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Monday, April 28, 2014

Nite Cap 4-28-14 #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 CAP



College-Ready? - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher
College-Ready? - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: College-Ready?By Nancy Flanagan on April 28, 2014 4:39 PMWhat does it mean to be "ready" for college? What is the package of skills and core knowledge that makes your average 18-year old equipped to handle higher education? How many of those are talents, abilities and information that teenagers typically acquire--via pr
solidaridad: A helpful meme for supporting bilingualism and SB 1174
solidaridad: A helpful meme for supporting bilingualism and SB 1174: Schools Matter: I met reactionary Fernando Espuelas' challenge, now will he demand the same of Gates, Zuckerberg, and Dell?First published April 26, 2014 on Schools Matter "Another issue involves concerns that charter schools may be screening students by requiring parents to provide information related to special education e
Teachers: Who, today, is buying the power to starve you? | Reclaim Reform
Teachers: Who, today, is buying the power to starve you? | Reclaim Reform: Teachers: Who, today, is buying the power to starve you?Posted on April 28, 2014by Ken PrevitiAs you read this, money and power are meeting with judges in Charleston, SC to shape written judicial decisions to cut constitutionally and contractually protected teacher pensions. Active and retired public employees across Americ
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: LIFE IN THE 'POST-RACIAL' ERA
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: LIFE IN THE 'POST-RACIAL' ERA: LIFE IN THE 'POST-RACIAL' ERAA SMALLTALK SALUTE goes out to NBA Players Assoc. Pres. Chris Paul and the rest of the L.A. Clippers players who hung together in protest against the racism spewed by club ownerDonald Sterling. Even though they were beaten by Golden State last night, they acted with dignity and grace. Though their protest wa
National Week of Action May 13-17 | National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Education Reform for Equity and Opportunity
National Week of Action May 13-17 | National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Education Reform for Equity and Opportunity: National Week of Action May 13-17Posted on: Monday April 28th, 2014Fulfilling the Promise of Brown v. Board:Organizing for Educational Justice for All – May 13-17, 2014To mark the 60th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, parents, students, educators, and community membe
Arne Duncan has labeled my school—and every school in Washington State—a failure. Cue the revolt. | I AM AN EDUCATOR
Arne Duncan has labeled my school—and every school in Washington State—a failure. Cue the revolt. | I AM AN EDUCATOR: Arne Duncan has labeled my school—and every school in Washington State—a failure. Cue the revolt.By I AM AN EDUCATOR on April 28, 2014The ultimate absurdity of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) has been visited upon my home state of Washington.One of the many outlandish propositi
4-28-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Kindergarteners - Get with the SystemI come to this issue because of two recent stories about kindergarteners.One was from Oregon where - guess what?  Bad news about testing kindergarteners for "school readiness."  Two state official up the food chain in public education in Oregon called the kindergartener readiness results "sobering."It is impo
Gated communities for already advantaged students Parents United for Responsible Education
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Gated communities for already advantaged students: Gated communities for already advantaged studentsToday’s story by Chicago Sun-Times Watchdog reporters Tim Novak and Chris Fusco exposes the imbalance of white students in Chicago’s four north side selective enrollment high schools, and the fact that the disproportionate number of white stu
Parents facing a charter takeover vow to stay “Steel Strong” | Parents United for Public Education
Parents facing a charter takeover vow to stay “Steel Strong” | Parents United for Public Education: Parents facing a charter takeover vow to stay “Steel Strong”Posted on April 28, 2014 by PARENTSUNITEDPHILAOn April 1, the School District of Philadelphia announced that its Renaissance-chosen charter operators Mastery Charter Network and ASPIRA, Inc. would be matched with Steel and Munoz-Marin Eleme
Educators Will Never Be 100% Connected. | My Island View
Educators Will Never Be 100% Connected. | My Island View: Educators Will Never Be 100% Connected.April 28, 2014 by tomwhitbyEducators like all learners have a preferred way of learning. Some think of it as different “styles of learning”, but even that theory of  “learning styles” has been questioned by some. In a profession, which resides in a world where content and information constantly change
Stephen Krashen Blog 4-28-14
SKrashen: Poll of the uninformedPublished in the San Francisco Chronicle, April 28, 2014 "Most in state approve of policy shifts in education," April 24: Yes, 69 percent of Californians polled said they liked the Common Core standards after hearing a brief statement about them. The statement said only that they "are designed to ensure that students graduating from high school have t
4-28-14 The Answer Sheet
The Answer Sheet: Louis C.K.: Common Core makes my kids cryI don’t think Louis C.K. means this tweet as a joke. My kids used to love math. Now it makes them cry. Thanks standardized testing and common core! — Louis C.K. (@louisck) April 28, 2014 (If you don’t know who Louis C.K. is, I can’t help you. Google him.)1 by Valerie Strauss / 4minAll Week @ The Answer Sheet 4-26-14The Answer Sheet:All Wee
4-28-14 Schools Matter
Schools Matter: Poll of the uninformedPublished in the San Francisco Chronicle, April 28, 2014"Most in state approve of policy shifts in education," April 24: Yes, 69 percent of Californians polled said they liked the Common Core standards after hearing a brief statement about them. The statement said only that they "are designed to ensure that students graduating from high school h
Grad Rate Tops 80% - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)
Grad Rate Tops 80% - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces High School Graduation Rate Tops 80 PercentLOS ANGELES—For the fourth year in a row, California's graduation rate climbed as the dropout rate fell, particularly for students of color, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today.More than eight out of 10 students statewide
4-28-14 Wait What?
Wait What?: Budget Gimmicks and Declining Revenue catch up to MalloyAs the CT Mirror is reporting, Governor Malloy’s extraordinary budget gimmicks and Connecticut’s lagging economy has caught up with the politician’s wild re-election promises. The CT Mirror’s Keith Phaneuf reports, “Citing declining state revenue projections, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy gave up Monday on two of his biggest re-election y
ALEC, AJEC and other Mutations that get Judges to Legalize Theft | Reclaim Reform
ALEC, AJEC and other Mutations that get Judges to Legalize Theft | Reclaim Reform: ALEC, AJEC and other Mutations that get Judges to Legalize TheftPosted on April 28, 2014by Ken PrevitiWhat the Koch Brothers and other corporate and billionaire members of ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) did with lawmakers (legislators), they are now doing with judges (the judiciary) for personal profit
4-28-14 LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District)
LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District): SEIU 99 president ‘still thinking’ about LAUSD board seatBarbara Torres, president of SEIU Local 99, is “still thinking about running” for a seat on the LA Unified School Board against incumbent Bennett Kayser despite concerns raised by the union’s executive director, says her campaign manager Lewis Myers
4-28-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University)
the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): Teacher Quality: On Hyperbole and AnecdotesIn 2011, 3,764,698,318 retail prescriptions were filled in the U.S. If 0.01% of those prescriptions were filled incorrectly (and thus jeopardizing the health or even lives of patients, including children), 376,469 events could h
Honest Practicum – ID spreading teacher hate to women, the lower class, and African-Americans
Honest Practicum – ID spreading teacher hate to women, the lower class, and African-Americans: ID spreading teacher hate to women, the lower class, and African-AmericansID spreading teacher hate to women, the lower class, and African-AmericansLate last night a Facebook friend alerted me to this show, “Bad Teachers.” Here’s a promo:Titillating. To be completely honest, I laughed at the premise and
4-28-14 The Whole Child Blog — Improving Schools: Back to Basics—Struggling with Semantics — Whole Child Education
Improving Schools: Back to Basics—Struggling with Semantics — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGImproving Schools: Back to Basics—Struggling with SemanticsApril 28, 2014 by Sean Slade"Back to the basics." It's a phrase that's tossed around much but has varying definitions depending on the speaker and audience. For some, "back to the basics" means focusing on
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 4-28-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:  PPIC Survey: CALIFORNIANS SUPPORT HISTORIC CHANGES IN SCHOOL FUNDING, CURRICULUMBy Teresa Watanabe, LA Times | http://lat.ms/PLgzhU Californians support new national learning standards known as Common Core, a new survey found. In Santiago Elementary School in Santa Ana, teachers are already using the new standards to emphasize critical thinking and pre
Duncan's Trip Down the Waiver Rabbit Hole :: Frederick M. Hess
Duncan's Trip Down the Waiver Rabbit Hole :: Frederick M. Hess: Duncan's Trip Down the Waiver Rabbit Holeby Frederick M. Hess  •  Apr 28, 2014 at 11:09 amCross-posted from Education WeekOn Thursday, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan yanked Washington State's NCLB waiver, forcing the state to again operate under provisions of a law that Duncan has declared "broken." I criticized the move
NYC Public School Parents: Sign our petition to Commissioner King and the Board of Regents on the need to protect student privacy!
NYC Public School Parents: Sign our petition to Commissioner King and the Board of Regents on the need to protect student privacy!: Sign our petition to Commissioner King and the Board of Regents on the need to protect student privacy!Read the petition below and sign it here.---------To Commissioner King and the Board of Regents:For more than two years, since the state entered into a data-sharing
4-28-13 Curmudgucation Week
CURMUDGUCATION: The Gates Wants Us To Take a StandOver at Inside Higher Ed, Dan Greenstein and Vicki Phillips are making yet another pitch for the Core on behalf of the Gates Foundation (Greenstein is director of postsecondary success and Pillips is director of education).  I would love to tell you that they have shiny new talking points to offer, but no-- it's the same old fluffernuttery. Here's
Taking an assembly-line management technique to the classroom: root cause data analysis | Education By The Numbers
Taking an assembly-line management technique to the classroom: root cause data analysis | Education By The Numbers: Taking an assembly-line management technique to the classroom: root cause data analysisBack in the late 1950s the Japanese auto maker Toyota developed a novel approach for fixing problems on its production line. Rather than making a bandaid repair on a visible symptom, the idea was t
Standards Development Work Group Not as Advertised | Missouri Education Watchdog
Standards Development Work Group Not as Advertised | Missouri Education Watchdog: Standards Development Work Group Not as AdvertisedMembers of the Missouri Coalition Against Common Core have been going around the state educating the public on Common Core because it is hard to fight against that which you don’t understand. In each presentation, we make a point of talking about the individuals who c
4-28-14 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.: Journalism.I admit that I am flexible about this journalism thing. I’m not a journalist. I’m a retired K-5 art teacher who writes a blog. And I am an activist around a bunch of issues. That doesn’t mean I don’t try to be honest and accurate. But unlike most of who make questionable claims to being jou
Morning Wink 4-28-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-28-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Jeff Bryant in Salon: Why Common Core Is in Deep TroubleJeff Bryant is a marketing and communications expert, and he understands why Common Core is in deep trouble.   The “education reform movem
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-28-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Jeff Bryant in Salon: Why Common Core Is in Deep TroubleJeff Bryant is a marketing and communications expert, and he understands why Common Core is in deep trouble.   The “education reform movement” is not really a movement. It has no mass base. It is a public relations campaign created by a very small number of people with deep po
4-28-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Using Dance To Teach English Is Topic Of My Latest NY Times PostMy latest New York Times post for English Language Learners is focused on dance as a language-learning activity. It includes a new type of student interactive, as well as teaching ideas. You can access all my many NY Times posts here.by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h 4-27
Open Space Offices and Open Space Schools–Borrowing Across Organizations? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
Open Space Offices and Open Space Schools–Borrowing Across Organizations? | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Open Space Offices and Open Space Schools–Borrowing Across Organizations?Some viewers and friends ask me from time to time where do I get my ideas for writing twice-weekly posts about school reform and classroom practice. I tell them that I read lots of blogs, magazine a
Report on School Privatization in Milwaukee | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!
Report on School Privatization in Milwaukee | Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Report on School Privatization in MilwaukeeFiled under: Charter Schools,Privatization,Vouchers — millerlf @ 8:53 am Do Poor Kids Deserve Lower-Quality Education Than Rich Kids? Evaluating School Privatization Proposals in Milwaukee, WisconsinBy Gordon Lafer | April 24, 2014During the past year, Wisconsin stat
4-28-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida ALL Week
Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education: Influential National Hispanic Civil Rights Organization Opposed to Voucher ExpansionThe League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) are emphasizing their opposition to school vouchers in their education platform: LULAC strongly opposes vouchers and any other funding
All Week 4-28-14 @ THE CHALK FACE
@ THE CHALK FACE: Humanities and LSAT reflect Critical Thinking versus Core Knowledge debate“In short, the real literacy crisis occurs whenever we deploy a pedagogy that asks our students only to consume texts and not to produce them as well.” — Richard E. Miller The ABA Journal recently posted a piece entitled “Students with these college majors had the highest LSAT scores” that discusses the fin
4-28-14 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: Daily News Says New UFT Contract Will Add Time To Teachers Schedule For "Professional Development"Here is what the News says may happen: The city is closing in on a multiyear contract with the teachers union that could include significant retroactive raises, sources said. One deal being discussed with the United Federation of Teachers would give them retroactive ra
Oh No! Now Arne Duncan’s Going to Rate Teacher Training Programs | janresseger
Oh No! Now Arne Duncan’s Going to Rate Teacher Training Programs | janresseger: Oh No! Now Arne Duncan’s Going to Rate Teacher Training ProgramsPosted on April 28, 2014 by janressegerSecretary of Education Arne Duncan announced last Friday that the Obama administration plans to develop ratings of colleges of education to make them more accountable for their graduates’ performance. Motoko Rich in t
"Is that your final answer?": What's allowed during standardized testing in Oregon, and what's not | OregonLive.com
"Is that your final answer?": What's allowed during standardized testing in Oregon, and what's not | OregonLive.com: "Is that your final answer?": What's allowed during standardized testing in Oregon, and what's notEducation Northwest analyzed test scores and procedures at King School after the Northeast Portland building saw huge swings in test scores from year to year. (Faith
Common Core testing goes smoothly but expenses mount :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet
Common Core testing goes smoothly but expenses mount :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: APRIL 28, 2014Common Core testing goes smoothly but expenses mountby Kimberly Beltran(Calif.) Despite a near-flawless rollout of a new, computerized student testing system aligned with the Common Core, school officials are still hoping a revenue boost for t
NYC Educator: Sell Your Tenure And You Sell Your Soul
NYC Educator: Sell Your Tenure And You Sell Your Soul: Sell Your Tenure And You Sell Your SoulAs public education is increasingly pushed into the arms of private business, market-minded individuals seek to end tenure.  They argue tenure protects the incompetent and strips students of their civil rights.  The war against tenure is presently being waged in Los Angeles in the Vergara Case. Some argue
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES: WEEKEND QUOTABLESJustice Sonia Sotomayor's brilliant dissent   “In my colleagues’ view, examining the racial impact of legislation only perpetuates racial discrimination. This refusal to accept the stark reality that race matters is regrettable...The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to speak openly and candidly on the subject of r

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Strapped for cash, Alaska politicians aim to open door for school vouchers | Al Jazeera America
Strapped for cash, Alaska politicians aim to open door for school vouchers | Al Jazeera America: EDUCATIONSTRAPPED FOR CASH, ALASKA POLITICIANS AIM TO OPEN DOOR FOR SCHOOL VOUCHERSALAN WU/FLICKRAfter slashing oil taxes, lawmakers propose amending state constitution to address school funding shortageApril 28, 2014 5:00AM ETby Lauren Rosenthal @laurenthalIn its early days, public education in Alaska
Why We Chose to Opt Out | EduSanity
Why We Chose to Opt Out | EduSanity: WHY WE CHOSE TO OPT OUTAPRIL 8, 2014 JASON ENDACOTT  COMMENTSThousands of children in our state are headed into schools today to take standardized tests mandated by the federal government under No Child Left Behind.  Our fourth grade son won’t be one of them.Opting your children out of standardized tests is a very personal decision, and one that has been far mo
Governor’s proposed rainy day reserve for education would rarely be filled | EdSource Today
Governor’s proposed rainy day reserve for education would rarely be filled | EdSource Today: Governor’s proposed rainy day reserve for education would rarely be filledApril 27th, 2014 | Add a Comment | By John FensterwaldTo even out the boom-and-bust revenue cycles that can particularly destabilize education funding, Gov. Jerry Brown is proposing a separate reserve for K-12 schools and community c
4-27-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools This WeekTuesday, April 29thWork Session: Board Self-Evaluation/Superintendent Evaluation, 4:30-6:00 pm; Executive Session, 6:00-6:30 pm.Wednesday, April 30Work Session: Special Education, 4:00-5:30 pm.  AgendaWork Session: Capital Projects, 5:30-7:00 pm.  Agenda not yet available.Friday, May 2ndKimball Elementary Art Walk from 3 pm to 6 pm.Saturday
My Book Is Published! | deutsch29
My Book Is Published! | deutsch29: My Book Is Published!April 27, 2014To all who have been asking and waiting:I am pleased to report that my book, A Chronicle of Echoes: Who’s Who in the Implosion of American Public Education, is now available on Amazon.com!At the moment, Amazon.com has the paperback version, listed at $23.35.I hear that the e-book takes about 30 days until it is available.Here is
California School Boards Association’s President takes on Netflix CEO’s call for privatization for school boards « School Board News
California School Boards Association’s President takes on Netflix CEO’s call for privatization for school boards « School Board News: California School Boards Association’s President takes on Netflix CEO’s call for privatization for school boardsJosephine Lucey, President of the California School Boards Association and a Cupertino Union School District board member, took on Netflix CEO Reed Hastin
empathyeducates – A Walmart Fortune, Spreading Charter Schools
empathyeducates – A Walmart Fortune, Spreading Charter Schools: A Walmart Fortune, Spreading Charter SchoolsMary Ann Carlson with pupils at a charter school in Washington run by KIPP, an organization aided by the Walton foundation. | Credit Gabriella Demczuk/The New York TimesBy Motoko Rich | Originally Published at The New York Times. April 25, 2014WASHINGTON — DC Prep operates four charter schoo
4-27-14 Schools Matter : Who's Getting Walmart School Privatization Cash?
Schools Matter: Who's Getting Walmart School Privatization Cash?: Who's Getting Walmart School Privatization Cash?From the NYTimes:Last year, the Walton Family Foundation gave $478,380 to a fund affiliated with the Chicago public schools to help officials conduct community meetings to discuss their plan to close more than 50 schools at a time when charters were expanding in the city. . . . .In 201
Nite Cap 4-27-14 #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 CAPWhy We Chose to Opt Out | Jason EndacottWhy We Chose to Opt Out | Jason Endacott: Why We Chose to Opt OutPosted: 04/16/2014 5:01 pm EDT Updated: 04/16/2014 5:59 pm EDTunitedoptout.com/OPT OUT GUIDES BY STATE Thousands of children in our state are