Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 2/17/16

CORPORATE ED REFORM

Ways to Object to Disclosure of Student Data - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education)

Ways to Object to Disclosure of Student Data - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education): Superintendent Torlakson Voices Strong Support for Protecting Student Privacy and Explains Ways to Object to Disclosure of Student DataSACRAMENTO— State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson reiterated his strong commitment to student privacy today, calling it a top priority of his administration. "W

by mike simpson / 19min 

What's a "walk-in" and why were they happening at L.A. schools today? - LA Times

What's a "walk-in" and why were they happening at L.A. schools today? - LA Times: What's a "walk-in" and why were they happening at L.A. schools today?See Video: http://www.latimes.com/local/education/lausd/la-me-walk-in-lausd-schools-video-20160217-premiumvideo.html"Lets’s go, dolphins, let’s go!” chanted dozens of students, parents and teachers as they walked into 20th S

1 by mike simpson / 43min 

Black Parallel School Board | ABC10.com

Black Parallel School Board - February 16, 2016 | ABC10.com: Black Parallel School BoardBlack Parallel School Members Darryl White and LaShanya Breazell discussed with Sac&Co Host Mellisa Paul about the California Law currently in place regarding IQ tests and African American kids in the public school system and whether or not these laws are necessary.  Darryl went more in depth and addressed 

1 by mike simpson / 1h 

Join us in Olympia this Friday, February 19th to stop the passage of charter school House Bill 2367 | Seattle Education

Join us in Olympia this Friday, February 19th to stop the passage of charter school House Bill 2367 | Seattle Education: Join us in Olympia this Friday, February 19th to stop the passage of charter school House Bill 2367 From:WASHINGTON VOTERS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATIONJOIN US IN OLYMPIA, THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH, TO STOP THE PASSAGE OF HOUSE BILL 2367—POSSIBLY THE MOST HARMFUL EDUCATION BILL OF THE L

1 by mike simpson / 1h 

School Discipline: Equity at Issue – Cloaking Inequity

School Discipline: Equity at Issue – Cloaking Inequity: School Discipline: Equity at IssueExtensive peer-reviewed research has demonstrated that students with frequent suspensions are more likely to become involved in gangs, drop out of school and become part of the juvenile justice system.Years of suspicions about inequity in school discipline have also been investigated by a spate of reports. On

1 by mike simpson / 3h 

Regulating Education for Profit - WSJ

Regulating Education for Profit - WSJ: Regulating Education for ProfitTony Miller helped trash for-profit colleges. Now he hopes to cash in.The University of Phoenix Chicago campus on July 30, 2015 in Schaumburg, Illinois. PHOTO: SCOTT OLSON/GETTY IMAGESPresident Obama’s Department of Education has been waging a seven-year war against for-profit colleges. So it’s a lesson in the self-interested wa

1 by mike simpson / 3h 

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Hillary's here, but where's the mayor?

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Hillary's here, but where's the mayor?: Hillary's here, but where's the mayor?#‎walkintoCPS‬ rally at Goethe Elementary this morningHillary Clinton picked a fine day to visit Chicago. The sun is out. Snow is melting, uncovering fresh mounds of dog poo on every sidewalk and back alleyway. New potholes are bursting open like spring azaleas. The town is jumping.Thousand

1 by mike simpson / 3h 

Food Research & Action Center Scorecard Ranks States on School Breakfast Participation: « Food Research & Action Center

Food Research & Action Center Scorecard Ranks States on School Breakfast Participation: « Food Research & Action Center: Food Research & Action Center Scorecard Ranks States on School Breakfast Participation:West Virginia Tops the List; Utah at the Bottom- Companion Report Shows Many Large School Districts Make the Grade, Most Have Work to Do -WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2016 — The Food Resea

1 by mike simpson / 3h 

Schools Matter: Guest Post: To Good to Be True? + Susan Ohanian: See Bill. See Money. See News.

Schools Matter: Guest Post: To Good to Be True?: Guest Post: To Good to Be True? By Alison McDowellAlison is a parent of a public school student and a member of the Alliance for Philadelphia Public SchoolsFebruary 17, 2016On February 16, 2016, Diane Ravitch's blog promoted a vision statement for the future of Texas public education that had been developed by a group of 35 Texas superintendents bet

by mike simpson / 5h 

Judge: State broke the law when it fired Newark attendance counselors |

Judge: State broke the law when it fired Newark attendance counselors |: Judge: State broke the law when it fired Newark attendance counselorsAnderson fired attendance counselorsIn 2013, a time when the state-operated Newark public schools suffered from one of the highest truancy rates in the state–if not the nation–its state-appointed superintendent fired all of its attendance officers. Now, thre

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

Education Reform in Common Core Land | Johnathan Chase | LinkedIn

Education Reform in Common Core Land | Johnathan Chase | LinkedIn: Education Reform in Common Core LandAmericans have been “sold” the Common Core State Standards by leaders who have carefully crafted their words and shaped the narrative of the education reform movement. As Humpty Dumpty declared…‘When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to m

by mike simpson / 6h 

The Worst Thing About the Brutal 'No Excuses' Success Academy Video

The Worst Thing About the Brutal 'No Excuses' Success Academy Video: The Worst Thing About the Brutal 'No Excuses' Success Academy VideoAs Vox's Libby Nelson writes, the "undeniably upsetting" video of a Success Academy charter school teacher berating first graders is "the latest exhibit in a long-running debate about Success Academy and similar 'no excuses' charter schools." N

by mike simpson / 6h 

Housing squeeze leaves low-income students on the streets :: SI&A Cabinet Report

Housing squeeze leaves low-income students on the streets :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet:Housing squeeze leaves low-income students on the streets(Wash.) The number of homeless youth in Washington is on the upswing and correlates with an increase in reports of child abuse or neglect in the state, according to recent data.More than 35,000 st

2 by mike simpson / 7h 

Parents, teachers and children rally for public education at schools across the nation - The Washington Post

Parents, teachers and children rally for public education at schools across the nation - The Washington Post: Parents, teachers and children rally for public education at schools across the nationParents, teachers, children and community members rallied in support of public education at schools across the country Wednesday morning, many of them calling for more funding and less testing.Thousands o

2 by mike simpson / 7h 

Schools on Trial And What Does Progress Mean? | The Jose Vilson

Schools on Trial And What Does Progress Mean? | The Jose Vilson: Schools on Trial And What Does Progress Mean?I don’t have rules posted in my classroom.I’ve been issuing mandates asking students to respect each other, respect themselves, and respect the classroom and environment around them. As steward for the environment around me, I haven’t had many challenges to these rules from the students th

1 by mike simpson / 7h 

Seattle Schools Community Forum: "This Bill is Better Than no Bill"

Seattle Schools Community Forum: "This Bill is Better Than no Bill": "This Bill is Better Than no Bill" The Quarterly Journal of Economics put out a report in October 2015 - The Effects of School Spending on Educational and Economic Outcomes: Evidence from School Finance Reforms.  They linked school spending and school finance reforms in public school spending.  (This follows a

1 by mike simpson / 7h 

Supreme Court wipes out SRC's powers to waive provisions of Pa. school code

Supreme Court wipes out SRC's powers to waive provisions of Pa. school code: Supreme Court wipes out SRC's powers to waive provisions of Pa. school codeThe ruling has huge implications for both charter schools and the union contract. In a decision that could have massive repercussions for Philadelphia schools, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Tuesday declared unconstitutional the provision in sta

2 by mike simpson / 7h 

APNewsBreak: Indiana Official Had Say in Independent Report - ABC News

APNewsBreak: Indiana Official Had Say in Independent Report - ABC News: APNewsBreak: Indiana Official Had Say in Independent Report A report summarizing what was billed as an independent investigation into Indiana's new, unpopular standardized student exam includes edits and suggested changes by a state administrator hired by Gov. Mike Pence's State Board of Education who altered language that ref

3 by mike simpson / 7h 

With A Brooklyn Accent: The "Best and the Brightest" Who Have Brought us "School Reform"

With A Brooklyn Accent: The "Best and the Brightest" Who Have Brought us "School Reform": The "Best and the Brightest" Who Have Brought us "School Reform" In the 1960's journalist David Halberstam wrote a devastating book, entitled "The Best and the Brightest," about the intellectuals and policy makers who developed the strategic rationale for the

2 by mike simpson / 7h 

Reflecting on School Reforms: Scaling Up versus Short, Happy Life or Hanging in | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Reflecting on School Reforms: Scaling Up versus Short, Happy Life or Hanging in | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Reflecting on School Reforms: Scaling Up versus Short, Happy Life or Hanging in For decades, under the influence of efficiency-minded policymakers the “wisdom” of reform has been as follows:To solve serious school problems federal, state, and district policymakers

2 by mike simpson / 7h 

Study shows Grit not all it’s cracked up to be – Missouri Education Watchdog

Study shows Grit not all it’s cracked up to be – Missouri Education Watchdog: Study shows Grit not all it’s cracked up to beThese videos are hysterical. It is amusing to watch an animal who can’t help himself chase the shiny object.  It is less amusing when it is human beings who are chasing something shiny that is not real.In 2013, to much fanfare, the US The U.S Department of Education’s Office

by mike simpson / 7h 

The NEA’s strange fight against institutional racism. | Fred Klonsky

The NEA’s strange fight against institutional racism. | Fred Klonsky: The NEA’s strange fight against institutional racism.When the NEA talks of teaching excellence, do they mean white?Pictured above are the winners of the NEA Foundation awards for teaching excellence.I’m sure they are all good teachers. But it looks like the nominees for this year’s Oscars.At last year’s NEA Representative Assemb

by mike simpson / 8h 

New York City Has Created a Model Pre-K Program—Affordable, Accessible, High Quality | janresseger

New York City Has Created a Model Pre-K Program—Affordable, Accessible, High Quality | janresseger: New York City Has Created a Model Pre-K Program—Affordable, Accessible, High QualityA new report from Padres & Jovenes Unidos in Denver, Colorado names the classic problems that block families’ ability to enroll their children in preschool.  First there are not enough high-quality pre-K programs

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

It’s a CONFLICT OF INTEREST to serve on the State Board of Education while collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars a year via the State Department of Education - Wait What?

It’s a CONFLICT OF INTEREST to serve on the State Board of Education while collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars a year via the State Department of Education - Wait What?: It’s a CONFLICT OF INTEREST to serve on the State Board of Education while collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars a year via the State Department of Education The only thing more incredible than Governor Dannel Malloy

2 by mike simpson / 8h 

New York Schools Wonder: How White Is Too White? - The New York Times

New York Schools Wonder: How White Is Too White? - The New York Times: New York Schools Wonder: How White Is Too White?How white is too white? At the Academy of Arts and Letters, a small K-8 school in Brooklyn founded in 2006 to educate a community of “diverse individuals,” that question is being put to the test.The school — along with six others in New York City — is part of a newEducation Depart

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

LAUSD needs to reverse its neglect of black students - LA Times

LAUSD needs to reverse its neglect of black students - LA Times: LAUSD needs to reverse its neglect of black studentsLAUSD superintendent Michelle King in the LAUSD board room, in Los Angeles on January 12. (Los Angeles Times) In the speculation about whether LAUSD superintendent Michelle King – a product of the district and its first black female chief executive -- will be a gentle consensus buil

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

Seattle Schools Community Forum: If I had a million dollars

Seattle Schools Community Forum: If I had a million dollars: If I had a million dollars The recent $1.5 Billion prize in the PowerBall lottery made a lot of news. A lot of people who don't normally buy lottery tickets bought some for that drawing. I didn't because, as my brother succinctly told me, buying a ticket does not significantly improve your odds of winning. Needless to say, I didn't win t

by mike simpson / 8h 

School budgets long recovered, not teacher-librarians :: SI&A Cabinet Report

School budgets long recovered, not teacher-librarians :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: School budgets long recovered, not teacher-librarians (Calif.) The good news is that the number of certificated librarians in California schools has increased slightly the past three years.The bad news, however, is that the state’s ratio of one librarian f

2 by mike simpson / 8h 

I’m a New York City school administrator. Here’s how segregation lives on. - Vox

I’m a New York City school administrator. Here’s how segregation lives on. - Vox: I’m a New York City school administrator. Here’s how segregation lives onThe doors opened to our homemade banners and smiling faces. It was the first day of school ever for the Urban Assembly Unison Middle School in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. It was my first day ever as a leader in the school I co-founded. I was 27 year

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

Hillary Clinton's plan to undo the school-to-prison pipeline, explained - Vox

Hillary Clinton's plan to undo the school-to-prison pipeline, explained - Vox: Hillary Clinton's plan to undo the school-to-prison pipeline, explainedAt a speech in Harlem on Tuesday, Hillary Clinton will call for a $2 billion plan to help end punitive school policies that can push black children from schools to jails and prisons.The new $2 billion plan, which goes after the so-called "school

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

Michigan: The Poster Child for How Not to do Charter Schools

Michigan: The Poster Child for How Not to do Charter Schools: Michigan: The Poster Child for How Not to do Charter Schools Behind the Detroit schools crisis lies a troubling charter school sector.As Detroit Public Schools' teacher sick-outs and mounting debt capture the attention of press around the world, it might be easy to conclude money alone will solve the Motor City's educational woes. The t

3 by mike simpson / 9h 

Charter schools bristle at Wolf proposal to give unspent cash to districts | TribLIVE

Charter schools bristle at Wolf proposal to give unspent cash to districts | TribLIVE:Charter schools bristle at Wolf proposal to give unspent cash to districts When City Charter High School invited state police to do a safety inspection of the building Downtown, the agency recommended adding bullet-proof glass at the entrance for extra security.The school followed that advice, CEO and principal R

2 by mike simpson / 9h 

Teachers Union Organizes ‘Walk-In’ Protests Over CPS Budget Cuts « CBS Chicago

Teachers Union Organizes ‘Walk-In’ Protests Over CPS Budget Cuts « CBS Chicago: Teachers Union Organizes ‘Walk-In’ Protests Over CPS Budget CutsCHICAGO (CBS) — Students, parents, and teachers at nearly 200 schools across Chicago were staging a series of “walk-in” demonstrations, to protest budget cuts by the Chicago Public Schools.The Chicago Teachers Union said the protests are part of a national

2 by mike simpson / 9h 

Frank Cagle: Beware the money behind vouchers

Frank Cagle: Beware the money behind vouchers: Frank Cagle: Beware the money behind vouchers The school voucher bill isn't dead, but it is lying in a coma on the clerk's desk, unlikely to rise for the rest of this session. The pros and cons of public school money being given to private schools aside, the fate of the bill is a hopeful sign for our state House of Representatives.The out-of-state spe

by mike simpson / 9h 

10 million California student records about to be released to attorneys - San Jose Mercury News

10 million California student records about to be released to attorneys - San Jose Mercury News: 10 million California student records about to be released to attorneysCalifornia public-school records on about 10 million students -- including their Social Security numbers -- will soon be handed over to attorneys for a parent group suing the state, with both parties blaming the other for the impend

1 by mike simpson / 9h 

YESTERDAY

Are Standardized Tests the New Hunger Games? – Welcome to the Testing Games

Are Standardized Tests the New Hunger Games? – Welcome to the Testing Games: Are Standardized Tests the New Hunger Games?  Are our children being used in a new, horrible form of the Hunger Games? Are the odds ever in their favor?Are you willing to be a tribute for your child? Listen in to learn how …. #MockingjayAre Standardized Tests the New Hunger Games? – Welcome to the Testing Games:

2 by mike simpson / 19h 

Reunión Comunitaria, 25 de febrero de 2016- Optar-Fuera las Pruebas del sector Urbano - UNITED OPT OUT: The Movement to End Corporate Education Reform

Reunión Comunitaria, 25 de febrero de 2016- Optar-Fuera las Pruebas del sector Urbano - UNITED OPT OUT: The Movement to End Corporate Education Reform: Reunión Comunitaria, 25 de febrero de 2016- Optar-Fuera las Pruebas del sector UrbanoLa división de clase/color en nuestras escuelas públicas urbanas es sostenida mediante una maquinaria de desigualdad y racismo que al fin le proporciona a las corp

1 by mike simpson / 19h 

Philadelphia Community Town Hall, February 25, 2106– Opting Out in the Urban Core - UNITED OPT OUT: The Movement to End Corporate Education Reform

Philadelphia Community Town Hall, February 25, 2106– Opting Out in the Urban Core - UNITED OPT OUT: The Movement to End Corporate Education Reform: Philadelphia Community Town Hall, February 25, 2106– Opting Out in the Urban CoreThe class/color divide in our urban public schools is propped up by an inequitable and racist high-stakes testing machine that ultimately provides for corporate profiteeri

2 by mike simpson / 19h 

NEA BAT Caucus – BATS

NEA BAT Caucus – BATS: NEA BAT Caucus OfficersBy-LawsCaucus MinutesMaster List of NBIs 2015Sign up for NEA BAT CaucusComplete the on line survey form above, send in dues via paypal button on this site with NEA BAT Caucus and full name in the note section.Optional: Downloadable Form if you prefer to mail inThe Badass Teachers Association, IncPO Box 1390 Bellmore NY 11710NEA BAT Caucus – BATS:

1 by mike simpson / 20h 

Feature: With ‘walk-ins,’ national teachers union spotlights LA charter fight | 89.3 KPCC

Feature: With ‘walk-ins,’ national teachers union spotlights LA charter fight | 89.3 KPCC: With ‘walk-ins,’ national teachers union spotlights LA charter fightWe hope you can join us on February 17! Walk-In Resources:Check out the Resources page for walk-in resources you can use!Teachers union sympathizers will rally at public school sites in more than two-dozen cities across the nation Wednesday

1 by mike simpson / 21h 

Elk Grove Mayor Gary Davis’(director for CCSA) plan to open a charter school may be postponed.

Elk Grove Citizen : News: Proposed charter school’s status being decidedCharter group to review district’s concernsElk Grove Mayor Gary DavisIn addition to being Elk Grove’s mayor, he is the director for the California Charter School Association.Elk Grove Mayor Gary Davis’ original plan to open a charter school in Elk Grove this late summer may be postponed.He is collaborating with Tri-Valley Lear

7 by mike simpson / 22h 

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 2/16/16

CORPORATE ED REFORMFebruary 2016 Meeting Agenda - Resources (CA Dept of Education)February 2016 Meeting Agenda - Resources (CA Dept of Education): AMERICAN INDIAN EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEEMEETING AGENDAFriday, February 26, 201610 a.m.–5 p.m.California Department of Education1430 N Street, Room 1101Sacramento, CA 95814Soboba Tribal Administration Building23906 Soboba Road, Grants OfficeSan Jaci

2 by mike simpson / 1d 

Ways to Object to Disclosure of Student Data - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education)

Ways to Object to Disclosure of Student Data - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education):

Superintendent Torlakson Voices Strong Support for Protecting Student Privacy and Explains Ways to Object to Disclosure of Student Data

SACRAMENTO— State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson reiterated his strong commitment to student privacy today, calling it a top priority of his administration. "We have fought vigorously to protect students' privacy rights and will continue that fight," he said.

As part of that commitment and to comply with a court order, Torlakson reminded parents, guardians, and some former students over 18 that they can object to the release of personally identifiable information to plaintiffs in a court case, Morgan Hill Concerned Parents Association vs. California Department of Education.

Plaintiffs in the case have sought numerous documents and data stored in databases maintained by the California Department of Education (CDE). U.S. Federal Judge Kimberly Mueller has issued an order allowing parents, guardians, and former students over the age of 18 to object, but has required any objection to be submitted to the court by April 1.

The court order can be found here: Notice of Disclosure of Student Records (PDF).

A person can object by printing out, completing, and mailing to the court the "Objection to Disclosure of Student Information and Records Case No. 2:11-CV-03471" form at the CDE's Web site at Objections to Disclosure of Student Records.

Alternatively, a parent, guardian, or former student can write a confidential letter to the judge, including the name of the student on whose behalf the letter is written, the author's name and relationship to the student, the student's date of birth, county, school district, and school, and, if desired, the basis of your objection.

Letters or Objection forms should be mailed to the Honorable Kimberly J. Mueller c/o Clerk of the Court, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, 501 I Street, Room 4-200, Sacramento, CA, 95814.

The court has said that it will not provide the student data to the plaintiffs unless it determines that plaintiffs have the ability to secure it. In addition, if the court does decide the student data should be produced by the CDE and turned over to the plaintiffs, it will only be available to the parties, their consultants, and the courts.

During the course of the lawsuit, the CDE has consistently fought requests by the plaintiffs to produce documents that contain the personally identifiable information of students and has produced documents with that information removed.

As just one example, last year CDE staff provided plaintiffs with all the information from a California Special Education Management Information System database (CASEMIS), which includes records of special education students and those being tested for special needs, but with personally identifiable information removed.

Despite that, however, plaintiffs continued to seek student information in this database with personally identifiable information.

The court order came as the result of a lawsuit filed by two organizations, the Morgan Hill Concerned Parents Association and the Concerned Parents Association, against the CDE in April 2012, alleging systemic non-compliance by local educational agencies with the Individuals with Disabilities Act. The CDE denies these allegations.

# # # #

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

Last Reviewed: Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Ways to Object to Disclosure of Student Data - Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education):

What's a "walk-in" and why were they happening at L.A. schools today? - LA Times

What's a "walk-in" and why were they happening at L.A. schools today? - LA Times:

What's a "walk-in" and why were they happening at L.A. schools today?

See Video: http://www.latimes.com/local/education/lausd/la-me-walk-in-lausd-schools-video-20160217-premiumvideo.html

"Lets’s go, dolphins, let’s go!” chanted dozens of students, parents and teachers as they walked into 20th Street Elementary School before class, professing love for their neighborhood school, one that might soon become a charter school. 

They were part of a “walk-in” demonstration organized on Wednesday morning by teachers unions in Los Angeles and The Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools.

The rallies around the country were hashtagged as #ReclaimOurSchools. In Los Angeles, they highlighted positive experiences at traditional public schools in the face of an increasing number of charter schools.

The rallies come against the backdrop of an effort to rapidly expand charter schools in L.A. Unified. Charter schools are publicly funded but can be privately run. Most are nonunion. 

Parents at 20th Street filed a petition earlier this month to convert the school into a charter school. To make the change, they’re using the state’s “parent trigger law” that allows parents to decide who will take control of a low-performing campus once the school district confirms that a majority of parents had signed a petition. 

The parent group hasn't yet chosen an organization that would run the charter school. Under state law, only parents who signed the petition will have a vote. The advocacy group helping them, Parent Revolution, is backed by nonprofit organizations that support the growth of charter schools, including the Walton Family Foundation, the Wasserman Foundation, the Arnold Foundation and the Broad Foundation.

The petition drive has divided the campus, with supporters accusing teachers of misconduct and retaliation. The union, in turn, has accused Parent Revolution of using deceptive tactics to gather signatures. Both sides have denied any wrongdoing. 

The signs and posters at 20th Street focused on what students loved about their school — the teachers, the music — scrawled in colorful, elementary-child handwriting.

Some rallygoers at Hamilton High School in Palms were more direct in their attack on the expansion plan, which was originally spearheaded by the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation. That proposal laid out a plan to spend $490 million to double the number of charters in L.A. over eight years. 

Protesters held white posters that proclaimed in black block letters: "Billionaires, have a heart. Your plan will tear our schools apart!" and "Billionaires: Pay your taxes so we can get smaller classes!"

Parents, students and teachers in Los Angeles Unified Schools stage a “walk-in” before school Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016, to protest charter school expansion and call for greater investment in public education.

L.A. Unified Supt. Michelle King joined union organizers and school board members for the demonstration at Hamilton High, where she was once principal. The partnership What's a "walk-in" and why were they happening at L.A. schools today? - LA Times:

Black Parallel School Board | ABC10.com

Black Parallel School Board - February 16, 2016 | ABC10.com:

Black Parallel School Board

lack Parallel School Members Darryl White and LaShanya Breazell discussed with Sac&Co Host Mellisa Paul about the California Law currently in place regarding IQ tests and African American kids in the public school system and whether or not these laws are necessary.  Darryl went more in depth and addressed the steps that a parent should be taking if they feel as though their child may have cognitive delays and want answers. 

LaShanya went into detail about the importance of the Black Parallel School Board, whose mission is to support educational growth and achievement of Black students. The Black Parallel School Board is a local organization that was created to work parallel to the Sacramento City Unified District Board of Education. 

For more information visit blackparallelschoolboard.com

Black Parallel School Board - February 16, 2016 | ABC10.com:

Join us in Olympia this Friday, February 19th to stop the passage of charter school House Bill 2367 | Seattle Education

Join us in Olympia this Friday, February 19th to stop the passage of charter school House Bill 2367 | Seattle Education:

Join us in Olympia this Friday, February 19th to stop the passage of charter school House Bill 2367

 From:

WASHINGTON VOTERS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION

JOIN US IN OLYMPIA, THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH, TO STOP THE PASSAGE OF HOUSE BILL 2367—POSSIBLY THE MOST HARMFUL EDUCATION BILL OF THE LAST DECADE!

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Please do one or more of the following:

1) Join us in Olympia to testify and protest against HB 2367 on Friday, February 19, at 1:00 PM. (Please look into starting or joining a carpool.)

2) Bring your fellow parents, friends, neighbors or anyone else who wants to protect our public schools and insure that public education dollars aren’t diverted into private business accounts. 3) Sign up to testify, online, or in Olympia, as early as possible, prior to the hearing.

4) Make signs, hold signs and distribute signs to other parents, students and taxpayers.

5) Bring your own kids AND as many public school kids as you can, particularly if they like making signs, holding up signs and might want to testify on behalf of their school, and their fellow students, against this legislation.

6) Contact your legislators and urge them to Vote Against House Bill 2367 or any similar “charter fix bill.”

(Here’s one possible message: How could the legislature NOT fully fund our public schools for more than 4 years since the Supreme Court’s McCleary decision, ordering you to do so? AND how could you NOW push HB 2367, a bill that will FURTHER defund our schools and give our tax dollars to charters—that are unconstitutional in our state—and after 25 years have provided no evidence that they do a “better job” than our public schools?) Questions or more information? Please visit Washington Voters For Public Education online.

Website: WashingtonVotersForPublicEducation.com Phone: 425-296-8130

Email: info@washingtonvotersforpubliceducation.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonVotersForPublicEducation

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WashVotPubEduc

SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT HOUSE BILL 2367

Q: Why do parents, taxpayers and voters need to come to Olympia on Friday, January 19th?

A: To protest against House Bill 2367, or simply HB 2367.

Q: What is House Bill 2367? A: House Bill 2367 is the State House Version of a very bad State Senate Bill that passed that chamber in January.

Q: What would happen if House Bill 2367 passes and become law?

A: House Bill 2367 would take existing public school funds and hand them over to private businesses that manage and operate charters. It would also open the door to many more charters in our state, further draining our already underfunded public schools.

Q: What would be bad about House Bill 2367 becoming law?

A: If House Bill 2367 became law, the consequences would be serious and widespread. It would likely have a very negative impact upon every school district in Washington and Join us in Olympia this Friday, February 19th to stop the passage of charter school House Bill 2367 | Seattle Education:

School Discipline: Equity at Issue – Cloaking Inequity

School Discipline: Equity at Issue – Cloaking Inequity:

School Discipline: Equity at Issue

Extensive peer-reviewed research has demonstrated that students with frequent suspensions are more likely to become involved in gangs, drop out of school and become part of the juvenile justice system.

Years of suspicions about inequity in school discipline have also been investigated by a spate of reports. One by the UCLA Civil Rights project in 2011 revealed that in 2006, 28 percent of African American male middle school students were suspended at least once, while the  rate was just 10 percent for white males.

Following that, another review by  UCLA researchers in 2012 pegged suspension rates for African American students at 17.7 percent—more than twice California’s overall rate at 7.5 percent. And African Americans were three times more likely to be suspended than whites.

Probably some of the most shocking statistics I have seen were in the report “Breaking School Rules” which found 83% of African American males and 74% of Latino males in Texas were suspended at least once in grades 7-12.

UCLA Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civvies  researchers have argued that excluding students from school while being disciplined causes them to miss important instructional time, and may result in a “greater risk of disengagement and diminished educational opportunities.”

There is data to support that claim: students disciplined more than 10 times have only a 40 percent chance of graduating from high school, School Discipline: Equity at Issue – Cloaking Inequity:

Regulating Education for Profit - WSJ

Regulating Education for Profit - WSJ:

Regulating Education for Profit

Tony Miller helped trash for-profit colleges. Now he hopes to cash in.

The University of Phoenix Chicago campus on July 30, 2015 in Schaumburg, Illinois. PHOTO: SCOTT OLSON/GETTY IMAGES

President Obama’s Department of Education has been waging a seven-year war against for-profit colleges. So it’s a lesson in the self-interested ways of the modern regulatory state to see a veteran of that war now seeking to profit from education.

Check out last week’s proposed sale of Apollo Education, parent company of the University of Phoenix. When Mr. Obama was preparing to take office in January 2009, Apollo stock hit a multiyear high above $78 per share. Seven years later, after Washington’s regulatory onslaught that favored nonprofits over for-profits in doling out federal subsidies, the shares had recently fallen below $7.

The University of Phoenix was once educating close to half a million students but last month reported an enrollment below 180,000. And with Apollo recently trading below book value, it might be a real bargain—especially for an investor betting that the next Administration might go easier on for-profit colleges. Now comes news that Apollo will be sold to several private equity firms. And coincidence of all coincidences, after the sale closes the company will be run by a former top official in the Obama education department, the same outfit that led the attack on Apollo.

The Vistria Group is a Chicago private-equity firm. The company was founded around the time that Mr. Obama was beginning his second term and its founders include Marty Nesbitt, who began playing pick-up basketball with Mr. Obama years before he became President, and Tony Miller, who was the second highest-ranking official in the Department of Education from 2009 until 2013.

Once the sale closes, Mr. Miller will become chairman of Apollo’s board. Mr. Miller said in Regulating Education for Profit - WSJ:

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Hillary's here, but where's the mayor?

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Hillary's here, but where's the mayor?:

Hillary's here, but where's the mayor?

#‎walkintoCPS‬ rally at Goethe Elementary this morning

Hillary Clinton picked a fine day to visit Chicago. The sun is out. Snow is melting, uncovering fresh mounds of dog poo on every sidewalk and back alleyway. New potholes are bursting open like spring azaleas. The town is jumping.

Thousands of parents are walking-in at their neighborhood schools, demanding good schools for all kids. Many more have taken that long, boring ride down to Springfield to protest Gov. Rauner's threat-and-bluster budget speech.

Rahm is poison to Dems … Funny thing, the mayor is nowhere to be found. Like it was a few weeks ago when Chelsea Clinton came to town, she was told to avoid Rahm at all cost. Then last week, he stayed clear when his old boss,President Obama, revisited the State Capitol steps where he launched his historic presidential campaign. Again, no Rahm.

Hillary's mainly here to raise money from her wealthy pals, open an office on the south side (something the couldn't do in '08 when she ran against Obama) and hold a campaign rally. But she's keeping a low profile considering. Except a mention in  Sneed's S-T column, there's not a word about Hillary's visit in either paper this morning. Strange.

CTU Pres. Karen Lewis at walk-in in L.A.

Sneed asks, "Is Rahm being kept at arm's length?" Of course she knows he is. He's like the guy with B.O. who never gets invited to high tea.

At last peek Tuesday, Sneed was told Emanuel’s public schedule Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Hillary's here, but where's the mayor?:

Food Research & Action Center Scorecard Ranks States on School Breakfast Participation: « Food Research & Action Center

Food Research & Action Center Scorecard Ranks States on School Breakfast Participation: « Food Research & Action Center:

Food Research & Action Center Scorecard Ranks States on School Breakfast Participation:

West Virginia Tops the List; Utah at the Bottom

- Companion Report Shows Many Large School Districts Make the Grade, Most Have Work to Do -

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2016 — The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) today released its annual “School Breakfast Scorecard” (pdf) which measures states on the rate of participation of low-income children in the federally-funded School Breakfast Program. West Virginia tops theScorecard, while Utah is at the bottom. Nationally, school breakfast participation grew steadily in the 2014-2015 school year, continuing a trend of rapid expansion over the last decade.

On an average day during the 2014-2015 school year, 11.7 million students eligible to receive free and reduced-price school meals participated in school breakfast, an increase of 4.2 percent, or nearly 475,000 children from the previous year. Overall, 44 states increased their free and reduced-price school breakfast participation in the 2014-2015 school year.

“The good news is that more low-income children across the country are starting the day with a nutritious meal to support their health and learning,” said FRAC President Jim Weill. “Progress is being made; however, there is still plenty of room for improvement. Federal and state agencies, school districts, and education stakeholders must continue to build on the momentum gained in recent years to ensure many more children participate in the School Breakfast Program if we are to reap all of that program’s educational, health and anti-hunger benefits.”

FRAC measures School Breakfast Program participation by comparing the number of low-income children who eat school breakfast with those who receive school lunch. Lunch is a good benchmark of the eligible population. The top performers on the Scorecard — West Virginia, New Mexico, and the District of Columbia — all surpassed FRAC’s goal of reaching 70-low-income children with breakfast for every 100 who ate lunch. Nationally, on an average school day, 54.3 low-income children participated in the School Breakfast Program for every 100 participating in the National School Lunch Program, up from 53.2 the previous year. By contrast, Utah and New Hampshire each served breakfast to fewer than 40 free or reduced-price eligible students for every 100 participating in school lunch – far below the national average and FRAC’s goal.

A companion report to the Scorecard, “School Breakfast: Making it Work in Large School Districts” (pdf), also released today by FRAC, looks at trends and best practices for reaching more low-income children in the nation’s largest school districts.

Of the 73 large, mostly urban school districts surveyed for the Large School District report, 23 — more than double from the previous year’s report — achieved FRAC’s 70 to 100 benchmark. A number of the top-performing school districts — San Antonio Independent School District, Cincinnati Public Schools, and Detroit Public Schools, among others — serve a particularly high proportion of economically disadvantaged students.

The progress made by this year’s top performers in both reports demonstrates the power of linking alternative breakfast service models, such as breakfast in the classroom, “grab and go,” and second chance breakfast, with offering breakfast free to all students. These strategies combined overcome the common barriers to participation in the program, including financial constraints, inconvenience, and social stigma. Every surveyed district in the Large School District report, with the exception of one, reported operating a breakfast after the bell program in all or some schools, offering free meals to all students in some or all schools, or implementing both strategies in school year 2014–2015.

The Community Eligibility Provision, which rolled out nationally in the 2014-2015 school year, is proving to be another effective strategy for driving growth in school breakfast participation, as it allows school meals to be served free of charge to all students at high-poverty schools, while reducing administrative paperwork and stigma. By spring of 2015, there were more than 14,000 high-poverty schools, serving 6.8 million children, offering breakfast and lunch at no charge to all students. For the 2015–2016 school year, the total increased to more than 17,000 schools and 8 million children.

In light of the burgeoning body of research supporting the link between school breakfast and academic success, education stakeholders are making concerted efforts to improve the reach of the School Breakfast Program.

“We know what works, and more children are eating breakfast as a result,” added Weill. “Yet, our data show that there are still too many students, states, and school districts missing out on the benefits of school breakfast.”

States and school districts that are not maximizing school breakfast participation not only miss out on the academic benefits of better attendance and academic performance, but also lose significant potential economic activity that comes with millions of dollars’ worth of additional federal resources coming into the state and local communities. The Scorecard itemizes how many states left a significant amount of money on the table by not reaching more children that were eligible. Large states with average-to-low participation rates such as 24th-ranked California, 33rd-ranked Florida, and 39th-ranked New York, have the most to gain by meeting FRAC’s goal. These states would have brought in an additional $107.9 million, $74.5 million, and $76.5 million, respectively, if they had met the 70 to 100 goal.

The Large School District report also reviews untapped federal dollars, by district, that could have been used to build stronger nutrition programs and improve the nutritional quality and appeal of their school meals. Ten of the school districts that were surveyed, together, would have received additional funding in excess of $100 million if they were to meet FRAC’s 70:100 benchmark.

Weill says FRAC and its network of anti-hunger advocates across the country will continue to advocate for smart investments that support access to the School Breakfast Program.

Both school breakfast reports may be found at frac.org.

# # #

The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) is the leading national nonprofit organization working to improve public policies and public-private partnerships to eradicate hunger and undernutrition in the United States.

Food Research & Action Center Scorecard Ranks States on School Breakfast Participation: « Food Research & Action Center:

Schools Matter: Guest Post: To Good to Be True? + Susan Ohanian: See Bill. See Money. See News.

Schools Matter: Guest Post: To Good to Be True?:

Guest Post: To Good to Be True?

 By Alison McDowell

Alison is a parent of a public school student and a member of the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools

February 17, 2016

On February 16, 2016, Diane Ravitch's blog promoted a vision statement for the future of Texas public education that had been developed by a group of 35 Texas superintendents between 2006 and 2008. If you simply read the excerpted portions quoted on the blog, you'd likely find the sentiments expressed sympathetic to those who opposed the test and punish system. However, if you continued past the first twelve pages of the document, you'd have been abruptly confronted with "Article 1: The New Digital Learning Environment" that is at its core essentially a pitch for online learning. As a parent involved with opt out in Pennsylvania, I found many elements from these pages and the more-detailed tables available in a companion document, eerily similar to changes proposed for the PA school code that are now under consideration in my home state.

The corporate interests aiming to "transform" our schools know what we want to hear. They know we are weary and looking for hope wherever we can find it. They are not above manipulating our emotions to get what they want. They will distract us. They will speak our language, while at the same time sowing seeds like this "Article 1" that are meant to destroy neighborhood public schools. Pay attention and stay on your guard. If it sounds too good to be true...dig down until you find the real truth.

To read the comments Alison's made to the post on Diane Ravitch's blog click here.  Schools Matter: Guest Post: To Good to Be True?:

See Bill. See Money. See News.

 by Susan Ohanian

 

 

The Money

            Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grant

            New Venture Fund

---

              Date: June 2015 
              Purpose: to enable the National Network of State Teachers of the Year (NNSTOY) to improve student learning
              across the nation by defining, sharing and advocating for effective teaching practices and policies 
             Amount: $1,000,000

The Money Traveling as News

February 16, 2016

Nation's top teachers back PARCC and Smarter Balanced 

Over two separate weekends in August and September of last year, 23 State Teachers of the Year each huddled for nearly 20 hours at a hotel in Chicago, Illinois. The teachers assembled to participate in a first-of-its-kind study: a deep and thorough analysis of the two new assessments used in 27 states in 2015 (named PARCC and Smarter Balanced) judged against previous tests used in several states.
Commissioned by the National Network of State Teachers of the Year (NNSTOY), the study found a marked preference for Smarter Balanced and PARCC. . . .

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blah
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See the   Coincidence:

• The Executive Director and CEO of NNSTOY served as Director of Policy and Partnerships for the Center for See Bill. See Money. See News.

Judge: State broke the law when it fired Newark attendance counselors |

Judge: State broke the law when it fired Newark attendance counselors |:

Judge: State broke the law when it fired Newark attendance counselors

Anderson fired attendance counselors

In 2013, a time when the state-operated Newark public schools suffered from one of the highest truancy rates in the state–if not the nation–its state-appointed superintendent fired all of its attendance officers. Now, three years later, with the district experiencing an even worse absenteeism problem, an administrative law judge has ruled the system acted “in bad faith” and broke New Jersey’s truancy law.

Administrative Law Judge Kimberly Moss, citing the statutes requiring all districts to take action against truants, concluded former state-appointed superintendent Cami Anderson “violated (the statute) by abolishing the position of attendance counselor that is statutorily mandated.”

Anderson, Moss wrote, took the action as part of a plan to close a budget shortfall of $57 million–a shortfall caused primarily by $33 million in payments of district funds to privately-run charter schools. But, while school districts and other public agencies have broad powers to abolish jobs and lay off workers, they may not break the law to do it.

“The testimony in this matter has shown that there is no one in the NPS (Newark Public Schools) who is looking for truant students since the attendance officers were laid off,” Moss wrote in a ruling on a case brought by the Newark Teachers Judge: State broke the law when it fired Newark attendance counselors |:

Education Reform in Common Core Land | Johnathan Chase | LinkedIn

Education Reform in Common Core Land | Johnathan Chase | LinkedIn:

Education Reform in Common Core Land

Americans have been “sold” the Common Core State Standards by leaders who have carefully crafted their words and shaped the narrative of the education reform movement. As Humpty Dumpty declared…

‘When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.’

‘The question is,’ said Alice, ‘whether you CAN make words mean so many different things.’

‘The question is,’ said Humpty Dumpty, ‘which is to be master—that’s all.’

~ Lewis Carroll, “Through The Looking-Glass”

Humpty Dumpty reformers with their penchant for eduspeak rely on a litany of phrases and  “educationese” to justify and sell their reforms to trusting parents using co-opted and redefined terms such as grit, rigor, college and career ready, data driven, personalized, flipped, transformational, outcome,Education Reform in Common Core Land | Johnathan Chase | LinkedIn: