Monday, July 25, 2011

NYC Public School Parents: Our charter school co-location lawsuit

Our charter school co-location lawsuit

by Leonie Haimson

The press release below is pretty self-explanatory; we should have video soon. Here is the verified complaint ; here is a fact sheet showing where we got our estimates of the nearly $100 million in space and services that the co-located charter schools should be paying the NYC per year -- and would prevent most of the budget cuts to schools.

After DOE found out about our press conference at Tweed at 1 PM, they programmed their own at a KIPP co-located charter at the exact same time to draw the media away; pretty sneaky! But we hope

Last Stand for Children First: Last Stand for Children Announces Committee on Teacher Needs

Last Stand for Children Announces Committee on Teacher Needs

by Last Stand for Children

This morning, Education Week had an excellent article entitled What Do Teachers Want? The article concerned the difficulty of assessing exactly what it is that teachers want. The author goes so far as suggesting that we must be mind readers like Mel Gibson's character in "What Women Want." I don't know if I'd go that far, but finding out what teachers want can be as difficult as getting through Avon Barksdale's many layers of security in subterfuge to protect his drug empire on The Wire.

Some of the most groundbreaking work in the area of assessing what teachers want was done by Bill Gates and Scholastic who spared no expense in conducting a Harris Poll of 40,000 teachers. However, if one poll was

All Education Matters: UPDATE: Exclusive Interview - Whistleblower David Goodstein Discusses Victory over Kaplan University

UPDATE: Exclusive Interview - Whistleblower David Goodstein Discusses Victory over Kaplan University

by C. Cryn Johannsen

Last Friday, AEM broke the news that David Goodstein, a former high-ranking employee at Kaplan University, settled his suit against the school for $1.6 million. There was something remarkable about the case. In many instances, if the students even win, they never see a dime of the settlement money. That is not the case here. The NYT picked up the story hours later, and provided details on the disbursement of the money, stating, "the settlement includes nearly $500,000 to be paid on behalf of 43 students who had taken out student loans for the program, but were not able to graduate because the school, one of Kaplan’s for-profit campuses, had no placement for them."

David Goodstein agreed to answer some questions about his settlement. We spoke briefly by phone on

Jersey Jazzman: Testing Nation: Arts Edition

Testing Nation: Arts Edition

by Duke

More evidence that when it comes to education we have lost our minds:

The City Department of Education wants to judge how well students can cut a rug, paint a picture and belt out a tune.
Even as they face budget cuts, Education Department officials plan to start administering tests for dance, music, theater and the visual arts.
The program, which will start at 80 schools next October, will measure whether fifth- and eighth-graders as well as high school students receive a quality education in the arts.
The move sparked alarm from some parents who are concerned that students already take a full battery of exams in academic subjects.
"I don't think children should have to take a test on anything related to the arts that deals with how to

Democurmudgeon: The Slippery Slope to the Privatization of Public Schools.

The Slippery Slope to the Privatization of Public Schools.

by Democurmudgeon

As more and more choice, charter, and private schools take over, the Republican plan to completely defund public schools is just around the corner, starting with maintenance costs.

Traditional public schools in Florida will get no money from the state this year for additions or needed repairs to thousands of aging buildings, but charter schools will score big.

All of the state cash budgeted for school construction and maintenance is going to the independent, tax-financed charters favored by the Republican-dominated Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott.

Part I: Looming Layoffs and the #SOSMarch

Part I: Looming Layoffs and the SOS Marches

by Richard Lee Colvin

This is the first in a series of blog posts called EduFacts: The SOS March in Context.

(Education Sector Intern Mary Nguyen did much of the research for this post.)

One reason for the stubbornly high U.S. unemployment rate is a “record-breaking layoff binge” by state and local governments. IHS Global Insight, an economic forecasting firm, estimates that 110,000 non-federal public sector jobs will be eliminated this quarter and many of them this summer will be teachers. TheCenter on Education Policy reported last month that about 60 percent of school districts nationally anticipate reducing employment this school year.

It’s hard to know exactly how many jobs bill be cut because the budget picture for states and local governments can change quickly and the layoff notices sent out in the spring may be rescinded. But there’s little doubt that it will be in the tens of thousands and many teachers will not know if they have a job until just before the start of the school year. In Clark County School District in Nevada, for example, up to 1,000 pink-slipped teachers will be in limbo until August, waiting to see how many still employed teachers will

This Week In Education: Parenting: How Emanuel Outburst Differs From Cristie's

Parenting: How Emanuel Outburst Differs From Cristie's

by Alexander Russo

Folks remain deeply divided over Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel's decision to send his kids to private school and the outburst that occurred when asked about the decision. Some tidbits: Emanuel refused to apologize to the reporter afterward. Lab School is unionized, unlike most other private schools in the nation. Other local and national leaders (Daley, Cristie, et al) have gotten something of a pass for sending their kids to parochial schools. (By that token, Emanuel should have sent his kids to St. Ignatius, the top Catholic school in the city, even though he and his family are Jewish. There is no elite Jewish high school in Chicago.) A roundup below. AP photo via WBEZ

School Choice Rahm style ChicagoMag: Rahm’s outburst Wednesday at WMAQ political reporter Mary Ann

At CTA Conference, Gov. Brown Stresses CA Needs More Education and Revenues « State of Emergency

At CTA Conference, Gov. Brown Stresses CA Needs More Education and Revenues

by Leonard Feldman

(At right in photo) CTA Pres. Dean Vogel relays questions from the audience of more than 600 teachers to Gov. Jerry Brown during his presentation at the CTA President’s Conference at the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove.

The governor was greeted by a standing ovation and received thunderous applause for his declaration that California needs more, not less education and the funding to support it.

During his July 22 remarks, the governor also chided the GOP members of the legislature for becoming the party

Where private foundations award education cash - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Where private foundations award education cash

by Valerie Strauss

Public school systems around the country may have spent the past several years starving for cash in this financially troubled era, but a new report shows that philanthropists doled out $684 million in private grants from 2000-08 to organizations involved in reforming the teaching profession.

The analysis, the first comprehensive examination of philanthropy activity in this area, showed that the biggest chunk of the money — 38 percent — went to teacher recruitment, while 22 percent was spent on professional development, 14 percent on teacher preparation and less than 10 percent for everything else.

Read full article >>

Enemies Of The State: The Kochs | Fighting Democrats!

Enemies Of The State: The Kochs

Never before in American history have we seen a pair of people more determined to take America backwards. Never before have we seen two people more determined to buy elections and seize control of government in an effort to control United States policy and turn the country into a corporate state. The Koch family has been trying to do this since the 1950′s and their secret plans are on the verge of being realized.

The year was 1958. America was in the middle of the Red Scare and the Cold War was in full swing. A man named Robert Welch, Jr. founded a new conservative group dedicated to accusing liberals of communism in an effort to use fear to convert people to conservatism, and seize control of the United States government. The John Birch Society began with 12 founding members. One of

(AUDIO) K12NN Talks to Sabrina Stevens-Shupe About the Save Our Schools March & Conference

by cynthia

Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action organizers are a dedicated, passionate bunch. What else would compel thousands of parents, teachers, students, administrators, and plain old members of communities across America who care about public schools to converge on Washington, DC in late July?

Some of the confirmed speakers are noted education activists who’ve cared deeply and devoted their lives to the betterment of public education in America. Others are new teachers or parents of kids who are just entering the system, or who have yet to send a child to school. And still others. celebrities like Jon Stewart or Matt Damon or Richard Dreyfuss, had parents who were teachers and understand it’s more art than science and just how powerful that art can be in shaping a child’s life.

Listen here as a former Colorado teacher, Sabrina Stevens-Shupe, talks about the need to support public education and why the march and conference were organized:

My Issue With Rewards | Connected Principals

My Issue With Rewards

by Chris Wejr

A ticket to success???

Student behaviour and discipline are well-discussed topics at schools and many schools have opted to use school-wide behaviour programs to help “solve” issues with student misbehaviour.

A few years ago, as a new principal, I made a decision to recognize the children for “making a difference” at our school. The idea was that at our monthly assembly, all staff members would have an opportunity to publicly thank and recognize any student that he/she felt had a made a difference. Things started out well. Kids were excited to be recognized. Students seemed to be doing more around the school and letting us know about it…

4LAKids - HIGH TURNOVER REPORTED AMONG CHARTER SCHOOL TEACHERS: "…what kind of job has a 50% annual turnover?" Answer: McDonald's

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: HIGH TURNOVER REPORTED AMONG CHARTER SCHOOL TEACHERS: "…what kind of job has a 50% annual turnover?"

HIGH TURNOVER REPORTED AMONG CHARTER SCHOOL TEACHERS: "…what kind of job has a 50% annual turnover?"

by smf

NOTE: The LATimes first reported this story online on July 19: LOS ANGELES CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE HIGH TEACHER TURNOVER Howard Blume - LA Times/LA Now | http://lat.ms/qkf8Ij. 4LAKids reblogged the story here and in the Sunday edition. This expanded version is apparently the first time the LAT has put the story in print. High turnover reported among charter school teachers With so

ENCOURAGED IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY: Teen moms, gang members and dropouts trade bleak futures for the hope of a better life at Ramona High.

by smf

For Genesis Diaz, a struggling young mother, graduating at the top of her class is only the beginning. By Kurt Streeter | LA Times | http://lat.ms/nQN9QB Genesis Diaz, 17, and her daughter Amanda, 18 months, took three bus trips every morning to Ramona High. (Mariah Tauger, Los Angeles Times / July 20, 2011) July 20, 2011 - What will become of Genesis? There she is, at her school

Save Our Schools Torchlight Trilogy in Seattle | Seattle Education #SOSMarch

Save Our Schools Torchlight Trilogy in Seattle | Seattle Education

Save Our Schools Torchlight Trilogy in Seattle

by seattleducation2011

Three events this week will coincide with Seafair’s Torchlight Parade and Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action in Washington D.C.

The Western Washington Chapter of Save Our Schools March and Parents Across America, Seattle Chapter, are rallying in Seattle, Washington, in support of the national march to Washington, D.C. Regional supporters
unable to make the trek to the nation’s capital will congregate on the south side of the International Fountain at Seattle Center on July 30 at 6:00 pm, and at 6:30 pm will begin walking to meet the Seafair Torchlight parade at Fourth Avenue and Denny Street.

Seafair is a Seattle tradition over half a century strong, popular with local families, teachers, parents, and children. We encourage civic participation to “Wear Red for Public Ed.”

A second event in the Pacific Northwest coincides with the Whaling Days Parade, also on July 30, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm in Silverdale, Washington, beginning at Ridgetop/Silverdale Way, and ending at Anderson Hill Road. Show your support for Save Our Schools March and “Wear Red for Public Ed.”

For those unable to attend the regional parades or national march, participate in a third event: create your own Flash Mob peaceful demonstration appropriate to your school or community. Washington ranks 49th in the nation in school funding and 48th in the nation in student-to-teacher ratio.

Save Our Schools March is an authentically grassroots effort that has blossomed into a national movement of concerned teachers, parents, and community members who are working to create a stronger school system for all of America’s children. We believe public schools are essential to a healthy democracy. We have witnessed the devastating effects of bipartisan legislation, No Child Left Behind, and its companion, Race to the Top. We receive no funds from wealthy individuals, private corporations, or
their tax-shelter foundations.

Our goals are:
• equitable funding for all public school communities
• an end to high stakes testing used for the purpose of student, teacher, and
school evaluation
• teacher, family, and community leadership in forming public education policies
• curriculum developed for and by local school communities
Endorsements have been received from:

AFSCME Retired Public Employees Council, Chapter 23

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587

Forest Grove Education Association

Marko Liias, Washington State House of Representatives

Martin Luther King County Labor Council

Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 8

Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity

Professional and Technical Employees Local 17

Radical Women

Renton Education Association

Retired Public Employees Councils 3 and 23

Seattle Education Association

Social Equity Educators

United Steelworkers Local 12-591

Washington Education Association

Washington Federation of State Employees Local 304

For additional information on this event, you can contact:

Becca Ritchie, Washington State Information Coordinator, SOS March and National Call to Action, telephone: 206.715.6634, email: westernwasos@comcast.net

Susan DuFresne, Washington State and National Social Media Team,
telephone: 206.491.0020, email: lifesabeach48@msn.com, Twitter: @SOSFlashMob

Questions about cheating could hinder efforts to improve schools - The Washington Post

Questions about cheating could hinder efforts to improve schools

By Bill Turque, Updated: Monday, July 25, 7:36 AM

By the numbers, it’s a paltry handful. Of more than 100,000 public schools in the United States, about 300 recently have faced suspicions, allegations and, in some cases hard proof, that teachers and administrators cheated to inflate standardized test scores.

But the impact of revelations in Atlanta, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington and other cities extends beyond those modest numbers. Questions raised in these incidents have sent tremors through the movement to hold schools and teachers accountable for student

Shanker Blog » First, Know-What; Then, Know-How

First, Know-What; Then, Know-How

by Esther Quintero

It is satisfying to read a book that examines education without claiming to be an education book. Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered feels fresh and inspiring, despite having been around since the early 1970s. In it, British economist E.F. Schumacher attempts to address fundamental questions, as opposed to dwelling on the politics around nonessential issues, even the politics around the politics.

Schumacher argues that education will only help society if it helps that society become wiser. And we get wiser by thinking first about where we want to go (i.e., know-what), not how to get there. Today, the education world seems focused on the latter. Science, technology, engineering, all teach know-how. But who is concerned with the know-what? In my view, efforts like the Albert Shanker Institute’s “Call for Common Content” are a step in this direction.

Schumacher points out that we often look at education as the answer to all kinds of problems. “[A]ll history – as

The State of Kindergarten Assessments in the States «

The State of Kindergarten Assessments in the States

July 25, 2011 by Irene Sege

Photo: Kate Samp for Strategies for Children

States applying for funds from the $500 million federal Race to the Top –Early Learning Challengemust address how they assess – or plan to assess – children at entry to kindergarten, according to draft criteria released earlier this month.

For a look at how states conduct kindergarten assessments, check out the August 2010 survey from National Conference of State Legislatures, “State Approaches to School Readiness Assessment,” complete with maps and charts. Although it is now a

Supporting our prodigal youth | Being Latino Online Magazine

Supporting our prodigal youth

by Maitri Pamo

by Maitri Pamo

Humans, for the most part, are social creatures. We seek connections with others in order to function happily and productively in society. Disconnection from others in our community and from the larger society can cause a variety of obstacles not only for the individual, but also for the community itself. As our numbers continue to grow within the U.S. population, it is important for every Latino individual to engage and interact in order to help our people prosper within our country.

Photo: jscreationzs freedigitalphotos.net

Several articles have been written concerning the pivotal role that education plays in advancing our Latino

Has the reform cart outpaced the data horse? | EdNewsColorado

Has the reform cart outpaced the data horse?

by Kristin Klopfenstein

Editor’s note: Kristin Klopfenstein is the executive director of the Education Innovation Institute at the University of Northern Colorado.

Several high-profile education reforms passed by the Colorado legislature in the last few years rely on massive collections of data to work as planned. For example, the 2009 accountability bill requires administrators at struggling schools to use school-level data to drive the improvement planning process.

Senate Bill 191’s teacher evaluation provisions require more, however. Administrators must be able to drill down to the individual level, accurately linking teachers with students to evaluate teachers based on how well their students progress over the year. And Senate Bill 10-036 tills the soil for teacher prep programs to monitor the achievement of their graduates’ students in order to improve teacher prep programs.

All are ambitious laws — and I sometimes fear that Colorado’s reform cart has raced ahead of the data horse.

This Week In Education: Media: The Cheating "Crisis" & Teacher Culpability

Media: The Cheating "Crisis" & Teacher Culpability

by Alexander Russo

Like others I'm a big fan of education writer Dana Goldstein (and love the line in her latest piece about the current mood of "brutal optimism" about testing). But the piece in Slate - about how "a growing spate of evidence from around the country suggests that the most egregious practices in Atlanta... are part of a national, and indeed a historic trend... bolstered by No Child Left Behind's emphasis on pressuring educators to produce spectacular test results" -- seems overheated in its claims and makes several questionable connections. Goldstein presents no real evidence that there is a cheating crisis going on in America, greatly overstates NCLB's real-world threat to educators, and seems to presume that educators are both unable to resist everyday temptations and shouldn't be included among those who should be held accountable for their actions. To all of this and more, I protest.

No doubt, we've seen a slew of cheating scandals lately, the details of which -- test-fixing parties and high-level coverups in Atlanta, for example -- are infuriating. We should all be concerned about the integrity of the system and the ways in which we try and make schools and teachers more accountable for their results. I share her

Latest News and Comment from Education

Monday, July 25, 2011

Enemies Of The State: The Kochs

Questions about cheating could hinder efforts to improve schools

By Bill Turque, Updated: Monday, July 25, 7:36 AM

The State of Kindergarten Assessments in the States