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Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Morning Wink 4-8-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2


BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS




LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-8-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: exas Superintendent Asks for Help in Stopping Failed VAMThis superintendent posted a request for help. I will be posting a summary of research on value-added-measurement later today. I think it is fair to say that while economists like VAM (they measure productivity), education researchers overwhelmingly oppose VAM because they kno
Thoughts From a Former KIPP Teacher: Testing, Common Core, and Charters Are Myths | Cloaking Inequity
Thoughts From a Former KIPP Teacher: Testing, Common Core, and Charters Are Myths | Cloaking Inequity: Thoughts From a Former KIPP Teacher: Testing, Common Core, and Charters Are MythsIn the bid for a better education for all students in America, recent reform efforts have focused on increasing the expectations – standards and exams – for students.  What is not explicitly discussed are the negativ
Another Lawsuit in Rochester, New York |
Another Lawsuit in Rochester, New York |: Another Lawsuit in Rochester, New York Following my most recent post, it seems, again, and as per another post in Diane Ravitch’s blog, that the Rochester, New York Teachers Association is also now “suing the state over its teacher evaluation system, alleging that it does not take into account the impact of poverty on classroom performance.”As per the orig
4-8-14 Wait What?
Wait What?:   Trumbull postpones Common Core Smarter Balanced Assessment Testing for juniorsOnly 26 of Trumbull High School’s 530 juniors showed up to take last Friday’s Common Core Smarter Balanced Assessment Test of a test.  Earlier in the week, only 47 (less than 10 percent) of the town’s high school juniors participated in that day’s portion of the test. In response, Trumbull has postponed thi
4-8-14 The Answer Sheet
The Answer Sheet: Principals slam 2014 NY Common Core tests as badly designedStudents in New York have been taking state-mandated Common Core-aligned standard tests in English Language Arts in recent days and, for the second year in a row, educators are saying the tests — designed by the giant education company Pearson — were badly designed for the second straight year. Last year, the tests sparke
4-8-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida
Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education: Florida PTA: The Boogeyman Who Torments Step Up for StudentsDuring last year’s run-up to another failed parent trigger bid, House sponsor Rep. Carlos Trujillo attempted to marginalize PTA opponents of his bill as “there to bake cookies.” Trujillo’s problem – and that of
4-8-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: The Best Posts & Videos About Sugata Mitra & His Education IdeasProfessor Sugata Mitra and is famous for his “holes in the wall” experiments where he placed computers in impoverished Indian communities and students “self-organized” their instruction. Professor Mitra was awarded the TED Prize last year, and expanded
4-8-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: The day after. Charter farters pay for a party in Springfield. Or are we footing the bill?Who said, “Timing is everything?” Socrates? Shakespeare? Certainly nobody in the charter school movement. A day after the Medill Data Project and Sun-Times released a study showing that the state’s charter school
FCMAT » Cal Education Headlines Tuesday, April 8, 2014
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: L.A. Unified students want one of their own on school boardEducation HeadlinesTuesday, April 8, 2014FCMAT provides links to California K-12 news stories as a service to the industry. However, some stories may not be accessible because of newspapers' subscription policies.Central San Joaquin Valley schools begin new computerized state testsAft
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 4-8-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: In Teacher Jailby Gerald and Esther Schiller, from an email circulating widely Our son is in jail. But there are no bars or armed guards, or wardens. And he does go home to his wife each afternoon. Our son is in “teacher jail.” For those who may be unaware of this bizarre institution, “teacher jail”   is the name applied (with no affection) to what the
4-8-14 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: Video: Which Louisiana Teachers Wrote Common Core?When I debated Stephanie Deselles of the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL) in November 2013, she mentioned “three Louisiana teachers” who were involved in writing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Never mind that “three” is an embarrassingly low number. Deselles provided no names. During testimony on the writing of CCSS
Schools can overcome the challenges of poverty — with the right interventions | Hechinger Report
Schools can overcome the challenges of poverty — with the right interventions | Hechinger Report: Schools can overcome the challenges of poverty — with the right interventionsBy Pamela CantorWhen President Obama launched My Brother’s Keeper last month to help young men and boys of color reach their full potential, he shared what had made the difference in his own life: “I had people who encouraged
School Is Conservative, Education Is Progressive - Bridging Differences - Education Week
School Is Conservative, Education Is Progressive - Bridging Differences - Education Week: School Is Conservative, Education Is ProgressiveBy Guest Blogger on April 8, 2014 8:41 AMRobert Pondiscio of Democracy Prep concludes his blogging partnership with Deborah Meier today. Deborah will respond on Thursday and then take a one-week blogging break before returning with a new co-blogger the week of A
Brownback’s Lack of Leadership on Common Core Defunding | Truth in American Education
Brownback’s Lack of Leadership on Common Core Defunding | Truth in American Education: Brownback’s Lack of Leadership on Common Core DefundingFiled in Common Core State Standards, Education at State Level by Shane Vander Hart on April 8, 2014 • 0 Comments1The Kansas Senate on Thursday night voted to defund the Common Core State Standards after an amendment to the school finance bill overwhelmingly
A Fascinating Way to Put a Stop to the School-to-Prison Pipeline for Black Children | Alternet
A Fascinating Way to Put a Stop to the School-to-Prison Pipeline for Black Children | Alternet: A Fascinating Way to Put a Stop to the School-to-Prison Pipeline for Black ChildrenRestorative justice techniques for all children will stem the tide of unequal classroom punishment.5 COMMENTSPhoto Credit: advprojectdc; Screenshot / YouTube.comApril 7, 2014  |   Destiny was in eighth grade when, in the
Tell Me Again: Why Did We Adopt Common Core? | Missouri Education Watchdog
Tell Me Again: Why Did We Adopt Common Core? | Missouri Education Watchdog: Tell Me Again: Why Did We Adopt Common Core? Missouri had high standards according to the Commissioner circa 2009. So why did we adopt CCSS?Commissioner Chris Nicastro was appointed as Missouri Education of Commissioner and began her duties officially on August 1, 2009.Governor Jay Nixon unilaterally signed the intent to a
Video: Which Louisiana Teachers Wrote Common Core? | deutsch29
Video: Which Louisiana Teachers Wrote Common Core? | deutsch29: Video: Which Louisiana Teachers Wrote Common Core?April 8, 2014When I debated Stephanie Deselles of the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL) in November 2013, she mentioned “three Louisiana teachers” who were involved in writing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).Never mind that “three” is an embarrassingly low number.Deselles pr
Disappearing Black & Latino Teachers Reach Severe Levels in NYC Public Schools Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública
Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública: Disappearing Black & Latino Teachers Reach Severe Levels in NYC Public SchoolsThanks to the decade-long dogged work of CPE member Sean Ahern and the research of the NYC Independent Budget Office's Raymond Domanico, we have the latest stats (above) about how deeply institutionalized is the "disappearing" of Black &
Plan would use vouchers to expand, restructure child care :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet
Plan would use vouchers to expand, restructure child care :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: APRIL 08, 2014Plan would use vouchers to expand, restructure child careby Tom Chorneau(Calif.) The state should abandoned its cumbersome delivery and funding system for child care services and replace it with one utilizing vouchers, according to a prop
From the White House to Diane Ravitch: A whirlwind week for Parents United | Parents United for Public Education
From the White House to Diane Ravitch: A whirlwind week for Parents United | Parents United for Public Education: From the White House to Diane Ravitch: A whirlwind week for Parents UnitedPosted on April 8, 2014 by HELENGYMLeave a commentThe past few weeks have been kind of a whirlwind as a host of events converged around our Parents United work seemingly all at once. I thought I’d share a few tho
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm's two biggest scams
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm's two biggest scams: Rahm's two biggest scams  “Have you changed the way you measure statistics?” one reporter asked.  “I don’t buy the premise of the question,” Emanuel answered and quickly moved on. -- Chicago MagazineThe mayor and his two chiefs, schools CEO Byrd-Bennettand top cop Garry McCarthy, have put together a couple of scams any 3-card-Monte hustler o

YESTERDAY

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 4-7-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
Nite Cap UPDATEUPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATECORPORATE ED REFORMCharter-Mania, High-Stakes Testing and Teacher-Bashing: Can Rhee’s Approach Be Stopped?Is public education doomed to destruction? Has it already been done in? Everyone has an opinion. The question is will the Vergara v. California court decision permanently define what might be? Will education equity be set free? Stanford Professor Linda
Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog 4-7-14
Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog: Canada Takes Steps for Country's HealthCanada has taken steps this week to give more information about diabetes to the country. Approximetly one in four Canadians has diabetes or prediabetes. And that statistic costs the country over $1.6 billion yearly, causing some concern for the countries health care system. Canada gives their citizens free health care and large amo
The Factoid World of Michael Goodwin of the New York Post southbronxschool.com
http://www.southbronxschool.com: The Factoid World of Michael Goodwin of the New York PostI buy two newspapers on Sunday. The Daily News, I read in the car while my son is in Sunday School and The Times to read throughout the day. The Post, except for Phil Mushnick is a waste of my time.But this past Sunday I was able to read a free copy of the Post. I forgot where I was but I came across Michael
Nite Cap 4-7-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
James Baldwin said it best: "For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP4-7-14 Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All WeekJersey Jazzman: Why Is Michelle Rhee Wrong About Everything?Michelle Rhee is consistently wrong about everything.She was wrong about teaching to the test. She was wrong about her grading of state education po
4-7-14 Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All Week
Jersey Jazzman: Why Is Michelle Rhee Wrong About Everything?Michelle Rhee is consistently wrong about everything.She was wrong about teaching to the test. She was wrong about her grading of state education policies. She was wrong about truancy. She was wrong about student surveys and VAM. She was wrong about the effectiveness of her "reforms" while leading the Washington, D.C. schools.Mi
4-7-14 Wait What?
Wait What?: NEWS FLASH: Its official – choice means Friendship Charter School or nothingIn a brazen effort to hand over Hartford’s Clark Elementary School to Friendship Charter Schools of Washington D.C. and divert more scarce public funds to another out-of-state charter school management company, a special meeting of the Hartford Board of Education has suddenly been called for tomorrow to approve
4-7-14 Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"
Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement": Video: “Early language and the brain: Smart talk”I’m adding this video from The Economist to The Best Resources For Learning About The “Word Gap”:by Larry Ferlazzo / 26min hide  //  saveBritish Schools Plan: “parents should get a ‘checklist’ telling them how to raise their children”British schools planning to give parents a
4-7-14 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: New York’s Secret TestGuest post from Bianca Tanis, New York State Parent and Educator.   In recent days the 2014 New York ELA tests have been the subject of  much attention. It did not come as a surprise to most educators that the tests were more difficult than last year. After all, NYSED had informed teachers that this year, even 3rd […]by Chris Cerrone / 3min4-6-14 @ The Chalk
4-7-14 Schools Matter
Schools Matter: Brooklyn Schools Lead the Way “There was inappropriate content, many highly ambiguous questions, and a focus on structure rather than meaning of passages.” Brooklyn schools lead the way. From The NationThere’s a growing nationwide movement opposing these tests as the result of a corporate-driven agenda that has distorted real learning, widened the achievement gap, increased financi
4-7-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida
Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education: Florida to Pay Utah $5.4 Million for Field TestThere’s more fall-out from those new state tests which are being field-tested in Utah. Kristen Moulton in the Salt Lake City Tribune reports: Utah is about to reap an unexpected windfall from the questions it wrote for the n
Puppets have no political party ideology: Rahm Rauner | Reclaim Reform
Puppets have no political party ideology: Rahm Rauner | Reclaim Reform: Puppets have no political party ideology: Rahm RaunerPosted on April 7, 2014by Ken PrevitiWarning: Names were not changed to protect the guilty. Designations of Republican, Democrat, Independent, Tea Party, Green, Socialist, etc. are meaningless when billionaires and multinational corporations alone are being served. Oligarchs
Charter school truths hit the front page Parents United for Responsible Education
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Charter school truths hit the front page: truths hit the front pageToday was not a good day for charter school public relations folks.The Chicago Tribune’s front page carried the above headline (left) on a story that described the discipline policy of the Noble Network of Charter Schools as “extreme,” “stricter than zero tolerance,” and “ou
NYC Public School Parents: District 2 principals fight back! Parents, Rally with your school on Friday morning vs awful State ELA exam
NYC Public School Parents: District 2 principals fight back! Parents, Rally with your school on Friday morning vs awful State ELA exam: District 2 principals fight back! Parents, Rally with your school on Friday morning vs awful State ELA examSee letter from most of the Elementary school principals in Community School District 2 below; D2 takes up a large slice of Manhattan from the southern tip t
Ask Arne: Procuring Privacy | ED.gov Blog
Ask Arne: Procuring Privacy | ED.gov Blog: Ask Arne: Procuring PrivacyWhen I think of privacy a few images pop into my head:  a “do not disturb” sign, the settings on my social media accounts, or me locking the bathroom door so that my kids can’t come barging in after me.But the term “privacy” has taken on new meaning in the digital age, and is now accompanied by terms like big data, devices, and
4-7-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Another day. Another report showing charter schools don’t do much better than neighborhood schools.Former UNO charter chief Juan Rangel and his pal, Rahm Emanuel. Proponents of the corporate school reform agenda believe in at least three sacred truths. Charters and school choice will improve the quali
Just Say No to Charter School Conversions | WeArePCAPS
Just Say No to Charter School Conversions | WeArePCAPS: Just Say No to Charter School ConversionsPosted on April 7, 2014by wearepcapsThe School District, in the midst of a severe budget crunch is spending millions of dollars on converting two more neighborhood schools to charters. Steel Elementary in Nicetown and Munoz Marin Elementary in Kensington were selected, not based on school performance a
“An Act of Conscience”: Teachers at New York’s Earth School boycott Common Core Tests! | I AM AN EDUCATOR
“An Act of Conscience”: Teachers at New York’s Earth School boycott Common Core Tests! | I AM AN EDUCATOR: “An Act of Conscience”: Teachers at New York’s Earth School boycott Common Core Tests!By I AM AN EDUCATOR on April 7, 2014Teachers at the Earth School in NYC who protested in support of the Seattle MAP test boycott in 2013Last spring I was invited to the Earth School in the East Village of Ne
Bill De Blasio Is Actually More Helpful To Charter Schools Than Some Republicans, Report Says
Bill De Blasio Is Actually More Helpful To Charter Schools Than Some Republicans, Report Says: Bill De Blasio Is Actually More Helpful To Charter Schools Than Some Republicans, Report SaysPosted: 04/07/2014 12:00 pm EDT Updated: 04/07/2014 12:59 pm EDTPool via Getty ImagesNEW YORK -- Last fall, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) waged his successful populist campaign in part on reversing his p
Funds for Energy Efficiency Available - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)
Funds for Energy Efficiency Available - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces Next Round of Energy Efficiency Funding ApplicationsSACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced that local educational agencies (LEAs) that have Proposition 39 planning funds available–about $33 million—for energy efficiency projects can now
Conspiracy Theories: Who Hacked the United Opt Out National Website
 Conspiracy Theories: Who Hacked the  United Opt Out National WebsiteJust a heads up - our website has been destroyed by hackers. If you are able to view the United Opt Out National website, you are currently viewing a cached site/ghost site. It could disappear at any moment - we don't know how long that will last. We will try to get the 50 state guides uploaded to this FB group over the next few
4-7-14 This Week in LA - School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD
LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District): Morning Read: Less than 40% of Students are College ReadyCollege-Readiness not keeping up in California Fewer than 4 in 10 California high school students are completing the requirements to be eligible for the state’s public universities, fueling worries of a shortage of college-educated workers when the
Common Core & Data Collection | Truth in American Education
Common Core & Data Collection | Truth in American Education: Common Core & Data CollectionFiled in Privacy/SLDS by Jane Robbins on April 7, 2014 • 0 Comments181A particularly troubling aspect of the Common Core scheme is the emphasis on massive data-collection on students, and the sharing of that data for various purposes essentially unrelated to genuine education. U. S. Secretary of Educa
What If We Had a Test and Nobody Took It? | John Thompson
What If We Had a Test and Nobody Took It? | John Thompson: What If We Had a Test and Nobody Took It?Posted: 04/06/2014 4:16 pm EDT Updated: 04/07/2014 9:59 am EDTIn a rational world, the public school test prep season wouldn't heat up during the winter and the first of April wouldn't signify the beginning of the high-stakes test marathon, and the end of learning during the last quarter of the scho
Karen Magee elected as New York State United Teachers president - Newsday
Karen Magee elected as New York State United Teachers president - Newsday: Karen Magee elected as New York State United Teachers presidentOriginally published: April 6, 2014 10:48 AMUpdated: April 6, 2014 9:23 PMBy EMILY NGO  emily.ngo@newsday.comKaren Magee, the newly elected president of New York State United Teachers, addresses NYSUT members during the closing of the 42nd Annual Representative
Morning Wink 4-7-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-7-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Hoover, Alabama: “I Just Want to Teach”I encountered this article on Twitter, and a reader was kind enough to forward it in the comments section.   http://ow.ly/vcl92   I Just Want to Teach…..Not