Latest News and Comment from Education

Friday, March 23, 2012

UPDATE: Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 3-23 AM Posts #soschat #edreform


Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts 3-22 #soschat #EDReform

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee's Cheating Scandal: A Conspiracy of SilenceBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-27 minutes agoArticles: D.C. Cheating Scandal: A Conspiracy of Silence: D.C. Cheating Scandal: A Conspiracy of SilenceByM. Catharine Evans and Ann KaneIt took nine years for rumors of cheating on test scores by school personnel in Atlanta to percolate and trigger a devastating nine-month investigation by their governor. Will it take nine or more years for D.C. schoolchildren to get the same kind of ...more »

Report gives C's, D's to schools in educating poor, minority students - San Jose Mercury News

Report gives C's, D's to schools in educating poor, minority students - San Jose Mercury News: Report gives C's, D's to schools in educating poor, minority studentsBy Sharon Noguchisnoguchi@mercurynews.comPosted: 03/22/2012 04:18:15 PM PDTUpdated: 03/22/2012 06:33:06 PM PDTRelated StoriesMar 22:Data Center: School District Grades - Low-Income StudentsData Center: School District Grades - Minority StudentsBay Area school districts not only poorly serve their minority and low-income students, they also do worse in general than their Southern California counterparts, according to a rep... more »

School Tech Connect: Open Rebellion Almost

School Tech Connect: Open Rebellion Almost: Open Rebellion Almostbynoreply@blogger.com (Tim)Did you see this?Sir: The exchange between Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott and myself dealt with the heavy burden state mandated testing has on effective teaching and learning in Texas classrooms.Because of the vigorous punitive measures taken against districts, schools and teachers when scores are below minimum expectations, most districts have created a test based local curriculum. In many school districts, mandated common assessments directly linked to the state exam are ... more »

State report recommends changes to school districts' pink slip process, timing - LA Daily News

State report recommends changes to school districts' pink slip process, timing - LA Daily News: State report recommends changes to school districts' pink slip process, timingByBarbara Jones, Staff WriterPosted: 03/22/2012 05:36:44 PM PDTUpdated: 03/22/2012 05:52:56 PM PDTA REVIEW OF THE TEACHER LAYOFF PROCESS IN CALIFORNIATo read the report, clickhere.California's system for laying off public school teachers is costly and overly restrictive and could be improved by changing state law to give school districts more leeway in making personnel decisions, a ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Teachers on the Edge of Poverty

Jersey Jazzman: Teachers on the Edge of Poverty: Teachers on the Edge of PovertybyDukeBruce Bakerhas an important post up about the Opportunity Scholarship Act - New Jersey's voucher bill. Basically, the way the bill is now written, it would be little more than a massive giveaway of tax funds to yeshivas in Lakewood and, to a lesser degree, Passaic; somewhere on the order of $67 million. All voucher supporters should have to answer to Bruce's arguments here.But his post also ...more »

We No Speak Americano [Future of Teaching] | The Jose Vilson

We No Speak Americano [Future of Teaching] | The Jose Vilson: We No Speak Americano [Future of Teaching]byJoseExcerpt:While we should always have a skeptical eye towards new research, here’s hoping this movement towards bilingual education doesn’t die the way the movement towards the metric system. (As a math teacher, I’m still annoyed at having to use inches instead of centimeters.) At this point in education, we’ve only had a passing fancy with other languages. Spanish, French, German, and Italian seem ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Ed Reformers Don't Value Public Input nor does this Teacher's Union. What IS "Public" about "Public" Education?

Missouri Education Watchdog: Ed Reformers Don't Value Public Input nor does this Teacher's Union. What IS "Public" about "Public" Education?: Ed Reformers Don't Value Public Input nor does this Teacher's Union. What IS "Public" about "Public" Education?bystlgretchenFollowingyesterday's postingabout what ed reformers really think about parent and/or taxpayer input into the question of charters comes this story from California about a teacher's union not wanting parents to volunteer in the public schools. FromHotair:In Culver City, Calif., a local union wants toforce ... more »

Lauren Zuniga, To the Oklahoma Lawmakers: a poem

Lauren Zuniga performs a poem for the Oklahoma legislators that are trying so hard to take away women's reproductive rights. The bill in question will require women to receive an ultrasound and listen to the baby's heartbeat before an abortion.

Response: A Conversation About Building Trust Between #Parents & #Teachers - Classroom Q&A With Larry Ferlazzo #soschat

Response: A Conversation About Building Trust Between Parents Teachers - Classroom QA With Larry Ferlazzo - Education Week Teacher: Response: A Conversation About Building Trust Between Parents TeachersByLarry FerlazzoonMarch 22, 2012 9:11 PM(This is Part Two of a three part series on parent engagement. You can see Part Onehere)Kanwal Sachdevaasked:I enjoyed reading your article on 'how to make students learn to listen'. My question is- How do we make parents to listen to the teachers? You know, for the students ...more »


Corporate Power Grab Initiative | Alliance

Corporate Power Grab Initiative | Alliance - California Teachers Association: Corporate Power Grab Initiative | AllianceThe Corporate Power Grab initiative, previously referred to as the "Paycheck Deception" initiative, is bankrolled by the ultra-wealthy, would silence the voices of California union workers and strengthen the clout of big corporations.

Join the Network for Sustainable School Change — Whole Child Education

Join the Network for Sustainable School Change — Whole Child Education: Join the Network for Sustainable School ChangebyASCD Whole Child BloggersCurrent educational practice and policy focus overwhelmingly on academic achievement measured by standardized, mandated tests. This achievement is but one element of student learning and development and only a part of any complete system of educational accountability. ASCD'sWhole Child Initiativeis an association-wide effort to change the conversation about education from a focus on narrowly defined academic achievement to one that ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts 3-22 #SOSchat #p2 #edreform

Connecticut’s Governor Malloy: My Plan to Reform Teacher TenureBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-1 hour agoGovernor Malloy: Dannel P. Malloy: My Plan to Reform Teacher Tenure: Dannel P. Malloy: My Plan to Reform Teacher TenureJournal Inquirer, op edBy Dannel P. MalloyMarch 21, 2012This winter, I laid out my vision to revitalize Connecticut’s public schools. With our students’ overall performance stagnant and our achievement gap the widest in the nation, I called for reforms potent enough to change the trajectory ... more »

Modern School: Parsing the Black-White School Suspension Gap

Modern School: Parsing the Black-White School Suspension Gap: Parsing the Black-White School Suspension GapbyMichael DunnDiscipline is Victory or Arbeit Mach du Frei? (Image from Flickr, byAdam Jones)The U.S. Department of Education'sOffice for Civil Rightsrecently released data on suspension rates in the U.S. After surveying 72,000 schools that served roughly 85% of the nation’s students they found that black children represent 35% of all suspensions and 39% of all expulsions, though they comprise only 18% of the student population.Many are calling ... more »

Duncan Heads to Capitol Hill for Budget Hearings | ED.gov Blog

Duncan Heads to Capitol Hill for Budget Hearings | ED.gov Blog: Duncan Heads to Capitol Hill for Budget HearingsPosted onMarch 22, 2012byCameron Brenchley“We must come together as a country to make sound, bipartisan investments in education,” Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said earlier today at a budget hearing on Capitol Hill. “It is unconscionable for us to ask a generation of students to pay the price for adult political dysfunction.”Archive photo of Secretary Duncan testifying on Capitol Hill. Official Department ... more »

Teachers and Parents Prepare to Occupy the Department of Education - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Teachers and Parents Prepare to Occupy the Department of Education - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Teachers and Parents Prepare to Occupy the Department of EducationbyAnthony CodyLast summer many of us marched to protest the US Department of Education's policies at theSave Our Schools march in Washington, DC.While there, I met two activists, Pennsylvania parent Tim Slekar and Florida teacher Ceresta Smith. They are now working to organize an"occupation" of the Department of Education, beginning next Friday, March ... more »

New research supports PAA LSC model « Parents Across America

New research supports PAA LSC model « Parents Across America: New research supports PAA LSC modelbypureparentsLast week PAAcelebratedalongside Florida parents with the defeat of so-called “parent trigger” legislation, which would have allowed parents in “low-performing” schools to vote to close it, fire all the staff, or turn it into a charter school. But that doesn’t mean that we are completely satisfied with our schools and see no need for improvement.In fact, we are very concerned about our schools. We’re especially ... more »

Daily Kos: Teacher turnover negatively affects student performance

Daily Kos: Teacher turnover negatively affects student performance: Teacher turnover negatively affects student performancebyrss@dailykos.com (teacherken)so says a recently released study titledHow teacher turnover harms student achievement, about which Steven Sawchuk writes inthis Education Week piece.The authors of the study are the University of Michigan's Matthew Ronfeldt, Stanford University's Susanna Loeb, and the University of Virginia's Jim Wyckoff. Quoting from Sawchuk's summary: Among their findings:• For each analysis, students taught by teachers in the same grade-level t... more »

One more letter to the Seattle School Board regarding Teach for America, Inc. | Seattle Education

One more letter to the Seattle School Board regarding Teach for America, Inc. | Seattle Education: One more letter to the Seattle School Board regarding Teach for America,Inc.Posted onMarch 22, 2012byseattleducation2011|1 CommentI told you in my last post that those would not be my last words on TFA, Inc.Yesterday evening I found this letter in my inbox and found it so compelling that I wanted to share it.DoraTo the SPS Board Directors,Let’s first be clear about what the contract does. ... more »

Updated Update on the PWCS 2012 Budget « PWC Education Reform Blog

Updated Update on the PWCS 2012 Budget « PWC Education Reform Blog: Updated Update on the PWCS 2012BudgetMarch 22, 2012 — pwceducationreformThe school board rejected the revised budget proposals at the meeting on March 21st and sent the division back to the drawing board. The school board will meet again on March 28th to discuss and hopefully approve a budget that:Provides a step increase for PWCS teachers, not just a 2% salary increase. Estimates are that providing a step increase ... more »

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee's Cheating Scandal: A Conspiracy of Silence

Articles: D.C. Cheating Scandal: A Conspiracy of Silence: D.C. Cheating Scandal: A Conspiracy of SilenceByM. Catharine Evans and Ann KaneIt took nine years for rumors of cheating on test scores by school personnel in Atlanta to percolate and trigger a devastating nine-month investigation by their governor. Will it take nine or more years for D.C. schoolchildren to get the same kind of justice?Investigators in Atlantareported'"a culture of fear and a conspiracy of silence" had existed during Superintendent Dr. Beverly Hall's ... more »

This video is a lie. « Fred Klonsky

This video is a lie. « Fred Klonsky: This video is a lie.byFred KlonskyPopoutThis new video from IEA’s media department is disturbing on several levels.First, the back story. At last weekend’s IEA RA the delegates doubled down on the media budget. Recognizing the coming assault on bargaining rights and pensions, the Board of Director’s proposal for a $5 per member

Jeb Bush Dodged “Blame Bush” in Parent Trigger Defeat | Scathing Purple Musings

Jeb Bush Dodged “Blame Bush” in Parent Trigger Defeat | Scathing Purple Musings: Jeb Bush Dodged “Blame Bush” in Parent Trigger DefeatbyBob SikesHigh Desert Daily Pressreporter Natashia Lindstrom is likely to be the journalist who has been closest to the pitched parent trigger battle in Adelanto, California. Lindstrom has this update:ADELANTO • As the deadline nears for Adelanto School District to verify a “Parent Trigger” petition, the parent union pushing for a dramatic overhaul of Desert Trails Elementary is pitching ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: "At KIPP, I would wake up sick, every single day"

NYC Public School Parents: "At KIPP, I would wake up sick, every single day": "At KIPP, I would wake up sick, every single day"A few months ago, Class Size Matters met with a former KIPP student who lives in the Bronx and her mother to hear about their experiences at the celebrated charter school. What follows are excerpts from this interview.The girl’s name has been changed to protect her privacy.Mom:Students who are accepted to KIPP and who have IEP's [individualized ... more »

Media Alert: Parents to Hold Press Conference at 2 p.m. today on steps of the Capitol in Baton Rouge regarding charter schools | Seattle Education

Media Alert: Parents to Hold Press Conference at 2 p.m. today on steps of the Capitol in Baton Rouge regarding charter schools | Seattle Education: Media Alert: Parents to Hold Press Conference at 2 p.m. today on steps of the Capitol in Baton Rouge regarding charter schoolsbyseattleducation2011Baton Rouge, LA– Speaking from a parent perspective, Parents Across America NOLA and people representing several other parent organizations will hold a press conference today at2:00 p.m.on the steps of the Capitol in Baton ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Charter schools and their segregating effect

NYC Public School Parents: Charter schools and their segregating effect: Charter schools and their segregating effectbyLeonie HaimsonLast week, the NY Times ran a very eloquent oped by a Brooklyn parent entitledHow Charter Schools Can Hurt, pointing out how theaggressive marketingof a Success Academy charter outside her neighborhood public school could very well lead to her school to suffer even more budget cuts, and become less racially and economically diverse, as white middle class parents choose to enroll their children in ... more »

Connecticut’s Governor Malloy: My Plan to Reform Teacher Tenure

Governor Malloy: Dannel P. Malloy: My Plan to Reform Teacher Tenure: Dannel P. Malloy: My Plan to Reform Teacher TenureJournal Inquirer, op edBy Dannel P. MalloyMarch 21, 2012This winter, I laid out my vision to revitalize Connecticut’s public schools. With our students’ overall performance stagnant and our achievement gap the widest in the nation, I called for reforms potent enough to change the trajectory of education in our state.In the weeks since, parents, educators, businesspeople, legislators, and even students have ... more »

Charter school's finances questioned - Education and Schools - fresnobee.com

Charter school's finances questioned - Education and Schools - fresnobee.com: Fresno charter school's finances questionedFUSD board ill at ease with academy's $56,000 shortfall.By Heather Somerville-The Fresno BeeWednesday, Mar. 21, 2012 | 11:59 PME-MAILPRINTTEXT SIZE:2 CommentsThe financial health of one of Fresno's charter schools came into question Wednesday night at the Fresno Unified School District board meeting.The Fresno Academy for Civic and Entrepreneurial Leadership charter petition is up for renewal, and district trustees and staff expressed uneasiness about the school's... more »

Revisiting NJOSA & the Lakewood Effect « School Finance 101

Revisiting NJOSA the Lakewood Effect « School Finance 101: Revisiting NJOSA the Lakewood Effectbyschoolfinance101The current version of the New Jersey Opportunity Scholarship Act would pilot the tuition tax credits for private schooling in the following locations:Asbury Park City School DistrictCamden City School DistrictElizabeth City School DistrictLakewood City School DistrictNewark City School DistrictCity of Orange School DistrictPassaic City School District, andCity of Perth Amboy School Districthttp://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2012/Bills/S2000/1779_I1.PDFhttp://www.njspotlight.com... more »

Stand for Children won big time on Tuesday. « Fred Klonsky

Stand for Children won big time on Tuesday. « Fred Klonsky: Stand for Children won big time on Tuesday.byFred KlonskyPro-union state house candidate Rudy Lozano was beaten by a couple hundred votes by Sylvana Tabares. She got $50,000 in money from Stand For Children.When the IEA leadership tag-teamed Stand for Children in pushing Senate Bill 7, it was clear that SFC would be back for more.They spent almost half a million dollars on General Assembly candidates in Tuesday’s election and ... more »

The in box. Guzzardi update. « Fred Klonsky

The in box. Guzzardi update. « Fred Klonsky: The in box. Guzzardi update.byFred KlonskyI wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your support and give you an update about yesterday’s election.We’re currently down 111 votes, or just under 1%. There are some absentee and provisional ballots still outstanding. It’s going to be an uphill climb to make up that difference, but we will do everything to ensure that all votes are counted. Voters deserve to have confidence in ... more »

The in box. Blinded to the truth by hatred for unions. « Fred Klonsky

The in box. Blinded to the truth by hatred for unions. « Fred Klonsky: The in box. Blinded to the truth by hatred for unions.byFred KlonskyAn anonymous reader writes periodically to scold me for being a teacher and union member. He wrote again following yesterday’s post about the 39th house district race between progressive Will Guzzardi and daughter of Democratic Machine Boss, Toni Berrios.Fred,We finally agree on something!~PaperCutNo. Actually we don’t. Guzzardi is a pro-teacher, pro-union democrat. Berrios, and her ... more »

Outraged New Yorkers Marched In Protest of the Trayvon Martin Murder

Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública: Thousands of Black, Latino, Asian, White Young and Not-so-Young Outraged New Yorkers Marched In Protest of the Trayvon Martin MurderPopoutThanx to Jazz Hayden and All Things Harlem...Here is a video snapshot of the Million Hoodies March for Trayvon Martin in Union Square, New York City on March 21, 2012.The speaker is Brian Jones a Teacher, Writer and Activist we interviewed during the rally/march. He connects the killing of Trayvon Martin to Michelle ... more »

This Week In Education: Campaign 2010: Too Much Credit For "Stand IL"?

This Week In Education: Campaign 2010: Too Much Credit For "Stand IL"?: Campaign 2010: Too Much Credit For "Stand IL"?Today's Chicago news is dominated with wrapup stories about the Illinois primaries -- many of them focused on the role Stand For Children IL may have played in the races where it placed bets. The organization gave $150,000 to 14 folks -- a couple of them runing against union-approved candidates -- and when all of its candidates won Stand sent out ... more »

Only 7 Percent of Teachers Believe in Standardized Tests - Education - GOOD

Only 7 Percent of Teachers Believe in Standardized Tests - Education - GOOD: Only 7 Percent of Teachers Believe in Standardized TestsbyLiz DwyerThe number of standardized tests students have to take is about to increase, but the according toa national surveyfrom Scholastic and the Gates Foundation, the nation’s teachers overwhelmingly don’t see the high-stakes exams as essential.The survey asked more than 10,000 educators about their classrooms, schools, and how student and teacher performances should be measured. A huge majority of ... more »