ED Celebrates National Financial Literacy Month | ED.gov Blog

ED Celebrates National Financial Literacy Month | ED.gov Blog:

ED Celebrates National Financial Literacy Month

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Guest Blogger

Financial literacy plays an important role in promoting the financial health and stability of individuals, families, and our national economy. The economic crisis has highlighted how essential it is to have information, education, and tools to help people make informed financial decisions.

In honor of National Financial Literacy Month, experts from federal and state agencies and nonprofit, educational, and private sector organizations will be providing valuable resources to help Americans improve understanding of their personal finances throughout the month of April.

In support of this effort, The U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid plans to provide daily financial management advice for students and borrowers on Twitter. Over the course of April, you can follow @FAFSA  for information and resources on being financially savvy at all stages of your education.

Here are some topics we’ll discuss:

PREPARING

• Types of financial aid
• Comparing financial aid packages

APPLYING FOR AID

• Completing the FAFSA
• IRS Data Retrieval Tool

RECEIVING AID

• Maintaining your financial aid
• Keeping track of your student loans

REPAYMENT

• Know what you owe
• Flexible repayment options

We will close out the month by hosting our April edition of #AskFAFSA Office Hours which will focus on financial literacy topics.

We encourage you to join the conversation. Starting now, if you have advice or tips for ways students and borrowers can be smart about their finances, share them with us using the hashtag #dollarsense. We look forward to hearing from you!

Elizabeth Coogan is the Senior Advisor for Financial Literacy at Federal Student Aid

• Share

This entry was posted in Headlines, News and tagged FAFSA, Financial Literacy. Bookmark thepermalink.

How Do New Teacher Evaluation and Pay Models Affect Students? - Dana Goldstein

How Do New Teacher Evaluation and Pay Models Affect Students? - Dana Goldstein:

How Do New Teacher Evaluation and Pay Models Affect Students?

by Dana Goldstein

The Fordham Institute is a Washington education policy think tank that supports market-driven reforms. It has published a paper lauding the teacher pay system in Harrison District 2, which is one of the most unusual in the country: The Colorado Springs district has abolished seniority and education-based raises entirely, and now pays teachers exclusively according to how much they advance student achievement, as measured through state tests, district tests, student performance tasks, and classroom observations.
The problem is that the paper was written by Harrison's superintendent, Mike Miles, the man who crafted this system and has traveled the country promoting it. So although Fordham also published some interesting critiques of the Harrison plan by education professor Allan Odden, the entire endeavor fails to grapple fully with the discontents of the district's reform agenda.
In November 2010, while reporting a cover story in The American Prospect, I spent four days visiting Harrision 

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Diane Speaks

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Diane Speaks:

Diane Speaks

by Melissa Westbrook

I just wanted to put forth some of what Diane Ravitch talked about in her recent appearance here in Seattle at the elementary/middle school principals convention.

 

•  She opened by pointing to the Chehalis Caribbean band who had been entertaining the crowd beautifully as people filtered into the room.  To big applause she asked, "Where does that show up on a test?"

• She pointed out that no nation whose K-12 students are performing well are using any of the tactics/techniques being pushed here in the U.S.  Not charters, not frequent student/teacher testing, not merit pay and not vouchers.  

• She said that 40-50% of teachers leave within five years and there should be a way to make teaching more stable and attractive.  That said, she stated she could understand why, in the last five years, more teachers have left.  No one wants to be overworked, underpaid AND now, demonized by people who should know better. 

• She got a big laugh when she said that carrots and sticks were for donkeys, not people. 

• She received a big hand when she pointed out that a lot of ed reform takes away local control.  That's a 

Shanker Blog » Still In Residence: Arts Education In U.S. Public Schools

Shanker Blog » Still In Residence: Arts Education In U.S. Public Schools:

Still In Residence: Arts Education In U.S. Public Schools

by Matthew Di Carlo

There is a somewhat common argument in education circles that the focus on math and reading tests in No Child Left Behind has had the unintended consequence of generating a concurrent deemphasis on other subjects. This includes science and history, of course, but among the most frequently-mentioned presumed victims of this trend are art and music.
A new report by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) presents some basic data on the availability of arts instruction in U.S. public schools between 1999 and 2010.
The results provide only very mixed support for the hypothesis that these programs are less available now than they were prior to the implementation of NCLB.
Overall, as shown in the graph below, between 1999-00 and 2009-10, there wasn’t much of a decline in the proportion of elementary schools reporting that instruction was specifically available in music (94 percent in both years) and visual arts (a minor decrease from 87 to 83 percent). Most elementary schools provide instruction in these two “core” arts subjects. It is of course possible that music and visual arts instruction, though still available 

Diane Ravitch: Mississippi Charter schools a bad idea » Archive » Meridian Star

Mississippi Charter schools a bad idea » Archive » Meridian Star:

Mississippi Charter schools a bad idea

Diane RavitchSpecial to the Star

JACKSON — Mississippi is on the brink of passing legislation to permit privately-managed charter schools to open. This is a bad idea. Charter schools have been in existence for twenty years, and grand claims are made for them, but don’t believe the hype.

I live in New York City, where our mayor has opened over 100 charter schools. As they expand, they cause fragmentation in communities, as charters and public schools squabble over space and resources. Instead of people working together around common goals, they are jousting over students, resources, and facilities. Critics say that charters get preferential treatment, because of their wealthy backers. Some charter operators are expanding aggressively into neighborhoods where there is intense community opposition.

When charters close, either because of financial mismanagement or awful academic results, the students are left stranded. We see that now in New Orleans, where the closure of the Sojourner Truth Charter school has left students without teachers and without a meaningful education. In some ways, it’s like when Walmart comes to a region and the mom-and-pop stores; if Walmart 

Jersey Jazzman: War On Teachers=War On Women, Jersey Style

Jersey Jazzman: War On Teachers=War On Women, Jersey Style:

War On Teachers=War On Women, Jersey Style

by Duke

Josh Henne points out how Governor Christie seems to have a problem with women:

March is Women’s History Month. Unfortunately, it’s worth noting that Gov. Chris Christie’s own public history with women — through both word and deed — is pockmarked with marginalization, mockery and even malice.

It’s been this way right from the start. In 2010, with the stroke of a pen, Gov. Christie eliminated a $7.4 million budget line that provided basic reproductive health services. This money helped support critical care and cancer screenings for more than 135,000 patients. It covered clinical breast exams and Pap tests. When cutting this line item, Christie said it was necessary for “fiscal discipline.” Yet, research 

Divisive Right Wing Rhee Attacks Minnesota Teachers

MN Progressive Project:: StudentsFirst Attacks Minnesota Teachers:

StudentsFirst Attacks Minnesota Teachers by: dan.burns Mon Apr 02, 2012 at 09:36:41 AM CDT

Last week I got two items in the mail from something called "StudentsFirst." Here's one side of one of them: Don't those young'ns look thrilled, to be learning (and, presumably, crushing standardized tests) the StudentsFirst way! More below the fold.

dan.burns :: StudentsFirst Attacks Minnesota Teachers

The purpose of the mailings, was to try to get me to encourage Governor Dayton to sign H.F. 1870, which would allegedly "reform" teacher tenure.  One even has a couple of postcards, that I could just detach and mail.  (To be fair, I also get mailings from places like the Sierra Club, with the same kind of clip-and-send advocacy items.)  I didn't send them;  whether or not anybody else did,Dayton didn't go for it. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton said Friday that he won't sign legislation that would allow schools to lay off teachers based on factors other than seniority.The Democrat governor called the bill "more of a political ploy than a serious policy attempt" and said it was among several Republican initiatives introduced this year aimed at undermining teachers, public schools and unions. "It's just another round of onslaughts, all with the underlying premise that public schools are failing," the governor said during a news conference at the Capitol. Governor Dayton is spot-on, of course.  The real purpose of this legislation is to make it easier for districts to get rid of committed, experienced - and better-paid - teachers, and replace them with newbies that aren't ready to do much but try

Seattle Schools Community Forum: World Autism Awareness Day

Seattle Schools Community Forum: World Autism Awareness Day:

World Autism Awareness Day

by Melissa Westbrook

Today is the fifth annual World Autism Awareness Day.  The theme this year, from Autism Speaks, is Light It Up Blue with landmarks like the Empire State Building going blue tonight.  This starts a month of awareness events to shine a light on the issues around autism.  World autism Awareness Day was started in 2007 by the United Nations General Assembly.

It is estimated that 1 in every 88 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum.   That's about 1.5M Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control, it is the most prevalent developmental disorder to date.  Studies suggest that boys are more likely to be born with it than girls but girls appear to develop the more severe types of autism.

From the Autism Speaks website:

Will my child be able to attend school?
Most likely yes. Much depends on where your child falls on the spectrum, but with your support, as well as that 

ACCS Meeting Notice--Advisory Commission on Chart - Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (CA Dept of Education)

ACCS Meeting Notice--Advisory Commission on Chart - Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (CA Dept of Education):

CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

1430 N Street, Suite 5111
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-319-0827
Fax: 916-319-0175

Webcast of the ACCS Meeting

Meeting Notice
Advisory Commission on Charter Schools
An advisory body to the State Board of Education

Wednesday, April 11, 2012
9:00 a. m. ± – 4:30 p. m. ±

California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Room 1101
Sacramento, CA 95814-5901
916-322-6029

Commission Members

Julie Baltazar1
Vicki Barber
Brian Bauer
Gary Davis
Kelly Kovacic
John Porter
Mark Ryan
Christopher Thomsen
Curtis L. Washington

Liaison from the State Board of Education

Trish Williams

1 Represents the State Superintendent of Public Instruction

AGENDA

Call to Order

Salute to the Flag

Welcome and Introductions

Review and Adoption of Meeting Notes

Review/Reordering of the Meeting Agenda      

Public Comment2

Report of the Charter Schools Division Director

Report of the State Board of Education (SBE) Liaison

The primary areas of focus of the Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (ACCS) at this meeting are anticipated to be as listed. The actual allocation of time and order of consideration will be decided at the meeting.        

---

ITEM 1 (DOC; 164KB; 16pp.)

Type of Action: Action/Discussion

Subject: Consideration of Requests for Determination of Funding as Required for Nonclassroom-based Charter Schools Pursuant to California Education Code sections 47612.5 and 47634.2.

• Attachment 3 (XLS; 214KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 4 (XLS; 214KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 5 (XLS; 228KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 6 (XLS; 228KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 7 (XLS; 212KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 8 (XLS; 211KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 9 (XLS; 232KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 10 (XLS; 231KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 11 (XLS; 235KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 12 (XLS; 212KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 13 (XLS; 215KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 14 (XLS; 229KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 15 (XLS; 229KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 16 (XLS; 234KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 17 (XLS; 241KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 18 (XLS; 251KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 19 (XLS; 230KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 20 (XLS; 222KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 21 (XLS; 200KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 22 (XLS; 231KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 23 (XLS; 233KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 24 (XLS; 237KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 25 (XLS; 234KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 26 (XLS; 236KB; 8pp.)
• Attachment 27 (XLS; 232KB; 8pp.)

ITEM 2 (DOC; 113KB; 12pp.)

Type of Action: Action/Discussion

Subject: Consideration of Requests for Determination of Funding for Prior Years as required for Nonclassroom-based Charter Schools Pursuant to California Education Code sections 47612.5 and 47634.2, and California Code of Regulations Title 5 Section 11963.4(c).

• Attachment 3 (PDF; 356KB; 6pp.)

ITEM 3

Type of Action: Action/Discussion

Subject: Reconsideration of Requests for Determination of Funding for as required for Nonclassroom-based Charter Schools Pursuant to California Education Code sections 47612.5 and 47634.2, and California Code of Regulations Title 5 Section 11963.4(g).

ITEM 4

Type of Action: Action/Discussion

Subject: Ackerman Charter School District: Consider a Petition to Renew Districtwide Charter.

ITEM 5

Type of Action: Action/Discussion

Subject: Lifeline Education Charter School: Consider a Petition to Renew Charter Currently Authorized by the State Board of Education.

ITEM 6

Type of Action: Action/Discussion

Subject: Petition for Establishment of a Charter School under the Oversight of the State Board of Education: Consideration of the Multicultural Achievement Technology Teaching and Innovative Experiences Academy of Change, which was denied by the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education and the Los Angeles County Office of Education Board of Education.

ITEM 7

Type of Action: Action/Discussion

Subject: Long Valley Charter School: Consider a Material Revision of the Charter.

ITEM 8

Type of Action: Action/Discussion

Subject: Long Valley Charter School: Consider Issuing a Notice of Intent to Revoke Pursuant to California Education Code Section 47607(e).

ITEM 9

Type of Action: Action/Discussion

Subject: Doris Topsy-Elvord Academy: Consider Issuing a Notice of Violation Pursuant to California Education CodeSection 47607(d).

ACCS Topics of Interest or Questions

In addition to the above, the ACCS hereby provides notice that it reserves the right to consider and make recommendations at this meeting concerning other areas of the State Board of Education’s authority with respect to charter schools, which include but are not limited to:

• Taking appropriate action, including, but not limited to, revocation with respect to State Board-granted and locally granted charters under specific circumstances set forth in statute.
• Jointly with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, approving district-wide charter petitions when those petitions are determined to be satisfactory.
• Developing and adopting regulations to implement various provisions of the Charter Schools Act of 1992 (Part 26.8 of the Education Code, commencing with Section 47600). Approving or denying requests to waive otherwise applicable provisions of law based upon requests submitted by charter schools and other local education agencies.
• Assigning numbers to charter school petitions to ensure that the statutory cap on the number of charter schools is not exceeded.

---

THE ORDER OF BUSINESS MAY BE CHANGED WITHOUT NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the order of consideration of matters on this agenda may be changed without prior notice.

REASONABLE LIMITATIONS MAY BE PLACED ON PUBLIC TESTIMONY

The presiding officer of the Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (ACCS) reserves the right to impose reasonable time limits on public testimony to ensure that the agenda is completed.

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS MAY BE MADE

Consistent with the requirements of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, notice is hereby given that special presentations not mentioned in the agenda may be made at this meeting. However, any such presentation will be for information only.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION WILL BE PROVIDED FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY

Pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, any individual with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to attend or participate in this meeting of the Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (ACCS) may request assistance by contacting the Charter Schools Division at:

Charter Schools Division
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Suite 5401
Sacramento, CA 95814-5901
Phone: 916-322-6029
Fax: 916-322-1465

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information concerning this agenda, or to join the Advisory Commission on Charter Schools listserv, please contact:

Tina Simonoff
Charter Schools Division
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Suite 5401
Sacramento, CA 95814-5901
Phone: 916-322-6029
Fax: 916-322-1465
csimonoff@cde.ca.gov

This notice appears on the CDE Advisory Commission on Charter Schools Web page .

The Abysmal Track Record of CCSSI “Education Reformers” | Truth in American Education

The Abysmal Track Record of CCSSI “Education Reformers” | Truth in American Education:

The Abysmal Track Record of CCSSI “Education Reformers”

by James Bell

Jim Stergios takes us through some of the history in the Boston Globe:

Similar pushes for national standards, driven by various DC-based trade organizations, including Marc Tucker’s National Center on Education and the Economy, the Council of Chief State School Officers, the National Governors Association, and Clinton administration education officials who later migrated to Achieve, Inc., had been attempted in the 1990s and failed.
This recent drive for national standards reinvigorated a collection of unsuccessful DC-based players; and was fueled by more than $100 million from the Gates Foundation. A few years ago, I 

Jersey Jazzman: Smart ALEC in New Jersey

Jersey Jazzman: Smart ALEC in New Jersey:

Smart ALEC in New Jersey

by Duke

Chris Christie must be absolutely thrilled to be in Jerusalem today, so he doesn't have to answer to this superb report in the Star-Ledger from Salvador Rizzo:

A Star-Ledger analysis of hundreds of documents shows that ALEC bills are surfacing in New Jersey, where Republican Gov. Chris Christie is trying to remake the state, frequently against the wishes of a Democrat-controlled Legislature. 

Drawing on bills crafted by the council, on New Jersey legislation and dozens of e-mails by Christie staffers and others, The Star-Ledger found a pattern of similarities between ALEC’s proposals and several measures championed by the Christie administration. At least three bills, one executive order and one agency rule accomplish the same goals set out by ALEC using the same specific policies. In eight passages contained in those documents, New Jersey initiatives and ALEC 

Charter schools to refuse to admit students: speak English, their sexual orientation or other factors.

Limit to contract clauses proposed | Home | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA:

Limit to contract clauses proposed

BY MARK BALLARD

Capitol news bureau

April 02, 2012

17 COMMENTS

A state Senate committee approved legislation Thursday that would allow charter schools to refuse to admit students on the basis of their ability to speak English, their sexual orientation or other factors.

State Sen. A.G. Crowe, R-Slidell, said his bill is designed to ensure that executive branch agencies and local governments stop including bans on discrimination against characteristics not listed in state law as a condition for private companies to do business with their agencies.

The state Department of Education contracts with those seeking charter schools were the chief examples cited during testimony for Senate Bill 217. Gov. Bobby Jindal did not respond to requests for comment about calls to unilaterally strip the anti-discriminatory language from the department’s contract criteria.

On the other side, state Sen. Ed Murray, the only “no” in the 5-1 vote by 

Schools Matter: Teacher-rating plan flawed

Schools Matter: Teacher-rating plan flawed:

Teacher-rating plan flawed

by skrashen

As some of you may have noticed, I have tried publishing this letter before (USA Today). Fortunately, it will appear in the Chicago Sun-Times. Unfortunately it is applicable nearly everywhere in the US.

Published in the Chicago Sun-Times, April 2, 2012

Teacher-rating plan flawed

The Chicago Public Schools have decided that student test scores gains will be used as part of teacher evaluation [“Teacher ratings overhaul forges on despite lack of union approval, March 31].
Everything is wrong with this plan. A number of studies have shown that rating teachers using test score gains does not give consistent results. Different tests produce different ratings, and the same teacher’s ratings can vary from year to year, sometimes quite a bit.
In addition, using test score gains for evaluation encourages gaming the system, trying to produce increases in