergara, but the name you should know is Welch | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC:

4-25-13 Curmudgucation

CURMUDGUCATION:

When Washington Waiver Is Washed Away, Will We Waive Weeping?

Arne Duncan, King of All Schools, has banished Washington State to an earlier age. Stripped of their flexibility (our current word the law-cancelling edict that cabinet secretaries can now apparently issue), the state must now tumble back into the unloving embrace of No Child Left Behind.In the short term, this is terrible news for the state. Under NCLB, this is the year that we should all have re

by Peter Greene / 22min 

Cami, Surgery & Big Stupid Democracy

Like a cat struggling with a fascinatingly ugly hairball, the internet yesterday coughed up an extraordinary video of Cami Anderson. I do not know where she is or why (the wall behind her says "Arizona State University/GSV"), and I do not usually cover New Jersey education because so many capable, local hands already have that covered.But for the rest of us, the video answers the questio

3 by Peter Greene / 2h   

4-24-13 Curmudgucation

CURMUDGUCATION: The Opposite of GritMy sister and her family recently returned from a visit to Thomas Edison's laboratory (because when engineery types head to greater NYC, that's their idea of a cool stop), and they took many pictures. The place is amazing-- all this space cleaned and arranged and perfectly fitted out for investigating and experimenting and engineering much of the modern world.It

by mike simpson / 9h 

A-F Accountability Letter Grades: Reform or Different Name, More of the Same? | Cloaking Inequity

A-F Accountability Letter Grades: Reform or Different Name, More of the Same? | Cloaking Inequity:

A-F Accountability Letter Grades: Reform or Different Name, More of the Same?

Education “reformers” are still pushing A-F accountability letter grades. In this approach, districts and schools are given letter grades like a student might receive. Are A-F letter grades a “reform”? I was inspired to write this post because Jimmie Don Aycock, current Texas House Education Committee Chair mentioned in the TFA Policy Forum held at the UT-Austin LBJ School of Public Affairs on 4/22/14 that A-F was his preferred approach to accountability. Current Texas Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott also released an education platform this week that calls for an A-F letter grade system. Policymakers (in Texas and elsewhere) think A-F is a sexy idea ed reform idea that works. So the question is whether an A-F accountability grading system is a new, more desirable reform for education policy or whether A-F is a different name and more of the same? It turns out there is already allot of evidence out there…

Test-Based Evidence on A-F 

In the post The Test-Based Evidence on the “Florida Formula” Matthew Di Carlo, a senior fellow at the non-profit Albert Shanker Institute in Washington, D.C., examined the research on A-F. He wrote:

In the late-1990s, Florida was one of the first states to adopt its own school grading system, now ubiquitous throughout the nation (see this post for a review of how Florida currently calculates these grades and what they mean).

The main purposes of these rating systems are to inform parents and other stakeholders and incentivize improvement and innovation by attaching consequences and rewards to the results. Starting in the late 1990s, the grades in Florida were high-stakes – students who attended schools that received an F for multiple years were made eligible for private school vouchers (the voucher program itself was shut down in 2006, after being ruled unconstitutional by the state’s Supreme Court).

In addition to the voucher threat, low-rated schools received other forms of targeted assistance, such as reading coaches, while high-rated schools were eligible for bonuses (discussed below). In this sense, the grading system plays a large role in Florida’s overall accountability system (called the “A+ Accountability Plan”).

Among the best analyses of the effect of the system is presented in this paper, which was originally released (in working form) in 2007. Using multiple tests, as well as surveys of principals over a five-year period during the early-2000s, the authors sought to assess both the test-based impact of the grading system as well as, importantly, how low-rated schools responded to the accountability pressure in terms of changes in concrete policy and practice.

The researchers concluded that test-based performance did indeed improve among the schools that had received F grades during the early 2000s, relative to similar schools that had received a higher grade. The difference was somewhat modest but large enough to be educationally meaningful, and it persisted in future years. A fair amount of the improvement appeared to be associated with specific  

A-F Accountability Letter Grades: Reform or Different Name, More of the Same? | Cloaking Inequity:

4-25-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School:

Obama Doubles Down On Test Scores, VAM

Some people like to blame Arne Duncan for all the fetishization of test scores and value-added measurements that have come from the Obama administration over the past six years, but as this Stephanie Simon article from Politico makes clear, the impetus comes from Obama:The formulas for measuring how much “value” a teacher adds to a student’s test scores are complex and often carry a sizable margin

by reality-based edu... / 22min hide  //  save

Rahm Emanuel's Political Team Coordinated Parts of CNN Documentary Chicagoland

Just another example of how the mainstream media is simply an extension of the ruling class:"If it seemed as though some scenes of CNN's documentary series Chicagoland were coordinated by Mayor Rahm Emanuel's City Hall and the show's producers, that's because they were," the Chicago Tribune reports. "More than 700 emails reviewed by the Tribune reveal that the production team worked

1 by reality-based edu... / 2h  

4-24-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School: Cuomo Blames State Senate For Not Enacting His Progressive AgendaThe reason why the State Senate is not in Democratic hands is because Andrew Cuomo helped Republicans and the Independent Democratic Caucus to keep control of it.Yesterday Cuomo responded to criticism that he is not progressive enough by blaming the State Senate for failing to enact his "progessive agenda&

by mike simpson / 9h 

NYC Educator: For Sale--One New York Governor

NYC Educator: For Sale--One New York Governor:

For Sale--One New York Governor

NY Governor Andrew Cuomo has taken at least 800K from BFFs of Eva Moskowitz, and at least 65K from the so-called Democrats for Education Reform. And thus, he's bought and paid for. Cuomo had no reservations about pushing a budget that essentially precluded the campaign promises that gained Bill de Blasio a landslide victory over his esteemed GOP opponent, what's-his-name. You know, that guy who marched over the bridge with Moskowitz and was defeated conclusively.

So we know that Governor Andy doesn't really care what voters think. If they get between him and hefty campaign contributions, they can go straight to hell as far as he's concerned. That's pretty much what he told New York City when he gave Eva Moskowitz the green light to start charter schools our duly-elected mayor rejected. Not only that, but they can expand like a cancer if they so desire, and if de Blasio can't give them public school space, the city will have to pick up the tab for their rent.

Thus spake the "student lobbyist." And yet this particular student lobbyist represents only the interests of those students backed up by hedge fund bucks. The other 97% of our students can go straight to hell along with their parents, the voters.

But in Governor Andy's New York, teachers are even more special than parents and children. Not only can they go straight to hell, but they can't come to his upstate charter party. Now it's no surprise nowadays when teachers aren't invited to education events. After all, why ask people NYC Educator: For Sale--One New York Governor: