Latest News and Comment from Education

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Edreformeriffic!!!! - The Most Edreformerifficable Site In All Of Edreform

Edreformeriffic!!!! - The Most Edreformerifficable Site In All Of Edreform
Edreformeriffic!!!!
EDREFORMERIFFIC!!!!

WE WILL TAKE YOUR LUNCH MONEY AND SPEND IT ON STANDARDIZED TESTING. THE MOST EDREFORMERIFFICABLE SITE IN ALL OF EDREFORM!

SEARCH

You get a School District! And You get a School District! And You get a...

The Christie administration wants to change certification requirements for superintendents so that the job could be open to those with a bachelor’s degree and managerial experience.
via nj.com

So it turns out that all one really needs to run a school district is a bachelor's degree and few years experience managing a Burger King. We here at EDREFORMERIFFIC!!!! applaud the governor for realizing that an advanced education is important for all citizens other than educators.

Schools Matter: Media Bullpen; Gleason Family Foundation

Schools Matter: Media Bullpen; Gleason Family Foundation

Media Bullpen; Gleason Family Foundation

Head on over to MediaBullpen.com to check out the new and (likely) obnoxious voice in the education realm. The Bullpen, a joint project between the Gates Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, an Gleason Family Foundation, will evaluate media coverage of education issues. It's run by the Center for Education Reform. The Gates Foundation invested $275,000 in the project; dollar amounts for the others are unknown.

In the edu-field, Gates and Walton are hardly unknown names, even for the casual observer. The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation is well-known, too, but more for their involvement in funding conservative think tanks and other right-wing causes. The Gleason Family Foundation, the fourth funder in this attempt at "media accountability," was one I hadn't read much about before. For interested readers, here's a list of the edu-

The Frustrated Teacher: TFT And Others Will Be On Blog Talk Radio Friday Evening

The Frustrated Teacher: TFT And Others Will Be On Blog Talk Radio Friday Evening

TFT And Others Will Be On Blog Talk Radio Friday Evening

This Friday, January 7th at 9pm (EST), Bronx Teacher, The Total Tutor, Larry Sand, A Conservative Teacher and I will be on Blog Talk Radio on Neil Haley's Total Tutor Show discussing, well, education.

Neil has tried to get 2 sides--liberals and conservatives--to come together to see how close or far apart we are from each other in our perspectives on education reform.

I am pretty sure the conservative guys are union haters. Not sure if they are Rhee lovers, but it wouldn't surprise me.

Tune in! 6pm on the West Coast, 9pm on the East Coast, Friday evening. Be there. Listen and send me link references as ammo.

Democurmudgeon: The Facts on Public Workers and Private Sector Pay Explode Myth Pushed by Republican Governors.

Democurmudgeon: The Facts on Public Workers and Private Sector Pay Explode Myth Pushed by Republican Governors.

The Facts on Public Workers and Private Sector Pay Explode Myth Pushed by Republican Governors.

Chris Hayes examines the myth that state employees are our new "welfare queens." How would you explain the fact that public workers earn 4 percent less than private sector workers. Columbian University Assistant Professor Dorian Warren has a whole lot more.

Popout

#edreform The Media BullPen Sneaky Preview

The Media BullPen

BRINGING ACCOUNTABILITY TO

 EDUCATION REPORTING


SNEAKY PREVIEW


Advocates and foundations set to rate education journalism | GothamSchools

Advocates and foundations set to rate education journalism | GothamSchools

Advocates and foundations set to rate education journalism

As journalists, we try to scrutinize education advocacy funding. But soon, the foundations and advocates may be turning the microscope back on us.
The Center for Education Reform — a Washington, D.C.-based group that pushes for the expansion of charter schools — is preparing to launch a new project it’s calling “The Media Bullpen.” The site will be designed to “monitor the daily flow of education news and respond to it in real time,” according to a preview of how the site might work posted on its website.
A six-point baseball-themed ratings system will determine whether stories are accurate, with facts “portrayed in the correct light” (”Home Run”), or ”completely wrong,” drawing “invalid” conclusions (”Strikeout!”).
It’s not clear how the center’s advocacy positions and those of the funders of the project — several powerful

Update: New Posts on Parents 4 democratic Schools 1-6-11

New Posts on Parents 4 democratic Schools

Get Involved- Read Education News


Gov. Jerry Brown set to announce elimination of education office| PolitiCal | Los Angeles Times

Gov. Jerry Brown set to announce elimination of education office| PolitiCal | Los Angeles Times

Gov. Jerry Brown set to announce elimination of education office

January 6, 2011 | 10:03 am

Gov. Jerry Brown is set to announce the elimination of the office of the education secretary. The announcement could come as early as Thursday.

Brown had targeted the office during the campaign as an example of bureaucratic redundancy. Brown spokesman Evan Westrup would not confirm any planned announcement, but the 11 employees in the education secretary’s office were already packing boxes and have been notified that their office has been targeted for elimination.

The education secretary is not a Cabinet position. The secretary serves as an adviser to the governo

Scott's controversial education advisor

Scott's controversial education advisor

Scott's controversial education advisor

Updated: Thursday, 06 Jan 2011, 6:28 PM EST
Published : Thursday, 06 Jan 2011, 6:10 PM EST

TAMPA - Rick Scott's first official public event as Florida Governor took place inside a charter school near Miami.

"That's exactly what we want to do in this state," Scott said of the school's public-private partnership.

The one-time occupant of a corporate boardroom worked a classroom Thursday, chatting with students and teachers. Scott used the event to pinpoint his proposed reforms for public education, which include eliminating teacher tenure, offering vouchers, and boosting charter schools.

"Our kids are going to come first," Scott said to reporters following the photo-op. "We're going to empower. We're going to have as much choice as we can."

Scott also trumpeted Michelle Rhee, a former Washington D.C. public schools superintendent who drew criticism for firing teachers whose students were failing. Rhee will serve as an education advisor to Scott, his office said.