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Thursday, April 4, 2013

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 4-4-13 AM Posts #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2



BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS




ConnCAN dropped $35,800 on opinion poll to make Malloy and education reform appear popular - Wait, What?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 minutes ago
ConnCAN dropped $35,800 on opinion poll to make Malloy and education reform appear popular - Wait, What?: ConnCAN dropped $35,800 on opinion poll to make Malloy and education reform appear popular by jonpelto On February 6, 2013 Governor Dannel Malloy gave his Bi-annual budget address to a joint session of the Connecticut General Assembly. On the issue of public education he said, “We’re turning around struggling schools by growing our Commissioner’s Network, with funding for 17 more schools…We’re continuing to broaden the range of educational opportunities by maintaining our... more »

Harvard Dean Justifies Snooping on Faculty Email for the Children |

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 minutes ago
Harvard Dean Justifies Snooping on Faculty Email for the Children |: Harvard Dean Justifies Snooping on Faculty Email for the Children by Angus Johnston The Harvard email spying scandal got worse this week, with an admission that administrators had engaged in broader surveillance of faculty communications than had been previously disclosed. The spying was prompted by public disclosure of an incident in which as many as half of the students in one Harvard class were accused of cheating on a take-home exam, and was intended to root out a faculty member believed to have leaked an in... more »

Schools Matter: "Reformers" Seek to Overturn California Education Laws Based Solely on Evidence-Free Beliefs, Part Two

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 minutes ago
Schools Matter: "Reformers" Seek to Overturn California Education Laws Based Solely on Evidence-Free Beliefs, Part Two: "Reformers" Seek to Overturn California Education Laws Based Solely on Evidence-Free Beliefs, Part Two by John Thompson As I explained last week, the "astroturf" school "reform" organization, Students Matter, and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group want to strike down five education laws that supposedly "are destroying California's public education system, demoralizing the teaching profession, and robbing California children of their future." In*Vergara v Calif... more »

Where’s the Outrage about KIPP? – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 58 minutes ago
Where’s the Outrage about KIPP? – @ the chalk face: Where’s the Outrage about KIPP? by plthomasedd Former Rutger’s basketball coach Mike Rice is the outrage of the moment, but his firing took months and a viral video: Video shows Mike Rice’s ire Popout Maybe a moral response to Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) requires a viral video. Apparently that is what it takes for organizations and the public to respond to inexcusable but prevalent behavior—especially when that behavior is mostly by white men in authority at the expense of mostly African American young men who are essentially...more »

Bill Gates: We’re fumbling evaluations when we rate teachers on how students skip | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Bill Gates: We’re fumbling evaluations when we rate teachers on how students skip | Get Schooled: Bill Gates: We’re fumbling evaluations when we rate teachers on how students skip by Maureen Downey [image: downeyart0401]In a Washington Post op-ed, Bill Gates says there should be a fairer way to evaluate teachers. While he is all for accountability, Gates cautions against using student test scores as the primary basis for making decisions about firing, promoting and compensating teachers. *Here is an excerpt*: (Please read full piece before commenting.) Efforts are being made to de... more »

How KIPP Schools Define Success - Bridging Differences - Education Week

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
How KIPP Schools Define Success - Bridging Differences - Education Week: How KIPP Schools Define Success by Deborah Meier *Today, Elliott Witney, formerly a leader in a KIPP charter school, begins blogging with Deborah Meier.* Dear Deb, [image: Witney_Blog Head (2).jpg] I feel incredibly grateful to be able to join you in this public discussion. I remember vividly the moments when Emily Gasoi reflected aloud how surprised she was to find such similarity between the schools you work with and the KIPP school she studied for her dissertation. Before I respond in detail to your post, I w... more »

Daily Kos: Schools Worth Cloning in the Public Sector

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Daily Kos: Schools Worth Cloning in the Public Sector: Schools Worth Cloning in the Public Sector by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) This morning I am posting something that may be of interest, written by someone else. Yesterday I posted something written by Bill Ayers, which he had sent me as a result of reading this post on a column by Eugene Robinson the day before. After reading my post on Ayers, a teacher from Chicago named Paul Horton reached out to Bill and asked if he would forward to me something he had written. What is below the fold is that piece. To put into context wh... more »

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

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Newspeak and Education Reform: What Would Orwell Say? by dianerav A reader sent these late-night reflections to me: “I drifted off to sleep last night, the phrase “No Child Left Behind” kept ringing in my ears. It sounds so noble… No – Child – Left – Behind – surely that is good for our country. Yet, at the same time my eyes were closing, the disturbing aparthied maps that Jersey Jazzman posted were flashing before my eyes. In the corners of my mind, memories of ... more »

Bill would protect adult ed, career tech while extending local control | EdSource Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Bill would protect adult ed, career tech while extending local control | EdSource Today: Bill would protect adult ed, career tech while extending local control - by John Fensterwald by John Fensterwald School districts would keep discretion to spend billions of dollars of “categorical” funding however they want for five more years under a Senate bill that passed its first hurdle in the Legislature on Wednesday. [image: Sen. Carol Liu] Sen. Carol Liu SB 223‘s provisions on local spending control are similar to Gov. Jerry Brown’s sweeping plan for school finance reform. Both appr... more »

Occupy the Department Of Education Returns to DC | Mother Jones

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Occupy the Department Of Education Returns to DC | Mother Jones: *California Father | @califather Califather all spiffed up and ready to stream Occupy the DoE! #edchat #soschat #uoodc13* coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 4 hours ago California Father | Educating Sullivan: [image: California Father] califather on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free - ON DEMAND - ABOUT OCCUPY THE DEPT OF ED - HOW TO CHAT Occupy the Department Of Education Returns to DC —By Stephanie Mencimer | Thu Apr. 4, 2013 3:20 AM PDT Post - - Protesters from Occupy DOE United OptOut [image: Occupy DO... more »

Student Absences Costing Sacramento City Unified School District Millions « CBS Sacramento

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Student Absences Costing Sacramento City Unified School District Millions « CBS Sacramento: Student Absences Costing Sacramento City Unified School District Millions - CBS Local SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Parents are letting their students stay home and it’s costing the Sacramento City Unified School District millions of dollars. At Leataata Floyd Elementary School, nearly a quarter of the students miss at least 18 days a year, and a new report says parents are a big part of the problem. Parents have heard every excuse in the book when their child wants to miss school, but the sch... more »

An urban school district that works — without miracles or Superman

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
An urban school district that works — without miracles or Superman: An urban school district that works — without miracles or Superman Posted by Valerie Strauss on April 4, 2013 at 4:00 am 1 Comments More [image: kirp book]To listen to some school reformers, you’d think there are no urban traditional public schools that are successful. Here’s a different story, adapted and excerpted from “Improbable Scholars: The Rebirth of a Great American School System And A Strategy For America’s Schools” (Oxford University Press), by David Kirp, professor of public policy at the University of Ca... more »

Cheating Scandals Reaffirm, Not Diminish, Testing | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Cheating Scandals Reaffirm, Not Diminish, Testing | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Cheating Scandals Reaffirm, Not Diminish, Testing by larrycuban Not until the trials (or plea bargains) are over, will a verdict be rendered on former Superintendent Beverly Hall’s guilt or innocence in what is called the Atlanta cheating scandal. Hall’s indictment follows on the heels of finding El Paso Superintendent Lorenzo Garcia guilty last Fall. He is now serving three and a half years in jail (see hereand here). Even before a judge or jury decides on her guilt or innocen... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Collaborating to Stagnation

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: Collaborating to Stagnation: Collaborating to Stagnation by Anngie The new Common Core standards are supposed to develop students with "21st century skills" and "higher level" or "critical" thinking skills. *(I'm still waiting for someone to tell me what a 21st century skill is that is uniquely different from the skills k-12 education taught in that last century*) It's that second part that has a lot of people and businesses popping up and nodding their heads. Who wouldn't want kids with critical thinking skills? Just watch your average teenage drive... more »

Natalie Meier – Lessons On Raising Your Voice Student Voice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Student Voice: Natalie Meier – Lessons On Raising Your Voice by admin When I first got involved with writing for Student Voice, I don’t think I grasped just how much the concept of raising my own voice would resonate in everything else I do. Talking about how you feel and what you believe in is difficult, especially if you’re worried that someone is going to shoot you down. I’ve received criticism for my own beliefs, and it wasn’t until I started to understand how valuable my ideals were that I began to stick by them and stop conforming to everyone else’s standards. Your thoughts... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: BBB'S HEARING PROBLEM

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: BBB'S HEARING PROBLEM: BBB'S HEARING PROBLEM by Mike Klonsky Schools CEO *Byrd-Bennett* has a hearing problem. After 20,000 people turned up at neighborhood community meetings to voice their anger over proposed school closings, BBB heard it this way. *"Everybody got it that we really needed to close schools..."* Then when one parent after another got up at Tuesday's press conference voicing concerns about their children's safety, passing through dangerous neighborhoods to get to their receiving school,BBB responded by saying she no time for adults wh... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Charter Commission Picks Questioned

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 9 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Charter Commission Picks Questioned: Charter Commission Picks Questioned by Melissa Westbrook So not all the Charter Commission picks have been happily received and there have been some surprising things said about some of the newly minted members. The two primary targets are Kevin Jacka and Steve Sundquist. Superintendent Jacka is from Springdale and leads the Mary Walker School District. He is suspect because he signed a No on 1240 page (I can't discern if it was the No on 1240 campaign or the WEA campaign.) Nonetheless, many superintendents... more »

A Big Red Splash | First Focus

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
A Big Red Splash | First Focus: A Big Red SplashBy Ed Walz April 3, 2013 [image: Communications]Last Tuesday, my Facebook timeline went red, as friend after friend joined the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) in changing their profile pictures to a red version of the HRC logo, showing symbolic support for same-sex marriage. I was immediately impressed by the scale of this interesting communications effort, and as I thought more about it, I realized there are are three lessons children’s advocates can take from HRC’s effort: 1. *If it Ain’t Broke …* — HRC’s message last Tuesday was th... more »

New Jersey parents joining nationwide boycott of state standardized tests - NorthJersey.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
New Jersey parents joining nationwide boycott of state standardized tests - NorthJersey.com: New Jersey parents joining nationwide boycott of state standardized tests THURSDAY APRIL 4, 2013, 12:13 AM BY LESLIE BRODY STAFF WRITER THE RECORD PAGES: 1 2 3 > DISPLAY ON ONE PAGE | PRINT | E-MAIL A handful of New Jersey families will join an increasingly vocal national group boycotting state standardized tests this |spring, in the belief that they hinder true learning, fail to measure students’ skills, waste time and squander money. [image: Jean McTavish of Ridgewood is a New York City hi... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Reformy Campaign Money Machine Update

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Reformy Campaign Money Machine Update: Reformy Campaign Money Machine Update by Duke *ASK THE MONEY FAIRY!* In my last post, I explained how eight *very* wealthy people appear to have coordinated their campaign donations to support reformy state- and school district-level candidates across the nation: - Greg Penner - Arthur Rock - David Goldberg and Sheryl Sandberg - Kent Thiry - Lydia Callaghan - Alana and Jennifer Fournier A commenter at my post, however, objects to my characterization of this reformy intrusion into politics: Might be disappoin... more »

Who do you believe: Childless carpetbagger John White or a Louisiana public school parent? | Crazy Crawfish's Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
Who do you believe: Childless carpetbagger John White or a Louisiana public school parent? | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: Who do you believe: Childless carpetbagger John White or a Louisiana public school parent? by crazycrawfish In response to our campaign to lobby our legislators and Governor to put a leash on John White’s reckless and illegal privacy violations, John White sent out a letter to local superintendents. This letter tries to mischaracterize our objections and goals, while pointedly ignoring the underlying issues and facts. I will set the record straight on a point by ... more »

Daily Kos: Leaves received the quilt!!!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Daily Kos: Leaves received the quilt!!!: Leaves received the quilt!!! by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) [image: photo (35)] This is one of the most incredible things I've ever been given. Every one of these sayings is extraordinary. It's just incredible. On so many levels its just beautiful - emotionally, visually, in the beautiful way it's made, in the words themselves which are so full of poetry, healing and holiness. There is a real sense of the sacred about it. In the love behind it, in the community. It's one of the most amazing things I've ever been given. Such a gift! Ju... more »

The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School Part X: Fun With Dick.southbronxschool.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
http://www.southbronxschool.com: The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School Part X: Fun With Dick by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) Oh what a joy it is to be back at The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School after almost two weeks. Sadly, what was is, and what is, will be for the foreseeable future. Today, one of the teachers at The Happy Good Time Emotion Response Place and School was attempting to teach a 5th grade 12:1 one class. Yes, this is a rough class, but the kids are generally good. Today the class was different. Keith Partridge and Danny Partr... more »

Identities of the rich who hide cash offshore | UK news | The Guardian

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Identities of the rich who hide cash offshore | UK news | The Guardian: Identities of the rich who hide cash offshore Offshore financial industry leak exposes identities of thousands of holders of anonymous wealth from around the world - Share****1678 - - - inShare10 - Email - David Leigh - The Guardian, Wednesday 3 April 2013 18.59 EDT - Jump to comments (384) [image: British Virgin Islands] The British Virgin Islands, the world's leading offshore haven used by an array of government officials and rich families to hide their wealth. Photograph: Duncan Mc... more »

Alfie Kohn on APS cheating scandal: ‘What if we gave a test and nobody came?’ | Get Schooled

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
Alfie Kohn on APS cheating scandal: ‘What if we gave a test and nobody came?’ | Get Schooled: Alfie Kohn on APS cheating scandal: ‘What if we gave a test and nobody came?’ by Maureen Downey [image: testing (Medium)]I interviewed education advocate and writer *Alfie Kohn* a while back. *You can read the 2011 interview here*. The APS cheating scandal was in the news at the time, and Kohn told me: The real cheating scandal that has been going on for years is that kids are being cheated out of meaningful learning by focusing on test scores. Standardized tests like the CRCT measure what... more »

Help! Action Alert! Kate and Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education Needs Your Help!!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
We believe that the Fortune schools should go before the individual districts where the schools are to be located to petition for their charter. Please take a minute to let the *Sacramento County Board of Education *know that you support the Sacramento Coalition to Save Public Education and that Fortune Charters must go before the individual districts where the schools are to be located to petition for their charter. Below you will find some of the issues involved with the fight against the Fortune Charter Schools being granted in district service areas without the approval of... more »

NYC Educator: Gotham Schools Compares Apples to

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
NYC Educator: Gotham Schools Compares Apples to: Gotham Schools Compares Apples to by NYC Educator * When a true genius appears, you can know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in a confederacy against him.* * **~Jonathan Swift.* I'm very disappointed when I read something like this from Leonie Haimson. Apparently Gotham Schools has seen fit to compare her to Michelle Rhee. This is because she, like Rhee, has chosen to place one of her children in private school. In this space, you have not seen criticism of people for choosing private school for their children. You have... more »

Teachbad, Rhee and Art: A Short Documentary | Mr. Teachbad

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Teachbad, Rhee and Art: A Short Documentary | Mr. Teachbad: [image: Logo Mr. Teachbad] Teachbad, Rhee and Art: A Short Documentary by teachbad Popout In this stunning new documentary short film, Mr. Teachbad discusses whether or not he is a visionary, his formal musical training, and the making of “Rhee Came Down the Mountain” with rehearsal outtakes.

Leonie Haimson exits public school parenting but not advocacy | GothamSchools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Leonie Haimson exits public school parenting but not advocacy | GothamSchools: Leonie Haimson exits public school parenting but not advocacy by Geoff Decker [image: DSC_0448EDt] Leonie Haimson’s career as a New York City education activist started when her older child was assigned to a first-grade class with 28 other students. That was in 1996, and since then, Haimson has advocated for public school parents — through her organization, Class Size Matters; the blog and online mailing lists she runs; and the national parent group she helped launch. But her personal stake changed last... more »

If Twitter Is Not PD, What Is It? | My Island View

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
If Twitter Is Not PD, What Is It? | My Island View: If Twitter Is Not PD, What Is It? by tomwhitby I was recently contacted by Barbara Madden, a Missouri educator with a Mississippi dialect, who is conducting a survey of educators, who use Twitter for Professional Development asking for some feedback. Barbara had been in contact with a college professor who wanted to know the effect of Twitter as PD and it’s effect on student outcomes. That really got me thinking about PD and Twitter. I have heard many, many educators claiming that Twitter is the best PD that they have ever had. ... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Why Worry About Student Internet Access? Let Them Stream Whatever They Want.

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: Why Worry About Student Internet Access? Let Them Stream Whatever They Want.: Why Worry About Student Internet Access? Let Them Stream Whatever They Want. by stlgretchen It's just maddening. *There's too much disconnect between being concerned about what kids access on the internet with no parental oversight...while there is no concern from these same school districts about the release of student data without parental permission or knowledge.* Data will be given to agencies/researchers and the student/parent will be oblivious to who has access or ho...more »

The Time is Now for Common Sense Immigration Reform...and a Pop Quizz - Lily's Blackboard | Lily's Blackboard

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
The Time is Now for Common Sense Immigration Reform...and a Pop Quizz - Lily's Blackboard | Lily's Blackboard: [image: Lily's Blackboard Rotating Header Image] The Time is Now for Common Sense Immigration Reform…and a Pop Quizz by Lily Teachers love pop quizzes, and NEA's VP, Lily Eskelsen is no exception. Your homework assignment is to support the All In for Citizenship Rally on April 10 in Washington, DC

Parent-trigger school should work with L.A. Unified, group says - latimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Parent-trigger school should work with L.A. Unified, group says - latimes.com: Parent-trigger school should work with L.A. Unified, group says by By Howard Blume By Howard Blume April 3, 2013, 12:17 p.m. A parent committee is recommending that a charter school and the L.A. Unified School District should collaborate to run 24th Street Elementary, which was the subject of a successful petition under the controversial parent-trigger law. The recommendation, which will be formally released Tuesday, is for L.A. Unified to partner with Crown Preparatory Academy. The district would run t... more »

LA Parents Opting for Varied "Trigger" Options - LA School Report

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
LA Parents Opting for Varied "Trigger" Options - LA School Report: Post navigationLA Parents Opting for Varied “Trigger” Options Posted on April 3, 2013 by Hillel Aron *LA School Report* has learned that, on Tuesday, the 24th St. Elementary Parents Union selection review committee met and decided to recommend what’s being called a “hybrid” governance model for the school. Under the parent trigger law, a majority of parents at a low-performing school can petition to revamp the school in any number of ways, including by converting it to an independent charter school. In January, the pa... more »

Diane in the Evening 4-3-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: “Why I Fight, Why You Should Too” by dianerav Crazy Crawfish is one of those amazing Louisiana bloggers who refuses to be bought, intimidated, or silenced. He used to work in the data division of the Louisiana Department of Education. He reached a point where his conscience told him he had to work somewhere else. Now he has a blog where he repeatedly shines his spotlight on the spin coming from his old department. He keeps fighting for kids, fighting for public education, fighting for honest data. Why does he... more »

SCUSD Could Increase Lunch Prices, Stop Charging for Reduced-Price Lunches - Rosemont, CA Patch

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
SCUSD Could Increase Lunch Prices, Stop Charging for Reduced-Price Lunches - Rosemont, CA Patch: SCUSD Could Increase Lunch Prices, Stop Charging for Reduced-Price Lunches [image: File photo.]Students in Rosemont could soon be paying more for lunch, but district officials are quick to point out they'll still pay less than kids in other nearby school districts. The Sacramento City Unified School District this week will consider raising the price of lunches by a quarter. The district raised its lunch prices by a quarter twice last year, and currently charges $1.75 for elementary stud... more »

Ravitch v. Wolf: The Rise of the Dogmatic Scholar – @ the chalk face

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Ravitch v. Wolf: The Rise of the Dogmatic Scholar – @ the chalk face: Ravitch v. Wolf: The Rise of the Dogmatic Scholar by plthomasedd Recently, a debate between Diane Ravitch and Patrick Wolf highlights how the dogmatic scholar looks today. Mercedes Schneider examines that debate by first addressing Wolf’s credentials, Endowed Chair in School Choice, Education Reform, University of Arkansas. Both Schneider and Ravitch raise concerns about the conflict of interests when a scholar holds a chair in a department that is heavily funded by school choice advocates, as Schneider explains... more »

Lee Nave Jr. – Small Place, Big Voice - Student Voice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Student Voice: Lee Nave Jr. – Small Place, Big Voice by admin Education advocacy can happen anywhere. Last week I gave a thorough analysis of my firsthand account of the Ethiopian education system. I promise to next week continue the story on and show you readers more information about this wondrous place. Before going any further in the next few weeks, I want to point out how education advocacy is not something that only occurs in West and East coast big cities. Advocacy for the education of our growing population can begin in all parts of the world. Today we will discuss a small... more »

Throughout April: Principal Leadership — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Throughout April: Principal Leadership — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Klea Scharberg]Throughout April: Principal Leadership April 3, 2013 by Klea Scharberg Principals are the key players in developing the climate, culture, and processes in their schools. They are critical to implementing meaningful and lasting school change and in the ongoing school improvement process. Principals who have a clear vision; inspire and engage others in embracing change for improvement; drive, facilitate, and monitor the teaching and learning process; and foster a cohesive cultur... more »

UPDATE: current results of the survey Rally and Teach In at Serna Center Thursday, April 4th 2013, 4:30 to 5:30 pm

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Big Education Ape: Rally and Teach In at Serna Center Thursday, April 4th 2013, 4:30 to 5:30 pm: *The Fish is Back Go Leo!!* Good morning, I have attached the current results of the survey. I appreciate the participation. If you would like to add your response please go to: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GTWLDWW . I will update the results for the regular board meeting tomorrow. For those of us able to attend today's special meeting at 4:30pm (open session/public comment) I have attached details for three operational expectations that I think are important for this evaluation perio... more »

Randi Weingarten, Teachers Union Head, Sounds Off On Atlanta Cheating Scandal

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Randi Weingarten, Teachers Union Head, Sounds Off On Atlanta Cheating Scandal: Randi Weingarten, Teachers Union Head, Sounds Off On Atlanta Cheating Scandal *The Huffington Post* | By William McGuinness Posted: 04/02/2013 7:18 pm EDT | Updated: 04/03/2013 10:14 am EDT [image: Share on Google+] *GET POLITICS ALERTS:* SIGN UP FOLLOW: Video, American Federation Of Teachers, Atlanta Cheating, Randi Weingarten, Randi Weingarten Atlanta, Randi Weingarten Atlanta Cheating Scandal, Atlanta, Atlanta Cheating Scandal,Atlanta Cheating Suspects, Atlanta Schools, Atlanta Schools Cheating,... more »

Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center: Best of the Ed Blogs *Best of the Ed Blogs* features a frequently updated selection of interesting and insightful blog posts on education policy. The views expressed by the bloggers on our blog roll are thoughtful, original, and entirely their own. We hope you make *Best of the Ed Blogs* your first stop for concise takes on today's most important education topics. Who Runs the Reformy Campaign Money Machine? Best of the Ed Blogs Jersey Jazzman April 3, 2013 Common Core Presentations and Omissions Best of the Ed Blogs David B. ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Local Ed Reform Pushing Hard (But Looking Desperate)

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Local Ed Reform Pushing Hard (But Looking Desperate): Local Ed Reform Pushing Hard (But Looking Desperate) by Melissa Westbrook The Times continues its ed reform push and, as we have previously reported, they continue to do it both editorially and in their reporting. The latest example is in an article about a "poll" for the A-F grading for schools bill currently in the Legislature. (It passed in the Senate but hasn't gotten a committee vote yet in the House.) (Sorry, I can't link the story because of the Times' paywall.) The story does not say... more »

UPDATE: FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Wednesday, April 3, 2013

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *Rally and Teach In at Serna Center Thursday, April 4th 2013, 4:30 to 5:30 pm* Education Headlines *Wednesday, April 3, 2013* Pomona Unified officials declare several pieces of district owned land surplus propertyMost of the properties in the two groups of land declared surplus were purchased during a period when the district was experiencing an increase in enrollment. Pomona Unified school board approves field improvements for three district high schoolsThe district's Board of Education unanimously approved resolutions approvi... more »

4LAKids - Education Coalition Position Paper: The 2013-14 CALIFORNIA STATE BUDGET

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Education Coalition Position Paper: The 2013-14 CALIFORNIA STATE BUDGET: Education Coalition Position Paper: The 2013-14 CALIFORNIA STATE BUDGET *FROM THE EDUCATION COALITION* *(SEE FOLLOWING)* * * * * *March 20, 2013* *School Finance Principles for the 2013-14 Budget* The Governor’s Budget proposal to fund Proposition 98 at a level that reflects the increased revenues from the November 2012 election and his effort to eliminate the wall of debt by paying down deferrals is supported by the Education Coalition. This reflects the Coalition’s ... more »

Starving the Beast | GoingPublic

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Starving the Beast | GoingPublic: Starving the Beast by Nancy Letts Starving the beast, at the very least, will just increase its hunger. Go right ahead and starve me dead. It will only make me stronger. –*They Might be Giants* If They Might Be Giants sing it you know it’s true! They wouldn’t lie to children, and neither should we. But the clock is running so fast in many states that it may be too late to call for repairs. The truth is that we like our educational system. We support teachers and the work they do. We think our kids are getting a good education. We like our public sc... more »

NYC Public School Parents: A personal note

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
NYC Public School Parents: A personal note: A personal note by Leonie Haimson I haven’t written much about myself or my family on this blog, however, I am doing so now because GothamSchools is intent on writing about me, my organization Class Size Matters, and about the fact that my son entered a private high school this year. I told their reporter Geoff Decker about this in the fall, in the midst of a longer, off the record conversation about many things, and ever since, whenever I have contacted him about possible stories, he has brought up this issue instead of more important... more »

UPDATE: Oberweis milks the system + The in box. More on Chicago charter underutilization. | Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
The in box. More on Chicago charter underutilization. | Fred Klonsky: John Dillon: Oberweis milks the system. by Fred Klonsky [image: b_2012030820442764136]From John Dillon’s blog: Sometimes money can’t buy you love – or even a seat on the highest levels, but it can at least get you into Springfield. After unsuccessful runs for Governor, U.S. Senator, and U.S. Representative; State Senator Jim Oberweis has finally made his political debut. Now situated firmly in the Capitol Building, unlike many other career legislators, he can be free to act without the concerns or regards for ... more »

Louisiana Educator: Tenure Destruction Bill Reintroduced

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Louisiana Educator: Tenure Destruction Bill Reintroduced: Tenure Destruction Bill Reintroduced by Michael Deshotels Senator Conrad Appel has now reintroduced a bill (Senate Bill 89) to drastically reduce the due process needed for teacher dismissals. This bill would nullify a teacher's tenure status based on only one year of negative ratings using the new teacher evaluation system starting with the 2013-14 school year. Three separate independent researchers have published papers pointing out that the VAM portion of the new evaluation system is so inaccurate that it should never ... more »