1-9-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE:

On DCPS education budgets. Trying to do our jobs with nothing. @valeriestrauss @dcpublicschools

I teach in Ward 8.  A clerical error lead to the District rescinding our budget until it’s sorted out. So, as of right now, one of the neediest schools in the entire District is operating with no money. And when I mean no money, I mean nothing, nada, zilch, zippo, nothing. We paid for the […]

2 by Shaun Johnson / 3h 

Market-Driven Researchers Find that Reality Is Messy III

This is the third in a series of critiques of Matt DiCarlo’s “The Year in Research on Market-Based Education Reforms: 2013.” The preceding posts, here and here, summarized research on some obvious problems with value-added evaluations that should have been foreseen. This post addresses pitfalls that were discovered after value-added systems were implemented. The preceding […]

2 by John Thompson / 38min 

Ending Poverty Requires Community, Not War

Ending Poverty Requires Community, Not War. via Ending Poverty Requires Community, Not War.

1 by plthomasedd / 5min 

1-8-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE: A Fantastic Summative Comment on My Data Mining PostOn January 3, 2014, I posted a piece entitled Beware of Data Sharing Cheerleaders Offering Webinars. On January 5, Diane Ravitch featured the post on her blog due to the post’s active commentary on both sides of the issue, including that of an inBloom representative. It is January 7, and the comments are still live (167 comments

by mike simpson / 8h 

1-9-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD

the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University):

Ending Poverty Requires Community, Not War

Many, if not most, wars have failed to salvage victory from the inherent destruction war brings. All wars leave collateral damage in their wake. A big picture message offered in Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow is that the war on drugs, a key part of the larger era of mass incarceration, has devastated the lives and futures of African American males in ways that are nearly incomprehensible. T

1 by plthomasedd / 10min 

1-8-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD

the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): Standards Won’t Change Inequity: A ReaderThe new Common Core and related tests are likely to continue a three-decade pattern of traditional schooling either integrating the new standards and tests into the existing structure of schools or using the new standards and test

by mike simpson / 7h 

1-9-14 Wait What?

Wait What?:

“I am in control here” – A day in the life of Special Master Steven Adamowski

 “As of now, I am in control here, in the White House.” – Alexander Haig, Secretary of the State It was March 30, 1981 and an assassination attempt sent President Reagan to the hospital. Secretary of the State Al Haig called a press conference at the White House to announce, “Constitutionally, gentlemen, you have the President, […]The post “I am in control here” – A day in the life of Special Mast

by jonpelto / 12min hide  //  save

Publicly paid public employees providing public information – Not on Malloy’s watch

The following occurrence is but a single example of a much larger problem facing Connecticut today.  On issues big and little openness and transparency have become the causality of government strategies. In this case, the request to Governor Malloy’s publicly funded communications operation was simple enough. “My 9 a.m. Email yesterday read, “Is Governor Malloy […]The post Publicly paid public emp

2 by jonpelto / 1h  

1-8-14 Wait What?

Wait What?: Connecticut Democratic Party hit with campaign finance complaintFor months questions have been swirling around State Party Chair Nancy DiNardo, Governor Malloy and the Connecticut Democratic State Central Committee about the role they played during the September 2013 Bridgeport Board of Education Democratic Primary The Democratic State Central Committee diverted an unprecedented $40,00

by mike simpson / 8h 

1-9-14 Schools Matter

Schools Matter:

Former KIPP Students Respond to KIPP Teacher Interview Excerpt

The KIPP damage control machine has not sprung into full action mode yet, but my recent sharing of a small clip from one interview with a former KIPP teacher has generated a number of comments here and here and here.  (Note that anyone other than those forced into anonymity for security or safety reasons should include real names when posting comments at SM).I include two responses below from two

by Jim Horn / 21min 

Market-Driven Researchers Find that Reality Is Messy III

This is the third in a series of critiques of Matt DiCarlo's "The Year in Research on Market-Based Education Reforms: 2013." The preceding posts, here and here, summarized research on some obvious problems with value-added evaluations that should have been foreseen. This post addresses pitfalls that were discovered after value-added systems were implemented. The preceding post concluded

3 by John Thompson / 1h  

1-8-14 Schools Matter

Schools Matter: Anthem for High Stakes Testing Era (with apologies to Country Joe McDonald)To be sung to the tune of “I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die” by Country Joe and the Fish (see video below)Well come on all you teachers and tykes,Uncle Sam’s made a problem he’s tryin’ to hype,He got himself some pressure to privatize, All the schools in the nation right before our eyes,
So put down your books

by mike simpson / 5h 

1-9-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida

Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education:

Florida’s Predictable Pro-Charter School Propoganda Begins Anew

You can be sure that the state’s charter school cheerleaders at redifinED will be trumpeting this Brookings Institute Report that gives Florida a “C” for “limited choice options.” Why it was just last week that Patrick Gibbons was reporting that the state’s charter high schools were outperforming public schools. Gibbons bristled when a commenter dared mention that 8 charter schools closed during

by Bob Sikes / 3h  

1-8-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida

Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education: PARCC, Common Core, and Moving the Bar Again After Everyone’s JumpedFrom Catherine Gewertz in Education Week: If you’re paying close attention to every twist and turn of the state assessment chronicles, you could be forgiven for concluding that Florida has finally, offic

by mike simpson / 8h 

1-9-14 Open Congress : Major Bill Actions Education This Week - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress

Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress:

Bill Enacted: H.R. 3304: Military Land Withdrawals Act of 2013

To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2014 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.December 25, 2013: Became Public Law No: 113-66.

1h 

Bill Enacted: H.J.Res. 59: Budget agreement bill

Making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes.December 25, 2013: Became Public Law No: 113-67.

1h hide  //  save

Bill Introduced: S. 1874: Partnerships for Affordability and Student Success Act

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to strengthen Federal-State partnerships in postsecondary education.

6h hide  //  save

Bill Introduced: S. 1873: Protect Student Borrowers Act of 2013

A bill to provide for institutional risk-sharing in the Federal student loan programs.

6h 

Bill Introduced: S. 1873: Protect Student Borrowers Act of 2013

A bill to provide for institutional risk-sharing in the Federal student loan programs.

5h hide  //  save

Bill Introduced: S. 1874: Partnerships for Affordability and Student Success Act

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to strengthen Federal-State partnerships in postsecondary education.

5h 

Bill Introduced: H.R. 3717: Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2013

To make available needed psychiatric, psychological, and supportive services for individuals diagnosed with mental illness and families in mental health crisis, and for other purposes.

5h 

1-4-14 Open Congress : Major Bill Actions Education This Week - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress

Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress:Bill Introduced: H.R. 3660: ALLERGY ActTo amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require local educational agencies to implement a policy on allergy bullying in schools.1d JAN 01Bill Introduced: S. 1851: Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2013A bill to provide for incentives to encourage health insurance coverage, and for other purpo

by mike simpson / 9h 

1-9-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL:

Video You’ve Probably Seen Already: “Thank You, Mom — Pick Them Back Up”

You’ve probably already seem this commercial that I’m adding to The Best Sites For Learning About The Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games:

by Larry Ferlazzo / 22min hide  //  save

This Is Not Good: After Basically Forcing People To Join Google+, Now Everyone Else On It Can Send You An Email

Over the next few days: Google will soon allow people to send anyone an email, even if they do not have the person’s email address, as long as both people have a Gmail and Google Plus account. You can read more about it at the previous link (a NY Times article) and at this piece in Slate, Google Is About to Let Total Strangers Email You. Here’s How to Opt Out. Google says they’ll be sending an em

by Larry Ferlazzo / 22min 

From The Archives: “Get Organized Around Assets”

I’ve recently re-started an effort I’ve tried to do previously by regularly highlighting previous posts and articles I’ve shared in previous years that I think might be worth a second look. Today, I’m highlighting an article I wrote for ASCD Educational Leadership a couple of years ago about teaching English Language Learners. It’s called Get Organized Around Assets. Here’s an excerpt:

by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h 

Gates Foundation Makes Its Move In California — And It Looks Like Somebody Is Giving Them Good Advice

The Gates Foundation, for the first time in many years, is making a major move in California by funding substantial professional development efforts in two school districts and suggesting that they’ll making similar grants in the coming months. According to the post in Ed Source by John Fensterwald, Gates is giving several million to the Fresno and Long Beach districts to develop this professiona

by Larry Ferlazzo / 3min 

This Week’s Round-Up Of Good Posts & Articles On Education Policy

Here are some recent useful posts on educational policy issues: A Bold New World: A Guide to the Local Control Funding Formula is from Ed Source, and is a “everything you want to know” guide to California’s new and, I hope, trendsetting law on school funding. LA Unified staff received free iPad before contract is from Southern California Public Radio. I’m adding it to A Very Beginning List Of The

by Larry Ferlazzo / 56min hide  //  save

January’s Best Tweets – Part Two

Every month I make a few short lists highlighting my choices of the best resources I through (and learned from) Twitter, but didn’t necessarily include them in posts here on my blog. I’ve already shared in earlier posts several new resources I found on Twitter — and where I gave credit to those from whom I learned about them. Those are not included again in this post. If you don’t use Twitter, yo

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h 

1-8-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Starting Off The New Year With Even More Excellent Classroom AdviceA few days ago, I some excellent classroom advice from Marvin Marshall for the New Year. Here are a couple of more posts from him that are definitely worth reading: 3 Ways to Promote Responsibility 3 Practices that Enhance Learningby Larry Ferlazzo / 9h Pand

by mike simpson / 8h