Mayor Bloomberg must get Cathie Black as schools chancellor if mayoral control means anything

Mayor Bloomberg must get Cathie Black as schools chancellor if mayoral control means anything

EDITORIALS

Sunday, November 21st 2010, 4:00 AM

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Mayor Bloomberg has determined to place the futures of the city's 1.1 million public school kids in the hands of publishing executive Cathie Black. He made the call. Let's go with it.

Barring the unlikely emergence of a disqualifying disclosure, state Education Commissioner David Steiner should sanction Black's appointment as schools chancellor, and do so as quickly as possible.

While Black is highly accomplished, her selection by Bloomberg has generated predictable opposition from those who disagree with his school policies and, more widely, a sense of puzzlement.

The Daily News front page that reported the Black pick summed up the response with the word, "HUH?" over the question, "No education experience, kids went to private school - she's perfect to run our struggling schools! Right?"

Bloomberg is convinced she is. His opinion demands respect, given his track record in

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/11/21/2010-11-21_mayor_bloomberg_must_get_cathie_black_as_schools_chancellor_if_mayoral_control_m.html#ixzz15vm8d4N7

Threats of student walkout, recall follow DPS approval of Montbello High turnaround - The Denver Post

Threats of student walkout, recall follow DPS approval of Montbello High turnaround - The Denver Post

Threats of student walkout, recall follow DPS approval of Montbello High turnaround 3011/19/2010Tears fell down the faces of Montbello High students in the early morning hours Friday after the Denver school board voted 4-3 to approve a plan to reconfigure their school and its feeder schools.

Denver school board OKs Montbello restructuring plan11/19/2010 - Fiery speeches, impassioned pleas and heartfelt statements were aired for hours Thursday night before the Denver school board approved the largest school turnaround plan in district history.

Montbello school-reform plan expected to be approved Thursday11/18/2010 - The largest school reform plan in Denver's history will come down to a contentious vote tonight at a school board meeting that is expected to be preceded by emotional pleas from supporters and foes.

DPS board gives superintendent positive review despite standing criticisms11/17/2010 - A majority on Denver's seven-member school board penned a mostly positive evaluation for embattled Superintendent Tom Boasberg, who is likely one vote away from losing his job.

Douglas County school board hears from public on vouchers11/17/2010 - An overflow crowd Tuesday filled hallways, sat against the walls and occupied every seat in the Douglas County School District's boardroom to voice opinions about a possible school voucher plan.

Tensions with Mayor Bloomberg caused schools Chancellor Joel Klein's surprise exit, sources say

Tensions with Mayor Bloomberg caused schools Chancellor Joel Klein's surprise exit, sources say

BY RACHEL MONAHAN AND MEREDITH KOLODNER
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

Sunday, November 21st 2010, 4:00 AM

Harbus for News

Mayor Bloomberg has publicly stood behind schools boss Joel Klein (r.) but unhappiness in private pushed Klein out, sources say.

Schools Chancellor Joel Klein's exit may have been unexpected - but insiders say he was ready to go, partly because of escalating tension between him and Mayor Bloomberg.

The mayor, an unwavering public supporter of Klein through eight bruising years, had begun to grow disenchanted with his education chief, six sources with knowledge of the relationship told the Daily News.

"It wasn't as simple as him being pushed. Joel is very astute when it comes to relationships. He saw what was happening," said one source familiar with the inner workings of the Department of Education. "He wants to make some money and take on a new challenge. It made sense for him to go when he did."

Since Klein's announcement, Bloomberg has said unequivocally he wanted Klein to stay.

Still, the results-oriented mayor always made education his signature issue. In what is presumably his last term, he's mindful of his legacy, sources said.

Klein has long been a polarizing figure - accused of being a tone-deaf autocrat who

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/education/2010/11/21/2010-11-21_joel_on_the_deklein_tensions_with_mayor_caused_surprise_exit_sources_say.html#ixzz15vhVpXbx

Can differentiation work? — Joanne Jacobs

Can differentiation work? — Joanne Jacobs

Can differentiation work?

by Joanne

With the demise of tracking, teachers are supposed to “differentiate instruction,” tailoring instruction to advanced, average and struggling students in the same class. It’s not easy, writes Mike Petrilli in Ed Next.

The idea, according to Carol Tomlinson of the University of Virginia (UVA), is to “shake up what goes on in the classroom so that students have multiple options for taking in information, making sense of ideas, and expressing what they learn.” Ideally, instruction is customized at the individual student level.

Holly Hertberg-Davis, also at UVA worked with Tomlinson on a large study of differentiated instruction which included teacher training and ongoing coaching.

Three years later the researchers wanted to know if the program had an impact on student

Queens Teacher: DOE Continues Neglect of Northeast Queens

Queens Teacher: DOE Continues Neglect of Northeast Queens

DOE Continues Neglect of Northeast Queens

by Queens Teacher

District 26 Schools Not Tapped to Get New Seats Community Leaders Say Classrooms Overcrowded in Northeast Queens

By Nathan Duke and Paul Leonard |

Northeast Queens leaders said they were frustrated to read in a recently-released amendment to the city's five-year capital plan that there will are no new classrooms in the works for District 26 schools.

In a Nov. 12 letter, Deputy Schools Chancellor Kathleen Grimm recommended a 50,000-seat increase for city schools. To pay for it, she wants an increase in the $11. 7 billion funding level agreed to in February by $4.4

Blogging Makes Better Teachers

Blogging Makes Better Teachers

Writing your own blog, as well as reading the blogs of others will make you a better teacher. To an experienced teacher/blogger this is self-evident. However, to so many others, this is a call to take ownership of your professional development and growth as an educator.

New Orleans Marks 50th Anniversary of Public Schools’ Desegregation | The Defenders Online | A Civil Rights Blog

New Orleans Marks 50th Anniversary of Public Schools’ Desegregation | The Defenders Online | A Civil Rights Blog

New Orleans Marks 50th Anniversary of Public Schools’ Desegregation

by The Editors

By The Editors
With exhibits, panel discussions and other commemorative gatherings, New Orleans this weekend marked the 50^th anniversary of one of the landmark events of American history: the desegregation of the New Orleans public schools.

The Answer Sheet - Testing scandal claims Atlanta schools superintendent

The Answer Sheet - Testing scandal claims Atlanta schools superintendent

Testing scandal claims Atlanta schools superintendent

Atlanta Schools Supt. Beverly Hall today bowed to calls for her to step down following a standardized-testing scandal, saying she would not return next school year. A statement from her office said that Hall, who has been superintendent for 11 years, had notified school board members that she won't seek another contract when her current contract expires June 30. Calls for her resignation had been growing louder because of a scandal reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the latest scores on the state's Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests. The newspaper reported that many increases in state scores reported in districts across the state seemed “statistically improbable.” According to the newspaper, 33 of 35 local school systems resolved questions regarding alleged 2009 CRCT test tampering, and they referred 72 employees to the state for possible disciplinary action.

Schools Matter: Bloomberg Is Not Tone Deaf: He Simply Doesn't Give a Rat's Ass About What the Public Thinks

Schools Matter: Bloomberg Is Not Tone Deaf: He Simply Doesn't Give a Rat's Ass About What the Public Thinks

Bloomberg Is Not Tone Deaf: He Simply Doesn't Give a Rat's Ass About What the Public Thinks

by Jim Horn

With the appointment in jeopardy for the Prince's personnel-slashing expert, the only plutocratic thing to do: stack the State panel to make sure there is no wavering on the dreaded waiver vote for Cathy Black. From the NYTimes:

New York State’s top education official on Friday named an advisory panel of eight experts, at least half of them with strong connections to the Bloomberg administration, to help him decide whether to approve Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s controversial choice to run the city’s school system.

Three panelists selected by David M. Steiner, the state education commissioner, worked as senior

Economists want to stop teachers' degree bonuses - Boston.com

Economists want to stop teachers' degree bonuses - Boston.com

Economists want to stop teachers' degree bonuses

By Donna Gordon Blankinship

Associated Press / November 20, 2010

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SEATTLE—Every year, American schools pay more than $8.6 billion in bonuses to teachers with master's degrees, even though the idea that a higher degree makes a teacher more effective has been mostly debunked.

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Despite more than a decade of research showing the money has little impact on student achievement, state lawmakers and other officials have been reluctant to tackle this popular way for teachers to earn more money.

That could soon change, as local school districts around the country grapple with shrinking budgets.

Just this week, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said the economy has given the nation an opportunity to make dramatic improvements in the

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Saturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky's blog

Saturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky's blog

Saturday coffee.

by Fred Klonsky

At 3:30 yesterday afternoon I drove home after a long two weeks of three twelve-hour days because of parent conferences, battles with administration as well as with my state union leadership.

The Friday afternoon commute on the weekend before Thanksgiving week is brutal. Walking in the front door at 4:30, I let Ulysses out, poured myself a glass of Lillet on the rocks with a twist of lemon (the first of several), put Silvio Rodriquez and Santana on the CD player, lit the fireplace, put my feet up and sat there fairly comatose for

Old School.

by Fred Klonsky

Ben E. King.

NYC Public School Parents: Does the secret meeting of Steiner's waiver committee violate the state Open Meetings law?

NYC Public School Parents: Does the secret meeting of Steiner's waiver committee violate the state Open Meetings law?

Does the secret meeting of Steiner's waiver committee violate the state Open Meetings law?

by Leonie Haimson

The Times points out today that three members out of the eight appointed to a panel to advise Commissioner Steiner on whether to grant a waiver to Cathie Black to become NYC Schools Chancellor used to work for the DOE under Klein; several more are at institutions that receive city funds and/or have benefited from Bloomberg's personal largesse.

Even more troubling, the panel will meet in secret on Tuesday, showing that the rushed and closed process that has marred Black's selection from the beginning continues unabated.

Yet it seems apparent that the meeting of this committee should be subject to the NY State Open Meetings law. See here, from the NY Dept. of State FAQ on the law:

Who is covered by the Law?
The Open Meetings Law applies to "public bodies." That term is defined to include entities consisting of two or more people that conduct public business and perform a governmental