5-2-14 LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD

LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District):

Parents, with some help, offer views on LAUSD spending plan

It was “pencils down” day yesterday, for the members of the Parent Advisory Committee, who completed their first opportunity to weigh in on LA Unified’s Local Control and Accountability Plan, the so-called LCAP required of Gov. Jerry Brown‘s new Local Control Funding Formula. The 47 parents and guardians selected to give feedback, have had two weeks to “live with” Superintendent John Deasy’s propo

by Vanessa Romo / 16min

After mixup, West Valley charters facing anxiety over bills

A bureaucratic mistake at LA Unified has led to a degree of anxiety among affiliated charter schools in the West Valley, which will begin paying for classroom basics they had previously gotten for free from the district. A lack of oversight and confusion among several departments with little experience in understanding how affiliated charter school should operate, including school operations, scho

2 by Vanessa Romo / 51min 

LA Unified says it followed the law in handling abuse reports

Mark Berndt, teacher accused of abusing children In the face of reports that Miramonte Elementary School teacher Mark Berndt molested many more children than previously known, according to an LA County Sheriff’s investigation, LA Unified today said it followed prescribed legal regulations in dealing with reports of the allegations. The sheriff’s report included the assertion that the school distri

19min 

McKenna riding decades of experience into District 1 race

George McKenna Third in a series of profiles of candidates for LA Unified’s open District 1 board seat. At 73 years old and now retired as an LAUSD administrator and principal, George McKenna shows no signs of slowing down. With more than 35 years under his belt, serving in multiple roles in eight different schools in several districts, including principal at George Washington Preparatory High Sc

by Yana Gracile / 3min 

Morning Read: LAT endorses Tuck for state public education chief

Marshall Tuck for state superintendent of public instruction Opinion: Torlakson has been an able administrator, and after years as a state legislator, his relationships in Sacramento give him some influence on lawmaking. He deserves praise for his role in the state’s smooth implementation of the Common Core curriculum standards. But he has not brought much vision or leadership to his role. The big

29min  

5-1-14 LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD

LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District): Morning Read: LAUSD budget aims at helping foster childrenLAUSD foster kids to get more help from school social workers Los Angeles Unified’s plan to help some of its most troubled students — foster kids — calls for creating a corps of social workers and manning 17 centers in poverty-stricken neighborhood

by mike simpson / 22h 

5-2-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online:

Memo from the RTC: Time to Start Mooning Over Buffalo

Published in The Wave, May 2, 2014 Memo from the RTC: Time to Start Mooning Over BuffaloBy Norm ScottI walked into a rehearsal of the Rockaway Theatre Company’s upcoming production of the very funny “Moon Over Buffalo,” a play that I, a theater ignoramus, had never heard of before even though Carol Burnett got rave reviews when it opened on Broadway 20 years ago. There on the stage were Kim Simek

by ed notes online / 21min 

please join us Tuesday May 6 at 9 AM re charter giveway!

From Leonie: Parents and elected officials are holding a press conference Tuesday May 6 at Tweed to speak out against the new state law that gives any new and/or expanding charter free space either in our public school buildings or in private space paid for by the city . Meanwhile, many thousands of NYC public school students are sitting in vastly overcrowded schools, subjected to excessive class

by ed notes online / 28min 

The Contract: Retro Pay is a LIE!

From a former colleague who I haven't heard from in years:Retro Pay is a lie!From what I understand of the new UFT Teacher's Contract?? It's crap.There is no Retro Pay!Retro pay is pay for timed served. They want me to work another 4 years to make up that pay. If I retire or leave the system, I get 1% of the "Retro Pay” for 2013.Now what about the work for 2009, 2010,2011,2012?A teacher that

by ed notes online / 8min 

5-1-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online: Change the Stakes Next General Meeting - Friday May 2, 6-8pm - CUNY Grad centerGreetings All, As today marks the first day of the math state test, Change the Stakes begins to move the conversation to "What's next?"  Opt out numbers tripled in NYC and almost 35,000 statewide, parents found support in many schools, some difficulties in other schools, teachers spoke out, pr

by mike simpson / 11h 

5-2-14 Wait What?

Wait What?:

Malloy to retired teachers – No really I do respect you, just not that much….

Three months ago, in a move to try and “win over” the support of retired teachers, Governor Dannel “Dan” Malloy proposed a targeted tax break designed to benefit those who spent their careers teaching in Connecticut’s public schools. In February, the vote seeking governor explained his support for the partial tax break on teacher pensions […] The post Malloy to retired teachers – No really I do re

5 by jonpelto / 41min 

5-1-14 Wait What?

Wait What?: Malloy is a fraud on campaign finance reform issuesNEWS ALERT:  Buried under the news about the massive problems facing Connecticut’s State budget and other developments and issues that have surfaced over the past couple of weeks is one of the most significant news stories of Governor Malloy’s term. The truth is that after having run as a “pro-campaign finance reform” candidate, Dannel

by mike simpson / 18min 

5-2-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:

Director Blanford's Community Meeting Tomorrow

Just a heads up on Director Blanford's community meeting tomorrow at the Douglass-Truth Library from 10 am to noon. I was told that at the Work Session on Capital Projects (which I am sorry to have missed because it sounds like there were not enough hard questions and more than enough funny lines) that Director Blanford was looking for info to back the district's position on Wilson-Pacific.  He sa

by Melissa Westbrook / 10min 

Seattle High Schools Update

Several items of interest from two SPS high schools.  One item is an update about the dress code coming from Ballard's principal which seems to be a thoughtful letter.  The other is about several issues at Garfield High School.Ballard's Mr. Wynkoop let the students know that administrators had thought about this issue as the weather was getting warmer and let the students know - in advance - what

by Melissa Westbrook / 50min 

Friday Open Thread

SPS press release on math adoption.  Next steps:Next, the recommendation goes to the IMC for its approval that the math adoption process was appropriately followed. From there, the Superintendent will review the recommendation, which will then be introduced to the full School Board at its May 21 meeting. The board is scheduled to vote on the math program at its June 4 meeting.Did you know that the

by Melissa Westbrook / 51min 

5-1-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Math Adoption UpdateOddly, nothing from SPS.  But here's a post from committee member, Rick Burke.  Thanks, RickThe district has not yet announced the results from the K-5 Math Adoption Committee (MAC) meeting on last Friday, but it was a public meeting, so there is no reason I can't share the outcome of committee deliberations and some of my personal opinions abou

by mike simpson / 22h

Imagine IEP’s & IGP’s Everywhere | My Island View

Imagine IEP’s & IGP’s Everywhere | My Island View:

Imagine IEP’s & IGP’s Everywhere

May 2, 2014 by tomwhitby

I recently read a number of mission statements from randomly selected schools to see if there was some sort of pattern in what schools view as their mission. One thing that many had in common was a distinction between the learners and the educators. I guess that is fitting in the sense of what each shareholder’s position is, but maybe we would be better served if we thought of ourselves as a community of learners one and all. At least in that perspective when a mission statement refers to helping all learners reaching their potential, we are including the faculty and administration in that goal. Yes, it is all about the kids, but will not a more learned faculty lead to a more learned student population?

Then I thought about IEP’s and how they might apply to educators as well. Most schools reserve the IEP, Individualized Education Program, for students with special needs, since they are also a requirement of the law. In my imaginings I wondered:Would we all not benefit by having some sort of IEP for every learner in the building? As long as we are dreaming here, maybe we could even give each learner a say in their learning to help develop an IEP. Initially it would take up some time to do, but once completed it could be easily updated each year. If it was considered a priority, the time would easily be allotted, just as weeks of test-prep time is alloted for standardized tests which are today’s priority. The IEP idea however might have a more lasting positive effect.

If we consider our educators (Teachers and Administrators) as learners as well as our students, then they would also need to have IEP’s. Maybe we could call their IEP an IGP, an Individual Growth Program? Of course this is a big “what Imagine IEP’s & IGP’s Everywhere | My Island View:

May 17th Reclaim the Promise! | WeArePCAPS

May 17th Reclaim the Promise! | WeArePCAPS:

May 17th Reclaim the Promise!

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UPDATE:Steel parents win + Steel parents file grievance against SAC charter vote | Parents United for Public Education

Steel parents file grievance against SAC charter vote | Parents United for Public Education:

Steel parents win decisive vote to keep school public

Parents United for Public Education Statement on Decisive Parent Victory Vote at Steel School Today the parent community of Steel School rejected a message of fear, failure and disinvestment and stood up for their school, their community and for public education. In a decisive parent victory, 70% of parents voted to keep Steel – the last public school in Nicetown – a District-managed public schoo

by parentsunitedphil... / 18min 

Steel parents file grievance against SAC charter vote

Posted on May 2, 2014 by PARENTSUNITEDPHILALeave a comment

Yesterday almost 200 families voted in the first ever parent vote about whether to turn the last public school in Nicetown over to charter operator, Mastery Charter, which is seeking to complete the first K-12 “Charter Achievement Network” in Philadelphia. At stake is $6 million for Mastery, despite the fact the District spends just $3.9 million for the school with the same number of students. The District dropped the announcement on the Steel community on April 1. It reconstituted an existing School Advisory Council solely for the charter takeover vote, and then disqualified more than 80% of the applicants for breaking some rules while selectively approving for vote other applicants who broke other rules. This statement comes from members of the Steel School Advisory Council about a grievance filed today against the charter office with regard to the SAC vote.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 2, 2014

Steel parents to file grievance on SAC voting process:

80% of parent applicants disqualified by charter office day of the vote

Statement by Kendra Brooks, Marie Otch,, Nikki Bagby, Diana Koch, Donna Savage – Steel School Advisory Council members:

Since the beginning of this month, parents have raised constant concerns about a botched process around the Renaissance charter takeover of Steel School.

We have stated constantly that the charter office is making up the rules as it goes and breaking them whenever it feels like it. Parents have not had full transparency on this process and we do not trust the Charter Office which has done all it can to make this process as difficult and punishing for parents as possible.

We are an active and engaged community with an existing School Advisory Council. We stand for our children and our school and our community. That is why we filed a grievance this morning with the District charter office.

The charter office has chosen to make up rules and selectively enforce them. They disqualified more than 80% of SAC parents for not following some rules, then approved other parents who also broke the rules. They disqualified these parents on the night of the vote despite our request that parents be informed of their status earlier. They made up a requirement to have long-time involved parents attend four different sessions in a 13-day period in order to vote. A major disqualifier was the failure to attend a Mastery tour, even for parents who were parents of Mastery students. This was a significant hardship for some parents, and it made other parents feel like the process was biased.

The charter office has refused to answer questions, and has not been truthful or held to the commitments of many of the questions it does answer.

We are asking the School District of Philadelphia to review these procedures and come to a quick and timely resolution. We do NOT want this process dragged on any further. However, we cannot have so many active parent voices be disqualified while others are approved at the whim of a charter office that has lost the faith of this community.

The SAC will remain vigilant about our school, this process and our voice.

Thank you.Steel parents file grievance against SAC charter vote | Parents United for Public Education:

New Kickinthepants Poll 2016 Clinton Bush, Duncan 2016

New Kickinthepants Poll 2016 Clinton Bush, Duncan 2016

Buffalo teachers union claims discrimination at charter schools | Buffalo News, Buffalo Weather | WIVB-TV News 4 Buffalo, NY | WIVB.com

Buffalo teachers union claims discrimination at charter schools | Buffalo News, Buffalo Weather | WIVB-TV News 4 Buffalo, NY | WIVB.com:

Buffalo teachers union claims discrimination at charter schools

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – A study conducted by the Buffalo Teachers Federation claims charter schools are discriminating against students with disabilities and ESL students.

President Phil Rumore told News 4 their numbers show wide disparity between the number of these students in public versus charter schools. Rumore also says their data shows poor performance at the city’s charter schools and a high number of suspensions.

“We aren’t against charter schools. What we want to do is have a level playing field so they have the same types of students,” Rumore said. “They can’t just boot kids out and send them back when they don’t want them.”

However, Superintendent of Charter School for Applied Technologies Efrain Martinez says the numbers have been skewed. He explained that their students are chosen through a lottery system and they do not choose which students attend the Charter Schools.

“They use smoke and mirrors to create an argument where it really is not valid,” Martinez said. “I totally resent the issue of discrimination when we don’t have control of who comes to our schools, we don’t have control over who gets enrolled.”

But the teacher’s federation wants charter schools to take control and actively seek out more diverse applicants.

Rumore said, “The state has to demand and the Department of Education has to demand that charter schools have a population that is reflective of the public schools, and if they’re not doing it, they have to take corrective action to make sure they do.”

Martinez countered, “You know where the discrimination is? The discrimination is in thinking they have the God given right to keep failing their students decade after decade. I look forward to the day when charter schools will be closed because district schools are so good no parent will be looking for choices.”

Martinez adds that any drop in test scores at charter schools shown in the union’s study was due to the switch to Common Core standards.

Choosing Kindergarten – Or Not | Taking Note

Choosing Kindergarten – Or Not | Taking Note:

Choosing Kindergarten – Or Not

by JOHN MERROW on 02. MAY, 2014 in 2014 BLOGS, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Which of these two kindergarten classes would you want your 5-year-old child or grandchild to be in? Option one is a classic kindergarten classroom, rich with tactile art and full of color, energy and happy noise. Some kids are fingerpainting with intense concentration, while others are bubbling over with curiosity and cheer. No modern technology–just chalk and blackboards–that I could see.

The other kindergarten classroom, your second option, is a carbon copy–with one striking difference: some children are using a mechanical toy to help them learn consonant blends. These kids have small devices (about the size of an adult’s hand) that looks like a bug, and a 3’ x 3’ chart with consonant blends in different squares (‘ist’, ‘int,’ ‘alt’ and so on). Rather than simply find a certain blend on the chart, the child has to program the ‘bug’ (actually a small computer) to move to the square with that blend–say, three spaces across and five spaces up. The teacher moves around the room guiding and monitoring the individual learners.

(By the way, the teacher in the second classroom told me that in a week her kids would be Skyping with a kindergarten class in Mexico, part of their study of Cinco de Mayo. The teacher is a 37-year-veteran who has just embraced digital technology in her teaching.)

I’m guessing that, in the digital-free kindergarten, the children will learn consonant blends as a group from the teacher, perhaps in a mix of a game and direct instruction. Is one approach to teaching consonant blends superior to the other? I have no clue, but being in the two classrooms raised a question in my mind: what’s the right age to introduce digital technology to schoolchildren?

Some would argue that, because most children become familiar with digital technology as toddlers, the schools ought to stay current. (“After all, who hasn’t seen toddlers manipulating an iPad or tablet?”) Others take the opposite view–”Enough, already! Let’s make classrooms tech-free zones where young children can concentrate on human interaction and social skills.”

How about you? Which kindergarten would you choose?

Unfortunately, this is a purely hypothetical question for many of you, because, depending on where you live, you may not have any choice at all. Believe it or not, six states — Alaska, Idaho, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania — do not require school districts to provide any kindergarten at all,according to a report from the New America Education Policy Program. In fact, only 11 states and the

 Choosing Kindergarten – Or Not | Taking Note:

5-2-14 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.:

Robert Rohdenburg. Where and in what conditions should we live?

Fred, I and 140 others used to live at the Chateau Hotel in Lakeview and we were displaced by June 2013 by a BJB Property building gutting/rehab plan. I will be speaking on the SRO/Affordable housing issues at the Sunday 5/4 ONE Northside Convention. About 1000 activists for various issues, including SRO’s/Affordable housing, will be confronting state and local officials, including many alderman.

by Fred Klonsky / 1min 

Breaking: Motion for injunction is filed

This afternoon, the State Universities Annuitants Association (SUAA) filed a motion with the court for a preliminary injunction prohibiting the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) from implementing Public Act 98-0599 (SB1). The motion can be found in its entirety on irtaonline.org.

by Fred Klonsky / 2min 

Report Rahm, Rauner and Quinn to the Illinois theft and corruption hot-line. 1 800 728 8477

I’m no fan of Bruce Rauner. But he has come up with a good idea. If you see the corruption and theft of the public, report what you see to a hot-line number. 1 800 728 8477. Of course, Rauner is using it to try and embarrass the Governor. But why be so limited? What has been the biggest example of corruption and the theft of public money in Illinois history? Of course. Public employee pension the

by Fred Klonsky / 20min 

Not a lot of places left for our low-income and no-income neighbors to get a cheap bite and lay their head.

State Representative-elect Will Guzzardi posts: H/T to Fred Klonsky: Johnny’s Grill on the Square just closed. Hard not to read this in the context of the Milshire closing, and the proposed high-priced “micro-apartments” coming in. Not a lot of places left for our low-income and no-income neighbors to get a cheap bite and lay their head. The Milshire Will is referring to is a single-room occupanc

by Fred Klonsky / 23min 

Johnny’s Grill.

State Representative-elect Will Guzzardi at Johnny’s Grill, now closed. When you’re close to a thing you can’t always see it change until there is that moment. Your kids grow up and suddenly you notice that they are teenagers and then they are gone. When did that happen? I go to the gym and work out now because one morning I looked in the mirror and . . . Logan Square, the neighborhood in Chicago

by Fred Klonsky / 35min  

5-1-14 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.: On this May Day morning my eyes are on Brooklyn and my heart is in Brooklyn.As a Chicagoan, nothing symbolizes the spirit of rebellion against what is wrong than May Day. The working class holiday began in this city with the fight for the 8 hour day and the events at Haymarket Square. This morning tea

by mike simpson / 8min 

RAISE YOUR VOICE, SING OUR SONG AT THE LAKE PLACID PICKET.

RAISE YOUR VOICE, SING OUR SONG AT THE LAKE PLACID PICKET.:

VERY IMPORTANT EVENT: COME TO LAKE PLACID ON SUNDAY MAY 4TH TO PROTECT YOUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SING OUT LOUD THIS SONG: (Please turn on captions)
WE LIKE OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. FIGHT THE TEST!