Nite Cap 10-1-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT

James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP

Workforce Investment Act Grantees Named - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)

Workforce Investment Act Grantees Named - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces Winners of Federal Workforce Investment Act GrantSACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced that 198 community colleges, school districts, libraries, and nonprofits will share more than $86 million in federal grants to help adults find mea

by mike simpson / 0min 

GenEd Differentiation: SPED’s Been Ahead of the Game for Years | Connected Principals

GenEd Differentiation: SPED’s Been Ahead of the Game for Years | Connected Principals: GenEd Differentiation: SPED’s Been Ahead of the Game for Yearsby Sam LeDeaux • October 1, 2014 • 0 CommentsWith a different kind of emphasis and focus recently (last couple decades or so) on mainstream differentiation, I think we must turn to our SPED educators for guidance. They’ve been doing it all along.The p

by mike simpson / 10min 

Some thoughts on how many of us get “captured”… Reflections on Teaching

Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Some thoughts on how many of us get “captured”…: Some thoughts on how many of us get “captured”…Last week the Internets started buzzing with the story of Carmen Segarra, Federal Reserve whistle-blower, and the recordings she made of her time working inside Goldman Sachs as a regulator. The best account for those of you not familiar with high finance is from

1 by mike simpson / 58min 

Groups charge $30 million in charter school fraud, call for tougher oversight | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Groups charge $30 million in charter school fraud, call for tougher oversight | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Groups charge $30 million in charter school fraud, call for tougher oversightA new report is calling for holding charter schools in Pennsylvania more accountable.Produced by the groups Center for Public Democracy, Integrity in Education and Action United, the report says the $30 mil

1 by mike simpson / 1h 

NYC Public School Parents: Why SUNY should not allow Success Charters to expand.

NYC Public School Parents: Why SUNY should not allow Success Charters to expand.: Why SUNY should not allow Success Charters to expand.On Wed., October 8, 2014, the SUNY charter committee is due to vote on authorizing a gazillion new Success charters for nearly every area of the city -- though without telling us exactly where they will go, and how much space they will take from our public school s

1 by mike simpson / 1h 

NEA President: Educators Play Pivotal Role in Guiding Girls Into Leadership Roles | NEA Today

NEA President: Educators Play Pivotal Role in Guiding Girls Into Leadership Roles | NEA Today: NEA President: Educators Play Pivotal Role in Guiding Girls Into Leadership RolesOctober 1, 2014 by twalker  Filed under Featured News, Top StoriesLeave a CommentBy Richard NaithramThere’s a gender leadership gap in the United States, says NEA President Lily Eskelsen García, and educators are well-positi

1 by mike simpson / 1h 

BustED Pencils BLOG: Silly Reformers. Critical History is for Kids.

BustED Pencils BLOG: Silly Reformers. Critical History is for Kids.:Silly Reformers. Critical History is for Kids.Just in case you just missed it I’ll run through it quickly right now. Conservative Reformers took over the Douglas County School Board and the Jefferson County School Board.  These counties border the great city of Denver, Colorado.  The reformer boards—and let’s be honest, we’re talk

1 by mike simpson / 2h 

10-1-14 Cali Education Headlines | CSIS – California School Information Services

Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team | CSIS – California School Information Services: Stop the Power Grabwww.StopThePowerGrab.orgEducation HeadlinesTeachers file grievance, say Stockton USD not bargaining in good faithThe Stockton Teachers Association said Tuesday it has filed charges with the Public Employment Relations Board over what is alleges is “the district’s failure to bargain in

1 by mike simpson / 3h 

Louisiana Educator: LAE Files Lawsuit Against Predatory Charters

Louisiana Educator: LAE Files Lawsuit Against Predatory Charters: LAE Files Lawsuit Against Predatory ChartersLAE Leaders File Lawsuit Challenging The Improper Use Of MFP Funds9/30/2014Illegal Use of Minimum Foundation Program Dollars to Fund Certain Charter SchoolsSiphons Much-Needed Dollars Away From Local School BoardsBATON ROUGE, LA – September 29, 2014 – Leaders from LAE affiliates across the

1 by mike simpson / 3h 

Crenshaw alum: Teacher suspension shed light on LAUSD teacher jail

Crenshaw alum: Teacher suspension shed light on LAUSD teacher jail: Crenshaw alum: Teacher suspension shed light on LAUSD teacher jailOctober 1, 2014 By Amanda Scurlock | Staff Reporter Leave a Comment    Iris Stevenson arrives at Crenshaw High after being released from “teacher jail.” Scroll below for video of Stevenson’s return. | Amanda ScurlockAt Crenshaw High School in South Los Angeles, the

4 by mike simpson / 5h 

We Know What Equity Looks Like, and We are Passionate About it - Lily's Blackboard

We Know What Equity Looks Like, and We are Passionate About it - Lily's Blackboard: We Know What Equity Looks Like, and We are Passionate About itOctober 1, 2014 by LilyCategories: Education, General, VideoTags: civil right, department of education, equity, justiceEquity is a cause I have fought for all my life, since the days I taught in a Homeless Shelter School in Salt Lake City. It is the caus

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

NYC Schools May Be Leading Us Back to Real Education Policy | DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing

NYC Schools May Be Leading Us Back to Real Education Policy | DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing: NYC Schools May Be Leading Us Back to Real Education Policy To mw what follows is a fabulous example of trying to do the right thing under very constricted laws that need changing.I know there will be those of you ready to comment negatively on this report. Some of you will argue that Farina goes too

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

10-1-14 Curmudgucation - What Lily Misses about the Common Core

CURMUDGUCATION: The Six Big Lies of ReformsterdomSome of the classic Not-Entirely-Truisms of the Reformster Movement have been quietly retired. For instance, one rarely hears the claim that teachers had major input in creating the Common Core any more because there's hardly a soul left who can say it with a straight face.But there are still some huge bogus beliefs ,falsehoods in the foundation of

1 by mike simpson / 6h 

10-1-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Student Data: Protect Your Child's DataHS Parent gave this info on another thread:Did anyone else with a HS student receive this email today from ConnectEDU about a request to purge student's data?"Thank your for using the Connect! service. On July 2nd 2014, the technology which powers Connect! was purchased by Graduation Alliance from ConnectEDU. Graduation A

1 by mike simpson / 6h 

Angry About Drag Racing, Town Bans Jaywalking | Taking Note

Angry About Drag Racing, Town Bans Jaywalking | Taking Note: Angry About Drag Racing, Town Bans JaywalkingBizarro, Nevada, October 1–In a powerful response to hordes of young adults using Main Street for drag races “day and night,” an angry City Council voted to impose $250 fines and 30-day jail terms for jaywalking. “These damn hot rodders are endangering our citizens, and the only way to stop th

1 by mike simpson / 6h 

10-1-14 This Week in 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): Board emerges from private meeting with no decision on DeasyBoard emerges from private meeting with no decision on Deasy Superintendent John Deasy John Deasy is still the LA Unified superintendent. After four hours behind closed doors last night, the district school board emerged with nothing to say. For

1 by mike simpson / 7h 

Morning Wink 10-1-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 10-1-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: STOP Online Testing in K-2: Florida Parents Demand SanityFranziska Raeber describes how parents in Florida are organizing resistance to online testing of children in K-2. Please be aware that th

2 by mike simpson / 7h 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 10-1-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: STOP Online Testing in K-2: Florida Parents Demand SanityFranziska Raeber describes how parents in Florida are organizing resistance to online testing of children in K-2. Please be aware that the purpose of online testing is to enrich the testing industry and tech corporations. The best tests are written and evaluated by teachers,

1 by mike simpson / 7h 

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 10-1-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: “WE HAVEN’T DECIDED ANTHING” …as names are floated for interim leader to replace L.A. Supt. John DeasySchool board starts weighing Supt. Deasy's evaluation 'We haven't decided anything,' school board president says of deliberations over Supt. Deasy's performance Names have been quietly floated for possible interim leaders to replace L.A. Supt. John Deas

1 by mike simpson / 7h 

10-1-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online: MOREistas in the House, UFT Not @ Success Academy Charter SUNY Authorization HearingWe were there to battle the forces of Evil. The UFT, along with de Blasio, have abandoned the fight. MORE will join with communities, parents and teachers at co-located schools.Here are videos of MOREistas making their points.Alexandra AlvesMindy RosierMichelle BaptisteDavid DoboszNorm Scott - who

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

10-1-14 Wait What? - Forgive them, for they know not what they do – Not!

Wait What?: Forgive them, for they know not what they do – Not!Read my lips…No New Taxes! “Both Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and his Republican challenger Tom Foley said they will not increase taxes… (CT NewsJunkie) When Governor Dannel “Dan” Malloy took office he faced a $3.6 billion dollar deficit. As result of budget gimmicks, the use of one-time revenue and his failure to require the […] T

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

10-1-14 Answer Sheet

Answer Sheet: How teachers sometimes fool themselvesHere is a post about what goes on in classrooms and how teachers sometimes fool themselves into thinking that they are allowing students to direct their own learning when, in fact, they aren’t. This was written by Alfie Kohn (www.alfiekohn.org), who is the author of 13 books, including, most recently, “The Myth of the Spoiled […]21 by Valerie Str

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog 10-1-14

Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog: Geography Students: US StatesQuiz yourself in preparation for our test on Monday:  I Like 2 Learn U.S. States Quizby L. Jablonski / 10h Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog 9-27-14Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog:U.S. Launches Air Strikes Against ISIS Targets in SyriaThe Guardian has the story here.Obama said in a televised address on 10 September that he would expand the US war agains

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

10-1-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: “What Is Your Advice For Student Teachers & Their Supervisors?”What Is Your Advice For Student Teachers & Their Supervisors? is the latest “question-of-the-week” at my Education Week Teacher column. Feel free to leave your responses there or in the comments section of this post…7 by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h hide  //  sav

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

10-1-14 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.: John Dillon. Looking for a “fortiori,” a better reason to vote for Quinn.- John Dillon is a retired teacher, pension activist and a member of the IEA Retired S.O.R.E chapter. He blogs at Pension Vocabulary. In education, ironically, Rauner and at least one of the Democratics on the gubernatorial ticke

2 by mike simpson / 8h 

10-1-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE: About the radio showJoin Drs. Shaun Johnson and Tim Slekar LIVE Sundays at 6PM EST and Wednesdays at 7PM EST on Blog Talk Radio for progressive, pro-public education talk radio. Call in to speak live with Tim and Shaun during the show, (805) 727-7111. You can also listen to our Monday "Sunday-Replay" at 7PM EST, and re-broadcasts of the archives every Tuesday and Thursd

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

10-1-14 With A Brooklyn Accent: Why You Can't Reason With School Reformers- You Have to Bring the Machine to a Halt

With A Brooklyn Accent: Why You Can't Reason With School Reformers- You Have to Bring the Machine to a HaltYesterday, during some fierce twitter debates I was having with Charter School Advocates one of them replied " the majority of American teachers graduated in the bottom 1/3 of their college class." To them, this provided the justification for erasing teacher voices from education de

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

10-1-14 Hemlock on the Rocks

Hemlock on the Rocks: A Response to LAUSD's iPad Update ExitTicket Student Response Systemhttp://exitticket.org/lausd-ipad-update/ A Response to LAUSD's iPad Update As you may very well know, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has been making headlines with a massive 1:1 initiative. The logistical challenges of deploying iPads to a school district that size is a fantastic experiment which

by mike simpson / 8h 

10-1-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School: Bill Hammond Exposes Cuomo's New-Found Interest In Fighting TerrorismNice job by Bill Hammond in the Daily News calling "bullshit!" on Cuomo: The words “terror,” “terrorism” and “security” do not appear in transcripts of any of Cuomo’s first three State of the State speeches. He used them this January to note that he was hiring former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly to

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

The Berkeley Free Speech Movement at Fifty |

The Berkeley Free Speech Movement at Fifty |: The Berkeley Free Speech Movement at FiftyOctober 1, 2014 in StudentsFifty years today, students at UC Berkeley blockaded a police car on campus to prevent the unjust arrest of a recent graduate, Jack Weinberg, who had been leafleting on campus. Here’s how I described the events in my dissertation:            On September 14, 1964 the dean of students

by mike simpson / 8h 

Release: PA Charter School Fraud Totals $30 million, Education Groups Launch State-by-State Investigation - Integrity in Education

Release: PA Charter School Fraud Totals $30 million, Education Groups Launch State-by-State Investigation - Integrity in Education: Release: PA Charter School Fraud Totals $30 million, Education Groups Launch State-by-State InvestigationCONTACTS: Alison R. Park (917) 805-0830, apark@populardemocracy.orgCliff Schecter (202) 270-7011, media@integrityineducation.orgReport: Pa. Charter School Fraud To

by mike simpson / 8h 

Choosing Democracy: NAME Calls for Ethnic Studies in Schools

Choosing Democracy: NAME Calls for Ethnic Studies in Schools: NAME Calls for Ethnic Studies in SchoolsFrom:  National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME)Re:       Statement of Support for Ethnic Studies in the Los Angeles Unified School District The National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME) supports the campaign (http://www.EthnicStudiesNow.com) to make Ethnic Studies a gr

by mike simpson / 8h 

PA Permits Cigarette Tax, But Crisis in Philly Schools Drags On | janresseger

PA Permits Cigarette Tax, But Crisis in Philly Schools Drags On | janresseger: PA Permits Cigarette Tax, But Crisis in Philly Schools Drags OnPosted on October 1, 2014 by janressegerAfter months of legislative dithering, both houses of the Pennsylvania legislature finally passed and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett signed into law enabling legislation for the School District of Philadelphia to le

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Educating Albert and STEM

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Educating Albert and STEM: Educating Albert and STEMSpeaking of STEM schools -- and isn't everybody -- I was talking STEM recently with my old UIC prof and colleague,Bill Schubert, who turned me on to Walter Isaacson'sbiography of Albert Einstein.It seems Einstein, who was brilliant in math and science, could not pass his exams in French, literature, politics and sev

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

Teaching in Black and White - Fall 2014 - Rethinking Schools Online

Volume 29, No.1 - Fall 2014 - Rethinking Schools Online: FREE Black Like MeBy Renée WatsonA poem—and the history behind it—about being invisible, yet stereotyped, as an African American student bused to a predominantly white school.FREE Dear White TeacherBy Chrysanthius LathanAn African American middle school teacher calls on white teachers to think before they routinely send black children to bla

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

NYC Educator: Luxury

NYC Educator: Luxury: LuxuryI've been chapter leader now for five years. There are a lot of challenges having a job like that in a large school. Things are always happening. You get notices in your box to show up for this meeting, that meeting, and 500 other meetings. You go, because it's your job.But if you're in a school like mine and you work in the trailer, it can be very trying. Imagine you'r

1 by mike simpson / 9h 

Shanker Blog » Building And Sustaining Research-Practice Partnerships

Shanker Blog » Building And Sustaining Research-Practice Partnerships: Building And Sustaining Research-Practice PartnershipsPosted by Bill Penuel on October 1, 2014Our guest author today is Bill Penuel, professor of educational psychology and learning sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. He leads the National Center for Research in Policy and Practice, which investigates how school and

1 by mike simpson / 9h 

Don’t like Common Core, the over-testing of your children, the big money takeover of our schools? You are not alone: Facebook connections | Seattle Education

Don’t like Common Core, the over-testing of your children, the big money takeover of our schools? You are not alone: Facebook connections | Seattle Education:Don’t like Common Core, the over-testing of your children, the big money takeover of our schools? You are not alone: Facebook connectionsAZ Parents & Teachers Against CCS and TESTShttps://www.facebook.com/groups/AZSaysNotoEdReform/Badass

by mike simpson / 9h 

First steps at protecting students’ privacy. | Connected Principals

First steps at protecting students’ privacy. | Connected Principals: First steps at protecting students’ privacy.by Lyn Hilt • October 1, 2014 • 0 CommentsThis post was originally published on my blog, Learning in Technicolor. This topic requires consideration by all current building and district-level administrators and school leaders!I admit that at one point in time I was one of those educators

1 by mike simpson / 9h 

YESTERDAY

On Writing Like A Monster | The Jose Vilson

On Writing Like A Monster | The Jose Vilson: On Writing Like A Monster SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 JOSE LEAVE A COMMENT 5  0    0  5  0On Saturday, I had the pleasure of moderating a non-fiction panel for Las Comadres and Compadres organization featuring former Colorlines editor Daisy Hernandez and writer Alina Garcia-Lapuerta. The panel was uproarious and chock full of information for the burgeoning write

1 by mike simpson / 19h 

California Teachers Should Re-Elect Tom Torlakson For State Superintendent of Instruction in 2014

California Teachers Should Re-Elect Tom Torlakson For State Superintendent of Instruction in 2014: California Teachers Should Re-Elect Tom Torlakson For State Superintendent of Instruction in 2014OCTOBER 1, 2014 BY K12NN SITE ADMIN LEAVE A COMMENTBy Alice Mercer, a California teacher. Special to K12NN.California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson has been a real friend to pub

1 by mike simpson / 19h 

Observations: “Where Most of the Action and Opportunities Are” |

Observations: “Where Most of the Action and Opportunities Are” |: Observations: “Where Most of the Action and Opportunities Are”In a study just released on the website of Education Next, researchers discuss results from their recent examinations of “new teacher-evaluation systems in four school districts that are at the forefront of the effort [emphasis added] to evaluate teachers meaningfully.” T

1 by mike simpson / 19h 

9-30-14 Jersey Jazzman - The Fundamental Flaw In the Reformy Argument

Jersey Jazzman: The Fundamental Flaw In the Reformy ArgumentPeter Greene, blogging machine that he is, points us to a new video from the fine reformy folks at the American Enterprise Institute.Greene dispatches much of Michael Q. McShane's perambulating argument in his post, so I won't repeat it here. Take a minute or two to read him instead; it's worth it.I'll also point you to this paper by Bruc

1 by mike simpson / 20h 

Harvard Students Ask University to Cut Ties with Teach for America - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Harvard Students Ask University to Cut Ties with Teach for America - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Harvard Students Ask University to Cut Ties with Teach for AmericaWRITTEN BY SHAFAQ HASAN  CREATED ON TUESDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2014 14:54Share on emailShare on printShare on facebookShare on twitterShare on linkedinShare on pinterest_shareShare on google_plusone_shareMore Sharing ServicesSeptember 28, 2014

28 by mike simpson / 20h 

empathyeducates – The Miracle That Never Was – More Bad News for New Orleans School Children

empathyeducates – The Miracle That Never Was – More Bad News for New Orleans School Children: The Miracle That Never Was – More Bad News for New Orleans School ChildrenPhotograph; Fourth graders raise their hands to answer a question posed by teacher Cheryl Mackie while studying in preparation for the LEAP Test at Westwego Elementary School in March 2009. | Susan Poag / The Times-PicayuneThere are

1 by mike simpson / 20h 

Funding School Programs Using a Thousand Points of Light - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

Funding School Programs Using a Thousand Points of Light - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: Funding School Programs Using a Thousand Points of LightBy Nancy Flanagan on September 30, 2014 9:21 PMBy now, it's a familiar story. An art teacher in a public elementary school, paying for her annual art supplies using a crowdfunding site. Her goal seems pretty modest--$1000--and nearly

1 by mike simpson / 20h 

Bill Gates’s and the Ed. Reformers’ China/Special Education Disconnect

Bill Gates’s and the Ed. Reformers’ China/Special Education Disconnect: Bill Gates’s and the Ed. Reformers’ China/Special Education DisconnectSEPTEMBER 30, 2014 BY NANCY BAILEY LEAVE A COMMENTBill Gates and other ed. reformers praise China, Singapore and Korea as having the highest test scores in the world, of course, better than the United States they will tell you.What they fail to say is that i

1 by mike simpson / 21h 

News Media and Citizen Journalists: Here’s Your Chance to See #Commoncore Delphi in Action | Missouri Education Watchdog

News Media and Citizen Journalists: Here’s Your Chance to See #Commoncore Delphi in Action | Missouri Education Watchdog: News Media and Citizen Journalists: Here’s Your Chance to See #Commoncore Delphi in ActioninShareFind out what is happening in HB1490 work groups. Bring your camera. Tell the truth.A citizen journalist video taped one of the work groups gathered last week in Jefferson City to w

1 by mike simpson / 21h 

Nite Cap 9-30-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT

James Baldwin said it best: "For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAPBlue Ribbon Schools for 2014 - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)Blue Ribbon Schools for 2014 - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Congratulates California Winners of the 2014 National Blue Ribbon Schools AwardSACRA

3 by mike simpson / 1d 

2nd Banana 9-27-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post 

2nd Banana 9-20-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 9-13-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 9-6-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 8-30-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 8-23-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

Nite Cap 9-30-14

Nite Cap 9-29-14

Nite Cap 9-28-14

Nite Cap 9-27-14

Nite Cap 9-26-14

Nite Cap 9-25-14

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Workforce Investment Act Grantees Named - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)

Workforce Investment Act Grantees Named - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education):

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces Winners of Federal Workforce Investment Act Grant

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced that 198 community colleges, school districts, libraries, and nonprofits will share more than $86 million in federal grants to help adults find meaningful jobs and become better informed citizens.

"These funds will help adults learn to read, write, and speak English so they can find good jobs to support their families and become more productive members of their communities," Torlakson said.

The Workforce Investment Act, Title II: Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (WIA) funds classes in Adult Basic Education, high school subjects, English as a Second Language, and citizenship. To be eligible for the classes, students must be at least 18 years old, not currently enrolled in school, and lacking in jobs skills and fluency in English. In addition, they must not yet have a high school diploma.

The WIA is a competitive grant. The $86 million available in this round of funding went to local educational agencies, libraries, and nonprofits—including $28.3 million to those located in Los Angeles County; $12.5 million to the Bay Area; $8.7 million to Orange County; $7.5 million to San Diego County; $11.5 million to Sacramento Valley counties; $8.5 million to Inland Empire counties; $4.8 million to San Joaquin Valley counties; and $1.5 million to the Central Coast counties.

For a complete list of grantees, visit the California Department of Education's Funding Results Workforce Investment Act, Title II: Adult Education and Family Literacy Act Web page.

# # # #

Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

GenEd Differentiation: SPED’s Been Ahead of the Game for Years | Connected Principals

GenEd Differentiation: SPED’s Been Ahead of the Game for Years | Connected Principals:

GenEd Differentiation: SPED’s Been Ahead of the Game for Years

by Sam LeDeaux • October 1, 2014 • 0 Comments

With a different kind of emphasis and focus recently (last couple decades or so) on mainstream differentiation, I think we must turn to our SPED educators for guidance. They’ve been doing it all along.

The premise of special education is to work with colleagues and families to devise an individualized education plan (IEP) to meet kids at their learning readiness levels. Recent mandates and expectations have placed the same accountability on general education teachers for mainstreamed students.

To plan for and accommodate the standard three traditional learning levels (“on level”, “below level”, and “above level”) are no longer enough. The reality has always been that in a classroom of X kids, there are X different readiness levels. In the past, grouping students into 3 instructional cohorts was acceptable(?); however, this is not acceptable in the current era of education. General educators are under more and more pressure (some mandated, and some from personally high expectations and passion for their craft) to cater to each individual learning readiness level in the classroom; in essence, to create personalized learning paths–or individualized education plans–for each and every student.

In theory, I believe every educator wants to do this; however, in reality, it is a challenge–and not an area of strength–in public education. Time, resources, and manpower are just a few constraints that make this task challenging. I believe 3 things can help alleviate this stress and promote work toward accomplishing this great task:
1. Collaborate & confer with your SPED staff. This is the work they’ve always done for kids. Working with all staff who have any kind of relationship with the student (academic, social, emotional), along with parents, as a team to target strengths and areas for improvement is their everyday job. They design goals and plans to reach said goals. They continuously check in with one another, formally and informally, monitoring progress along the way, always including parents. They make adjustments as necessary, always in an effort to create success, build confidence, and foster independence.
2. Stay current and implement best practices: multidisciplinary, project based, inquiry based, backward design, Maker Education, genius hour, to name a few. These practices can empower learners (including the teacher and parents as learners) to take ownership of the learning process. When this occurs, you’ve essentially increased the resource of instructional manpower in your classroom.
3. Leverage the resources available to you. For example, there are so many apps and social media platforms that can be utilized to foster collaboration. Collaboration can take place among learners within the classroom, grade level, school, GenEd Differentiation: SPED’s Been Ahead of the Game for Years | Connected Principals:

Some thoughts on how many of us get “captured”… Reflections on Teaching

Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Some thoughts on how many of us get “captured”…:





Some thoughts on how many of us get “captured”…

Last week the Internets started buzzing with the story of Carmen Segarra, Federal Reserve whistle-blower, and the recordings she made of her time working inside Goldman Sachs as a regulator. The best account for those of you not familiar with high finance is from This American Life, which is accessible, while still conveying many of the complexities.

This struck a chord with me for a number of reasons, both because I did a stint as a bank analyst in regulatory reporting during an economic down-turn, and because it reminded me of issues I experience today within my current profession in education. Lots has been written about the tendency to go along to get along in any group, but as other wiser commenters have noted (like CURMUDGUCATION in Can We Be Less Nice, Please and Thank You?) teachers just seem to want to be friends even with folks who are clearly not our friends, or our students’ friends. After seeing what was Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Some thoughts on how many of us get “captured”…:

Groups charge $30 million in charter school fraud, call for tougher oversight | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Groups charge $30 million in charter school fraud, call for tougher oversight | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:

Groups charge $30 million in charter school fraud, call for tougher oversight

A new report is calling for holding charter schools in Pennsylvania more accountable.

Produced by the groups Center for Public Democracy, Integrity in Education and Action United, the report says the $30 million in charter school fraud already discovered in Pennsylvania could be the tip of the iceberg because there isn't enough oversight.

Kia Hinton of Action United says they are calling for reforms such as targeted audits because $30 million could have been put to much better use.

"Do you know what that could get us? That could get us more teachers so our classrooms don't have 40 students, that could get us textbooks, so our students have textbooks and that could get us support staff to support our teachers and our students," Henson said.

The groups are also calling for a moratorium on any new charter schools until more controls are implemented.

Read the rest of this story at NewsWorks

Groups charge $30 million in charter school fraud, call for tougher oversight | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:

NYC Public School Parents: Why SUNY should not allow Success Charters to expand.

NYC Public School Parents: Why SUNY should not allow Success Charters to expand.:

Why SUNY should not allow Success Charters to expand.

On Wed., October 8, 2014, the SUNY charter committee is due to vote on authorizing a gazillion new Success charters for nearly every area of the city -- though without telling us exactly where they will go, and how much space they will take from our public school students.  Where: 116 E. 55 St., Boardroom;  Time: 9:30 AM.

Eva Moskowitz is determined to occupy as much real estate as possible as quickly as possible at city expense,  and is preparing with a massive rally this Thursday where she will gather the troops, closing her schools for the occasion, and ordering every parent, teacher and student at her command to show up.

In addition, her hedge fund supporters have given $1.75 million in the past week alone to GOP State Senators, determined to fix the election in her favor. .Of that,  $350,000, came from Paul Tudor Jones II,  of the Robin Hood Foundation and Tudor Investment Corp., a hedge fund in Connecticut. Here is a picture of him with his wife at his 60th birthday, where John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater and Jon Bon Jovi sang.

Not to mention millions more they have given to the best friend of the charter schools, Governor Cuomo. Truly, the charter movement is not an educational movement, but a political one, in the worst sense of the word -- and their billionaire backers are intent on using their outsized wealth and power to get their way, whether it is in the best interests of NYC children or not. Check out the column by Prof. Dan Katz on their collective hypocrisy. 

On Monday night there were hearings at the District 2 offices on 7th Ave, where many eloquent teachers, parents, community leaders, and Assemblymember Deborah Glick spoke in opposition to this land grab, and several parents from Upper West Success spoke plaintively in support.  The Community Education Council in Districts 2 and 3 are also opposed, as is the Community Board in District 2.  Interestingly, not a single parent who said they wanted to enroll their own children in any of these schools showed up, and the representatives from her charter network refused to speak, though as usual, they had hired a cameraman to take videos.  I told him the videographer that he must have filmed hundreds of hours of hearings of parents protesting Success charter schools, and he just shrugged. She has the cash to burn so why not?
Norm Scott has posted some videos here of the MORE contingent, and DNA info covered the hearingshere.  I spoke briefly, and today I sent my comments to two out of the three members of the SUNY charter committee  (the only two I could find emails for.) 

To: jbelluck@belluckfox.com, jmurad@hancocklaw.com, charters@suny.edu 

Dear Mr. Belluck and Mr. Murad:  

I urge you not to allow Success charters to expand, on the grounds that they do not enroll their fair share of high needs students, receive more per student funding in public funds than public schools, and drain our public schools of the resources and space necessary for a sound basic education.

I will briefly explain these points, but for back-up material or citations for any of these points, you can refer to the attached document, called the Six Myths of Charter school, also  posted here:  http://www.classsizematters.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/testimony-charters-5-6-14-final1.pdf

1.        Charter schools are NOT public schools. Charter schools are publicly funded but governed by private corporate boards, and do NOT have to follow the same laws or rules that public schools do.  They are able to cap their enrollment and class sizes at any levels they like, they enact extreme disciplinary policies, and often exhibit high suspension rates.   In NYC, they can and do expel students –forbidden by NYC public schools for any student under 17.

2.      Charter schools DO NOT educate the same exact kind of students as public schools.  Charters have fewer special needs students, English language learners, students in poverty. This is especially true of Success Charters. According to the 2010 Amendments to the Charter Schools Act , when charter authorizers  renew or allow charter schools to expand, these schools are obligated to show they are meeting or exceeding enrollment and retention targets of students with disabilities, English language learners and free and/or reduced price lunch, yet despite this, Success charters has been allowed to rapidly expand without showing this.

3.     NYC charters receive MORE in per student public funding than district schools.  As the NYC Independent Budget Office has pointed out, the two thirds of NYC charters that are co-located receive MORE per pupil public funding than public schools when their free space and services is taken into account.  The large disparity in public support will grow even greater with the boost in charter funding  in the new state budget, and the guarantee of free space for all new and expanding NYC charters moving forward, .

4.   Charter schools DO NOT get higher test scores because of some secret formula. 

The test scores of charter chains like Success is likely not due to superior teaching or curriculum, but to increased funding, and their much higher suspension and attrition rates. Of course, the more a school pushes out struggling students, the higher their test scores will likely be. According to NYC Public School Parents: Why SUNY should not allow Success Charters to expand.:

NEA President: Educators Play Pivotal Role in Guiding Girls Into Leadership Roles | NEA Today

NEA President: Educators Play Pivotal Role in Guiding Girls Into Leadership Roles | NEA Today:

NEA President: Educators Play Pivotal Role in Guiding Girls Into Leadership Roles

October 1, 2014 by twalker  
Filed under Featured News, Top Stories

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By Richard Naithram

There’s a gender leadership gap in the United States, says NEA President Lily Eskelsen García, and educators are well-positioned to help close it.

“The role educators can play in shaping perceptions of women as leaders and creating a pipeline for girls to lead inside and outside school is clear,” Eskelsen Garcia said.

How to create pathways in school for girls to take on leadership roles and ensure access to all educational opportunities was the focus of a webinar on Sept. 30 that featured educators in more than nine countries, members of the media and thought leaders. Eskelsen García was joined by Dr. Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, Ph.D., of the Tisch College of Citizenship & Public Service at Tufts University.

“We need to think about what we can do, as educators, to help girls make the leap from being great students to being leaders in society and business. As educators, we are in a position to encourage girls’ confidence in their leadership skills and to nurture their dreams,” Eskelsen García said.

The webinar addressed key points from a just-released survey, Closing the Leadership Gap-How Educators Can Help Girls Lead, authored by NEA, the American Association of University Women, and the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement of the Tisch College of Citizenship & Public Service at Tufts University.

During the discussion, Madeleine Kennedy-Macfoy of Educational International said educators must facilitate more than student learning in the classroom.

“A teacher’s duty is to create a space for a student to be able to put what they have learned into practice,” Kennedy-Macfoy explained. “This is the key in the roles teachers have to play in posturing female students in education. Education has to equitable, free from stereotypes, and provide human rights to all students, thus can create better societies.”

According to Closing the Leadership Gap, educators,to help encourage students’ acceptance of girls and women in leadership roles, should share gender-neutral views and examples of leadership with their students. But the key to having teachers that foster and promote acceptance is having teachers with experience and professional development in gender and diversity issues.

The report suggests that, although most educators have a good handle on issues relating to gender, some educators may hold conscious or unconscious biases that probably alter how they view the ability and interests of girls in the classroom.

“Educators need to reduce defining leaders in gender neutral terms because gender bias still exists” Dr. Kei Kawashima-Ginsburg stated. “The Unites States suffers from serious gender based gap. Women have proven themselves repeatedly, yet the gap still exists.” Dr. Kawashima-Ginsberg believes that shortchanging NEA President: Educators Play Pivotal Role in Guiding Girls Into Leadership Roles | NEA Today:

BustED Pencils BLOG: Silly Reformers. Critical History is for Kids.

BustED Pencils BLOG: Silly Reformers. Critical History is for Kids.:

Silly Reformers. Critical History is for Kids.

Just in case you just missed it I’ll run through it quickly right now. 

Conservative Reformers took over the Douglas County School Board and the Jefferson County School Board.  These counties border the great city of Denver, Colorado.  The reformer boards—and let’s be honest, we’re talking about political conservatives—are really worried about their AUTHORITIE being threatened by that subversive subject of American History. 

So using their political power—bought and paid for by the Koch brothers and other wealthy “humanitarians”—they have demanded a review of the content taught in AP History classes.  Why? Is it because that the students might learn about the 500 years of oppressive rule by the wealthy? Because they might learn about the exploitation of workers at the hands of corporate robber barons?  Because they might learn about women being second-class citizens in the 21^st century? Because they might learn that racism and classism is alive and well 500 years after its establishment?  Or is it that the students enrolled in AP History courses in Douglas County and Jefferson County might actually learn that civil disobedience and the struggle for basic human rights requires a direct challenge to the AUTHORITIE of those in power?  Who knows? 

What I do know is that if you feel like engaging in a discussion about this topic there are plenty of strands on Facebook where one can enter a “dialogue” with concerned citizens with little understanding of the real issue at stake—the freedom to learn!

Below is a post from me and some of the dialogue that ensued.

Tim:  Get over your stupid white suburban distorted view of reality. America's negative past is simply a look back at the facts. Learning the truth for the first time tends to be shocking when you find out how many have suffered for others to "own" the American dream. And this is why it must be taught. Our blatant disregard for others over the past 500 years must be laid out in front of the next generation. They can change this disaster of the 1% only when they recognize the suffering and exploitation caused by the 1%. And this is why "conservative" board members want a "review." They fear that their unearned privilege will be "questioned" and that their "authority" will be dismantled. Don't turn this into some BS patriotic attempt to save American youth. The kids are not alright. And why should they be?

“Sally”: Tim our public schools have not been teaching complete history for quite some time. I know my dad was a history teacher and shared much of what has been left out of text books with me. By the way The United States of America is only about 238 years old. Not sure where you are BustED Pencils BLOG: Silly Reformers. Critical History is for Kids.: