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Friday, March 20, 2015

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on All the Days Post 3/20/15


Special Nite Cap Catch Up on All the Days Post 3/19/15


Pearson Edition

Special Nite Cap 

CORPORATE ED REFORM



PARCC’s Lately-Published “Test Fairness and Security” Statement | deutsch29: PARCC’s Lately-Published “Test Fairness and Security” StatementUnder the heading, “Latest News,” the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) has posted a message entitled, Test Fairness and Security. Here is the document: Here is the text:Test Fairness and Security The PARCC states are comm
by mike simpson / 0min 
Until Pearson is investigated by the DOJ and the NSA, all “no laws broken” statements are hype | Reclaim Reform: Until Pearson is investigated by the DOJ and the NSA, all “no laws broken” statements are hypePosted on March 20, 2015by Ken PrevitiUntil a full investigation by the Department of Justice is completed, any “no law was broken” statements are political hype or mere conjecture. A foreign c
by mike simpson / 1h 
Arrogant Columnists Who Love High-Stakes Tests: Arrogant Columnists Who Love High-Stakes TestsMARCH 20, 2015 BY NANCY BAILEY 1 COMMENTI probably would have ignored a recent smug opinion piece by Beth Kassab in theOrlando Sentinel, who scoffs at parents who choose opting their children out of the tests. But another snotty write-up in a similar vein by Mike Thomas, from Jeb Bush’s Foundation of Exce
by mike simpson / 3h 
The #PinkGlitterStorm Challenge on Vimeo: The #PinkGlitterStorm Challenge on Vimeo The #PinkGlitterStorm Challenge from Antavia Hamilton on Vimeo. This is the launch video for the #pinkglitterstorm challenge! Ms. Hamilton invites you to spread the word about #Literacy #EdTech and #Education. Check out more information about her classroom fundraising project at gofundme.com/Ms-Hamilton-Cares.The #P
by mike simpson / 3h 
shine on productions - Defies Measurement:Defies Measurementa documentaryDefies Measurement strengthens the discussion about public education by taking a much-needed, fresh, hard look at why it is so important to address the social and emotional needs of every student, and what happens when the wrong people make decisions for schools.The purpose of this film is to inform and inspire discussion. In
by mike simpson / 7h 
Competing Visions: President Obama, House Budget Committee, Senate Budget Committee, and Congressional Progressive Caucus Release Budget Proposals for 2016: Competing Visions: President Obama, House Budget Committee, Senate Budget Committee, and Congressional Progressive Caucus Release Budget Proposals for 2016March 19, 2015 - Download PDF VersionNational Priorities Project examines how new budget
1 by mike simpson / 9h 
Competing Visions: President Obama, House Budget Committee, Senate Budget CommitteeCompeting Visions: President Obama, House Budget Committee, Senate Budget Committee, and Congressional Progressive Caucus Release Budget Proposals for 2016 March 19, 2015 - Download PDF Version National Priorities Project examines how new budget proposals stack up against Americans' priorities. By Jasmine Tucker Public Opinion: What Do Americans Want? President Obama House Budget Committee Senate Budget Committee House Congressional Progressive Caucus Domestic Discretionary Funding (Education, energy and environment, housing, job training, etc.) Opinion polls suggest that domestic investment in areas such as infrastructure, climate change, the economy, and immigration are top priorities for Americans. Other polls show Americans would prefer to see higher tax revenue to fund these priorities. Provides an additional $37 billion for domestic investment above Budget Control Act spending levels…
Competing Visions: President Obama, House Budget Committee, Senate Budget Committee, and Congressional Progressive Caucus Release Budget Proposals for 2016: Competing Visions: President Obama, House Budget Committee, Senate Budget Committee, and Congressional Progressive Caucus Release Budget Proposals for 2016  March 19, 2015 - Download PDF VersionNational Priorities Project examines how new budg
by mike simpson / 9h 
Don’t Close Schools, Fix Schools! «Education Talk New Orleans Education Talk New Orleans: Don’t Close Schools, Fix Schools! For many years parents and special education advocates have alerted the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) of special education violations in the charter system in New Orleans. Years before the creation of the Recovery School District (RSD), I did the same with the Orle
1 by mike simpson / 10h 
Student Privacy Debate Dominates Assembly Panel’s Meeting on PARCC Tests - NJ Spotlight: STUDENT PRIVACY DEBATE DOMINATES ASSEMBLY PANEL’S MEETING ON PARCC TESTSJOHN MOONEY | MARCH 20, 2015Lawmakers, education officials at loggerheads over monitoring of student postings on social mediaAudience members listen to debate over student privacy and PARCC during yesterday's Assembly education committee m
by mike simpson / 10h 
Badass Teachers Association: Between PARCC and a Hard PlaceOriginally posted on Buckeye BATs Blog Board  https://buckeyebats.wordpress.com/2015/03/18/between-parcc-and-a-hard-place/Torn. Emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually torn. At present, this is my frame of mind. The conscience wrestling is exhausting and draining me at every moment. It does not stop. An endless loop of guilt, pain, an
by mike simpson / 10h 
Schools Matter: Alliance corporate charters, teacher organizing, and moral imperatives: Alliance corporate charters, teacher organizing, and moral imperativesFirst published on solidaridad on March 19, 2015"The shady nature of Alliance's real estate dealings, their dismal SAT scores and CSU remediation rates, and their refusal to educate every child are all compelling… [a]llowing these privat
by mike simpson / 10h 
From Crenshaw to Hartsville: Race, Poverty, and Education Reform | the becoming radical:FROM CRENSHAW TO HARTSVILLE: RACE, POVERTY, AND EDUCATION REFORMIn order to avoid the existential hell known as I-85 where morning commuters creep along bug-like in a daily Kafkan nightmare, I take winding backroads through the Upstate of South Carolina to my university.Recently, I noticed a real estate sign ad
1 by mike simpson / 10h 
Bad Apples: One Company's Stranglehold on the American Education System | Common Dreams | Breaking News & Views for the Progressive Community: Bad Apples: One Company's Stranglehold on the American Education System'The story of Pearson’s rise is very much a story about America’s obsession with education reform over the past few decades.'"Pearson has aggressive lobbyists, top-notch marketi
by mike simpson / 10h 
China Needs More Creativity - Bloomberg Business: China Needs More CreativityAs it shifts from being the world's factory to a source of innovationChinaPearson ChinaSuite 1208, Tower D,Beijing Global Trade Center36 North Third Ring Road EastDongcheng District, Beijing, 100013ChinaTel +86 10 5735 5000Fax +86 10 5825 7950www.pearsoned.com.cnwww.edexcelchina.com www.nyif.com.cnSina Weibo:http://weibo.
by mike simpson / 10h 
Schools Wait to See What Becomes of No Child Left Behind Law - NYTimes.com: Schools Wait to See What Becomes of No Child Left Behind Law CLEVELAND — Ginn Academy, the first and only public high school in Ohio just for boys, was conceived to help at-risk students make it through school — experimenting with small classes, a tough discipline code and life coaches around the clock.Its graduation rate
by mike simpson / 11h hide  //  save
California’s teacher shortage is becoming a crisis | The Sacramento Bee The Sacramento Bee: California’s teacher shortage is becoming a crisis It’s hard to imagine that after nearly six years of constant pressure on school districts to balance budgets through teacher layoffs, we could be talking about a serious teacher shortage.But here we are. As a report by the California Commission on Teacher C
1 by mike simpson / 11h 
Rahm's Accomplishments - Home: RAHM'S ACCOMPLISHMENTSFour years of Rahm's AchievementsChicago likes a tough mayor that gets things done.  Let's take a look at what Mayor Rahm Emanuel has done in his short tenure.  From finance and crime, to education and jobs, Rahm has touched every aspect of our city in less than four years.Finance & EthicsOf Emanuel’s top 106 contributors, 60 of them receive
1 by mike simpson / 12h 

Education Department does reboot for computer services deal - NY Daily News: Department of Education does an about-face, cancels firm's $637M contract to provide computer services to public schools In a startling reversal, the city’s Department of Education has canceled a $637 million contract it approved only a month ago for a private firm to provide computer services to all public schools, the D
2 by mike simpson / 22h hide  //  save
Special Nite Cap CORPORATE ED REFORMWhat is the Young Teachers Collective? | Young Teachers CollectiveWhat is the Young Teachers Collective? | Young Teachers Collective: What is the Young Teachers Collective?MARCH 19, 2015 / STEPHRRIVERAAs future and young teachers, we are constantly advised not to go into teaching. We are painted as apathetic and unaware of “what we’re getting ourselves into.” Th
2 by mike simpson / 1d 


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PARCC’s Lately-Published “Test Fairness and Security” Statement | deutsch29

PARCC’s Lately-Published “Test Fairness and Security” Statement | deutsch29:



PARCC’s Lately-Published “Test Fairness and Security” Statement



Under the heading, “Latest News,” the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) has posted a message entitled, Test Fairness and Security. Here is the document:



 PARCC monitoring
Here is the text:
Test Fairness and Security 
The PARCC states are committed to secure testing because we believe fair tests are essential to better preparing the next generation for success. The states contract with a test vendor to search public social media and websites for images or words from live tests, which are copyright infringements and jeopardize the fairness of the test for all students. 
 
Sharing images of test items via Twitter, Instagram, or other public social media sites – or posting basic information about test items – is today’s equivalent of photocopying a test and passing it out on the schoolhouse steps.  Cell phones are not allowed in the testing session and test administrators are instructed to tell all students before the test that sharing any test question online is prohibited. 
 
The PARCC states’ policy follows the best practices outlined by the Council of Chief State School Officers, which recommends that there should be “procedures to monitor the internet and social websites before, during and after test administration for any evidence the items and/or answers have been shared” online.  In order to maintain test security, each PARCC state contracted with its test vendor, Pearson, to search for any live PARCC test questions that are shared through public social media sites. This is standard practice for large-scale tests including ACT and SAT. 
PARCC now openly admits its “contracting with a test vendor to search public social PARCC’s Lately-Published “Test Fairness and Security” Statement | deutsch29:

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Until Pearson is investigated by the DOJ and the NSA, all “no laws broken” statements are hype | Reclaim Reform

Until Pearson is investigated by the DOJ and the NSA, all “no laws broken” statements are hype | Reclaim Reform:



Until Pearson is investigated by the DOJ and the NSA, all “no laws broken” statements are hype

Posted on March 20, 2015



by 
Until a full investigation by the Department of Justice is completed, any “no law was broken” statements are political hype or mere conjecture. A foreign company collecting information (lucrative data mining) and reporting social media use by American children without the knowledge or consent of the parent or child seems like a National Security Agency (NSA) investigation might also be called for.
Please email the US Department of Justice and demand that they investigate Pearson for spying on our children – here is the 56,000 strong Badass Teachers Association (BATs) statement demanding that investigation. Or use the MoveOn.org demand for a DOJ investigation.
You can email them at AskDOJ@usdoj.gov
You can tweet them at @TheJusticeDept ‪#‎Pearsoniswatching‬
Parents can opt-out, refuse mandated high stakes testing for their children. Show that parents need not tolerate this abuse.
Also, children have human rights which are protected as Civil Rights in America. File a valid Civil Rights Complaint for your child for any intimidation or unfair treatments suffered by your child at school. One complaint will be responded to; a hundred complaints create a major problem which requires resolution. Now, is the time for parents to defend their children from any further institutionalized abuses. United Opt Out Until Pearson is investigated by the DOJ and the NSA, all “no laws broken” statements are hype | Reclaim Reform:

Parents Can Opt Out - United Opt Out National

Click Here to go to United Opt Out National: 


Click Here to go to the Website- United Opt Out Team
Home
Click Here to go to the Website FairTest
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Arrogant Columnists Who Love High-Stakes Tests

Arrogant Columnists Who Love High-Stakes Tests:



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Arrogant Columnists Who Love High-Stakes Tests

 BY  1 COMMENT
I probably would have ignored a recent smug opinion piece by Beth Kassab in theOrlando Sentinel, who scoffs at parents who choose opting their children out of the tests. But another snotty write-up in a similar vein by Mike Thomas, from Jeb Bush’s Foundation of Excellence, followed quickly on its heels. I’ll start with Thomas.
Thomas likens test-taking to having a colonoscopy or his teeth cleaned and a bunch of other unpleasant but necessary tasks. He tries to teach the rest of us that he would like to opt out of this stuff, but these procedures are good for keeping him healthy. So, in his mind, the tests facing children in Florida are good for them. He seems to believe parents fighting the tests are not doing right by their children.
I get what he’s saying. The trouble is he doesn’t go far enough in his comparison. Let’s put it this way. How would he like to have 100 colonoscopies per year, and in-between those procedures, be prepping every day for the tests! Forget eating at a favorite restaurant. There won’t be any dinners to njoy with the family either. Prep. Prep. Prep. And will he get real doctors to perform the procedures? Nah. The colonoscopies will be designed by a variety of people who have no medical licenses—maybe David Coleman, Arne Duncan, Bill Gates, et cetera.
I am no longer teaching, but I taught in special education. I am not against testing. Far from it. I always welcomed student assessment. I have administered a variety of tests—including the standardized kind where I assisted students with accommodations. I Arrogant Columnists Who Love High-Stakes Tests:
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The #PinkGlitterStorm Challenge on Vimeo #Literacy #EdTech #Education

The #PinkGlitterStorm Challenge on Vimeo:



The #PinkGlitterStorm Challenge on Vimeo







 This is the launch video for the #pinkglitterstorm challenge! Ms. Hamilton invites you to spread the word about #Literacy #EdTech and #Education. Check out more information about her classroom fundraising project at gofundme.com/Ms-Hamilton-Cares.

The #PinkGlitterStorm Challenge on Vimeo:



My students are in need of a technology upgrade in the form of 30 tablets. This will allow me to fully utilize a te... http://bit.ly/1OfGgBr



My students are in need of a technology upgrade in the form of 30 tablets. This will allow me to fully utilize a technology based literacy intervention program and integrate technology into general lessons. Additionally, the tablets would require a secure docking station. The total cost for this is $6,650.00. 



Though short of targets in many areas of state performance assessments, my students are an ambitious lot that make measurable gains each year. Still, these gains are not enough. They need to make large gains swiftly as their time in the public school education system is drawing to a close.



My classes range from the new to high school (freshmen) to those about to enter the workforce (seniors). A lot of my students lack technology resources in their homes. This places them at a disadvantage when it comes to gaining the skills needed to be successful in higher education and the workplace. Additionally, many of my students are below reading targets for their ages and grade levels.



This donation would help provide individualized instruction that directly impacts students who have previously lacked strategic instruction. Students would gain literacy skills that will serve them for a lifetime. This investment in their education will mean the difference between students not being able to fill out a simple job applications and obtaining employment that paves the way for a stable future.

The #PinkGlitterStorm Challenge on Vimeo:
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