Monday, November 7, 2011

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top AM Posts #ows #edreform

People Have Power: SB 22 Dead (For Now) | AMPS

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 46 minutes ago

People Have Power: SB 22 Dead (For Now) | AMPS:People Have Power: SB 22 Dead (For Now)by Thomas J. MertzPatti Smith – “People Have The Power” (click to listen or download) Susan Troller is reporting in the Cap Times that SB 22, the bill creating a partisan, political state charter school authorizing board to override the wishes of local school boards (and more) is dead, for now. This is a huge victory for for public education in the state and ... more »

Last Stand for Children First: The Common Core Will Be The Common Cure

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 46 minutes ago

Last Stand for Children First: The Common Core Will Be The Common Cure:The Common Core Will Be The Common Cureby Last Stand for ChildrenPopoutBack in 1979 when they used to actually make family movies, I remember seeing a wonderful movie called The Great Santini. The movie was about a Marine Lieutenant Colonel who is raising a family. His hard and nails exterior is a sharp contrast from the type of parenting we see in television and movies so often, but ... more »

Another View: Build on schools' strengths to challenge pupils - Sacramento Bee

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 46 minutes ago

Another View: Build on schools' strengths to challenge pupils - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee:Another View: Build on schools' strengths to challenge pupilsShare By Anthony CodyPublished: Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011 - 10:00 pm | Page 2ELast Modified: Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011 - 11:41 amAnthony Cody, a National Board-certified science teacher who has worked in Oakland schools for 24 years, is responding to the Oct. 27 Viewpoints commentary, "State needs waiver from federal school law." The op-ed stated: ... more »

New report cites disproportionate punishment for black students | iWatch News

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 46 minutes ago

New report cites disproportionate punishment for black students | iWatch News:New report cites disproportionate punishment for black studentsSecond graders listen in class. Dan Loh/APNorth Carolina research dovetails with recent findings in Texas, other statesBy Susan Ferriss7:30 am, October 6, 2011 Updated: 7:30 am, October 6, 2011PrintE-mail4inShareStudy finds stunning rates of discipline among Texas studentsBy Susan FerrissJuly 19, 2011Nearly 60 percent of all Texas public school students were suspended or expelled at least once between their 7th and 12th grade years, ... more »

Teachbad’s “Struggling Students” Video | Mr. Teachbad

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 46 minutes ago

Teachbad’s “Struggling Students” Video | Mr. Teachbad:Teachbad’s “Struggling Students” Videoby teachbadhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXB29gVhh44 (Click on the post title to see video.) I hope you enjoy the video. I also want to announce that the winner of the Photo Caption Contest is Ms. Cynthia Sloan for her submission: The Lack of Fathers is a Parent. For her winning entry, Cynthia will receive one free set of Teachbad Therapy Magnets. I would also like to add that Cynthia has a website full of resources ... more »

Too Small to Fail: Occupy Mosier | OccupyWallSt.org #ows

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 46 minutes ago

Too Small to Fail: Occupy Mosier | OccupyWallSt.org:Too Small to Fail: Occupy Mosierby OccupyWallStThere are no stoplights, the only gas station closed years ago and there is not a single multinational corporation within five miles. With a population of just 430, Mosier, Oregon will become the smallest U.S. town to have an active Occupy camp. Participants from Mosier and other small communities of the Columbia Gorge are working to highlight their vision for a family-friendly camp that includes music, movies ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts #ows

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 46 minutes ago

Analysis: Is student loan, education bubble next? - Boston.comBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-3 minutes agoAnalysis: Is student loan, education bubble next? - Boston.com:Analysis: Is student loan, education bubble next?By Justin PopeAP Education Writer / November 6, 2011E-mail|Print|Comments ()Text size – +First the dot.coms popped, then mortgages. Are student loans and higher education the next bubble, the latest investment craze inflating on borrowed money and misplaced faith it can never go bad?Tweet Be the first to Tweet this!ShareThisSome experts ... more »

Kaplan University feeds off taxpayers in myriad ways | Dailycensored.com

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 6 hours ago

Kaplan University feeds off taxpayers in myriad ways | Dailycensored.com:Kaplan University feeds off taxpayers in myriad waysby Danny WeilI know that I have devoted a great deal of time covering Kaplan University. The crime syndicate continues to bob its head in the frothy sea of neo-liberal economics on a daily basis and little is covered in mainstream corporate press. For example, according to the Orlando business Journal, Florida has issued $1.7 billion in tax breaks and other ‘incentives’ to businesses, ... more »

More on Florida Charter Exec’s Troublesome Imagine Schools Empire | Scathing Purple Musings

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 6 hours ago

More on Florida Charter Exec’s Troublesome Imagine Schools Empire | Scathing Purple Musings:More on Florida Charter Exec’s Troublesome Imagine Schools Empireby Bob SikesThe largest charter operator in the nation is Dennis W. Bakke. The Imagine School’s CEO was on Rick Scott’s education transition team. I wrote here late last month on Bakke’s three failing Florida charter schools. It seems that his poor record doesn’t only exist in Florida. Reporting in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Elisa Crouch writes about Imagine’s massive ... more »

In an Era of Funding Darkness, Community Organizations Ally with Corporations, CEO’s « InterACT

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 6 hours ago

In an Era of Funding Darkness, Community Organizations Ally with Corporations, CEO’s « InterACT:In an Era of Funding Darkness, Community Organizations Ally with Corporations, CEO’sby Martha InfanteIt has been a few weeks since the latest salvo in education reform politics, and honestly, I had to calm down before I wrote about it. I am sure there is a reason why this latest campaign pushed my buttons, and the words indignant, meddlesome, and hubris come to mind.It was on a long ... more »

#ows Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Strange Promotion of Billionaire and Hedge Funder Meddling in Education Policy | Scathing Purple Musings

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 6 hours ago

The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Strange Promotion of Billionaire and Hedge Funder Meddling in Education Policy | Scathing Purple Musings:The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Strange Promotion of Billionaire and Hedge Funder Meddling in Education Policyby Bob SikesIs it still philanthropy if your donation money goes to starting your own school? Apparently so. From Robert Trigaux writing in the St. Petersburg Times:At first glance, the generosity of Florida’s top philanthropist in 2011 might suggest big givers are making a strong comeback this year.Billionaire ... more »

“Humiliation is Not a Classroom Management Technique!” « Diary of a Public School Teacher!

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 6 hours ago

“Humiliation is Not a Classroom Management Technique!” « Diary of a Public School Teacher!:“Humiliation is Not a Classroom Management Technique!”by OldschoolteachMy youngest son is no angel, not in any way, shape, or form. He had been getting in ”trouble” since preschool. I would go to pick him up and he would wave, and grin, at me from the timeout area. He didn’t know any better, he was just one of those kids that was always up and about. Back then, ... more »

Florida Governor Scott stopped by Courts again…his answer … Get rid of our current Supreme Court system… Pink Slip Rick « Continuing Change

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 6 hours ago

Florida Governor Scott stopped by Courts again…his answer … Get rid of our current Supreme Court system… Pink Slip Rick « Continuing Change:Florida Governor Scott stopped by Courts again…his answer … Get rid of our current Supreme Court system… Pink Slip Rickby gatorbonbcFlorida courts stop Gov Scott again…is it wonder he is proposing changes to Florida’s Supreme Court ?I kid you not…he wants to split our Supreme Court, moving all current Justices to Criminal side, giving him free reign to ... more »

How Rick Scott’s Call for More STEM Education Helps Focus on Florida School’s Real Problem | Scathing Purple Musings

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 6 hours ago

How Rick Scott’s Call for More STEM Education Helps Focus on Florida School’s Real Problem | Scathing Purple Musings:How Rick Scott’s Call for More STEM Education Helps Focus on Florida School’s Real Problemby Bob SikesWriting in this morning’s Gainesville Sun, Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida president Ed. H. Moore takes Governor Rick Scott’s call for an emphasis on STEM education and applies the realities of what kind of students are arriving on the state’s college campuses.The governor is correct. ... more »

MPR’s Unfortunate Sidestepping around Money Questions in the Charter CMO Report « School Finance 101

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MPR’s Unfortunate Sidestepping around Money Questions in the Charter CMO Report « School Finance 101:MPR’s Unfortunate Sidestepping around Money Questions in the Charter CMO Reportby schoolfinance101Let me start by pointing out that Mathematica Policy Research, in my view, is an exceptional research organization. They have good people. They do good work and have done much to inform public policy in what I believe are positive ways. That’s why I found it so depressing when I started digging through the recent ... more »

Hechinger Report | Tips for Florida teachers: Don’t mess up in front of the boss

Hechinger Report | Tips for Florida teachers: Don’t mess up in front of the boss:

Tips for Florida teachers: Don’t mess up in front of the boss

by Sarah Butrymowicz

School teacher Lynn Bryan teaches language arts at Ponce de Leon Middle School.

At an annual training over the summer, Hialeah Senior High School writing teacher Kathy Pham and her colleagues heard what seemed like basic advice from the United Teachers of Dade: Make sure your principal observes you in the classroom this year. And if you have questions, schedule an appointment.

The stakes for teacher evaluations in Miami-Dade are rising, with questions about how evaluations can impact teachers’ pay and decisions about who could be fired.

Under a new Florida law, a data-driven formula—which calculates “value-added” scores for teachers based on their students’ standardized test results—will count for 50 percent of their ratings. Districts will decide

Complex new Florida teacher evaluations tied to student test scores

by Laura Isensee

Orlando Sarduy is a math teacher at Coral Reef Senior High. He can understand the basics of the new, complex equation that will grade him and thousands of other teachers across Florida. But it won't grade him as a math teacher -- it will be tied to the school's FCAT reading scores. As Sarduy notes, the new evaluation system is one big experiment. Sarduy works with math students, Oct. 31, 2011. (Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald)

At Coral Reef Senior High, calculus teacher Orlando Sarduy understands complicated formulas, and knows he will be graded on how his students perform on tests.

But despite his advanced knowledge of math, Sarduy cannot explain the statistics-packed formula behind the

School Has a Charter, Students and a Strong Opponent: Its District

School Has a Charter, Students and a Strong Opponent: Its District:

School Has a Charter, Students and a Strong Opponent: Its District

Saturday, November 05, 2011

By WINNIE HU, The New York Times

MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. -- Charter schools, publicly financed but independently operated, have encountered fierce resistance in many suburban communities, criticized by parents and traditional educators who view them as a drain on resources.

But since the Amani Public Charter School won state approval to open this year, officials at the Mount Vernon City School District have taken that opposition to a new level.

The district, in Westchester County, sued the State Education Department and the Amani school this year, calling the approval an "arbitrary and capricious" decision, and sought to block Amani from moving forward. It has refused to tu

TEACHER UNIONS = DEMOCRACY IN ACTION … Which word do they object to more? Collective ? or Bargaining ? « Continuing Change

TEACHER UNIONS = DEMOCRACY IN ACTION … Which word do they object to more? Collective ? or Bargaining ? « Continuing Change:

TEACHER UNIONS = DEMOCRACY IN ACTION … Which word do they object to more? Collective ? or Bargaining ?

by gatorbonbc

A reporter recently contacted me. He had seen my posts objecting to a Gradebook article that referred to legal agreements drawn up by our teacher unions as ‘side deals’ and ‘disturbing’.

Here is the Gradebook article:

http://blogs.tampabay.com/schools/2010/06/blogs-abuzz-about-floridas-race-to-the-top-side-agreements.html#comments

I emailed the reporter this response …

I am just a teacher and a parent. I do not speak for the union, but I have followed SB6 and RTTT closely. FB has a sister page, Stop Race to the Top, that you might check out for more info on our objections to Race to the

District edges toward state takeover | Thoughts on Public Education

District edges toward state takeover | Thoughts on Public Education:

District edges toward state takeover - by John Fensterwald - Educated Guess

by John Fensterwald - Educated Guess

Inglewood Unified squeezed by cuts, own blunders

Posted on 11/07/11 • Categorized as State Budget

By John Fensterwald - Educated Guess

Many school districts are worried about running out of money this year. San Diego Unified, the state’s second largest district, is openly talking about it. But surprisingly, given the financial pressures on all K-12 districts, only one district is in grave danger of insolvency: 12,000-student Inglewood Unified, southwest of Los Angeles.

Last month, the board of the little-known but powerful state agency, the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team, or FCMAT, approved a declaration of fiscal emergency for Inglewood, the first step leading to the state issuing a loan and taking over the district. It’s a

Let’s come together in November 2012 to restore education funding - by Carol Kocivar

by Carol Kocivar

It’s time now to unite for next November. Yes, November 2012. It may seem like a long way off, but it’s not. In just a year, our state will have a potential opportunity our children can’t afford for us to miss. That’s when millions of Californians will go to the polls, where they could have a chance [...]

NYC Educator: Governor One Percent Discreetly Pulls a Scott Walker

NYC Educator: Governor One Percent Discreetly Pulls a Scott Walker:

Governor One Percent Discreetly Pulls a Scott Walker

by NYC Educator

by special guest blogger Reality-Based Educator

Governor Andrew Cuomo was all smiles last week with the news that PEF, the Public Employees Federation union, had agreed to his contract offer that gives employees furlough days, 0% salary increases for most of the contract, and much higher health insurance premiums after he threatened to lay off thousands of them if they didn't take the contract.

PEF members had rejected the contract the first time, but the PEF leadership, along with Governor Cuomo, redid one or two things in it (not making it any better, IMO), and this time around, the PEF members agreed

A history of failed reform - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

A history of failed reform - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:

A history of failed reform

by Valerie Strauss

This was written by Marc Epstein, who was a history teacher at Jamaica High School in Queens, N.Y., for the past 15 years, and a former dean of students. Since the “phasing out” of Jamaica began this year he is currently a member of the “absent teacher reserve,” along with about one half of the Jamaica faculty. They are assigned to different schools each week. His articles on school violence, curriculum, and testing, have appeared in Education Next, City Journal and a number of New York newspapers. He contributed to “A Consumer’s Guide To High School History Textbooks.” Epstein has a Ph.D in Japanese-American diplomatic history.

Read full article >>

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES:

WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Rep. Maddox and Tenn. Gov. Bredesen celebrated their $500 million Race To The Top grant in March, 2010. But now...

Race To The Top a flop in Tenn.

"I’ve never known so little about what’s going on in my own building.” -- Will Shelton, principal of Blackman Middle School

New York, New York...

"In another age, revelations that school reforms are little more than a series of phony claims that cost an extra $100 billion in taxpayer money would have resulted in some sort of political retribution. There would be cries for repealing the mayor’s

You can see the future for teacher evaluations and it is Tennessee. « Fred Klonsky's blog

You can see the future for teacher evaluations and it is Tennessee. « Fred Klonsky's blog:

You can see the future for teacher evaluations and it is Tennessee.

by Fred Klonsky

NY Times photo: Emily Mitchell, a first-grade teacher at David Youree Elementary, will be evaluated in part on her school’s fifth-grade writing scores.

When IEA Executive Director Audrey Soglin headed the Governor’s committee to draft teacher evaluation legislation, it was done to qualify the state for Race to the Top funding.

Illinois never received the funding even though the legislature passed the bill that tied teacher evaluation to individual student performance.

Tennessee also changed their evaluation rules.

The Tennessee rules change got Arne Duncan’s approval. They got their Race to the Top grant.

Too bad for them.

Michael Winerip in the New York Times:

The new rules, enacted at the start of the school year, require Mr. Shelton (the

Such Dummies, or Why I Didn’t Have To Decode Jay-Z Like Y’all Did | The Jose Vilson

Such Dummies, or Why I Didn’t Have To Decode Jay-Z Like Y’all Did | The Jose Vilson:

Such Dummies, or Why I Didn’t Have To Decode Jay-Z Like Y’all Did

by Jose

Jay-Z's "Decoded"

I finally got around to reading Jay-Z’s Decoded after reading Kevin Nealon’s voyage towards fatherhood in Yes, You’re Pregnant, But What About Me? Rather than examining the contrasts of my literary interests, I prefer we discuss the last month of controversy I may or may not have sparked on the Interwebs with certain pieces I’ve written about the former (here, here, and here). Let me be clear: I usually don’t engage in conversations about pieces I’ve guest written. I learned that maneuver from my days blogging at the often murky Huffington Post. I uncovered this gem in my reading not-so-coincidentally:

“99 Problems” is almost a deliberate provocation to simpleminded listeners. If that sounds crazy,

Duval Schools Deals With Poverty’s Realities | Scathing Purple Musings

Duval Schools Deals With Poverty’s Realities | Scathing Purple Musings:

Duval Schools Deals With Poverty’s Realities

by Bob Sikes

From the Florida-Times Union’s Teresa Stepzinski:

The Duval County School Board will discuss whether too many inexperienced teachers are working at the district’s worst-performing schools and what can be done to recruit and retain seasoned educators for those classrooms.
The issue is among a half-dozen items on the board’s agenda for a 10 a.m. Tuesday workshop.
Board Vice Chairwoman Betty Burney said these poor-performing schools have “a constant turnover” of teachers, some of whom are replaced with novices, including those right out of college. Although they might be talented, new teachers don’t have the knowledge or experience to help academically struggling students succeed, she said.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

People Have Power: SB 22 Dead (For Now) | AMPS

People Have Power: SB 22 Dead (For Now) | AMPS:

People Have Power: SB 22 Dead (For Now)

by Thomas J. Mertz

Patti Smith – “People Have The Power” (click to listen or download)

Susan Troller is reporting in the Cap Times that SB 22, the bill creating a partisan, political state charter school authorizing board to override the wishes of local school boards (and more) is dead, for now. This is a huge victory for for public education in the state and local control the Wisconsin people’s mobilization.

The bill came before the Senate Education Committee on March 23, in the wake of the mass protests. Hundreds of newly empowered individuals and groups showed up to counter the well laid plans of the FitzWalker gang, School Choice Wisconsin, Wisconsin Charter School Association, American Federation for Children and

Last Stand for Children First: The Common Core Will Be The Common Cure

Last Stand for Children First: The Common Core Will Be The Common Cure:

The Common Core Will Be The Common Cure

by Last Stand for Children

Popout

Back in 1979 when they used to actually make family movies, I remember seeing a wonderful movie called The Great Santini. The movie was about a Marine Lieutenant Colonel who is raising a family. His hard and nails exterior is a sharp contrast from the type of parenting we see in television and movies so often, but rather than coddling his kids, he builds their character by demanding that they meet his high standards. This is exactly the

Another View: Build on schools' strengths to challenge pupils - Sacramento Bee

Another View: Build on schools' strengths to challenge pupils - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee:

Another View: Build on schools' strengths to challenge pupils

By Anthony Cody

Published: Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011 - 10:00 pm | Page 2E

Last Modified: Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011 - 11:41 am

Anthony Cody, a National Board-certified science teacher who has worked in Oakland schools for 24 years, is responding to the Oct. 27 Viewpoints commentary, "State needs waiver from federal school law." The op-ed stated: "California should commit to apply for the NCLB flexibility waiver and develop and implement a reform plan that is rigorous and real."

No Child Left Behind has California schools in a vise. Next year, most schools will be declared "failing" based on our inability to make every child in the state proficient on standardized tests.

The U.S. Department of Education has created a waiver process however, that would allow our

New report cites disproportionate punishment for black students | iWatch News

New report cites disproportionate punishment for black students | iWatch News:

New report cites disproportionate punishment for black students

Second graders listen in class. Dan Loh/AP

North Carolina research dovetails with recent findings in Texas, other states

By Susan Ferriss

7:30 am, October 6, 2011 Updated: 7:30 am, October 6, 2011

E-mail

In a troubling pattern mirrored elsewhere, black students in North Carolina schools were found to be subjected to far harsher discipline than other students for the same types of minor infractions, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Education Policy Center, a non-partisan research center that sponsors peer-reviewed research.

For the first-time offense of cell phone use at school, 32 percent of black students in North Carolina were given out-of-school suspension, school data collected in 2010 showed, while less than 15 percent of white students received that same punishment for the same offense. For a first-time offense of public display of affection, according to the report, almost 43 percent of the accused black students in North Carolina were given out-of-school suspension,