Latest News and Comment from Education

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 11-13-12 AM Posts #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2



BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS


Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: "We don't need no stinkin' Open Meetings Act..."

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 31 minutes ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: "We don't need no stinkin' Open Meetings Act...": "We don't need no stinkin' Open Meetings Act..." by Mike Klonsky Public school teachers, students, parents and activists rally against school closings inside the lobby of the Hyatt Hotel on North St. Clair Street in Chicago. -- Chicago Tribune Here's Byrd-Bennett's response to the ongoing protests against the Gates-funded closing of 100 neighborhood schools, replacing them with privately-run charters: *CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett appointed a new “independent commission” to oversee school closings a... more »

Modern School: Sick Leave Abuse—The Latest in Teacher Bashing

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 36 minutes ago
Modern School: Sick Leave Abuse—The Latest in Teacher Bashing: Sick Leave Abuse—The Latest in Teacher Bashing by Michael Dunn 36% of teachers nationally were absent more than 10 days during the 2009-10 school year, according to Raegen T. Miller, Associate Director for Education Research at the Center for American Progress. Miller goes on to complain about how teacher absenteeism negatively affects student achievement and costs districts billions of dollars, implying that this is a big problem that needs to be addressed. While this statistic might seem high, it needs to be placed... more »

Time to Put Forward a New Reform Agenda - Bridging Differences - Education Week

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 42 minutes ago
Time to Put Forward a New Reform Agenda - Bridging Differences - Education Week: Time to Put Forward a New Reform Agenda by Pedro Noguera Deborah Meier—visionary teacher and founder of successful small schools in New York City and Boston—and Pedro Noguera—author and director of the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education—debate issues relevant to schools, teachers, and students. Dear Deborah, Well, we can let out a sigh of relief. Barack Obama won, and it wasn't even as close as many in the media predicted it would be. Nov. 6 was a great day, not only because the president was re... more »

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Celebrates 314 Schools as 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools | U.S. Department of Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Celebrates 314 Schools as 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools | U.S. Department of Education: U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Celebrates 314 Schools as 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools *Seven principals honored with Terrel H. Bell Award for outstanding leadership* NOVEMBER 13, 2012 *Contact: * Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today will honor 314 schools as 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools at an awards luncheon at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. The award honors public ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: FERPA Explained to Parents. A Crystal Ball Moment?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: FERPA Explained to Parents. A Crystal Ball Moment?: FERPA Explained to Parents. A Crystal Ball Moment? by stlgretchen **Will my child be successful in school? Look to the data....or maybe not? The Federal Government believes data is king and wants to track school children from birth through their lives for workforce development. It's shrouded as education reform, but it is really for the establishment of state longitudinal data systems to connect with various federal agencies and approved private firms to collect data on your child to establish a ma... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-13-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Testing Toddlers in Louisiana? by dianerav Louisiana plans to test 3- and 4-year- olds. This is out-of-control testing fanaticism. We have come to expect extremism in Louisiana. The state is placing its bets on high-stakes testing and privatization. Andrea Gabor, who writes about business and education, interviewed early childhood specialists in Louisiana. They think the people making the new laws and policies have no idea about child development. As one says, they think that there is no difference between... more »

Are teachers born (not made)?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Are teachers born (not made)?: Are teachers born (not made)? Posted by Valerie Strauss on November 13, 2012 at 4:00 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » Who should teach? Robert Bligh, former general counsel of the Nebraska Association of School Boards, looks at the issue in the context of the previous post about historian David McCullough’scomments about who should teach and who shouldn’t. (He said no professional teacher should have an education degree.) Bligh’s research interest involves th... more »

For-profit Career Education Corp. to close 23 campuses | California Watch

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
For-profit Career Education Corp. to close 23 campuses | California Watch: For-profit Career Education Corp. to close 23 campuses Erica Perez alejandrophotography/istockphoto.com For-profit college giant Career Education Corp. announced that it will close 23 of its 90 campuses and eliminate 900 jobs after the company reported a net loss this quarter of $33 million and a 23 percent drop in new student enrollment. The company, which owns six campuses in California, has not said which of its campuses will close, but stated in a disclosure to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ... more »

Like Florida, Virginia Takes Heat for Its Race-Based Education Goals | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Like Florida, Virginia Takes Heat for Its Race-Based Education Goals | Scathing Purple Musings: Like Florida, Virginia Takes Heat for Its Race-Based Education Goals by Bob Sikes The presidential election suppressed what would otherwise have been a firestorm into a two-day ho-hum. The Florida Board of Education’s decision to sign off on race-based school goals was quickly brushed aside as it didn’t sell newspapers like presidential politics will. But its in the news again as another state which President Obama carried, Virginia, now has similar goals in place. Like Florida, Virgi... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Newark Teachers Contract: Knowledge vs. Ignorance

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Newark Teachers Contract: Knowledge vs. Ignorance: Newark Teachers Contract: Knowledge vs. Ignorance by Duke Dr. Bruce Baker, professor of education and nationally recognized scholar on school finance, tweets about the Newark teachers contract: Voting to accept a contract which bases compensation on an eval system that doesn't exist is, well, problematic! From district (NPS) perspective, foolish as well. Can't determine budget impact of merit compensation w/o info on merit systm Only basis they can use is to "assume" that only X% can get bonuses and that Y% mus... more »

Election Affirms Education "Reform" A Beltway, Rich Person Fetish | OurFuture.org

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
Election Affirms Education "Reform" A Beltway, Rich Person Fetish | OurFuture.org: Election Affirms Education "Reform" A Beltway, Rich Person Fetish [image: Jeff Bryant's picture] By Jeff Bryant November 12, 2012 - 10:23pm ET In President Obama's stunningly convincing reelection, only part of his education policies got reaffirmed -- the part he talked about most of the time during the campaign. Meanwhile, the president's policies known to align with what is commonly called "education reform" -- which closely adheres to *Beltway conventional wisdom* and the *druthers of rich folk... more »

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS narrowly win approval in Washington | Local News | The Seattle Times

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
Charter schools narrowly win approval in Washington | Local News | The Seattle Times: *CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS narrowly win approval in Washington* * * [image: Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991] * * * * The Associated Press on Monday declared that the statewide CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS measure has passed. By Linda Shaw Seattle Times education reporter MOST POPULAR COMMENTS HIDE / SHOW COMMENTS Will the wealthy techies who spent millions to bankroll this initiative now provide the... (November 12, 2012, by decano) MORE The charter school backers are so upset with public ... more »

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 11-12-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
*Nite Cap UPDATE**UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE* The Shocking Things Schools Are — And Aren’t — Teaching by aristotlethewise *School Curriculums Face Controversial Changes Via Recent Bills, Legislation *** The Shocking Things Schools Are — And Aren’t — Teaching Over the past couple years, several states attempted — and in some instances, succeeded — in passing legislation that brought controversial changes to school curriculums. For instance, under Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal’s proposed sweeping new school voucher program, tens of millions of Louisiana taxpayer dollars will be use... more »

School Psychology Awareness Week: Know Your Own Strengths — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
School Psychology Awareness Week: Know Your Own Strengths — Whole Child Education: [image: ASCD Whole Child Bloggers]School Psychology Awareness Week: Know Your Own Strengths November 12, 2012 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers [image: School Psychology Awareness Week - NASP] This week whole child partner National Association of School Psychologists is hostingSchool Psychology Awareness Week. Designed around the theme "Know Your Own Strengths. Discover them. Share them. Celebrate them.," this year's program looks to help students and schools find and celebrate their strengths in the scho...more »

Jersey Jazzman: K12 Inc Comes Clean: "Reform" Is All About the $

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: K12 Inc Comes Clean: "Reform" Is All About the $: K12 Inc Comes Clean: "Reform" Is All About the $ by Duke Ken Libby points us to the transcript of a K12 Inc. conference call to investors. K12 is a charter school management company that specializes in "virtual" or "blended" learning, replacing brick-and-mortal schools with on-line instruction. NEPC released a report this past summer that shows K12's students fall further behind students in traditional schools. K12's school in Tennessee is under fire for poor performance, and critics in Florida say the schools the... more »

On "Failing" High Schools and Reform Churn-and-Burn: Two Case Studies - Dana Goldstein

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
On "Failing" High Schools and Reform Churn-and-Burn: Two Case Studies - Dana Goldstein: On "Failing" High Schools and Reform Churn-and-Burn: Two Case Studies by Dana Goldstein [image: Crenshaw] *Between periods at Crenshaw High School in South L.A., May 2011.* Let's say a certain school's reform plan has yielded measurable academic gains (especially for disabled students), a decrease in student suspensions and expulsions, and is enthusiastically supported by the principal, teachers, and many parents. The plan has also garnered national interest, attracting funding from a major phil... more »

Schools Matter: Obama Pushes Apartheid Charter Movement in Georgia Over the Top

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Schools Matter: Obama Pushes Apartheid Charter Movement in Georgia Over the Top: Obama Pushes Apartheid Charter Movement in Georgia Over the Top by Jim Horn My first year of teaching was in Georgia in 1971, one year after the end of segregation in Washington County, where I would teach Title I English at TJ Elder Jr. High School. The personnel director (before people became human resources) wore a white suit and white patent leather loafers, and he grinned widely as he told me that he was glad to welcome another young white family to Sandersville. The head of the little Englis... more »

Diane in the Evening 11-12-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: A Bad Joke, Not Funny by dianerav A reader passed along this speculation about a possible replacement for Duncan. LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-12-12 Diane Ravitch's blog coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] A Superintendent’s Advice to President Obama by dianerav Jere Hochman runs an exemplary school district in Bedford, New York. Before the election, he wrote an eloquent letter (which I posted though I may not have used his name) on why everyone should support President ... more »

School Tech Connect: A Day With A Book

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
School Tech Connect: A Day With A Book: A Day With A Book by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) What a great, luxurious Veterans' Day. I treated myself to a CPL copy of *Caleb's Crossing*, by Geraldine Brooks. It's weird how that when I'm thirsty for reading, I actually check out a book and read it, rather than endure exercises in reading comprehension, context clues, or even that great Holy Grail of education, critical thinking. People who howl the loudest about the lack of critical thinking in others are very often on the darndest bandwagons. *Caleb's Crossing *isn't my typical fa... more »

Tony at the Red Line Tap. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Tony at the Red Line Tap. « Fred Klonsky: Tony at the Red Line Tap. by Fred Klonsky “Marty. Got any of the *Antares* from Argentina left?” “I saved a couple of bottles just for you, Freddy.” “You’re a sweet-heart.” “Damn, Klonsky. I haven’t seen you for weeks,” said Tony. “I thought you had fallen off a* fiscal cliff.”* “Right. What the hell is with that? Three things that I’m pretty sure didn’t get talked about during the past two years on the campaign trail or in a debate. Poor people. Education reform. And fiscal cliffs. And now all of a sudden it is a world ending crisis.” Tony... more »

Firestorm Erupts Over Virginia's Education Goals : NPR

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Firestorm Erupts Over Virginia's Education Goals : NPR: Firestorm Erupts Over Virginia's Education Goals by CLAUDIO SANCHEZ As part of Virginia's waiver to opt out of mandates set out in the No Child Left Behind law, the state has created a controversial new set of education goals that are higher for white and Asian kids than for blacks, Latinos and students with disabilities. Virginia Democratic state Sen. Donald McEachin first read about the state's new performance goals for schoolchildren in a newspaper editorial. "And I was shocked to find that the state board of education [w... more »

Obama’s next steps | Outside the Cave

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Obama’s next steps | Outside the Cave: Obama’s next steps by Stephen Lazar I was planning on writing a piece about things I hope will change in a second Obama administration, but Sam Chaltain and Jose Vilson pretty much nailed everything I wanted to say. Jose first: We thought you would bring fair trials to the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay and close it in your first year. The gates remain open. We thought you would bring about actual peace in the Middle East. You might have killed Osama bin Laden, but you are equally responsible for the drones dropping on innocent civilians there... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Race and Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Race and Education: Race and Education by Melissa Westbrook We are just coming off a presidential election where, to some degree, race mattered. Governor Romney lost because the GOP seems to be tone-deaf to the fact that what they allowed various GOP officials, including Romney, to say about Hispanics and women really DID matter. The GOP can continue this at their own risk but the numbers are against them (and so is history and common decency). The NY Times had two articles about students and race and its impacts that I thought worthy of posting... more »

Relief Is Not Enough: Nov 14–20th Climate Solidarity Actions | OccupyWallSt.org

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Relief Is Not Enough: Nov 14–20th Climate Solidarity Actions | OccupyWallSt.org: Relief Is Not Enough: Nov 14–20th Climate Solidarity Actions by OccupyWallSt [image: tar sands blockade] In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, New Yorkers are showing the best of humanity, self-organizing to provide mutual aid in spite of the establishment's continued failure to turn the lights back on. Free kitchens were distributing hot meals within hours. Thousands of pounds of food, clothing, and other donations have been distributed across Red Hook, Staten Island, the Rockaways, and Coney Island. ... more »

Students Last: Over the Educational Cliff

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Students Last: Over the Educational Cliff: Over the Educational Cliff by Students Last *Washington D.C.* - U.S. Senator LaLa Verdad of New York released this statement today: "Louise, no matter what happens, I'm glad I came with you."Lately my office has been receiving communication from constituents about the state of education. Some of you have expressed annoyance over the frequency and length of the tests your child has had to take. Some of you were surprised to find out that the teacher you and your child love has been deemed "ineffective" as determined by value-added measures... more »

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Gloria Romero gets it wrong: HALF THE CALIFORNIA ELECTORATE DIDN’T VOTE

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Gloria Romero gets it wrong: HALF THE CALIFORNIA ELECTORATE DIDN’T VOTE: Gloria Romero gets it wrong: HALF THE CALIFORNIA ELECTORATE DIDN’T VOTE *if we are to believe Romero’s fuzzy math:* *A quarter of eligible voters gave Democrats supermajorities in both houses of the Legislature. * *B**ut we shouldn’t …see following!* BY GLORIA ROMERO / OP-ED FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER | HTTP://BIT.LY/UK0XNHPublished: Nov. 9, 2012 Updated: Nov. 12, 2012 6:48 a.m. :: Pundits called it the most important election of our lifetime. Yet, half of...more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Sun-Times has a 'democracy problem" of its own

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Sun-Times has a 'democracy problem" of its own: Sun-Times has a 'democracy problem" of its own by Mike Klonsky The landslide victory for Chicago's elected school board referendum has the Sun-Times editorial board in a tizzy.Today's editorial begins by answering its own question: *"Does the Chicago Board of Education have a democracy problem? Without a doubt."* My guess is that most of the 65,763 yes voters (as compared to the 10,174 no voters) would have offered a slightly stronger response -- like " OH HELL YES!" I mean -- *problem with democra... more »

Oh Great A Pop News Quiz (on a holiday): Catching up on what happened before the hurricane | GothamSchools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
News quiz: Catching up on what happened before the hurricane | GothamSchools: News quiz: Catching up on what happened before the hurricane by Rachel Cromidas Much like the rest of New York City, for the last two weeks, we’ve been focused almost exclusively on Hurricane Sandy‘s effects on the city’s schools. Now, while Sandy’s aftermath will continue to be an education story for a long time, we’re also getting back to work on other stories that we’ve been following. It feels like it was far more than three weeks ago that we were publishing stories about college-readiness rates, a ci... more »

This Week In Education: Campaign 2012: CA Democratic Party Attacks Pro-Reform Democrat

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
This Week In Education: Campaign 2012: CA Democratic Party Attacks Pro-Reform Democrat: *Attention Bootlicker ALERT!* * * Campaign 2012: CA Democratic Party Attacks Pro-Reform Democrat Last week I told you about the substantive differences between pro-reform Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom and pro-teacher Betsy Butler (Showdown In Santa Monica). Over the weekend, I found out that it wasn't just the teachers unions fighting to protect Butler, the incumbent. The California Democratic Party joined in paying for negative flyers against Bloom. Yep, the California Democrats, who... more »

Chicago Teachers Union leaders to tell their story in Philadelphia | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Chicago Teachers Union leaders to tell their story in Philadelphia | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Chicago Teachers Union leaders to tell their story in Philadelphia by Ron Whitehorne *The ideas expressed in this guest post are solely the opinions of the author. The *Notebook* invites readers to submit guest posts on current topics in Philadelphia education. Submissions should be sent to notebook@thenotebook.org.* ------------------------------ *by Ron Whitehorn* The recently concluded Chicago teachers strike has had an impact far beyond the Windy City. There are lessons to be... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Odds and Ends

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Odds and Ends: Odds and Ends by Melissa Westbrook There's a sinkhole problem in West Seattle directly on the route that buses to Pathfinder take. This story from our friends at the West Seattle Blog. Thought-provoking story this morning on NPR about how Eastern and Western parents view their children and their ability to learn. (I have often thought that persistence, resilience, and encouragement are more important than what intellectual capacities you are born with.) Interesting article from the Huffington Post about who serves special needs c... more »

Pass / Fail : USC program trains counselors to help students in military families | 89.3 KPCC

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Pass / Fail : USC program trains counselors to help students in military families | 89.3 KPCC: USC program trains counselors to help students in military families by By Adolfo Guzman-Lopez [image: Military Families] *Duane Brown, his wife Marria and Rita Beal talk about their days in the Beal kitchen. Credit: Grant Slater/KPCC* By one count, close to 100,000 California public school kids have at least one parent serving in the military. Advocates say educators have done a poor job supporting these kids at school through the stressful times before, during, and after military deployme... more »

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: 23 CANDIDATES FILE PAPERS TO RUN FOR 3 L.A. SCHOOL BOARD SEATS + List of Candidates

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: 23 CANDIDATES FILE PAPERS TO RUN FOR 3 L.A. SCHOOL BOARD SEATS + List of Candidates: 23 CANDIDATES FILE PAPERS TO RUN FOR 3 L.A. SCHOOL BOARD SEATS + List of Candidates The March election could change the course of a new teacher evaluation system, the union's dealings with charters and, possibly, the future of Supt. John Deasy. Voters will also pick community college board members. BY HOWARD BLUME, LOS ANGELES TIMES | HTTP://LAT.MS/SFN0P5November 11, 2012 :: The race for three Los Angeles school board seats — and an expected showdow... more »

What the Selection of Florida’s Next Schools Commissioner Will Tell Us | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
What the Selection of Florida’s Next Schools Commissioner Will Tell Us | Scathing Purple Musings: What the Selection of Florida’s Next Schools Commissioner Will Tell Us by Bob Sikes *Answer: What Money Can Buy* Gerard Robinson’s mysterious departure remains a blemish on Rick Scott’s record and an embarrassment for Jeb Bush. The ongoing collapse of Bush’s massive accountability system is happening on Scott’s watch. Robinson was clearly never right for the job and his selection can be attributed to the philosophical flaws of both men. Scott’s education naiveté was clear from the st... more »

Record Numbers of High School and College Graduates in 2012 | NewsTaco

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Record Numbers of High School and College Graduates in 2012 | NewsTaco: Record Numbers of High School and College Graduates in 2012 by NewsTaco By Hope Gillette, Voxxi The decline in educational attainment feared by many experts seems to be myth. According to a new report from the Pew Research Center, record numbers of young adults are graduating high school and then completing a college education. For the first time ever, the 2012 school year saw one-third of the nation’s 25- to 29-year-olds graduate with at least a bachelor’s degree. On average, 90 percent of individuals between 2... more »

TWITTER STORM! #StopRTTT #MoreTeachingLessBubbling

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
*TWITTER STORM! #StopRTTT #MoreTeachingLessBubbling* * * * #StopRTTT #MoreTeachingLessBubbling* TWITTER STORM! Today, Veteran's Day, we are pleading with folks at the White House to Stop Race to the Top (#StopRTTT). Please join us! I have provided a whole mess of potential tweets below: @ArneDuncan Here is a study detailing the financial & educational costs of RTTT | http://tiny.cc/k7ynnw #StopRTTT #MoreTeachingLessBubbling @BarackObama Bubble testing is a skill & our kids are learning fast but how will that get them a job? #StopRTTT #MoreTeachingLessBubbling @DavidPlouffe Hig... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: K12 Inc. stock sinking like a stone

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Schooling in the Ownership Society: K12 Inc. stock sinking like a stone: K12 Inc. stock sinking like a stone by Mike Klonsky The king of the privatized virtual learning world, K12Inc. has investors checking to see if they're still wearing their shorts. The problem continues to be extravagant costs stemming from huge salaries paid to top execs, plus K12 students scoring behind kids in brick-and-mortar schools. Market Watch reports: K12 Inc.'s fiscal first-quarter profit slipped 5.3% as the online education provider saw a

CUNY Crisis Deepens as Admin Installs New Chair in Rebel Department « Student Activism

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
CUNY Crisis Deepens as Admin Installs New Chair in Rebel Department « Student Activism: CUNY Crisis Deepens as Admin Installs New Chair in Rebel Department by Angus Johnston The CUNY administration may have been forced to back down (for now) from their threats to dismantle the Queensboro Community College English Department, but they’ve launched a new attack in their effort to bring the rebellious department to heel. On October 24 the QCC English faculty voted to remove chair Linda Reesman. Throughout the department’s battle over the administration’s Pathways initiative, many fac... more »

Learning About Our Childhood from Our Children | Maria Shriver | The Open Field Network

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Learning About Our Childhood from Our Children | Maria Shriver | The Open Field Network: Learning About Our Childhood from Our Children By Steve Truitt Several weeks ago I noticed a marked shift in my behavior and reactions. To bottom line it: I was losing it a lot with my children. As all parents know, children will test your resolve on a daily, sometimes hourly, sometimes minutely (is that a word?) basis. As the child of severely toxic parents, it was imperative in my run-up to parenthood that I learn to do my best to not lose my cool with my kids. That’s not to say I don’t belie... more »






Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: "We don't need no stinkin' Open Meetings Act..."

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: "We don't need no stinkin' Open Meetings Act...":


"We don't need no stinkin' Open Meetings Act..."

Public school teachers, students, parents and activists rally against school closings inside the lobby of the Hyatt Hotel on North St. Clair Street in Chicago. -- Chicago Tribune


Here's Byrd-Bennett's response to the ongoing protests against the Gates-funded closing of 100 neighborhood schools, replacing them with privately-run charters:
CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett appointed a new “independent commission” to oversee school closings and help engage the community. The commission has not yet met publicly and is not 

Modern School: Sick Leave Abuse—The Latest in Teacher Bashing

Modern School: Sick Leave Abuse—The Latest in Teacher Bashing:


Sick Leave Abuse—The Latest in Teacher Bashing


36% of teachers nationally were absent more than 10 days during the 2009-10 school year, according to Raegen T. Miller, Associate Director for Education Research at the Center for American Progress. Miller goes on to complain about how teacher absenteeism negatively affects student achievement and costs districts billions of dollars, implying that this is a big problem that needs to be addressed.

While this statistic might seem high, it needs to be placed in perspective. Only 5.3% of teachers nationally are absent on any given day. This compares with a 3% rate for other full-time wage earners.

This is not a huge difference, and it can be explained and justified.

The public sector, which includes teachers, has a much higher rate of union membership than 

Time to Put Forward a New Reform Agenda - Bridging Differences - Education Week

Time to Put Forward a New Reform Agenda - Bridging Differences - Education Week:


Time to Put Forward a New Reform Agenda

Deborah Meier—visionary teacher and founder of successful small schools in New York City and Boston—and Pedro Noguera—author and director of the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education—debate issues relevant to schools, teachers, and students.

Dear Deborah,
Well, we can let out a sigh of relief. Barack Obama won, and it wasn't even as close as many in the media predicted it would be. Nov. 6 was a great day, not only because the president was re-elected, but a number of progressive Democrats, including Elizabeth Warren, Sherrod Brown, and Tammy Baldwin will be in the Senate. The election was a major loss for the Tea Party, the religious right (especially given that gay marriage has now been approved by voters in Maine and Maryland), and conservatives who favored Mitt Romney's vision of protecting the 1 percent. President Obama has already made it clear that he intends to honor his pledge to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans, and this means the budget won't be balanced on the backs of the poor and middle class. A great deal is being made about the lack of minority support for Romney, but it should be noted that Obama won in predominantly white states like Minnesota, Iowa, New Hampshire, and Oregon, too. We may not be in a post-racial America, but it's clear that a majority of Americans had no problem electing a black man to the presidency again. This is a good thing for America.
As we both know with respect to education, the future is less clear. Obama didn't speak much about his plans 

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Celebrates 314 Schools as 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools | U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Celebrates 314 Schools as 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools | U.S. Department of Education:


U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Celebrates 314 Schools as 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools

Seven principals honored with Terrel H. Bell Award for outstanding leadership

Contact:  
 Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov 

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today will honor 314 schools as 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools at an awards luncheon at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. The award honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or for their progress toward significantly improving student academic achievement levels. The schools—264 public and 50 private, are among more than 7,000 that have received the coveted award over the past 30 years.
"Our nation has no greater responsibility than helping all children realize their full potential," Duncan said. "Schools honored with the National Blue Ribbon Schools award are committed to accelerating student achievement and preparing students for success in college and careers. Their work reflects the conviction that every child has promise and that education is the surest pathway to a strong, secure future."
Additionally, seven principals from the 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools were selected for special honors to recognize their leadership. At a breakfast ceremony today, these principals received the Terrel H. Bell Award for their outstanding efforts to foster successful teaching and learning. The award is named after the former secretary of education and honors exceptional leaders who overcome challenging circumstances and maintain a commitment to providing an excellent education for every student.
The Terrel H. Bell Awards were presented to the following principals by the U.S. Department of Education, together with the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the Association for Middle Level Education and the National Association of Secondary School Principals:
PrincipalSchoolCityState
Pam CamperRussell D. Jones Elementary SchoolRogersArkansas
Christopher Todd HallPocomoke Elementary SchoolPocomoke CityMaryland
Blaine HelwigJ. Walter Graham Elementary SchoolAustinTexas
Tracy McDanielKIPP Reach College Preparatory SchoolOklahoma CityOklahoma
James MirelesGarden City High SchoolGarden CityKansas
Dianne ReynoldsSpencer Elementary SchoolMobileAlabama
Liana SzetoAlice Fong Yu Alternative SchoolSan FranciscoCalifornia
The National Blue Ribbon Schools program recognizes schools in one of two performance categories. The first category is "Exemplary High Performing," in which schools are recognized among their state's highest performing schools, as measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests. The second category is "Exemplary Improving," in which schools where at least 40 percent of students are from disadvantaged backgrounds demonstrate the most progress in improving student achievement levels, as measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests.
To select the schools, the Department requests nominations from the top education official in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools. A total of 417 schools nationwide may be nominated, with allocations determined by the numbers of K-12 students and schools in each jurisdiction. The Secretary of Education invites nominated schools to submit an application for possible recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School.
The Terrel H. Bell Award is part of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Principals are nominated by their school communities during the final stages of the National Blue Ribbon Schools application process.
A list of the 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools is available at http://www.ed.gov/nationalblueribbonschools.


Bells Ring for Top Principals at National Blue Ribbon Schools Ceremony

Behind every great school stands a great principal. “It’s the principal who shapes the vision, sets the tone, and targets the energy of the many people who run a school, Sec. Duncan said. “It’s the principal who inspires, cajoles, and models the excellence he or she knows the school can reach.”
2012 Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding Leadership
Every year the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program invites nominations for the esteemed Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding Leadership. This year, seven principals of 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools have earned this distinction. They are:
  • Pam Camper, Principal of Russell D. Jones Elementary School in Rogers, Arkansas

    Frequently described as “tenacious,” Pam Camper reorganized her elementary school to maximize learning for her students, nearly three-quarters of whom are English learners, by hiring bilingual teachers and pairing classroom and English language development teachers as co-teachers. Through her outreach, parent attendance at parent-teacher conferences is 100%. Ms. Camper also spearheaded an extensive reading effort: Russell Jones Elementary raised funds to add more than 4,000 new books to the school library. Last year, more than 200 certified candidates applied for the few open teaching positions.
  • Christopher Todd Hall, Principal of Pocomoke Elementary School, Pocomoke City, Maryland
    Student performance at Pocomoke Elementary School performed was “persistently modest” when Todd Hall was appointed principal. After reviewing student data, Mr. Hall created a five-year plan to move Pocomoke from modest to masterful, based on: universal high expectations, data analysis, and data-driven instruction. Now every Pocomoke student has an individual learning plan—and a portrait in a graduation cap and gown in the school’s entryway. Mr. Hall empowered teachers through Common Core-aligned professional development, daily grade-level planning time, and peer-supported teaching assistance. Achievement gaps among student groups have been virtually eliminated.
  • Blaine Helwig, Principal of J. Walter Graham Elementary School, Austin, Texas
    To bring student scores from “barely acceptable” to exemplary in five years, Mr. Helwig devised strategies to help students master fundamental math and reading skills and designed a progress monitoring system for teachers that pinpoints what students know and what they need to learn next. He taps all specialists and staff to get extra help to students who need it. Mr. Helwig is also a skilled collaborator, bringing community and business groups in to build a School Garden and illustrate hallways with murals.
  • Tracy McDaniel, Principal of KIPP Reach College Preparatory School, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 
    Mr. McDaniel stepped off a traditional path to school administration to follow his dream. In 2002, he opened KIPP Reach College Preparatory, a charter middle school in the economically battered inner city neighborhood where he grew up. Admitting students by open lottery, Mr. McDaniel has used KIPP-customized curricula and extended student time on task through longer school days, Saturday school, and summer programs to give KIPP Reach students the momentum to succeed in high school and earn places at highly selective colleges and universities across the country.
  • James Mireles, Principal of Garden City High School, Garden City, Kansas
    When James Mireles arrived, half of Garden City HS students were not passing the state reading test and two-thirds were not passing the math test. To turn the 2,000-pupil school around, he created four student-centered academies and dissolved the culture of teacher isolation, instituting professional learning communities and common planning time during the school day. With grant funding, Mr. Mireles spearheaded an early warning system to identify and reach students at risk of dropping out, bringing the graduation rate up 17%.
  • Dianne Reynolds, Principal of Spencer Elementary School, Mobile, Alabama 
    Spencer Elementary was close to a state takeover when Dianne Reynolds took the helm in 2004. In that first year, she overhauled Spencer’s ideals, expectations, and methods. She instituted professional learning communities, regular data meetings, and targeted professional development. Ms. Reynolds championed student competitions in reading and math, introduced character education, and scheduled intervention and enrichment activities to meet targeted student needs. Spencer Elementary School has just celebrated its second year as an Alabama Torchbearer School, a high achieving, high poverty school.
  • Liana Szeto, Principal of Alice Fong Yu Alternative School, San Francisco, California 
    Hired in 1984 as a kindergarten teacher in the nation’s first public school Chinese Immersion Program, Liana Szeto has been tireless in developing Chinese curricula and materials, and in drawing students from all backgrounds. 1995, she opened Alice Fong Yu Alternative School, the first Chinese Immersion middle school in the country, backed by the same kind of rigorous preparation that ensured success in the elementary level program. Ms. Szeto has inspired other San Francisco educators as well: more than 15 schools offer full immersion programs in four languages.

Missouri Education Watchdog: FERPA Explained to Parents. A Crystal Ball Moment?

Missouri Education Watchdog: FERPA Explained to Parents. A Crystal Ball Moment?:


FERPA Explained to Parents. A Crystal Ball Moment?


Will my child be successful in school?  Look to the data....or maybe not?


The Federal Government believes data is king and wants to track school children from birth through their lives for workforce development.  It's shrouded as education reform, but it is really for the establishment of state longitudinal data systems to connect with various federal agencies and approved private firms to collect data on your child to establish a managed workforce.

Data will set your child's educational/career path and the Federal government believes this data will dictate your child's future.  Don't worry yourself that you/your child will be faced with choices, responsibilities, teenage angst, etc.  By setting up these data systems, the future will be clear and the Federal government will direct your child.

To accomplish this data gathering, FERPA regulations have been relaxed so more entities have access to your student's information.  Worried about data being shared on your child with agencies/companies