Saturday, March 30, 2013

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 3-30-13 AM Posts #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2



BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS




NYC Educator: Who's Afraid of Julie Cavanagh?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 minutes ago
NYC Educator: Who's Afraid of Julie Cavanagh?: Who's Afraid of Julie Cavanagh? by NYC Educator These are very tough times for teachers. We're facing an evaluation system that I am personally convinced to be based on nonsense. Mayor Bloomberg openly discusses his desire to hold teachers' feet to the fire, and when he says fire, that's certainly what he wishes to do to us. Governor Cuomo is now buying Bloomberg's argument that junk science agreements ought not to sunset, and stating they ought to remain in effect until and unless they are renegotiated. Unity/ New Action's Mike Mulgr... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-30-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 minutes ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] G.F. Brandenburg: Atlanta Details Remind Him of D.C. Details by dianerav Count on G.F. Brandenburg to read the fine print, have a long memory, and share what he has learned with his readers. The excerpts from the Atlanta indictments may remind you of the PBS Frontline special about Michelle Rhee. Remember how she interviewed each principal and asked, “How many points will your scores go up?” “What can What Do Katrina, Camden, and Chicago Have in Common? by dian... more »

What Problem Will Mark Zuckerberg Solve Next??? | EduShyster

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 minutes ago
What Problem Will Mark Zuckerberg Solve Next??? | EduShyster: What Problem Will Mark Zuckerberg Solve Next??? by edushyster2012 Our topic today is the skillz gap, a problem so fiercely urgent that only the nation’s preeminent techno-wonder kid can even begin to have the smarts to address it. I am talking about Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and in the time that it took me to type his names our failed and failing public schools failed to produce yet more workers skilled enough to work at what is indisputably the mostamazing company in human history. So what a relief to learn this week... more »

Come Saturday Morning: Another Charter School Exponent Falls from Grace | Firedoglake

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 32 minutes ago
Come Saturday Morning: Another Charter School Exponent Falls from Grace | Firedoglake: Come Saturday Morning: Another Charter School Exponent Falls from Grace by Phoenix Woman Popout Well, well, what have we here? A grand jury on Friday indicted Beverly L. Hall, the former superintendent powerhouse of the Atlanta School District, on racketeering and other charges, bringing a dramatic new chapter to one of the largest cheating scandals in the country. The grand jury also indicted 34 teachers and administrators in addition to Dr. Hall, who resigned in 2011 just before results of an i... more »

Disappearing Act | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 32 minutes ago
Disappearing Act | toteachornototeach: Disappearing Act by aristotlethewise *Disappearing Act* ** * * * * by Virginia Myers *End the testing fixation before it erases more meaningful education.* WHEN IT COMES TO TESTING, teachers, parents and even some students agree on one thing: They have had about all they can take. And for good reason. The fixation on testing is putting undue stress on educators as well as students, and, in many instances, punishing teachers and schools. It’s also shortchanging vital parts of the curriculum, including arts, music and physical education. Bonnie ... more »

Schools Matter: With "LiveSchool," Total Surveillance and Compliance Are Just a Swipe and Click Away

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 32 minutes ago
Schools Matter: With "LiveSchool," Total Surveillance and Compliance Are Just a Swipe and Click Away: With "LiveSchool," Total Surveillance and Compliance Are Just a Swipe and Click Away by Jim Horn *"The best practice is to record data in the moment. Why? Because it will be immediately available to your colleagues, and it ensures that no behaviors-good or bad-go unrecognized." --LiveSchool promotional material* * **How does a KIPP or other corporate reform school teacher, with a 60-80 hour work week, keep track of every word spoken, every snort or snicker, every fake fart, every... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Reform Right: "Democracy Is a Myth!"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 49 minutes ago
Jersey Jazzman: Reform Right: "Democracy Is a Myth!": Reform Right: "Democracy Is a Myth!" by Duke Meanwhile, in Newark: In an unprecedented move, the *Newark Schools Advisory Board tonight voted against approval of a budget submitted by state-appointed Superintendent Cami Anderson.* *The board voiced its dissatisfaction with the way the budget was submitted, bereft of details, according to at least one member.* "We were all in agreement that there was a lack of transparency," said Board Member Eliana Pintor Marin. "*I asked the question tonight 'where are the programs being cut,... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Proponent & Foundation for Excellence Member Mitchell Chester: Let Them Eat Cake?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 49 minutes ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Proponent & Foundation for Excellence Member Mitchell Chester: Let Them Eat Cake?: Common Core Proponent & Foundation for Excellence Member Mitchell Chester: Let Them Eat Cake? by stlgretchen A nonprofit group released thousands of e-mails today and said they show how a foundation begun by Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor and national education reform leader, is working with public officials in states to write education laws that could benefit some of its corporate funders. from washingtonpost.com Neal McCluskey writes a most revealin... more »

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 3-30-13

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 53 minutes ago
*4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:* *4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT* Opinion: HOW I BEAT THE POWERBROKERS IN A SCHOOL BOARD RACE smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 14 hours ago By Bennett Kayser, Op-Ed in the LA Daily News | http://bit.ly/173VB2q 3/28/2013 12:17:23 PM PDT :: In my 2011 school board race, I beat the big money. My campaign coffers never topped $35,000. My opponent Luis Sanchez raised more than five times as much. Sanchez also benefited from the generous support of "independent" interests willing to spend millions to promote t... more »

Top Content this Week - 3-30-13 The Educator's PLN Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN:

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 55 minutes ago
Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN: 1[image: a message to parents from your child's teacher]a message to parents from your child's teacher Added by Thomas Whitby on March 23, 2013 2[image: 20 Quick Actions You Can Do Today To Set Your Classroom Up For Massive Success]20 Quick Actions You Can Do Today To Set Your Classroom Up For Massive Success Added by Tess Pajaron on March 19, 2013 3[image: Twitter in D123]Twitter in D123 Added by Thomas Whitby on March 20, 2013 4[image: K-12 Tech Tools]K-12 Tech Tools Posted by Torrey Trust on November 1, 2011 5[image: Follow Your Thinki... more »

This Week's Education Research Report 3-30-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 56 minutes ago
Education Research Report: *THIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT* * * TEACHERS’ GESTURES BOOST MATH LEARNING Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 2 hours ago Students perform better when their instructors use hand gestures – a simple teaching tool that could yield benefits in higher-level math such as algebra. A study published in *Child Development*, the top-ranked educational psychology journal, provides some of the strongest evidence yet that gesturing may have a unique effect on learning. Teachers in the United States tend to use gestures less than teachers in oth...more »

The Battle for Public Schools – last minute details United Opt Out National

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
United Opt Out National: Please read here for all details regarding the occupation. The event will take place at the Dept. of Education, 400 Maryland Ave, SW , Washington, DC 20202. We will be outside, in the plaza on the north side of the building. If possible, bring your own camping chair and be prepared for any kind of weather. Official schedule for our second occupation of the Dept. of Ed. in D.C. from April 4-7, 2013, is available *HERE.* Official press release is *HERE*. Donations are accepted *HERE.* Official poster* HERE*. Livestream is *HERE*. RSVP* HERE.* Rules and parameter... more »

All Things Education: 180 Days: Inspiration, Desperation, and Deselection

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 hours ago
All Things Education: 180 Days: Inspiration, Desperation, and Deselection: 180 Days: Inspiration, Desperation, and Deselection by Rachel Levy This spring break, I didn't read the three education books I was planning to. Instead, I spent a good chunk of time watching *180 Days: A Year Inside an American High School.* It's a documentary about DC Metropolitan High School, an alternative or "last chance" school that's part of DCPS. It was well-done and compelling. I highly recommend it. On a personal level, it reminded me a lot of the DCPS high school where I taught in terms of the p... more »

UPDATE: The culture that created the Atlanta cheating + Glen Brown hits a quarter of a million site visits with a great how-to-talk-to-your-legislator post. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
Glen Brown hits a quarter of a million site visits with a great how-to-talk-to-your-legislator post. | Fred Klonsky: The culture that created the Atlanta cheating scandal. by Fred Klonsky Today’s big education story is the indictment of former Atlanta school superintendent Dr. Beverly L. Hall. Dr. Hall was one of 35 Atlanta educators indicted Friday by a Fulton County grand jury. Dr. Hall, who retired in 2011, was charged with racketeering, theft, influencing witnesses, conspiracy and making false statements. Prosecutors recommended a $7.5 million bond for her; she could face up to... more »

New Orleans seen as school choice national model, but is it working? - The Denver Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
New Orleans seen as school choice national model, but is it working? - The Denver Post: New Orleans seen as school choice national model, but is it working? POSTED: 03/29/2013 05:40:10 AM MDT UPDATED: 03/29/2013 08:45:46 AM MDT ByHeather Miller, The Lens Anika Watson and her son Kaleb and daughter Kaliyah outside McDonogh City Park Academy where the children attend school on Thursday, March 14, 2013. Watson learned days after the start of the school year that her kids' new school was an F. The district offered her children a list of schools to which they could transfer, but even... more »

Biggest legal challenge in history to Colorado's state's system of funding public schools is finally being played out before Colorado Supreme Court justices

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
Biggest legal challenge in history to Colorado's state's system of funding public schools is finally being played out before Colorado Supreme Court justices: Biggest legal challenge in history to Colorado’s state’s system of funding public schools is finally being played out before Colorado Supreme Court justices by Danny Weil [image: images] The Denver Post has reported that after eight years after it was first filed, the biggest legal challenge in history to the state’s system of funding public schools is finally being played out before Colorado Supreme Court justices. Hearing... more »

Glenn Beck Takes on the Common Core: Is Big Data Big Brother? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
Glenn Beck Takes on the Common Core: Is Big Data Big Brother? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Glenn Beck Takes on the Common Core: Is Big Data Big Brother? by Anthony Cody It is safe to say that Glenn Beck has millions of politically conservative followers, even now, on his less visible cable TV and radio program, TheBlaze. In recent weeks, Beck has turned his attention to the dangers posed by the Common Core. I do not usually pay close attention to Glenn Beck's work. On his Fox channel show, he took on a professorial air, and often led viewers down a rabbit hole i... more »

University of Oregon students' anti-rape video goes viral | OregonLive.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
University of Oregon students' anti-rape video goes viral | OregonLive.com: University of Oregon students' anti-rape video goes viral by Yuxing Zheng, The Oregonian An anti-rape video posted by two University of Oregon undergraduates has garnered more than 1.8 million hits the past week and landed them in international media. Cinema studies undergraduates Samantha Stendal and Aaron Blanton posted the video in response to the rape case in Steubenville, Ohio, where two teenage footballers were convicted of raping a 16-year-old girl who was drunk and unconscious. In Stendal and Blanto...more »

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Opinion: HOW I BEAT THE POWERBROKERS IN A SCHOOL BOARD RACE

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Opinion: HOW I BEAT THE POWERBROKERS IN A SCHOOL BOARD RACE: Opinion: HOW I BEAT THE POWERBROKERS IN A SCHOOL BOARD RACE by smf BY BENNETT KAYSER, OP-ED IN THE LA DAILY NEWS | HTTP://BIT.LY/173VB2Q 3/28/2013 12:17:23 PM PDT :: In my 2011 school board race, I beat the big money. My campaign coffers never topped $35,000. My opponent Luis Sanchez raised more than five times as much. Sanchez also benefited from the generous support of "independent" interests willing to spend millions to promote their agendas. He also had the backing of wel... more »

Daily Kos: Could paying a living wage help retail make better profits?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
Daily Kos: Could paying a living wage help retail make better profits?: Could paying a living wage help retail make better profits? by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) That seems to be the conclusion to be drawn from reading The Trader Joe's Lesson: How to Pay a Living Wage and Still Make Money in Retail, Sophie Quinton's story in *the Atlantic* which is subtitled "Companies that invest in higher salaries for low-level employees find success in a competitive market." It focuses on three chains that pay their employees far more than most competitors, and treats employees as an asset, ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: It's Duncan's Race To The Top that should have been indicted

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: It's Duncan's Race To The Top that should have been indicted: It's Duncan's Race To The Top that should have been indicted by Mike Klonsky Indicted!When the Atlanta test cheating scandal broke two years ago, *Arne Duncan* pooh-poohed it. He started out saying how "stunned" he was and then called it an "isolated" problem. *"I think this is very isolated," Duncan said. "In Baltimore, there's two schools and they dealt with it. This (Atlanta) is an easy one to fix, with better test security.* Isolated? An easy one to fix? Today AJC reports: * Former ... more »

Too much to read… | Deborah Meier on Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
Too much to read… | Deborah Meier on Education: Too much to read… by debmeier I get sent books, I buy them and I borrow them. I’m a sucker for a good title. But if they are in “my field” I think they deserve passing along. So here are some comments about ones I found I was glad t have read this past month or two. 1. Letters of Recommendation, by Maxine McClintock is a surprisingly engaging fictional dialogue between a high school teacher and a very sensitive student about the value of what they’ve has been engaged in. I kept turing down page corners (tsk tsk) and over time I shal... more »

Diane in the Evening 3-29-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Astonishing Details of Atlanta Indictments for Cheating by dianerav The New York Times has an extended story on the indictments of educators for their alleged participation in cheating on tests. Ex-superintendent Beverly Hall was one of 35 Atlanta educators indicted in the biggest cheating scandal in public school history. A third-grade teacher agreed to wear a wire for the investigators: She “admitted to Mr. Hyde [the investigator] that she was one of seven teachers — nicknamed “the chosen” — who sat in a locked ... more »

Thinking about sick days. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Thinking about sick days. | Fred Klonsky: Thinking about sick days. by Fred Klonsky [image: jp-sick-articleLarge] One of the things about being retired is that I never have to worry about taking a paid sick day again. *“Who worries about taking a sick day?” you may ask.* Most teachers I know do. They worry about who the sub will be. They worry about leaving plans. They worry that their students will miss a day of their invaluable presence. I’m thinking about sick days because the city of New York is about to pass a law that requires companies which employ five people or more to prov... more »

State investigating $98 million grant for UNO charter schools - Chicago Sun-Times

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
State investigating $98 million grant for UNO charter schools - Chicago Sun-Times: State investigating $98 million grant for UNO charter schools BY DAN MIHALOPOULOS Staff Reporter dmihalopoulos@suntimes.com March 29, 2013 4:28PM 0 0 Share 26 1 [image: Juan Rangel CEO United Neighborhood Organization. | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times file photo] Juan Rangel, CEO of the United Neighborhood Organization. | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times file photo RELATED DOCUMENTS Inspector general's letter ARTICLE EXTRAS [image: Story Image] View Gallery RELATED STORIES - For insiders, community group UNO’s... more »

Michelle Rhee, a private school parent?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Michelle Rhee, a private school parent?: Michelle Rhee, a private school parent? Posted by Valerie Strauss on March 29, 2013 at 5:13 pm The outspoken Michelle Rhee appears to be uncomfortable talking about where her children go to school in Nashville. Public or private? And why does it matter? Her reluctance is detailed in this Los Angeles Times piece by Michael Mishak headlined, “Michelle Rhee, ‘a public school parent?’ ” Mishak reports that Erin Shaw, a spokesman for Rhee’s StudentsFirst anti-union organization, told the Times, “She is a public school parent.” Based on ... more »

Read Dallas ISD school board candidates’ responses to Dallas Kids First questionnaire | Education Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Read Dallas ISD school board candidates’ responses to Dallas Kids First questionnaire | Education Blog: Read Dallas ISD school board candidates’ responses to Dallas Kids First questionnaire By Matthew Haag mhaag@dallasnews.com 3:57 pm on March 29, 2013 | Permalink 0 11 0 Dallas Kids First released its Dallas ISD candidate scorecards this week and then endorsed the board’s three incumbents in the May election. Dallas Kids First’s roughly 1,000 members used the candidates’ responses to help pick the group’s endorsements. (The group’s members who contributed more than $200 to the polit... more »

Educators set to march on Washington for DREAMer students | NewsTacoNewsTaco

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Educators set to march on Washington for DREAMer students | NewsTacoNewsTaco: Educators set to march on Washington for DREAMer students by NewsTaco [image: DREAM march California] [image: education votes]By Fรฉlix Pรฉrez, EducationVotes It has been more than 15 years since he was in her classroom, but choral music teacher Jill Denny still lights up when describing Jose. “I just think Jose is a fantastic role model for our students. He is the ideal kid. He comes in and says, ‘I’m dying to learn things. Let me learn,’ ” reminisced Denny, who teaches at California’s Mountain View High S... more »

UPDATE: list of people indicted today + Former Atlanta school chief Beverly Hall and 34 others indicted in APS cheating case | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Former Atlanta school chief Beverly Hall and 34 others indicted in APS cheating case | Get Schooled: Former Atlanta school chief Beverly Hall indicted in APS cheating case by Maureen Downey [image: Former Atlanta Superintendent Beverly Hall was among 35 people indicted today in APS cheating scandal. (AJC photo)]Former Atlanta Superintendent Beverly Hall was among 35 people indicted today in APS cheating scandal. (AJC photo) Among those named in the indictment just handed down by a Fulton County grand jury looking into the APS cheating case is former school chief Beverly Hall. Acc... more »

California Public School News Updates | K-12 News Network

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
California Public School News Updates | K-12 News Network: California Public School News Updates by admin School Wellness Recognition Program deadline extended to April 5. Click here to learn more. (pdf) Thu, Mar 28, 2013 6:14:00 PM, Continue reading at the source Fabian Nunez To Work With Michelle Rhee's StudentsFirst [image: moore_1731.jpg] Former Assembly Speaker hopes to mediate with California Teachers by Brian Leubitz If you are planning to come to the CDP convention in Sacramento in a couple of weeks, it will be no secret that the teachers are an important constituency withi... more »

Youth Science Camp Delegates Selected - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Youth Science Camp Delegates Selected - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces California's National Youth Science Camp Delegates SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced that Arashpreet Kaur Gill, a senior at Tracy High School in Tracy (San Joaquin County), and Veronica Alissa Rivera, a senior at Claremont High School in Claremont (Los Angeles County) have been selected as California's 2013 National Youth Science Camp delegates. "As a science teacher, it's a thrill to be able to send these two young ... more »

Want to teach better? New study says use your hands | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Want to teach better? New study says use your hands | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC: Want to teach better? New study says use your hands by Mary Plummer [image: Dual Language API - 2]*Sixth grade dual language teacher Luz Valasquez leads a math class on polyhedrons. A new study out this week finds that students who receive instruction with hand gestures perform better on tests. Credit: Maya Sugarman/KPCC* One key to more effective teaching could be as simple as talking with your hands, according to a new study from the University of Iowa and Michigan State University. The study released ... more »

Mike Klonsky...: From pineapples to small schools, alum Mike Klonsky's work is no small talk

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Mike Klonsky...: From pineapples to small schools, alum Mike Klonsky's work is no small talk: From pineapples to small schools, alum Mike Klonsky's work is no small talk by Mike Klonsky From UIC Alumni Magazine, UIC College of Education April 30, 2012 [image: From pineapples to small schools, alum Mike Klonsky's work is no small talk] *Professor Michael Klonsky teaches in the College of Education at DePaul University in Chicago. He also serves as the national director of the Small Schools Workshop, and on the national steering committee of Save Our Schools, a national movement ded... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Perth Amboy Follies Update

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Perth Amboy Follies Update: Perth Amboy Follies Update by Duke Let's check back in on the Reformiest District In New Jersey™: City schools Superintendent Janine Walker Caffrey insists her district is out of ideas.Time and again, she said, administrators have tried — and failed — to attract bilingual math and science teachers to Perth Amboy’s public schools. “We’ve posted positions a total of 26 times,” Caffrey said. “We’ve had face-to-face meetings with students at five universities over the last few months. We’ve posted jobs on 13 national websites, had numerous... more »

Paying attention to 9th graders | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Paying attention to 9th graders | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Paying attention to 9th graders by thenotebook Sub Title: Graduation rates keep climbing, but many students still founder in the first year of high school. Author: by Dale Mezzacappa Philadelphia’s graduation rate continues to improve, yet only about two-thirds of students who start 9th grade in public schools get a diploma four years later. As the *Notebook* does its eighth annual edition focusing on the city’s dropout crisis, this is both encouraging and sobering news. Encouraging because the gains are slow an... more »

Occupy DOE 2.0: The Battle for Public Schools – last minute details | United Opt Out National

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Occupy DOE 2.0: The Battle for Public Schools – last minute details | United Opt Out National: Occupy DOE 2.0: The Battle for Public Schools – last minute details by admin Please read here for all details regarding the occupation. The event will take place at the Dept. of Education, 400 Maryland Ave, SW , Washington, DC 20202. We will be outside, in the plaza on the north side of the building. If possible, bring your own camping chair and be prepared for any kind of weather. Official schedule for our second occupation of the Dept. of Ed. in D.C. from April 4-7, 2013, is available ... more »

Activists file lawsuit to stop D.C. school closures - The Washington Post

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Activists file lawsuit to stop D.C. school closures - The Washington Post: Activists file lawsuit to stop D.C. school closures Katherine Frey/THE WASHINGTON POST - FILE: DC Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson speaks before the DC Council and the public about her reasons for proposing to closeschools at the Wilson Building Thrsday, November 15, 2012 in Washington, DC By Emma Brown, Friday, March 29, 11:08 AM Opponents of the District’s plan to close 15 under-enrolled public schools filed a lawsuit Friday in an effort to force Chancellor Kaya Henderson to keep them open. The ... more »

Letter to Civil Rights and school “choice” advocate (p.s. neoliberals skip this) | Cloaking Inequity

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Letter to Civil Rights and school “choice” advocate (p.s. neoliberals skip this) | Cloaking Inequity: Letter to Civil Rights and school “choice” advocate (p.s. neoliberals skip this) [image: washingtondc_201006A32_07] Dear Civil Rights and choice advocate, I have noticed that some Civil Rights advocates are supporting and leading the school “choice” movement. They are searching for alternatives as our nation has *consistently* and* purposely* underserved students of color. As one reformer from Los Angeles told me, Latina/os and African Americans have been forced to attend “f_cked u... more »

A Part of Us Is Dying in Chicago - Of, By, For: In Search of the Civic Mission of K-12 Schools - Education Week

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
A Part of Us Is Dying in Chicago - Of, By, For: In Search of the Civic Mission of K-12 Schools - Education Week: [image: Of, By, For: In Search of the Civic Mission of K-12 Schools] A Part of Us Is Dying in Chicago By Sam Chaltain on March 28, 2013 4:46 PM | No comments I can't reconcile the deep sense of community that filmmakers Amy and Tom Valens have captured in their 10-part video series about a year in the life of a public school in Boston, with the painful public clashes we're witnessing in Chicago - where 54 of the city's schools will soon be shuttered. Indeed, although t... more »

Michelle Rhee, 'a public school parent'? - latimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Michelle Rhee, 'a public school parent'? - latimes.com: Michelle Rhee, 'a public school parent'? By Michael J. Mishak March 29, 2013, 7:05 a.m. SACRAMENTO -- In the course of reporting a story about Michelle Rhee, the controversial former District of Columbia chancellor seeking to take her brand of education reform to statehouses across the country, the Los Angeles Times asked her spokeswoman a simple question: Do Rhee’s children attend public or private school? The response from Erin Shaw seemed clear. “She is a public school parent,” Shaw told the paper in an email. So The Tim... more »

Quantifying Teacher Effectiveness — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Quantifying Teacher Effectiveness — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Melissa Mellor]Quantifying Teacher Effectiveness March 29, 2013 by Melissa Mellor [image: ASCD Policy Priorities - Spring 2013] Can you quantify the effectiveness of a good teacher? How much of that can be determined from student test scores? And how can teachers of untested subjects like the arts, physical education, and social studies be fairly evaluated? These are some of the questions raised in the newest edition of *Policy Priorities*, ASCD's quarterly policy newsletter, which examines U.S. ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Public Private Partnership in Nationalized Education. Local Control is Non-Existent.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: Public Private Partnership in Nationalized Education. Local Control is Non-Existent.: Public Private Partnership in Nationalized Education. Local Control is Non-Existent. by stlgretchen From ed.gov and *Education Department Launches 2013 Investing in Innovation Competition:* The U.S. Department of Education announced the start of the $150 million 2013 Investing in Innovation (i3) grant competition today with the release of the program's invitation for pre-applications for the i3 "Development" grant category and the notice of final priorities for the ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Reformy Buyers Remorse

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Reformy Buyers Remorse: Reformy Buyers Remorse by Duke *AchieveNJ: Operation Hindenburg* Ruh-roh: As the Christie administration’s new regulations for teacher evaluation near a critical juncture, *the prime author of the landmark tenure reform law behind the proposed rules said the administration may be moving too aggressively in some places.** * State Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex), the legislator most credited for the new tenure law, said yesterday in some of her first public comments on the regulations that the administration’s plans to base 35 percent of certain ... more »

The District’s budget: Key facts and figures | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
The District’s budget: Key facts and figures | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: The District’s budget: Key facts and figures by Paul Socolar The School Reform Commission adopted a $2.66 billion “lump-sum budget” Thursday evening. The lump-sum budget provides overall projections for revenue, expenses, and any surplus or deficit, but does not include a detailed breakdown. The detailed budget typically comes in late April and must be adopted by May 31. From the budget and Thursday's presentation by District staff, here are some key numbers on this year and how officials propose to... more »

UPDATE: Friday Open Thread Seattle Schools Community Forum: No Surprise-Burgess Would Consider Taking Over Seattle Schools as Mayor

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: No Surprise-Burgess Would Consider Taking Over Seattle Schools as Mayor: Friday Open Thread by Melissa Westbrook Update: Free Admission to Washington State Parks this Saturday! Beautiful weather, beautiful parks - get out there! West Seattle HS culinary students place 5th in state competition with two students winning scholarships. Our own Top Chefs in SPS. Congrats kids! From the "what do you want him to call it" category, comes this story about an Idaho science teacher who was called out by parents for using the word "vagina" during a unit ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Sound and fury over crowd estimate

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Sound and fury over crowd estimate: Sound and fury over crowd estimate by Mike Klonsky The current dust-up about the various estimates of the crowd size at Wednesday's school closing protest qualifies as *sound and fury, signifying nothing*, to quote Will Shakespeare. What difference does it make whether the size of this particular march and rally was 2,000 or 10,000? The point is, it was big, loud and militant enough to be heard all the way up to the fifth floor of City Hall and in BBB's offices at CPS. The message was loud and clear and was picked... more »

Communication and Engagement Pave the Way to School Success | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Communication and Engagement Pave the Way to School Success | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: Communication and Engagement Pave the Way to School Success by National School Public Relations Association *By Rich Bagin, APR, Executive Director of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA)* Years ago the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) offered a guidebook entitled *Making and Marketing Your School as a School of Choice *. This was even before the charter movement, open enrollment, vouchers, and the home schooling surge began nibbli...more »

Indictments may come today in APS cheating scandal. Grand jury looking at suppressed report on “culture of wrongdoing” at one school | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Indictments may come today in APS cheating scandal. Grand jury looking at suppressed report on “culture of wrongdoing” at one school | Get Schooled: Indictments may come today in APS cheating scandal. Grand jury looking at suppressed report on “culture of wrongdoing” at one school by Maureen Downey The AJC is expecting indictments possibly later today related to the APS cheating scandal first brought to light by the newspaper. When those indictments come down, please be sure to come back to the blog as there will be a lot to discuss about who was indicted and who was not. The AJC ... more »

Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium: Not very smart or balanced. – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium: Not very smart or balanced. – @ the chalk face: Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium: Not very smart or balanced. by Timothy D. Slekar My turn to say it. “The common core is nothing more than a new *product* designed to suck tax dollars from public schools. The tax dollars will be spent on *assessment* systems that do nothing for children, teachers and schools.” How do I know? I received an invitation from the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities to review the *Achievement Level Descriptors and College Content... more »

Florida’s New High School Requirements and Alternatives Show Legislators Were Listening | Scathing Purple Musings

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Florida’s New High School Requirements and Alternatives Show Legislators Were Listening | Scathing Purple Musings: Florida’s New High School Requirements and Alternatives Show Legislators Were Listening by Bob Sikes Some could say that they even offered a mea culpa. From Travis Pillow in the *Tallahassee Democrat:* The expansion of career education has been tied to broader changes to high school graduation requirements in competing proposals advanced by both House and Senate. Right now, students must pass the geometry exam to graduate under a law passed in 2010, which took full ... more »








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NYC Educator: Who's Afraid of Julie Cavanagh?

NYC Educator: Who's Afraid of Julie Cavanagh?:


Who's Afraid of Julie Cavanagh?

These are very tough times for teachers. We're facing an evaluation system that I am personally convinced to be based on nonsense. Mayor Bloomberg openly discusses his desire to hold teachers' feet to the fire, and when he says fire, that's certainly what he wishes to do to us. Governor Cuomo is now buying Bloomberg's argument that junk science agreements ought not to sunset, and stating they ought to remain in effect until and unless they are renegotiated.

Unity/ New Action's Mike Mulgrew was party to the negotiation of the law that subjects us to this. I've heard people defend it, along the lines of it subjecting teachers to less junk science than other states do. I've heard Mulgrew say that an agreement will be based on student improvement from the baseline of wherever they 

MORNING UPDATE LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-30-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all:

Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch




Teacher:Preparing My Students for Failure

By now, everyone has been duly warned that the new Common Core tests will be “harder.”
The passing rates are expected to drop by 30%.
Advocates of privatization are excited and hoping the bad news will encourage parents to abandon their community schools.
Entrepreneurs are poised to sell stuff when everyone is desperate for the latest new thing.
But what about the kids?
This teacher describes what she sees in her classes: fear.
“I have been chatting with my classes explaining that we expect the tests to be tougher and that we are taking 


A Broad Connection to the Atlanta Scandal?

This commentary, written two years ago, connects the dots.
The Atlanta school board was trained by the Broad Foundation.
Key officials were trained by Broad. Beverly Hall was not a graduate of Broad’s unaccredited training academy but she was sufficiently in step to speak at Broad training conferences, get Broad funding, and Broad-trained helpers. And she absorbed the Broad message that tests scores=performance, and nothing else matters.
The Broad philosophy, as best it can be deciphered from afar, is management by targets. Goal-setting. It is a business plan, not an educational vision for children. As Eli Broad once said, “I know nothing about curriculum 

Where Does Michelle Rhee Live?

Michelle Rhee keeps raising interesting questions. It is hard to ignore her, because she is the face of the corporate reform movement, the one who goes on television to complain about the huge numbers of “bad” teachers and the importance of weakening or eliminating collective bargaining and the great value of privatizing public schools. Apparently, despite her four years in D.C., plus the additional years of her deputy Kaya Henderson, the District of Columbia still has way too many “bad” teachers because it continues to be at the bottom of NAEP rankings. When will we see D.C. rise to the top as Rhee predicted?
Is she a public school parent? Yes, one daughter attends a public magnet school, and the other attends an elite

L.A. Teacher: Is Reform a “Rich Folks’ Hoax”

Barbara Stam describes what passes for “reform” as “the rich folks hoax.”
The hoax is the idea that constant testing and test prep improves education.
This is a hoax.
It is not for their children.
But it is good enough for other people’s children.
So what if the teachers of art and music and PE lose their jobs?
Someone else can do it, even though it is not their subject.
It is good enough for other people’s children.

In Texas, It is “Bidness As Usual”

One of the most adamant critics of the Texas legislation to reduce the number of tests that students must take to graduate happens to own franchises for Sylvan Learning Centers, which offer test preparation and tutoring.
Was it a conflict of interest? No, he said, everybody votes on things that affect their self-interest.
He was just concerned about keeping standards high.
In Texas, that is known as “bidness as usual.”

The Walton Story: Link Added

Thanks to a reader for pointing out that I forgot to add the link in this story about a brave columnist in Arkansas who dares to criticize the Walton hegemony.
Here is the post. I added the missing link. Please read it.

A Wise Connecticut Journalist Figures It Out

Those who understand the dangers of privatization and the fraud perpetrated when charters claim they do a better job with “the same kids” can take heart whenever someone in the mainstream media sees what is happening.
Here is a journalist in the Connecticut Post who has figured out what is going on. The charters are skimming the 

Proof That Independent Thought Survives in Arkansas

The Waltons, with their vast fortune, dominate the political life in their home state of Arkansas.
They use that vast wealth to promote market-based schooling and to undermine public education across the nation and even beyond.
But here is proof positive that they don’t own everyone in Arkansas.
Bravo to freedom of thought and expression!
Bravo to brave dissidents!
Keep thought alive in America, even in Arkansas.

G.F. Brandenburg: Atlanta Details Remind Him of D.C. Details

Count on G.F. Brandenburg to read the fine print, have a long memory, and share what he has learned with his readers.
The excerpts from the Atlanta indictments may remind you of the PBS Frontline special about Michelle Rhee. Remember how she interviewed each principal and asked, “How many points will your scores go up?” “What can

What Do Katrina, Camden, and Chicago Have in Common?

This just arrived in the morning email
It is a question for a multiple-choice test.
Write your own.
Here goes:
I am part of a small group of educators (hoping to grow teacher and parent awareness – via our facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/pages/NJ-Educators-United-to-Protect-Public-Education/350194368424508 – where – among other articles – we have been transcribing and posting YouTube “homerun” statements that you have made via speaking venues).
Anyway, here are my simple thoughts and a sample standardized question:
————————————————————-
Does history repeat itself? You bet!

The Victims of the Atlanta Cheating Scandal

According to the story in the New York Times, the schools in Atlanta where the scores soared lost federal aid for struggling learners. One school where cheating is alleged lost $750,000 that could have been used for reduce class size and to provide enrichment classes and tutoring. And that was only one school among many.
The rise in scores gained Beverly Hall a bonus of $500,000.
That must be one of the strategies that the Atlanta school board learned when they received training by the Broad Foundation about reaching targets and using incentives to succeed.
Remember the stories about the “New York City miracle”? That’s when the passing rates went up so fast and so

Parent to NYC Official: Stop the Intimidation!

Last year, Jeff Nichols and his wife Ann Stone wrote an article that appeared in the New York Times about taking the “practice” version of the third-grade English language arts test. The test was sent home with one of their children as “vacation homework,” an oxymoron in itself.
Both college professors, they did it for fun with two friends. All have Ph.D.s. they couldn’t agree on the right answers and concluded the test was ridiculous. They became activists in the opt-out movement.
Recently, Jeff wrote a high-ranking official at the New York City Department of Education to inform him that his children will not be taking the tests this spring. The official (who was once an anti-testing activist when he was a 

Rochester Teachers Union: Common Core Sets Us Up for Failure

The Rochester Teachers Union is running an ad campaign against the Common Core testing.
The state education department predicts that scores will drop by 30 percent.
“It’s a setup for failure,” said John Pavone of the Rochester Teachers Association. Teachers are worried they will be evaluated based on a curriculum that was rolled out this year.  “They’re going to blame me if the kids can’t pass the test and the kids can’t pass the test. It’s set up in such a way that you can’t pass the test.”

The Atlanta Investigation: The Documents

Erich Martel of D.C. posted the documents from the Atlanta investigation.
“These are the four Atlanta Public School (APS) Investigation Report documents:
There are some unexpected surprises. Supt. Hall hired two “experts” to do a review of a few schools in response to concerns. One is a well-known consultant, author of “Unpacking the Standards.” His report was very approving 

Di Carlo: The Camden Takeover

Matt D Carlo evaluates Nรฉw Jersey’s
decision to take over the Camden school district.
Di Carlo says it may have been justified or not.
But state officials did not make their case.
Sounds like Chris Cerf should hire a statistician.

NYC Official Responds to Parent

I posted earlier today a letter from a parent to a high-level NYC official, complaining about the city’s threat to cut the school’s funding if too many children opted out of state testing.
What do you think the official replied: we must follow the law. We must do as we are told.
Don’t you long to hear a governor or mayor or superintendent say to the parent: You are right. The law is idiotic. We will join you in a mass action of civil disobedience.
Don’t expect to hear it from anyone who works for the testing-obsessed Bloomberg administration. This is a 

Diane in the Evening 3-29-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Breaking News: Former Atlanta Superintendent Indicted by dianerav A report in the New York Times says that Dr. Beverly L. Hall was indicted by a grand jury for her role in the Atlanta cheating scandal. The story says, in part: *“Investigators laid blame for the biggest standardized-test cheating scandal in the country’s history on the superintendent, Dr. Hall, who led the 50,000-student school system from 1999 until her resignation in 2011. Dr. Hall, who was hailed as National Superintendent of the Year in 2009... more »
 LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 3-30-13 #SOSCHAT
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG 
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DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG


What Problem Will Mark Zuckerberg Solve Next??? | EduShyster

What Problem Will Mark Zuckerberg Solve Next??? | EduShyster:


What Problem Will Mark Zuckerberg Solve Next???

Our topic today is the skillz gap, a problem so fiercely urgent that only the nation’s preeminent techno-wonder kid can even begin to have the smarts to address it. I am talking about Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and in the time that it took me to type his names our failed and failing public schools failed to produce yet more workers skilled enough to work at what is indisputably the mostamazing company in human history. So what a relief to learn this week that Mr. Z is starting a new lobbying effort that will tackle the skillz gap once and for all. Let me see if I can break it down for you non-genius style. You see, because of the union-stifling and non-excellence of our failed and failing schools, companies like Microsoft and Facebook say that they can’t find enough skilled workers. Now if you add ‘willing to work for less’to the end of that sentence you will be five words closer to reality, which as millions of laid-off tech workers can testify is a harsh place to be. This is where Mr. Z and his cool Silicon Valley Posse come in. You see, they’ve figured out how to solve both the fake problem and the real problem at the same time. Step one: say skillz gap 

Come Saturday Morning: Another Charter School Exponent Falls from Grace | Firedoglake

Come Saturday Morning: Another Charter School Exponent Falls from Grace | Firedoglake:


Come Saturday Morning: Another Charter School Exponent Falls from Grace

Popout
Well, well, what have we here?
A grand jury on Friday indicted Beverly L. Hall, the former superintendent powerhouse of the Atlanta School District, on racketeering and other charges, bringing a dramatic new chapter to one of the largest cheating scandals in the country.
The grand jury also indicted 34 teachers and administrators in addition to Dr. Hall, who resigned in 2011 just before results of an investigation into the scandal were released. The panel recommended $7.5 million bond for Dr. Hall, who could face up to 45 years in prison.
In a list of 65 charges against the educators that includes influencing witnesses, theft by taking, conspiracy and making false statements, Fulton County prosecutors painted a picture of a decade-

Disappearing Act | toteachornototeach

Disappearing Act | toteachornototeach:


Disappearing Act

Disappearing Act


by Virginia Myers

End the testing fixation before it erases more meaningful education.
WHEN IT COMES TO TESTING, teachers, parents and even some students agree on one thing: They have had about all they can take. And for good reason. The fixation on testing is putting undue stress on educators as well as students, and, in many instances, punishing teachers and schools. It’s also shortchanging vital parts of the curriculum, including arts, music and physical education.
Bonnie Cunard, who teaches eighth-grade language arts in Fort Myers, Fla., feels the pinch in her classroom, sacrificing hours to test preparation and administration. For seven of the 10 months in the school year, the entire language arts curriculum revolves around the writing portion of standardized tests, says Cunard, a member of the Teachers Association of Lee County. Students sacrifice time they could spend studying literature to practice persuasive and expository writing, because if they don’t do well the school could lose its Title I status and the corresponding resources it needs to serve these children.
The system destroys holistic learning, says Cunard, noting also that it adds a lot of pressure. “The school is 

Schools Matter: With "LiveSchool," Total Surveillance and Compliance Are Just a Swipe and Click Away

Schools Matter: With "LiveSchool," Total Surveillance and Compliance Are Just a Swipe and Click Away:


With "LiveSchool," Total Surveillance and Compliance Are Just a Swipe and Click Away

"The best practice is to record data in the moment. Why? Because it will be immediately available to your colleagues, and it ensures that no behaviors-good or bad-go unrecognized." --LiveSchool promotional material

How does a KIPP or other corporate reform school teacher, with a 60-80 hour work week, keep track of every word spoken, every snort or snicker, every fake fart, every trip to the bathroom and how long it took for every student, every failure to "track" the teacher, sit like a robot, or mindlessly nod yes like a Jim Jones acolyte in the jungles of Guyana?

Well, it took a former KIPP teacher and a former KIPP COO to turn this kind of a dystopian possibility into the technological gold mine.  Think of it:  everywhere there are poor kids in corporate reform schools, there is a need for constant surveillance and total compliance:
KIPP is one of 9 Nashville schools already using LiveSchool. The Achievement School District, a nationally recognized initiative dedicated to turning around Tennessee’s lowest-performing schools, is 

Jersey Jazzman: Reform Right: "Democracy Is a Myth!"

Jersey Jazzman: Reform Right: "Democracy Is a Myth!":


Reform Right: "Democracy Is a Myth!"

Meanwhile, in Newark:
In an unprecedented move, the Newark Schools Advisory Board tonight voted against approval of a budget submitted by state-appointed Superintendent Cami Anderson.
The board voiced its dissatisfaction with the way the budget was submitted, bereft of details, according to at least one member.
"We were all in agreement that there was a lack of transparency," said Board Member Eliana Pintor Marin. "I asked the question tonight 'where are the programs being cut,' and I got no answers."
Up against an April 8th state imposed deadline, the budget as submitted to the board totals just under $1 billion.
"There is no number of fulltime jobs losses itemized in the budget," Pintor Marin said.
The vote, which puts the school district in jeopardy of losing critical funding, was a slap at the Gov. 

Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Proponent & Foundation for Excellence Member Mitchell Chester: Let Them Eat Cake?

Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Proponent & Foundation for Excellence Member Mitchell Chester: Let Them Eat Cake?:


Common Core Proponent & Foundation for Excellence Member Mitchell Chester: Let Them Eat Cake?

A nonprofit group released thousands of e-mails today and said they show how a foundation begun by Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor and national education reform leader, is working with public officials in states to write education laws that could benefit some of its corporate funders.  from washingtonpost.com


Neal McCluskey writes a most revealing article on how Common Core proponents view growing citizen questioning of the legality of Common Core standards.  From Only the Little People Oppose Common Core:

With the Common Core – national curricular standards in English and math – having been adopted by 45 states, it seems Core supporters’ heads might be getting a bit big. Or, at least,