Nite Cap 9-12-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT

James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP

Lies My Corporate Ed Reformers Told Me: The Truth About Teacher Tenure and the Civil Rights Movement | Yohuru Williams

Lies My Corporate Ed Reformers Told Me: The Truth About Teacher Tenure and the Civil Rights Movement | Yohuru Williams: Lies My Corporate Ed Reformers Told Me: The Truth About Teacher Tenure and the Civil Rights MovementThe champions of corporate education reform insist that efforts to strip teachers of the procedural guarantees of due process embedded in tenure are somehow an extension of the Civ

by mike simpson / 1min 

Listen To The Controversial Panel Featuring Dana Goldstein, Motoko Rich, and Me Right Here | The Jose Vilson

Listen To The Controversial Panel Featuring Dana Goldstein, Motoko Rich, and Me Right Here | The Jose Vilson: Listen To The Controversial Panel Featuring Dana Goldstein, Motoko Rich, and Me Right HereHey everyone,Last night, I had the pleasure of being invited by Dana Goldstein, author of the must-read education history book of the year The Teacher Wars, and New York Times education writer Motoko

1 by mike simpson / 26min 

New Report – NY Billions Behind in Funding to Schools - Alliance for Quality Education of New York

RELEASE: New Report – NY Billions Behind in Funding to Schools - Alliance for Quality Education of New York: NEW REPORT: Unconstitutional Neglect of NY’s High Need StudentsFunding Owed to NY’s High Need Schools is More Than Double That Owed to Wealthy SchoolsState has $6.2 Billion Surplus But Continues to Combat Education Funding Lawsuits Despite Severe UnderfundingALBANY, NY – A new report releas

1 by mike simpson / 1h 

9-12-14 All NEW Living in Dialogue - Due Process Should Include Peer Assistance and Review

Home - Living in Dialogue: Due Process Should Include Peer Assistance and ReviewThis week Mark Naison took an axe to the Peer Assistance and Review program, citing research done by Brian Crowell, a math teacher in Berkeley, California. Crowell states that his research has shown that teachers who are outspoken, and those who are over 55, are of color, and those who are expensive, are the ones most

1 by mike simpson / 1h 

9-12-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open Thread(No, I am not officially back but I feel for Charlie.)  I see a lot has been happening.It appears that the district IS creating a taskforce on Prevention and Response to Sexual Harassment (PRSH), apply by September 26th.The district also wants public comments on the new 21-page Superintendent's Procedure on Sexual Harassment.I also note that there

1 by mike simpson / 1h 

Sacramento City Unified reaches deal with teachers on pay hikes - Education - The Sacramento Bee

Sacramento City Unified reaches deal with teachers on pay hikes - Education - The Sacramento Bee: Sacramento City Unified reaches deal with teachers on pay hikesBy Loretta Kalblkalb@sacbee.comPublished: Friday, Sep. 12, 2014 - 1:20 pmNegotiators for Sacramento City Unified and the Sacramento City Teachers Association have signaled an end to a long stretch of discord by agreeing to two years of pay

2 by mike simpson / 1h 

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Lesson from Teachout: It won't be as easy for Rahm to buy the next election

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Lesson from Teachout: It won't be as easy for Rahm to buy the next election: Lesson from Teachout: It won't be as easy for Rahm to buy the next electionYou've really got to go back to Bloomberg's narrow escape in his 2009 victory in the NY mayor's race over relative unknown, Bill Thompson. Bloomberg poured $90 million of his own fortune into the race, a sum without e

1 by mike simpson / 1h 

9-12-14 Wait What? - Pelto/Murphy Register as Write-In Candidates for 2014

Wait What?: Pelto/Murphy Register as Write-In Candidates for 2014“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you will cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”                                                                      […] The post Pelto/Murphy Register as Write-In Candidates for 2014 appeared first on Wait What?.28 by jonpelto / 1h 9-11-14 Wait What? - CE

1 by mike simpson / 3h 

Commiserating on How Gifted Students are Ignored by Educators, Policymakers and Those Who Should Care

Commiserating on How Gifted Students are Ignored by Educators, Policymakers and Those Who Should Care: Commiserating on How Gifted Students are Ignored by Educators, Policymakers and Those Who Should CareSEPTEMBER 12, 2014 BY NANCY BAILEY LEAVE A COMMENTA post I did almost a year ago about Common Core and gifted students has been receiving renewed activity lately. HERE. HERE is another. I wondered

1 by mike simpson / 3h 

Ethnic Studies Now Coalition

Ethnic Studies Now Coalition: CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE ETHNIC STUDIES SUMMIT - OCTOBER 18, 2014posted by JOSE LARA | 156scSeptember 02, 2014(SCROLL DOWN TO RSVP)PURPOSE: A conference for those committed to promote Ethnic Studies at all levels of the educational system, to discuss the state of Ethnic Studies in California, Arizona and Texas, and present new models that enhance Ethnic Studies in K-12, ba

1 by mike simpson / 3h 

Marks School Attendance Awareness Month - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)

Marks School Attendance Awareness Month - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Marks School Attendance Awareness MonthSACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today recognized September as "School Attendance Awareness Month," which publicizes the importance of good attendance in schools."Children must attend school to learn,

1 by mike simpson / 4h 

9-12-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online: Ravitch Blog: Success Charter Chain Built on Pile of ShitIt is implausible to assume that Success Academy accomplishes magic in the early grades and then barely manages to hold ground in upper grades. In fact, this is another piece of evidence suggesting that Success Academy amounts to little more than an accounting trick.... The New York Daily News published an opinion piece writ

1 by mike simpson / 4h 

Cali Education Headlines - Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team

Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team | CSIS – California School Information Services: Education HeadlinesSalinas teachers unions oppose Navigator charterUnions representing Monterey area teachers and classified employees have made it clear: they do not want a charter school operator to come to town. September 12, 2014EdSource: New schools chief lauds Oakland as “full of opportunity”The O

1 by mike simpson / 4h 

Teachers Using What They Know - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

Teachers Using What They Know - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: Teachers Using What They KnowBy Nancy Flanagan on September 12, 2014 1:12 PMIt happened again last week. I posted a comment on a Detroit Free Press article on the Common Core, and the first thing that popped up under my comment was this (and I'm paraphrasing): Pay no attention to anything Nancy Flanagan says. She's

1 by mike simpson / 4h 

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 9-12-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: 4LAKids Sports Page: DEASY PLAYS HARDBALL? …OR GOES FISHING? LAUSD superintendent’s request for board members' emails opens a new front in battle over iPad planBy Howard Blume | LA Times |  http://lat.ms/1tPJKCp John Deasy, superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, is requesting records of contacts between board members and tech compani

2 by mike simpson / 4h 

Recognizing Real Leadership For Education Progress: Mayor Bill de Blasio

Recognizing Real Leadership For Education Progress: Mayor Bill de Blasio: Recognizing Real Leadership For Education Progress: Mayor Bill de Blasio What’s wrong with this picture?During the nation’s back-to-school season, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has been touring states in a bus to “highlight the champions of reform.”At one stop, where he spoke to an audience of parents at a Nashvill

1 by mike simpson / 4h 

Camel Brown: It's MY Lawsuit - Judge Approves Merger of Teacher Tenure Lawsuits in New York - WNYC

Judge Approves Merger of Teacher Tenure Lawsuits in New York - WNYC: Judge Approves Merger of Teacher Tenure Lawsuits in New YorkTwo different lawsuits challenging teacher tenure in New York will now be consolidated into one.A Staten Island judge, Philip Minardo, agreed on Thursday with the State Attorney General's request to combine the two cases because they are so similar, and because neither p

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

9-12-14 LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD

LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District): Morning Read: Deasy’s attorney asks for LA school board emailsMorning Read: Deasy’s attorney asks for LA school board emails Attorney for Supt. Deasy asks for L.A. school board emails An attorney representing Los Angeles schools Supt. John Deasy is seeking records that would explore possible links between

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

BustED Pencils BLOG: "That's the kind of student I am."

BustED Pencils BLOG: "That's the kind of student I am.": BustED Pencils - Fully Leaded Education Talk - BustED Pencils:BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is a progressive talk radio show. The show is hosted by Dr. Tim Slekar and Dr. Jed Hopkins. BustED Pencils - Fully Leaded Education Talk - BustED Pencils:"That's the kind of student I am."Dear Teachers everywhere,Plea

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

9-12-14 Answer Sheet

Answer Sheet: Strauss: How a Koch foundation influenced a university economics departmentEarlier this year, I published a piece about the role that the billionaire Koch brothers are playing not only in conservative politics but in pushing their own agenda in higher education. The piece was written by Dave Levinthal of the Center for Public Integrity, one of the country’s oldest and largest nonpart

1 by mike simpson / 6h 

Who Let the BATS Out?

Who Let the BATS Out?Badass Teacher (BAT) AssociationWELCOME TO THE BAT CAVEBadass Teacher Association Web SiteD'ohI Let the BATs Out

2 by mike simpson / 6h 

Shutting Out The LAUSD Stakeholders - ChangeTheLAUSD

Accountability - ChangeTheLAUSD: Shutting Out The LAUSD Stakeholders “I would like to move that we move the remainding [sic] of board meetings that are tentatively scheduled for 4:00 PM to 1:00 PM...Makes it easier for parents, certainly in my district, who might want to come speak to not be here at 11:00 at night when they have kids to put to bed and homework to supervise and it is impossible to

1 by mike simpson / 7h 

Morning Wink 9-12-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-12-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: How Clueless Can D.C. Bureaucrats Be?Avery Gigliano recently turned 13. She is a world-class pianist who has won international competitions. To play in international competitions, it is necessar

3 by mike simpson / 7h 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-12-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: How Clueless Can D.C. Bureaucrats Be?Avery Gigliano recently turned 13. She is a world-class pianist who has won international competitions. To play in international competitions, it is necessary to travel. To the D.C. public school system, she is not a champion, she is a truant. I forebear from using the words that come to mind. T

1 by mike simpson / 7h 

9-12-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Lunch with the candidates.State Representative Nekritz speaks to retirees. Every election season my chapter of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association invites local candidates for state House and Senate races to speak to our group. Yesterday’s luncheon was the first time we’ve had the opportunity to

1 by mike simpson / 7h 

Russ on Reading: What Do We Want from Public Schools?

Russ on Reading: What Do We Want from Public Schools?: What Do We Want from Public Schools?Ok students, let’s start today with a quick multiple choice question.Which of the following represents the bestreason for having a highly functioning system of public schools?a)    economic stabilityb)    social stabilityc)    political stabilityd)    joy of the individualYes I know. I hated these “best reas

by mike simpson / 7h 

9-12-14 Schools Matter All Week

Schools Matter: The "middle skills" shortage: The common core will make it worseSent to the Wall Street Journal, Sept. 11, 2014"German robots school U.S. workers" (Sept. 10) is the most recent of a series of reports in the Wall Street Journal on the substantial shortage of job applicants with "middle skills," requiring less than a college degree but more than high sch

by mike simpson / 7h 

9-12-14 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: “What Does Scottish Independence Mean?’Scotland will be voting on independence in a few days and, though the narration of this two-minute video from Slate is too fast for English Language Learners, it is the best short explanation of what’s going on that I’ve seen on the issue:9 by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h hide  //  saveA

by mike simpson / 7h 

9-12-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE: About the radio showJoin Drs. Shaun Johnson and Tim Slekar LIVE Sundays at 6PM EST and Wednesdays at 7PM EST on Blog Talk Radio for progressive, pro-public education talk radio. Call in to speak live with Tim and Shaun during the show, (805) 727-7111. You can also listen to our Monday "Sunday-Replay" at 7PM EST, and re-broadcasts of the archives every Tuesday and Thursd

by mike simpson / 7h 

9-12-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness

the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): High Noon: “Why Everyone (Almost) Is Wrong about Common Core”High Noon at the Upcountry History Museum 2014 Fall Schedule All lectures begin at noon on Wednesdays and last one hour. The Upcountry History Museum/Furman University is located at 540 Buncombe Street in downt

1 by mike simpson / 7h 

9-12-14 Hemlock on the Rocks

Hemlock on the Rocks: Harvey Saferstein: Meet LAUSD Superintendent Deasy's Attorney-- HMMMMMM.../Who pays him ?http://www.mintz.com/professionals/detail/name/harvey-saferstein Harvey Saferstein Harvey is the Managing Member for the firm's Los Angeles office. His practice includes antitrust and intellectual property counseling and litigation, as well as complex commercial and business litigation. W

1 by mike simpson / 7h 

9-12-14 Curmudgucation - Magical CCSS Teachers

CURMUDGUCATION: Magical CCSS TeachersOver at EdWeek, the Teaching Ahead roundtable is having a little debate about the Core's burgeoning image problem. I've made my own entry in the argument (feel free to check it out and like it as a way to register your CCSS love).Tucked in among the various points of view, you'll find this piece by Jessica Keigan. "Abandoning the Common Core Would Be a Dis

1 by mike simpson / 7h 

9-12-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School: Anti-Teacher Tenure Lawsuit In New York Starts Off Like A CircusThe Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal:Justice Philip Minardo in Richmond County Supreme Court agreed Thursday to merge two lawsuits seeking to challenge state tenure laws.The state attorney general's office had filed a motion to consolidate the two cases on grounds the issues were so similar, and the United Fede

1 by mike simpson / 7h 

Gov. Christie — ” I don’t care about the community criticism…”; School Opens in Newark | janresseger

Gov. Christie — ” I don’t care about the community criticism…”; School Opens in Newark | janresseger: Gov. Christie — ” I don’t care about the community criticism…”; School Opens in NewarkPosted on September 12, 2014 by janressegerSchool opened in Newark, New Jersey on Thursday, September 4, in the messy, patched together way that major transformations occur.  The question in this case, as Cami An

1 by mike simpson / 7h 

Time to Scale Back School Testing - Lily's Blackboard

Time to Scale Back School Testing - Lily's Blackboard: Time to Scale Back School TestingSeptember 12, 2014 by LilyCategories: Did you see this?, Education, General, TestingTags: learning, New Jersey, TestingDo you remember a teacher or other school employee who made a difference in your life? Perhaps someone who really brought an academic subject to life, or who simply helped you through a difficu

by mike simpson / 7h 

Statement of Pennsylvania Working Families on Council’s Failure to put Local Control on the Ballot | WeArePCAPS

Statement of Pennsylvania Working Families on Council’s Failure to put Local Control on the Ballot | WeArePCAPS: Statement of Pennsylvania Working Families on Council’s Failure to put Local Control on the BallotPosted on September 12, 2014by wearepcapsPhiladelphians Denied the Chance to Vote for Local ControlCoalition demands vote on education charter amendmentFor Immediate ReleaseThursday, Septem

by mike simpson / 7h 

Teacher, Principal, and Superintendent Core Dilemmas That Need to Be Managed | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Teacher, Principal, and Superintendent Core Dilemmas That Need to Be Managed | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Teacher, Principal, and Superintendent Core Dilemmas That Need to Be ManagedI have used the word “dilemma” in earlier posts since superintendents, principals, teachers, and, yes, students face situations that call for difficult choices among conflicting values. So for

by mike simpson / 7h 

Schools Not Prisons: #DoTheMath | National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Education Reform for Equity and Opportunity

Schools Not Prisons: #DoTheMath | National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Education Reform for Equity and Opportunity: Schools Not Prisons: #DoTheMathIn California it costs $62,300 per year to imprison someone, but just $9,100 per year to teach a child. A powerful short video from Californians for Safety and Justice challenges us to "do the math" when it comes to expanding the criminal

by mike simpson / 7h 

Teachers For Social Justice: UWM & City of Milwaukee: End Charter Enrollment Bribes!

Teachers For Social Justice: UWM & City of Milwaukee: End Charter Enrollment Bribes!: UWM & City of Milwaukee: End Charter Enrollment Bribes!SEPTEMBER 12, 2014 LEAVE A COMMENTPlease sign this petition from the Milwaukee Teacher Education Association to end the practice of paying parents and community members to enroll or refer students to privately run charter schools in Wisconsin!Paying p

by mike simpson / 7h 

Bill Gates funds the media then secretly meets with them | Seattle Education

Bill Gates funds the media then secretly meets with them | Seattle Education: Bill Gates funds the media then secretly meets with themThis post was written by Mercedes Schneider and originally posted on Dr. Rich Swier:Billionaire Bill Gates funds the media then secretly meets with them to do what?Billionaire Bill Gates funds the media.This is no surprise to me.What did surprise me is the discovery

by mike simpson / 7h 

New schools chief: Oakland “full of opportunity” | EdSource

New schools chief: Oakland “full of opportunity” | EdSource: New schools chief: Oakland “full of opportunity”September 11, 2014 | By Louis Freedberg and John Fensterwald | No Comments SHARE THIS ARTICLEThe Oakland Unified School District has begun the school year with a new superintendent, Antwan Wilson, at the helm. The 46,000-student district is the 14th-largest in the state. Unlike the distric

by mike simpson / 8h 

The (NY, DC, LA, and CA) Story of Eureka Math | deutsch29

The (NY, DC, LA, and CA) Story of Eureka Math | deutsch29: The (NY, DC, LA, and CA) Story of Eureka MathSeptember 11, 2014In Louisiana, there has been a bit of mystery surrounding the only math curriculum “selected” in March 2014 by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) and promoted as“LSU-developed Eureka Math.”It sure so

by mike simpson / 8h 

YESTERDAY

4 Reminders For A New School Year | Connected Principals

4 Reminders For A New School Year | Connected Principals: 4 Reminders For A New School Yearby William Parker • September 12, 2014 • 0 CommentsWe just welcomed our teachers and students back to school.It was hard work to prepare for all the moving parts that make up master schedules, professional development, and schedule pick-ups.But there is also great satisfaction in having everyone back and kno

1 by mike simpson / 18h 

Aliens Laud Affirmative Action In Texas Social Studies Curriculum (Really) | Cloaking Inequity

Aliens Laud Affirmative Action In Texas Social Studies Curriculum (Really) | Cloaking Inequity: Aliens Laud Affirmative Action In Texas Social Studies Curriculum (Really)I am not lying to you. Yes, Texas textbook designers have found a new way to deride social progress by using aliens as their muse. But first, the peer reviewed academic material. In 2012, the post “Illusion of Inclusion,” Article

1 by mike simpson / 20h 

Attorney for Supt. Deasy asks for L.A. school board emails - LA Times

Attorney for Supt. Deasy asks for L.A. school board emails - LA Times: Attorney for Supt. Deasy asks for L.A. school board emailsAn attorney representing Los Angeles schools Supt. John Deasy is seeking records that would explore possible links between school board members and technology vendors.The request opens a new front in the fallout over a contract between the L.A. Unified School District an

8 by mike simpson / 20h 

9-11-14 Jersey Jazzman - Under @GovChristie, State Control of Urban Schools Is a Disaster

Jersey Jazzman: Under @GovChristie, State Control of Urban Schools Is a DisasterThe fiscal failures of Chris Christie are well-documented at this point: huge budget woes, no payments to the pension that were required under his own plan, bond ratings in a downward spiral, and the withering of Atlantic City's gaming industry have all occurred on Christie's watch.But we should also take a moment to a

1 by mike simpson / 21h 

3 Images on Leading Change | Connected Principals

3 Images on Leading Change | Connected Principals: 3 Images on Leading Changeby David Truss • September 11, 2014 • 0 CommentsI enjoy using images to share ideas. In a post on my Pair-a-Dimes blog, I shared the ‘Embracing Change’ image, also shared below. As I said in the post:“…we’ need to recognize that: * Change isn’t usually easy.* Change only happens when we create a need.* Change is not a tho

1 by mike simpson / 21h 

Nite Cap 9-11-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT

James Baldwin said it best: "For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAPSPECIAL Mid Day Banana Break 9-11-14 #edchat #edreformBig Education Ape - Mid Day Banana BreakThe teaching profession is becoming less gray and less green, but more teachers are leaving poor schoolsMuch ink has been devoted to the teaching profes

3 by mike simpson / 1d 

2nd Banana 9-6-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 8-30-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 8-23-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 8-16-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 8-9-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post 

Nite Cap 9-11-14

Nite Cap 9-10-14

Nite Cap 9-9-14

Nite Cap 9-8-14

Nite Cap 9-7-14

Nite Cap 9-6-14

Nite Cap 9-5-14

Nite Cap 9-4-14

Nite Cap 9-3-14

Nite Cap 9-2-14

Nite Cap 9-1-14 

Nite Cap 8-31-14

Nite Cap 8-30-14

Lies My Corporate Ed Reformers Told Me: The Truth About Teacher Tenure and the Civil Rights Movement | Yohuru Williams

Lies My Corporate Ed Reformers Told Me: The Truth About Teacher Tenure and the Civil Rights Movement | Yohuru Williams:

Lies My Corporate Ed Reformers Told Me: The Truth About Teacher Tenure and the Civil Rights Movement

The champions of corporate education reform insist that efforts to strip teachers of the procedural guarantees of due process embedded in tenure are somehow an extension of the Civil Rights Movement. In the latest iteration of this make-believe history, former CNN anchor Campbell Brown and her ally, lawyer David Boies, wax philosophical about how their campaign to end tenure is really "about Civil Rights." While the rhetoric plays well in the press, it deliberately misrepresents the actual history of Civil Rights. In reality, teachers played a critical role in the movement. In some cases, they were able to do so because they were bolstered by tenure, preventing their arbitrary dismissal for activism.

Early in its campaign to challenge segregation in the courts the NAACP chief attorney, Thurgood Marshall recognized teachers as important allies. In Simple Justice, his seminal study of the history of Brown v. Board of Education, historian Richard Kluger observed,

"teachers were of special importance because there were so many of them, because they were generally leaders in their community, and because they were paid by the government, which in theory was not supposed to discriminate against anyone on account of race."

What Kluger described of course, was the thin but important layer of protection offered by tenure that allowed teachers to participate in lawsuits and other actions that would have proved difficult for those with no such guarantee of due process. During the Jim Crow era, one of the most effective weapons segregationists had in their arsenal of terror was the power to fire or refuse to hire those who engaged in acts of civil disobedience or challenged the status quo. With the higher duty to protect children, many teachers bravely faced this challenge, using their classrooms not only to teach basic skills, but also to encourage critical thinking skills and inspiring young people to challenge second-class citizenship. Recent scholarship as well as personal memoirs captures this important role played by educators. In a 2009 biography Claudette Colvin, who at 15 refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus nearly nine months before Rosa Parks, credited her teachers with inspiring her to make her courageous stand against Southern apartheid.

Not all Black teachers were awarded tenure. In fact, very few states in the South offered the basic guarantee of due process to Black teachers but, in those states where teachers were protected, they were able to speak and testify openly and honestly about the detrimental impact of Jim Crow on their students.

Their professionalism and candor underscored the damning nature of Jim Crow, not in the lack of quality instruction but in the substandard facilities, large class sizes, lack of resources, and psychological impact segregation had on students -- not to mention the disparities in pay and benefits including tenure.

Then, as now, tenure had to be earned. It was not granted for simply marking time. As Lies My Corporate Ed Reformers Told Me: The Truth About Teacher Tenure and the Civil Rights Movement | Yohuru Williams:

Listen To The Controversial Panel Featuring Dana Goldstein, Motoko Rich, and Me Right Here | The Jose Vilson

Listen To The Controversial Panel Featuring Dana Goldstein, Motoko Rich, and Me Right Here | The Jose Vilson:

Listen To The Controversial Panel Featuring Dana Goldstein, Motoko Rich, and Me Right Here

Hey everyone,

Last night, I had the pleasure of being invited by Dana Goldstein, author of the must-read education history book of the year The Teacher Wars, and New York Times education writer Motoko Rich to speak at the New America NYC panel on Goldstein’s aforementioned book. We did a good job parsing some of the education issues of today. Glad the place was sold out, and there might be another one soon. In the meantime, listen to the convo here!

About Jose Vilson

José Luis Vilson is a math educator, blogger, speaker, and activist. 

For more of my writing, buy my book This Is Not A Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and Education, on sale now.

New Report – NY Billions Behind in Funding to Schools - Alliance for Quality Education of New York

RELEASE: New Report – NY Billions Behind in Funding to Schools - Alliance for Quality Education of New York:

NEW REPORT: Unconstitutional Neglect of NY’s High Need Students

Funding Owed to NY’s High Need Schools is More Than Double That Owed to Wealthy Schools

State has $6.2 Billion Surplus But Continues to Combat Education Funding Lawsuits Despite Severe Underfunding

ALBANY, NY – A new report released today by the Alliance for Quality Education and Opportunity Action, titled “Billions Behind: New York State Continues to Violate Students’ Constitutional Rights,” found that New York State is not only behind on what it owes to schools – $5.9 billion in total Foundation Aid and Gap Elimination Adjustment funding – but that it owes 2.3 times more to high need schools than wealthy schools. This regressive trend works directly counter to the state’s constitutional obligation of providing every student with a “sound basic education.” The impact of this underfunding on high need schools has a much harsher impact where basic student needs are greater.  The report found that small cities schools are the most underfunded which is particularly significant given the current Small Cities Lawsuit regarding school funding. Earlier this week it was revealed the state will enter next year with a $6.2 billion surplus.

“We’ve cut writing classes, science, athletics, arts, everywhere. We have a rich history in the arts and it’s extremely difficult pitting those things against other programming. The challenge is cutting away at these things without eliminating the heart of (public education),” said Laurence Spring, Superintendent of Schenectady City School District.

“We have eliminated our entire business program, cut our JV sports teams, reduced our academic intervention programs, as well as decimating our administrative leadership team.  This year we reduced five additional teaching positions to part time as a result of the state’s inability to equitably fund our school, which has curtailed our music and technology programs as well as reducing our elective course offerings.  These cuts place the children of Herkimer at a disadvantage when competing against high school graduates who happen to live in more affluent communities,” said Herkimer Central School District Superintendent Robert Miller.

“This report doesn’t just show a funding problem, it’s also a civil rights problem,” said Zakiyah Ansari, AQE Advocacy Director. “It has been 60 years since the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, yet New York State continues to diminish the opportunities of some students. If you live in a poor community or community of color, your children are being shown that their education and their lives are less valuable.”

The 2007 ruling in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case found that the state was violating its constitutional obligation to provide every student with a “sound basic education.” The remedy that came out of that ruling charged the state with investing $5.5 billion over four years into schools through the Foundation Aid formula, which prioritizes high need schools and works to close the opportunity gap between students. After two years of investment, the state turned its back on students and began cutting funding from schools in 2010-2012.

“The findings are clear and shocking. Governor Cuomo has failed to provide the leadership to uphold the state’s constitutional responsibility to provide every student with a sound basic public education. The state has a $6.2 billion surplus heading into 2015 there is no excuse to continue to make our students lose out,” said Billy Easton, Executive Director, Alliance for Quality Education.

Currently, the state is behind $4.9 billion in Foundation Aid and $1 billion in Gap Elimination Adjustment (the GEA is the result of cuts made in 2010 and 2011).  Multiple court cases are now being brought against the state for its failure to fulfill its constitutional obligation to students, including the Small Cities Case for which David Sciarra, Executive Director of the Education Law Center is now serving as co-counsel.

“This report demonstrates why students and parents from small cities across the state are suing Governor Cuomo and the State of New York for violating students’ constitutional rights,” saidSciarra. “We are prepared to demonstrate at the trial in December the educational harm being caused by the state’s continuing failure to deliver adequate funding to high needs schools.”

In the report “Billions Behind,” AQE and Opportunity Action recommend the state reverse the regressive trend towards underfunding by investing $5.9 billion in schools over the next four years – fully funding both amounts owed in Foundation Aid and GEA. However, the report urges the state to prioritize high need schools by focusing on adjusting and utilizing the Foundation Aid formula. This formula, which looks at a district’s student need and economic health, is still the best vehicle for closing the opportunity gap between high need and wealthy school districts.

“I first ran for the State Senate because I felt that schools districts in rural areas and small Upstate cities had been underfunded for years,” said Senator Cecilia Tkaczyk. “We’ve made great strides increasing Aid to Education in the last two State budgets, but, as this report clearly points out, much more needs to be done. When we don’t provide our schools with adequate State aid, we force them rely more heavily on property taxes, and that is an unacceptable option for the communities I represent.”

“Every student in New York deserves the opportunity to receive a quality education.  The only way to achieve this is to make sure that we provide adequate funding for our schools.  Increasing the Foundation Aid and eliminating the Gap Elimination Adjustment will ensure that our schools and our students have the resources they need to succeed,” said Senator Neil Breslin.

“As New York State’s fiscal health continues to improve (as recognized by three of the leading ratings agencies have recently remarked) and as the economy continues it’s recovery, it is critical that we as a society build upon the efforts to improve educational opportunities particularly in our urban settings,” said Assemblymember John McDonald.  “As a member of the Assembly who represents five cities and a district that struggles with poverty, education investment is the critical resource to provide promise to the children and the communities I represent.”

“Resource inequities are leading to more crowded classrooms, a narrow curriculum, and the elimination of the arts and music-all smart investments that have made New York the national capital for cultural richness, entrepreneurs and ingenuity.  It’s time to get back your billions New Yorkers, back into the public school system, and back to your greatest natural resource, children,” said Joseph Bishop, Ph.D., Executive Director, Opportunity Action.

“The evidence is clear: New York State is failing to fund a sound and basic education for a generation of students resulting in a severe drop in the quality of education schools are able to offer. Quality education is the responsibility of the State – it must not be placed on the shoulders of local districts, many of which cannot bear the burden on their own,” said Jesse Laymon, Executive Director of EffectiveNY.

9-12-14 All NEW Living in Dialogue - Gates Money Attempts to Shift the Education Conversation to Successes

Home - Living in Dialogue:

Gates Money Attempts to Shift the Education Conversation to Successes

In 2010, a stark image was broadcast around the nation. It showed a child seated at a school desk surrounded by absolute devastation and ruin. That image was used promote the movie, “Waiting For Superman.” The movie was boosted with a $2 million advertising grant from the Gates Foundation, and was further promoted on Oprah and NBC’s Education Nation – also underwritten by the Gates Foundation. The

52 by Anthony Cody / 2h 

Due Process Should Include Peer Assistance and Review

This week Mark Naison took an axe to the Peer Assistance and Review program, citing research done by Brian Crowell, a math teacher in Berkeley, California. Crowell states that his research has shown that teachers who are outspoken, and those who are over 55, are of color, and those who are expensive, are the ones most likely to be referred to PAR. I have a somewhat different perspective on the pro

7 by Anthony Cody / 55min 

9-8-14 All NEW Living in Dialogue - A Response to Bill Nye (The Science Guy): Standards? Yes. The Common Core State Standards? No.

Home - Living in Dialogue: A Response to Bill Nye (The Science Guy): Standards? Yes. The Common Core State Standards? No.By Stephen Krashen Bill Nye (“The Science Guy”) is enthusiastic about the Common Core because he feels that there are some basic principles that students simply need to know: Everybody needs to learn “a little bit of physics, chemistry, mathematics and you got to learn some evol

by mike simpson / 22h 

9-12-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:

Friday Open Thread

(No, I am not officially back but I feel for Charlie.)  I see a lot has been happening.It appears that the district IS creating a taskforce on Prevention and Response to Sexual Harassment (PRSH), apply by September 26th.The district also wants public comments on the new 21-page Superintendent's Procedure on Sexual Harassment.I also note that there is a district narrative of the "Garfield High

by Melissa Westbrook / 1h 

9-11-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum: The District's Real ResponseThis is good news.It's beginning to look like Seattle Public Schools is finally going to take real action in response to the reported rape of November, 2012 and how that case exposed district failures in both prevention and response to sexual assault and harassment complaints. The real action from the District now includes improvements t

by mike simpson / 26min 

Sacramento City Unified reaches deal with teachers on pay hikes - Education - The Sacramento Bee

Sacramento City Unified reaches deal with teachers on pay hikes - Education - The Sacramento Bee:

Sacramento City Unified reaches deal with teachers on pay hikes

By Loretta Kalb
lkalb@sacbee.com

Published: Friday, Sep. 12, 2014 - 1:20 pm

Negotiators for Sacramento City Unified and the Sacramento City Teachers Association have signaled an end to a long stretch of discord by agreeing to two years of pay hikes and smallerclass sizes for the youngest students at high poverty schools, the district announced today.

The tentative agreement, which must be ratified by the teachers association and approved this fall by district trustees, calls for a 2 percent salary boost this year for teachers and another 1 percent increase next year, the first since 2008-09.

It calls also for collaboration between teachers and the district on developing teacher evaluation tools, the district said, addressing a pivotal conflict between teachers and former Superintendent Jonathan Raymond, who resigned last October.

Over the next two years, the maximum student-teacher ratio will be lowered to 29-to-1 for kindergarten and 28-to-1 for grades 1-3. The district will focus first on schools where 75 percent or more students qualify for a free or reduced price lunch, the federal poverty threshold. The district announced it will add schools in other neighborhoods as state funding allows.

“Smaller class sizes allow teachers to focus more time and attention on individual student needs,” Superintendent Jose Banda said in a prepared statement. “This is especially important in schools where there are high concentrations of students who live in poverty or are struggling to learn English.”

The tentative pact marks a sharp departure from the contentious relationship that grew for much of the four years Raymond led the district. He resigned last October.

The relationship between teachers association and the superintendent was fractured by multiple differences, including Raymond’s “Priority Schools” plan, which allowed principals to replace teachers at struggling campuses with no regard for tenure, and his plan to link student test scoresSacramento City Unified reaches deal with teachers on pay hikes - Education - The Sacramento Bee:

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/09/12/6702373/sacramento-city-unified-reaches.html#mi_rss=Education#storylink=cpy

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Lesson from Teachout: It won't be as easy for Rahm to buy the next election

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Lesson from Teachout: It won't be as easy for Rahm to buy the next election:

Lesson from Teachout: It won't be as easy for Rahm to buy the next election

You've really got to go back to Bloomberg's narrow escape in his 2009 victory in the NY mayor's race over relative unknown, Bill Thompson. Bloomberg poured $90 million of his own fortune into the race, a sum without equal in the history of municipal politics that gave him a 14-to-1 advantage in campaign spending. He won by only 5%.



Without Bloomberg's billions in the race, money wasn't a big factor in Bill de Blasio's landslide victory last year. BdB won because he ran as a progressive and had strong organization on the ground in the form of the Working Families Party.

Teachout a winner.

ZEPHYR TEACHOUT just ran a strong race for governor against Republicrat Gov. Cuomo despite the fact that she was outspent 100-to-1 by Cuomo's Wall Street patrons. Cuomo raised $40 million to Teachout's $40,000 and political neophyte Teachout sill got 35% of the vote.



The New York Times described Teachout's strong performance as "an embarrassing rebuke to Mr. Cuomo, and it could put a dent in any national aspirations he may hold." I have no doubt that Cuomo, the favorite of the charter school hedge-funders and school profiteers likeEva Moskowitz, could have been beaten had Teachout received support from N.Y.'s chicken-poop teacher union leaders who are tied to Cuomo and the Democratic Party leadership by a thousand threads. Her defeat was also a defeat for the WFP which lost credibility when they endorsed Cuomo.



Lincoln Mitchell writes in the New York Observer:

Ms. Teachout’s strong showing, however, demonstrates the enduring relevance of the activist wing of the Democratic Party, reinforces the ability of a smart but poorly resourced candidate to use social media and less expensive forms of communication to significantly balance out a huge fundraising disadvantage, and shows that establishment Democratic candidates would be well served to run with clear and compelling messages, rather than simply on inevitability and incumbency.

In Illinois...The more of his own money billionaire Bruce Rauner pours into his campaign for governor, the worse he seems to be doing. Latest polls show him Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Lesson from Teachout: It won't be as easy for Rahm to buy the next election:

9-12-14 Wait What? - Pelto/Murphy Register as Write-In Candidates for 2014

Wait What?:

Pelto/Murphy Register as Write-In Candidates for 2014

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you will cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”                                                                      […] The post Pelto/Murphy Register as Write-In Candidates for 2014 appeared first on Wait What?.

28 by jonpelto / 1h 

9-11-14 Wait What? - CEA Education Forum 2014 – September 13, 2014

Wait What?: CEA Education Forum 2014 – September 13, 2014The Connecticut Education Association will be holding their forum with the gubernatorial candidates on Saturday, September 13, 2014 with a follow up CEA Political Action Committee meeting scheduled for September 17, 2014. Having fallen short on the number of signatures needed to qualify for the November ballot, I will not be participating, b

by mike simpson / 13min 

Commiserating on How Gifted Students are Ignored by Educators, Policymakers and Those Who Should Care:

Commiserating on How Gifted Students are Ignored by Educators, Policymakers and Those Who Should Care

SEPTEMBER 12, 2014 BY NANCY BAILEY LEAVE A COMMENT

A post I did almost a year ago about Common Core and gifted students has been receiving renewed activity lately. HERE. HERE is another. I wondered what was up. Why are gifted parents digging into the archives? I realized school for many has been in session for a while now and for parents, including parents of gifted children, reality is setting in. Realizing there is nothing special for your special ed. gifted student is like running into a brick wall.

It reminds me of a parent of a gifted child who once told me that she had attended a meeting with other parents of gifted children. While parents loved their children, many at the meeting expressed that they wished their child did not have gifted qualities. They would have preferred a regular kid.

This stunned me. I even wondered if it was disingenuous on the part of the parents. As a teacher of students with learning disabilities, I’d always thought parents wanted their children to be gifted.

Then it occurred to me, and this was the point this parent was making, gifted children are difficult to understand. Their characteristics can be strange to those in school and even parents. Students and teachers often don’t get these kids either. Unless teachers and parents study what the gifted are all about, it is confusing. And even if they do understand the complexities surrounding these students, it is almost impossible to provide gifted students with the right kind of education. In America, gifted students have never been a priority when it comes to schooling.

In general, at the federal, state and local levels, policymakers have failed to address the needs of gifted students. They just don’t seem to care. In my book, I write about how Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, who came before Arne Duncan, said, “Our federal commitment is about those disadvantaged kids, and by damn we’re not doing right by them. We don’t have $12 billion for a gifted and talented program at the federal level.” (p.88)  She encourages the state and local governments to do the task. But we all know how that goes.

This is a strange argument on the part of Spellings and those who continually ignore gifted students, because disadvantaged children could be gifted as well and deserve Commiserating on How Gifted Students are Ignored by Educators, Policymakers and Those Who Should Care:

Ethnic Studies Now Coalition

Ethnic Studies Now Coalition:

CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE ETHNIC STUDIES SUMMIT - OCTOBER 18, 2014

posted by JOSE LARA | 156sc
September 02, 2014

(SCROLL DOWN TO RSVP)

PURPOSE: A conference for those committed to promote Ethnic Studies at all levels of the educational system, to discuss the state of Ethnic Studies in California, Arizona and Texas, and present new models that enhance Ethnic Studies in K-12, based on local-control school board policies and partnerships between schools with colleges and universities.

KEYNOTE ADDRESSES: by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor & Chair, Africana Studies Dep't, CSULB and Dr. Rudy Acuña, Professor Emeritus, Chicana/o Studies Dept., CSUN.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

• El Rancho USD Ethnic Studies Requirement Historical Precedent
• Carson H.S.-CSULB Chicano & Latino Studies College-Credit Model
• Case studies on the Arizona & Texas struggles, and panels on American Indian, Chicano/Latino, Asian/Asian American and Africana Studies 
• The role of students, parents and communities on expanding Ethnic Studies

HOSTED BY THE CALIFORNIA-MEXICO STUDIES CENTER & CSU SAN BERNARDINO L.E.A.D.

IN COLLABORATION WITH:

• THE EL RANCHO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
• CSULB AFRICANA STUDIES, AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES, ASIAN/ASIAN-AMERICAN STUDIES AND CHICANO & LATINO STUDIES DEPARTMENTS
• CSU NORTHRIDGE CHICANA/O STUDIES DEPARTMENT
• CARSON BOYS & GIRLS CLUB ~ COLLEGE BOUND PROGRAM
• HEART OF LOS ANGELES (HOLA) AND FAMILIES IN SCHOOLS
• STUDENTS FOR EDUCATIONAL REFORM (SFER)
• LONG BEACH CENTRO C.H.A. AND THE MEXICAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES

For more info: go to www.california-mexicocenter.org or call Prof. Armando Vazquez-Ramos at: (562) 972-0986 For Parking and Directions: http://csulb.edu/community/v-gettinghere.html

RSVP BELOW:

WHEN

October 18, 2014 at 9am - 5pm

WHERE

CSULB Anatol Conference Center (University Library)
1250 N Bellflower Blvd
Long Beach, CA 90840
United States
Google map and directions

Marks School Attendance Awareness Month - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)

Marks School Attendance Awareness Month - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education):

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Marks School Attendance Awareness Month

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today recognized September as "School Attendance Awareness Month," which publicizes the importance of good attendance in schools.

"Children must attend school to learn, succeed, and prepare for a bright future," Torlakson said. "It's a simple concept that's sometimes overlooked. The link between attendance and academic achievement is clear, making it critical that all of us — parents, teachers, administrators, and community members — work together to prevent chronic school absence."

Torlakson was joined at the Capitol news conference by California Secretary of Health and Human Services Diana S. Dooley; Assemblymember Shirley Weber, (D-San Diego); Presiding Juvenile Court Judge Stacy Boulware Eurie of Sacramento; and Special Assistant Attorney General Jill E. Habig.

School Attendance Awareness Month, a national initiative sponsored by Attendance Works  brings together families, schools, community, and statewide leaders to publicize the connection between school attendance and academic achievement.

Since taking office, Torlakson has made preventing chronic absence a top priority and has taken the following actions:

• Worked with the judiciary and law enforcement to support legislation to reduce truancy and chronic absence.
• Promoted workshops throughout the state, together with the California Endowment, highlighting alternatives to out-of-school suspensions.
• Convened forums that brought together different agencies to focus on monitoring and preventing chronic absence.

The California Legislature recently passed Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 149  by Assemblymember Weber, designating September as School Attendance Awareness Month in California.

# # # #

Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

9-12-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online:

Ravitch Blog: Success Charter Chain Built on Pile of Shit

It is implausible to assume that Success Academy accomplishes magic in the early grades and then barely manages to hold ground in upper grades. In fact, this is another piece of evidence suggesting that Success Academy amounts to little more than an accounting trick.... The New York Daily News published an opinion piece written by what they termed “a researcher” and a “graduate student” that used

2 by ed notes online / 50min

9-11-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online: We coddle bad cops, vilify good teachers - Salon.comWe defer to cops even when they kill, and scapegoat schools for the ills America has given up on. This must change ---Paul RosenbergIn my inept manner, I've been trying to make this point. Teachers: Wear Blue Handcuffs on Tuesday to Suppor...Thanks to Vera for coming to my rescue: Vera Pavone: Why there must be accountability for

by mike simpson / 5min 

Cali Education Headlines - Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team

Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team | CSIS – California School Information Services:

Education Headlines

• Salinas teachers unions oppose Navigator charter

  Unions representing Monterey area teachers and classified employees have made it clear: they do not want a charter school operator to come to town.

   September 12, 2014

• EdSource: New schools chief lauds Oakland as “full of opportunity”

  The Oakland Unified School District has begun the school year with a new superintendent, Antwan Wilson, at the helm. The 46,000-student district is the 14th-largest in the state. Unlike the district’s former superintendents in recent years, he comes to Oakland without any prior experience in California public education.

   September 12, 2014

• County approves LA schools controversial budget

  The Los Angeles County Office of Education approved L.A. Unified’s $7.3 billion budget this week after county officials raised concerns the district may be misrepresenting its financial figures.

   September 12, 2014

• District cuts ties with land consultant

  The Sweetwater Union High School District board of trustees recently entered into an agreement that would provide its troublesome real estate deals with some financial relief.

   September 12, 2014

• Grossmont school board reaffirms dislike of Alpine unification

  Saying they are “appalled” at the San Diego County Office of Education, which last month unanimously approved the legal parameters the Alpine Union School District will need to add a high school and become unified, the Grossmont Union High School District Board at its meeting on Thursday voted to adopt a resolution reaffirming its opposition to unification.

   September 12, 2014

• Former Santa Clara Unifed official charged with felony conflict of interest

  A former assistant superintendent with the Santa Clara Unified School District faces felony conflict of interest charges, officials said, after he approved contracts and checks that paid him thousands in public money.

   September 12, 2014

Read more headlines