Friday, October 21, 2011

Where is all this heading? | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:Where is all this heading?Activists, educators, and officials weigh in on how turnarounds will reshape the system in the coming years.by Dale MezzacappaPhoto: Benjamin HeroldGratz High School is one of the latest crop of school turnarounds in Philadelphia. Gary Ray (center), a 10th grader, waits outside the school, now known as Mastery-Gratz, on the first day.COMMENTS (0)PRINTEMAILTags:career/tech ed. data Mastery Charter Schools charter schools school improvementstandardized testing Leroy Nunery low-performing schools... more »

Shanker Blog » The Teachers' Union Hypothesis

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 2 minutes ago

Shanker Blog » The Teachers' Union Hypothesis:The Teachers’ Union Hypothesisby Matthew Di CarloFor the past couple of months, Steve Brill’s new book has served to step up the eternally-beneath-the-surface hypothesis that teachers’ unions are the primary obstacle to improving educational outcomes in the U.S. The general idea is that unions block “needed reforms,” such as merit pay and other forms of test-based accountability for teachers, and that they “protect bad teachers” from being fired.Teachers’ unions are a convenient target. For ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top AM Posts

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 2 minutes ago

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top AM Posts“Don’t mess with my TRS!” Call now. 888-412-6570. « Fred Klonsky's blogBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-3 hours ago“Don’t mess with my TRS!” Call now. 888-412-6570. « Fred Klonsky's blog:“Don’t mess with my TRS!” Call now. 888-412-6570.by Fred KlonskyThe lines are now open. Dial 888-412-6570 and follow the prompts. You will be connected with your state senator or representative. Tell them to do the right thing, say NO cutting the modest ... more »

Teachers As Advocates | Connected Principals

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Teachers As Advocates | Connected Principals:Teachers As AdvocatesPosted by George Couros on 10/21/11 • Categorized as Best Educational Practices,Leadership EssentialsFrom: http://www.flickr.com/photos/garryknight/5542172347/When talking with a group of teachers last week about the frustration that sometimes comes with not feeling they are respected as professionals in the field of education, I had to sit back and think about this question. We often hear conversations from many that say, “Well when I was in school…”, and we often feel frustrated that many do ... more »

This Week In Education: #ESEA Update: Harkin-Enzi Makes It Out Of Committee

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This Week In Education: #ESEA Update: Harkin-Enzi Makes It Out Of Committee:#ESEA Update: Harkin-Enzi Makes It Out Of Committeeby Alexander RussoWow. Late on Thursday Senator Harkin sent out a press release touting the passage of the #ESEA rewrite by the Senate education committee stating that "Tonight is a victory – both for our nation’s children and for bipartisanship." We'll see about that. Meantime, here are some of the early writeups: Senate Panel Approves ESEA Overhaul EdWeek: Harkin hopes to move ... more »

Education | PTA wants state to reconsider charter schools | Seattle Times Newspaper

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Education | PTA wants state to reconsider charter schools | Seattle Times Newspaper:PTA wants state to reconsider charter schoolsThe Washington PTA wants charter schools to be a part of the state's education reform agenda, even though the idea has twice been rejected by voters and repeatedly shot down by lawmakers.By Donna Gordon BlankinshipThe Associated PressTop comments Hide / Show commentsThinking of taking classes online? Find an accredited degree program. Look for... (October 20, 2011, by cherylbullock) Read moreRead all 1 ... more »

Grumpy Educators: Parent Across America submits proposals for ESEA reauthorization

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Grumpy Educators: Parent Across America submits proposals for ESEA reauthorization:Parent Across America submits proposals for ESEA reauthorizationParents Across America wrote to Senator Harkin, starting the letter this way:Dear Senator Harkin,Your proposed revisions to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act show that you and the HELP Committee have listened to some of the concerns voiced by parents and others about the problems with No Child Left Behind.The letter was followed by a list of proposals Parents Across America wish to see ... more »

Professional Learning Communities Saved My Career « Whole Child Education

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The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education:Professional Learning Communities Saved My CareerOctober 20th, 2011 by ASCD Whole Child BloggersPost written by Gwendolyn Todd, a secondary instructional resource teacher in the Charles County (Md.) Public Schools. This post was originally featured in ASCD Express.When I began my teaching career just a decade ago, professors and veteran teachers warned me that teaching is a solitary profession. Although both groups continually taught me strategies to facilitate collaborative learning for my students, they ...more »

UC online instruction pilot sparks excitement, controversy | California Watch

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UC online instruction pilot sparks excitement, controversy | California Watch:UC online instruction pilot sparks excitement, controversyby Erica PerezErica PerezJakub Krechowicz/stock.xchngAs a small cadre of University of California faculty prepares to deliver the first online classes in a systemwide experiment, the effort is stirring both excitement and controversy among instructors and administrators.The Online Instruction Pilot Project will launch roughly 20 to 25 online courses at nine campuses beginning in January. Faculty and researchers will evaluate the courses, and if the ... more »

“Don’t mess with my TRS!” Call now. 888-412-6570. « Fred Klonsky's blog

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“Don’t mess with my TRS!” Call now. 888-412-6570. « Fred Klonsky's blog:“Don’t mess with my TRS!” Call now. 888-412-6570.by Fred KlonskyThe lines are now open. Dial 888-412-6570 and follow the prompts. You will be connected with your state senator or representative. Tell them to do the right thing, say NO cutting the modest pensions earned by public employees who keep us safe, educate our children, care for the sick and disabled and more.

Jersey Jazzman: False Gods Are Not Appeased By Human Sacrifices

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Jersey Jazzman: False Gods Are Not Appeased By Human Sacrifices:False Gods Are Not Appeased By Human Sacrificesby DukeI noticed a few folks today beating up Andrew "Eduwonk" Rotherman on the Twitter machine for his column in this week's Time. Let me quickly recap, and then make a larger point about the ongoing reformy education debate:Predictably, Rotherman first tells us that teacher quality is a serious problem without any real evidence that it is. Yes, there are bad teachers, just like ...more »

A Rag Blog Interview with Bernardine Dohrn « Bill Ayers #ows

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A Rag Blog Interview with Bernardine Dohrn « Bill Ayers:A Rag Blog Interview with Bernardine Dohrnby billayers20 October 2011Jonah RaskinBernardine Dohrn. Photo by Thomas Good / Next Left Notes.Who doesn’t have a reaction to the name and the reputation of Bernadine Dohrn? Is there anyone over the age of 60 who doesn’t remember her role at the outrageous Days of Rage demonstrations, her picture on FBI “wanted posters,” or her dramatic surrender to law enforcement officials in Chicago after a ...more »

Save Seattle Schools Community Blog: CPPS School Board Candidate Questionnaire

Save Seattle Schools Community Blog: CPPS School Board Candidate Questionnaire:

CPPS School Board Candidate Questionnaire

CPPS put together a school board candidate questionnaire based on questions submitted by parents. 7 out of 8 of the candidates returned a completed questionnaire.

You can find the results here: http://cppsofseattle.org/candidates2011.htm

No! Not another education commission! - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

No! Not another education commission! - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:

No! Not another education commission!

by Valerie Strauss

This was written by George Wood, superintendent and secondary school principal at the Federal Hocking Local School District in Stewart, Ohio. He is also the executive director of the Forum for Education and Democracyand chair of the board for the Coalition of Essential Schools.

By George Wood

In yet another signal that the one-size-fits-all approach of No Child Left Behind is not working (as if we need one), policy makers in Ohio are pointing to an ever-growing number of college students needing remedial work. Of course, every such problem provides a chance to convene yet another commission — and here it is, the “Regional Consortia for P-20 Alignment.”

Read full article >>

As We Gather Together | OccupyWallSt.org #ows

As We Gather Together | OccupyWallSt.org:

As We Gather Together

Posted Oct. 21, 2011, 12:55 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

12 Comments

State refuses to release PSSA probe reports | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

State refuses to release PSSA probe reports | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:

State refuses to release PSSA probe reports

by Benjamin Herold on Oct 21 2011 Posted in Latest news

by Benjamin Herold
for the Notebook and WHYY/NewsWorks

The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records(OOR) has denied multiple Notebook requests for records related to suspicious results on Pennsylvania State System of School Assessment (PSSA) exams.

In recent weeks, the Notebook has filed requests under Pennsylvania’s Right to Know law for the following records:

The results of statewide forensic audits of 2010 and 2011 PSSA scores, conducted on behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Education by test-maker Data Recognition Corporation (DRC).
Reports on internal investigations into suspicious 2009 PSSA scores submitted by the School District of Philadelphia and eight area charter

Washington PTA wants charter schools reconsidered - seattlepi.com

Washington PTA wants charter schools reconsidered - seattlepi.com:

Washington PTA wants charter schools reconsidered

DONNA GORDON BLANKINSHIP, Associated Press

Updated 03:56 p.m., Thursday, October 20, 2011

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SEATTLE (AP) — The Washington PTA wants charter schools to be a part of the state's education reform agenda, even though the idea has twice been rejected by voters and repeatedly shot down by lawmakers.

PTA members from around the state added charter public schools to their agenda when they met last weekend near Seattle. The organization's policy brief on the issue says the independent schools are an effective tool against the achievement gap.

"This is an additional way of looking at schools and what we need to be doing differently," Shelley Kloba, the Washington PTA's state legislative director, said Thursday. She emphasized that the charter school issue was just another tool in a wider PTA agenda.

This is the first time in Kloba's memory — she's been involved in setting the organization's

QE4: Forgive the Students | Dissident Voice #ows

QE4: Forgive the Students | Dissident Voice:

QE4: Forgive the Students

by Ellen Hodgson Brown

Among the demands of the Wall Street protesters is student debt forgiveness—a debt “jubilee.” Occupy Phillyhas a “Student Loan Jubilee Working Group,” and other groups are studying the issue. Commentators say debt forgiveness is impossible. Who would foot the bill? But there is one deep pocket that could pull it off—the Federal Reserve. In its first quantitative easing program (QE1), the Fed removed $1.3 trillion in toxic assets from the books of Wall Street banks. For QE4, it could remove $1 trillion in toxic debt from the backs of millions of students.

The economy would only be the better for it, as was shown by the G.I. Bill, which provided virtually-free higher education for returning veterans, along with low-interest loans for housing and business. The G.I. Bill had a sevenfold return. It was one of the best investments Congress ever made.

There are arguments against a complete student debt write-off, including that it would reward private universities that are already charging too much, and it would unfairly exclude other forms of debt from relief. But the point here is that it could be done, and it (or some similar form of consumer “jubilee”) would represent a significant stimulus to the economy.

Toxic Student Debt: The Next “Black Swan”?

The Occupy Wall Street movement is heavily populated with students. Many without jobs, they are groaning

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm declares war on the unions

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm declares war on the unions:

Rahm declares war on the unions

Move over Gov. Walker, Chris Christie and Rick Perry. A new king of the union busters has emerged in Chicago, of all places. He's a big-city mayor, not a T-Party governor and his plan starts with tax breaks for the corporations and bigtax increases on the poor followed up by a legal rip-off of public employee pensions. His only barrier is the unions and Mayor Rahm has already declared war on them, starting with the teachers union.

But even autocrats run into resistance once in a while (Isn't that so, Bloomberg

Who Authorized a Dozen New Charter Schools and When their Term will End: Vote 4 Community

SCOE | Members of the Sacramento County Board of Education and Areas Served:

Sacramento County Board of Education Members and Areas Represented

Sacramento County Trustee Areas

Brian Cooley

Brian Cooley (President)

Trustee, Area 5

Representing the communities of Alder Creek, Bridge House, Folsom, Gold River, Mather, Mills, Natoma, Nimbus, Rancho Cordova, Rancho Murieta, Rosemont, Sloughhouse, Walsh Station, and a portion of Vineyard.

School districts: small portions of Elk Grove Unified, Sacramento City Unified, and San Juan Unified, and all of Folsom Cordova Unified.

Term expires: June 2012

E-mail: brianacooley@comcast.net

Greg Geeting

Greg Geeting (Vice President)

Trustee, Area 1

Representing the communities of College Greens, Curtis Park, downtown and midtown Sacramento, East Sacramento, Elder Creek, Hollywood Park, Land Park, Lemon Hill, McKinley Park, Perkins, River Park, Tahoe Park, and portions of Airport, Oak Park, and South Land Park.

School districts: a major portion of Sacramento City Unified School District, small portions of Elk Grove Unified and Twin Rivers Unified.

Term expires: June 2014

E-mail: greg.geeting@gmail.com

Brian M. Rivas

Brian M. Rivas

Trustee, Area 2

Representing the communities of Antelope, Del Paso Heights, Elverta, Gardenland, Hagginwood, North Highlands, North and South Natomas, North Sacramento, Rio Linda, Robla, and a portion of Foothill Farms.

School districts: Center Unified, Elverta Joint, Natomas Unified, Robla, and Twin Rivers Unified.

Term expires: June 2014

E-mail: brivas@scoe.net

Jacquelyn Levy

Jacquelyn Levy

Trustee, Area 3

Representing the communities of Arden, Arden Oaks, Arden Park, Campus Commons, La Riviera, Rosemont, Town and Country Village, and portions of Carmichael and Foothill Farms.

School districts: portions of Sacramento City Unified, San Juan Unified, and Twin Rivers Unified.

Term expires: June 2014

E-mail: jlevy@scoe.net

Eleanor L. Brown

Eleanor L. Brown, Ed.D.

Trustee, Area 4

Representing the communities of Orangevale, Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks, and a portion of Carmichael.

School districts: a major portion of San Juan Unified and a small portion of Twin Rivers Unified.

Term expires: June 2012

E-mail: eleanorbrown@scoe.net

John Scribner

John C. Scribner

Trustee, Area 6

Representing the communities of Clarksburg, Clay, Collierville, Courtland, Elk Grove, Florin, Franklin, Galt, Herald, Hood, Isleton, Laguna Creek, Locke, Rio Vista, Ryde, Sheldon, Thornton, Walnut Grove, Wilton, and a small portion of Valley Hi.

School districts: a major portion of Elk Grove Unified; and all of Arcohe Union, Galt Joint Union, Galt Joint Union High, and River Delta Unified.

Term expires: June 2012

E-mail: johnatscoe@aol.com

Harold Fong

Trustee, Area 7

Representing the communities of Freeport, Fruitridge, Greenhaven, Meadowview, Oak Park, Parkway, Pocket, and portions of Executive Airport, South Land Park, and Valley Hi.

School districts: a small portion of Elk Grove Unified and a large portion of Sacramento City Unified.

Term expires: June 2012

E-mail: hfong95831@yahoo.com

How turnarounds will reshape the system in the coming years | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Where is all this heading? | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:

Where is all this heading?

Activists, educators, and officials weigh in on how turnarounds will reshape the system in the coming years.

by Dale Mezzacappa

Photo: Benjamin Herold

Gratz High School is one of the latest crop of school turnarounds in Philadelphia. Gary Ray (center), a 10th grader, waits outside the school, now known as Mastery-Gratz, on the first day.

Tags:

With turnarounds proceeding rapidly in Philadelphia and established providers eager to continue taking over low-performing schools, it is likely that the School District will look very different in five years.

In 2010 and 2011, 13 District schools have been converted to charters, including three high schools. Another nine have become Promise Academies, remaining within the District, but receiving mostly new leadership and staff, as well as expensive new programs. In the first two years of the Renaissance Schools program, the District is averaging 11 turnaround attempts per year.

The Notebook asked several officials, activists and educators to discuss their

Panel talks about education reform in communities of color

by Wendy Harris

According to data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, Black and Hispanic 17-year-olds are achieving math at the level of White 13-year-olds.

This is just one shocking statistic about the achievement gap and overall educational attainment among students of color that was shared at a convening of more than 50 education leaders Wednesday at Community College of Philadelphia.

At the gathering, called The Education Agenda and the Impact on Communities of Color, advocates and reformers talked about strategies for obtaining high academic achievement and for building coalitions for grass roots advocacy that will impact national policy.

Shanker Blog » The Teachers' Union Hypothesis

Shanker Blog » The Teachers' Union Hypothesis:

The Teachers’ Union Hypothesis

by Matthew Di Carlo

For the past couple of months, Steve Brill’s new book has served to step up the eternally-beneath-the-surface hypothesis that teachers’ unions are the primary obstacle to improving educational outcomes in the U.S. The general idea is that unions block “needed reforms,” such as merit pay and other forms of test-based accountability for teachers, and that they “protect bad teachers” from being fired.

Teachers’ unions are a convenient target. For one thing, a significant proportion of Americans aren’t crazy about unions of any type. Moreover, portraying unions as the villain in the education reform drama facilitates the (mostly false) distinction between teachers and the organizations that represent them – put simply, “love teachers, hate their unions.” Under the auspices of this dichotomy, people can advocate for changes , such as

Latest News and Comment from Education

Friday, October 21, 2011

CPPS School Board Candidate Questionnaire

12 Comments

State refuses to release PSSA probe reports

by Benjamin Herold on Oct 21 2011 Posted in Latest news

Tags:

by Benjamin Heroldfor the Notebook and WHYY/NewsWorks

Washington PTA wants charter schools reconsidered

DONNA GORDON BLANKINSHIP, Associated Press

Updated 03:56 p.m., Thursday, October 20, 2011

Rahm declares war on the unions

Where is all this heading?

Activists, educators, and officials weigh in on how turnarounds will reshape the system in the coming years.

by Dale Mezzacappa

Tags:

by Benjamin Herold
for the Notebook and WHYY/NewsWorks