Jeb Bush’s reform summit: Democratic-GOP ‘mind meld?’:

Jeb Bush’s reform summit: Democratic-GOP ‘mind meld?’

Posted by Valerie Strauss on November 15, 2012 at 7:00 am

•   Text Size
• Print
• Reprints

• Share:
• More »

A Vulcan mind meld

If you watched Star Trek, you will remember the Vulcan ‘mind meld,’ which was just what it sounds like: a technique that allows two people to share thoughts, experiences, and everything else one finds in a mind. While this doesn’t qualify for a complete mind meld (some differences still remain), the Democratic and Republican school reform minds have melded so much that John Podesta, founder and chairman of the Center for American Progress, who was president Clinton’s chief of staff and and co-chair of Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential transition team, is giving a keynote address at Jeb Bush’s fifth annual reform summit.

The Excellence in Action Summit, the work of former Florida governor Bush’s Foundation for Excellence in Education, is scheduled for Nov. 27-28 in Washington D.C. (If you wanted to go, it’s too bad; registration is closed but keynote speeches and general sessions will be live streamed.)

First up on the agenda is a discussion about (what else?) vouchers and tax credit scholarships, because that is what matters to Bush and his like-minded reformers. The official name of Strategy Session 1 is “Reaching More Students With Vouchers and Tax-

Analysis shows differences in teacher effectiveness in LAUSD | EdSource Today

Analysis shows differences in teacher effectiveness in LAUSD | EdSource Today:

Analysis shows differences in teacher effectiveness in LAUSD

November 15th, 2012 | Add a Comment | 
By John Fensterwald

Share on twitterShare on facebookShare on emailShare on google_plusone

More Sharing Services

In Los Angeles Unified, novice teachers tend to be assigned students who are academically farther behind those assigned to experienced teachers. Before they depart, usually after only two years, Teach for America teachers have a bigger impact on students than that of other new teachers. And National Board Certified teachers significantly outperform other teachers in LAUSD.

These are among the findings of an extensive seven-year study of about a third of teachers in LAUSD by the Strategic Data Project, which is affiliated with the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University. Researchers have conducted similar analyses of teacher recruitment, development and retention patterns in three dozen school districts and charter organizations nationwide, under work funded by the Gates Foundation. LAUSD’s report, which was released Wednesday, could become a key resource as the district and United Teachers Los Angeles negotiate changes to teacher evaluations and other parts of the teachers’ contract.

The finding with perhaps the biggest implication quantified significant disparities in effectiveness among the district’s elementary and middle school teachers, as measured by students’ 

Look under a different lamp post for keys to fix our schools - by John Fensterwald

by John Fensterwald

There’s the old joke about  a man crawling on his hands and knees late at night under a lamp post, looking for keys he lost two blocks away, because, as he tells a police officer, “the light is better here.” I was reminded of this story recently listening to a panel about what was wrong with the U.S. education system. Of course there are many problems, including the poor way we recruit,...

Los Angeles tops nation in charter school enrollment - by John Fensterwald

by John Fensterwald

More students from Los Angeles Unified attend charter schools than from any other district in America – by far. The 98,576 students who enrolled in charters last year, up a significant 24 percent from 2010-11, were more than double the 48,057 students from New York City, the nation’s largest district and number two in charter attendance. Nearly one out of seven LAUSD students now attend...

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Teaching Democracy

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Teaching Democracy:

Teaching Democracy

by Mike Klonsky

There was a good turnout of students and faculty Monday night at Lake Forest College, to hear Deborah Meierspeak on the topic of "Democracy is more complicated than rocket science: So why don't we teach about it?" Wow! That's a brainfull.

Here's my headline of the week. It says a lot.

The growth of charter schools

NYT reports that between 2010-11 and 2011-12, the number of students in charter schools increased close to 13 percent, to just over two million.

New Orleans, where the city’s schools were essentially destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, leads the nation in the proportion of students in charter schools, at 70 percent. But in six other districts, including Detroit, Washington, D.C., and St. Louis, more than 30 percent of public school students 

Numbers that leave me shocked-and-awed

by Mike Klonsky

I am hardly one to try and quantify everything, particularly teaching/learning. But there are some numbers that I find fascinating if only for purposes of shock and awe. Here are a few:

50.8 -- The percent of votes cast by Washington state voters in support of Initiative 1240. The new law will permit up to 40 privately-run charter schools over the next five years in the state. Votes are still being counted a week after the election which marked the fourth time since 1996 that Washington voters have been asked to approve charters. Previous bills have been rejected by voters despite millions of dollars behind the charter campaigns. This time, a handful of billionaires, led by Bill Gates put in more cash than ever before, and had a 10:1 financial edge over opponents. Given all that money, opponents have said they are happy the vote was close. -- Maureen Downey, ajc

738 -- The number of minutes over a three-week period  (12 hours and 18 minutes), preparing for and administering standardized tests by a Chicago teacher. -- Adam Heenan

53,000,000 -- The number of dollars former Dixon, IL comptroller Rita Crundwell, is charged with siphoning off 

Missouri Education Watchdog: The End of Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium?

Missouri Education Watchdog: The End of Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium?:

The End of Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium?

by stlgretchen

Color me shocked.  A consortia pushing unproven, untested, unfunded, unconstitutional standards doomed to fail?

The elite speak.  From The Huffington Post and "50 to 75 education insiders" interviewed by Education Whiteboard:

About 44 percent of respondents believe there is a high likelihood of states exiting the consortia (SBAC) and designing their own custom Common Core-aligned tests with the help of third-party vendors, asUtah did in early August. A majority are of the opinion that SBAC’s membership may drop by as much as half by 2014, though they are less pessimistic about PARCC. 

UPDATE: Ty Fahner. The Paul Ryan of Illinois pension reform. No time for details. « Fred Klonsky

Ty Fahner. The Paul Ryan of Illinois pension reform. No time for details. « Fred Klonsky:

Ty Fahner. The Paul Ryan of Illinois pension reform. No time for details.

by Fred Klonsky

The Civic Committee’s Ty Fahner.
Remember the election of of 2012.
It was all the talk before the General Petraeus thing.
Remember we had this VP candidate who was famous for his bogus budget plan that was  so lacking in details that it became a running joke on late night TV. The proposal was big on cuts to the poor and Social Security. But when Congressman Ryan was asked for supporting data or details, he would smile and say he didn’t have the time to go into the details.
Now we have the head of the corporate Civic Committee playing Paul Ryan on the issue of state employee pensions.
Crain’s reports that yesterday Ty Fahner went to the media and declared the state’s public pensions unfixable

Mindy Donoho deserves a a living wage. But we are all Mindy Donoho. Ty Fahner is our Rita Grundwell.

by Fred Klonsky

Dixon Comptroller stole $53 million while nobody watched. Ty Fahner is the state’s Rita Grundwell.
Good for the Illinois Education Association and their campaign for a living wage in Illinois.
They are campaigning for the thousands of their members who work as paraprofessionals and other non-certified jobs in the state’s schools but barely earn enough to feed their families.
But the campaign will also benefit the ten of thousands of other workers in the state who are part of the class of the class of the working poor.

STERLING – Mindy Donoho has two jobs.

She has to: Her primary job as a classroom aide at Dixon High School simply does not pay enough.

“It’s a struggle,” Donoho said. “… We’re not choosing whether to go on vacation 

Schools Matter: Distractions Are Us, Progress Tells Us So!

Schools Matter: Distractions Are Us, Progress Tells Us So!:

Distractions Are Us, Progress Tells Us So!

by Storm

A friend posted this article from the Nov. 1, NYT to his Facebook page the other day: "Technology Is Changing How Students Learn, Teachers Say."

I'll note that "a version" of this was published as "For Better and for Worse, Technology Use Alters Learning Styles, Teachers Say" in the print edition.  You decide if the web gurus who apply an "SEO" praxis to headlines worked some sticky magic.

Of course, both headlines are full of ambiguities and assumptions.  Just look at the assumption that must be made to presume the reader knows what is being "meant" by the word "technology."

I think though that my favorite headline trick is the "tack on" to both: "teachers say."

But, it's not a tack-on really, it's the whole story.  This piece purports to describe a "teacher's-eye-view" of how 

The case against accelerated reader

by skrashen

Sent to the Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, November 14

The case against accelerated reader (AR) is even stronger than the Jan Lacina’s article states (“Accelerated Reader: Teaching kids the 'game' of school testing, Nov. 13).

There is no clear evidence that AR works, even in the short term. AR has four components: It provides access to books, provides time to read, quizzes children on what they read, and awards prizes for performance on the quizzes. As Dean Lacina notes, it is well-established that providing books and time to read are effective, but AR research does not show that the quizzes and prizes add anything. Studies claiming AR is effective compare AR to doing nothing; gains were probably due to the reading, not the tests and prizes.

Also, AR could also have the effect of discouraging reading in the long run: Reading is intrinsically pleasant. Substantial research shows that rewarding an intrinsically pleasant activity sends the message that the activity is not pleasant, and that nobody would do it without a bribe. AR might be convincing children that reading is not pleasant. No studies have been done on the long-term effect of AR.

Stephen Krashen

Sources:
Kohn, A. 1999. Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other 

Kimble's Corner: Courageous GOP Leadership Battles Presidential Overreach

Kimble's Corner: Courageous GOP Leadership Battles Presidential Overreach:

Courageous GOP Leadership Battles Presidential Overreach

by Representative Kimble

Following last week's squeaker of an election night win for President Obama last week, The President has claimed that his victory has given him the right to unprecedented powers to make sweeping changes to this country.  Fortunately, the Republican leadership is standing tough fighting President Obama every step of the way.   Before, turning this country into a socialist Heaven, it makes more sense for him to clean up the problems left over from his first term.

1. The attack on Ben Gazzi in Libya.   We must find who is responsible for the attack on Mr. Gazzi and we must hold hearings to make these people accountable.  Mr. Gazzi was a hero and the Libyans who attacked him as well as the Americans that let it happen must be held accountable.

2. The growing gay marriage crisis in the army.   I believe that the recent scandal involving General Petraeus's affair with his biographer can be directly tied to gay marriage.  I know that gay marriage has cheapened my own marriage and as Petraeus was at ground zero for the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, he 

11% of children in California are uninsured, study says - latimes.com

11% of children in California are uninsured, study says - latimes.com:

11% of children in California are uninsured, study says

Children in California are more likely to be uninsured than children nationwide, with 1.1 million lacking health coverage in 2011, according to a new study by the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
About 11% of children lacked insurance last year -- and they were less likely to seek medical care than those with coverage, the authors reported.
The study, released Wednesday by the California HealthCare Foundation, detailed children's insurance trends over a 10-year period. During that time, the percentage of children covered by their parents' employers dropped while the percentage of children in public programs increased. In 2011, 56% of the state's children had private coverage and 38% had public insurance. Some children were covered by both types of programs.
The authors noted, however, that enrollment in the state's main public insurance program for children has stalled 

Diane in the Evening 11-14-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

Diane Ravitch's blog:

Two Big Legislative Victories in Florida

by dianerav

Kathleen Oropeza of Fund Education Now is one of the state’s leading education activists.
She reports here on two crucial races for the State Legislature. In one contest, public education advocate Mike Clelland narrowly beat the future leader of the House, even though the Republican incumbent had a 12-1 funding advantage. In the other race, elementary school teacher Karen Castor Dentel handily beat her opponent, who ran a disgusting ad comparing her to convicted sexual predator Jerry Sandusky.
Kathleen writes:
On Election Day, Floridians stared down deliberate suppression and waited long hours to vote. These patriots didn’t just stand in line, they stood for democracy. In fact, Florida voters repeatedly chose authentic underfunded citizen-candidates over incumbents flush with PAC millions. The most powerful example is District 29 which many assumed would remain the property of the designated 2014 Speaker of the House Rep. Chris Dorworth. Challenger Mike Clelland, an attorney and former fire-fighter did his homework, studied the issues and walked his

MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-14-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Michigan Plans to Expand Power of Emergency Manager Covington by dianerav Last week, voters in Michigan repealed the state’s draconian emergency manager law, which allowed a hand-picked appointee of the governor to abolish public education in financially stressed districts. In two of those districts, the emergency manager turned the children over to for-profit charter chains. To compensate for the repeal, the Legislature in Michigan plans to expand the powers of the Achievement Authority Chancellor. The Ac... more »

Jersey Jazzman: The Merit Pay Fairy Lands in Newark

Jersey Jazzman: The Merit Pay Fairy Lands in Newark:

The Merit Pay Fairy Lands in Newark

by Duke

Hey, doofus: my name ain't Sue!

The Merit Pay Fairy has landed in Newark:

The 4,700-member Newark Teachers Union approved the state’s first teacher contract that offers bonuses based on classroom performance.
The three-year pact, which will award merit pay to teachers who earn ratings of "highly effective," was approved by a vote of 1767 to 1088 after a day in which educators lined up at union headquarters to cast ballots.
The contract would be the first in the state, and one of the first in the nation, to base teacher pay on classroom performance, including student progress.

Only 37% of the members approved the contract. And please correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems as if many of 

Fiscal Showdown & Reduced Federal Spending on Education? We Say Kids, Not Cuts | K-12 News Network

Fiscal Showdown & Reduced Federal Spending on Education? We Say Kids, Not Cuts | K-12 News Network:

Fiscal Showdown & Reduced Federal Spending on Education? We Say Kids, Not Cuts

from K-12 News Network by cynthia

My home state is California, and we just successfully survived our own state version of the “fiscal cliff” when it comes to education. Here, they were called the “trigger cuts.” If Proposition 30 — essentially part of the June 30, 2012 budget passed by the legislature that needed the people’s thumbs up at the ballot box — hadn’t gotten that thumb’s up, K-14 education would’ve seen $6 billion in “trigger cuts” starting in January, 2013. In our state alone.
It was a nailbiter. I advised everyone to hedge their bets with a Yes on 30-38-39 vote (as did State Superintendent of Instruction Tom Torlakson on Election Day). Luckily, a combination of voters who are parents, union members, public school supporters, and alumni as well as current college students came together to affirm Proposition 30, and even voted Yes on 39 to close a corporate loophole and put an additional $500 million in the general fund that pays for public education. We realized as a state that we cannot cut our way to excellence.
No, cuts to K-12 ever since Proposition 13 passed in 1978 have slowly whittled the Golden State down to 46th, 47th, and yes, even 50th in certain important measures of public school quality. And we’re among the 37 states that are still experiencing the lingering effects of the Great Recession. Our state budget, like the nation’s, still 

Part 1 : High Stakes Testing and Opting Out: A Short History

high stakes testing:

Part 1 : High Stakes Testing and Opting Out: A Short History

by DoraTaylor

High Stakes Testing: A Short History

“…I discovered then, in my early teaching career, that learning is best driven by ideas, challenges, experiences, and activities that engage students. My experience over the past 45 years has confirmed this.

We have come far from that time in the ’60s. Now the mantra is high expectations and high standards. Yet, with all that zeal to produce measurable learning outcomes we have lost sight of the essential motivations to learn that moved my students. Recently I asked a number of elementary school students what they were learning about and the reactions were consistently, “We are learning how to do good on the tests.” They did not say they were learning to read.

It is hard for me to understand how educators can claim that they are creating high standards when the substance and content of learning is reduced to the mechanical task of getting a correct answer on a manufactured test.”

-An excerpt from An Open Letter to Arne Duncan by Herb Kohl.

As this quote by Herb Kohl denotes, the emphasis on testing has created a culture of test takers and test givers in our public schools. This focus on testing leads to unnecessary pressure on students to perform well on a standardized test. It causes a teacher to emphasize a narrow scope of material. It leaves little 

Ohio’s latest education bill eliminates teacher expertise & bipartisanship:

Ohio’s latest education bill eliminates teacher expertise & bipartisanship

screw bipartisanship

by Greg on November 14, 2012 · 1 Comment

The Ohio House Education Committee reconvened last evening with the introduction of the latest version (sub bill) of an education reform bill from Governor Kasich’s office, House Bill 555.  The bill was introduced by Committee Chair, Gerald Stebelton who, as sponsor and chair, had to step down to the podium and turn his seat over to Mike Dovilla.

Sub House Bill 555 primarily focuses on revising the method for grading schools and districts, but when Stebelton completed his prepared remarks, committee members from both parties launched into a series of questions about a piece of the legislation not as well known – the elimination of the “Ohio Accountability Task Force” established in Ohio Revised Code 3302.021.

Currently, the law dictates that the task force consist of the thirteen members, with guarantees that both major political parties are represented.  Additionally, the majority of voting members having significant experience, expertise, and a 

Fiscal Cliff Ignites Education Activism As Poorest School Districts Stand To Lose The Most

Fiscal Cliff Ignites Education Activism As Poorest School Districts Stand To Lose The Most:

Fiscal Cliff Ignites Education Activism As Poorest School Districts Stand To Lose The Most

by Joy Resmovits

Juandiego Wade is worried.

As vice chair of the Charlottesville City School Board in Virginia, he's responsible for the well-being of its 4,000 students. And if Congress doesn't come up with a solution to upcoming automatic budget cuts soon, his students may feel the loss. "We've already been cut to the bone," Wade said. So with the estimated reduction of $350,000 to his district's budget, it's hard to see what else can go before cutting teachers. Charlottesville may have to fire four teachers, special education programs, and help for delinquent students.

As the federal government faces what's become known as the fiscal cliff, education advocates are lobbying, organizing and campaigning to protect their programs. On Wednesday, the National School Boards Association trotted out school board members, including Wade, on a conference call to make their case.

"Our state got a lot of attention during the last election. we got a lot of visits from all the politicians, a lot of 

Georgia Cyber Academy responds to state board concerns: DOE not providing assistance or clarity | Get Schooled

Georgia Cyber Academy responds to state board concerns: DOE not providing assistance or clarity | Get Schooled:

Georgia Cyber Academy responds to state board concerns: DOE not providing assistance or clarity

by Maureen Downey

Con Academy 

Browse Con Academy  library of over 3,100 educational videos...

In light of the state board of education concerns about Georgia Cyber Academy, I asked the director of the online charter school to make a statement.
Here is a response from head of school Matt Arkin:

GCA has been committed to working collaboratively with the Department of Education since our launch in 2007. When, in early 2012 Department of Education staff came to us with concerns regarding the growth of our Special Education population, GCA met with DOE staff, provided all requested information in a timely manner, and cooperated fully in a completely transparent manner.
When the DOE identified a list of issues to be addressed in May, GCA moved swiftly to address