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Sunday, August 4, 2019

Peter Greene: The College Chase Is Pushing Parents Over The Line

The College Chase Is Pushing Parents Over The Line

The College Chase Is Pushing Parents Over The Line
It has become one of the recurring themes in the news--the lengths that parents will go to in order to get their child into college.
The big story was the college admissions scandal that uncovered the rich and famous bribing and lying to get their children into college. The scandal touched a national nerve, as witnessed that just three days ago, Vanity Fair published yet another story about the scandal. The unveiling of the story has not so much awakened national shock as it has elicited a national recognition. Not so much "I can't believe anyone would do such a thing" as "Well, sure. Let me tell you about these parents I know..."
The idea that college may not be the best destination for everyone is not new. The Chronicle of Higher Education was asking "Are too many students going to college" a decade ago. There has been are newed push for career and technical education. But here is still steady drumbeat for students to go to college, even as college has become extraordinarily expensive. The days in which a summer minimum wage job could pay for college are long, long gone. That means that parents are concerned both about college admissions and scholarships.
Teachers have been watching the effects of this pressure for decades. High school, and even elementary teachers, can tell stories. The CONTINUE READING: The College Chase Is Pushing Parents Over The Line

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Mitchell Robinson: When do "not-for-profit" and "for-profit" mean the same thing? Welcome to Michigan's dystopian charter schools | Eclectablog

When do "not-for-profit" and "for-profit" mean the same thing? Welcome to Michigan's dystopian charter schools | Eclectablog

When do “not-for-profit” and “for-profit” mean the same thing? Welcome to Michigan’s dystopian charter schools


Michigan, allegedly, does not permit for-profit charter schools.
And yet one of the largest for-profit charter management corporations, National Heritage Academies (NHA), is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. And they take the “for profit” part seriously:
NHA funds itself partly by charging its schools high rates. For example, the New York Daily News reported that NHA owned property in Brooklyn and charged one of its charter schools there $2.3 million to rent the property, which is $1 million over market rate. This means that the extra $1 million dollars goes to NHA instead of the individual charter schools.
So, how does a school claim to be a “non-profit” operation when they are diverting public tax dollars to a “for-profit” enterprise like NHA?
While only one state, Arizona, currently allows for-profit charter schools to operate in their state (California just passed a law against for-profit charters on July 1, 2019), in the upside-down world of corporate education reform the differences between for-profit and not-for-profit charter schools are so negligible as to be nonexistent.
How could this be?
Because not-for-profit charter schools in many states, including Michigan, are free to contract with for-profit charter management companies for HR services, custodial services, and a number of other personnel and facilities needs.
Taking full advantage of this seeming “loophole” in funding arrangements, NHA operates 50 charter schools in Michigan, with many of these schools claiming “not-for-profit” status even as CONTINUE READING: When do "not-for-profit" and "for-profit" mean the same thing? Welcome to Michigan's dystopian charter schools | Eclectablog


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Education Insider for August 4, 2019 - Education Votes

Education Insider for August 4, 2019 - Education Votes

Education Insider for August 4, 2019

Keep telling your senators to push for action on bills that help families and educators

Mitch McConnellAs the Senate begins its August recess, the list of House-passed bills awaiting action just grows longer. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is proud of his refusal even to consider legislation with broad-based support—in the House and among the American people—and smilingly describes himself as the Grim Reaper. More than 100 House-passed bills are languishing in the Senate’s legislative graveyard, including five that are NEA priorities. Email your senators—again, if you’ve already done so—and tell them to push for action on the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act, the Equality Act, the Raise the Wage Act, the Paycheck Fairness Act, and the Background Check Expansion Act.

Senate passes bipartisan budget bill that prevents severe cuts in education funding

By a vote of 67-28, the Senate passed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 (H.R. 3877) already passed by the House. The bill lifts the budget caps introduced in 2011 and prevents severe cuts in non-defense discretionary (NDD) funding for fiscal years 2020 and 2021. In 2020 alone, the budget caps would have resulted in automatic cuts of $55 billion to education and other NDD programs. Now, NEA is urging senators to support significant investments in education like those in the House-passed education appropriations bill—particularly in programs serving the students most in need such as Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The House bill also increases funding for community schools and takes steps to make college more affordable. Email your senators and tell them to push for increases like those in the House education appropriations bill.

FCC wants to make changes that would negatively affect rural students, schools, and libraries

Rural schools and libraries could find it harder to access the internet if the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has its way. A proposed rulepublished earlier this month combines funding for the E-Rate and Rural Health Care programs, forcing them to compete for a single pot of money—not what Congress intended when it passed the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that established them as separate programs with distinct purposes. E-Rate has played a vital role in connecting nearly 100 percent of our schools and public libraries to the internet. Today, E-Rate ensures that schools stay connected with high-speed broadband, providing access to information and services critical to 21st century teaching and learning. In comments on the proposed rule, NEA urges the FCC to “immediately terminate this rulemaking and abandon these harmful proposals.”

Reach out while Congress is back home

Both the House and the Senate have adjourned until after Labor Day. Please take the opportunity to reach out to your senators and representative while they’re back home. Continue to weigh in via NEA’s Action Center as well!


Cheers and Jeers

thumbsupSenator Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced the Senate version of the Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act (S. 2331) to clarify that training for school food workers should be scheduled during paid working hours, offered in person when appropriate, incorporate hands-on training techniques, and provided at no cost to employees.
thumbsupHouse Education and Labor Committee Chair Bobby Scott (D-VA) is pressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to come clean about how many children could lose free school meals under a proposed rule, published in the Federal Register on July 24, that changes eligibility requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). USDA staff estimated that the rule “will result in more than 500,000 children losing their automatic eligibility for free schools meals” during a briefing for committee staff, Scott wrote in a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.
thumbsupReps. Katie Porter (D-CA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Max Rose (D-NY), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Abby Finkenauer (D-IA), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL) for forming the College Affordability Caucus to address the student debt crisis and related issues.
thumbsdownSens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), John Kennedy (R-LA), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) voted to advance the Secure and Protect Act of 2019 (S. 1494), which would gut the Flores settlement agreement’s protections for children. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Graham jammed the bill through the committee with no amendments, breaking several Senate rules in the process.
Education Insider for August 4, 2019 - Education Votes
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Teachers' Role In The Puerto Rico Uprising | PopularResistance.Org

Teachers' Role In The Puerto Rico Uprising | PopularResistance.Org

TEACHERS’ ROLE IN THE PUERTO RICO UPRISING

Rosello Funneled Money To Charter Schools In Puerto Rico.

The Asociación de Maestros de Puerto Rico and the AFT demanded that federal recovery money restore public education on the island instead.
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 release of the insulting texts.
“People in Puerto Rico felt betrayed by the governor,” says Myrna Ortiz-Castillo in a phone conversation. Ortiz-Castillo is a third-grade teacher and serves as finance secretary at the AMPR local in Bayamon. She insists, “He is supposed to be the person CONTINUE READING: Teachers' Role In The Puerto Rico Uprising | PopularResistance.Org

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Peter Greene: Four Truths About For-Profit Charter Schools - Progressive.org

Four Truths About For-Profit Charter Schools - Progressive.org

Four Truths About For-Profit Charter Schools

2020 Democratic candidates taking a stand against for-profit charters is like bravely standing up in opposition to yeti attacks.

Image result for For-Profit Charter Schools

 Democratic candidates have been steering away from supporting charter schools. For a further-left candidate like Bernie Sanders, a call to endcharter expansion is not far removed from his other anti-corporate positions. But even longtime education reformers like Cory Booker are backpedaling, talking about an end to “raiding public schools.” Others, like Pete Buttigieg, are trying to repeat the Hillary Clinton line of 2016, some variation of “I’m against for-profit charters, but nonprofit charter schools are just fine.” Since this is again part of the conversation, let’s review the ways in which this is a distinction without a difference.
1.  For-Profit Charter Schools Are Rarer Than Unicorns
At the moment, Arizona is the only state in the country that allows for-profit charter schools. There were more, but for-profit charters established themselves as a target for regulation early on. Plus, it seemed obvious to many people that a for-profit charter school pitted the financial interests of its owners against the educational interests of its students. Taking a stand against for-profit charters is like standing up against yeti attacks.
So if for-profits are so rare, then why does a twitter search on #AnotherDayAnotherCharterScandal turn up so many examples of fraud and misbehavior?
2. It’s Pretty Easy to Profit from a Nonprofit Charter
Let’s say I want to get into the charter business. I set up Nonprofit Elementary School. Then I immediately outsource all the operational functions—teaching, cleaning, cafeteria—to a for-profit company. So-called “sweeps contracts” allowed charters to pass on almost every cent of collected tax dollars to a for-profit management company. In some cases, the for-profit can actually end up owning the assets purchased for the school with public dollars. In particularly striking cases, like that of Baker Mitchell in North Carolina, one individual can own the charter school and the companies serving the charter. In Florida, CONTINUE READING: Four Truths About For-Profit Charter Schools - Progressive.org
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Justice John Paul Stevens on Gun Control | Diane Ravitch's blog

Justice John Paul Stevens on Gun Control | Diane Ravitch's blog

Justice John Paul Stevens on Gun Control

I posted this originally on March 2, 2018, after the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Justice John Paul Stevens wrote a series of essays about the Supreme Court and its treatment of important issues like gun control. The Washington Post excerpted one of them here, in 2014.
“Following the massacre of grammar-school children in Newtown, Conn., in December 2012, high-powered weapons have been used to kill innocent victims in more senseless public incidents. Those killings, however, are only a fragment of the total harm caused by the misuse of firearms. Each year, more than 30,000 people die in the United States in firearm-related incidents. Many of those deaths involve handguns.
“The adoption of rules that will lessen the number of those incidents should be a matter of primary concern to both federal and state legislators. Legislatures are in a far better position than judges to assess the wisdom of such rules and to evaluate the costs and benefits that rule changes can be expected to produce. It is those legislators, rather than federal judges, who should make the decisions that will determine what kinds of firearms should be available to private citizens, and when and how they may be used. Constitutional provisions that curtail the legislative power to govern in this area unquestionably do more harm than good.
“The first 10 amendments to the Constitution placed limits on the powers of the new federal government. Concern that a national standing army might pose a threat to the security of the separate states led to the adoption of the Second Amendment, which provides that “a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
“For more than 200 years following the adoption of that CONTINUE READING: Justice John Paul Stevens on Gun Control | Diane Ravitch's blog
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The Not-so-Secret War against OUR Public Schools | Crazy Normal - the Classroom Exposé

The Not-so-Secret War against OUR Public Schools | Crazy Normal - the Classroom Exposé

The Not-so-Secret War against OUR Public Schools
About eight years ago my wife heard Diane Ravitch being interviewed on NPR. When Anchee got home, she told me I’d be interested, and I’ve been following Diane’s blog since and have read a few of her books on the war being waged against our public schools.
Make no mistake about this issue; it is a greed-based war of power and corruption that mostly old, white billionaires and corporations managed by old, white CEO’s launched against the people’s public schools long before I learned about Diane Ravitch.
I was a public school teacher for thirty years working in Rowland Unified School District in Southern California from 1975 to 2005. The two schools I taught at the longest were Giano Intermediate and Nogales High Schoolin La Puente, California. After President Ronald Reagan’s flawed and misleading “A Nation at Risk” report was released in 1983, it didn’t take long for news and opinion pieces to start appearing in the media blaming public school teachers for literally everything that was allegedly wrong in the United States, including poverty and the number of Americans in Prison.
National Public Radio reported, “The idea that American schools were worse just wasn’t true,” says James Guthrie, an education professor at Lynn University in Florida. Guthrie published a scholarly article in 2004 titled “A Nation At Risk Revisited: Did ‘Wrong’ Reasoning Result in ‘Right’ Results? At What Cost?” … “I looked at it every which way,” he says now. The authors in 1983 “were hell-bent on proving that schools were bad. They cooked the books to get what they wanted.”
Did you know that one of the leaders in this war against our public schools is Bill Gates? But, he isn’t alone. There are others like Eli Broad, the Wal-Mart Walton family, the Koch brothers, and Betsy DeVos. Taking a page from Hitler’s Nazi propaganda machine, these greedy, power-hungry enemies of our public education system created a misleading phrase and have relentlessly repeated it through the years. That phrase was the school  continue reading: The Not-so-Secret War against OUR Public Schools | Crazy Normal - the Classroom Exposé

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Saturday, August 3, 2019

Top Posts This Week 8/3/19 #REDFORED

Big Education Ape




Top Posts This Week 8/3/19 

Top Posts This Month 8/3/19 

 Posts This Week 8/3/19 



Schools Matter: Now Black Total Compliance Means Hair, Too
by Mike Simpson / 2min
Schools Matter: Now Black Total Compliance Means Hair, Too The name of the school is Narvie J. Harris Theme School. The principal's name is Lisa Watkins, and her email address is lisa_f_watkins@dekalbschoolsga.org. Phone #: 678.676.9202 From New Age box fades to braids, a display on the wall of a suburban Atlanta elementary school tried to illustrate a variety of “inappropriate” haircuts and hai
All Things Education: Final Report: Understanding Racial Inequity in School Discipline Across the Richmond Region
by Mike Simpson / 1h
Final Report: Understanding Racial Inequity in School Discipline Across the Richmond Region As described in this initial post , I was on the research team of a study of disparate disciplinary practices in Richmond, Virginia, area K-12 public schools being conducted by MERC ( Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium ) at my graduate school institution, Virginia Commonwealth University. I part
3 Simple Things You Can Do This Summer to Make Next School Year Easier - Teacher Habits
by Mike Simpson / 1h
3 Simple Things You Can Do This Summer to Make Next School Year Easier Regular readers of this blog know what I think about teachers working over the summer. For those late to the party, allow me to summarize: Most teachers shouldn’t and they shouldn’t feel an ounce of guilt over the number of days they don’t even think about their job. Read: Teachers Should Not Feel Guilty About Taking the Summ
Behind The Lens episode 43: ‘It’s not fair that to get your children basic educational services in this city that that’s what it has to come to’ | The Lens
by Mike Simpson / 1h
Behind The Lens episode 43: ‘It’s not fair that to get your children basic educational services in this city that that’s what it has to come to’ This week on Behind The Lens: A city contractor that authored a new report on short term rentals has ties to AirBnB . Michael Isaac Stein has the story. And Marta Jewson talks to a mother who spent over a year waiting to have her child tested for specia
An Open Letter to Donald Trump from the Camden Education Association… | Blue Jersey
by Mike Simpson / 1h
An Open Letter to Donald Trump from the Camden Education Association… To Donald Trump: As a force of 1100 public school educators consisting of guidance counselors, social workers, clerks, paraprofessionals, early childhood staff, attendance officers, security officers, and teachers comprising the Camden Education Association, I am writing this open letter to you to communicate our thorough disa
Did Public Schools Elect Trump? Will They Re-elect Him? | The Merrow Report
by Mike Simpson / 2h
Did Public Schools Elect Trump? Will They Re-elect Him? Our democratic republic is at risk, and I think our public schools are partially responsible. Its elaborate sorting system has turned out too many adults who resent rather than value our nation and our struggle to create a more perfect union. While many of these adults voted for Donald Trump in 2016, I believe that many more did not bother
2019 Medley #14: Early Learning, Play, and Preschool | Live Long and Prosper
by Mike Simpson / 2h
2019 Medley #14: Early Learning, Play, and Preschool PUT PLAY FIRST Let the Children Play: How More Play Will Save Our Schools and Help Children Thrive By Pasi Sahlberg and William Doyle, Oxford University Press Full disclosure: I haven’t finished reading this book, yet… …but I’m far enough along to know academic kindergartens and virtual preschools aren’t the best way to build academic success
It’s My Birthday! Please Send Me to NPE! | deutsch29
by Mike Simpson / 3h
It’s My Birthday! Please Send Me to NPE! Hello, all! Today is my 52nd birthday, and I am asking readers to help fund my trip to the Network for Public Education (NPE) conference in Philadelphia, PA (March 28 and 29, 2020) . Even though the conference officially begins on Saturday, March 28, 2020, I will be one of a few authors slated to present on new books on Friday evening, March 27. This summ
Tenth Anniversary of Blog | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
by Mike Simpson / 3h
Tenth Anniversary of Blog Hard to believe that I began this blog in 2009. I have enjoyed writing about school reform and classroom practice because both have consequences, anticipated and unanticipated for children, teachers, parents, citizens, and society. I also look forward to writing more posts during my eleventh year because I know that there are a lot of fiercely smart practitioners, polic
THIS WEEK Education Research Report
by Mike Simpson / 4h
Education Research Report THIS WEEK Education Research Report Urban Adolescents’ Engagement and Disengagement in School by Jonathan Kantrowitz / 1h This study examines influences on urban adolescents’ engagement and disengagement in school by first interviewing 22 middle and high school students who varied in their level of engagement and disengagement. Support from adults and peers, opportunitie
This Week With Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007
by Mike Simpson / 4h
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 This Week With Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... The latest news and resources in education since 2007 NPR “Fresh Air” Interview Show Puts Archives Online by Larry Ferlazzo / 8h Fresh Air, the iconic NPR interview show with Terry Gross, has just put its archive of all past shows online . Many, th
KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all
by Mike Simpson / 4h
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all KEEP UP/ CATCH UP WITH DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG A site to discuss better education for all Big Education Ape: My New Book Was Just Announced! | Diane Ravitch's blog - https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2019/05/my-new-book-was-just-announced-diane.html Michael Kohlhaas: Did LAUSD Board Member Nick Melvoin Share Confidential Informatio

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States lead the way on community school innovation
by Mike Simpson / 1d
States lead the way on community school innovation Policymakers and leaders at multiple levels have been paying increased attention to community schools—schools that engage families and community organizations to provide well-rounded support to students. Recently, presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden called for expanding community schools . New York City Mayor Bill de Blasi
You Are Not a Bad Teacher If Your Lessons Look Like This - Teacher Habits
by Mike Simpson / 1d
You Are Not a Bad Teacher If Your Lessons Look Like This Guest Writer: Isabell Gaylord As a teacher, you have a responsibility to inspire your students. If your students are bored, it makes your job that much harder. For decades, educators have been trying new techniques to get students excited about learning. Explore the following ways to keep your lessons interesting and your students engaged.
Texas schools more likely to work with nonprofits than charters | The Texas Tribune
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Texas tried to incentivize school districts to work with charters. Districts are turning to local nonprofits instead. Not many school districts are partnering with charter schools, in some cases because they know it wouldn't be politically palatable in their communities. A 2017 law made some waves by encouraging traditional school districts to partner with charter schools as a way to create more
Oh Goodie! - Good Blog
by Mike Simpson / 1d
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 assoc
“If you don’t know why, you don’t know” | DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing
by Mike Simpson / 1d
“If you don’t know why, you don’t know” When we started teaching, we thought our job was to tell students what they needed to know, to “make them learn.” As we gained experience and availed ourselves of the mentorship of veteran teachers, our chairmen and a host of colleagues, we came to the realization that to be a successful teacher is to get the students to “teach themselves”, that is to say
Will Huntsberry: A “Nonprofit” Charter Chain in California Reaps Huge Windfalls from Its Entwined Business Deals | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Will Huntsberry: A “Nonprofit” Charter Chain in California Reaps Huge Windfalls from Its Entwined Business Deals Will Huntsberry is the investigative reporter who untangled the $50-$80 million scam that led to the indictment of eleven people associated with a virtual charter chain in California (“Inside the Charter School Empire Prosecutors Say Scammed California for $80 Million”). In his latest
NCTQ’s “Case Closed” Brain Image Post Plugs Pearson’s RICA Reading Te$t for Teachers. Fails the Smell Test!
by Mike Simpson / 1d
NCTQ’s “Case Closed” Brain Image Post Plugs Pearson’s RICA Reading Te$t for Teachers. Fails the Smell Test! Kate Walsh, President of the astroturf National Council of Teacher Quality (NCTQ), a group that pretends it’s for teachers and schools when it’s really about privatization, recently published an article “Case Closed” implying that teachers are “science deniers” when it comes to teaching re
Louisiana Educator: What's Really Wrong With Louisiana Education?
by Mike Simpson / 1d
What's Really Wrong With Louisiana Education? The article posted earlier this week on my blog may lead some readers to believe that I am "down" on Louisiana education. Nothing could be further from the truth. I also sincerely believe that our public school teachers are some of the most dedicated and hardest working teachers we have ever had. This post by Ganey Arsement of the blog, Educate Louis
NEW study released: Are charter schools more intensely segregated? | Cloaking Inequity
by Mike Simpson / 1d
NEW STUDY RELEASED: ARE CHARTER SCHOOLS MORE INTENSELY SEGREGATED? We are honored today to release a new study entitled Choice without inclusion?: Comparing the intensity of racial segregation in charters and public schools at the local, state and national levels that examines segregation in the entire universe of US public and charter schools. In its landmark Brown v. Board of Education decisio
‘This is our sad reality:’ Bulletproof backpacks are a big back-to-school item - The Washington Post
by Mike Simpson / 1d
‘This is our sad reality:’ Bulletproof backpacks are a big back-to-school item With school starting soon around the country, new attention is being focused on keeping kids safe after a spate of shootings over the past year. In 2018, there were 24 school shootings in which there were injuries or deaths. In February of that year, 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Par
NYC Public School Parents: Peeling lead paint found in 938 classrooms; and lead-laden water in 500 schools
by Mike Simpson / 1d
Peeling lead paint found in 938 classrooms; and lead-laden water in 500 schools The DOE found peeling lead paint at 486 schools built before 1985, including over 938 classrooms serving kids in 3-K, Pre-K, Kindergarten and first grade. More on this at Gothamist [with a WNYC radio sound file], Chalkbeat and NY Post . The ramped up inspection is a result of investigative reporting by Christopher We

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Jeff Bryant: A Movement Against Charter Schools Helped Oust Puerto Rico’s Governor
by Mike Simpson / 1d
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 Rossel
It Appears That Icky Sticky Nicky Melvoin Revealed Confidential Attorney Client Information
by Mike Simpson / 1d
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 2
CURMUDGUCATION: Should A Teacher Be Secretary of Education
by Mike Simpson / 2d
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 u
CURMUDGUCATION: Eight Weeks of Summer: Moving Forward
by Mike Simpson / 2d
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 per
Now it’s getting ridiculous: Four Democratic debates, almost no discussion on K-12 education - The Washington Post
by Mike Simpson / 2d
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 publ
Understanding the work of Michael Deshotels – Educate Louisiana
by Mike Simpson / 2d
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 lig
Student Loan Forgiveness Programs for Teachers
by Mike Simpson / 2d
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 avera
It's Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... A VERY BUSY DAY | The latest news and resources in education since 2007
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Now Students Can Transcribe Smithsonian Historical Audio Recordings & Not Just Written Texts by Larry Ferlazzo / 42min I’ve shared a lot about how various institutions crowdsource transcribing historical handwritten text, and how that kind of project can make history come alive for students (see The B
The many ways one powerful nonprofit organization helps charter schools - The Washington Post
by Mike Simpson / 2d
The many ways one powerful nonprofit organization and its leader help charter schools Building Hope is, according to its website , a national nonprofit organization based in Washington that “partners with investors and philanthropic and government organizations to provide comprehensive charter school services.” Those services include providing financing for charter schools facilities “at below-m
It’s a real shame about school lunch - The Washington Post
by Mike Simpson / 2d
It’s a real shame about school lunch School lunch shouldn’t be a topic of controversy, yet, somehow, it is — and this isn’t about the taste of the food. For one thing, the Trump administration has proposed a change in the rules governing who qualifies for food stamps through the program known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), and critics say they fear this could hurt millions
NYC Public School Parents: Not-so-hot news from Class Size Matters; and how you can help
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Not-so-hot news from Class Size Matters; and how you can help I hope you are having a relaxing summer. Unfortunately, the last few weeks haven't been much fun for Class Size Matters. We recently discovered that we lost over $7000, including the donations to our annual fundraiser in June, because NYCharities, our online processor, appears to have collapsed, as reported by Fox News . I am also quo
Racism, the White Plague of the U.S. | radical eyes for equity
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Racism, the White Plague of the U.S. Race remains a deeply misunderstood aspect of the U.S. Some of this confusion lies in basic terminology, such as being able to distinguish between “racial” and “racism/racist.” Let’s consider the NFL to unpack that language and its relationship to how racism and being a racist applies to the U.S. Here are racial demographics of the league (from 2018) : These
Grassroots Education Network- July 2019 Newsletter - Network For Public Education
by Mike Simpson / 2d
Grassroots Education Network- July 2019 Newsletter The NPE Grassroots Education Network is a network of over 130 grassroots organizations nationwide who have joined together to preserve, promote, improve, and strengthen our public schools. If you know of a group that would like to join this powerful network, please go here to sign up. If you have any questions about the NPE Grassroots Education

JUL 31

In Wake Of Successful Teachers’ Strike, Reclaim Our Schools LA Releases Case Study Of Parent And Student Organizing | UTLA
by Mike Simpson / 2d
In Wake Of Successful Teachers’ Strike, Reclaim Our Schools LA Releases Case Study Of Parent And Student Organizing | UTLA In Wake Of Successful Teachers’ Strike, Reclaim Our Schools LA Releases Case Study Of Parent And Student Organizing “Building the Power to Reclaim Our Schools” will serve as a blueprint for bringing together students, parents, teachers, and community for the common good. LOS
School spankings are banned just about everywhere around the world — but not in the United States – Raw Story
by Mike Simpson / 3d
School spankings are banned just about everywhere around the world — but not in the United States In 1970, only three countries – Italy , Japan and Mauritius – banned corporal punishment in schools. By 2016, more than 100 countries banned the practice, which allows teachers to legally hit, paddle or spank students for misbehavior. The dramatic increase in bans on corporal punishment in schools i
Andrea Gabor: What to Do When the Testing Madness Ends | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Andrea Gabor: What to Do When the Testing Madness Ends Andrea Gabor, The Bloomberg Professor of business journalism at Baruch College of the City University of New York, is one of the nation’s worthy and thoughtful education writers. Her book about W. Edwards Deming has the best refutation of merit pay that I have read (chapter 9, The Man Who Invented Quality). Her latest book book, Education Af
The Miseducation of the American Voter | Live Long and Prosper
by Mike Simpson / 3d
The Miseducation of the American Voter John Merrow, the retired education journalist for PBS, recently wrote, …public education is an efficient sorting machine that is undemocratic to its core. Schools sort young children in two basic groups: A minority is designated as ‘winners’ who are placed on a track leading to elite colleges, prominence and financial success. While the rest aren’t labeled
World Studies: Technology Integration at Mountain View High School | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
by Mike Simpson / 3d
World Studies: Technology Integration at Mountain View High School Three years ago on the recommendation of district coordinators of technology, I observed classrooms of teachers in Silicon Valley districts. I described what I saw without making any evaluative comments on the teachers or lessons they taught. Here is one example of a social studies teacher who had integrated the classroom use of
NYC Public School Parents: With little fanfare and some disappointment, yesterday's second and final meeting of the School Siting Task Force was held
by Mike Simpson / 3d
With little fanfare and some disappointment, yesterday's second and final meeting of the School Siting Task Force was held Yesterday the second, and it turned out, the final meeting of the School Siting Task Force was held. Reports of this disappointing meeting were published in the Daily News and the Wall Street Journal today. To recap : In their Planning to Learn report , released in March 201
The Missed Opportunity Myth | Gary Rubinstein's Blog
by Mike Simpson / 3d
The Missed Opportunity Myth Before Michelle Rhee was a board member for Miracle-Gro she was the founder and CEO of StudentsFirst. Before that, she was Chancellor of Washington D.C. schools from 2007 to 2010. Before that, she was the CEO of The New Teacher Project. And even though Rhee is not a public figure anymore in education, she continues to influence education policy through The New Teacher
Louisiana Educator: The LDOE claims steady growth in student LEAP scores
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Louisiana Educator: 2019 LEAP and EOC Conversion Tables The LDOE claims steady growth in student LEAP scores The Louisiana Department of Education recently announced the results of the Spring 2019 LEAP tests. The results statewide and by school district and school are available on the LDOE web site at links given at the bottom of the press release, here. These tables represent the LDOE's decision

JUL 30

Top 7 Ways Technology Stifles Student Learning in My Classroom | gadflyonthewallblog
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Top 7 Ways Technology Stifles Student Learning in My Classroom As a middle school teacher, I have real concerns about the ways technology is used in the classroom and the effects it’s having on students. That does not make me a technophobe . The fact that you are reading this article on a blog – a regularly updated Website containing personal writings or a we B – LOG ) should prove that point. I
Jon Schnur and His Nonprofit Accelerator, America Achieves: A Deep Dig | deutsch29
by Mike Simpson / 3d
Jon Schnur and His Nonprofit Accelerator, America Achieves: A Deep Dig Sometimes the ed-reform deep dig is really deep. On July 22, 2019, I wrote a post about a nonprofit, Results for America, that was incubated by another nonprofit, America Achieves. I had planned to follow up with a post about America Achieves, which received its nonprofit status in November 2010 and which was co-founded by it
The pervasiveness of poverty in schools demands real solutions
by Mike Simpson / 4d
A school administrator tries to shame poverty away The pervasiveness of poverty in schools demands real solutions Last time I checked, being poor was not a crime. But earlier this month, school officials in Kingston, Pennsylvania, treated it as one. On July 9, Wyoming Valley West School District officials mailed a letter to approximately 40 parents, warning that if they did not pay their child’s
LA Unified’s spending plan should be rejected and rewritten, says advocates’ complaint | EdSource
by Mike Simpson / 4d
LA Unified’s spending plan should be rejected and rewritten, says advocates’ complaint LCAP doesn’t fully document how $1.2 billion will help high-needs students A public interest law firm that has bird-dogged Los Angeles Unified’s spending has filed a formal complaint demanding that the state’s largest school district redo its 2019-20 school accountability plan. The complaint argues that the di
Study: California schools earn low grades compared to nation
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Study: California schools earn low grades compared to nation (KGTV) - As parents and children prepare for a new school year, a study shows California schools do not earn top grades compared to other states. California ranked 38th among the 50 states and District of Columbia in 29 categories, according to the Wallet Hub study. Data considered to measure quality included graduation rate, dropout r
Fake Play and Its Dangerous Alignment to Standards and Data
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Fake Play and Its Dangerous Alignment to Standards and Data Where does pretending come in? It relates to what philosophers call “counterfactual” thinking, like Einstein wondering what would happen if a train went at the speed of light. ~Alison Gopnik, “Let the Children Play, It’s Good for Them” Smithsonian Magazine. July 2012. There’s a troubling phenomenon happening in early childhood education
Teacher Preparation and the Kafkan Nightmare of Accreditation | radical eyes for equity
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Teacher Preparation and the Kafkan Nightmare of Accreditation Over three-plus decades of teaching, I have found that students are far less likely to laugh while reading Franz Kafka than, say, while reading Kurt Vonnegut. But Kafka and Vonnegut are essentially satirists, though both traffic mainly in dark humor. Franz Kafka 1923 (public domain) The Metamorphosis is the work most people associate
The Case for Making College Free – Have You Heard
by Mike Simpson / 4d
The Case for Making College Free In the latest episode of Have You Heard, economist Marshall Steinbaum talks free college, human capital theory, educationism and why it’s time to disrupt the individualized logic of higher education. If that sounds like a lot, well, it is! You may need to take notes—or lie down for a while, but we guarantee that listening to this episode will add to your stockpil
CURMUDGUCATION: Why Charter Schools Must Waste Money
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Why Charter Schools Must Waste Money Back in March, the Network for Public Education, a public education advocacy group, released a study showing that the Department of Education has spent over a billion dollars on charter school waste and fraud . Education Next, a publication that advocates for charter schools, offered a reply to that report. The rebuttal to the rebuttal just appeared in the Wa
New thoughts on Charter Schools…. | Deborah Meier on Education
by Mike Simpson / 4d
New thoughts on Charter Schools…. Just took a long swim in my pond and feel restored—maybe to age…. 50? I’ve been involved this past year in working with Steve Zimmerman, who has started two community-based charter schools in Queens. He’s helped me do some hard thinking about my divided loyalties. On one hand I’m a fierce critic of privatizing K-12 schooling. Of course. And that includes all kin
Will “Big Ideas” Reduce/End the Achievement/Opportunity Gap? How Will Culturally Relevant Education (CRE) Impact Student Learning? | Ed In The Apple
by Mike Simpson / 4d
Will “Big Ideas” Reduce/End the Achievement/Opportunity Gap? How Will Culturally Relevant Education (CRE) Impact Student Learning? For decades researchers, think tanks, politicians, talking heads have chipped in with programs and policies to shrink/eliminate the “achievement gap.” The Moynihan Report (1965), entitled “The Black Family” pointed to dysfunctional Black families as a source of pover

JUL 29

Hackers’ Latest Target: School Districts - The New York Times
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Hackers’ Latest Target: School Districts Schools handle a lot of personal data and may not have strong technology teams, leaving them vulnerable to attacks, experts say. Some hackers demand ransom; others sweep up personal data for sale to identity thieves. But whatever hackers’ motives, school systems around the country have been the targets of their cyberattacks. One attack forced the Houston
Michigan Reading law would hold back almost 5,000 third graders if took effect today | Michigan Radio
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Michigan Reading law would hold back almost 5,000 third graders if took effect today If Michigan’s Read by Grade 3 retention law went into effect for this fall, nearly 5,000 third graders would repeat the third grade, according to Michigan State University researchers. MSU’s Education Policy Innovation Collaborative (EPIC) reviewed the 2017-2018 Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, or
Oklahoma Officials: Impossible To Track Epic Charter Schools' Alleged 'Ghost Students' | KOSU
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Oklahoma Officials: Impossible To Track Epic Charter Schools' Alleged 'Ghost Students' Oklahoma investigators believe Epic Charter Schools embezzled money by inflating its enrollment with homeschool and private school students. Because of the state’s dedication to privacy, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister says the alleged abuse would not have been preventable under curre
CURMUDGUCATION: Mayor Pete Doesn't Get It (And If He Does, That's Even Worse)
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Mayor Pete Doesn't Get It (And If He Does, That's Even Worse) In 2016, Hillary Clinton staked out what was supposed to be the safe territory on the charter school issue-- to be against for-profit charters, but in favor of non-profits. That qualified as enough of a break with the corporate Democrat orthodoxy that DFER felt the need to reassure wealthy donors that the Clinton's could be counted on
SomeDamPoet: What Happens to a Dream DFERed? (With Apologies to Langston Hughes) | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 5d
SomeDamPoet: What Happens to a Dream DFERed? (With Apologies to Langston Hughes) Our blog poet wrote a poem about DFER (Democrats for Education Reform). DFER is a group of wealthy hedge fund managers who may or may not be Democrats, but who are committed to charter schools, test-based evaluation of teachers, high-stakes testing, merit pay, and Teach for America. The Dream DFERed (with apologies
Chicago’s school choice system is tracking kids into different high schools
by Mike Simpson / 5d
The Big Sort: How Chicago’s school choice system is tracking kids into different high schools based on achievement This spring, at grammar schools all across Chicago, thousands of eighth graders donned caps and gowns and walked across auditorium stages to receive their elementary school diplomas. This fall, the graduates from each of those schools will scatter—to more than 130 different Chicago
Why I Do Not Support Mayor Pete | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Why I Do Not Support Mayor Pete There are many reasons why I would like to support Mayor Pete Buttigieg. He’s young, he is well-educated, he is smart, he has an admirable record of service to his country, he’s brimming with ideas. I find him very attractive on many levels. But on education, he is a stealth corporate reformer. I had an inkling of this when I read a review of his autobiography, wh
As public funding dipped, student loan debt soared
by Mike Simpson / 5d
As public funding dipped, student loan debt soared Ted Kachel and Karen A. Gray “I HOPE I DIE BEFORE I PAY OFF MY STUDENT LOANS BECAUSE I DON’T THINK I CAN PAY THEM OFF IN MY LIFETIME. MY GREATEST FEAR IS THAT MY HEALTH WILL FAIL, I WON’T BE ABLE TO WORK, AND THEY WILL COME AFTER ME FOR THE MONEY.” — GARY SIMS, DOCTOR OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE. D r. Gary Sims’ story is one of dozens we have heard
Lead-Based Paint Found In Half Of All Inspected Schools | PopularResistance.Org
by Mike Simpson / 5d
LEAD-BASED PAINT FOUND IN HALF OF ALL INSPECTED SCHOOLS With all the emphasis that has been placed on making sure children are safe from the hazards of lead-based paint at home, similar efforts would seem just as important for America’s schools. After all, outside of the home, young children spend the majority of their day – 6.8 hours a day – at school. Yet a new federal report found that an est
It's Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... A VERY BUSY DAY | The latest news and resources in education since 2007
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 It's Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... A VERY BUSY DAY The latest news and resources in education since 2007 Infographic: “Earth Overshoot Day” by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h WikiImages / Pixabay This infographic came from Statista : Earth Overshoot Day came on July 29 this year. This is the second time
Shawgi Tell: Charter Schools Cannot Be Prettified | Dissident Voice
by Mike Simpson / 5d
Charter Schools Cannot Be Prettified | Dissident Voice Charter Schools Cannot Be Prettified Recent “Study” Funded by Billionaires Downplays Intensification of Segregation by Charter Schools A July 2019 “study” funded by the pro-privatization Walton Family Foundation, “Charter School Effects on School Segregation,” reports that charter schools intensify racial and ethnic segregation, but not by mu
They May Not "Know" Math, But They Can Tell They're Divided | The Jose Vilson
by Mike Simpson / 5d
THEY MAY NOT “KNOW” MATH, BUT THEY CAN TELL THEY’RE DIVIDED In 2012, I had the pleasure of reading a poem dedicated to NYC public schools at a Save Our Schools rally in City Park Hall. In the midst of the rally, a handful of Black elders approached me and said, “Hey, before people came here, we had a rally about Black education and we’d hope you can join us.” I simply nodded and understood the g

JUL 28

CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Post Jet Lag Edition (7/28)
by Mike Simpson / 5d
ICYMI: Post Jet Lag Edition (7/28) All righty. We are slowly getting back into the swing of things (two year olds do not seem to respond to jet lag well). So my reach might not be quite as far as usual, but I've still got some things for you to look at this week. This supreme court case made school district lines a tool for desegregation. A critical piece of history about how school district lin
Curmudgucation
by Mike Simpson / 6d
CATCH UP WITH CURMUDGUCATION AND DON'T FORGET PETER GREENE ON FORBES CLICK HERE FL: Next Surveillance State Deadline Approaching 200+ by Peter Greene / 1d In the wake of the murders at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, the great state of Florida decided to make a giant leap forward in establishing a surveillance state , proposing a data base that would collect giant massive tanker cars full of data
Busing Worked in Louisville. So Why Are Its Schools Becoming More Segregated? - The New York Times
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Busing Worked in Louisville. So Why Are Its Schools Becoming More Segregated? LOUISVILLE, Ky. — When she saw the news images of angry white mobs pelting school buses with rocks and bottles, Sherlonda Lewis was glad that she was not among the black students being bused to a school in a white neighborhood. It was 1975, and Louisville had initiated a court-ordered effort to integrate its public sch
Education Insider for July 28, 2019 - Education Votes
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Education Insider for July 28, 2019 House passes bipartisan budget bill On July 25, the House passed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 (H.R. 3877), which lifts the budget caps introduced in 2011 and prevents severe cuts in non-defense discretionary (NDD) funding for fiscal years 2020 and 2021. Bipartisan support for the deal demonstrates how damaging the budget caps’ automatic cuts of $55 billio
Technology in the Classroom Is Great — When It Works (Benjamin Keep) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Technology in the Classroom Is Great — When It Works (Benjamin Keep) Keep is a “researcher, learning scientist, and writes about science, learning, and technology at www.benjaminkeep.com” This appeared July 10, 2019 on T74 When it comes to learning technologies, educators and administrators often focus on what technology to use instead of how the technology facilitates learning. This leads to se
Prominent Ex-Labor Leader Fights Teachers’ Unions | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Prominent Ex-Labor Leader Fights Teachers’ Unions This is a puzzlement. Andy Stern was once one of the nation’s most important labor leaders as head of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). After he stepped down, he became close to Eli Broad and joined the billionaires’ fight against teachers’ unions! Hamilton Nolan writes: Andy Stern spent 14 years as the head of the SEIU, America’s
Providence: State Will Takeover District, But Does It Have a Plan? | Diane Ravitch's blog
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Providence: State Will Takeover District, But Does It Have a Plan? The State Education Department is taking over the Providence School District but thus far it has not released any hint of a plan. The only thing that seems sure is that the state will not put any new money to the district where schools are in disrepair. Despite having been working towards a Providence School takeover for more tha
The New Orleans Charter Fiasco Train: Add Another Car | deutsch29
by Mike Simpson / 6d
The New Orleans Charter Fiasco Train: Add Another Car If you want to read about one charter fiasco after another, look no farther than New Orleans. In December 2018, I wrote a post about the issues facing the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) and its superintendent, Henderson Lewis. As of May 2016 , the New Orleans Recovery School District (RSD) began the process of being dissolved, with RSD ch
Five Decades of ‘MarketWorld’ Education Reform | tultican
by Mike Simpson / 6d
Five Decades of ‘MarketWorld’ Education Reform By T. Ultican 7/27/2019 There has been a fifty-year push to reform education using business management principles. In the period, Harvard Business School has trumped Columbia Teacher College concerning pedagogy. Unfortunately, the results are an unmitigated disaster for most communities and students. This market based endeavor – financed by billiona

JUL 27

Top Posts This Week 7/27/19 #REDFORED
by Mike Simpson / 7d
Big Education Ape Top Posts This Week 7/27/19 The real story of New Orleans and its charter schools - The Washington Post Bill Gates spent hundreds of millions of dollars to improve teaching. New report says it was a bust. - The 




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