1-13-14 Wait What?

Wait What?:

Hey Steve Perry – Tell us about Capital Prep’s “Table of Shame”

Located in the cafeteria of the Capital Preparatory Magnet School at 1304 Main Street in Hartford, Connecticut is the “Table of Shame.” At part of Capital Prep Principal Steve Perry’s “zero-tolerance” policies even the slightest “violations,” such as wearing the wrong colored belt, will result in punishments designed to humiliate and demean students. For example, […]The post Hey Steve Perry – Tell

by jonpelto / 11min 

Malloy administration action raises more ethics questions…

Stefan Pryor, Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, is no stranger to ethics issues. Pryor and his operatives at the State Department of Education are now engaged in activities that raise even more potential ethics violations. As reported yesterday in a post entitled, “Pryor schedules Corporate Education Reform Industry Lobby Group for Alliance District Meeting,” Commissioner […]The post Ma

by jonpelto / 1h 

1-12-14 Wait What?

Wait What?: Pryor schedules Corporate Education Reform Industry Lobby Group for Alliance District MeetingAnd that is just the tip of the iceberg… Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor, and his sidekick and aide, former Achievement First principal Morgan Barth, are pushing the ethical envelope ever further while telegraphing where Malloy really stands when it comes to teachers,

by mike simpson / 6h

The Educated Reporter: Deadlines Approaching For Journalism Fellowships

The Educated Reporter: Deadlines Approaching For Journalism Fellowships:

Deadlines Approaching For Journalism Fellowships

Deadlines are approaching for several journalism fellowships, including one designed specifically for education reporters. Each provides an extraordinary opportunity to step away from the daily grind of the beat and consider how you want the next chapter of your career to play out. It's also a chance to refresh the skills you have, learn plenty of new ones, and broaden your world view.

The Nieman Fellowship at Harvard and the Knight-Wallace Fellows at the University of Michigan both target typically mid-career journalists from a wide range of mediums, including print, broadcast and online outlets. (Full disclosure: I'm a member of KWF's Class of '11.) Each offers the opportunity to take university classes and did deep into a particular area of study.

• The Nieman program includes opportunities for international journalists, as well as some specialized spots, including the Reynolds Fellowship in Community Journalism, which is earmarked for reporters working for smaller news outlets. The deadline is Jan. 31. 

• The Knight-Wallace Fellowship also has a few spots for international reporters, and travel abroad is a critical aspect of the experience: The entire class visits South America and Turkey. The deadline to apply is Feb. 1.

• The Spencer Education Fellows at Columbia University spend the academic year working on a long-form journalism project. The fellows take classes at both the Columbia Journalism School and Teachers College. It's not uncommon for recipients to produce books based on their fellowship projects. (Check out works by Sarah Carr, Sarah Garland, Alexander Russo and Peg Tyre for just a few examples.) The deadline to apply is Jan. 31. 

• The John S. Knight Journalism Fellowship at Stanford was reconfigured with a focus on innovation. Fellows propose tools, approaches and platforms to re-imagine journalism, and then spend the academic year turning their idea into reality. The deadline is Wednesday. (Apologies - I forgot this one sneaks up a little earlier.)

And speaking of deadlines, EWA is now accepting entries for our 2013 National Awards for Education Reporting. You can find all the pertinent details here. We've added some new categories this year, including data journalism and education organizations and experts. If you want a good idea of the superb caliber of the entries we receive, take a look at the winners of the 2012 contest.

Have a question, comment or concern for the Educated Reporter? Email EWA public editor Emily Richmond at erichmond@ewa.org. Follow her on Twitter: @EWAEmily.

1-13-14 The Answer Sheet

The Answer Sheet:

Is teacher education a disaster?

One of the biggest debates in public education today is over how to best educate student teacher for the rigors of the classroom. This is the third and final part of a series on the subject by scholar Mike Rose, who is on the faculty of the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies […]    

by Valerie Strauss / 30min 

Weingarten slams teacher evaluation by student test scores

Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, the country’s second largest teachers union, has been a supporter of the Common Core State Standards for a long time but she has expressed concern in the last year over the way the standards are being implemented, saying that the rollout  was “far worse” than the […]    

4 by Valerie Strauss / 2h hide  //  save

U-Va. medical student saves man’s life during training exam

A University of Virginia medical school student performing a training examination on a “practice patient” assigned to complain about a specific condition discovered that the man actually had the disease — and he saved his life in the process. According to the University of Virginia Health System, student Ryan Jones of Danville, Va., was checking pretend […]    

17 by Valerie Strauss / 5h 

1-12-14 The Answer Sheet

The Answer Sheet: ‘The Procedure’ and how it is harming educationDo you know what “The Procedure” is and why it is a problem for education? Here to explain is Marion Brady, a veteran classroom teacher, who has written history and world culture textbooks (Prentice-Hall),  professional books, numerous  nationally distributed columns (many are available here), and courses of study. His 2011 book, “Wh

by mike simpson / 7h 

1-13-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:

Charter Applicant Forums

Updates from the Charter Commission:1.      Each applicant will be given 10 minutes of presentation time, followed by 30 minutes of public comment. Individuals will be provided up to 2 minutes for comments. We are hopeful that 15 people will be able to provide comment.2.      Individuals who wish to provide public comment are asked to sign up at the meeting. If there are more than 15 people that s

by Melissa Westbrook / 29min 

C & I Meeting this afternoon

Oh Boy! The Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee meeting this afternoon is going to be good! I'm going to be there for sure. Just check out this list of discussion items from the agenda:Committee Discussion Itemsa. BAR for Yearbook Contract (Shauna/Kathleen/Misa)b. Policy 3130, Student Assignment (Shauna/Ronald/Janet B.)c. Policy 2415, High School Graduation Requirement (Michael/Janet B.)d.

by Charlie Mas / 17min 

Seattle Schools This Week

Monday, Jan. 13thCurriculum and Instruction Policy Committee meeting from 4:30-6:30 pm. AgendaDiscussion of Policy 3130, student assignment, Policy 2415, high school graduation requirement, CTE review, Equitable Access Annual report, math adoption progress reportI will be unable to attend this meeting but it does look interesting.Charter Commission Charter Applicant ForumStarting at 5 pm for Washi

by Melissa Westbrook / 8h 

1-11-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week

Seattle Schools Community Forum:Seattle Schools Community ForumGood Thing on a FridayArbor Heights Elementary School's photo.A VERY big thank you to Softchoice for their very generous donation. Today at our monthly assembly Harry Turpin, from Softchoice's Seattle office, presented a check for $3,829.49 to purchase replacement computers (stolen Fall 2012). Softchoice employees held a variety of fun

by mike simpson / 10h 

1-13-14 Schools Matter

Schools Matter:

Common Core Without Testing Is Like Vampires Without Blood

Not many people remember that Diane Ravitch was for Common Core before she was against it, and what turned her against it was the certainty that any benefit of second graders all learning to write memos rather than reading Mrs. Frisby . . . would be negated by an increase in testing--which she had come to understand to be the tool for destroying public schools.Now Ravitch's friend, Randi Weingarte

by Jim Horn / 11min 

California Readers--Read This and Act

K-12 News Network has obtained an email that the United Way sent to its partner groups advertising an informational session held by Superintendent John Deasy that will provide details on the rollout of Local Control Funding Formula councils. These councils, part of Local Control Accountability Plans, must by law include community members, parents, teachers, and others who will participate in deter

by Jim Horn / 9min  

1-12-14 Schools Matter

Schools Matter: Ravitch Announces Randi's "Decoupling" of Common Core from VAMWith light diminishing between Diane Ravitch and Randi Weingarten's positions, Dr. Ravitch posted this this morning.  My comment at her blog follows.A reader who calls himself or herself “Democracy” left comments criticizing me for defending Randi Weingarten–or perhaps for not attacking her.Here is my response

by mike simpson / 6h 

1-13-14 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:

Stew’s Standards Have Arrived

From Kathleen McGrory in the Tampa Bay Times: TALLAHASSEE — Hoping to incorporate public input and assuage criticism, state education officials on Monday released 98 proposed changes to the controversial Common Core State Standards. The suggestions represent additions and minor tweaks to the national benchmarks, which have been adopted in more than 45 states and outline what students should know a

by Bob Sikes / 16min 

Skepticism in the Florida Senate on Common Core Roll-Out

Pam Stewart will be back at the legislature to deliver Florida’s own set of Common Core Standards, but it’s quite clear that senators on both sides of the aisle are skeptical of her being able to deliver on the entire package. Writes Kathleen McGrory: TALLAHASSEE — When Pam Stewart became state education commissioner in September, lawmakers said they would give her time to untangle the complicated

by Bob Sikes / 2h  

1-12-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florid

Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education: Rick Scott’s Common Core Political ProblemsEducation commissioner Pam Stewart has provided much-needed calm in Florida’s education universe. Rick Scott probably wishes he had her in place all along instead of ideologues Gerard Robinson and Tony Bennett. But Scott would p

by mike simpson / 10h 

teacherken at Daily Kos 1-13-14: Republicans are "Enemies of the Poor"

Daily Kos: Krugman: Republicans are "Enemies of the Poor":

Krugman: Republicans are "Enemies of the Poor"

In his Monday column, Krugman tells us it is difficult for Republican with national ambitions are having a difficult time talking about the poor because of their well-earned reputation for reverse Robin-Hoodism, for being the party that takes from the poor and gives to the rich. And the reason that reputation is so hard to shake is that it’s justified. It’s not much of an exaggeration to say that

by rss@dailykos.com ... / 4h 

teacherken at Daily Kos This Week 1-11-14

teacherken at Daily Kos:teacherken at Daily Kos This WeekNick Kristof offers Progress in the War on Povertyin this NY Times column in which he lays out the successes of the effort over the past 50 years, with links galore to support his argument that it has been a success. As he notes: The most accurate measures, using Census Bureau figures that take account of benefits, suggest that poverty rates

by mike simpson / 10h 

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 1-13-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:

L.A. UNIFIED SURVEYS PRICES OTHERS PAY FOR iPADS, SIMILAR DEVICES

By Howard Blume. Los Angeles Times | http://lat.ms/1awjkeF In Perris, Pinacate Middle School students Raul Curil, 13 and Marco Fuentes, 12, in Mark Synnott's journalism class, work on Chromebook devices producing their electronic newspaper, the Puma Press. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times / December 6, 2013) January 12, 2014, 4:51 p.m.  ::  The Los Angeles Unified School District is

by smf / 7h 

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 1-12-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: L.A.’s DOWNTOWN LIBRARY, 8 REGIONAL BRANCHES TO REOPEN ON SUNDAYSBy Rick Orlov, Los Angeles Daily News  | http://bit.ly/1acVHHD Fredi Macias puts books away at the the Mid-Valley Library January 10, 2014 in North Hills, CA. Starting January 12, 2014 the Los Angeles Public LibraryþÄôs Central Library and eight regional branch libraries will be open on Su

by mike simpson / 10h 

1-13-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School:

Cuomo Education Reform Panel Still Not Done With Their Report

Jessica Bakeman at Capital NY:ALBANY—A panel of education experts tasked with making recommendations to Governor Andrew Cuomo for how to improve student performance is months late releasing its final report. The commission even missed last week's State of the State address, during which the governor laid out an ambitious schools agenda for the year. Cuomo empaneled his Education Reform Commission

by reality-based edu... / 4h 

Corproate Education Reform Proponent George Miller To Retire From Congress

The corporate education reform movement and for-profit post secondary school industry lost a reliable shill:California Rep. George Miller, Nancy Pelosi’s strong right arm and one of the top Democratic legislators of his generation, is stepping down at the end of this year after four decades in Congress. Miller informed Pelosi, the Democratic leader, of his decision last Wednesday and began telling

by reality-based edu... / 1min 

Common Core And Testing Go Hand-In-Hand

There has been a lot of debate over Randi Weingarten's publicly announcing that she wants to "de-couple" the Common Core State (sic) Standards from high stakes testing.Alas, the CCSS were meant to go with high stakes testing, teacher evaluations based in part upon student test scores and data collection projects like inBloom that will track all the statistics and scores.All three go toge

by reality-based edu... / 35min 

Troubles Mount For Chris Christie

I've written more than once that Chris Christie is a dirty guy, a crooked guy, and once he starts to get scrutiny at a national level as a presidential contender, stuff is just going to come out that will, in the end, destroy his presidential ambitions.BridgeGate has become a major problem for him, with new subpoenas being issued today:The chairman of the Assembly committee investigating the Georg

by reality-based edu... / 10min hide  //  save

NY Post: De Blasio Picking Up Where Bloomberg Left Off On Court Cases

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss:Mayor de Blasio is tossing his “tale of two cities’’ mantra out the window this week, as his Law Department begins defending two hallmarks of the Bloomberg legacy in court.One case involves park activists who first sued the city in 2008, alleging that an upscale restaurant concession serving $18 omelets in Union Square would violate rules about profit-making

by reality-based edu... / 10min 

Again I Ask, Why No Blame For Bloomberg And Walcott?

The Post does another story on horror school PS 106 this morning:Kids at Queens’ notorious “School of No” have been forced to pay for a bizarre fifth-grade party at which their principal makes them dress up as little brides and grooms, The Post has learned — as the DOE announce that it would probe conditions at the school. PS 106’s fur-clad principal, Marcella Sills — who is known for frequently b

by reality-based edu... / 2h 

1-12-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School: Why Aren't Bloomberg And Walcott Blamed For This?We always hear how great Mayor Bloomberg was for the school system, how much better things were after his 12 years of reign than before he took over.Then you get this kind of story from the Post that sounds very much like a school from the "bad-old days":Students at PS 106 in Far Rockaway, Queens, have gotten no math

by mike simpson / 10h 

An Urban Teacher's Education: What's Best for Kids

An Urban Teacher's Education: What's Best for Kids:

What's Best for Kids

If you've spent any time in schools or in school district offices, there's a good chance you've heard someone implore others to remember that it's important to keep students in mind when making decisions.

Although not always, this is sometimes a underhanded insult. It suggests that others may have ulterior motives (presumably self-interest) when making decisions about how schools work.

At my school, we've recently been thinking about how to change our structures, schedule, class offerings, and other important operational components in an attempt to provide better educational experiences for students. The process has led to a few reminders that we should keep students at the heart of our thinking, which led me to really think about how my school might change if we really thought about said change through the lens of "what's best for kids."

Here are a few things I think would put students first (certainly not an exhaustive list):

1) We would allocate far fewer days to testing and test preparation

Many of my students experience severe anxiety about tests, and some even skip school when they know a test is coming. There is much to be said for learning to take tests and their role in society, but we've overdone it by a long shot. The emphasis we place on tests encourage deficit thinking and 

4 Questions Parents Should Ask About Student Data Security - High School Notes (usnews.com)

4 Questions Parents Should Ask About Student Data Security - High School Notes (usnews.com):

4 Questions Parents Should Ask About Student Data Security

By KELSEY SHEEHY

January 13, 2014 RSS Feed Print

Lax protocols for student data could put teens’ privacy at risk, experts say.

Student data has the ability to transform education, experts say.

Teachers can tailor instruction using student grades, and counselors can use attendance and behavior records to identify at-riskhigh school students before they become dropout statistics.

"We can't afford not to use data," says Aimee Guidera, founder and executive director of the Data Quality Campaign. Districts also cannot afford to let their students' data fall into the wrong hands, she says.

[Learn about tech requirements for the Common Core State Standards.]

Safeguarding student privacy and ensuring data security should be a top priority for school officials, experts say, especially when districts contract