Why Teachers Cheat | toteachornototeach

Why Teachers Cheat | toteachornototeach:

Why Teachers Cheat

by aristotlethewise

Why Teachers Cheat 

by David Callahan
The indictment last week of 35 teachers and administrators in Atlanta for manipulating test scores is just the latest chapter in that city’s long festering “teacher cheating” scandal. In turn, Atlanta is just one of many cities where evidence has surfaced that educators fudged testing data.
Perhaps the best way to think of these cheating scandals is that they are the result of a natural experiment: What happens when you change incentives so that low test numbers translate into pain and high test numbers translate into rewards?
Effectively, this is the experiment that policymakers created when they enacted No Child Left Behind, as well as various state-level education reforms, starting in the early 2000s.
No Child Left Behind ushered in an era of high-stakes standardized tests where low-performing schools and their administrators faced negative repercussions and high-performing schools and their administrations received 

Diane in the Evening 4-1-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all:

Louisiana Teacher to NBC: Not for Sale!

by dianerav

Just got this in the email. It was posted on Facebook:
Deborah Hohn Tonguis posted in LA Public Teachers: Our Classrooms are Not for Sale!
Here is my email response to Holly Boffy, who sent an email request to all of the Louisiana Teachers of the Year to participate in an upcoming visit by NBC. She has no shame…
From: Holly Boffy
Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 9:53 PM
Subject: Unique opportunity in the New Orleans area
Dear Teachers of the Year,
If you live in Orleans or one of the surrounding parishes and are currently a classroom teacher, please email me 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-1-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Earth to Tennessee: Yes, Muslim Schools Will Get Vouchers by dianerav As we are learning, Tennessee legislators and education “leaders” operate in an alternate universe. They want to cut the welfare benefits of families if their children get low test scores. They want to attract for-profit corporations to drain taxpayer dollars out of the public schools, and never hold them accountable for bad results (see, Tennessee Virtual Academy). They do whatever ALEC tell... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Cheating in Atlanta; but didn't it happen here too?

NYC Public School Parents: Cheating in Atlanta; but didn't it happen here too?:

Cheating in Atlanta; but didn't it happen here too?

by Leonie Haimson

The indictments in Atlanta of the former superintendent, Beverly Hall and 32 associates for conspiracy in encouraging cheating on the Georgia state tests are shocking enough. But the evidence suggests that the much the same has happened over the last ten years in NYC.  The only difference is no effort or resources have been put by the city or the state into uncovering the phenomenon; in fact, quite the reverse. 

Under Bloomberg and Klein, the numbers of staff members monitoring test taking has fallen, and the DOE stopped doing the sort of routine erasure and score swing rate analysis which the Board of Ed had done previously.  (These methods suggested the anomalies in Atlanta).

Sol Stern relates the case of a Bronx principalwhose school's scores jumped in 

#Syracuse Has the Virus – @ the chalk face

#Syracuse Has the Virus – @ the chalk face:

#Syracuse Has the Virus

by Kris Nielsen

I’ve been very busy communicating with parents and teachers in my state, finishing my speech for Occupy DOE 2.0 (Woohoo!), and stuff like that.  My contributions to The Chalk Face have been a little wanting, but it’s not because I’ve been quiet.  Honestly, I’ve felt a little sick.  Not because I have an illness or a virus, but because my new city does.  Yes, Syracuse, New York, has caught a deadly virus–the Broad Virus.

From Paul Riede at syracuse.com:

Ten top Syracuse school administrators and board members traveled to New Orleans last weekend as part of a two-year, $300,000 training program.

District officials say no district money was used for the trip, which was funded entirely by a grant from the national Say Yes to Education Foundation.

The trip was the third in a series of four out-of-town meetings district officials have had with the Houston-based Center for Reform of School Systems. Two CRSS trainers were at the New Orleans session.

The board voted to join the program in late 2011. The idea of the training, calledReform Governance in Action, is to help officials look beyond the nuts and bolts of everyday operations and develop long-range policies to improve schools.

Over the past year, the Syracuse group has met with the CRSS in Santa Fe, N.M.; Atlanta; and now New 

Rally and Teach In at Serna Center Thursday, April 4th 2013, 4:30 to 5:30 pm

Rally and Teach In at Serna Center Thursday, April 4th 2013, 4:30 to 5:30 pm 

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7wdDUUSR15dMVpGTk55V2lRQ2M/edit?usp=sharing

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OFFICIAL POSTER FOR OCCUPY DOE IN DC NOW AVAILABLE

Please feel free to go to this link and download the file to create a poster and/or t-shirt!   There are several options – the first two downloads are for posters and the third one is specifically created to be used on a t-shirt.  Enjoy! A big thank you goes to Jay Rivett who designed our poster. Jay can be reached at jayrivett81@gmail.com should you need support creating the right artwork for your message!  Interested in attending our event? Click here for more information.

A Whole Child Education Transformation — Whole Child Education

A Whole Child Education Transformation — Whole Child Education:

THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG

A Whole Child Education Transformation

April 1, 2013 by Walter McKenzie

Everyone freeze! Stop right where you are and look around. Survey the landscape. With all the clamoring and commotion in education, have you stopped to notice? Education transformation is already well underway. I know, I know. With all the posturing and politicking going on from your local school board to the state house to the White House, there's a public perception that it's business as usual. Voices of self-interest continue to tout the status quo. Advocates for the public interest continue to toe the bottom line. Amidst all the noise and distractions, education in 2013 can look and feel like more of the same.

As an institution, education is susceptible to the pitfalls and pratfalls of change: inertia, resistance, and gridlock. For many educators, the focus on standardization and accountability feels like roadblocks. For others, forces of globalization and techno-constructivism feel like progress. And all the while, budget cuts and reform backlashes tighten the vise grips on agri-industrial education. After decades of lip service about retro-fitting reforms on the existing model, nothing short of a societal sea change is raising it from its sedentary, sedimentary, seemingly cemented place at the core of civilization.

How? Families now run the gamut in how they look and operate. Information is now free and available 

Schools Matter: Easier, more pleasant, less expensive path

Schools Matter: Easier, more pleasant, less expensive path:

Easier, more pleasant, less expensive path

by skrashen

SENT TO The State (South Carolina)
NOTE: This newspaper typically does not accept letters out-of-state. But I submitted it anyway.
NOTE: The State is running a poll: The question and the results:
Should South Carolina toughen standards that would hold back more third-graders not reading at grade level? 71% say yes, 29% say no.

An easier, more pleasant, less expensive path to high literacy

South Carolina is eager to require children to read “proficiently” by grade three. If they do not, they will be retained and given special remediation (“Education leaders: Florida holds key to SC literacy fix,” March 31).

Everything we know about literacy development says this is a bad idea, and that there is an easier, more pleasant, and far less expensive way to improve reading achievement.

First, studies show that there is nothing magic about third grade: Poor reading at any grade predicts poor reading later on.

Second, research shows that students of all ages can make remarkable progress if they develop a reading habit.

The real problem is that for many students, the only source of books is the library. Studies consistently show that better libraries, staffed with qualified librarians, are associated with higher reading scores.

We don’t need more testing and we don’t need intensive interventions. We need to improve our school libraries and support our librarians.

Stephen Krashen


Some sources:

“Nothing magic ..”: Krashen, S. 2011. Need children read “proficiently” by grade 3? Language Magazine 11,2: 24-27. 2011

Students at all ages: Krashen, S. and McQuillan, J. 2007. Late intervention. Educational Leadership 65 (2): 68-73.

Better libraries ….: Krashen, S., Lee, SY., and McQuillan, J. 2012. Is the library important? Multivariate studies at the national and international level. Journal of Language and Literacy Education, 8(1): 26-36. Lance, Keith. The Impact of School Libraries on Student Achievement. http://www.lrs.org/impact.php

Original article: http://www.thestate.com/2013/03/31/2702500/education-leaders-florida-holds.html#storylink=cpy

HELP Stop the Spread of "Florida Formula Flu"

by P. L. Thomas

This isn't an April Fools' joke, but I wish.

My home state of SC is considering legislation that woud model state reading and grade retention policy on Just Read, Florida.

Adult leadership in a high-poverty state has expressed support for holding back children based on test scores that show that those children have the audacity to be impoverished....

SC is one of many states addicted to punishment but blind to inequity...

PLEASE read more HERE and share.

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Charter Commission to Have First Meeting

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Charter Commission to Have First Meeting:

Charter Commission to Have First Meeting

by Melissa Westbrook

From the Governor's office:

Date: Thurs. April 4, 2013
Time: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Location: Governor's Conference Room
Legislative Building, 2nd Floor
416 Sid Snyder Ave. SW
Olympia, WA 98501
Printable map of Capitol Campus
Handouts: Agenda

Commission Members

• Dr. Doreen Cato
• Trish Millines Dziko
• Kevin Jacka
• Chris Martin
• Dr. Margit McGuire
• Dave Quall
• Steve Sundquist
• Cindi Williams
• Larry Wright

Read commission member bios.
For more information, contact RaShelle Davis at (360) 902-0551 or rashelle.davis@gov.wa.gov.

The agenda has introductions, review of the agenda, lunch, overview from Attorney General's office, ethics training, State Board of Ed proposed rules, training for Sharepoint, Operating procedures and structure, public 

Does fixing schools have to punish teachers and their union? | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Does fixing schools have to punish teachers and their union? | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:

Does fixing schools have to punish teachers and their union?

by Ron Whitehorne

Education reform's dominant narrative, in both the nation and this city, assumes that the traditional protections unions provide for teachers need to be sacrificed in the interest of improving children's education.

While the well-compensated CEOs and hedge fund managers who feed regularly at the public trough are portrayed as disinterested champions of poor children, unionized teachers are characterized as being motivated by narrow self-interest. It really rankles me. 

Let me say at the outset, I don’t think unions have always acted to the benefit of children. There is room for debate about the wisdom of specific policies, particularly in an earlier period, when unions made little effort to build real partnerships with the community. But in the current environment, treating teachers with some degree of fairness and heeding their concerns over job security, compensation, and due process just isn't part of the conversation.

The Renaissance Schools initiative is a case in point. When a school is identified for this treatment, its teaching staff is reconstituted - all teachers, and staff, are 

UPDATE: For the Tribune’s Eric Zorn, calling racism racism is just a bargaining gambit + The in box. What the hell, Furman? | Fred Klonsky

The in box. What the hell, Furman? | Fred Klonsky:

For the Tribune’s Eric Zorn, calling racism racism is just a bargaining gambit.

by Fred Klonsky

When I pointed out what a lazy reporter the Trib’s Eric Zorn was, he wrote here and said he was sorry he disappointed me.
I think he wasn’t being sincere.
See, Zorn’s own daughter goes to Lane Technical College Prep. It was there that the story broke about the CPS ban of Persepolis, the hugely popular graphic novel. His daughter came home and told him about it. Typical of the way major Chicago media covers education stories, he dismissed it as a wild rumor. He made no calls or 

The in box. What the hell, Furman?

by Fred Klonsky

Our blogging comrade Tim Furman posted this today.

This Isn’t Goodbye-Goodbye…

…but it’s goodbye for now.

And so we have come to the end of School TechConnect. It’s been a hell of a ride.I’m taking a few months off.I’ll still be active on Twitter because as you know, I have to chime in on every little thing. And if I have something more extensive to say, I have a space ready for that. And I fully intend to be out on the streets with my cameras, so you ain’t heard the last from Ernest T. Bass, as a famous hillbilly once said.But the daily blogging is over for a while.
I’d like to thank all of my readers. You three have been a terrific audience. And I’d like to thank the people who’ve linked to me— you have excellent taste, all of you.
But seriously, thank you.
According to my vaguely sketched plan, I’ll be back in the saddle in August, in a new space, with my famously caustic wit intact. In other words, the babbling will continue in the fall.
See you on the streets. Adios!

What the hell, Furman? Like you have a day job?

Oh, right. You do.

Glen Brown, John Dillon, my brother and Tim Furman. These are Chicago area bloggers who people depend on. There are others. But not enough.

Tim, you may remember, was the go-to guy when we found the Jonah Edelman video on the Aspen site. I had 

California Superintendents, Elected Officials Launch Californians for President Obama’s Early Learning Plan Transitional Kindergarten Online Resource - TKCalifornia

Transitional Kindergarten Online Resource - TKCalifornia:

California Superintendents, Elected Officials Launch Californians for President Obama’s Early Learning Plan

Pre-K Students Sign, Seal Open Letter to Obama from CA School Superintendents 
 

Sacramento, CA – April 1, 2013 – Superintendents, legislators, advocates, civic leaders will join teachers, parents and child advocates to launch “Californians for President Obama’s Early Learning Plan” at 10am on Tuesday, April 2 at a pre-kindergarten classroom at H.W. Harkness Elementary School in Sacramento.

The event kicks off the campaign’s efforts to galvanize support for the President’s plan and for early education initiatives in California. The campaign will roll out media campaigns, local rallies and other visibility events and activities to advocate for state legislative action that invests in California’s earliest learners.
 

Californians for President Obama’s Early Learning Plan Launch

When: Tuesday, April 2, 10am PST

Where: H.W. Harkness Elementary School, 2147 54th Ave, Sacramento, CA 95822

What:

• Cameras can film Pre-K students "signing" and decorating a life-size letter to President Obama.
   
• Superintendent of Sacramento Schools Jonathon Raymond will present an open letter to the president on behalf of superintendents representing nearly 1.5 million students.
   
• Assemblywoman Bonilla (D-Concord) will present a legislative resolution in support of the president’s plan.
   
• Preschool California President Catherine Atkin will call on President Obama to announce a robust early learning plan.

Who:

• Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla (D-Concord)
• Catherine Atkin, President, Preschool California
• Jonathan Raymond, Superintendent Sacramento City Unified School District
• John E. Deasy, Superintendent Los Angeles Unified School District
• Bill Kowba, Superintendent San Diego Unified School District
• Christopher J Steinhauser, Superintendent Long Beach Unified School District
• Mike Hanson, Superintendent, Fresno Unified School District
• Richard A. Carranza, Superintendent San Francisco Unified School District
• Dale Marsden, Superintendent San Bernardino City Unified School District
• Glyyn Thompson  Superintendent San Juan Unified       
• Deborah A. Flores, Ph.D, Superintendent Gilroy Unified School District
• Kevin Skelly, Superintendent Palo Alto Unified School District
• John R. Porter, Jr., Superintendent Franklin-McKinley School District
• Robert M. Hudson, Superintendent Alpaugh Unified School District
• Joel Shawn, Superintendent Aracadia Unified School District
• Mark M. Skvarna, Superintendent Baldwin Park Unified School District
• Russell Freitas, Superintendent Firebaugh – Las Deltas Unified School District
• Eric Cederquist, Superintendent Fowler Unified School District
• Frank Adelman, Superintendent Oak Run Elementary School District
• Doug Domene, Superintendent Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District
• Richard Fauss, Superintendent Redding School District

###

About Californians for President Obama’s Early Learning Plan: A broad and diverse coalition of superintendents, educators, parents, legislators, scholars, child advocates and other supporters working to ensure every California child has access to high quality early childhood education.
 

About Preschool California: Preschool California works to ensure all children have the early experiences necessary to be successful learners, setting them on a path to college and career readiness. High-quality early childhood programs place children on a trajectory for success in kindergarten and beyond. In addition, economists have found that high-quality early childhood education offers one of the highest returns of any public investment.
 

Learn more at: Learn more at: www.preschoolcalifornia.org and www.tkcalifornia.org.

Gates and Murdoch "Personalize" Learning with Larger Classes and Big Data Systems - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Gates and Murdoch "Personalize" Learning with Larger Classes and Big Data Systems - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:

Gates and Murdoch "Personalize" Learning with Larger Classes and Big Data Systems

by Anthony Cody

Do you ever get the feeling that your mind has been boggled once too often? That was my reaction when I readthis enthusiastic report about the way the next generation's educational experience will be "personalized" by the tremendous data systems being developed by Bill Gates and Rupert Murdoch.
The Gates Foundation has worked with Rupert Murdoch's Amplify to create a new non-profit called inBloom. (formerly the Shared Learning Collaborative). Their mission is "inform and involve each student and teacher with data and tools designed to personalize learning." This story explains:

To personalize learning, the first part is diagnostics - where are [students] on the learning path? - and the second part is, once you know where they are on the learning path, what's the next step?," said Streichenberger. InBloom's services address both needs.

By creating a neutral, nonprofit group to help connect the data, the hope is that schools won't encounter as much friction when companies and organizations want to access student data for assessment programs or other ed tech tools.

The service that inBloom will provide is to host all the data mined from all the assessments and surveys students 

National voices in the debate about testing and accountability — ain’t just Texas | Education Blog

National voices in the debate about testing and accountability — ain’t just Texas | Education Blog:

National voices in the debate about testing and accountability — ain’t just Texas

By Jeffrey Weiss
JWeiss@dallasnews.com
11:58 am on April 1, 2013 | Permalink

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Every day, I get delivered via email links to stories about various education topics. And every everyevery day, several are about the testing and accountability debate. I find it useful to he reminded that the Texas version of the debate is neither the only version nor, in many ways, all that different from many others. Here is a gleaning from today.

An English professor from Carnegie Mellon University does a column explaining why she has had her son, a third-grader, opt out from the Pennsylvania version of the standardized test. A nugget:

Then one day this March it dawned on me. I am getting angry at my son about a test. A test that I do not like. A “high-stakes” test that will put so much pressure on Jacob that it probably will not reflect his true abilities. I also realized something else: Jacob does not love to read.

To which I observe: There are lots of things I do not love to do and yet in which I am required to