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Friday, January 27, 2012

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts 1-27 #edreform #ows


Blue Jersey:: Liars For Yahweh! How The Tikun Olam Charter School Got A $600,000 Federal Grant

Blue Jersey:: Liars For Yahweh! How The Tikun Olam Charter School Got A $600,000 Federal Grant:Liars For Yahweh! How The Tikun Olam Charter School Got A $600,000 Federal Grantby Chris RoddaAn infuriating and amazing story. Superb reporting by Chris Rodda, Senior Research Director for the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), and author of Liars For Jesus: The Religious Right's Alternate Version of American History.Promoted by Rosi, with thanks to Chris.Cross-posted from The Public Record.Question: How does a charter school whose ... more »

SB 161 Antiseizure Medication Law FAQs - Health Services & School Nursing (CA Dept of Education)

Antiseizure Medication Law FAQs - Health Services School Nursing (CA Dept of Education):Antiseizure Medication Law FAQsFrequently asked questions pertaining to SB 161 antiseizure medication law.Q: Does SB 161 apply only to diazepam, or also to other medications approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this purpose?A: The "emergency antiseizure medication" in SB 161 means diazepam rectal gel and emergency medications approved by the federal FDA for patients with epilepsy for the management of seizures by persons other ... more »

RheeFirst! » Selling Schools Out

RheeFirst! » Selling Schools Out:Selling Schools Outby adminWritten by Lee Fang for The Nation. Read the entire article here.“If the national movement to “reform” public education through vouchers, charters and privatization has a laboratory, it is Florida. It was one of the first states to undertake a program of “virtual schools” — charters operated online, with teachers instructing students over the Internet — as well as one of the first to use vouchers to channel taxpayer money to charter schools ... more »

Parents 4 Teachers says, “Call Brizard.” « Fred Klonsky

Parents 4 Teachers says, “Call Brizard.” « Fred Klonsky:Parents 4 Teachers says, “Call Brizard.”by Fred KlonskyHi Fred,My name is Erica–I’m a CPS parent (going on 14 years in the system!), an avid reader of your blog, and really ticked off at what passes for education debate in the country, state, city these days.For the last year, I’ve been complaining (to anyone who would listen) that parents need to get organized and stand up to the teacher bashing that is so ... more »

“Shorting” New York City’s Schools? | Edwize

“Shorting” New York City’s Schools? | Edwize:Shorting” New York City’s Schools?Jan. 27, 20121:25 pmby Christina Collins No CommentsFiled under:Charter SchoolsHedge fund manager David Einhorn was in the news this week after he and his firm were hit with an $11.2 million fine for insider trading. Based on an investigation by authorities in the UK, Einhorn was cited for selling millions of shares of a troubled business just minutes after an executive there quietly revealed to him that the company was ... more »

Remarks by the President on College Affordability, Ann Arbor, Michigan | The White House

Remarks by the President on College Affordability, Ann Arbor, Michigan | The White House:Remarks by the President on College Affordability, Ann Arbor, Michiganby The White HouseRelease Time: For Immediate ReleaseUniversity of MichiganAnn Arbor, Michigan10:00 A.M. ESTTHE PRESIDENT: Hello, Michigan! (Applause.) Oh, it is good to be back in Ann Arbor. (Applause.)Thank you, Christina, for that introduction. I also want to thank your president, Mary Sue Coleman. (Applause.) The mayor of Ann Arbor, John Hieftje, is here. (Applause.) My outstanding Secretary ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Senator Chappelle Nadal Struggles with the Right to an Education

Missouri Education Watchdog: Senator Chappelle Nadal Struggles with the Right to an Education:Senator Chappelle Nadal Struggles with the Right to an Educationby AnngieLast night, the Washington University Brown School Policy Forum and Teach For America held a public forum to discuss St Louis Public Education. On the panel were: Senator Chappelle-Nadal (District 14), Senator Cunningham (District 7), Representative Dieckhaus (District 109), Representative Jones (District 63), Dr. Nicastro (Commissioner of Ed), and Dr. Senti (Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis.) ... more »

IEA leadership wants a stay-at-home Lobby Day? Here’s a New Business Item. « Fred Klonsky

IEA leadership wants a stay-at-home Lobby Day? Here’s a New Business Item. « Fred Klonsky:IEA leadership wants a stay-at-home Lobby Day? Here’s a New Business Item.by Fred KlonskyTim Furman at School Tech Connect also wonders why we’re not heading for Springfield in May for Lobby Day.But he has a suggestion:It all seems like a golden opportunity to move forward with the suggestion I keep making about “back-home lobbying.” If it’s such a good strategy, then it should be supported.My colleagues ... more »

Friday Thoughts: In my own words (recent media commentary) « School Finance 101

Friday Thoughts: In my own words (recent media commentary) « School Finance 101:Friday Thoughts: In my own words (recent media commentary)by schoolfinance101Interview for In These Times:[I]t’s much easier to point blame at those working within the system–like teachers–than to actually raise the revenues to provide the resources necessary to really improve the system–to pay sufficient wages to attract and retain top college graduates and to provide the working conditions that would make teaching more appealing–including smaller total student loads… and ... more »

Chicago town hall meeting on a longer school day. « Fred Klonsky

Chicago town hall meeting on a longer school day. « Fred Klonsky:Chicago town hall meeting on a longer school day.by Fred KlonskyTownhall Meeting on CPS Proposed Longer DayThursday, Feb. 2 from 6:00 to 7:30 pmMt. Greenwood Library110th KedzieYou are invited to a townhall meeting on the controversial plan to lengthen the CPS school day.Jesse Sharkey from the CTU will answer your questions on the proposed longer day and longer year, and how it compares with the current school day.CPS will ... more »

Where did she go? Emily Alpert Former Voice of San Diego Reporter Joins the LA Times - FishbowlLA

Former Voice of San Diego Reporter Joins the LA Times - FishbowlLA:Former Voice of San Diego Reporter Joins the LA TimesBy Matthew Fleischer on January 17, 2012 10:00 AMLooks like former Voice of San Diego reporter Emily Alpert has landed on her feet. Alpert was one of three VoSD journos laid off shortly before the new year due to fundraising shortages at the journalistic nonprofit. According to her Twitter account, Alpert has since moved north to join the LA Times ... more »

All Education Matters: Why America Is Losing the War On Poverty

All Education Matters: Why America Is Losing the War On Poverty:Why America Is Losing the War On Povertyby Cryn JohannsenHere's a snippet from my latest article, "Why America Is Losing the War on Poverty," at The Loop21.com:Recent figures about poverty in America paint a grim picture about the living conditions of a large majority of Americans. Not only is poverty spreading rapidly, but the chances of escaping it are becoming more difficult, if not impossible. For instance, Timothy Smeeding wrote ... more »

Major Bill Actions in Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress

Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress:Bill Sent To President: H.R.3237 SOAR Technical Corrections ActOpen Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education - 12 minutes agoTo amend the SOAR Act by clarifying the scope of coverage of the Act. January 25, 2012: Presented to President.Bill Introduced: H.R.3826 To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend the reduced interest rate for Federal Direct Stafford Loans.Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education - 12 minutes agoTo amend the Higher Education ... more »

Weekly Update, January 27, 2012: In Tucson racism is alive and well, Rahm bus(ted) in Chicago and other stories in education | Seattle Education

Weekly Update, January 27, 2012: In Tucson racism is alive and well, Rahm bus(ted) in Chicago and other stories in education | Seattle Education:Weekly Update, January 27, 2012: In Tucson racism is alive and well, Rahm bus(ted) in Chicago and other stories in educationby seattleducation2011This has not been a slow news week so I’ll get started with all the news that fits.First up, the teachers and students in Tucson. If you haven’t been following this story, I would recommend that ... more »

5 Biggest Lies About the Right-Wing Corporate-Backed War on Our Schools | | AlterNet

5 Biggest Lies About the Right-Wing Corporate-Backed War on Our Schools | | AlterNet:5 Biggest Lies About the Right-Wing Corporate-Backed War on Our SchoolsThough National School Choice Week has some liberal support, its primary backers are deeply conservative activists whose goal is to dissolve public education in the US.January 23, 2012 | LIKE THIS ARTICLE ?Join our mailing list:Sign up to stay up to date on the latest headlines via email. National School Choice Week, a pet project of big ... more »

Can Codecademy Teach Poor Black & Brown Kids to Code?

Can Codecademy Teach Poor Black Brown Kids to Code?:Can Codecademy Teach Poor Black Brown Kids to Code?By Marshall Kirkpatrick / January 18, 2012 8:02 PM / 19 CommentsinShare76Share on TumblrUnemployment among youth of color is widespread complex; can a tech education startup change things?The White House announced new participation in a jobs initiative yesterday from fast-growing technical education website Codecademy, as well as some venerable social justice oriented organizations Level Playing Field Institute and College Bound Brotherhood, a group dedicated ... more »

Schools Matter: GUEST BLOG: IDOE–Shrinking State Power to Expose Your Tender Underbelly (UPDATE)

Schools Matter: GUEST BLOG: IDOE–Shrinking State Power to Expose Your Tender Underbelly (UPDATE):GUEST BLOG: IDOE–Shrinking State Power to Expose Your Tender Underbelly (UPDATE)by P. L. ThomasIDOE–Shrinking State Power to Expose Your Tender Underbelly (UPDATE)by Douglas Storm[UPDATE in the body of the text]Indiana is at the forefront of a concerted and aggressive drive to weaken state power. That sounds good to so many of us, especially those who believe there is a libertarian with a good heart out there. But here’s ... more »

VIDEO: Dallas ISD board meeting turns chaotic before vote to close schools | Dallas ISD Blog | dallasnews.com

VIDEO: Dallas ISD board meeting turns chaotic before vote to close schools | Dallas ISD Blog | dallasnews.com:VIDEO: Dallas ISD board meeting turns chaotic before vote to close schoolsby Matthew Haag/ReporterThe Dallas school board voted Thursday night to close 11 schools -- but not before the audience taunted and yelled at trustees, police escorted community activist Joyce Foreman from the auditorium and board members moved to another room. It was a chaotic scene, and Tawnell Hobbs captured it all:

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:TWO L.A. UNIFIED SCHOOLS WIN $100,000 GRANTS FROM TARGETsmf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 6 hours ago-- Rick Rojas | la tIMES/la nOW | http://lat.ms/yDWdEK January 25, 2012 | 7:42 pm :: Two Los Angeles Unif-ed schools, nominated by viewers of Ellen DeGeneres' daytime talk show, have received $100,000 grants from Target, the district announced Wednesday. Crenshaw High School and Enadia Way Elementary School were two ... more »

Modern School: Data Driven Nonsense--Few Credible Studies of Charter Schools

Modern School: Data Driven Nonsense--Few Credible Studies of Charter Schools:Data Driven Nonsense--Few Credible Studies of Charter Schoolsby Michael DunnTeachers in the trenches have long suspected that the “data-driven” reforms being shoved down their throats by Gates, Broad, Walton, Obama, Duncan, Rhee, et al, had little credible data to back them up and little hope of improving educational outcomes for their students. An article in the latest issue of Science (reposted on EurekAlert) lends credibility to these suspicions.According to UC San ... more »

Modern School: Andre Agassi Profiteering Off Charter School Mania

Modern School: Andre Agassi Profiteering Off Charter School Mania:

Andre Agassi Profiteering Off Charter School Mania


Tennis star Andre Agassi has partnered his Andre Agassi Ventures L.L.C. with Canyon Capital Realty Advisors, a private equity real estate company based in Los Angeles, to help charter schools purchase facilities. The joint venture, known as the Canyon-Agassi Charter School Facilities Fund, recently clinched their first deal, securing housing for the KIPP Philadelphia Elementary Academy, according to Philly.com.

Agassi’s new fund is backed by numerous corporate investors, including Citi, Intel Capital, and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, Mo. The venture also plans to exploit New Market Tax Credits and tax-exempt bonds, allowing its investors to pocket money that the feds and states could be using to bolster public schools. However, the biggest profits may

Mother Crusader: Much Ado About Nothing…. If You Consider the Corporate Takeover of Public Education Nothing, Then I Guess You're Right Ms. Waters!

Mother Crusader: Much Ado About Nothing…. If You Consider the Corporate Takeover of Public Education Nothing, Then I Guess You're Right Ms. Waters!:

Much Ado About Nothing…. If You Consider the Corporate Takeover of Public Education Nothing, Then I Guess You're Right Ms. Waters!

Below is my comment on the opinion piece posted today on NJ Spotlight by Ms. Laura Waters, President of the Lawrence Township School Board. I have emailed John Mooney numerous times to ask why he continues to give voice to the weak arguments presented by Ms. Waters. I won't bother this time. Instead, I kind of want to thank him for the opportunity to bring everyone together to take her on. It's kind of cool how everyone came together to debunk her opinions. The comments today from so many people were just stellar.


And don't miss Jersey Jazzman's blog response. In classic Jersey Jazzman style it makes you think and laugh

Big Education Ape: 1-27-12 PM Diane Ravitch Undresses Education Reform EDition #CORPREFORM #edreform

Big Education Ape: Ed News Now:
Big Education Ape: Ed News Now

Published by Coopmike48 – 8 news spotters today

Tackling Business Problems - Harvard Business Review

hbr.org - Tackling Business Problems Stop Tying Pay to Performance The evidence is overwhelming: It doesn’t work.by Bruno S. Frey and Margit Osterloh Time frame: next week | Degree of difficulty: operational...

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There’s One Big Worm In Checker Finn’s Apple

edwize.org - On the Fordham Foundation’s Flypaper blog and in the electronic pages of the Hoover Foundation’s Education Next, Checker Finn is bemoaning the state of the American work ethic, and blaming American...

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coopmike48 Marian Wright Edelman: Rescuing the American Dream -goo.gl/LFzaZ3 minutes ago · reply · retweet · favorite

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coopmike48 Diane Ravitch Addresses Sacramento, and Undresses Education Reform « InterACT: Diane Ravitch Addresses Sacr... bit.ly/wnw7Xy #edu3 minutes ago · reply · retweet · favorite

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coopmike48 Unschooling in the Art of War | Lefty Parent: Unschooling in the Art of War | Lefty Parent:Unschooling in t...bit.ly/xBdvwk #edu2 minutes ago · reply · retweet · favorite

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A Score Card for Changing Schools – SchoolBook

nytimes.com - Jan. 27, 2012, 10:52 a.m. Sixty-two New York City schools are on a path to be closed or otherwise re-shaped this year. Here’s a score card to help you keep track of what schools are affected and ho...

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The Econometrics of Rwandan Pear Blossoms at Duke University

michaelklonsky.blogspot.com - I rarely post anything of this length. But this piece by my friend and Duke Univ. prof Tim Tyson, was much too compelling and beautifully written to pass up. Had to post it in full. Enjoy. ****** ...

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Is It a Conflict of Interest? Yes, but It’s Legal

nytimes.com - In most states and municipalities, government officials who vote to spend taxpayer dollars on proposals that also put money in their own pockets as lobbyists could be accused of illegal conflicts o...

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Jobs, Jobs and Cars

nytimes.com - Mitch Daniels, the former Bush budget director who is now Indiana’s governor, made the Republicans’ reply to President Obama’s State of the Union address. His performance was, well, boring. But he ...

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At Davos, Debating Capitalism’s Future

nytimes.com - Davos, Switzerland IS 20th-century capitalism failing 21st-century society? Members of the global elite debated that unusual question on Wednesday at the annual World Economic Forum. ...

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Parents 4 Teachers says, “Call Brizard.” « Fred Klonsky

bigeducationape.blogspot.com - Parents 4 Teachers says, “Call Brizard.” « Fred Klonsky:Parents 4 Teachers says, “Call Brizard.”by Fred KlonskyHi Fred,My name is Erica–I’m a CPS parent (going on 14 years in the system!), an avid ...

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Activists and bloggers fear Twitter censorship

democraticunderground.com - Source: APActivists and bloggers fear Twitter censorshipBy MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology WriterSAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Thursday's announcement that Twitter had refined its technology to censor...

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Tax Cut Extender: Boon to Charter Schools

citypragmatist.com - Illustration: FRBSF Charter schools are among the big winners in the tax cut extender deal signed into law on December 17 by President Barack Obama. Section 733 of H.R. 4853 provides for an additio...

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Billionaires Occupy Davos as 0.01% Bemoan Inequalities

bloomberg.com - Enlarge image Davos Patrons at the annual Klosters Snow Polo event on Jan. 20, 2012. Patrons at the annual Klosters Snow Polo event on Jan. 20, 2012. Photographer: Scott Eells/Bloomberg Enlarge ima...

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Jersey Jazzman: Merit Pay Fails Outside of Schools

bigeducationape.blogspot.com - Jersey Jazzman: Merit Pay Fails Outside of Schools:Merit Pay Fails Outside of Schoolsby DukeMerit pay is a disaster wherever it goes:We’ve talked about this since the financial meltdown. Now it’s t...

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Pop Star's Next Act Is Educational

online.wsj.com - BY NICK NEYLAND Björk turned her last album into an app. Now she's turning her music into a science exhibit for city students, with an unusual three-week run at a Queens museum better known for its...

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Daily Kos: WAM

dailykos.com - Mozart could have a sense of humor, which is why I offer this duet in English:We saw this opera perhaps the best way to see - the voices of great singers but done by marionnettes in Salzburg Mozart...

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Jersey Jazzman: Miss Laura Frets About Charters

bigeducationape.blogspot.com - Jersey Jazzman: Miss Laura Frets About Charters:Miss Laura Frets About Chartersby DukeWell, fiddle-de-dee! Miss Laura Waters is so very upset by the nasty tone of those who object to having charter...

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