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Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 7/15/15


SPECIAL NITE CAP 

CORPORATE ED REFORM



The 5 Teachers You Meet in Heaven: What It Really Takes to Save Our Schools | Yohuru Williams
The 5 Teachers You Meet in Heaven: What It Really Takes to Save Our Schools | Yohuru Williams: The 5 Teachers You Meet in Heaven: What It Really Takes to Save Our SchoolsA few weeks ago, I had the privilege of delivering commencement addresses to the graduates of the Read Middle School and the Metropolitan Business Academy Magnet High School in Bridgeport and New Haven, Connecticut respectively. T
Education Health ALERT!: United Nations warns GERMs spreading worldwide #NN15 | Cloaking Inequity
Education Health ALERT!: United Nations warns GERMs spreading worldwide #NN15 | Cloaking Inequity: Education Health ALERT!: United Nations warns GERMs spreading worldwide #NN15The world is experiencing the spread of privatizing GERMs (Global Education Reform Movements).School “reformers” are pressing a variety of “school choice” and “market-based” policies that move the control of schools from dem
NEW CTA PRESIDENT | ERIC HEINS - California Teachers Association
- California Teachers AssociationCTA PRESIDENT | ERIC HEINSCTA President Eric Heins took office on June 26, 2015 along with CTA Vice-President Theresa Montano & Secretary/Treasurer David Goldberg.
CURMUDGUCATION: How AFT Blew It
CURMUDGUCATION: How AFT Blew It: How AFT Blew ItI wouldn't devote one more post to deconstructing Randi Weingarten's early-bird Christmas gift to Hillary Clinton except that I'm an NEA member, and I'm living in fear that NEA president Lily Ekelsen Garcia's administration will lead us down the same path.Arguing about Clinton (or Weingarten for that matter) is a tricky dance. Clinton tends to have a
NY's new education commissioner on Common Core, teacher evals & more | syracuse.com
NY's new education commissioner on Common Core, teacher evals & more | syracuse.com: NY's new education commissioner on Common Core, teacher evals & moreSYRACUSE, N.Y. – The state's new education leader, MaryEllen Elia, wants to be known as a teachers' commissioner."I am a teacher," Elia said today. "I think of myself as a teacher."That means more support for teachers t
Now They Want to Make Money On Your Babies - Pre-K and Charter Schools
Pre-K and Charter Schools: Where State Policies Create Barriers to Collaboration? | The Thomas B. Fordham Institute: Now They Want to Make Money On  Your Babies - Pre-K and Charter SchoolsPre-K and Charter Schools: Where State Policies Create Barriers to CollaborationJuly 14, 2015Foreword by Michael J. Petrilli and Amber M. NorthernReport by Sara Mead and Ashley LiBetti MitchelDownload the full re
Common Core Opt-Out Debate: Parents Fight For Standardized Testing Rights
Common Core Opt-Out Debate: Parents Fight For Standardized Testing Rights: Common Core Opt-Out Debate: Parents Fight For Standardized Testing RightsOn a recent Thursday morning designated for testing at his Colorado middle school, Jack Spiegel commenced to following what had become his daily routine: He woke up, got dressed by 6:45 a.m., sat down the kitchen table and ate a bowl of Honey Bunches o
Law allows for opt outs of standardized tests | Polk County Itemizer-Observer
Law allows for opt outs of standardized tests | Polk County Itemizer-Observer: Law Allows For Opt Outs Of Standardized TestsIf school districts don’t meet 95 percent participation rates, they could stand to lose federal moneySALEM — The landscape of statewide assessments — currently Smarter Balanced Assessments — is in question after Gov. Kate Brown signed a law allowing parents to more easily opt
Hillary's Family Ties to School Privatizers, and Diane Ravitch's Review of Hoosier School Heist | Black Agenda Report
Hillary's Family Ties to School Privatizers, and Diane Ravitch's Review of Hoosier School Heist | Black Agenda Report: Hillary's Family Ties to School Privatizers, and Diane Ravitch's Review of Hoosier School HeistBy Doug Martin at Hoosier School Heist Blog, and Diane RavitchLast week the American Federation of Teachers endorsed Hillary Clinton's presidential candidacy, without consulting more tha
New Education Reform PAC Launches With Help from Bowser - Loose Lips
New Education Reform PAC Launches With Help from Bowser - Loose Lips: New Education Reform PAC Launches With Help from Bowser Candidates in the 2016 D.C. Council and State Board of Education races will have another PAC to court. Democrats for Education Reform-D.C., a new PAC with a connected independent expenditure, is looking to fund candidates in next year's races.The PAC, the local branch of De
PAA Week July 19-25: Final Schedule and Session Links | Parents Across America
PAA Week July 19-25: Final Schedule and Session Links | Parents Across America: PAA Week July 19-25: Final Schedule and Session Links Time to get ready for PAA Week! Let’s go!All public sessions will be recorded and posted after the session ends.Day 1 – Sunday, July 19, 8PM ET: Kick-off (internal PAA session)This session is for PAA chapter and affiliate leaders only; invitations are going out thro
Outsourcing: Privatizing the Heart of Special Education
Outsourcing: Privatizing the Heart of Special Education: Outsourcing: Privatizing the Heart of Special EducationIt is difficult to find proof that handing over the heart of special education to non-profit and for-profit companies improves services for students with special needs. It’s unclear whether it saves money either. But school privatization involving special education appears to be on the r
K.J.’s email scheme - Sacramento News & Review -
Sacramento News & Review - K.J.’s email scheme - Bites - Opinions - July 16, 2015: K.J.’s email schemeHow the mayor's ‘bulletproof' system to avoid public scrutiny might backfire“Gmail was our bulletproof method of communication, beyond the reach of the city and the public.”That’s how R.E. Graswich, a former senior adviser to Mayor Kevin Johnson, described the parallel email system set up insi
Senate Votes to Require States to Set Limit on Time Spent Testing | deutsch29
Senate Votes to Require States to Set Limit on Time Spent Testing | deutsch29: Senate Votes to Require States to Set Limit on Time Spent TestingOn July 14, 2015, the Senate passed by voice vote a bill sponsored by Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) requiring states to establish a limit on the maximum total time students are to spend taking standardized tests– for ESEA or otherwise; to represent that li
In Blow to Erdogan, Turkish Court Halts Closing of Schools Tied to His Rival - The New York Times
In Blow to Erdogan, Turkish Court Halts Closing of Schools Tied to His Rival - The New York Times: In Blow to Erdogan, Turkish Court Halts Closing of Schools Tied to His RivalISTANBUL — In a blow to the government, Turkey’s highest court has overturned a law that would have closed thousands of preparatory schools linked to an influential Muslim cleric and rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.Th
CURMUDGUCATION: Sad Days in PARCCland
CURMUDGUCATION: Sad Days in PARCCland: Sad Days in PARCClandPARCC, built on the dream of a national scale standardized testing system, has been dumped by yet another state. Governor John Kasich of Ohio two weeks ago signed a budget that severs Ohio's connection to the PARCC consortium. The dream is dying.The PARCC had only been used in Ohio for one year-- but that year was disastrous. State Senato
Charter School Sector Out of Control | janresseger
Charter School Sector Out of Control | janresseger: Charter School Sector Out of ControlLast week when Ohio’s progressive Senator Sherrod Brown introduced (to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization bill being considered right now by the U.S. Senate) an amendment for federal regulation of charter schools, the Plain Dealer reported that he noted the irony that the very people who
Backdrop slap on Common Core’s test of ‘feelings’ :: SI&A Cabinet Report
Backdrop slap on Common Core’s test of ‘feelings’ :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: Backdrop slap on Common Core’s test of ‘feelings’(La.) In another move to limit the federal government’s reach into its classrooms, lawmakers have approved legislation that prohibits education officials from adopting any academic content standards or tests tha
Black Children in U.S. Are Much More Likely to Live in Poverty, Study Finds - The New York Times
Black Children in U.S. Are Much More Likely to Live in Poverty, Study Finds - The New York Times: Black Children in U.S. Are Much More Likely to Live in Poverty, Study FindsWASHINGTON — Black children were almost four times as likely as white children to be living in poverty in 2013, a new report has found, the latest evidence that the economic recovery is leaving behind some of the United States’
AFT TEACH Conference is underway! - YouTube
AFTHQ - YouTube: AFT TEACH Conference - YouTubeTEACH is underway!The AFT TEACH (Together Educating America’s Children) conference, July 13-15 in Washington, D.C., celebrates the work we do and provide inspiration for the work that lies ahead. This conference brings together educators, union leaders, administrators, activists, and civic and community leaders for high-quality workshops. TEACH also o
State broke the law by ignoring online school F's, state school board says | cleveland.com
State broke the law by ignoring online school F's, state school board says | cleveland.com: State broke the law by ignoring online school F's, state school board saysCOLUMBUS, Ohio –  State school board members accused the Ohio Department of Education Tuesday of breaking state law by throwing F grades for online schools out of a key charter school evaluation this year.Members of the state school b
The Real Reason U.S. Schools Have Summer Vacations
Why Does Summer Vacation Exist?: The Real Reason U.S. Schools Have Summer Vacations U.S. kids still get about 900 hours of classroom time each year — comparable to (or even higher than) most other countries. In fact, Finland has far fewer hours of school each year (around 600), and it consistently crushes the U.S. in international education rankings.Summer vacation is one of those things you have
Game, set & match: Public/charter schools compared - The Daily Tribune : Opinion
Other Views: Game, set & match: Public/charter schools compared - The Daily Tribune : Opinion: Game, set & match: Public/charter schools comparedEvery year the Texas Education Agency releases the “snapshot” of the prior school year’s academic and financial performance for ISD’s and charter schools.  These are the facts from the 2012-13 school year (the most recently released report – relea
Education Secretary Arne Duncan: How’s He Doing? | Nonprofit Quarterly
Education Secretary Arne Duncan: How’s He Doing? | Nonprofit Quarterly: Education Secretary Arne Duncan: How’s He Doing?The numerous issues that have been at the center of a growing controversy about public education place the policies of President Obama in the spotlight. The debate has become integral to the U.S. Congress’s efforts to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (née No
The Big Idea Behind Race to the Top | Diane Ravitch's blog
The Big Idea Behind Race to the Top | Diane Ravitch's blog: The Big Idea Behind Race to the TopHave you every wondered what “Race to the Top” was supposed to accomplish? Did it mean that we would be first in the world if we opened more privately managed charter schools, closed down more public schools (especially in Black and Brown communities), evaluated all teachers by test scores, and adopted t

YESTERDAY

Sacramento NAACP accuses SN&R of 'crazed and violent,' racist illustration of Mayor Kevin Johnson
Sacramento NAACP accuses SN&R of 'crazed and violent,' racist illustration of Mayor Kevin Johnson - Page Burner - July 14, 2015 - Blogs - Sacramento News & Review: Sacramento NAACP accuses SN&R of 'crazed and violent,' racist illustration of Mayor Kevin JohnsonLOCAL STORIES  |  GREEN  |  OPINIONS          CALENDAR  |  ARTS&CULTURE  |  MUSIC  |  DINING  |  FILM  |  GUIDES  |  N&
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 7/14/15
SPECIAL NITE CAP CORPORATE ED REFORMIt’s a VAM Shame… | VAMboozled!It’s a VAM Shame… | VAMboozled!: It’s a VAM Shame…It’s a VAM shame to see how VAMs have been used, erroneously yet as assuredly perfect-to-near-perfect indicators of educational quality, to influence educational policy. A friend and colleague of mine just sent me a PowerPoint that William L. Sanders – the developer of the Tennessee