Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Big Education Ape Nite Cap 10-2-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2



James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP



School Tech Connect: Put This In A Time Capsule

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 minutes ago
School Tech Connect: Put This In A Time Capsule: Put This In A Time Capsule by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) *Unfortunately Tim you are probably right but I bet he doesn't have to wait for one of these babies!* With all due respect to the great scholar and activist and utterly fearless woman receiving the award, I'm just going to predict that the presenter will someday present a similar award to Arne Duncan.

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Top 5 Popular Posts from September 2012!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 44 minutes ago
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Top 5 Popular Posts from September 2012!: Top 5 Popular Posts from September 2012! by Lisa M *Here are the Top 5 posts from September all in one place! Enjoy!* Standardized Testing Stole Our Day! *I planned in advance and completely forgot that we were having the standardized Math test today! Bummer!* *Wonderful plans put on hold....* * This is what my students and I lost today because Standardized testing took a day from us...* #Why I Don't Use Technology: Anti-Tech Teachers Lament Has No Standing! * * *The conversation went something like this... more »

Gov. Brown signs, vetoes, student discipline bills - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 58 minutes ago
Gov. Brown signs, vetoes, student discipline bills - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools: Gov. Brown signs, vetoes, student discipline bills By Katy Murphy Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012 at 10:21 am in Uncategorized. Public Counsel, a non-profit law firm that has promoted an overhaul of school discipline policy, released this summary of bills signed and vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown. Note: The descriptions of each bill are theirs, not mine. Bills Brown has signed: - *AB 1729* by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) changes existing law to strengthen ... more »

Diane in the Afternoon10-2-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: Millions of Federal $$$ Wasted in Louisiana by dianerav When reformers say that New Orleans is a success, bear in mind that it is a low-performing district in a low-performing state, ranked 69th out of 70 districts in Louisiana. In addition, New Orleans got many millions in federal grants and private philanthropy to “prove” that privatization works. A reader from Louisiana writes: * http://www2.ed.gov/programs/teacherincentive/2012awards.html* I was just studying the Louisiana grants awarded this round and back in 2010. Astounded at the amounts of money comin... more »

Local School Wellness Policy - Healthy Eating & Nutrition Education (CA Dept of Education)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Local School Wellness Policy - Healthy Eating & Nutrition Education (CA Dept of Education): Local School Wellness PolicyInformation and resources on the Local School Wellness Policy, Section 204 of the Child Nutrition and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act of 2004 and the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. ------------------------------ Child Nutrition and Women, Infants and Children’s Reauthorization Act of 2004The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 mandated that all local educational agencies participating in a federal meal reimbursemen... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Why no one in his right mind should believe the school grades OR the teacher growth scores

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
NYC Public School Parents: Why no one in his right mind should believe the school grades OR the teacher growth scores: Why no one in his right mind should believe the school grades OR the teacher growth scores by Leonie Haimson The new DOE school grades for elementary and middle schools, euphemistically called “Progress reports,” came out with much fanfare, with 217 schools potentially put on the closing list because they either received failing grades or three “Cs” in a row, more than ever before. As parent leader Shino Tanikawa pointed out in theNew York Post, DOE is using un... more »

Jersey Jazzman: They Do Not Think Teachers Are Professionals

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: They Do Not Think Teachers Are Professionals: They Do Not Think Teachers Are Professionals by Duke I have to wonder: would we treat plumbers this way? The director of Louisiana’s controversial new system to evaluate public school teachers had her own teaching certificate lapse. “My teaching certificate is not active right now,” said Molly Horstman, who oversees the new review setup that state officials call Compass, Thursday. Horstman, who spent two years in a New Orleans classroom, said the lack of a teaching certificate has nothing to do with her current post, w... more »

Congressman announces $100,000 grant for charter school that fails Latinos and children with special needs - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Congressman announces $100,000 grant for charter school that fails Latinos and children with special needs - Wait, What?: Congressman announces $100,000 grant for charter school that fails Latinos and children with special needs by jonpelto [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] This afternoon, Congressman John Larson announced that the Jumoke Academy will be getting a $100,000 grant to support the charter school’s efforts to take over the Milner School, one of Hartford’s public schools. Along with the press release, Congressman Larson said, “I know this fun... more »

Q and A. Pension cost shift. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Q and A. Pension cost shift. « Fred Klonsky: Q and A. Pension cost shift. by Fred Klonsky *Question:* *So if the pension costs are shifted to the local districts, what mechanism or law will prevent them from also not funding the system? Why can’t they do like the state and ignore their obligations?* *- Edie Wade* *Answer:* *Dear Edie,* *Disclaimer: This is from an English teacher’s perspective and not from a lawyer’s analysis:* *“The State shall provide for an efficient system of high quality public educational institutions and services… The State has the primary responsibility for... more »

Hybrids of History Teaching | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Hybrids of History Teaching | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Hybrids of History Teaching by larrycuban Why do most history teachers (past and present) use teacher-directed ways of teaching with a small minority diverging from their colleagues? One answer looks at how external testing, state academic standards, federal accountability regulations, teacher certification, and the unofficial national curriculum of Advanced Placement influence what teachers present. These largely unnoticed structures in the policy landscape set the boundaries within which teachers ... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Kaiser's "F" bomb on Latino leaders reveals his ties to DeVos family

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Kaiser's "F" bomb on Latino leaders reveals his ties to DeVos family: Kaiser's "F" bomb on Latino leaders reveals his ties to DeVos family by Mike Klonsky Michael KaiserMichael Kaiser, president of the Kennedy Center,responded to criticism of the Center's anti-Latino biasby telling National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts Chairman Felix Sanchez to "go fuck yourself." While Kaiser, who fancies himself a Kennedy liberal, was forced to apologize, he remains atop the prestigious, heavily endowed, cultural awards group. But a closer look at the Cente... more »

School Funding Inequity Forces Poor Cities Like Reading, Pa., To Take Huge Cuts

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago
School Funding Inequity Forces Poor Cities Like Reading, Pa., To Take Huge Cuts: School Funding Inequity Forces Poor Cities Like Reading, Pa., To Take Huge Cuts by Joy Resmovits [image: School Funding Reading] READING, Pa. -- The day before school starts, 8-year-old Tianna wakes up worried. She's worried about the cafeteria food that she receives for free, because usually "it's nasty." She's worried about making friends, since she'll be in a new school. But most of all, she's worried about where all the fired teachers will go. "When we were at assembly, I learned that people didn... more »

Mother Crusader: I Made The Honor Roll

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 hours ago
Mother Crusader: I Made The Honor Roll: I Made The Honor Roll by darciecima On school mornings my alarm goes off about 7:15 and my girls climb into bed with me for a quick snuggle before we get up and get going. I usually check my email as we lie in bed. I follow Diane Ravitch's blog, as I am sure many of you do, and get email notifications whenever she posts. I am often amazed at how late and/or how early she has posted, and wonder when this amazing woman sleeps! When I read the title of an email from 7:04 this morning my heart stopped. A New Jersey Mom: Another Hero of Pu... more »

Can We Exorcize "Evil" From the Education Reform Debate? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Can We Exorcize "Evil" From the Education Reform Debate? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Can We Exorcize "Evil" From the Education Reform Debate? by Anthony Cody Follow me on Twitter at @AnthonyCody Advocates of education "reform" are reeling a bit from the backlash that has greeted the release of "Won't Back Down." All of a sudden mainstream critics were seen pointing out connections between the movie's financial backers and the political agenda it advanced. Amidst this shift we are hearing calls that critics of "reform" cool our tone. Daniel Willingham writes here... more »

Overview | Keep America Beautiful :: Recycle-Bowl :: School Recycling Competition

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Overview | Keep America Beautiful :: Recycle-Bowl :: School Recycling Competition: [image: Keep America Beautiful Presents Recycle-bowl Competition Sponsored by Nestle Waters] WHY RECYCLE-BOWL? Recycling is the easiest and most effective thing that ANYONE can do to protect natural resources, conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions. Recycling also creates jobs and stimulates our economy. And, friendly competition is a proven way to motivate young people toward adopting sustainable behaviors. Many schools have been slow to embrace recycling. Through Recycle-Bowl, we hope to gal... more »

Teachers Don't Suck !: Fear of Firing

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 6 hours ago
Teachers Don't Suck !: Fear of Firing: Fear of Firing by Walt S. I read an article on the front page of the Ledger on September 24th. It was lengthy so let me summarize. It pertained to a law suit regarding the firing of Mr. Jose Cotto, a non tenured Newark Public School teacher. Mr. Cotto received a death threat from a student during class. The boy was sent out of class only to return a short time later. Mr. Cotto, fearing for his safety, called the Newark Police who where turned away when they arrived at

Missouri Education Watchdog: Meet the New Boss (Sir Michael Barber)...Same As the Old Boss (Marc Tucker)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: Meet the New Boss (Sir Michael Barber)...Same As the Old Boss (Marc Tucker): Meet the New Boss (Sir Michael Barber)...Same As the Old Boss (Marc Tucker) by stlgretchen Popout *Education Reform: We "won't get fooled again"...or will we?* Who is Sir Michael Barber from England and why is he directing educational directives in the United States? It's because education is global now. He's accomplishing what Marc Tucker tried to implement in the 90'sbut was thwarted by Liz Cheney. (Where is Liz Cheney's voice in this global takeover of education today a... more »

National School Boards Action Center » Making Education a Major Priority: An Election Year Message to President Obama and Governor Romney

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
National School Boards Action Center » Making Education a Major Priority: An Election Year Message to President Obama and Governor Romney: National School Boards Action Center Calls on Obama and Romney to Focus on Public Education *Contact:* Linda Embrey press@nsbac.org (703) 838-6737 Alexandria, Va. (October 1, 2012) – In anticipation of the upcoming presidential candidates’ debates, the *National School Boards Action Center ** (NSBAC), a *new 501(c)(4) organization founded by the National School Boards Association (NSBA), has released *a report, *“*An Election Year Message to Pre... more »

Civil Rights Icon Rejects Anniversary of University Integration | Common Dreams

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Civil Rights Icon Rejects Anniversary of University Integration | Common Dreams: Civil Rights Icon Rejects Anniversary of University Integration James Meredith, first African-American to attend University of Mississippi, refuses to partake in commemoration. - Common Dreams staff As the University of Mississippi celebrates the 50th anniversary of its integration, James Meredith—the man who risked life and limb to be the first African-American to attend the school—refuses to partake in the commemoration. Meredith sits alone on his first day of classes at the University of Mississippi... more »

UPDATE: The in box. What does testing and test prep cost in money and time? « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
The in box. What does testing and test prep cost in money and time? « Fred Klonsky: The in box. What does testing and test prep cost in money and time? by Fred Klonsky *Madame President-* *Last night I received the letter from Executive Vice Presidet Lawrence that the AFT Educational Issues depart, in tandem with the Legislative Department, will implement the actions of “Resolution #5″ to design guidelines and draft legislation for a total cost analysis of testing in our schools.* *I just wanted to thank you and the others on the Executive Council for all your efforts on this. I... more »

UPDATE: A Short History (and the future) of School Desegregation - Dana Goldstein

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
A Short History (and the future) of School Desegregation - Dana Goldstein: A Short History (and the future) of School Desegregation by Dana Goldstein *The Guardian* asked me to respond to a British educator's public comments in favor of American style school busing. I hope the piece is a good overview of the history of school desegregation efforts, as well as the movement's future. This is all very timely in the American context, as well; the latest report from the Civil Rights Project at UCLA shows deepening school segregation, especially for Latino children in the South and West... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, October 2, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Register to Vote Education Headlines *Tuesday, October 2, 2012* Olympic High School teacher Skip Weinstock makes a difference in his students' livesSkip Weinstock said he stayed at Olympic Continuation High School, for more than four decades because he is committed to working with those who have struggled in life. The school accepts students who are behind in credits or who have difficulty fitting in at traditional high schools for a variety of reasons. Camp: Should California’s teachers vote with the governor?Should teachers vot... more »

Daily Kos: On "Reform" and the "Public" in Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 hours ago
Daily Kos: On "Reform" and the "Public" in Education: On "Reform" and the "Public" in Education byplthomasEdDFollow 3 PERMALINK1 COMMENT U.S. public education appears in dire need of reform. To address that problem central to the health of America's democracy and economy (reformers note), committees must be formed and solutions proposed and then implemented: "That it is expedient to hold a conference of school and college teachers of each principal subject which enters into the programmes of secondary schools in the United States and into the requirements for admission to coll... more »

Reformers Could Use a History Lesson – SchoolBook

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Reformers Could Use a History Lesson – SchoolBook: Reformers Could Use a History Lesson by Sonia E. Murrow We are teacher educators who have one eye on schooling in the present and the other on the history of education. We can’t help noticing that while many contemporary reform proposals are presented as radically novel, in fact, they have historical precedents. For example, supporters of school vouchers rarely acknowledge that Southern legislatures initiated voucher programs to fund white students’ attendance at private schools that were exempt from the Brown v Board of Education ... more »

Oct 2 2012: Team Vallas continues to take Bridgeport teachers off teaching duties to apply textbook barcodes - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Oct 2 2012: Team Vallas continues to take Bridgeport teachers off teaching duties to apply textbook barcodes - Wait, What?: Oct 2 2012: Team Vallas continues to take Bridgeport teachers off teaching duties to apply textbook barcodes by jonpelto *File this one under, How do these school administrators keep their jobs?* Team Vallas watchers will recall that earlier this year, Bridgeport purchased more than $10 million in new textbooks. And over the last six weeks, Bridgeport teachers have spent literally hundreds of hours putting barcodes on those books so that they could finally be ... more »

Modern School: 40 Years of Declining Wages & Living Conditions

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Modern School: 40 Years of Declining Wages & Living Conditions: 40 Years of Declining Wages & Living Conditions by Michael Dunn Huck/Konopacki Labor Cartoons Increased productivity (i.e., goods and services produced per hour worked) is the theoretical basis for improved living standards under capitalism. This is because with increased productivity employees can work fewer hours to accomplish more and/or earn more money per hour worked since they are producing more. However, it is only in theory that their living standards improve since their compensation and working conditions (incl... more »

A Call to Reclaim the Banner of Reform - Bridging Differences - Education Week

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
A Call to Reclaim the Banner of Reform - Bridging Differences - Education Week: A Call to Reclaim the Banner of Reform by Pedro Noguera My Dear Deb, While I appreciate a good debate I can't let you put me in the position of being regarded as anti-teacher or anti anti-teacher union. I have too long a history of defending teachers and their unions in print, in speech, and in action. I have also written about the role of teachers in school reform, and I have nothing but praise for the Chicago Teachers Union. I know that like the United Federation of Teachers in New York, they are th... more »

Bullying Resources, Education 

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Bullying Resources, Education : - [image: KCRA-KCRA.com] KCRA 3 to air one-hour bullying special Bullying, it’s not a one size fits all problem and there are no easy solutions. But it’s a problem that can no longer be ignored. [image: Yoursphere Logo] Cyberbullying: 5 Steps to combating, documenting While starting a new school year can be exciting and fun, it can also be tough for children of any age -- dealing with new teachers and new students, and continuing the friendships (and rivalries) that they formed during the previous year. But these days it... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Banda's Letter to APP Families

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Banda's Letter to APP Families: Banda's Letter to APP Families by Charlie Mas Superintendent Banda has sent a letter to APP @ Lincoln families that outlines the plans for north-end elementary APP. The letter also reveals a lot about the District's process. The letter reads, in part: Specifically regarding the APP program, I want to provide the following updates: - APP students will remain at Lincoln for the next five school years, including this year. - If BEX IV is approved, staff recommend moving the current north end APP element... more »

Diane Ravitch Talks School Reform, the Chicago Strike, and the "Testing Vampire"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Diane Ravitch Talks School Reform, the Chicago Strike, and the "Testing Vampire": *Diane Ravitch Talks School Reform, the Chicago Strike, and the "Testing Vampire"* ABBY RAPOPORT OCTOBER 1, 2012 Diane Ravitch is famous for two things: championing the education reform movement, then leading the opposition to it. The movement, which broadly supports an agenda that emphasizes student assessment (a.k.a. testing) and school choice (a.k.a. charter schools), has come to dominate American education policy. For the most part, both Democrats and Republicans now push to make school syst... more »

Morning UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 10-2-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Putting a Stake in the Heart of the Vampire by dianerav On Sunday evening, after I spoke to the joint meeting of the Texas School Boards Association and the Texas Association of School Administrators, and after I spoke to parents and teachers at Eastside Memorial High School, I met Abby Rappaport, who writes for The American Prospect. Abby knows Texas politics well. She asked me many good questions, and reprinted a slightly edited version of the interview. I boiled down everything I said to TSBA and TASA i... more »

State senator on why he opposes amendment: Best charter schools are those approved by local boards, not state. | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
State senator on why he opposes amendment: Best charter schools are those approved by local boards, not state. | Get Schooled: State senator on why he opposes amendment: Best charter schools are those approved by local boards, not state. by Maureen Downey [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] Yesterday, I posted *a pro charter amendments piece by two Georgia House members*. Now, here is a piece in opposition by a Senate member, state Sen. Steve Henson of DeKalb, the leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus. By Steve Henson As we approach the Nov. 6th general el... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Current TV on Parent Trigger and "Won't Back Down"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
NYC Public School Parents: Current TV on Parent Trigger and "Won't Back Down": Current TV on Parent Trigger and "Won't Back Down" by Leonie Haimson Check out "Public MisEducation": the Young Turks with Cenk Uygur, from Current TV on the "Parent Trigger," the propaganda film "Won't Back Down" and its producer, right-wing privateer Philip Anschutz. Popout

Defending Teachers and Teaching | California Progress Report

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
Defending Teachers and Teaching | California Progress Report: Defending Teachers and Teaching by callen *By Mark Naison* Every day, for the past year, I have posted something on Facebook, or on With A Brooklyn Accent, to uplift the morale of teachers I am in touch with, in every part of this nation, who feel demoralized by the relentless pressure they feel to solve problems not of their making. Sometimes I tell stories about great teachers; sometimes I make fun of teachers' enemies; sometimes I tell stories which reveal that that racism and poverty are so deeply rooted in our histo... more »

Why We Sing : blue cheddar

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
Why We Sing : blue cheddar: Why We Sing by Worley Dervish As an ever-more-deeply-invested participant in the Solidarity Sing Along, I’ve been thinking lately about why we sing, why we’ve chosen this particular form of expression. Just what’s going on here? Why do we keep coming back? What exactly are we accomplishing? I don’t think of what we do as protest, because it’s so much more than that. Certainly there are plenty of things going on in our state worthy of protest. But our singing is also a communal affirmation of our hopes, our values, our longing for justice, truth, and de... more »

Guide For Principals To Screw Teachers southbronxschool.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
http://www.southbronxschool.com: Guide For Principals To Screw Teachers by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) A very interesting item came across the SBSB news desk over the weekend. Apologies if this information we have is already known. In 2010 NYC DOE very well paidconsultant and retired principal, Joseph Belesi presented some workshops on how principals can be rid of tenured teachers. Entitled, "Performance Management," Belesi and his cronies presented a treasure trove to principals. A step by step guide on how to get rid of "incompetent" teachers. The Crack Team is in posses... more »

NYC Educator: ATR Spotlight on Movies

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
NYC Educator: ATR Spotlight on Movies: ATR Spotlight on Movies by NYC Educator *By special guest film reviewer Suddenly ATR* In light of the recent Chicago Teacher Union strike and the film Won't Back Down, I recently re-watched a movie that showed many of the problems of the Chicago public school education system but didn't manage to demonize anyone. What movie was this? None other than the classic documentary "Hoop Dreams." Hoop Dreams was released in 1994 but it feels like it could have been shot today. I won't bore anyone with the details of the movie, since it is so well-kno... more »

CAN LAUSD DYSFUNCTION CONTINUE IF PROPOSITIONS 30 & 38 FAIL? - Perdaily.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
CAN LAUSD DYSFUNCTION CONTINUE IF PROPOSITIONS 30 & 38 FAIL? - Perdaily.com: CAN LAUSD DYSFUNCTION CONTINUE IF PROPOSITIONS 30 & 38 FAIL? by Leonard Isenberg [image: Pat Brown.jpg] *(Mensaje se repite en Espaรฑol) (For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)* *Prop 30 & 38 are a Sophie's Choice: Either pass one or both of these flawed propositions to supposedly bail out a purposefully de-funded public education system made so by the richest in this state and the oil industry not *

Evergreen Park teachers hit the bricks over salary and evaluations. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
Evergreen Park teachers hit the bricks over salary and evaluations. « Fred Klonsky: Evergreen Park teachers hit the bricks over salary and evaluations. by Fred Klonsky Union teachers in Evergreen Park, a south suburban working class school district, are walking the picket lines this morning. It is the third Chicago area teacher strike in the past month. Highland Park and Crystal Lake may be next. They follow Lake Forest. And of course, Chicago. The strike is over two issues. Salary and benefits are a usual sticking point in negotiations. Evergreen Park has Tony at the Red Line Ta... more »

On Junot Diaz, The Kennedy Center and Affirmative Action [Latino History Series] | The Jose Vilson

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
On Junot Diaz, The Kennedy Center and Affirmative Action [Latino History Series] | The Jose Vilson: On Junot Diaz, The Kennedy Center and Affirmative Action [Latino History Series] by Jose Junot Diaz An awesome thing happened today when Junot Diaz, author of the meritorious and raw *The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao* and more recently *This Is How You Lose Her*, won the MacArthur Award / Grant. As a fellow Dominican, my initial thought was, “Watch how many new cousins, aunts, and former lovers he suddenly has after the news breaks out.” My second, and more important, thought w... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Test-based evals, 'merit" pay at issue in Evergreen Park strike

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Test-based evals, 'merit" pay at issue in Evergreen Park strike: Test-based evals, 'merit" pay at issue in Evergreen Park strike. by Mike Klonsky Passing cars honk in support of Evergreen Park teachersAs Chicago teachers prepare to vote today on their new contract, teachers and support staff in the predominantly white, working-class Chicago suburb of Evergreen Park went on strike this morning. Negotiations have been dragging on since April. Highland Park and Crystal Lake teachers could follow suit later this month if they are still without a decent co... more »

Big Education Ape Nite Cap UPDATE 10-1-12 #SOSCHAT #CTUSTRIKE

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
*Nite Cap UPDATE* *UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* Poor Boxoffice for Anti-Union Film by dianerav The film “Won’t Back Down,” which publicizes the idea that parents should seize control of their public school and turn it over to a charter operator, has been heavily promoted. The movie was shown at both national political conventions by Michelle Rhee; it had a glamorous opening in New York City and extensive publicity as part of NBC’s Education Nation, and full-page ads in major newspapers, as well as expensive ads on network television. But opening weekend for WBD was a disaster. Acc... more »

Last Stand for Children First: Won't Back Down: Time for Accountability Now

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Last Stand for Children First: Won't Back Down: Time for Accountability Now: Won't Back Down: Time for Accountability Now by Last Stand for Children The movie Won't Back Down makes a compelling case for accountability in our public schools. If schools aren't doing their job, why not turn the school over to a private company? It might be harsh, but schools exist for children after all. Don't we have a right to demand the best from our teachers? In Illinois, teachers who receive two unsatisfactory evaluations within a 7 year period can have their teaching certificate pulled. T... more »

President Obama to Establish Cรฉsar E. Chรกvez National Monument | The White House

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
President Obama to Establish Cรฉsar E. Chรกvez National Monument | The White House: President Obama to Establish Cรฉsar E. Chรกvez National Monument On October 8th, 2012, President Obama will travel to Keene, California to announce the establishment of the Cรฉsar E. Chรกvez National Monument. Years in the making, the monument – which will be designated under the Antiquities Act – will be established on the property known as Nuestra Seรฑora Reina de la Paz (Our Lady Queen of Peace), or La Paz. The La Paz property is recognized worldwide for its historic link to civil rights icon Cรฉsar E... more »

Students Last: Charter School Miracle?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Students Last: Charter School Miracle?: Charter School Miracle? by Students Last Some in the charter school business are praying for a miracle*Newark New Jersey - *Cory Booker, mayor of Newark, New Jersey, filed a petition with the Catholic Church urging that charter schools be deemed "miracles." "Charter schools are a blessing from God. The work they do is truly extraordinary," said an enthusiastic Booker on the steps of the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The petition is an unusual one for the mayor. "Well, I've been kissing their asses for so long, this was just the next... more »

The Illinois Constitution guarantees our pension but not the funding. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
The Illinois Constitution guarantees our pension but not the funding. « Fred Klonsky: The Illinois Constitution guarantees our pension. But not the funding. by Fred Klonsky In a previous post I said that it was my understanding that while the Illinois Constitution guarantees state employee pensions and guarantees that they may not be *diminished or impaired,* it does not guarantee that the state provide the funding. This is the basis for Democratic State Representative Elaine Nekritz and Governor Pat Quinn to advocate shifting the pension obligation from the state to local units o... more »

Home | Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Home | Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg: [image: Senator Darrell Steinberg]OCTOBER 2012 E-NEWSLETTER Dear Neighbor: Summer is officially over, and the change in season brings with it positive changes for Californians. Most notably, I have brought about reform to California's accountability system for public schools with my SB 1458 signed by the Governor last week. This measure improves the Academic Performance Index (API) by relying less on standardized bubble test scores and more on other important factors such as graduation rates, and student readiness for higher ed... more »








Big Education Ape 2nd Banana 9-29-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 9-22-12 Recap of Last Week's Best PostBig Education Ape 2nd Banana 9-15-12 Recap of Last Week's Best Post 






Big Education Ape Nite Cap 9-22-12 #CTUSTRIKE #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 9-21-12 #CTUSTRIKE #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 9-20-12 #CTUSTRIKE #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Education Ape Nite Cap 9-19-12 #CTUSTRIKE #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Ed Ape Nite Cap Chicago Delegates Vote to Suspend Strike DAY #9 9-18-12 #faircontractnow #CTUSTRIKE #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Ed Ape Nite Cap SPECIAL STRIKE EDITION DAY #8 9-17-12 #faircontractnow #CTUSTRIKE #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2Big Ed Ape Nite Cap SPECIAL STRIKE EDITION DAY #7 9-16-12 #faircontractnow #CTUSTRIKE #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

 

School Tech Connect: Put This In A Time Capsule

School Tech Connect: Put This In A Time Capsule:


Put This In A Time Capsule

Unfortunately Tim you are probably right but
 I bet he doesn't have to wait for
 one of these babies!
With all due respect to the great scholar and activist and utterly fearless woman receiving the award, I'm just going to predict that the presenter will someday present a similar award to Arne Duncan.

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Top 5 Popular Posts from September 2012!

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Top 5 Popular Posts from September 2012!:


Top 5 Popular Posts from September 2012!


Here are the Top 5 posts from September all in one place! Enjoy!

Standardized Testing Stole Our Day!

I planned in advance and completely forgot that we were having the standardized Math test today! Bummer!
Wonderful plans put on hold....

This is what my students and I lost today because Standardized testing took a day from us...



#Why I Don't Use Technology: Anti-Tech Teachers Lament Has No Standing!


The conversation went something like this:
Teacher: Do you know he

Gov. Brown signs, vetoes, student discipline bills - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools

Gov. Brown signs, vetoes, student discipline bills - The Education Report - Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools:


Gov. Brown signs, vetoes, student discipline bills


By Katy Murphy
Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012 at 10:21 am in Uncategorized.
Public Counsel, a non-profit law firm that has promoted an overhaul of school discipline policy, released this summary of bills signed and vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown.
Note: The descriptions of each bill are theirs, not mine.
Bills Brown has signed:
  • AB 1729 by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) changes existing law to strengthen the alternatives to suspension or expulsion and clarify that school removals should only happen after other means of correction fail to bring about proper conduct.
  • AB 1909 by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) ensures that school districts provide notification to foster parents or other county child welfare designees and the court-appointed attorney for the foster youth when a foster youth is pending expulsion.
  • AB 2537 by Assemblymember V. Manuel Perez (D-Coachella) provides additional discretion to school administrators to use alternative means of correction in lieu of expulsion and further clarifies that possessing an imitation firearm, over-the-counter medicine or student’s prescription medicines are not “zero tolerance” offenses that automatically require expulsion. It also eliminates an existing $500 fine imposed on a principal who fail to notify law enforcement of certain crimes allegedly committed by students.
  • AB 2616 by Assemblymember Wilmer Carter (D-Rialto) will focus truancy reduction efforts on solutions with schools, students and parents that are shown to work, so that law enforcement and courts are used only as a last resort.
  • SB 1088 by Senator Curren Price (D-Los Angeles) helps ensure that children who have had contact with the juvenile justice system are not barred from re-enrollment and are immediately reenrolled in school.
He vetoed:
AB 2242, which would have limited the use of “willful defiance,” the education law category that accounts for more than 40 percent of California school children suspended.
SB 1235, which would have given an optional hand up to schools that suspend more than 25 percent of their student population through free regional trainings for school leaders.

UPDATE: Diane in the Afternoon10-2-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

Diane Ravitch's blog:




Good News in Indiana

A county judge in Indiana has ruled that the autocratic State Superintendent of Education Tony Bennett could not impose a standard contract on every district in the state that would have violated all existing contracts.
From the story:
“A county judge has ruled that a state-pushed standard teacher contract form that would have allowed Indiana school districts to change or increase their hours without paying them more is illegal.
Marion County Judge Patrick McCarty permanently barred the Indiana Department of Education and state 


A Refreshing View of the Importance of the Chicago Teachers’ Strike

Here is an excellent article that explains clearly why the strike was necessary. The article appears in the newsmagazine called F, published by the Art Institute of Chicago, a venerable institution.
Mayor Rahm said it was a “strike of choice.”
In this sense, he was right. The teachers could have just kept on teaching under dismal conditions for students, or they could strike and demand better conditions in the classrooms and schools for the students and teachers.
He chose to defend the status quo. The teachers said “no” to the status quo. They said the status quo was intolerable. And that is why they went on strike.



Millions of Federal $$$ Wasted in Louisiana

When reformers say that New Orleans is a success, bear in mind that it is a low-performing district in a low-performing state, ranked 69th out of 70 districts in Louisiana. In addition, New Orleans got many millions in federal grants and private philanthropy to “prove” that privatization works.
A reader from Louisiana writes:

http://www2.ed.gov/programs/teacherincentive/2012awards.html

I was just studying the Louisiana grants awarded this round and back in 2010. Astounded at the amounts of money coming from Feds to subversively promote their agenda. In 2010 New Schools For New Orleans received millions. Now, understand that NSNO is basically an arm of TFA. A major purpose of this grant is to develop effective CAREER teachers. I am going to file a public information Request to both the Feds and LDOE for the



The Bammy Awards

This was the first year of the Bammy awards, an effort to acknowledge educators who have achieved distinction in many different sectors of education. The Bammies are supposed to be the new equivalent of the Oscars for educators, presented by the Academy of Educational Arts and Sciences.
Emmy award-winning producer, broadcaster and journalist Errol St. Clair Smith organized this event, with red carpet, black tie and a sense of grandeur.
I was one of three who received awards for lifetime achievement. The others were


New York City’s Absurd School Grades

I live in a wonderful neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. For years, the local public school struggled. It had a poor reputation. Then a new principal arrived, attracted a stable and experienced staff, and the school flourished. Neighborhood families that once sought private school alternatives enrolled in the public school. It became the pride of the community.
A few years ago, when the city’s Department of Education started giving out letter grades to every public school, our neighborhood school got an A. Everyone was very proud. The mayor and the chancellor attended a ceremony 


After a Decade, Bloomberg Reforms Still Failing

Mayor Bloomberg prides himself on being data-driven. And he has certainly turned the public schools into data-obsessed institutions. Test scores rule all decisions. Accountability matters more than anything else.
One of the proudest achievements of Mayor Bloomberg and former Chancellor Joel Klein was the adoption of report cards for schools, with a single letter grade for each school. Unfortunately, the latest report cards show that the Mayor’s reforms have failed. The Mayor decreed that any school that received an F or a D or three 


Will the White House Listen?

A reader suggests we try these routes to get the attention of the White House. As you know, they take teachers and principals for granted and they don’t hear our voices. They assume our votes are already counted. Let’s help President Obama by contacting him and sending him a message.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petitions
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/how-why/frequently-asked-questions
Who will review petitions that cross the signature threshold?
The White House will convene a regular meeting with representatives from all of the major policy offices (like the National Economic Council, Domestic Policy Council and others) that will review petitions that have crossed the signature threshold for a response. This group will help determine which policy office in the White House or federal agency should review and respond to petitions and ensure that petition responses are posted as quickly as possible.



A Line in the Sand

The billionaires want charter schools in Washington State.
It is very distressing to them that the voters have already turned down charter schools three times. So they have put up a few millions to try again. This time the charter referendum closely tracks the rightwing ALEC model. It allows either a majority of parents or teachers to give away the public school to a private charter corporation, even if the school is a good school. It also creates a super-commission to create more charters over the opposition of local school boards.
These are mechanisms found in ALEC’s privatization model laws.
Here are the facts from Melissa Westbrook of “Say No on 1240,” the parent group that is fighting to protect 













Local School Wellness Policy - Healthy Eating & Nutrition Education (CA Dept of Education)

Local School Wellness Policy - Healthy Eating & Nutrition Education (CA Dept of Education):


Local School Wellness Policy

Information and resources on the Local School Wellness Policy, Section 204 of the Child Nutrition and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act of 2004 and the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.



Child Nutrition and Women, Infants and Children’s Reauthorization Act of 2004

The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 mandated that all local educational agencies participating in a federal meal reimbursement program establish a Local School Wellness Policy.


The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

On December 13, 2010, President Obama signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF) reauthorizing the Child Nutrition Programs. Section 204 added Section 9A to the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (Title 42, U.S. Code 1758b), Local School Wellness Policy Implementation. The provisions enhanced the previous Local School Wellness Policy requirements, strengthening requirements for ongoing implementation, assessment, and public reporting of wellness policies and expanding the team of collaborators participating in the wellness policy development to include more members from the community. The HHFKA now requires that the local school wellness policy, at a minimum, include:
  • Goals for nutrition promotion* and education, physical activity, and other school based-activities that promote student wellness.
  • Nutrition guidelines for all foods and beverages available on school campus during the school day.
  • Requirements that Stakeholders be provided opportunities to participate in the development, implementation*, and periodic review and update* of the wellness policy.
  • A plan for measuring effectiveness, that is measured periodically and that the assessment is made available to the public.*
  • Public notification informing and updating the public (parents, students, and others in the community) periodically about the content and implementation of the local school wellness policy.*
  • Local designation must include one or more local education agency officials or school officials to ensure that each school complies* with the local school wellness policies.
*These are new requirements.


Recommendations to Meet the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 Requirements

In Management Bulletin USDA-SNP-16-2011, Child Nutrition Reauthorization 2010: Local School Wellness Policies, the California Department of Education (CDE) recommended that districts become aware of the changes and have initiated review their Local School Wellness Policies during School Year 2012–13, and to the extent possible, have begun moving forward on implementing the new requirements. For example, districts needed to have been working toward developing a reasonable method to inform and update the public about their implementation of local wellness policies. Some suggestions included disseminating printed or electronic materials to their community and posting information on their district Web site.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Policy Memorandum SP 42-2011 External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF) provides more detailed information about the requirements and recommended actions for the School Year 2011–12. Districts may also find it helpful to consult the local school wellness policy reference materials and sample policies on the USDA FNSLocal School Wellness Policy External link opens in new window or tab. Web page.


Resources for Local School Wellness Policies


Guidance on Local School Wellness Policies
Model Policy Language
The California School Boards Association (CSBA) has developed the CSBA Sample Student Wellness Policy 5030 (Revised 7/11) External link opens in new window or tab. model policy language to meet the HHFKA requirements available on the CSBA Policy Development Web External link opens in new window or tab.page.
Local School Wellness Policy Directory
California districts can locate their wellness policy and other district wellness policies at the Dairy Council of California School Wellness Policies External link opens in new window or tab. Web page. Also included is a scoring and evaluation tool for nutrition education developed by the CDE as well as model nutrition education local school wellness policies.
National School Health Policy Database
The National Association of School Boards of Education External link opens in new window or tab. Web site provides the State School Healthy Policy database that includes laws and policies from 50 states.
Guidance for Local School Wellness Policy in After School Program
Afterschool Alliance developed this toolkit to highlight opportunities for afterschool leaders and advocates to become involved in and help shape the process of local school wellness policy along each step of the way. It is available on their Policy and Action Cente External link opens in new window or tab. Web page.
Local School Wellness Policy Enforcement
Change Lab Solutions (formerly N-Plan) Fact Sheet: How to Enforce a Wellness Policy: A Guide for Parents and Community Advocates, available on the Change Lab Solution’s How to Enforce a Wellness Policy External link opens in new window or tab. Web page, is designed to help parents and community advocates ensure that their district’s local school wellness policy is enforced.

Webinars on the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 -Changes to Local School Wellness Policy
The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) Webinars on Child Nutrition Reauthorization External link opens in new window or tab. Web page offers the Webinar series Child Nutrition Reauthorization: Putting the Act Into Action, which examines the provisions of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act and provides steps to make the provisions of the Act a success.
This FRAC Webinar features an overview of HHFKA (Child Nutrition Reauthorization); an outline of improvements to the child nutrition programs; highlights of the wellness policy parts that are immediately in effect or need immediate work by stakeholders; information on moving implementation forward in the best possible way and moving it quickly in states and communities; and a checklist of things to do. Select the following Webinar title to view:
This FRAC Webinar focuses on the improvements to the school nutrition environment through the HHFKA. These include: the additional six cents reimbursement for meals that meet the USDA’s new school meals nutrition standards, and implementation requirements for stronger competitive foods rules and wellness policies. Presenters from USDA’s FNS, Action for Healthy Kids, and FRAC provide details on the key provisions, next steps, and suggested implementation plans.

Wellness Policy Implementation
Tool kits for implementation
A number of tool kits for implementing local school wellness policies are provided at the Alliance for a Healthier Generation External link opens in new window or tab.Web site, including a School Wellness Council Toolkit that includes sample invitation letters and agenda. Join them to get access to their tools.

Wellness Policy Evaluation Tools (based on 2004 Requirements)
The Wellness School Assessment Tool (Well-SAT) External link opens in new window or tab. Web site provides[http://wellsat.org/] a free, online self-assessment tool to evaluate Local School Wellness Policies.
The UC Davis Center for Nutrition in Schools Web site offers a self-assessment tool called the University of California at Davis Rubric Tool on their District Wellness Policy Assessment External link opens in new window or tab. Web pageThe tool is formatted in a rubric format with a scoring system for districts to assess their local school wellness policies and programs related to nutrition.


General Resources

The resources provided below offer further information and guidance regarding local school wellness policies.

Federal Requirements of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act
Information on the requirements related to the HHFKA is provided at Child Nutrition Reauthorization 2010 (Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act) : Local School Wellness Policies External link opens in new window or tab. .

California Information
The CDE Local Wellness Policy—CalEdFacts Web page provides part of the information and media guide about education in the State of California. For similar information on other topics, visit the full CDE CalEdFacts Web page.
The CDE State Board of Education Policy Statements Web page provides descriptions of all of the policies issued by the State Board of Education related to local school wellness policies in California.
The California Department of Education Content Standards and Nutrition Education Resource Guide Web pages list all of the California education content standards, frameworks, and competencies.
The California Healthy Kids Resource Center External link opens in new window or tab. Web site provides an extensive categorized list of Local School Wellness Policy resources.

General Local School Wellness Policy Resources
The California PTA offers resources for parents on local school wellness policies and wellness councils, listed on theirCurrent Issues External link opens in new window or tab. Web page.
The Center for Disease Control provides many resources on local school wellness policies on their Local School Wellness Policy External link opens in new window or tab. Web page.
California Project LEAN External link opens in new window or tab. provides resources and toolkits on local school wellness policy implementation and monitoring on their Local School Wellness Policy External link opens in new window or tab. Web page.
The Healthy School Environment features many local school wellness policy resources on their Wellness Policy Resources External link opens in new window or tab.Web page, with a focus on fresh fruits and vegetables and farm to school.
The Action for Healthy Kids External link opens in new window or tab. Web site offers a searchable database on local wellness policy resources.
Related Content