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

Stanford professor wins Grawemeyer award for book on inequity in education | The Courier-Journal | courier-journal.com

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Stanford professor wins Grawemeyer award for book on inequity in education | The Courier-Journal | courier-journal.com: Stanford professor wins Grawemeyer award for book on inequity in educationLinda Darling-HammondWritten byChris Otts | The Courier-JournalFILED UNDERNewsLocal NewsSchool districts across the country often spend less on instruction for low-income and minority students, and it’s one of the main reasons the United States no longer leads the world in education, as it did 40 years ago.So says Stanford University professor Linda Darling-Hammond, who has ... more »

NEA Teachers Step Up | ED.gov Blog

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NEA Teachers Step Up | ED.gov Blog: NEA Teachers Step UpPosted onDecember 21, 2011byArne DuncanLast year the National Education Association (NEA) took a courageous step by creating a Council on Effective Teachers and Teaching’s (CETT) and giving them independence and power to make recommendations to transform the teaching profession. On December 8, they moved forward by releasing the commission’s report. In doing so, NEA leaders showed themselves to be serious partners in reform and strong advocates for students and teachers.The ... more »

New English-Learner Director Named - Year 2011 (CA Dept of Education)

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New English-Learner Director Named - Year 2011 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Chooses RespectedScholar and Author to Head English Learner EffortsSACRAMENTO—Karen Cadiero-Kaplan, a leading scholar, published author and longtime advocate for students, will lead the California Department of Education's (CDE) efforts to help school districts across the state teach English learners effectively, California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today.Cadiero-Kaplan is a professor at San Diego State University, where she chairs the Departmen... more »

How school reform gets hijacked by the Billionaire Boys Club: A cautionary tale for the Left | New Politics

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How school reform gets hijacked by the Billionaire Boys Club: A cautionary tale for the Left | New Politics: How school reform gets hijacked by the Billionaire Boys Club: A cautionary tale for the LeftShareLois WeinerDecember 20, 2011A powerful new video,"The truth behind Stand for Children,"tells a cautionary tale for the Left. Even if you already understand how charter schools have become a vehicle for destruction of public education, take five minutes to watch this concise analysis of how "Stand ... more »

Kevin Johnson wants to strengthen mayor's position - Sacramento Business Journal

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Kevin Johnson wants to strengthen mayor's position - Sacramento Business Journal: Kevin Johnson wants to strengthen mayor's positionSacramento Business Journal by Michael Shaw, Staff WriterDate: Wednesday, December 21, 2011, 11:00am PSTSacramento MayorKevin Johnsonon Wednesday will reveal a renewed effort to increase the power of the mayor position by amending the city’s charter, hoping to garner enough support from the city council to put the issue to voters on the June ballot next year.Johnson’s plan includes additional checks and balances that ... more »

Lawyers Divided on Whether Charter Schools Can Turn Away Students with Disabilities | WUSF Public Media

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Lawyers Divided on Whether Charter Schools Can Turn Away Students with Disabilities | WUSF Public Media: Lawyers Divided on Whether Charter Schools Can Turn Away Students with DisabilitiesPosted Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 10:12 amListen NowDownload AudioTres Whitlock, 17, has cerebral palsy. He was told he cannot go to Pivot Charter School near Tampa because the school cannot provide all the services he needs.By Sarah GonzalezMIAMI (2011-21-12) -This month, an investigation by StateImpact Florida and the Miami Herald revealed that ... more »

Two national teaching prizes open application processes | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

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Two national teaching prizes open application processes | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Two national teaching prizes open application processesbyAvi Wolfman-Arenton Dec 20 2011 Posted inLatest newsCOMMENTS (0)PRINTEMAILTags:professional developmentteacher trainingteachersTwo prestigious and well-financed awards for teaching excellence, theFishman Prizeand theKnowles Science Teaching Fellowship, recently opened their nationwide application processes.The Fishman Prize, awarded by The National Teaching Project, honors up to five “extraordinary” teachers with a $25,000 award and ... more »

Mavericks Charges Charter Schools $350K in Rent, Plus Fees | Scathing Purple Musings

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Mavericks Charges Charter Schools $350K in Rent, Plus Fees | Scathing Purple Musings: Mavericks Charges Charter Schools $350K in Rent, Plus FeesbyBob SikesThisis sure tobring out a new round of troll attacks. From Lisa Rab in theNew Times:When a private company aims to profit from a taxpayer-funded public school, the extra dough must come from somewhere. ForMavericks in Education Florida, the charter school chain headquartered in West Palm Beach, leasing agreements appear to be one source of cash.Remember, Mavericks is ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Interview with the Governor

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Seattle Schools Community Forum: Interview with the Governor: Interview with the GovernorbyMelissa WestbrookPublicola had aninterviewwith Governor Gregoire and she had some interesting things to say about education:PubliCola:It seems more aggressive than the one you laid out.[Gregoire announced a reform proposal last week—AP reporthere— that will put a pilot project of 4-tiered teacher evaluations in play statewide]. It ties teacher evaluations to student test scores, calls for charter schools, and allows the state to step in and take over failing schools. ... more »

Common Core State Standards Resources - Curriculum & Instruction (CA Dept of Education)

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Common Core State Standards Resources - Curriculum Instruction (CA Dept of Education): Common Core State Standards ResourcesInformation and frequently asked questions about the new academic content standards adopted by the State Board of Education on August 2, 2010.The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) were developed through a state-led initiative to establish consistent and clear education standards for English-language arts and mathematics that would better prepare students for success in college, career, and the competitive global economy. The California State Board ... more »

Questions about Common Core and Youngest Learners «

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Questions about Common Core and Youngest Learners «: Questions about Common Core and YoungestLearnersDecember 21, 2011 byIrene SegePhoto: Alessandra Hartkopf for Strategies for ChildrenSamuel J. Meisels, president of the Chicago-basedErikson Institute, a graduate school in child development, has raised some provocative questions about theCommon Core State Standards. By working backward from college and career readiness, he argues, the K-12 standards in English and math give short shrift to early childhood and the developmental needs of the youngest learners, from birth ... more »

Schools Matter: "I no longer hope for audacity."

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Schools Matter: "I no longer hope for audacity.": "I no longer hope for audacity."byJim HornFrom HuffPo:Matt Damon, one of Barack Obama's earliest supporters and once one of his most staunch advocates, slammed the President in the new issue ofElle Magazine."I've talked to a lot of people who worked for Obama at the grassroots level. One of them said to me, 'Never again. I will never be fooled again by a politician,'" Damontells the magazine. "You know, a one-term president with ... more »

Bringing diversity into teaching | Thoughts on Public Education

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Bringing diversity into teaching | Thoughts on Public Education: Bringing diversity into teachingShareMinority teachers choose alternative certification programsPosted on 12/21/11 • Categorized asTeacher Development,Workforce preparationByKathryn BaronTomRibota, a teacherat a court and community school in San Joaquin County,has many of the same types of kids in his classes that he used to interact with when he was cop. Soit’s amusingto imagine the day when he had his students do a crime scene investigation as a way to learn some math concepts. ... more »

Education reform paralysis — and how to fix it - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

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Education reform paralysis — and how to fix it - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: Education reform paralysis — and how to fix itByValerie StraussThiswas written by Mark Phillips, professor emeritus of secondary education at San Francisco State University and author of a monthly column on education for the Marin Independent Journal.By Mark PhillipsThe world of educational reform is stuck.Don’t you get bored repeatedly reading about variations on the same topics? Standardized testing, useful or harmful? Charter schools, ... more »

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

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This Week In Education: #LAUSD: The Story Behind John Deasy's Mystifying Labor DealBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-5 hours agoThis Week In Education: #LAUSD: The Story Behind John Deasy's Mystifying Labor Deal: #LAUSD: The Story Behind John Deasy's Mystifying Labor DealA couple of days ago on a Souther California Public Radio station talk show, two longtime education reform allies, LAUSD superintendent John Deasy and former LAUSD board member Yolie Flores,got into their first public disagreement. There with UTLA head ... more »

Have yourself a ‘data-driven’ Christmas: All Children Left Behind (ACLB) and ‘Waiting for super-elves’ | Dailycensored.com

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Have yourself a ‘data-driven’ Christmas: All Children Left Behind (ACLB) and ‘Waiting for super-elves’ | Dailycensored.com: Have yourself a ‘data-driven’ Christmas: All Children Left Behind (ACLB) and ‘Waiting for super-elves’Written byDanny WeilDaily Journal (Opinion),EducationDec 20, 20110diggShareAs we approach the holidays it is worthwhile to note that No Child Left behind is being applied to Santa’s elves. Yes, Santa’s elves.Blaming incompetent elves for world poverty and and not being able to compete with Chinese elves, is part of the movie — ... more »

Study Finds State Unfunded Mandates Cost Duval Schools $50 Million | Scathing Purple Musings

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Study Finds State Unfunded Mandates Cost Duval Schools $50 Million | Scathing Purple Musings: Study Finds State Unfunded Mandates Cost Duval Schools $50 MillionbyBob SikesThe editors ofFlorida Times-Unionsite a report by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF).Much of the blame for funding difficulties must be placed at the state level.The state of Florida has reduced its share of school funding, placed new unfunded mandates on the school districts and then micromanages how the reduced funds must be spent.For instance, JPEF ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: More Angels Under the Bus

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Jersey Jazzman: More Angels Under the Bus: More Angels Under the BusbyDukeAn update tomy post about two schools in Newarkwhose students and staff were misrepresented by a child advocacy group, the press, and the Newark superintendent:Branch Brook is the elementary school with the highest grade three reading scores in the city; Camden Street school (it'snotin Camden) has the lowest. It turns out Camden Street takes students from all over Newark with diagnoses of autism, cognitive impairment, and behavioral disabilities.Yet the ... more »

James Baldwin and Margaret Mead on Racial Colorblindness « Student Activism

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James Baldwin and Margaret Mead on Racial Colorblindness « Student Activism: James Baldwin and Margaret Mead on Racial ColorblindnessbyAngus JohnstonI recently readA Rap on Race, the book-length transcript of a conversation between James Baldwin and Margaret Mead, recorded inthe summer of 1970.As I saidtwo weeks ago, it’s a fascinating book, and I’m going to beposting excerptseach Wednesday for the next while. I put upthe firstlast week– here’s the second, somewhat condensed from the original:MEAD: This was, I suppose, twenty-five years ... more »

Mother Crusader: Sorry Mr. Brown, but I gotta DIS your opinion piece

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Mother Crusader: Sorry Mr. Brown, but I gotta DIS your opinion piece: Sorry Mr. Brown, I gotta DIS your opinion piecebydarciecimaI have a thought or two aboutNeil Brown'sguest opinion column.I amdisappointedby what is said by many of those who will establish recently approved charters. When asked what is special about their school’s program, they often say something like: “We plan to hire high-quality teachers and have longer hours.” My former students would call that a “duh” statement — their fancy ... more »

The Educated Reporter: As Guiding Lights, Charter Schools Struggle to Shine

The Educated Reporter: As Guiding Lights, Charter Schools Struggle to Shine:

As Guiding Lights, Charter Schools Struggle to Shine

by Emily Richmond

I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about charter schools, particularly in light of what’s happening in the Windy City. A recent study of Chicago Public Schools found that its charter school students were not doing any better than their peers at traditional neighborhood campuses, and, in some cases, were actually performing significantly worse. (Click here for the Chicago Tribune article.)

Earlier this month, less than two weeks after the study was released, CPS announced it planned to add 12 more charter schools. Why, exactly, would you want to add more charter schools when the ones you already have seem to be more struggling than stellar?

The findings in Chicago mirror charter school outcomes in other cities and states. Recent studies have

LAUSD'S ATTEMPT TO IMPLEMENT HEALTHY SCHOOL LUNCHES IS A PREDICTABLE FAILURE - Perdaily.com

LAUSD'S ATTEMPT TO IMPLEMENT HEALTHY SCHOOL LUNCHES IS A PREDICTABLE FAILURE (INTENTO LAUSD para implementar ALMUERZOS SALUDABLES DE LA ESCUELA ES UN FRACASO PREVISIBLE) - Perdaily.com:

LAUSD'S ATTEMPT TO IMPLEMENT HEALTHY SCHOOL LUNCHES IS A PREDICTABLE FAILURE (INTENTO LAUSD para implementar ALMUERZOS SALUDABLES DE LA ESCUELA ES UN FRACASO PREVISIBLE)

by Leonard Isenberg

(Mensaje se repite en Español)

(For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)

LAUSD reports that its change of menu for its students has not been received with much success. Maybe this has something to do with a complete and longstanding inability by LAUSD leadership to create the requisite culinary knowledge and taste that it must build in the communities where it schools exist in order for students to want to eat a wholesome diet.

Poor diet is just another indicator of an educational and social system designed to destroy instead of nurture minority and poor children. Eating wholesome food is a learned characteristic of any society that completely educates - in the

2011 Unpublished GQ Interview [Mr. Vilson vs. Jose Part 3] | The Jose Vilson

2011 Unpublished GQ Interview [Mr. Vilson vs. Jose Part 3] | The Jose Vilson:

2011 Unpublished GQ Interview [Mr. Vilson vs. Jose Part 3]

by Jose

Mr. Vilson (left) vs. Jose (right)

For some reason, GQ Magazine (Yes, Gentlemen’s Quarterly) decided not to publish their interview with me for Man of the Year 2011. Those of us who’ve been occupying and marching on Washington, DC, got a little shine via Time Magazine’s Person of the Year issue as “The Protestor.” Obviously, we can do better. I know, I know. I’m as disappointed as you are. At some point, I’m hoping teachers get some props nationwide. But at least they passed me the first draft of the interview, and here’s what we came up with. Enjoy.

Interviewer: We have in this chair, Jose Vilson, writer, activist, and Spongebob enthusiast. He’s been rather critical of the testing industry and the proliferation of corporate rule in public schools. In the other chair, we have Mr. Vilson, math coach and teacher in a NYC public school. He handles data, technology, and a plethora of other hats, or should I say Kangols, for his school. Let’s start with this question: what’s it like working for one of

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Reflections on my Schools

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Reflections on my Schools:

Reflections on my Schools

by Michael Rice

I have not really contributed much to this blog so far this school year. Since we are almost finished with first semester, I would like to share some thoughts and observations about Ingraham and Rainier Beach.

I can see why there was such outrage at Ingraham last year over the termination of Mr. Floe. He is a very good principal (and in case Mr. Floe reads this, I’m not just saying it because he is my evaluator!!!) He is a very strong leader, but at the same time gives the staff as much freedom as they need to do what is best to educate the students. He has assembled a very strong faculty who really knows what they are doing. This strength goes beyond the faculty and includes the other administrators and support staff. I am very impressed and I feel very supported. There is calmness to Ingraham that I feel that makes it easy to teach.

I have the same schedule that I had last year. I am teaching Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and Algebra 2 Honors. My

Charter Schools Rarely Closed For Academic Performance: Report:

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Charter Schools Rarely Closed For Academic Performance: Report

Posted: 12/21/11 08:18 PM ET

In nearly two decades, only 3 percent of charter schools have ever been closed for underperforming, according to a new report released Tuesday.

The Center for Education Reform, a pro-charter advocacy group, traced charter-school closures since 1992 in what it called the "first-ever national analysis" of its kind. It found that 15 percent of 6,700 charter schools have been shuttered, and 18 percent of those closures were attributed to academic underperformance. Other prevalent reasons charter schools were closed include financial deficiencies (41.7 percent), mismanagement (24 percent), district-related issues and facilities problems.

The data is key to deciphering whether charter schools -- which are publicly funded but can be independently run -- are holding up their end of the

#EDreform Only the strongest will survive

Sacramento Press / The Occupy movement struggles to resonate within the black community #ows

Sacramento Press / The Occupy movement struggles to resonate within the black community:

The Occupy movement struggles to resonate within the black community

by Rashad Baadqir, published on December 21, 2011 at 4:33 PM

For the past few months cities across America have seen crowds of protestors taking to the streets angered by the state of the U.S. economy in the wake of noticeable corporate greed, Wall Street failures, and home lending corruption scandals to name a few gripes. In what has become known as the “Occupy Wall Street” or “OWS” movement, citizen discourse has largely become a protest of “We won’t take it anymore” politics, against the widening wealth divide and continued mistrust of a political system. A type of corporate-political combo agenda that has seemingly sold out main