Latest News and Comment from Education

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 4-22-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2


Nite Cap UPDATE

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CORPORATE ED REFORM





LAUSD board approves multi-year contracts for senior staffers
In another sign of improving financial fortunes for LA Unified, the school board today approved multi-year contracts for many of the district’s most senior staff. In a break from previous years, when high level administration staffers worked on one-year contracts, several of Superintendent John Deasy’s most senior aides were given contracts of two and, in some cases, three years. Deasy declined to
Paul Takes His School-Choice Message to Chicago
Senator Rand Paul spoke of the importance of giving parents more flexibility to decide where their tax dollars go, and labeled those who stand in the way of greater choice “dead-enders.”
Portland Public Schools foundations raised record-breaking $4.1 million last year
The record number in foundations will help distribute $1.25 million in grants to 47 schools across the district.
David Brooks, Common Core Circus Performer
Ken Previti:David Brooks is paid to preach the neo-con, neo-liberal gospel of the venerable corporate giants who own the NYT and hundreds of other media outlets that used to have greater autonomy. Those antonymous days are over. The Brooks parroting of a CCSS press release is strong evidence that aside from a few crumbs thrown our way to demonstrate the “fair and balanced” view of the NYT, their h

Book Review of Laurel M. Sturt’s memoir, Davonte’s Inferno
In comparison to Davonte’s Inferno by Laurel M. Sturt… Well, there is no comparison to this brilliantly descriptive memoir of the reality of public schools in New York. It stands by itself, and therefore needs to be read widely by teachers, parents and those who are interested and involved in public education today. The subtitle, Ten Years in the New York Public School Gulag, tells in advance that

Epic Pearson Failure in Florida During State-Wide Testing, Blames Someone Else
From the Associated Press: TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Testing was suspended Tuesday in several districts across Florida after students were unable to take the state’s standardized assessment because of a computer glitch. In a letter to the testing contractor, Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said the glitch had created “significant problems” for students taking the Florida Comprehensive Assessment T

The brave new technology
Sent to the Wall Street Journal, April 22, 2014I do not share the enthusiasm about new digital technology in education ("Founding principles in the digital age," April 22). There is no evidence that the brave new online tests that promise "real time testing" will be any better than those we have now. In fact, we have not even seen them in action: According to Fair Test (fairtes

Get Schooled: NCAA rejects courses from nation's largest online education company, including here in Georgia
The National Collegiate Athletic Association has announced that it will no longer accept coursework by student athletes attending 24 online schools run by K12 Inc., a Virginia-based for-profit company. One of those schools is the Georgia Cyber Academy. I asked the director of Georgia Cyber for a comment and will ...

FairTest: Computer Test Failures Are Common
Florida had widespread problems with its FCAT, delivered–or not–by Pearson. Pam Stewart promised to seek damages from Pearson. Remember the bad old days when teachers tested students, graded the tests, and students got immediate feedback. Now state officials trust Pearson more than teachers. Who peddled the idea that all testing should be done online? Here is a report from FairTest: FairTest Nat


The NAACP Resolution on Charter Schools: Segregation is Not Innovation | Seattle Education
The NAACP Resolution on Charter Schools: Segregation is Not Innovation | Seattle Education: The NAACP Resolution on Charter Schools: Segregation is Not InnovationThe NAACP resolution on charter schools:In a process established by the NAACP Constitution, this resolution was adopted by the delegates to the 101st Annual Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, during the legislative session in July, 2010
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: From Director to Facilitator:Losing Control of the Classroom!
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: From Director to Facilitator:Losing Control of the Classroom!: From Director to Facilitator:Losing Control of the Classroom!The other day I witnessed an interaction in my classroom that made me realize that my students were where I wanted them to be, independent of me.:)My students were writing blog posts about our trip to Frawley Stadium. They were inserting pic
Nite Cap 4-22-14 #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 CAPCalifornia's National Green Ribbon Schools - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)California's National Green Ribbon Schools - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Congratulates California's National Green Ribbon Schools