OH GOODIE! - GOOD BLOG

GOOD

OH GOODIE!

San Francisco Is The First U.S. City To Make Community College Free To All Residents

by Tod Perry / 2h

THE GOOD NEWS: San Francisco provides its residents with greater educational opportunities. Community colleges can provide an important ladder to help low-income students make their way to the middle class. According to Georgetown University, nearly 30% of Americans with an associate’s degrees now make more than those with bachelor’s degrees. Photo by Andrew/Flickr . The city of San Francisco jus

Print Still Matters — Especially For Students

by Lauren M. Singer Trakhman / 2h

Today’s students see themselves as digital natives , the first generation to grow up surrounded by technology like smartphones, tablets, and e-readers. Teachers, parents, and policymakers certainly acknowledge the growing influence of technology and have responded in kind. We’ve seen more investment in classroom technologies , with students now equipped with school-issued iPads and access to e-te

This Group Is Tackling LGBTQ Youth Suicide Rates, One Text Message At A Time

by Britni Danielle / 2h

Growing up can be tough . Between school, parental pressure, raging adolescent hormones, and trying to fit in, young people often feel overwhelmed and unable to cope. In the last few years, suicide surpassed homicide to become the second leading cause of death for teenagers, and its rise has been felt across nearly every demographic, especially women and girls . While there are a myriad of factor

Why Some German Kindergartens Are Going Toy-Free

by Tod Perry / 2h

For the past four decades, there’s been a controversial movement in German kindergartens to curb drug abuse later in life. The answer to this vexing issue: Take away the kids’ toys. Studies dating back to the ‘80s have found that toys — like recreational drugs — provide children with an easy means of escape. Therefore, by removing this crutch, children are forced to develop important problem-solv

Study Shows Education Can Reduce Risk Of Alzheimer’s Disease

by Tod Perry / 2h

According to the Centers for Disease Control , over 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. As a result of the country’s aging population, this progressive brain disorder has grown to be the the sixth leading cause of death among all adults and the fifth leading cause for those aged 65 or older. Although there is no cure for this debilitating disease, a new study has found a way to reduce

You’ll Need More Than Perfect Grades To Get Into America’s Top Universities

by Natasha Warikoo / 2h

After weeks of negotiation, Harvard University recently agreed to provide the Department of Justice access to its admissions files. The department is reopening a complaint by 63 Asian-American groups that Harvard discriminates against Asian-American applicants. The complaint was previously dismissed under the Obama administration. Many worry that government lawyers plan to use the case to argue t

Trump May Be The Reason More Students Are Choosing Historically Black Colleges And Universities

by Shanita Hubbard / 2h

Thurgood Marshall. Oprah Winfrey. Toni Morrison. Spike Lee. Martin Luther King Jr. These are just some of the notable graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), which are home to many of the nation’s most brilliant scholars. HBCU graduates have not only shaped the course of history, but today, these institutions produce 90% of the nation’s black science and technology gradu

Manufacturing Jobs Have Disappeared In The U.S. Here’s How High Schools Could Help.

by XQ / 2h

By Gabe Rivin The past often looms large when people talk about Endicott. Endicott was the birthplace of IBM. It was a manufacturing powerhouse. Shoes, computer parts, leather — the village, near New York’s border with Pennsylvania, was always a company town. It was the kind of place with plenty of jobs to go around. But over the years, things took a turn for the worse. Endicott-Johnson, the shoe

Meet The Future Of Technology — They’re 15 And They Already Know How To Code

by XQ / 2h

By Maya Kachroo-Levine In the last few years, the gig economy has transformed the way we work. The freelance life has taken off, and it’s estimated that 35% of the workforce now participates in independent contract work. Washington Leadership Academy — a public charter school located in Washington, D.C. — is adapting to this evolving workforce in a creative way. They’re integrating independent co

American Children Continue To Fall Behind The Rest Of The World In Reading Comprehension

by Penn Collins / 2h

Since 2001, U.S. reading comprehension scores on one international test have failed to increase, signifying an alarming trend in which countries that the United States normally outperformed are now consistently surpassing our fourth-grade students. Every five years, the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) administers a benchmarking test to students in various global education

This School Set Inside A City Museum Is Redefining Education

by XQ / 2h

By Michael Stahl Class trips are always among the most highly anticipated days on the calendar for students. Hours-long learning sessions outside the confines of the school building — at planetariums, zoos, museums, and other enclaves — are exciting if only because they break up the monotony of the school day for so many kids. But there’s one school in Michigan that permits its teachers to take s

We Need Restorative Justice In Schools

by XQ / 2h

By Cameron Glover What do we do when a student misbehaves? Traditional methods of discipline — like reprimanding, detention, or suspension — may not actually solve the problem. Those approaches usually fail to produce long-term solutions, making it more likely for students to disengage or drop out altogether. Restorative justice is becoming a more recognized approach, particularly in education. I

Lyft Wants To Help Its Drivers Finish College

by Britni Danielle / 2h

The gig economy is here to stay. Currently, freelancers account for nearly 34% of the workforce , and by 2020 it’s estimated that number may grow to 43%. Because of this, companies are looking for ways to recruit and retain talented individuals, or poach them from competitors. Ridesharing giant, Lyft, is hoping its new education initiative will give them a leg-up over companies like Uber and Side

In A Contemporary, Media-Driven World, These Two Schools Are Rethinking Education

by XQ / 2h

By Paul Rogers The world is changing. That means jobs are changing. And with that, schools — and students — will need to change, too. Contemporary high school graduates need to be both media-savvy and collaborative, capable of establishing professional relationships throughout their lives in order to thrive in a digital marketplace. This will require schools to rethink their core competencies whi

Congress Is Preparing To Tackle The Higher Education Act. Here’s What It Could Mean For You.

by Dennis A. Kramer II / 2h

For the first time in nearly a decade, the United States Congress is about to take up legislation to upgrade the Higher Education Act — the federal law that governs how the federal government supports and regulates higher education institutions. The process began earlier this month, when U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Republican from North Carolina, chairperson of the House Committee on Education and

How These High School Students Are Learning From Local Businesses Instead Of Textbooks

by XQ / 2h

By Maya Kachroo-Levine Let’s face it: In high school, learning outside the classroom is a rarity. Some high schools offer the occasional service project or career development opportunity within the community. But for the most part, practical application and internships are reserved for college students while high schools focus on core curriculum — and keeping the students in the building. At Purd

Sony Looks To Improve Data Management At Universities Through Blockchain Technology

by Tod Perry / 2h

Earning a college diploma doesn’t just mean a student has become an expert in a specific field. It also means they’ve learned good study habits, developed self-discipline, and figured out how to navigate a complicated bureaucratic landscape. Case in point: the simple task of getting transcripts delivered from one institution to another. Now, Sony is looking to make managing education records easi

Most Students Have No Choice What They Learn. This High School Is Changing That.

by XQ / 2h

By Gabe Rivin Powderhouse Studios won’t be like most high schools. It’s not just the 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule or the lack of homework. It’s far more than the school’s banishing of traditional grade levels. What’s perhaps most distinctive is the way it will respond to a central question in education today: Who should control the learning in class? For Powderhouse, the answer is simple. It’s all

Here’s Why These Libraries On Wheels Are Rolling Into Combat Zones

by Britni Danielle / 2h

For the past 14 years, we’ve watched images of war-torn Iraq on the evening news, heard about soldiers who’ve lost limbs and lives, and have been promised that the divisive and costly war would come to an end so America could finally move on. But what about the people who actually live there? As many in the western world decry the conflict for ideological reasons, the Iraq War and the ensuing fig

Education Isn't A Constitutional Right, But It Should Be

by Derek Black / 2h

Public school funding has shrunk over the past decade. School discipline rates reached historic highs. Large achievement gaps persist . And the overall performance of our nation’s students falls well below our international peers. These bleak numbers beg the question: Don’t students have a constitutional right to something better? Many Americans assume that federal law protects the right to educa

This ‘Vertical Urban Village’ Will Change How You Think About Education

by XQ / 2h

By Paul Rogers Imagine a high school that “learns” you before you learn from it. Where you are surveyed prior to even stepping into a classroom and your curriculum is personalized to your interests, abilities, talents, and dreams. This is just one way in which a new Memphis charter school is trying to reimagine what’s possible in education — part of a growing national trend toward schools that fo

College Is Supposed To Help You Get A Leg Up In Life. So Why Do These Students Have To Go On Food Stamps?

by Penn Collins / 2h

Amid rising tuition and living costs, more students than ever at one prestigious university are turning to government assistance to find their next meal. Since the beginning of this year, more than 500 University of California, Berkeley students have applied for food stamps. In the previous year, only 111 students had applied. In 2015, that number was just 41, according to a SFGate report . Thous

New GOP-Backed Education Bill Could Cut Funding For Dozens Of Minority-Serving Institutions

by Tod Perry / 2h

Every five years, Congress is tasked with reauthorizing the Higher Education Act of 1965. The last authorization was in 2013, so the U.S. House of Representatives just released a new bill to overhaul the act for next year. While the proposed bill would create a much-needed modernization of the FAFSA application process , it also bears the mark of Trump’s right-wing social agenda by banning free s

Lucian Wintrich’s ‘It’s OK To Be White’ Speech At University Of Connecticut Ends In His Arrest

by Tod Perry / 2h

The Gateway Pundit’s White House Correspondent, Lucian Wintrich, was jailed Nov. 28, 2017, for breach of peace and released on $1,000 bail after unsuccessfully giving a speech titled “It’s OK to Be White” at the University of Connecticut. The controversial conservative was arrested after grabbing a woman who stole his notes off the lectern. Another person was arrested for allegedly breaking a win

The Future Of Coastal Preservation Is In The Hands Of High Schoolers

by XQ / 2h

By Michael Stahl In trying to save one of the United States’ most important stretches of land from succumbing to the effects of climate change, southeast Louisiana is calling in the cavalry: 45 prospective ninth-graders. The state’s coastline abutting the Gulf of Mexico is disappearing at an alarming rate. Studies show that about 45 square miles of wetlands are vanishing each year there , due in

Marginalized Students Deserve Better. Here’s How We Give Them Just That.

by XQ / 2h

By Cameron Glover In Los Angeles, there’s a growing desire to reconnect “disconnected” students — those whose life circumstances present barriers to keeping up with the demands of schoolwork — so they can earn their high school diplomas. The challenge is a big one: 111,000 students in the L.A. public school system must navigate the complexities of homelessness, incarceration, and the foster care

5 Lessons From One Of The Music Biz’s Most Successful College Dropouts

by Britni Danielle / 2h

Jimmy Iovine is one of the biggest names in the music business. The Brooklyn native went from being a restless teen who dropped out of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice at 19 to a powerhouse producer who worked with icons like John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, and U2 before founding Interscope Records with Ted Field in 1990. Iovine’s improbable rise through the ranks was a result of his supe

An Australian TV Host Almost Loses Her Head After A Science Experiment Goes Wrong

by Penn Collins / 2h

After a terrifying near-miss, a TV audience was reminded that just because an experiment is taking place on-camera doesn’t mean it’s any safer than if it were done elsewhere. When Australia’s “Studio 10” hosted YouTube science personality Jacob Strickling, the guest sent plastic Coke bottles flying by combining their contents with liquid nitrogen. The first two attempts, undertaken solely by Stri

The Department Of Education Is Developing A Mobile App For FAFSA Submissions

by Tod Perry / 2h

As part of an initiative that began in the Obama era, the office of Federal Student Aid is looking to modernize the federal student loan system so it’s easier for students to apply for, and later, pay off their loans. “The goal is a customer service experience that will rival Amazon or Apple’s Genius Bar,” Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said . The first step in upgrading the entire system is mak

Trump’s Department Of Education Looks To Limit Civil Rights Investigations In The Nation’s Schools

by Tod Perry / 2h

Since becoming the Trump administrations’ Education secretary, Betsy DeVos has been dead-set on repealing Obama-era protections for America’s most vulnerable students. Shortly after taking office, she revoked guidelines that 

Jeff Bryant: A Movement Against Charter Schools Helped Oust Puerto Rico’s Governor

A Movement Against Charter Schools Helped Oust Puerto Rico’s Governor

A Movement Against Charter Schools Helped Oust Puerto Rico’s Governor

As Americans lament the current sorry state of democracy in Washington, D.C., government by the will of the people was very much alive recently in Puerto Rico, where a prolonged general strike that virtually shut down the island forced Governor Ricardo Rosselló to announce his resignation.

During the strike, huge crowds mobbed the governor’s mansion around the clock, closed highways in the capital of San Juan, and persuaded some presidential candidates in the Democratic Party to join in calling for the governor to resign.

Protesters had multiple grievances, but a “final straw” seems to have been a series of text messages leaked to an independent news organization in which the governor and his closest associates insulted political opponents and allies, members of the news media, and the LGBTQ community. Another notable target for insults in the text exchanges were the island’s public school teachers, whom the governor’s chief financial officer at the time, Christian Sobrino, called “terrorists.” (Sobrino and other top officials participating in the chats have resigned since the messages went public.)

Puerto Rico’s school teachers have been a constant nemesis to the Rosselló regime, and the island’s largest teachers’ union, the Asociación de Maestros de Puerto Rico (AMPR), united with other labor unions on the island to organize the general strike. Randi Weingarten, the leader of the American Federation of Teachers, which AMPR is an affiliate of, joined in the calls for Rosselló’s resignation.

The teachers’ disagreements with Governor Rosselló started long before the CONTINUE READING: A Movement Against Charter Schools Helped Oust Puerto Rico’s Governor

It Appears That Icky Sticky Nicky Melvoin Revealed Confidential Attorney Client Information

It Appears That Icky Sticky Nicky Melvoin Revealed Confidential Attorney Client Information From LAUSD’s Office Of The General Counsel  | Michael Kohlhaas dot org

IT APPEARS THAT ICKY STICKY NICKY MELVOIN REVEALED CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEY CLIENT INFORMATION FROM LAUSD’S OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL TO THE CALIFORNIA CHARTER SCHOOL ASSOCIATION IN A SECRET MEETING IN FEBRUARY 2018 — HAVING TO DO WITH A JANUARY 2016 CCSA LAWSUIT AGAINST LAUSD OVER PROP 39 ACCESS TO FACILITIES — IN FEBRUARY 2018 CCSA MET WITH MELVOIN ABOUT LAUSD FACILITIES POLICY — AT THIS MEETING MELVOIN TOLD CCSA — THE ADVERSE PARTIES IN THE FREAKING LAWSUIT — THAT LAUSD’S GENERAL COUNSEL WAS “CONFIDENT IN LAWSUIT POSITION” — AND THEREFORE WAS DISINCLINED TO SETTLE — TWO MONTHS LATER CCSA CONCEDED AND DROPPED THE SUIT WITHOUT A SETTLEMENT — PERHAPS THEIR DECISION TO PURSUE THIS COURSE WAS INFORMED BY CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM MELVOIN — IT’S HARD TO IMAGINE IT COULD BE OTHERWISE CONTINUE READING: It Appears That Icky Sticky Nicky Melvoin Revealed Confidential Attorney Client Information From LAUSD’s Office Of The General Counsel  | Michael Kohlhaas dot org

CURMUDGUCATION: Should A Teacher Be Secretary of Education

CURMUDGUCATION: Should A Teacher Be Secretary of Education

Should A Teacher Be Secretary of Education

This is part of the value of having a clown car full of candidates for a Presidential primary: the contest becomes a primary of ideas, and certain notions gain traction by spreading across the field of candidates. Not that gaining traction means those ideas will ultimately prevail (a widespread notion among the 2016 GOP field was that Donald Trump was unfit to be President), but it's still an intriguing process.

If I were Ed Secretary, I could stand up all day to talk to people

One up-and-coming education policy idea that was first proposed by Elizabeth Warren, but has now garnered wider candidate support, is the notion that a teacher should be the next secretary of education. At last count, four major candidates were supporting some version of the idea. It's an arresting and appealing idea. Betsy DeVos is widely seen as a controversial opponent of public education, and in many education circles, predecessors like Arne Duncan were not much loved, either. Many teachers feel that the folks in D.C. just don't get it, so the idea of someone from the trenches who would, presumably, get it--well, it's an attractive idea. Now we have to ask--is it a good idea?

The devil, as always, is in the details. The idea has been expressed variously as appointing an educator, a public school teacher, or "someone who comes from public schools." That may seem pretty straightforward. It isn't. "Educator" is a loose umbrella term to cover anyone who has held an education-adjacent job: teacher, administrator, education advocacy group member, school bus CONTINUE READING: CURMUDGUCATION: Should A Teacher Be Secretary of Education

CURMUDGUCATION: Eight Weeks of Summer: Moving Forward

CURMUDGUCATION: Eight Weeks of Summer: Moving Forward

Eight Weeks of Summer: Moving Forward

This post is week 8 of 8 in the 8 Weeks of Summer Blog Challenge for educators.

I've been doing the eight week challenge because why not? This is the final prompt, and like any good exercise, it calls for some reflection. Here's prompt #8:

What will you keep from the #8WeekofSummer Blog Challenge moving forward?

I've been trying to answer these from the perspective of my previous non-retired teaching self, but this is a tough one to twist around that way. But let's give it a shot.

I always carried things forward from my summer growth projects, but never as much as I meant to.

One of the benefits of summer vacations for teachers is that it gives you the breathing space you need to reflect on practices. During the school year, virtually all time is caught up in the dailiness of it, and no matter how much you want to carry over your new deep philosophical insights, it only takes a week or two to go from "What's a good pedagogical approach to including more reflection on the idealism of Romantic authors" to "I think if I hurry, I can get my copying done in that five minute break before third period. Also, I think I've figured out where to move those three guys on the seventh period seating chart so that they'll stop having fart contests." Starting the year can move you quickly from envisioning a moving, breathing image of the cosmos to simply feeling like you're trapped in a game of Space Invaders.

The things that always ended up being useful were the things that I fully learned. Not ideas that I carried around separately, still shiny from just having the wrapper pulled off, but things that were fully integrated into the grubby scuffed cabinet of Things I Know.

My own big cabinet has been getting a steady reorganization, as I integrate everything I ever CONTINUE READING: CURMUDGUCATION: Eight Weeks of Summer: Moving Forward

Now it’s getting ridiculous: Four Democratic debates, almost no discussion on K-12 education - The Washington Post

Now it’s getting ridiculous: Four Democratic debates, almost no discussion on K-12 education - The Washington Post

Now it’s getting ridiculous: Four debates, no questions about K-12 education

Now it’s getting ridiculous: Four debates among Democratic presidential candidates, and no questions — or serious discussion — about K-12 education.

A nod goes to Sen. Michael F. Bennet of Colorado, a former superintendent of the Denver school system, who answered a non-education question with a call to improve the public education system. His passionate plea to “fix our school system” and focus on segregated schools came in response to a question by CNN moderator Don Lemon about why he would be the best candidate to heal the racial divide in the United States.

Some candidates made passing references to universal preschool, and moderators did raise college affordability and student debt. But when it comes to K-12 public education, which many believe is the most important civic institution in the country, nada.

There have been four debates: two in June on NBC and MSNBC with 10 candidates each night; and two this week on CNN, also with 10 candidates on each night. So, what were the moderators thinking, exactly?

That education isn’t as important as health care and immigration and foreign affairs and how Democrats can win Michigan in 2020?

That prekindergarten and higher education is more important than the grades in between?

That Americans aren’t very interested in the present and future of public education and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’s plans to change the way U.S. children attend school?

Do the moderators think the candidates all agree so they can’t spark a fight with the issue? (They don’t.)

Is it too difficult to compose questions that get at the heart of major matters confronting public schools?

How about: “America funds its public education system largely through property taxes, and federal efforts to close the gap between high-income and low-income neighborhoods have not bridged the gap. Should there be a fundamental change in the way public schools are funded?"

Or: “If the Supreme Court rules, as it may do, that it is constitutional for states to use public funds for CONTINUE READING: Now it’s getting ridiculous: Four Democratic debates, almost no discussion on K-12 education - The Washington Post

Understanding the work of Michael Deshotels – Educate Louisiana

Understanding the work of Michael Deshotels – Educate Louisiana
Understanding The Work Of Michael Deshotels

Having followed the work of Michael Deshotels for almost seven years, I’ve come to understand his work, support his message, and count him as a trusted education advocate and personal friend. I also appreciate and support the work of other education advocates such as Lee Barrios and Dr. Mercedes Schneider. All of these folks have worked to bring to light what is wrong with what is happening in Louisiana’s education system just as I have. I have learned that sometimes no matter how hard you try, your message doesn’t get the traction it should because people don’t care, don’t understand, or interpreted the message, wrong.

When it comes to state assessments, student scores, and school performance schools, I believe that the four of us agree that the published results are meaningless based on the following reasons.

1. The outcome is predetermined.
2. The expected level of achievement is arbitrary.
3. The cut scores used to determine the level of achievement are arbitrary.
4. If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its life thinking it is a failure.

THE MESSAGE: Deshotels’ most recent publication, The LDOE claims steady growth in student LEAP scores, is a continuation of his effort to illustrate the invalidity of these scores. In his narrative, he points out that the average cut score for ELA and Math in grades 3-8 is 27%. The actual minimum number correct that a fourth grade student can get and receive a score of “Basic” is 21 of the 86 questions (24%). I note that the goal is “mastery;” however, “basic” is passing. CONTINUE READING: Understanding the work of Michael Deshotels – Educate Louisiana

Student Loan Forgiveness Programs for Teachers

Student Loan Forgiveness Programs for Teachers

Student Loan Forgiveness Programs for Teachers

With about 1% of applicants to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program successfully receiving loan forgiveness, students who plan to rely on financial aid and hope to become teachers may have reason to think twice.

Nationwide, students are borrowing more student loans to pay for college than ever before. Among those who took out loans, the average student in the class of 2017 borrowed nearly $30,000, according to U.S. News data. But the median midcareer salary is $41,000 for students who majored in early childhood education and $43,000 for those who majored in elementary education, according to U.S. Census Bureau data from 2016-2017.

Rising college costs and low wages create the need for loan forgiveness for teachers, advocates say. But the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program has come under fire recently for failing to keep its promise. A recent lawsuit filed in federal court by the American Federation of Teachers alleges Education Secretary Betsy Devos unlawfully denied individuals debt forgiveness, according to a press release. While the lawsuit is currently pending further action in federal court, its outcome could impact the future of loan forgiveness for current and prospective students.

Students must also consider the possibility of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program being eliminated, as was proposed by President Donald Trump in March.

Still, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, says students shouldn't allow themselves to be deterred by debt. "No one should forgo a career in public service because of concerns over student debt. Yet it's not a secret that the teaching profession is facing a crisis -- deep, systemic disinvestment in public education that has led to soaring college costs and shrinking teacher salaries, and a de-professionalization of the job that has led to a teacher shortage in all 50 states," Weingarten wrote in an email. "But teaching is a career built on hope, and a commitment to helping others and making our communities better. We must honor that commitment and protect the future teacher workforce."

Amid this uncertainty, Mark Kantrowitz, publisher and vice president of research for Savingforcollege.com, a website that CONTINUE READING: Student Loan Forgiveness Programs for Teachers