Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Editorial: Outrage directed at Regents better spent against Sacramento - The Highlander - Opinions

Editorial: Outrage directed at Regents better spent against Sacramento

Published: Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Updated: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 14:11

Irin Son / Highlander

Last Thursday, the Regents voted 15-5 to increase student fees and tuition by eight percent to take effect next fall quarter. As with last year's approval of a 32 percent fee hike, students voiced their protest during the hours leading up to and following the decision to increase student fees yet again.

By this point, however, it should be clear that the Regents must have at least some inkling as to why so many would protest any attempt to raise student fees. While it remains important to continually pressure the Regents to act with the best interests of Californians and students in mind, there are other avenues of approach that students and activists should consider with regards to preserving an accessible, affordable higher education.

In other words, the fight to preserve higher education must evolve past simplistic Regent-bashing and bludgeoning.

Granted, it is deservedly easy to demonize those who directly control the University of California and its affairs for everything they have done and failed to do. On more than one occasion, students have pointed out a myriad of ways

School Clips » Blog Archive » Malloy talks ed reform with Sec. Arne Duncan

Malloy talks ed reform with Sec. Arne Duncan

DANIELLE

23 NOVEMBER 2010

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Governor-Elect Dan Malloy touched base today with Arne Duncan, the nation’s secretary of education, to chat about school reform, according to a release from Malloy’s office.

With grim talk swirling about the state’s projected $3.4 billion deficit, Malloy also raised the need for federal funds that would keep Connecticut’s schools — and students — competitive. In the past year, Connecticut has failed twice to secure millions of dollars in stimulus money earmarked for education reform.

“In this economy, every dollar counts,” Malloy said. “We cannot allow other states to receive the money that we so desperately need to help prepare our children for the rigors of higher education and the workforce.”

More after the jump.

According to the release, Malloy “reiterated (his) commitment” to education while talking to Duncan, and noted that, during his tenure as mayor, Stamford created the first universal pre-school program in the state.

It’s interesting that Malloy should mention universal pre-school. From what I understand, a coalition of urban

Dems, GOP Likely to Find Common Ground on Education Reform - Newsweek

Collaborative Learning

Amid predictions of partisan gridlock in Washington, education reform just might happen.

Illustration by Nicole Barth

Washington can seem like a Venn diagram where the two circles—Republicans and Democrats—will never touch. But on the issue of education reform, the two parties may be able to come together. The Republican agenda of reform—imposing standardized test-based accountability for schools and teachers and fostering competition among schools—has been embraced and aggressively promoted by the Obama administration. President George W. Bush’s signature achievement on this front, No Child Left Behind, has been due for renewal since 2007. Democrats are gearing up to pass a revised version of the law, possibly as soon as next year,

Poll Finds NYC Voters Disapprove of Black for Chancellor - WNYC

Poll Finds NYC Voters Disapprove of Black for Chancellor

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

By Beth Fertig

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Mayor Bloomberg apoints Cathie Black, as Joel Klein steps down (Edward Reed/WNYC)
It's A Free Country
Read. Argue. Listen. Act.
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New York City voters overwhelmingly say the next schools chancellor needs education experience more than management experience, by a margin of 64 to 26 percent according to a new poll by Quinnipiac University.

"Do New Yorkers approve of the Black appointment? Does she have the right experience? No and no," says Maurice Carroll, director of the Connecticut-based Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

When asked specifically about Mayor Bloomberg's pick of publishing executive Cathie Black, 47 percent disapprove of the mayor's choice, while the rest are split between approving (29 percent) and undecided (25 percent). Voters with children in public schools disapprove of Black's appointment by a higher margin of 62 to 25 percent.

Bloomberg's approval rating has also fallen to 55 percent, the lowest Quinnipiac has tracked since 2005.

"The City Hall spin machine better shift into high gear," adds Carroll. "So far, all the negative news stories

Schools Matter: Please Buy Me a Ticket to Sun Valley and a Subscription to "Education Insider" for Just $4,900 per Year

Please Buy Me a Ticket to Sun Valley and a Subscription to "Education Insider" for Just $4,900 per Year

by Jim Horn

I was having a hotdog and wowing at the White Board Advisors website below, which had been linked by a reader at the Seattle Public Schools Community Blog. At the bottom of the White Board page, I saw Dutko Worldwide, and it brought me back to good ole days before Gene Hickok found a new home at Dutko, right after he stopped being in charge of handing out ED federal grants to seed the corporate education industry under Rod Paige. Yep, that was before Hickok decided to spend more time with his family, while avoiding criminal charges by paying $50,000 in a federal investigation of conflict of interest charges involving Bank of America stock and federal grants. It gets complicated.

Well, I can see Gene has done good for Dutko and helped position them up front among today's edu-"thought-

Look, but don’t speak, State Ed tells reporters about Black panel | GothamSchools

Look, but don’t speak, State Ed tells reporters about Black panel

by Philissa Cramer

In just a few minutes, the panel selected to advise Education Commissioner David Steiner on Cathie Black’s suitability as chancellor will convene for the first time.

But its eight members won’t be pausing to field questions about their stances on Black’s appointment or on their possible conflicts of interest.

The State Education Department made that much clear in an email it just sent to reporters. Reporters are invited to an “opportunity to photograph” the panel before the meeting, which is taking place at the department’s New York City office at 475 Park Avenue South. But “neither the Panelists nor the Commissioner will be available to answer questions,” the press advisory reads.

Schools Matter: Broad Alum Busted in Seattle Public School Scandal for Lying to Advance Corporate Ed Reform

Broad Alum Busted in Seattle Public School Scandal for Lying to Advance Corporate Ed Reform

Brad Bernatek began his Broad Residency in Urban Education Cohort 2006 with Seattle Public Schools and became the chief honcho for accountability in 2008. From the Broad website:

Brad Bernatek serves [for now] as Director of Research, Evaluation and Assessment for Seattle Public Schools. In this role, Bernatek runs the department responsible for student statistics including enrollment, demographics, evaluation and standardized testing. During his Residency, Bernatek served the district as interim manager for research, evaluation and assessment and as special assistant to the chief operations officer.

When a new strategic plan was being put together in 2008 with the new superintendent, Maria Goodloe-Johnson (Broad Supt. Academy, Class of '03), the Broadies needed some really

Thanksgiving Tricks & Treats: Klein, Tenure, NAEP and more | Taking Note

Thanksgiving Tricks & Treats: Klein, Tenure, NAEP and more

by JOHN MERROW on 23. NOV, 2010 in MICHELLE RHEE, JOEL KLEIN, NEW YORK CITY, SCHOOL REFORM, TEACHERS UNIONS,TEACHING

Somehow this Thanksgiving seems more like Halloween, full of tricks and treats.

#1. The big treat was, of course, Tom Friedman’s column in the New York Times, telling the world that, if he were starting out in journalism today, he would be an education reporter. He’s right. It’s a happening beat.

Joel Klein, Bill Gates, Randi Weingarten, Cathie Black #2. This next one is either a trick or a treat, depending on where you are sitting: Bill Gates continues to speak out, leading some to label him ‘the shadow Secretary of Education. This time he chose the annual meeting of the Council of Chief State School Officers in Louisville to call for huge changes in how teachers are paid. He said that the ‘bonus’ for having a Master’s degree was a waste of money (lots of money too, an estimated $8.6 billion in extra pay), because there’s little evidence that extra degrees add to positive student outcomes. There’s a mighty wind blowing on the issue of teacher pay.

Michelle Rhee opened the door with her ‘red and green’ pathway contract proposal over a year ago, offering to pay successful teachers roughly double their salary if they would give up tenure. That never made it into the contract, but her high profile made it very difficult for anyone to argue that teacher pay should be based solely on years of service and graduate credits. (Nonetheless, the National Education Association’s President, Dennis Von Roekel,

Seattle Education 2010 | Education News and Commentary

Oops, I Did It Again!

from Seattle Education 2010 by seattleducation2010

What happens when you have a Broad resident doing the numbers for a Broad trained superintendent?

You get whatever Eli Broad wants!

Sounds pretty simple and basic doesn’t it? We had our naysayers but not anymore.

It’s kind of a long story with an interesting history that I am tackling now for an article but let’s just start with Brad Bernatek, a Broad resident, who was hired by Raj Manhaus in 2006. Raj, as he is referred to, was superintendent of the Seattle Public School system at that time and had received “corporate training” at the Broad Foundation shortly after his appointment as superintendent . The person responsible for him being sent to the Broad borg will be revealed in an article that I am working on so stay tuned for that interesting tidbit.

Brad was brought on board to handle “student assessments” and was paid by the Broad Foundation. He was a business major in college with no experience in education. But education, schmeducation as far as Eli Broad, Bill Gates or Wendy Kopp with Teach for America, Inc. are concerned.

Are you seeing a few patterns begin to emerge? Whatever Bill or Eli want, they pay for. Right now, one or both of them will be paying for the next three years of TFA, Inc. recruits that will be marching into our school system in

National Title I Distinguished Schools - Year 2010 (CA Dept of Education)

State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Announces Selection
of Two California Title I Schools for National Honor

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced that two California public schools have been named 2010 National Title I Distinguished Schools by the National Title I Association.

The California schools are Manzanita School of Expeditionary learning, Equity, and Diversity (SEED) in the Oakland Unified School District, Alameda County; and Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy in the Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles County.

"These schools have inspired student success with effective leadership and innovative teaching and learning strategies," O’Connell said. "Manzanita SEED is a remarkable place that focuses on language, culture, and family-school integration. Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy maintains a tradition of rigorous instruction and high achievement, producing students who are socially well-prepared and college bound."

Since 1996, the National Title I Distinguished School Program has honored schools across the country for their innovation in helping Title I populations achieve high-educational standards. Selected from each state, these schools represent examples of superior Title I programs in one of two categories: (1) for having the greatest percentage of students at or above the proficient level for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in English-language arts and mathematics, and, (2) for making the most progress in closing the achievement gap among numerically significant subgroups. These subgroups consist of students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, minorities, disabled, or have limited-English proficiency.

Manzanita SEED was nominated as the California Title I Distinguished School with the most success in closing the achievement gap between its student groups. Manzanita SEED provides a healthy, nourishing environment for every child to grow and develop strong roots in the major languages and cultures of their community. SEED prepares students to branch out into the world as bilingual and biliterate leaders and life-long learners. At SEED, children gain an understanding and respect of themselves, their community, and the world.

The Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy was nominated as the California

Title I Distinguished School with the greatest percentage of students at or above the proficient level. Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy is located in Wilmington on the Harbor College Campus. Education at this school is based around the idea that students take college level classes while still attending high school. They also take Advanced Placement classes which are recognized by all Universities. The premier goal of Harbor Prep is that students graduate with an Associate in Arts degree.

Both schools were identified based on their 2008-09 and 2009-10 academic achievement data. California has about 6,000 Title I schools. The two schools will be recognized January 21–24, 2010, in Tampa, Florida, at the National Association of State Title I Directors annual conference.

Title I is the largest federal-aid program in K-12 education with more than $14 billion awarded annually through formula and discretionary grants. Title I funds are used to improve the education of all students in high-poverty Title I schools. Since 1965, the Title I program has served more than 150 million children in need of extra academic support in reading, writing, and math.

The Title I program, a part of the federal NCLB law, is designed to give academically at-risk children equity and access to a high-quality education in order to reach proficiency on state content standards as measured by state academic assessments.

The Title I Distinguished School Program is sponsored by the National Association of State Title I Directors, and is designed to recognize outstanding Title I schools that are considered to be national models of excellence.

For more information on the 2011 Academic Achievement Award Program, please visit: Academic Achievement Awards - School/Teacher Recognition.

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School Tech Connect: For Whom The Stakes Toll

For Whom The Stakes Toll

by effacethefacade@yahoo.com (Tim)

Motivated by Anthony's fine piece here, I also said a few things to the Secretary.

To follow up on Nancy's comment above about high-stakes.

I believe the Secretary has silently endorsed the idea that high-stakes now apply to parents. Charter schools, after all, have found that "counseling-out" difficult-to-teach students is a highly effective method to prop-up their data. The counseled-out students return to the traditional public schools.

For example, Chicago's celebrated Urban Prep has managed to find college placements for its entire 2010 graduating class; however, its graduation rate is far lower than the Chicago Public Schools in general. Those are high stakes, for everyone except the charter school and its

IEA delegates. Take the pledege to defend retiree pensions, tenure and pensions. « Fred Klonsky's blog

IEA delegates. Take the pledege to defend retiree pensions, tenure and pensions.

NOVEMBER 23, 2010

tags: Hyatt, IEA elections, IEA RA, IEA retired, seniority, tenure,Unite Here

by Fred Klonsky

Ken Swanson

Cinca Klickna

Bob Blade

We don’t know yet where the IEA RA, the state convention, will be held come March. The state leadership finally did the right thing in supporting Unite Here’s hotel union members in their long dispute with the major Chicago hotels. We pulled our convention from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare.

As as aside, the NEA is facing a similar challenge. It has scheduled their national meeting for Chicago in July. Finding hotel space for 10,000 delegates and 5,000 more people working the convention while supporting the hotel boycott will be tough. It will also be a major financial hit

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Tuesday, November 23, 2010