DeVos to State Ed Chiefs: Don’t Even Think About Testing Waivers This Year. | deutsch29: Mercedes Schneider's Blog

DeVos to State Ed Chiefs: Don’t Even Think About Testing Waivers This Year. | deutsch29: Mercedes Schneider's Blog

DeVos to State Ed Chiefs: Don’t Even Think About Testing Waivers This Year.

I have many issues with contemporary American education’s dependence upon standardized testing.

Testing students in order to grade teachers and schools is a misuse of student-completed standardized tests, and the high-stakes nature of this testing makes it a system begging to be gamed.

High-stakes testing narrows the broader curriculum because it wrongly bestows disproportionate value upon “tested subjects.”

Testing– and test prep– and test remediation– and retesting– costs states millions of dollars each year.

Standardized test results are of limited use in understanding student educational needs and pale in comparison to in-the-moment, informal teacher assessment based upon student behavior and performance on class assignments– conducted in classrooms across the nation every day– day to day– in order to understand where students are with mastering particular content and skills and in determining next steps to move those students forward in their learning.

However, in trying to teach during the COVID-19 pandemic, one issue in particular is for me at the forefront of my beef with our nation’s unhealthy devotion to K12 standardized testing:

Testing devours class time, and with the lingering unknowns brought on by the pandemic, in-person teaching time is at a premium.

I do not want to surrender a minute of what little time I have in person with CONTINUE READING: DeVos to State Ed Chiefs: Don’t Even Think About Testing Waivers This Year. | deutsch29: Mercedes Schneider's Blog

NYC Educator: UFT Executive Board September 17, 2020--We Will Keep Kids Safe and Take Care of One Another

 NYC Educator: UFT Executive Board September 17, 2020--We Will Keep Kids Safe and Take Care of One Another 

UFT Executive Board September 17, 2020--We Will Keep Kids Safe and Take Care of One Another

5:50 roll call

Minutes--approved

UFT President Michael Mulgrew--We were prepared for different tactics, but we knew we could not open Monday. We weren't ready. It wasn't safe. We need better quality for safety. This is due to advocacy of members in all boroughs. That's what union does. 

DOE didn't understand, but we were out on the sidewalk because things were wrong. Principals could say everything was fine, but it wasn't. We met this afternoon with DOE. We said enough is enough. You serve the schools, they don't serve you. 

We now have to make them fulfill the plan. Not there yet, but we've made major steps toward getting schools what they need. We were in chaos, with thousands of operational issues. Much of this is tied to economic recession. Budget cuts affect us too, and we were looking at 9000 layoffs.

Today we're in a place where the mayor has said we will find money to open school system safely. Now we've gone from firing teachers to hiring teachers. Right off the bat we will get 4500 for preK to 8. No agreement yet for middle and high schools, but we will have that next week.

Yesterday we were looking at chaos on Monday, layoffs. Now we are looking at phased in opening, and more teachers. Meeting daily with mayor about schools. In contact with person in charge of Covid testing and tracing. We have a situation room, and we are getting results faster. We will be getting tracing reports about schools. 

Last Monday we were talking about ventilation, and ten school buildings were closed. We made city hire independent ventilation company to inspect every school. Once again, the section of our school system that is forgotten, D75, sites all over the city didn't get what was promised. This is an important story. About a site where children go every day, not cleaned since August, with not one piece of PPE. 

Chapter leader took all his teachers out on the sidewalk Tuesday. On Wednesday the press heard their story. This framed everything for the rest of the week. Teachers were in chairs on sidewalk saying we're not ready. Parents were enraged at being forgotten yet again. They'd had enough and didn't want regression. Life skills abilities couldn't regress. They said they loved their teachers and paras, and their kids had to go to school. D75 jobs are tough but rewarding. 

We are opening our school system again. Low positivity rate allows us to. People want to abuse, attack and get rid of public education. We will show them how to get a school system open and safe. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for all the advocacy for our schools. Right now all of DOE is on the phone talking to us and everyone, getting D75 everything they need. They've hired 60 new special ed. teachers and need more. 

Our preK sites are getting a lot of attention, but it shouldn't be anyone getting better attention. We should all get the attention. PreK and D75 opening Monday. If you don't have CONTINUE READING;  NYC Educator: UFT Executive Board September 17, 2020--We Will Keep Kids Safe and Take Care of One Another 

We Must All Be Civics Teachers – Constitution Day, 2020 | Live Long and Prosper

 We Must All Be Civics Teachers – Constitution Day, 2020 | Live Long and Prosper 

We Must All Be Civics Teachers – Constitution Day, 2020

CONSTITUTION DAY CIVICS SURVEY

A few days ago, the Annenberg Public Policy Center released its annual Constitution Day Civics Survey. The results of the survey suggest that the recent upheavals in the United States…racial protests, a pandemic-based health crisis, and increased political polarization…have provided Americans with the excuse to learn more about our form of government.

The survey found that Americans now know more about how our government works than in the last couple of years.

Asked to name any of the rights guaranteed under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution:

• 73% of Americans named freedom of speech, up from 48% in 2017;

• 47% named freedom of religion, up from 15% in 2017;

• 42% named freedom of the press, up from 14% in 2017;

• 34% named right of assembly, up from 10%;

• 14% named the right to petition the government, up from 3%;

• Those who could not name any First Amendment right fell to 19% from 37% in 2017 (total of “can’t name any” and “don’t know”).

It seems obvious that daily newscasts and political pronouncements have helped to educate Americans on the freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment. The CONTINUE READING:  We Must All Be Civics Teachers – Constitution Day, 2020 | Live Long and Prosper 

Russ on Reading: The Mighty Storm: Multiple Texts Help Synthesize Thought

 Russ on Reading: The Mighty Storm: Multiple Texts Help Synthesize Thought

The Mighty Storm: Multiple Texts Help Synthesize Thought

Three things I read this morning came together in what might be considered a perfect storm of insight. First, I read for one hour the book I'm currently reading, Isaac's Storm, by Erik Larson. Isaac's Storm tells the tragic story of  the deadliest natural disaster in U. S. history, the Galveston, Texas hurricane of 1900. The second thing I read was from a headline on the front page of the New York Times, Trump Scorns Own Scientists on Virus Data. The article details how the President rejected the professional scientific conclusions of his own advisers on the prospects of a Covid vaccine being widely available and on the importance of people wearing masks to slow the spread of the disease. The third item was also a headline from the front page of the Times, Unexpected Fury of Storm Pounds Coast of Florida, which tells how the latest hurricane, Sally, proved difficult for forecasters to predict and hit with unexpected force in Pensacola. Florida where people were not expecting it to be as powerful and destructive.

The hurricane in Galveston in 1900 struck unexpectedly and with great ferocity, with winds of more than 145 mph and with a storm surge of perhaps 30 feet. An estimated 6,00 to 12,00 people were killed. Property damage was estimated at 34 million, more than a billion in today's dollars. Perhaps the greatest tragedy of all was that their were no warnings about the storm, and no chance for people to evacuate largely because of politics, CONTINUE READING:  Russ on Reading: The Mighty Storm: Multiple Texts Help Synthesize Thought

August 25, 2020 Tuesday at 2 Webinar + COVID 19: FFVP School Year 2020–21 Waivers - (CA Dept of Education) -

 August 25, 2020 Tuesday at 2 Webinar

August 25, 2020 Tuesday at 2 Webinar

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Main Web Page

The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) hosted the eighth Tuesday @ 2: School Nutrition Town Hall webinar on August 25, 2020 for school food service operators, chief business officials, and community partners to listen to a discussion on best practices during the transition back to school and moving forward in meal service amidst COVID-19.

Panelists included speakers from Fairfax Elementary School District, San Luis Coastal Unified School District, Cupertino Union School District, and Mt. Diablo Unified School District. The panelists discussed strategies for serving quality meals, implementing contactless meals, food safety for families and staff, and engaging community partners.

 

The next Tuesday @ 2: School Nutrition Town Hall webinar will be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 2 p.m. Join the Tuesday @ 2: School Nutrition Town Hall Webinar.

Password: 182792

Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact Julie BoarerPitchford, Nutrition Education Consultant, by phone at 916-322-1563 or by email at jboarerpitchford@cde.ca.gov.

Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609

COVID 19: FFVP School Year 2020–21 Waivers

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Main Web Page

Effective immediately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has granted the California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division two waivers for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) for School Year 2020–21.

• The first waiver allows school food authorities (SFA) participating in the FFVP to distribute the FFVP snacks to a parent or guardian on behalf of their eligible child(ren) without the child(ren) being present. (Parent Pick-Up Waiver)
• The second waiver allows SFAs participating in the FFVP to offer the FFVP snacks to elementary school children at non-FFVP school sites (elementary, middle, or high schools) if the FFVP school is closed or does not have meal service. (Serving FFVP at Alternate Sites Waiver)

The SFAs must demonstrate that the waivers do not result in an increase to the overall cost of the FFVP.

How to Opt-in

If you plan to implement the Parent Pick-up Waiver or the Serving FFVP at Alternate Sites Waiver, please send an email to ffvp@cde.ca.gov to opt-in.

When opting-in to use the Parent Pick-Up Waiver, please describe your plan for how you will provide FFVP snacks only to parents or guardians of eligible children and how you will ensure that no duplicates are distributed to any child.

When opting-in to use the Serving FFVP at Alternate Sites Waiver, please list the name(s) of the FFVP sites that are closed that will use this waiver and the name(s) of the site(s) that will serve the FFVP snacks while using this waiver to only eligible children.

Within the next year, all 2020–21 FFVP grantees who opt-in to use the waiver(s) will receive an email to complete the mandatory report(s).

Effective Date

Both the FFVP Parent Pick-up Waiver and Serving FFVP at Alternate Sites Waiver are effective immediately and will remain in effect until June 30, 2021.

For more comprehensive COVID-19 guidance, please visit the CDE School and Child and Adult Day Care Meals web page.

Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact the CDE FFVP Team, by phone at 916-322-9943 or by email at ffvp@cde.ca.gov.

Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609

A VERY BUSY DAY Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007

 Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007

A VERY BUSY DAY

Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

The latest news and resources in education since 2007

 

 

Big Education Ape: THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 - http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2020/09/this-week-in-education-larry-ferlazzos_12.html

Two New Very Good Resources For Teaching About Women’s Suffrage

by Larry Ferlazzo / 5h

The United States recognized 100 years of the 19th Amendment last month. Here are two new additions to The Best Resources For Learning About Women’s Suffrage : 19 Ways to Teach the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment is from The NY Times Learning Network. Fight for the Right:100 Years of Women Voting is an interactive from The California Museum.

“Slow Down, You Move Too Fast” Is My Distance Learning Lesson Of The Day

by Larry Ferlazzo / 12h

kewl / Pixabay I don’t really know many – if any – students in my IB Theory of Knowledge classes. After two-and-a-half weeks of full time distance learning, they seem to be going relatively well. Largely because I didn’t know them, I’ve been taking things very slowly. On the other hand, I know practically all of the students in my English Language Learner classes. Those have been pretty rocky. An

Friday’s Must-Read Articles On School Reopening

by Larry Ferlazzo / 12h

geralt / Pixabay Here are new additions to THE BEST POSTS PREDICTING WHAT SCHOOLS WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE FALL : The Crushing Reality of Zoom School is from Esquire. N.Y.C. Will Again Delay Start of In-Person Classes for Most Students is from The NY Times. Facing Monday deadline, New York City will again delay start of in-person classes is from USA Today. ‘I’m Only 1 Person’: Teachers Feel Torn Bet

In A Moment, President Trump Makes Thousands Of Students Eager To Learn About The Role Of Slavery In American History

by Larry Ferlazzo / 13h

Owantana / Pixabay As a nineteen year community organizer veteran prior to becoming a teacher, an old adage we used was that “your opponent does your best organizing for you.” President Trump demonstrated that today with his public attack on the fabulous 1619 Project (see Get A Free PDF Of The NY Times’ “1619 Project” ). You can read more about today’s ridiculousness below: Trump Announces Commis

On Sept. 21st, Zoom Implements A Feature To Allow People To Choose Their Own Breakout Rooms

22by Larry Ferlazzo / 13h

Last month, I posted that Zoom Announces Feature Coming Next Month To Allow Student Choice Of Breakout Rooms . They have now announced it will be unveiled on September 21st: Based on my clumsy and time-consuming attempts at having students choose their partners by renaming themselves with the same numbers before their first names, this new feature will certainly be welcomed by my students and me.

Three Accessible Ways To Search For & Find My “Best” Lists

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1d

(Note: I am going to publish this same post once each month to remind regular readers and inform newer ones about how to access my “Best” lists) As regular readers know, I have about 2,100 categorized and regularly updated “Best” lists. You can find all of them in broad categories here . The link to that page can also be found at the top right of my blog: My Best Of Series I also have them all on

“How Should Educators Respond to Trump Administration Attack on Anti-Racist Training?”

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1d

How Should Educators Respond to Trump Administration Attack on Anti-Racist Training? is the headline of the latest post at my Ed Week Teacher column. It’s actually a guest post from Terri Watson. Terri N. Watson suggests that educators reinforce their support of Critical Race Theory in the face of 

 Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007