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Thursday, June 20, 2013

What Makes a Phenomenal Teacher? Diane Ravitch joins us to help answer this question - The Takeaway

What Makes a Phenomenal Teacher? - The Takeaway:

What Makes a Phenomenal Teacher?

Thursday, June 20, 2013

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Dmitriy Shironosov/Shutterstock (Dmitriy Shironosov/Shutterstock)
A truly great teacher can be unforgettable.
But according to a recent report released by the National Council on Teacher Quality, U.S. education programs are not preparing teachers for the classroom.
The data shows that fewer than one in nine programs for future elementary teachers actually properly prepare teachers to educate their students. The study's methodology and claims have received some criticism, but we still ask the question: what makes a phenomenal teacher?
Diane Ravitch joins us to help answer this question, and tells us what she thinks of the standards we currently have for teacher preparation. She is the former U.S. Assistant 

Bahamian Rhapsody | My Island View

Bahamian Rhapsody | My Island View:

Bahamian Rhapsody

This week I attended another international education conference – the Net.1 Conference (The 1st Annual Nassau Education Technology Conference.)  It was the first of its kind to be held in the Bahamas. There were over 200 educators from the Bahamas and several other surrounding island nations. Often as American educators we are faced with the day-to-day problems of our own system and are unaware of the challenges and real obstacles faced by other countries as they also strive to educate their young. Many of the things that we take for granted are almost non-existent in some other countries.
Poverty in any country seems to be the biggest obstacle to a proper education, but the problems of poverty in a poor country seems to compound the issues almost beyond solution. There is an evident commonality however that could be found in the passion for education in the hearts of all of the educators in attendance. They gave freely of their time to attend an educational conference that offered glimmers of direction, and possible advances in the face of almost daily defeats metered out by problems of distance, isolation, and infrastructure, too much of 

NYC Educator: Thompson Says No Raises for Teachers, to Near-Universal Acclaim of UFT Delegate Assembly

NYC Educator: Thompson Says No Raises for Teachers, to Near-Universal Acclaim of UFT Delegate Assembly:

Thompson Says No Raises for Teachers, to Near-Universal Acclaim of UFT Delegate Assembly

What happens when you publicly announce teachers don't deserve the raise all other city employees got between 2008-2010? Well, you get the UFT endorsement, of course. Now it's a little more complicated than that, of course. During the last mayoral run, it appeared that Thompson and the UFT were BFFs. In fact, sometimes I heard Thompson say things that could just as well have come out of the mouth of any UFT official.

But then, of course, came the moment the UFT declined to endorse him. This upset me, and I remember telling a UFT rep about it at my first chapter leader training. The rep confided to me that this was a practical decision, and that the UFT could only sway the public by 5%. All the polls said Thompson was way behind, so that did make some degree of sense.

At a later CL training, after Thompson had lost by precisely 5%, a more senior UFT official announced that we could only move the election by 3%, and that had Hitler been running we may have taken a principled stand. I was kind of surprised we would need Hitler before we asserted principle, but I'm just a lowly teacher, so what 

Compromise in the works for bill restricting schools use of long-term bonds SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources:

Compromise in the works for bill restricting schools use of long-term bonds




 Stakeholders battling over legislation that would restrict schools from using long-term bonds appeared Wednesday to find compromise on amendments that would make the bill more palatable to districts.
The Senate’s education committee decided to delay further action until next week, giving Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, D-Alamo, time to consider proposed changes to AB 182.
Meanwhile, the panel moved several other key education bills including one that would rewrite the rules implementing sanctions against school officials who fail to report changes in an employee’s work status while an allegation of misconduct is pending.
Interest in regulating schools’ access to long-term, high interest bonds was sparked last fall on the cusp of the November election and the all-important tax hike for schools. Press reports attracted statewide attention to $105 million in borrowing assumed by Poway Unified using capital appreciation bonds that will eventually cost taxpayers close to $1 billion.
Currently, districts have authority to issue bonds under various sections of both the Education Code and the Government Code. But in attempting to tighten up regulations around CABs, Buchanan proposed limiting schools’ bond finance options to the more restrictive Education Code.
“I think the issue that we’re trying to deal with right now is do we try and streamline it so it’s clear that schools issue 

Peg with Pen: A Letter to Educators Who Embrace the #commoncore

Peg with Pen: A Letter to Educators Who Embrace the #commoncore:

A Letter to Educators Who Embrace the #commoncore


Dear Educator Friends,

While the common core may not be an issue for you, or your school, do know that for others it will be a major issue. And the problem is this, while the standards might work for you and your school, there are many standards in CC that do not work for many students and many communities. Creating a set of national standards that cannot be changed, in which only 15% can be added (which must be approved by the DOE) is a serious problem when we know that the K-3 standards are developmentally inappropriate and will CRUSH children in high need/high poverty schools. There is no picking and choosing with CC - it's all or nothing - therefore, many children will be failed under this system. Your children may be unscathed, but for the students in my school - it will be devastating. The CC will fail many students, teachers, schools, communities. So, that's just my take on it when considering the standards as an innocent stand alone - which they are NOT. And of course, let's remember that they were not created by classroom teachers and they have never been field tested, this alone is enough for me to refuse the CC because I find it highly shocking that anyone thinks it is acceptable to use children as guinea pigs for an experiment created by the 1%.

However, let's then take a look at CC for the monster it truly is - let's throw out the whole conversation about good standards/bad standards because bottom line is that the bigger picture is not so much about the standards 

Problems with new ratings of teachers colleges, point by point

Problems with new ratings of teachers colleges, point by point:

Problems with new ratings of teachers colleges, point by point

rankingIt was big news this week when a conservative organization called the National Council on Teacher Quality released ratings of teacher preparation programs at colleges and universities and essentially slammed nearly all of them as being subpar. While there certainly a good number of ineffective teacher prep programs, it would be hard to know which ones from the council’s ratings because of its flawed methodology, quickly exposed by many educators. They include teacher education expert Linda Darling-Hammond of Stanford University in this Answer Sheet post.  (You can read some others herehere and here.)
The council, which was founded in 2000 by the conservative Thomas B. Fordham Foundation and is funded by organizations that promote a corporate-influenced school reform agenda, quickly responded to the criticism. It sent an e-mail about Darling-Hammond’s piece with specific points of contention. In the following post, Darling-Hammond takes up each one and explains why she wrote what she wrote. After her 

UPDATE FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Thursday, June 20, 2013

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team:

LAUSD passes guidelines for Parent Trigger, seeks changes in state law





Education Headlines

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Conejo School District accepts bid for surplus property

The Conejo Valley Unified School District's Board of Education accepted a $3.286 million bid for surplus property it owns in the Rancho Conejo Industrial Park in Thousand Oaks.

Moorpark schools fill budget gap with general fund money

The Moorpark Unified School District on Tuesday adopted a budget for the next fiscal year, with questions raised by board members on whether the district should have to share the cost with the city for a full-time school police officer.

Trustees optimistic of state's budget share

Lodi Unified officials expressed optimism in the district's financial outlook for the first time since 2007, as trustees approved a 2013-14 fiscal year spending plan of $224 million - roughly $8 million above last year's general fund.

Azusa and Covina-Valley school districts react to new state budget guidelines

Covina-Valley and Azusa Unified are planning to adopt their budgets at meetings next week but key changes to the state's education budget will make a big impact in those communities once the bill is signed by Gov. Jerry Brown and it goes into effect July 1.

Greenfield school trustees allege violation

Claims of a Brown Act violation by the Greenfield Union School District board of trustees has resulted in a do-over in the hiring of a new director.

Ontario-Montclair School District may halt busing

The Ontario-Montclair school board will choose between buses and computers at its meeting Thursday night. At issue is almost $900,000 the district plans to divert from its budget to busing a relative handful of students. 

Coachella school board meeting emptied after shouting match

The Coachella Valley Unified School District board briefly emptied a public board meeting Tuesday night following a shouting match between a union representative, a former board member and disgruntled parents who hope to recall the current school board.

Fresno Unified Superintendent Michael Hanson to get $200,000 in back pay

After five years of forgoing extra salary perks, Fresno Unified School District's superintendent will get back $200,000 in pay he's turned down since 2008, raising questions with some about whether he ever intended to give up the money.

Horizon charters are renewed unanimously despite complaints

Western Placer Unified's school board on Tuesday night voted unanimously to renew the charters of Horizon Charter School and Partnerships for Student-Centered Learning, according to district officials.

River Delta Unified chooses superintendent from Woodland

River Delta Unified named Don Beno superintendent at its regular board meeting Tuesday night. Beno was assistant superintendent of human resources for Woodland Joint Unified. He will replace River Delta Superintendent Rick Hennes, who is retiring.

School board declines food fund review

A San Diego school board member on Tuesday unsuccessfully sought an independent review of the district's cafeteria funds by county education officials, even as the state cracks down on the program.

Land sales, bigger classes for SD schools

Trustees for the San Diego Unified School District are set to vote next week on a $1.2 billion operating budget for the 2013-14 school year that calls for selling off surplus property, raising class sizes and eliminating hundreds of jobs through attrition.

New SD superintendent shuffles staff

When incoming Superintendent Cindy Marten takes her new job as the head of San Diego Unified on July 1, she will have arranged the central office just the way she wants it. The school board on Tuesday night unanimously approved Marten's reorganization plan, which she said puts the needs of children and classrooms at the center of district operations as she seeks to create a quality school in every neighborhood.

Alvord board to interview superintendent candidates

The Alvord Unified School District board has special meetings Thursday and Friday to interview and then discuss top applicants for superintendent.

LAUSD passes guidelines for Parent Trigger, seeks changes in state law

Following a ruckus over the use of the Parent Trigger law at two Los Angeles Unified schools, the board set guidelines Tuesday for to better deal with efforts to handle the takeover and transformation of low-achieving campuses.

Transgender school bill under fire from conservatives

Conservatives are crying foul over a bill that would allow transgender students to use the bathrooms and locker rooms of the gender they identify with, rather than the sex they were born into.

Hayward school trustees approve contract with Stanley Dobbs as interim superintendent

Hayward school trustees early Thursday took the final step in hiring Stanley Dobbs as interim superintendent, unanimously approving a one-year contract.

Pleasanton teachers, school district reach contract agreement

The school board and the teachers association have agreed to a new contract just weeks before their previous deal was set to expire.

Camp: Guess how much we invest in our students

In the course of a public K-12 education, how much money will be invested in the average California student? How much does a basic, public K-12 education actually cost? Do you know? Can you guess?

LAUSD spending $30 million to buy 30,000 iPads for students

The Los Angeles Unified board Tuesday approved a $30 million contract to buy iPads for 30,000 students, the first phase in an ambitious plan to equip every pupil with a tablet computer within the next 14 months.

San Diego Unified hopes to feed 600,000 with summer meal program

San Diego officials hope to feed more than 600,000 kids with their free summer lunch program this year. San Diego Unified is a partner in the Summer Fun Café program, which hands out free lunches to students who would otherwise not be able to afford them during the summer.

San Diego teacher prep programs dismiss new ratings

A report from the National Council on Teacher Quality and U.S. News withheld its highest marks, three or more out of four stars, from all but 9 percent of the 1,200 teacher preparation programs reviewed for the first time by the council. Just four California programs got the council's highest rate including the University of California-San Diego's program for future high school teachers. But instead of lauding the top rating, the University of California criticized the report's methods.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Principal to oversee Tracy district expansion

The Jefferson Elementary School District in Tracy has selected a new superintendent. The Board of Trustees is expected to approve the hiring of longtime Jefferson Elementary School Principal James Bridges at tonight's meeting.

Monterey Peninsula USD budget approved

Monterey Peninsula Unified School District trustees late Monday approved a $58 million spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year that they'll have to revise again in six weeks.

Lodi Unified School District employees request restoration of salaries

With Lodi Unified School District employees enjoying the news that the district stands to gain an estimated $28 million in Proposition 30 funds, union representatives asked the board of trustees on Tuesday to restore some of the wages employees gave up during the recession.

Courant examines effort to develop home-grown teacher evaluation plans…But… - Wait, What?

Courant examines effort to develop home-grown teacher evaluation plans…But… - Wait, What?:

Courant examines effort to develop home-grown teacher evaluation plans…But…

6-20-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER:

gears




At the Chalk Face is back, this Sunday, June 23rd, 6PM EST

At the Chalk Face is back, this Sunday, June 23rd at 6PM EST. Educated educators talking education, this time on the recent NCTQ report on teacher preparation. Remember, we are at the helm in the BTR chatroom, live tweeting @thechalkface, and you can always call in to speak with us live, 805-727-7111. Tagged: at the […]

Does this qualify as “intimidation” from NCTQ? Watch out #highered and #teacherprep

I received an email message the other day from someone at NCTQ regarding an account I had of a meeting with them in 2011. In my first year as a faculty member, I decided to meet and speak with a number of education policy and advocacy organizations to see how folks in my position could get […]

A Letter to Educators Who Embrace the #commoncore

Dear Educator Friends,   While the common core may not be an issue for you, or your school, do know that for others it will be a major issue. And the problem is this, while the standards might work for you and your school, there are many standards in CC that do not work for […]


6-19-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: [image: gears] The End Might Be Near for Common Core by John Thompson Especially in the last few months, John Merrow has hit some tape-measure home runs. Merrow’s strike outs can be just as amazing. His last whiff, is a doozy. Merrow tried to used some humor and experimental prose to criticize the recent trend where, supposedly, “the arrival of the Common Core apparently means the end of the […] Chief Wonk tells a funny, interesting enough if it wasn’t also milquetoast by Chalk Face, PhD It’s this guy, Rotherham. Bellwether, or what have yo... more »

Stop School Funding Ignorance Now! A Philadelphia Story | School Finance 101

Stop School Funding Ignorance Now! A Philadelphia Story | School Finance 101:

Stop School Funding Ignorance Now! A Philadelphia Story

On a daily basis, I continue to be befuddled by the ignorant bluster, intellectual laziness and mathematical and financial ineptitude of those who most loudly opine on how to fix America’s supposed dreadful public education system.  Common examples that irk me include taking numbers out context to make them seem shocking, like this Newark example (some additional context), or the repeated misrepresentation of per pupil spending in New York State.
And then there are those times, when a loudmouthed pundit simply chooses to ignore reality altogether – and frame the problem as it exists only in their own cloistered world or own head. That brings me to this tweet:
Philly’s district as financially distressed & low-performing as I’ve seen. Stop propping it up. Bring it to an end. 
http://t.co/6QttBnjwzl

— Andy Smarick (@smarick) June 17, 2013
Perhaps I’m misinterpreting, but it appears that Andy Smarick in this tweet is placing blame for the financial distress of Philadephia schools squarely if not entirely on the city school district itself. In fact, he suggests that someone has been “propping up” the district. And that because the district – like all “urban” districts do – fails – 

Federal guidelines on school safety: Don't arm educators | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com

Federal guidelines on school safety: Don't arm educators | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com:

Get Schooled: Federal guidelines on school safety: Don't arm educators



The federal government released its guidelines for school emergency operations plans this week under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Education with Homeland Security, Justice, and Health and Human Services, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The publication is a resource for schools, not a mandate they must adopt. Most of the recommendations are common sense, including  weather shelters to escape tornadoes.
The recommendation generating the most response, however, is: Only trained law enforcement officers should be armed in schools. The manual advises, "...the possibility of an active shooter situation is not justification for the presence of firearms on campus in the hands of any personnel other than law enforcement officers."
That runs counter to the recommendation of the National Rifle Association in the wake of Newtown that schools train teachers and other school personnel to carry guns to protect students.
The manual spends a lot of time on school shooting scenarios, noting, "Most schools practice evacuation drills for fires and 

A Playbook for the Common Core'ites: Part 2 :: Frederick M. Hess

A Playbook for the Common Core'ites: Part 2 :: Frederick M. Hess:

A Playbook for the Common Core'ites: Part 2



 On Tuesday, I tried to explain how Common Core enthusiasts have gotten themselves into their current fix, where their dazzling, Race to the Top-fueled victories of 2010 and 2011 have given way to a divisive, frustrating slog. Today, the Common Core'ites have some serious challenges. Among these:
1] They have no one who seems able to credibly address concerns on the Tea Party right;
2] are dismissive of practical questions, like whether the technology will actually support glitch-free assessments;
3] lean on the boilerplate language of educational competition rather than addressing specific concerns;
4] and keep repeating the same tone-deaf talking points, mostly just infuriating the skeptics (the enthusiasts are apparently in disbelief that anyone might regard an enterprise driven by two DC associations and backed by federal incentives as anything other than a truly "voluntary" state effort).
Anyway, they don't seem to be able to get out of this rut. This is a huge problem, because standards and assessments are so integral to schooling that a train wreck here will have all kinds of unfortunate consequences. So, as a public service announcement, here are five suggestions that advocates can do to get their popular and political fortunes back on track. (All five proceed from the assumption that one can never