Thursday, March 21, 2013

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center:

Best of the Ed Blogs

Best of the Ed Blogs features a frequently updated selection of interesting and insightful blog posts on education policy. The views expressed by the bloggers on our blog roll are thoughtful, original, and entirely their own. We hope you make Best of the Ed Blogs your first stop for concise takes on today's most important education topics.

Why Don’t Our Elected Representatives Write Their Own Legislation?

Jack Hassard

March 21, 2013

Tennessee is Abandoning Public Education

Best of the Ed Blogs

Diane Ravitch

March 21, 2013

The Best Resources for Learning About Ability Grouping & Tracking — Help Me Find More

Best of the Ed Blogs

Larry Ferlazzo

March 21, 2013

The Great Deception

Best of the Ed Blogs

EduShyster

March 21, 2013

Florida Civil Rights Groups Statement on “Parent Trigger" Bill

Best of the Ed Blogs

Sherman Dorn

March 21, 2013

Policy Intervention or Political Posture?

Best of the Ed Blogs

Christopher Lubienski, Fawn Johnson

March 20, 2013

TFA Sponsors Reform Propaganda Videos

Best of the Ed Blogs

Gary Rubinstein

March 20, 2013

No End to Magical Thinking When It Comes to High-Tech Schooling

Best of the Ed Blogs

Larry Cuban

March 20, 2013

Where Are Progressives in the Fight to Save Public Schools?

Best of the Ed Blogs

Jeff Bryant

March 20, 2013

How Do I Know What My Students Know If I Don’t Test Them?

Best of the Ed Blogs

Joe Bower

March 20, 2013

Life is Unfair | Taking Note

Life is Unfair | Taking Note:

Life is Unfair

by John Merrow

I have been trying to wrap my brain around that thought this week and hope to connect some seemingly unconnected thoughts and ideas on this page.

We are putting the finishing touches on “REBIRTH: New Orleans,” our 1-hour film about schooling there since Katrina and the flooding. We’ve dedicated the film to the kids who were shot to death with handguns during the years we filmed there. That casualty list includes a young girl who is in the film. Christine Marcelin was just 15 when she was murdered.

When you meet Christine early in the film, you learn that she wants to go to Princeton and become a veterinarian. She was killed last spring in an act of senseless violence, shot by teenagers who apparently feared that she might know something about a murder they had committed a few days earlier.

Life is tragically unfair.

Here’s another example: This week the obituary page of the New York Times reported the news of the death of 82-year-old Olen Burrage, a long time member of the Ku Klux Klan and owner of the Mississippi farm where the bodies of three slain civil rights workers, James Chaney, Michael Schwerner and Andrew

ALEC Promotes Vouchers in Douglas County, Colorado - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

ALEC Promotes Vouchers in Douglas County, Colorado - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:

ALEC Promotes Vouchers in Douglas County, Colorado

by Anthony Cody

Over the past few years we have heard of a conservative political group called the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). This group holds regular meetings which bring together legislators and representatives of corporations. They draft legislation together, and the legislators go back to their states to enact it into law. The corporations also find out where to channel their campaign contributions.
ALEC is beginning to also play a role in local school boards, as we are seeing in places like the Douglas County School District in Colorado. The following report was written by Anne Kleinkopf, a parent who is a board member of the grassroots group Taxpayers for Public Education.
Guest post by Anne Kleinkopf.
Despite an attempt to make it appear as though the Douglas County School District "Choice Scholarship" program was locally generated, it in fact can be traced to the work and influence of powerful pro-voucher, anti- public education organizations, especially the American Legislative Exchange Council.
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is a powerful nation wide organization dedicated to pushing its legislative and social agenda. Education is one of ALEC's biggest concerns, and its agenda for education is quite clear: its 'ideological mission is to defund and redesign public schools" by "privatizing education" and "dismantling the public school system." And one of its primary means for achieving this goal is its parental

This Week’s #PTchat On Twitter Engaging Parents In School…

Engaging Parents In School…:

This Week’s #PTchat On Twitter

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Larry Ferlazzo

Image credit: mobilismobili.com

#PTchat hosted by Dana Sirotiak

When you picture a positive learning environment, what comes to mind?

“A positive learning environment is one in which school staff, students, and parents build safe and peaceful environments where people are accepted and respected and where learning is the main focus” (Schauffele, 2007). Research has shown that a positive learning environments maximizes the learning of every student, help children become full participating citizens of society, and help build a sense of community. It is important that this vision is shared among all stakeholders: families, staff, and students. ”Schools acting in partnership with their communities, can create and maintain these type of environments” (Safe and Healthy Schools, 2000).

This week’s #PTchat is focused on Creating a Positive Learning Environment in school and at home. Join us this Wednesday at 9pm EDT/6pm PST. The chat will focus on how all stakeholders in education can build upon shared principles in creating a positive learning environment.

Filed under: chat

“English Language Learners and Parental Involvement”

Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 4 minutes ago

English Language Learners and Parental Involvement is a new report from The National Education Policy Center. It’s a short and sweet report the contains a number of good recommendations, and is worth a read….

This Week’s #PTchat On Twitter

Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 4 minutes ago

Image credit: mobilismobili.com #PTchat hosted by Dana Sirotiak When you picture a positive learning environment, what comes to mind? “A positive learning environment is one in which school staff, students, and parents build safe and peaceful environments where people are accepted and respected and where learning is the main focus” (Schauffele, 2007). Research has [...]

“Deadly trigger for public schools”

Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 4 minutes ago

The campaign for a parent trigger in Florida is back after having been defeated last year. Deadly trigger for public schools is a Miami Herald column opposing it, and is worth reading.

Chicago Mayor Remains Clueless On Parent Engagement

Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 4 minutes ago

Even though Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel had shown a brief glimmer of understanding about parent engagement at one point last year, it appears he has reverted to previous cluelessness. In a rant blaming parents for student learning difficulties, he states his newest idea: Emanuel wants to tie after-school program enrollment to parents picking up report [...]

“Things parents, teachers say to each other”

Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 4 minutes ago

A couple of years ago, teacher/author Ron Clark wrote a public letter titled What Teachers Really Want To Tell Parents, which I thought was really off-base. Here’s a recent follow-up article from a newspaper which I think is more useful — it’s solicited ideas on the topic from a variety of sources.

Providence Wins Grant For Project That May Hold Promise, But Also Sounds A Bit Creepy

Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 4 minutes ago

The City of Providence has just been awarded a $5 million grant from Michael Bloomberg’s foundation. They are going have small children carry recording devices that are attached to specially designed clothing and record all conversations they have during the day. They’ll then analyze the content of the conversations and use them to counsel parents [...]

Video: “Parent Triggers: Another Reform Backfires”

Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 4 minutes ago

The Campaign for America’s Future just released this new video on the parent trigger. You can read more at its accompanying blog post: The National Education Association has also released this state-by-state update on parent trigger laws.

This Week’s #PTchat On Twitter

Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 4 minutes ago

Guest Post by Joe Mazza Knapp Main Office Tiki Bar – Image credit: @gpescatore25 The following excerpt is from The Community of School (2001) published by the Academic Development Institute. Another area in which the school could be different, according to some parents, was to be more welcoming and more “family friendly.” Parents, too, [...]

UPDATE: FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Thursday, March 21, 2013

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team:

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to Hold

NCAA March Madness Press Call | U.S. Department of Education

Education Headlines

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Closing 'achievement gap' still a challenge, county schools chief says

Closing the so-called achievement gap remains a challenge for the county's 10 public school districts, county schools Superintendent Julian Crocker said Wednesday at an annual education forecast hosted by the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education.

West Covina Unified settles wrongful termination suit with former superintendent

The West Covina Unified School board has resolved its dispute with a former superintendent, who nearly two years ago slapped the district with a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination, discrimination and sexual harassment.

Fensterwald: Legislative Analyst urges conditions on selling property

The Legislative Analyst’s Office is taking issue with Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal to remove restrictions limiting how school districts can use money from the sale of district property.

Students to unveil Temecula Valley's new theater

The new theater debuts after eight years of delays, with a price tag of just less than $14 million. And it gives the campus its first true space dedicated to performing arts after years of sharing the school's gymnasium with the athletic department.

Palm Springs Unified School District gets energy lesson

Palm Springs Unified School District has launched a project that will install solar panels at 10 schools and the district service center, potentially saving more than $25 million by stabilizing power expenses over the next two decades.

Fresno Unified urged to change student-discipline policies

Students pushing for a restorative justice program for Fresno Unified schools implored trustees Wednesday night not to wait to reform discipline policies that they said are too harsh and lead to students dropping out of school.

Budget subcommittee rejects Brown's bid to shift adult ed

An Assembly budget subcommittee voted Tuesday to reject Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to shift adult education responsibilities from K-12 school districts to the California Community Colleges system.

Fired Twin Rivers administrator claims retaliation, seeks $3.9 million from district

Siegrid "Ziggy" Robeson, who was fired as Twin Rivers Unified's deputy superintendent, is seeking $3.9 million from the school district for what she says was a campaign of retaliation that included a fabricated drunken driving report.

District considers how to use bond savings

At least one member of the Fullerton School District's Board of Trustees says 100 percent of the savings realized from a bonds-refinancing measure should be passed along to taxpayers. The district's staff, meanwhile, is recommending a 60-40 split in the district's favor, with its portion funding school improvements.

Special-needs student's family upset district is pursuing appeal

The family of a special-needs student snared in a drug sting at a Temecula high school voiced frustration this week that the school district is planning to appeal a judge's decision to halt his expulsion.

Schools warned about meningitis

Campus nurses and principals in schools across San Diego County have been put on alert following a deadly outbreak of meningitis in Tijuana.

Del Mar school board approves spending cuts

School officials in Del Mar approved a list of spending cuts Wednesday that includes layoffs, reduced hours for some employees and less training next year.

Riley: New teacher assessment: much promise, many questions

So what exactly is the Teacher Performance Assessment? That’s not an easy question to answer, actually, unless you are willing to spend some quality time spelunking through obscure corners of state government and university websites.

LAUSD preschools to get $7 million in security upgrades

More than six dozen Los Angeles Unified preschools will get safety upgrades, including security gates equipped with video cameras, under a $7 million plan approved Tuesday by the school board.

Fensterwald: Ed Committee backs crackdown on interest-deferred bonds

Despite opposition from several education organizations, the Assembly Education Committee on Wednesday voted 6-0 for a bill that would severely restrict school districts’ ability to float construction bonds that would saddle future taxpayers with huge balloon payments.

Oakland school board revokes charter of embattled American Indian Model Schools

The Oakland Unified School District narrowly voted to revoke the charter of the embattled American Indian Model Schools despite a lengthy and passionate defense by pupils, parents and AIMS board members who vowed to take the decision to Gov. Jerry Brown if necessary.

Incubator School in L.A. sparks discord over location, teachers

The pilot middle school, which is slated to open next year but lacks a site, will teach students how to launch a business in addition to academics.

New California public school reading list includes LGBT-friendly books

The California Department of Education this week released its latest list of recommended reading for K-12 students, including some newly published works that address immigration and sexual identity issues.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Lincoln Unified focuses on special-needs adults

Responding to a need that has been growing steadily for years, Lincoln Unified School District has moved to establish a program that will serve the district's young adults with special needs by preparing them to work and live with greater independence.

Wiring students at school and home Stockton USD goal

Following up on last year's large-scale purchase of computers for the district's K-5 classrooms, Stockton Unified School District Superintendent Steve Lowder said administrators are working on acquiring more technology for students from low-income backgrounds.

West Covina Unified avoids layoffs through retirement incentives

The West Covina Unified School District appears to be on its way to balancing its budget without teacher layoffs.

UPDATE: Alabama law requiring teachers say being gay is crime + From Canada to Georgia, teachers complain of pressure to change grades to mask high failure rates | Get Schooled

From Canada to Georgia, teachers complain of pressure to change grades to mask high failure rates | Get Schooled:

Students lead effort to repeal Alabama law requiring teachers say being gay is crime and unacceptable to public

by Maureen Downey

Two Alabama high school students have started a petition to repeal an old Alabama law that mandates teachers in sex ed classes teach that homosexuality is a criminal offense and “not a lifestyle acceptable to the general public.”
While there’s no evidence Alabama schools adhere to the outdated law, the state’s first openly gay legislator, state Rep. Patricia Todd, D-Birmingham, wants it off the books. She is being assisted in her effort by a conservative Republican in the Legislature who doesn’t want sex ed taught, period.
According to the Anniston Star:

Politically, Mary Sue McClurkin and Patricia Todd don’t have a lot in common. Todd, a Democratic state representative from Birmingham, is Alabama’s first openly gay state legislator. McClurkin, a

From Canada to Georgia, teachers complain of pressure to change grades to mask high failure rates

by Maureen Downey

Interesting AJC story on an Atlanta high school principal who resigned after accusations he bullied and intimidated teachers into raising failing grades.
Grade inflation has been in the national news as schools face increased pressure to improve student achievement, an issue Georgia knows well after the CRCT cheating scandals in Atlanta and Dougherty County schools.
Even Canada, held up as a model of effective education reform, has seen complaints from teachers of mounting pressure to alter grades so fewer students fail under a stricter accountability system.
Closer to home, teachers in a Tennessee for-profit virtual school complained of an email that directed them to drop failing grades. In a recent investigation, Nashville’s WTVF/NewsChannel 5 found that a Tennessee Virtual Academy administrator instructed middle school teachers to delete failing grades.
The case has had reverberations nationwide as the parent company of Tennessee Virtual, K12, the nation’s largest …

UPDATE: 50 plus 20 reasons to protest March 27 Parents United for Responsible Education

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » 50 plus 20 reasons to protest March 27:

50 plus 20 reasons to protest March 27

by admin

CPS is apparently going to close 50 schools and turnaround or consolidate another 20 despite the near-unanimous opposition from parents, teachers, students and the community and clear research that school closures:

Have a negative impact on children’s academic performance.
Have not resulted in the savings predicted by school officials.
Exacerbate racial inequalities.
Contribute to increased violence.

So, what next?
We fight back.
On Wednesday, March 27, at 4 pm a massive protest will take place beginning at Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington, in the Chicago Loop.
What do we want instead of school closings and more failed turnarounds and sell-outs to charter schools?
We want community-based school improvement as envisioned by the original local school council Reform Act, which CPS has tried for 20 years to disappear.
Here’s an example of what the communities want and what the children of Chicago need and deserve. Called the North Lawndale Alternative Plan, it’s a collaboratively-drafted proposal from the Committee to Save North Lawndale Schools. From their press release presented at a press conference earlier this morning:

The committee is concerned about the potential negative impacts of massive school closings, including interruptions in student achievement; increased student mobility and dropout rates; exacerbated blight conditions; reduced property values; increased vandalism and violence.
The Committee to Save North Lawndale Schools will create a community schools collaborative to work with schools and the North Lawndale Community Advisory Council to strengthen local schools’ ability to deliver favorable academic outcomes while serving as bona fide community centers focusing on the needs of the family, students and community members. The collaborative will 1) develop programming that will reduce truancy and delinquency and cut the pipeline from school to prison; 2) enhance health, fitness and nutrition for students and their families, eradicate the food desert and expand opportunities for healthy eating and positive lifestyle changes; 3) augment the school curricula with workforce development training that will provide students with exposure to career choices in manufacturing, technology, health and the trades, beginning at the elementary school level; 4) provide basic skills and workforce training and development opportunities for parents 5) provide outlets for sports and recreation, arts and culture. The plan includes a proposed structure, implementation schedule and budget. The estimated startup cost for the initiative is $322,000, not including in-kind contributions from collaborative partners. The collaborative will be looking to create win-win alternatives that will ease the financial burden of school operations while creating greater synergies between the City, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Public Libraries, City Colleges, the Chicago Park District, Chicago Police Department, elected officials, community based organizations, local residents, parents and students. We welcome community based organizations, small businesses (as appropriate),clinics, etc. to rent space in school buildings, subject to approval of principals, LSC’s and the schools’ plans for improvement.

It’s time to fight for our children. If not now, when? If not us, who?

Tsunami of closings begins

by admin

Details of the disaster are unfolding slowly. CPS has been contacting individual schools and elected officials. These stories are dribbling out one by one. Here’s one list (see also below).
The name of one school on the list caught my eye.
They are apparently closing Dodge – oh, let’s be sure to refer to it by the grandiose name CPS gave to it,Dodge Renaissance Academy – the first of Mayor Daley’s Renaissance 2010 schools. President Obamaannounced Arne’s appointment at Dodge, which had played a large role in Arne Duncan’s self-promotion for the position of Secretary of Education. The PURE fact sheet, “Duncan Dodges the Truth,” explains how Dodge was “turned around” by the Academy of Urban School Leaders by getting rid of nearly all of the original students. Now this “academy” is on the chopping block.
So, I guess the Renaissance is officially over. Time for the Dark Ages to set in.

	Trumbull Elementary
	Bethune Elementary
	Courtenay Elementary will combine with Stockton
	Fermi Elementary
	Near North Elementary moves to Montefiore Source: Sun Times
	Canter Middle School Source: Michael McNicholas
	Lafayette Elementary merge with Chopin source: Raise Your Hand
	Peabody Elemntary
	mahalia jackson elementary
	Dett Elementary will combine with Herbert source: Catalyst
	Goldblatt Elementary combining with Heffernan source: Raise Your Hand
	Ellington Elementary Emmet and Key move in Source: Raise Your Hand
	May Elementary Leland moves in source: Raise Your Hand
	Ryerson Elementary source: Raise Your Hand
	von Humboldt and Depry moves to de Diego source: @TradefinalotFin
	Marconi Elementary source: Raise Your Hand
	Garrett Morgan Elementary source: DNA Info
	Armstrong Elementary source: Catalyst Chicago
	Calhoun Elementary moving to Cather source: Sun Times
	Dodge Elementary moving to Morton
	Herbert Dett moves in Source: Sun Times
	Jensen Elementary King moves in Source: Sun Times
	King Elementary moves to Jensen Source: Sun Times
	Montefirore Buckingham and Near North move in Source: Sun Times
	Pershing West moves to Pershing East Source: Sun Times
	Pershing East Pershing West moves in Source: Sun Times
	Bon Temps Source: Michael McNicholas
	Mason Source: Michael McNicholas
	Ward Source: Michael McNicholas
	Dewey marked for turnaround Source: Casey Cora
	Earle moves to Goodlow Source: Lauren FitzPatrick
	Goodlow Earle moves in source: Lauren FitzPatrick
	Montessori School of Englewood moves to O’Toole Source: Lauren FitzPatrick
	O’Toole Elementary Montessori School of Englewood moves in Source: Lauren FitzPatrick
	Delano Elementary Source: Sun Times
	Ericson Source: Sun Times
	Tilton Source: Sun Times
	Cather Calhoun moves in Source: Sun Times
	Stockton Courtenay moves in Source: Sun Times
	Chopin Lafayette moves in Source: Sun Times
	Mayo Elementary Source: DNAInfo Chicago
	Disney II Magnet Proposal for Marshall Middle School to share building Source: Catalyst
	Marshall Middle School Proposal to move to Disney II Magnet Source: Catalyst

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Thursday, March 21, 2013

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