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Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Education Matters: Teacher fear in DCPS is real and palpable.

Education Matters: Teacher fear in DCPS is real and palpable.
Teacher fear in DCPS is real and palpable.


 I have written many times about the lack of contact tracing, and social distancing, and how the dashboard shouldn't be believed. If the district cares, they sure haven't shown it, and the fear for many teachers and staff is real.  

I received this from a reader. I have edited it to take out anything identifying because, sadly, in DCPS, teachers have a lot to be afraid about.

So one of my students is positive. I only found out because I asked the secretary. The only thing my principal has said to me about anything is that their absence has been excused. Telling me in the hallway because he happened to see me.

I’m not going to lie. I’m having a slight panic attack because no one is telling me anything. The only reason I know is because I asked our secretary. If it was just me affected, that is one thing. But it isn’t. It is my class and all the kids. It is all the resource teachers. It is the other teachers on grade level because they make us move kids around for their stupid pet program.

It is my two personal children. It is their classes, their teachers, their middle schools. It is my CONTINUE READING: Education Matters: Teacher fear in DCPS is real and palpable.

Terrie Brady and DTU stick up for veteran teachers
by Unknown / 16h
A few weeks back, I was told something may be coming, and Terrie Brady yesterday confirmed it when she asked the district to renegotiate on behalf of veteran teachers, many of who are about to take a pay cut. To be honest, I don’t think it should have come to this. The district has money extra in reserves and is saving money from the referendum. They didn’t have to throw veteran teachers under th
Some good news from DCPS
100+by Unknown / 19h
People have accused me of writing only about bad news, and they are right. I don’t do a good news blog but, in my defense, I am a teacher in Florida, and I do work for DCPS, and they give me plenty of bad news to write about. That being said, there were a few signs of hope at yesterday’s board meeting. Last Monday’s COVID-19 shots for school board employees apparently went over well, I mean very
School Board votes to give themselves a nearly 6,291 dollars raise while giving veterans a pay cut.
by Unknown / 20h
You know I had hoped they might do the right thing, and there is a glimmer of hope as the union has requested to reopen contract negotiations for veterans, but at the end of the day, the SB voted to give themselves a 7k raise many while veterans took a pay cut. Teacher salary increases, as well as contrac
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CURMUDGUCATION: Did DeVos Get A Raw Deal

CURMUDGUCATION: Did DeVos Get A Raw Deal
Did DeVos Get A Raw Deal




In today's National Review, Rick Hess is suggesting that Betsy DeVos got a raw deal, that attacks on her "have taken a torch to the basic standards of public discourse and democratic civility." 

Hess acknowledges some of the issues surrounding her as legit ones:

During her tempestuous tenure in office, DeVos evoked strong feelings among her critics. Many disagreed vehemently with her views on school choice, religious freedom, and government regulation. They profusely criticized her talk of “factory-model government schools” and often deemed her ill-prepared for the role. Many thought she should never have agreed to serve under Trump, or else should have resigned in response to his earlier provocations. These complaints are legitimate and fair grounds for tough-minded debate.

But Hess finds attacks on DeVos go above and beyond that, and often "curiously unmoored from what she has actually done in office." Here he has a bit of a point. DeVos somehow entered popular culture pictured as a fool and a dope; I've argued before that while it may be fun to imagine DeVos as the dimmest kid in class (you may have seen the "Dere Mr. Presidne I resine" meme floating about), I don't think it's a particular fair or accurate caricature of her.

Hess also hints at another argument in DeVos's favor when he alleges that most of her critics can't actually point to awful things she's done. She messed with Title IX rules. She cut the Office of Civil Liberties off at the knees. She consistently sided with predatory for-profit colleges over defrauded students (you've probably already forgotten her plan to sic the IRS on borrowers). But many of her noteworthy actions were notable for CONTINUE READING: CURMUDGUCATION: Did DeVos Get A Raw Deal
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NYC Educator: The Post, with Little Evidence, Creates a Teacher Issue

NYC Educator: The Post, with Little Evidence, Creates a Teacher Issue
The Post, with Little Evidence, Creates a Teacher Issue




The Post has a piece suggesting teachers are at war with one another over who gets the vaccine. That's absurd, and there are several large hints in the story. The biggest hint is who they quote--one anonymous DOE employee, one anonymous administrator, and one anonymous teacher. (Let's disregard the fact that none of those quoted feel comfortable using their names.)

Everyone, perhaps excepting the person who wrote this piece knows the DOE does not represent teachers. The fact is, more often than not, they are our largest adversary. Those guys with suits who come in and try to fire us? That chancellor saying he wants 108,000 signatures before closing buildings in a pandemic, that Boy Wonder supervisor who sees fit to observe you the day before a break when only eight students are in your class? All those folks are the DOE. 

And the ones who work at Tweed? Forget about it. They haven't got a clue what goes on in buildings. They're too busy sitting in offices doing Whatever It Is that goes on there. 

Their last example is an administrator working remotely who took the vaccine but was upset his elderly mom couldn't get it. How that supported the notion that teachers are upset with one another I have no idea. They also cite emails, but they appear to be the generic emails we got from the chancellor, you know, the guy who told 108,000 signatures, who just tried to steal a billion dollars from us, who sends us CONTINUE READING: NYC Educator: The Post, with Little Evidence, Creates a Teacher Issue

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- What's New: 2021–22 FFVP Request for Applications - SSO and SFSP Integrity Plan - 2021 SFSP Reimbursement Rates - California Department of Education

California Department of Education
CA Dept of Education - What's New



2021 SFSP Reimbursement Rates
20h
On December 31, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) 2021 reimbursement rates for breakfast, lunch, supper, and snacks.
CNAC Member Recruitment 2021
20h
The State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) Child Nutrition Advisory Council (CNAC) is recruiting for positions for 2021.
2021–22 FFVP Request for Applications Announcement
20h
The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) announces a grant opportunity for elementary schools to participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP).
SSO and SFSP Integrity Plan
20h
The Nutrition Services Division (NSD) has developed a Seamless Summer Option (SSO) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Integrity Plan guide to support program operators.

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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


It Appears That Biden May Now Be Realistically Looking At A Fall Timeline To Reopen Schools
by Larry Ferlazzo / 5h
Early last month, President-Elect Biden announced a goal of reopening schools one-hundred days from his inauguration – roughly in May (see Biden Wants Most Schools To Reopen By May 1st – Here’s Why I Think That Would Be Great Timing IF It Can Be Done Safely ). Then, two weeks ago, he modified that to a goal of reopening just K-8 by that time (see This Was Interesting – Biden Says He Wants K-8 Sch
“Improving Instruction With Student Data”
by Larry Ferlazzo / 13h
Improving Instruction With Student Data is the headline of my latest Education Week column. Three educators offer ideas on how they use student data to improve their instruction. Here are some excerpts:
Depressing Statistic Of The Day: Teachers At Reopened Schools Are Getting COVID At Higher Rates Than Surrounding Community
49by Larry Ferlazzo / 13h
Well, this is depressing and unsurprising – who would have guessed that teachers would have higher rates of COIVD infection that others in their cities ( COVID cases among teachers appear to be rising. What does that mean? ) ? Just because they are surrounded each day by many young people who might not be diligent at respecting social distancing and safety precautions? Just because they are worki
Wednesday’s Must-Read Articles On School Reopenings
by Larry Ferlazzo / 13h
Here are new additions to THE BEST POSTS PREDICTING WHAT SCHOOLS WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE FALL : The quote above is from The New Yorker article, Black America Has Reason to Question Authorities , and you definitely will want to read it. Big district superintendents, Newsom advisers remain at odds on back to school plan is from EdSource.
New Resources On Race & Racism
by Larry Ferlazzo / 1d
I’m adding these new resources to various “Best” lists. You can find links to all of those many lists that relate to race and racism at “Best” Lists Of The Week: Resources For Teaching & Learning About Race & Racism: “ Mapping Marro


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