Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 1/13/15

CORPORATE ED REFORM

“Please—a little less love, and a little more common decency.” – the becoming radical

“Please—a little less love, and a little more common decency.” – the becoming radical: “Please—a little less love, and a little more common decency.”I wish that people who are conventionally supposed to love each other would say to each other, when they fight, “Please—a little less love, and a little more common decency.”Slapstick or Lonesome No More!, Kurt VonnegutI was a public high school Engli

by mike simpson / 54min 

Decline in Suspensions and Expulsions - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education)

Decline in Suspensions and Expulsions - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education):Decline in Suspensions and Expulsions SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced a 13.9 percent decline in the number of students expelled during the 2014-15 academic year and a 12.8 percent decrease in the number of students suspended compared to the year before. This marks the thir

by mike simpson / 1h 

solidaridad: K-12NN Wire: California's charter school law repeal movement update

solidaridad: K-12NN Wire: California's charter school law repeal movement update: K-12NN Wire: California's charter school law repeal movement updateFirst published January 13, 2016 on K-12 News Network“charter schools comprise a divisive and segregated sector” —Frankenberg, E., Siegel-Hawley, G., Wang, J. (2011)Voices Against Privatizing Public Education's (VAPPE) grassroots campaign to repeal th

by mike simpson / 1h 

Connecticut Recommends Thumbscrews | Daniel Katz, Ph.D.

Connecticut Recommends Thumbscrews | Daniel Katz, Ph.D.: Connecticut Recommends ThumbscrewsConnecticut’s Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy does not always grab attention in the annals of corporate education reform.  Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has made battles with public unions more central to his image.  New Jersey Governor Chris Christie plainly relishes getting to act “tough” and yell at t

by mike simpson / 1h 

Friedrichs v. CTA: Suing for the Right to Freeload - LA Progressive

Friedrichs v. CTA: Suing for the Right to Freeload - LA Progressive:Friedrichs v. CTA: Suing for the Right to FreeloadIwonder if Harlan Elrich, one of the plaintiffs in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, was the kind of kid who took his bat and ball and went home if he didn’t get his way on the sandlot.He evidently doesn’t believe in the democratic process or in majority rule.Elrich an

by mike simpson / 2h 

Obama’s Education Legacy Is More of a Mixed Bag Than He’d Like to Admit

Obama discusses K–12 education priorities in final State of the Union.: Obama’s Education Legacy Is More of a Mixed Bag Than He’d Like to AdmitIn his final State of the Union, President Barack Obama addressed an audience that included Acting Secretary of Education John King, the former New York education commissioner who took over from Arne Duncan at the start of this year. The president touted va

by mike simpson / 2h 

Bernie Sanders is Right: We Should Federalize Public School Funding | gadflyonthewallblog

Bernie Sanders is Right: We Should Federalize Public School Funding | gadflyonthewallblog: Bernie Sanders is Right: We Should Federalize Public School FundingBernie Sanders just dropped a massive dose of truth on us Monday night.No politician in my lifetime has ever said anything so dangerous, fraught with problems, unlikely, impractical, and absolutely on the nose right!The Presidential candidate

by mike simpson / 2h 

Across the Country, a New Type of Partnership Between Charters and Districts Emerges

Across the Country, a New Type of Partnership Between Charters and Districts Emerges  : Across the Country, a New Type of Partnership Between Charters and Districts Emerges Increasingly, I’m hearing a question that drives me crazy: “Are you for or against charter schools?”There can only be one legitimate answer to that question: It depends.Are you speaking of the situation in Michigan, in which fo

by mike simpson / 4h 

Stanford study suggests academic benefits to ethnic studies courses

Stanford study suggests academic benefits to ethnic studies courses: Stanford study suggests academic benefits to ethnic studies coursesNew research shows gains in attendance, GPA of at-risk high school students from incorporating culturally relevant pedagogy.A high school ethnic studies course examining the roles of race, nationality and culture on identity and experience boosted attendance and a

by mike simpson / 4h 

What is Corporate Opt Out? – Save Maine Schools

What is Corporate Opt Out? – Save Maine Schools: What is Corporate Opt Out?Confused about “Corporate Opt Out” and how Gates money can possibly be infiltrating this movement?  Here’s a flowchart that might help.What is Corporate Opt Out? – Save Maine Schools:

by mike simpson / 4h 

The College Board Still Has Not Delivered Many Oct 2015 PSAT Scores | deutsch29

The College Board Still Has Not Delivered Many Oct 2015 PSAT Scores | deutsch29: The College Board Still Has Not Delivered Many Oct 2015 PSAT ScoresAfter failing to deliver October 2015 PSAT scores by its initially-promised, mid-December deadline, the College Board re-promised to have those scores electronically available to school counselors by January 6, 2016, and to students, by January 7, 2016

by mike simpson / 4h 

Why England Is Pushing for Privately Sponsored, Charter-Like Government Schools - The Atlantic

Why England Is Pushing for Privately Sponsored, Charter-Like Government Schools - The Atlantic: The Rise of American-Style Charter Schools in EnglandA push by the prime minister for academies has left local schools struggling to adapt to student population increases.Without a doubt, the biggest change to the educational landscape in England over the next few years will be the growth of so-called a

by mike simpson / 5h 

Education Support Professionals Going Above and Beyond for Student Safety - NEA Today

Education Support Professionals Going Above and Beyond for Student Safety - NEA Today: Education Support Professionals Going Above and Beyond for Student SafetyEvery day, in every public school, education support professionals (ESPs) keep students safe. School bus drivers know the proper evacuation routes and safety procedures on the bus. School security staff keep the school campus free of drugs,

by mike simpson / 5h 

Will the safe choice for L.A. Unified chief turn out to be the best? - LA Times

Will the safe choice for L.A. Unified chief turn out to be the best? - LA Times: Will the safe choice for L.A. Unified chief turn out to be the best? No question about it. The selection of Michelle King as superintendent of Los Angeles Unified comes with what PR folks call a nice narrative.King, 54, attended district schools as a student, got her first job as an LAUSD student aide in 1978, became

by mike simpson / 5h 

Is Teach For America telling the truth? #TFA25 – Cloaking Inequity

Is Teach For America telling the truth? #TFA25 – Cloaking Inequity: Is Teach For America telling the truth? #TFA25This is the interview with a recent Houston high school principal that Teach For America doesn’t want you to hear.Recently Teach For America responded to a post on Diane Ravitch’s blog. Here is a summary of their points:We continue to be one of the country’s largest sources of African

by mike simpson / 5h 

Another disturbing message in Lt. Gov Forest’s charter school bullying | The Progressive Pulse

Another disturbing message in Lt. Gov Forest’s charter school bullying | The Progressive Pulse: Another disturbing message in Lt. Gov Forest’s charter school bullying There have been lots of excellent critiques of Lt. Gov. Dan Forest’s recent Soviet-style demands for a rewrite of a report on the not-so-impressive performance of North Carolina’s charter schools. My colleague Chris Fitzsimon authore

by mike simpson / 5h 

Hamilton High provides clues on how LAUSD's new superintendent will lead | 89.3 KPCC

Hamilton High provides clues on how LAUSD's new superintendent will lead | 89.3 KPCC: Hamilton High provides clues on how LAUSD's new superintendent will leadWhen the Los Angeles Unified board named longtime employee Michelle King the district’s newest superintendent Monday, board members cited her three decades of service to the school system -- years in which she worked mostly out of the spotlig

by mike simpson / 6h 

Drama at Supreme Court During ‘Friedrichs’ Oral Arguments Was Blatantly Political | janresseger

Drama at Supreme Court During ‘Friedrichs’ Oral Arguments Was Blatantly Political | janresseger: Drama at Supreme Court During ‘Friedrichs’ Oral Arguments Was Blatantly PoliticalHave you noticed the political and ideological operation of the U.S. Supreme Court lately?  In case you need a refresher on this trend, in a fine Washington Post column, Dana Milbank takes us right inside the drama of the

by mike simpson / 6h 

Detroit public schools teachers continue sickouts - World Socialist Web Site

Detroit public schools teachers continue sickouts - World Socialist Web Site: Detroit public schools teachers continue sickoutsTeachers marching in front of the Detroit Public Schools officeDetroit public school teachers continued rolling sickouts yesterday, forcing the closure of 24 schools or over one-fifth of the district. This follows Monday when 64 schools were closed, as hundreds of teachers

by mike simpson / 6h 

Teachers, Learning Styles, and Using Data to Drive Instruction | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Teachers, Learning Styles, and Using Data to Drive Instruction | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Teachers, Learning Styles, and Using Data to Drive InstructionEveryone likes data that back their prejudices. Academics call it “confirmation bias.” It runs rife among U.S. Presidents, state governors, legislators, school district policymakers, and Moms and Dads. I include myself i

by mike simpson / 6h 

Common Core Standards: It’s all about the money | Seattle Education

Common Core Standards: It’s all about the money | Seattle Education: Common Core Standards: It’s all about the moneyA popular “single” from the 70’s:From Truth in American Education:Textbook Publishers Being “In It For The Money” Isn’t a Real SurpriseJames O’Keefe, a conservative activist who runs an organization called Project Veritas, is well known for undercover video work he has done in the pa

by mike simpson / 6h 

ALERT - Malloy/Wyman attack on parents, students, teachers, public schools (and the “out-out” movement) is a national disgrace - Wait What?

ALERT - Malloy/Wyman attack on parents, students, teachers, public schools (and the “out-out” movement) is a national disgrace - Wait What?: ALERT – Malloy/Wyman attack on parents, students, teachers, public schools (and the “out-out” movement) is a national disgraceYesterday, lawyers for Governor Dannel Malloy, Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman and Attorney General George Jepsen spent the day in a Connect

by mike simpson / 6h 

Netflix chief announces $100 million fund for education - The Washington Post

Netflix chief announces $100 million fund for education - The Washington Post:Netflix chief announces $100 million fund for educationNetflix founder and chief executive Reed Hastings, a longtime supporter of charter schools, is creating a $100 million foundation for education, he announced on his Facebook page Tuesday.The Hastings Fund launched with grants totaling $1.5 million to the Hispanic Fou

by mike simpson / 6h 

We Are Listening, and We Know You Have Something to Say - Lily's Blackboard

We Are Listening, and We Know You Have Something to Say - Lily's Blackboard: We Are Listening, and We Know You Have Something to SayAre you fed up with policies that don’t put students at the center of education? And with “experts” who don’t know the names of the students they keep talking about?Here is your chance to share your experience. What you see happening with your students, in your school

by mike simpson / 7h 

King Would Have Stood with Striking Teachers - LA Progressive

King Would Have Stood with Striking Teachers - LA Progressive: King Would Have Stood with Striking TeachersA the nation prepares to mark what would have been the 87th birthday of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, we should remember Dr. King as a staunch supporter of both public education andorganized labor. This is especially important as teachers in cities across the nation including Chicago a

by mike simpson / 7h 

With new superintendent in place, L.A. school board gears for battle on charter plan - LA Times

With new superintendent in place, L.A. school board gears for battle on charter plan - LA Times: With new superintendent in place, L.A. school board gears for battle on charter planA Day after unanimously selecting a new leader, the Los Angeles Board of Education once again found common ground by offering its first public opposition to a controversial $490-million proposal to increase the number o

by mike simpson / 7h 

Our State of the Union: Unarmed Truth. Unconditional Love. - Lily's Blackboard

Our State of the Union: Unarmed Truth. Unconditional Love. - Lily's Blackboard: Our State of the Union: Unarmed Truth. Unconditional Love.I am writing this having just watched President Obama’s State of the Union speech. I’m an educator. A teacher. A union activist. And so I was listening for his messages on education and students and schools and the men and women who work in them. And he had word

by mike simpson / 7h 

Schools Matter: Teachers in High Poverty Schools Get Lower Evaluation Scores

Schools Matter: Teachers in High Poverty Schools Get Lower Evaluation Scores: Teachers in High Poverty Schools Get Lower Evaluation ScoresDid you ever believe that using test scores to evaluate and reward teachers could be a disincentive to teaching in high poverty schools?  You were right.From Chicago:Teachers who score the lowest under the district’s relatively new evaluation system are overrepr

by mike simpson / 7h 

Blackmon: Testing robs students of real learning opportunities | Online Athens

Blackmon: Testing robs students of real learning opportunities | Online Athens: Blackmon: Testing robs students of real learning opportunitiesYou can’t have your cake and eat it, too.When it comes to college and career readiness, that old saying should be, “You can’t keep all your tests and still produce thinking graduates.” I get so sick of this determination to measure everything by tests, then

by mike simpson / 7h 

The Slippery Slope of School Discipline

The Slippery Slope of School Discipline: The Slippery Slope of School DisciplineTeacher administering a flogging to one of his pupils. (Photo: Reg Speller/Fox Photos/Getty Images)Mayor de Blasio and his schools chancellor, Carmen Fariña, are experimenting with a new approach to school discipline. Instead of suspending unruly students, misbehaving kids receive “warning cards” with a suggestion: tha

by mike simpson / 7h 

Houghton-Mifflin exec: Common Core is all about the money - New York Business Journal

Houghton-Mifflin exec: Common Core is all about the money - New York Business Journal: Houghton-Mifflin exec: Common Core is all about the moneyAn undercover video posted by New York City-based Project Veritas, the same organization that investigated the now defunct ACORN, shows an executive at one of the nation's largest school booksellers describing how common core education standards are a sche

by mike simpson / 7h 

Acting Secretary of Education Dr. John King Jr. is unfazed by politics - CBS News

Acting Secretary of Education Dr. John King Jr. is unfazed by politics - CBS News:Acting secretary of education is unfazed by politicsView More: Politics News|Live News|More News VideosThe new acting secretary of education, Dr. John King Jr., steps into a role his predecessor, Arne Duncan, left deep in controversy. With support for Common Core waning and student debt skyrocketing, King faces a ser

by mike simpson / 7h 

Bernie Sanders has a bold, simple idea for improving public education - Vox

Bernie Sanders has a bold, simple idea for improving public education - Vox: Bernie Sanders has a bold, simple idea for improving public educationAt Monday night's Brown & Black Democratic Presidential Forum in Iowa, Bernie Sanders came out in favor of a massive change in the way the US funds schools:"One of the things that I have always believed is that, in terms of education, we have to

by mike simpson / 8h 

Teach Your Teachers Well - The New York Times

Teach Your Teachers Well - The New York Times: Teach Your Teachers WellTrisha Matthews teaching fourth graders in Brooklyn. CreditRuth Fremson/The New York TimesLAST month, at the urging of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, New York’s Board of Regents suspended the use of state tests to evaluate teachers. This is a wise first step, but it won’t improve our schools unless we go further and build a professional

by mike simpson / 8h 

State School Board Member Dismantles Federal “Reminder” On Standardized Testing

State School Board Member Dismantles Federal “Reminder” On Standardized Testing:State School Board Member Dismantles Federal “Reminder” On Standardized Testingby Greg on January 12, 2016 · 1 CommentIn December, the United States Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education sent a letter out to all “Chief State School Officers” (i.e., state superintendents) in order to “ta

by mike simpson / 8h 

YESTERDAY

Rainier Prep charter school is anticipating funding from the state as they continue | Seattle Education

Rainier Prep charter school is anticipating funding from the state as they continue | Seattle Education: Rainier Prep charter school is anticipating funding from the state as they continueI’m not sure where this idea is coming from, yet, but Rainier Beach Prep charter school in the Highline School District is anticipating state funding from the state of Washington to reimburse their expenses as th

1 by mike simpson / 19h 

JUST IN: LA Unified board passes anti-charter growth resolution - LA School Report

JUST IN: LA Unified board passes anti-charter growth resolution - LA School Report: JUST IN: LA Unified board passes anti-charter growth resolutionSteve Zimmer, the LAUSD board presidentThe LA Unified board today put itself on record as opposing a proposal that originated with the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation to expand the number of charter schools in the district in the years ahead.By a 7-0 vo

20 by mike simpson / 19h 

Schneider’s ESSA Digest, Part IV (Switching Documents) | deutsch29

Schneider’s ESSA Digest, Part IV (Switching Documents) | deutsch29: Schneider’s ESSA Digest, Part IV (Switching Documents)On December 18, 2015, I began writing a series of posts on the Every Student Achieves Act (ESSA), the latest reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA).I began my series using the 1,061-page ESSA conference report draft. Since that time, the 1,

1 by mike simpson / 19h 

Jersey Jazzman: Dear Reformy Bloggers: B’Bye

Jersey Jazzman: Dear Reformy Bloggers: B’Bye: Dear Reformy Bloggers: B’Bye I'm going to keep this short because one of my New Years resolutions is to stop engaging folks who are not serious. But I do want the following on the record before I move on:Laura Waters is having a debate with Stephen Danley about Camden schooling. As far as I'm concerned, anything Stephen does is worth checking out, so h

1 by mike simpson / 20h hide  //  save

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 1/12/15

CORPORATE ED REFORMMartin Luther King, Teachers' Unions and Social Justice | Yohuru WilliamsMartin Luther King, Teachers' Unions and Social Justice | Yohuru Williams: Martin Luther King, Teachers' Unions and Social JusticeAs the nation prepares to mark what would have been the 87th birthday of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, we should remember Dr. King as a staunch supporter of both public ed

2 by mike simpson / 23h 

“Please—a little less love, and a little more common decency.” – the becoming radical

“Please—a little less love, and a little more common decency.” – the becoming radical:

“Please—a little less love, and a little more common decency.”

I wish that people who are conventionally supposed to love each other would say to each other, when they fight, “Please—a little less love, and a little more common decency.”

Slapstick or Lonesome No More!, Kurt Vonnegut

I was a public high school English teacher for almost two decades in the rural upstate of South Carolina.

My first years were nearly overwhelming—as they are for most beginning teachers. And I would concede that much of that struggling could easily be categorized as classroom management challenges (although having five different preps, 15 different textbooks, and classes as large as 35 students certainly didn’t help).

Yet, then and now, as I approach the middle of my third decade teaching, I tend to reject the terms “discipline” and “classroom management” because they carry connotations I cannot endorse.

First, framing classroom management as something separate from pedagogy, I believe, is a mistake. In other words, effective and engaging pedagogy creates the environment that renders so-called (and generic) classroom management strategies unnecessary.

Next, most claims about “discipline” and “classroom management” remain trapped in reductive behavioristic ideology as well as authoritarian views of the teacher (in which authority is linked by default to the position).

As a critical educator, I seek to be authoritative, not authoritarian (see Paulo Freire). In other words, I forefront the human dignity and agency of my students, I seek always to model the person and learner I feel my students should emulate, and I work diligently to earn the respect of my students, in part, because of my expertise and credibility in terms of what content I am teaching.

But having taught public school, I know the real world is messy: students become confrontational with their peers and even teachers. School can be (and in some places often is) a physically and psychologically dangerous and uncomfortable place, rendering learning less important.

And I also recognize that each teacher is legally and morally the central figure of authority in any classroom. Yes, as a teacher, I must assert that authority any time the safety, health, or“Please—a little less love, and a little more common decency.” – the becoming radical: 

Decline in Suspensions and Expulsions - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education)

Decline in Suspensions and Expulsions - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education):
Decline in Suspensions and Expulsions 

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced a 13.9 percent decline in the number of students expelled during the 2014-15 academic year and a 12.8 percent decrease in the number of students suspended compared to the year before. This marks the third year in a row of significant declines in both areas.

Since 2011-12, when the California Department of Education (CDE) began collecting and reporting detailed data, suspensions have declined by 33.6 percent and expulsions have dropped 40.4 percent.

The latest figures reflect innovative efforts by the CDE and school districts to provide a variety of alternative programs and options to schools, teachers, and students that reduce suspensions and expulsions and keep more children in school.

"The research and data are abundantly clear in this area: Removing children from school and keeping them away from an educational environment can be very harmful," Torlakson said. "This continuing decline in suspensions and expulsions is a tremendous credit to CDE staff, local districts, administrators, teachers, and parents who are all working together to develop effective solutions to increase school attendance and learning."

Statewide, 919 fewer students were expelled in 2014-15 compared to the year before, down 13.9 percent. Similarly, 35,780 fewer students were suspended in 2014-15, down 12.8 percent. The statewide suspension rate has dropped to 3.8 percent from 4.4 percent the year before while the expulsion rate has remained flat at 0.1 percent because the overall numbers are relatively small (Table 1).

Several factors contributed to the years-long declines, beginning with improved CDE data collection and reporting in 2011-12 that revealed high numbers of expulsions and suspensions statewide, particularly among African-American students. The CDE initiated forums and workshops to make districts, administrators, and teachers aware of successful alternatives to suspensions and expulsions, including "restorative justice" programs that help students understand the nature and consequences of their actions. Other strategies underway in California schools include teaching life skills and emotional control. The CDE launched its Behavioral Intervention Strategies and Supports Web page as an additional resource.

For the third year in a row, the highest percentage of declines came under the "willful defiance" category. In 2014-15, there were 164 fewer expulsions for defiance-related offenses, down 57.3 percent. There were 58,103 fewer defiance-related suspensions last year, down 30.9 percent (Table 1).

Willful defiance became an issue after CDE data revealed that students in certain ethnic groups experienced a disproportionate percentage of expulsions and suspensions. Lawmakers sought to reduce those offenses and passed Assembly Bill 420, supported by the CDE and signed into law in 2013, that limits suspensions and expulsions for disruptive behavior in certain grades.

Expulsions and suspensions for more serious federal offenses were down by thousands statewide and among every subgroup of students in 2014-15. Yet a disparity persists among African-American students. For example, African-American students represent 6 percent of total statewide enrollment but make up a 16.4 percent of students suspended, a rate identical to last year. White students represent 24.6 percent of total enrollment, but make up 20.9 percent of those suspended. Hispanic students account for 53.6 percent of total enrollment and represent 54 percent of those suspended (Tables 2, 3).

Data collected through the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) enabled the CDE to report detailed data for the fourth year in a row. Prior to the collection of these data, they were collected differently as aggregate counts, so the 2014-15 data may only be compared to the three prior years and cannot be compared accurately to prior years’ suspension and expulsion data. The data presented here were for "unduplicated" counts of students suspended or expelled. This means although a student may have been suspended or expelled more than once, each student was only counted once.

The suspension and expulsion data are available on the CDE's DataQuest. Downloadable data files are available at the CDE's Expulsion and Suspension Data Web page. Truancy data are collected through the California Basic Educational Data System Online Reporting Application and will be updated online this week.

# # # #

Attachments:

Table 1: 2014-15 Suspension and Expulsion Statewide Summary

Type	2013-14	2014-15	Difference	% Difference
Students Suspended	279,383	243,603	-35,780	-12.8%
Students Expelled	6,611	5,692	-919	-13.9%
Defiance Expulsions	286	122	-164	-57.3%
Defiance Suspensions	187,938	129,835	-58,103	-30.9%

Table 2: Statewide Suspension Counts by Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity	2013-14	2014-15	Difference	% Change
Hispanic or Latino of Any Race	152,726	131,463	-21,263	-13.9%
American Indian or Alaska Native, Not Hispanic	3,427	2,901	-526	-15.3%
Asian, Not Hispanic	6,644	5,863	-781	-11.8%
Pacific Islander, Not Hispanic	1,764	1,584	-180	-10.2%
Filipino, Not Hispanic	2,685	2,475	-210	-7.8%
African American, Not Hispanic	45,710	40,039	-5,671	-12.4%
White, Not Hispanic	57,507	50,844	-6,663	-11.6%
Two or More Races, Not Hispanic	7,347	6,905	-442	-6.0%
None Reported	1,573	1,526	-44	-2.8%
Total	279,383	243,603	-35,780	-12.8%

Table 3: Percent of Statewide Suspensions and Enrollment by Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity	2013-14	2014-15	Percentage Change	Percent Enrollment
Hispanic or Latino of Any Race	54.7%	54.0%	-0.7%	53.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native, Not Hispanic	1.2%	1.2%	0.0%	0.6%
Asian, Not Hispanic	2.4%	2.4%	0.0%	8.8%
Pacific Islander, Not Hispanic	0.6%	0.7%	+0.1%	0.5%
Filipino, Not Hispanic	1.0%	1.0%	0.0%	2.5%
African American, Not Hispanic	16.4%	16.4%	+0.0%	6.0%
White, Not Hispanic	20.6%	20.9%	-0.3%	24.6%
Two or More Races, Not Hispanic	2.6%	2.8%	+0.2%	2.8%
None Reported	0.6%	0.6%	0.0%	0.6%
Total	100.0%	100.0%	n/a	100.0%

Table 4: Percentage Decline in Statewide Suspensions and Expulsions
from 2011-12 to 2014-15

Type	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	(N) Decline 11-12 to 14-15	% Decline 11-12 to 14-15
Suspensions	366,629	329,370	279,383	243,603	-123,026	-33.56%
Expulsions	9,553	8,266	6,611	5,692	-3,861	-40.42%

# # # #

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

Last Reviewed: Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Decline in Suspensions and Expulsions - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education):

solidaridad: K-12NN Wire: California's charter school law repeal movement update

solidaridad: K-12NN Wire: California's charter school law repeal movement update:

K-12NN Wire: California's charter school law repeal movement update

First published January 13, 2016 on K-12 News Network

---

“charter schools comprise a divisive and segregated sector” —Frankenberg, E., Siegel-Hawley, G., Wang, J. (2011)

Voices Against Privatizing Public Education's (VAPPE) grassroots campaign to repeal the 1992 charter school laws imposed on California by corporate reactionaries Donald Fisher and Reed Hastings has been moving forward. In addition to their online petition, they've established a contribution committee, grown their endorsements, setup online fundraising, and have submitted their final ballot proposition language.

Recently VAPPE picked up a major political endorsement in the Green Party of San Diego County. In general the Green Party, unlike the Democratic Party, has been very astute on the grave dangers of charters, vouchers, and all other school privatization schemes proffered by the plutocrat class. Green Party Presidential Candidate,Dr. Jill Stein, is a stalwart defender of public education. The following are quotes from two different interviews, as well as a video of Dr. Stein and Kshama Sawant discussing the scourge of charter schools.

Public education is another example where there has been a complete scam [regarding privatization]—charter schools are not better than public schools—and in many cases they are far worse. They cherry-pick their students so they can show better test scores. The treasure of our public schools system has been assaulted by the process of privatization. (Phone interview on 2016 presidential race by OnTheIssues.org , Jul 6, 2015)

Unfortunately, charter schools draw down on funding for our public schools, and they siphon off the more capable students and their families. At the same time they concentrate the real social problems in the public schools, which is guaranteed to collapse our public system from within. The advantages of charters ought to be features of all public schools: family engagement, additional resources and budget, and so on. (2011 AmericansElect interview questionnaire with Jill Stein, Dec 21, 2011)

VAPPE also picked up support of the brilliant Sharon Higgins of The Perimeter Primate, Charter School Scandals, and The Broad Report. Higgins was one of the first to bring to public consciousness the fact that the largest chain of taxpayer funded charter schools in the United States is run by a shadowy religious cult — the Gülen Network. I've used Higgins research extensively in documenting the ties between Gülen friendly Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board members elected with big money from the corporate charter school industry and their billionaire backers. Both political opportunist Monica Garcia, and charter school profiteer Refugio "Ref" Rodriguez have deep ties to the secretive Gülen religious cult.

VAPPE lists their significant endorsements as follows:

• AFT Local 6161 (Palomar Faculty Federation)
• North County Labor Alliance
• Escondido Public School Advocates
• Wellstone Progressive Democrats of Sacramento
• Chicano Latino Caucus of the California Democratic Party
• Labor Council for Latin American Advancement-Sacramento chapter
• Actor and Activist - Danny Glover
• Bill Freeman - NEA Board member California
• Alita Blanc - United Educators of San Francisco President
• Julian Nava - Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico
• Wayne Johnson - Past President of California Teachers Association (CTA)
• Sharon Higgins - parent activist, public education blogger & researcher, Gulen charter school researcher and public speaker
• Francisco Martinez - KPFK Radio Producer (Los Angeles)
• Susan Rowe - Chair California Democratic Party Madera County
• Green Party of San Diego County
• International Socialist Organization - San Francisco chapter

This email was sent out to those who signed VAPPE online petition:

You have signed the petition in support of repealing the California Charter School Act of 1992. 

We have officially filed the text of the initiative with the CA Attorney General's office and requested a title and summary to allow us to gather the necessary signatures to place this on the ballot for November 2016. The link to the text of the proposed intiative at the Attorney General's office can be found here at this link: https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/initiatives/pdfs/15-0114%20%28Repeal%20Charter%20Schools%29_0.pdf?

We will need to gather approximately 400K signatures. 

There are volunteers working hard throughout the state to make this happen. But we will still need to raise funds to gather all the necessary signatures. Please make a donation to this campaign - every little bit will help.

Make your check out to:

Repeal Charter School Laws

Send your check to:
Repeal Charter School Laws  (FPPC# 1378057)
Attention: Diana Mansker-Treasurer
7753 Laurie Way
Sacramento, CA 95832

This campaign recipient Committee is registered with the CA Secretary of State's Office:  http://cal-access.ss.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1378057

Please help us save our public schools from the greedy profiteers!!

Thank you for your support,

Kathleen Carroll

Voices Against Privatizing Public Education—Repeal Charter School Laws Committee

Support this movement, it represents an important united front against the billionaire's privatization project.

solidaridad: K-12NN Wire: California's charter school law repeal movement update:

Connecticut Recommends Thumbscrews | Daniel Katz, Ph.D.

Connecticut Recommends Thumbscrews | Daniel Katz, Ph.D.:

Connecticut Recommends Thumbscrews

Connecticut’s Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy does not always grab attention in the annals of corporate education reform.  Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has made battles with public unions more central to his image.  New Jersey Governor Chris Christie plainly relishes getting to act “tough” and yell at teachers questioning his agenda. Democratic Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel shuttered 50 public schools, mostly serving ethnic minority children, in one go, without caring to listen at all to the residents of the impacted neighborhoods.  Neighboring governor and fellow Democrat Andrew Cuomo of New York staked a huge portion of his agenda for 2015 on ramming through controversial education reforms, and his approval rating both overall and especially on education have tanked in a highly visible manner.  Compared to headline grabbers like these, Governor Malloy does not seem to get much attention.

Which is a shame because when it comes to the Holy Trinity of education reform – common standards, standardized testing tied to punitive consequences, and preference for charter schools over district schools, Governor Malloy is the complete package. In 2012, he called for major changes to teacher tenure in Connecticut, earning praise from ConnCAN, an education reform group promoting charter schools.  Facing push back from teachers and parents about the pace and nature of education reforms, Governor Malloy was forced to call for a “slow down” in the pace of reforms, especially tying teacher evaluations to standardized test results.  $91,000 in campaign donations flowed to Connecticut Democrats from a single wealthy businessman and charter school advocate, Connecticut Recommends Thumbscrews | Daniel Katz, Ph.D.:

Friedrichs v. CTA: Suing for the Right to Freeload - LA Progressive

Friedrichs v. CTA: Suing for the Right to Freeload - LA Progressive:
Friedrichs v. CTA: Suing for the Right to Freeload

Iwonder if Harlan Elrich, one of the plaintiffs in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, was the kind of kid who took his bat and ball and went home if he didn’t get his way on the sandlot.

He evidently doesn’t believe in the democratic process or in majority rule.

Elrich and nine other teachers are suing the CTA to get out of paying the union their fair share to represent them. The Supreme Court heard arguments in the suit Monday.

A victory for Elrich and his co-plaintiffs could end up putting every public sector union in the country under “right to work,” meaning workers would be able to enjoy union-won wages, work hours and benefits without paying a dime to support the union. That’s called freeloading.

Federal labor law requires that in a workplace with a union, the union has to represent everybody who is not a supervisory or management employee. Unions say workers who don’t want to join the union should at least compensate the union for representing them in the collective bargaining process.

In any event, Elrich blasted the CPA in a Wall Street Journal op-ed piece. He disagrees with many things the union bargains for. “That the union would presume to push, allegedly on my behalf, for higher salaries at the expense of smaller class sizes and avoiding teacher layoffs is preposterous,” he wrote.

Most teachers obviously disagree with Elrich. What the CTA seeks at the bargaining table isFriedrichs v. CTA: Suing for the Right to Freeload - LA Progressive:

Obama’s Education Legacy Is More of a Mixed Bag Than He’d Like to Admit

Obama discusses K–12 education priorities in final State of the Union.:

Obama’s Education Legacy Is More of a Mixed Bag Than He’d Like to Admit

In his final State of the Union, President Barack Obama addressed an audience that included Acting Secretary of Education John King, the former New York education commissioner who took over from Arne Duncan at the start of this year. The president touted various accomplishments on the K–12 front—but the reality is a bit murkier. From the speech:

We agree that real opportunity requires every American to get the education and training they need to land a good-paying job. The bipartisan reform of No Child Left Behind was an important start, and together, we’ve increased early childhood education, lifted high school graduation rates to new highs, and boosted graduates in fields like engineering. In the coming years, we should build on that progress, by providing Pre-K for all, offering every student the hands-on computer science and math classes that make them job-ready on day one, and we should recruit and support more great teachers for our kids.

Obama really did change the conversation about early childhood education when he first pushed for an expansion of pre-K in the 2013 State of the Union. But some of his other education goals have proven more elusive. He didn’t mention, for example, that the long-overdue “bipartisan reform” of No Child Left Behind—also known as the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act or, in its latest iteration, the Every Student Succeeds Act—is in many ways a direct rebuke to his administration’s extremely hands-on education policies, with a dialing-back of federal involvement in favor of more local control. States are now no longer required to tie teacher evaluations to student test scores—a signature education-reform practice that Obama has endorsed.

Obama also touted the steady climb in high school graduation rates, which hit a “new record high” of 82 percent in the 2013–14 school year—but he left out the sometimes-slippery methods high schools have employed to achieve this stunning milestone(like, say, misclassifying dropouts as “transfers”) and what, if anything, graduatingObama discusses K–12 education priorities in final State of the Union.: