Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 3/27/15

Special Nite Cap - Catch Up on Today's Post 3/27/15

Special Nite Cap 

CORPORATE ED REFORM

Are Okla GOP Politicians Still For a Strong Supt?

Are Okla GOP Politicians Still For a Strong Supt?: ARE OKLA GOP POLITICIANS STILL FOR A STRONG SUPT?Joy Hofmeister, Oklahoma Superintendent of Public InstructionPhoto by Brett Dickerson There are Republican politicians in Oklahoma. And then, there is that Republican politician. You know – that Joy Hofmeister.She’s the Republican who primaried and beat Janet Barresi, incumbent Republican sweetheart

1 by mike simpson / 1h 

District makes testing opt-out information more prominent | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

District makes testing opt-out information more prominent | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: District makes testing opt-out information more prominentParents Can Opt Out - United Opt Out NationalClick Here to go to United Opt Out National:  School officials have responded to demands that they be more explicit in letting parents know that they have a right to opt out their children from taking

1 by mike simpson / 2h 

Common Core Parental Refusal Act! - Sign the Petition

Sign the Petition:  Common Core Parental Refusal Act!Dear Governor Cuomo:I am very concerned about the over-utilization of Common Core-based standardized tests on children in grades 3-8 and urge you to support the rights of parents to have their children refuse these high stakes tests.Teachers are spending too much class time teaching to these flawed tests that only seem to measure how well studen

1 by mike simpson / 2h 

I DARE YOU TO TAKE A MANDATED READING TEST FOR A NINE YEAR-OLD. | Reclaim Reform

I DARE YOU TO TAKE A MANDATED READING TEST FOR A NINE YEAR-OLD. | Reclaim Reform: I DARE YOU TO TAKE A MANDATED READING TEST FOR A NINE YEAR-OLD.Posted on March 27, 2015by Ken Previti“We took tests when we were kids, and…”– commonly said by legislators and people who repeat TV talk show blatherSTOP!!!I DARE YOU TO TAKE A MANDATED READING TEST FOR A NINE YEAR-OLD.Are you sick and tired of listening

2 by mike simpson / 3h 

This school paid teachers $125,000 a year — and test scores went up - Vox

This school paid teachers $125,000 a year — and test scores went up - Vox: This school paid teachers $125,000 a year — and test scores went upIt's common to hear that teachers should be paid better — more like doctors and lawyers. In 2009, the Equity Project, a charter school in New York decided to try it: they would pay all their teachers $125,000 per year with the possibility of an additional bo

1 by mike simpson / 3h 

Pearson Priority 1 Alert: American teenagers are tweeting the questions from nationwide standardized tests - Quartz

American teenagers are tweeting the questions from nationwide standardized tests - Quartz: American teenagers are tweeting the questions from nationwide standardized testsRevelations this week that American high school students were caught tweeting about questions on nationwide standardized tests have fueled fundamental concerns about the latest approach to measuring student achievement nationwide

1 by mike simpson / 3h 

Former U.S. Education official backs test refusals - Press-Republican

Former U.S. Education official backs test refusals - Press-Republican: Local News: Former U.S. Education official backs test refusalsPLATTSBURGH — When Diane Ravitch was a child, her teacher could determine her reading level by administering a 45-minute assessment. "Sometimes, she didn't even need a test because she saw my written work," the former U.S. assistant secretary of education t

1 by mike simpson / 3h 

#optout needs school leaders not politicians. | BustED Pencils

#optout needs school leaders not politicians. | BustED Pencils: #optout needs school leaders not politicians.When I first got involved in the opt out movement I regularly tried to engage  school leaders (principals, superintendents, assessment coordinators) in a positive discussion about the opt out motive.  Things didn’t always go very positively.  Check out an older post that seems incredibly re

1 by mike simpson / 4h 

My Next Book Project: The Psychology of Fixing the Economy through Better Public Policy | the becoming radical

My Next Book Project: The Psychology of Fixing the Economy through Better Public Policy | the becoming radical:MY NEXT BOOK PROJECT: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FIXING THE ECONOMY THROUGH BETTER PUBLIC POLICYAs many have highlighted, the media turns to almost anyone except educators when dealing with education topics such as evaluating and paying teachers (ask an economist), teaching reading (ask a psycholo

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

No Walk in the PARCC...Badass Teachers Association

Badass Teachers Association: No Walk in the PARCC......By:  Toney JacksonHere is the video of the poem  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEgg3A2NPhUHere is a link to Toney's website   http://www.toneyjackson.com/#!No-Walk-In-The-PARCC/c1yf2/550b798f0cf292acc4c4a998It's no mysteryYou can learn more on a park bench or a bench pressThan you can doing test prep for the PARCC testSeriously…You can go ou

1 by mike simpson / 9h 

Garcia to Emanuel in Chicago debate: 'You are not the king' ‪#‎Chuy2015‬ ‪#‎imwithchuy‬

Garcia to Emanuel in Chicago debate: 'You are not the king' - Houston Chronicle: Garcia to Emanuel in Chicago debate: 'You are not the king' CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's challenger blasted the former White House chief of staff Thursday, accusing him of neglecting the city's neighborhoods and saying he's facing an unprecedented runoff election because voters are hungry for a leader w

1 by mike simpson / 10h 

Chuy Garcia Wakes Up and Hits Rahm Hard in Second Debate ‪#‎Chuy2015‬ ‪#‎imwithchuy‬

Chuy Garcia Wakes Up and Hits Rahm Hard in Second Debate | Chicago magazine | Felsenthal Files March 2015: Chuy Garcia Wakes Up and Hits Rahm Hard in Second DebateAfter a sleepy first round, the mayoral challenger came alive and challenged Rahm—a lot—during last night’s match.Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chuy Garcia met for their second debate last night and, my take, watching the hour-long matchup clos

1 by mike simpson / 10h 

Critiquing How Cuomo Rates Teachers - NYTimes.com

Critiquing How Cuomo Rates Teachers - NYTimes.com: Critiquing How Cuomo Rates TeachersTo the Editor:Re “Clash Over Cuomo’s Plan for Grading Teachers” (front page, March 23), about the dispute over Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s proposal to use state testing for 50 percent of public school teachers’ evaluation:The “growth model” used to evaluate teachers is based on an arcane formula that tries to measure

1 by mike simpson / 11h 

Despite state mediator, LAUSD and teachers still $774 million and an evaluation system apart

Despite state mediator, LAUSD and teachers still $774 million and an evaluation system apart: Despite state mediator, LAUSD and teachers still $774 million and an evaluation system apartA referee from California’s top labor authority proved little help Thursday in the fray between Los Angeles’ school district and teachers union.The two sides remain divided by more than $774 million per year and at

2 by mike simpson / 11h 

Mom: Why my 9-year-old gets despondent about school - The Washington Post

Mom: Why my 9-year-old gets despondent about school - The Washington Post: Mom: Why my 9-year-old gets despondent about schoolSandy Stenoff is a public school advocate in central Florida who has opposed the standardized test-based education reforms imposed in the state for years. In this piece, she writes about the toll that standardized testing — including test prep and the narrowing of the curri

1 by mike simpson / 12h 

The Daily Targum :: Faculty members analyze PARCC standardized test

The Daily Targum :: Faculty members analyze PARCC standardized test: Faculty members analyze PARCC standardized testWhile it is no secret that many teachers, students and parents dislike student testing, University professors are now discussing the ramifications of the latest standardized test implemented in the Garden State.Following the New Jersey State Assembly’s unanimous March 26 vote to allo

1 by mike simpson / 12h 

4 things Mike Flanagan said about charter schools, at-risk authorizers | MLive.com

4 things Mike Flanagan said about charter schools, at-risk authorizers | MLive.com: 4 things Mike Flanagan said about charter schools, at-risk authorizersHOLLAND, MI - State Superintendent Mike Flanagan spoke with MLive Thursday, March 26, about the future of charter schools and his recent removal of seven authorizers from at-risk status.Flanagan announced last August he was placing 11 of the stat

1 by mike simpson / 12h 

Ohio charter-school-reform bill does not go far enough: editorial | cleveland.com

Ohio charter-school-reform bill does not go far enough: editorial | cleveland.com: Ohio charter-school-reform bill does not go far enoughThis is the year when key officials -- from Gov. John Kasich and Ohio Democratic and Republican state lawmakers to opponents of charter schools and even some charter-school proponents -- had promised to reform the state's troubled charter-school system.But the re

1 by mike simpson / 13h 

A Growing Movement of Teachers of Conscience: More in Seattle Refuse to Administer the #SBA/#SBAC Tests – | Teachers' Letters of Professional Conscience

A Growing Movement of Teachers of Conscience: More in Seattle Refuse to Administer the #SBA/#SBAC Tests – | Teachers' Letters of Professional Conscience: A Growing Movement of Teachers of Conscience: More in Seattle Refuse to Administer the #SBA/#SBAC Tests -MARCH 27, 2015 ~ TEACHERS'LETTERSTOBILLGATESThere are many ways teachers are fighting back against the Common Core high stakes tests.  We del

1 by mike simpson / 13h 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and teacher evaluations: Standardized test scores are the wrong place to focus.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and teacher evaluations: Standardized test scores are the wrong place to focus.: Value SubtractedGov. Cuomo’s plan to tie teacher evaluations to test scores won’t help our public schools. New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s proposal for overhauling how teachers are evaluated, compensated, and protected from losing their jobs appears to be meeting stiff resistance from the state legis

1 by mike simpson / 13h hide  //  save

YESTERDAY

CUOMO WORLD! | DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing

CUOMO WORLD! | DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing: CUOMO WORLD! This is a perfect example of what we face in NYS:A recent NYT story about 2 simultaneous rallies in Albany: It favors the New York City’s charter school rally in held in a park just outside the Capitol, with video screens, a rock-concert atmosphere, an enthusiastic mix of thousands of students, a raft of state leaders, a pop star, dan

1 by mike simpson / 21h 

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 3/26/15

Special Nite Cap - Catch Up on Today's Post 3/26/15Special Nite Cap CORPORATE ED REFORMFACT CHECK: Myths in the political roar over Common Core - Yahoo NewsFACT CHECK: Myths in the political roar over Common Core - Yahoo News: FACT CHECK: Myths in the political roar over Common Core ATLANTA (AP) — In the political uproar over Common Core, various myths are peddled as fact.Related StoriesTed Cruz c

2 by mike simpson / 1d 

2015 National Conference – Chicago

The Countdown to Chicago Has Begun!

The Network For Public Education | 2015 National Conference – Chicago 

http://bit.ly/1FQFcQM

Are Okla GOP Politicians Still For a Strong Supt?

Are Okla GOP Politicians Still For a Strong Supt?:

ARE OKLA GOP POLITICIANS STILL FOR A STRONG SUPT?

Joy Hofmeister, Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction

Photo by Brett Dickerson

 There are Republican politicians in Oklahoma. And then, there is that Republican politician. You know – that Joy Hofmeister.

She’s the Republican who primaried and beat Janet Barresi, incumbent Republican sweetheart of the public school bashing bandwagon.

She then went on to take Barresi’s place on the state-wide education stage as the new and very popular Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Her presence stands to put pressure on Republican politicians here in a way that they didn’t expect way back in 2011 when they quickly passed sweeping changes that gave that position new powers, not only over the Department of Education, but the board itself.

And there is pressure.

According to some sources, all members of the board are up for either re-appointment or replacement before April 2 when appointments take effect.

The biggest question, which was raised by fellow blogger Rob Miller last night, is whether or not Governor Fallin will support this elected superintendent and appoint new board members who can acknowledge Hofmeister’s leadership.

Pressures mount

Yesterday the State Board of Education members, all appointed by Republican Governor Mary Fallin to support the last chief, finallycouldn’t hold their irritation in check any longer.

The Tulsa World’s account of the heated end of yesterday’s board meeting described it as a “tug-of-war” that “boiled over” between Hofmeister and several of the members of the board.

According to the report, three board members were especially upset when they thought that Hofmeister, who by law is the executive of the board, ran too quickly past the “New Business” part of the agenda and didn’t give them time to enter motions that they wanted discussed.

The report describes two of the three speaking in “raised voices” to Are Okla GOP Politicians Still For a Strong Supt?:

District makes testing opt-out information more prominent | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

District makes testing opt-out information more prominent | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:

District makes testing opt-out information more prominent

Parents Can Opt Out - United Opt Out National

Click Here to go to United Opt Out National: 

 School officials have responded to demands that they be more explicit in letting parents know that they have a right to opt out their children from taking standardized tests.

The steps are small, yet opt-out activists say that they are significant.

For instance, when parents go to the District's website and click on a prominent box that says "PSSA and Keystone Parent Information," they are taken to a page on which it says in two places that they can find information on opting out at the next link.

In addition, said Christopher Shaffer, principals and test coordinators in 174 District schools and five charters this year were given "explicit instructions on documents that schools are required to send home to parents."  

Shaffer is the deputy chief for curriculum, instruction and assessment. He said the training "augmented our section on opt-out procedures so building test coordinators are familiar with that process and expectations."

The state Department of Education does not allow the District to disseminate any information on opting out other than a flyer with frequently asked questions that has been approved by the state, Shaffer said. So the web page that links to the state-approved flyer explains exactly where they can find opt-out information in the flyer. And, unlike the flyer itself, it uses the terminology "opt out."

The flyer has also been translated into eight languages other than English, and some schools have sent paper copies home with students.

Asked whether there has been more emphasis this year on letting parents know about opting out, Shaffer said, "Yes, but under the umbrella of more parent communication to our families, inclusive of everything that has to do with testing. ... It's not just opt-out, but the overall piece here is we're striving to be better communicators."

In various parent meetings, District officials heard that it wasn't easy to find information on testing, "and we took that to heart. ... Some of the feedback was accurate."

The state-approved flyer explains that parents have the right to review the test in advance (if they sign a confidentiality agreement) and if they find it "in conflict with their religious belief," can request in writing that their child be "excused."

Under Pennsylvania law, religious objection is the only official reason that parents can give for opting out. 

Kelley Collings is a member of the Caucus of Working Educators and a teacher at Feltonville School of Arts & Sciences. She and several colleagues made a concerted effort to tell parents at the school that they could opt out their children from testing, and they say that nearly 20 percent will do so when the tests are administered next month.

The teachers active in the movement have emphasized that they believe the tests are unfair, especially to special education students and English language learners, who are tested on their grade level even though by definition they are most likely behind. 

As a result, the teachers were summoned to investigatory conferences with the principal, but District spokesman Fernando Gallard said it would be wrong to consider this a District makes testing opt-out information more prominent | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:

Common Core Parental Refusal Act! - Sign the Petition

Sign the Petition:

 Common Core Parental Refusal Act!

Dear Governor Cuomo:

I am very concerned about the over-utilization of Common Core-based standardized tests on children in grades 3-8 and urge you to support the rights of parents to have their children refuse these high stakes tests.

Teachers are spending too much class time teaching to these flawed tests that only seem to measure how well students can take tests, that in many cases they are not developmentally ready for.  In essence testing what they don’t know, rather than what they do know.

Please support legislation, the “Common Core Parental Refusal Act” (A.6025/S.4161), to require school districts notify parents of their right to refuse to have their children participate in the Common Core standardized tests.  The bill provides a uniform notification for schools to send parents information that they have the right without penalty to refuse to allow their children to take the Common Core tests along with a uniform response form that parents can complete and return to the schools.  The legislation protects school districts and individual schools from having state aid withheld or any other punitive measures by the state. The bill protects teachers from being penalized in their evaluations due to a lack of student participation or performance on the exams.

I ask you to respect the rights of parents to make important decisions on the educational future of their children by supporting the Common Core Parental Refusal Act!

Sincerely,

Sign the Petition: