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Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 1/20/15



CORPORATE ED REFORM





Oregon schools risk lawsuits over transgender kids and bathrooms, lawyers warn | OregonLive.com
Oregon schools risk lawsuits over transgender kids and bathrooms, lawyers warn | OregonLive.com: Oregon schools risk lawsuits over transgender kids and bathrooms, lawyers warnIn the months since Dallas School District leaders agreed to allow a transgender student to use the boys bathroom, parents in the rural Oregon community have prayed and protested.Tuesday night, in front of a crowd of 250, the
Title I Conference Featured Speakers - Improving Academic Achievement (CA Dept of Education)
Title I Conference Featured Speakers - Improving Academic Achievement (CA Dept of Education): Title I Conference Featured Speakers - Improving Academic Achievement Stacey Bess | Christopher Emdin | Sharroky HollieKevin Honeycutt | Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch | Shawnterra MooreStacey BessStacey Bess is an award-winning educator with great insight into the hearts of children in need. She believes th
A judge will rule on state’s efforts to ignore Newark union contracts | Bob Braun's Ledger
A judge will rule on state’s efforts to ignore Newark union contracts | Bob Braun's Ledger:A judge will rule on state’s efforts to ignore Newark union contractsSuperior Court Judge Donald Kessler has scheduled a hearing next Friday—Jan. 29—on efforts by the Newark Teachers Union (NTU) to block the unilateral decision by the Christie Administration to award the school district’s  prescription benef
Detroit Public Schools seeks restraining order against teachers
DPS seeks restraining order against teachers: DPS seeks restraining order against teachersDetroit Public Schools has filed an emergency motion seeking a restraining order and a preliminary injunction against DPS teachers who engaged in alleged work strikes, ordering them to stop the sickouts.The suit, filed Wednesday in the Michigan Court of Claims, names 23 DPS teachers, the Detroit Federation of
Michigan Legislature Should Repeal Emergency Manager Law | Common Dreams
Michigan Legislature Should Repeal Emergency Manager Law | Common Dreams | Breaking News & Views for the Progressive Community:Michigan Legislature Should Repeal Emergency Manager LawGov. Rick Snyder announced the appointment of Darnell Earley to replaced Detroit Public Schools Emergency Manager Jack Martin Jan. 13, 2015. Earley's previous position? The Emergency Manager of the city of Flint.
NYC Public School Parents: Federal Civil Rights Complaint vs Success Charter Academy's Systematic Violation of Disabled Students' Rights
NYC Public School Parents: Federal Civil Rights Complaint vs Success Charter Academy's Systematic Violation of Disabled Students' Rights: Federal Civil Rights Complaint vs Success Charter Academy's Systematic Violation of Disabled Students' RightsSuccess Charter Network, founded by Eva Moskowitz, is now facing another investigation. We first reported on a FERPA complaint by Fatima Geidi to the US
Gov. Snyder releases all emails sent, received on Flint
Snyder - Gov. Snyder releases all emails sent, received on Flint: Gov. Rick Snyder releases all emails sent, received on FlintJanuary 20, 2016Lansing, MICH - Gov. Rick Snyder today released all emails he sent and received regarding Flint from Jan. 2014 through Dec. 2015. On Tuesday evening, he said during his State of the State address:"Tomorrow I will release my 2014 and 2015 emails regardin
UTLA taking aim at ‘Broad-Walmart’ plan in national ‘walk-in’ | Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools
Resources | Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools: February 17, 2016: Walk In for the Schools All Our Children DeserveWalk In Resources:One Pager: Brief description of the nationwide walk-in action planned for February 17, 2016.Walk-Ins in Real Life: What does a walk-in actually look like? Here are links to three short videos taken from past walk-in events in Milwaukee and St. Paul.Video 1 - MilwaukeeVi
Success Charter Network accused of disability violations - NY Daily News
Success Charter Network accused of disability violations - NY Daily News: Success Charter Network accused of disability violationsThe city’s largest charter school chain has been violating the civil rights of students with disabilities for years, a group of parents say in a formal complaint lodged Wednesday with the U.S. Department of Education.The parents of 13 special needs students claim the Su
CURMUDGUCATION: CA: One More Charter Get Rich Quick Scheme
CURMUDGUCATION: CA: One More Charter Get Rich Quick Scheme: CA: One More Charter Get Rich Quick SchemeCalifornia's charter law has an odd little wrinkle-- as some folks read it, one school district can become the authorizer of a charter school within another school district's boundaries. Yup. I can sit in my district and give Bob's Big Charter School permission to set up shop in your district, to
How High-Performing Nations Treat Educators as Professionals - NEA Today
How High-Performing Nations Treat Educators as Professionals - NEA Today: How High-Performing Nations Treat Educators as ProfessionalsCountries with top-performing education systems in the world all share a key component – high-quality professional development, which is largely missing in the U.S., according to two reports released last week. The studies found that high-perfoming nations include p
PAA calls for an end to test-based teacher evaluation | Parents Across America
PAA calls for an end to test-based teacher evaluation | Parents Across America: PAA Policy Brief: End Test-based Teacher EvaluationParents call for states to take back control of teacher evaluation,end misuse of test scoresThe Every Student Succeeds Act, which became law in December, has given states new control over education policy. Parents across the nation call on state policy-makers to use th
How Illinois’ millionaire GOP governor plans to bust Chicago’s largest teacher union
How Illinois’ millionaire GOP governor plans to bust Chicago’s largest teacher union: How Illinois’ millionaire GOP governor plans to bust Chicago’s largest teacher unionIllinois Republicans, led by multi-millionaire Governor Bruce Rauner, are pushing a state takeover of Chicago’s public school system.The Chicago Tribune reported that “Republican legislative leaders on Wednesday proposed a state t
BACKPACK FULL OF CASH The Growing Privatization of Public Schools – Rivertown Film
BACKPACK FULL OF CASH – Rivertown Film: BACKPACK FULL OF CASH SPECIAL FINE-CUT SCREENINGProvide your input to the Rockland filmmakers who brought you Megamall.BACKPACK FULL OF CASHDirected by Sarah MondaleProduced by Vera Aronow and Sarah MondaleCinematography by Roger GrangeSupervising Editor: Marian HunterNarrated by Matt Damon, Backpack Full of Cash explores the growing privatization of public
CURMUDGUCATION: Drowning Bunnies To Raise Graduation Rates
CURMUDGUCATION: Drowning Bunnies To Raise Graduation Rates: Drowning Bunnies To Raise Graduation RatesMount St. Mary's University is a relatively small school in Maryland, "located in the middle of everything." And their president would like to drown some bunnies.Okay, only metaphorically. What Simon Newman would like to do is improve the university's retention numbers. And he would like
Does Money Matter in Education? | Shanker Institute
Does Money Matter in Education? | Shanker Institute: Does Money Matter in Education?** NEW SECOND EDITIONThis report presents a comprehensive review of the high-quality empirical evidence on whether and how money matters in education, written by Rutgers Professor Bruce Baker. This is the second edition of the report originally released in 2012. It has been updated by the author.Baker concludes tha
John Thompson: How Should Educators React to ESSA? | Diane Ravitch's blog
John Thompson: How Should Educators React to ESSA? | Diane Ravitch's blog:John Thompson: How Should Educators React to ESSA?John Thompson, teacher and historian in Oklahoma, appraises the new law called “Every Student Succeeds Act” (ESSA).He writes:Diane,Here’s another submittal if you like it.JohnAs educators rush to understand the actual wording of the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), we m
How appalling are conditions in Detroit public schools? This appalling. - The Washington Post
How appalling are conditions in Detroit public schools? This appalling. - The Washington Post: How appalling are conditions in Detroit public schools? This appalling.A group of teachers, parents and children protest  Jan. 11, 2016, in Detroit. A wave of teacher absences shut down more than half of Detroit’s 100 public schools for a few days this week. (Kim Kozlowski/Detroit News via AP)Detroit tea
Could Changing College Admissions Be the End of High-Stakes Testing?
Could Changing College Admissions Be the End of High-Stakes Testing?: Could Changing College Admissions Be the End of High-Stakes Testing?Could it be that once the first domino falls the rest will follow?Leaders at eighty leading colleges and universities, including the Ivy League, are attempting to revise the application process to look at students and their personal interests! They want to focus
The Christie legacy in Newark’s schools–high absenteeism, poor scores, and budget deficits | Bob Braun's Ledger
The Christie legacy in Newark’s schools–high absenteeism, poor scores, and budget deficits | Bob Braun's Ledger: The Christie legacy in Newark’s schools–high absenteeism, poor scores, and budget deficitsThe state administration of Newark’s public schools, after more than 20 years of controlling the state’s largest school system, last night conceded it had failed to solve chronic student absenteeis
States may inherit role of protector of student data :: SI&A Cabinet Report
States may inherit role of protector of student data :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: States may inherit role of protector of student data(Wyo.) Lawmakers in Wyoming are set to become the first to adopt a new student data protection law since Congress decided in December not to rewrite the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act as part of
WHAT EVERY HUEY PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT GLOBAL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY | WeArePCAPS
WHAT EVERY HUEY PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT GLOBAL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY | WeArePCAPS: WHAT EVERY HUEY PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT GLOBAL LEADERSHIP ACADEMYFrom Parents United for Public Education, http://www.parentsunitedphila.com• POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE Global Leadership, according to the District’s own standards, gets low marks for student achievement and progress. It is in the “Intervene “ categ
EXCLUSIVE: Senator Alexander’s Staff: ESSA and Teacher Evaluation, Part 2 | Diane Ravitch's blog
EXCLUSIVE: Senator Alexander’s Staff: ESSA and Teacher Evaluation, Part 2 | Diane Ravitch's blog: EXCLUSIVE: Senator Alexander’s Staff: ESSA and Teacher Evaluation, Part 2 David P. Cleary, chief of staff to Senator Lamar Alexander, responded to my questions about the Every Student Succeeds Act.This is part 2:The stakes attached to testing: will teachers be evaluated by test scores, as Duncan deman
Welcome to The Progressive Educator | The Progressive Educator
Welcome to The Progressive Educator | The Progressive Educator: Welcome to The Progressive EducatorEduSanity is no more.Well, there’s more. But it’s different.When Chris and I launched EduSanity in 2012 we were pretty angry about the course that public education was taking in the United States. In the three years since our launch we have written lots of posts that take on the forces of privatizati
Rebel on Ohio State Board of Education Finds a Way to Make His Voice Heard | janresseger
Rebel on Ohio State Board of Education Finds a Way to Make His Voice Heard | janresseger: Rebel on Ohio State Board of Education Finds a Way to Make His Voice HeardOhio is currently one of America’s 23 all-Republican states—Republican House, Republican Senate, Republican Governor.  It even has an elected state supreme court that is dominated by Republicans. Although all the seats on Ohio’s 19-memb
Hanna Skandera Is Now PARCC Chair. There Was No Press Release. | deutsch29
Hanna Skandera Is Now PARCC Chair. There Was No Press Release. | deutsch29: Hanna Skandera Is Now PARCC Chair. There Was No Press Release.  Hanna SkanderaAt some point in November 2015, it seems that New Mexico Education Secretary Hanna Skandera replaced Massachusetts Commissioner of Education Mitchell Chester as the floundering, Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PAR
Federal officials urged not to step on state’s school reforms | EdSource
Federal officials urged not to step on state’s school reforms | EdSource: Federal officials urged not to step on state's school reformsSuperintendents, teachers, advocates for students and business and community leaders sounded a strong, though not unanimous, call Monday for federal officials to give California wide berth to fashion a school improvement system without micromanagement from Washingt
Snyder urges Detroit school restructuring; announces education reform initiative | MLive.com
Snyder urges Detroit school restructuring; announces education reform initiative | MLive.com: Snyder urges Detroit school restructuring; announces education reform initiativeLANSING, MI -- Quick passage of legislation to restructure the cash-strapped Detroit Public Schools was urged Tuesday by Gov. Rick Snyder in his State of the State address.Snyder also announced he's appointing a commission on
Walmart family pledged $1 billion to charter schools - Business Insider
Walmart family pledged $1 billion to charter schools - Business Insider: The Walmart family has pledged $1 billion to help a polarizing kind of schoolReaffirming its commitment to charter schools, the Walton Family Foundation pledged $1 billion to support and bolster charter programs, according to the Associated Press.The Walton Foundation, the philanthropic group run by the Walmart family, has pl
Gates Foundation accused of 'dangerously skewing' aid priorities by promoting 'corporate globalisation' | World Politics | News | The Independent
Gates Foundation accused of 'dangerously skewing' aid priorities by promoting 'corporate globalisation' | World Politics | News | The Independent: Gates Foundation accused of 'dangerously skewing' aid priorities by promoting 'corporate globalisation'Controversial new report calls for Bill Gates' philanthropic Foundation to undergo an international investigation They are among the richest people on
88 Detroit Public Schools closed due to teacher sickouts
88 Detroit Public Schools closed due to teacher sickouts: 88 Detroit Public Schools closed due to teacher sickoutsDETROIT - Most of Detroit's public schools closed for the day on Wednesday due to teacher absences, as disgruntled educators stepped up efforts to protest the governor's plans for the district, its ramshackle finances and dilapidated buildings.Detroit Public Schools said 85 of its 97 s
Matt Damon narrates next Rivertown film
Matt Damon narrates next Rivertown film: Matt Damon narrates next Rivertown filmThe Rockland filmmakers who chronicled the 20-year saga to build the Palisades Center Mall in 2010’s “Megamall” have turned their attention to charters, vouchers and school reform.Producers Sarah Mondale and Vera Aronow enlisted the help of Oscar-winner Matt Damon. And they didn’t have to go to Mars to get the newly no

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Peg with Pen: A Parent Speaks Up at a “Turnaround” School in Aurora, Colorado; Un Padre Da su Opinión en una Escuela de “Voltear” en Aurora, Colorado
Peg with Pen: A Parent Speaks Up at a “Turnaround” School in Aurora, Colorado; Un Padre Da su Opinión en una Escuela de “Voltear” en Aurora, Colorado: A Parent Speaks Up at a “Turnaround” School in Aurora, Colorado; Un Padre Da su Opinión en una Escuela de “Voltear” en Aurora, ColoradoThe following is an interview I conducted with a parent from my school. The parent chose to remain anonymous.Thank
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 1/19/15
CORPORATE ED REFORMSKrashen: Billionaires coaltion pleased with Oxfam report, look for more progress in amassing wealthSKrashen: Billionaires coaltion pleased with Oxfam report, look for more progress in amassing wealth: Billionaires coaltion pleased with Oxfam report, look for more progress in amassing wealth Reacting  to the news from Oxfam that the richest 62 billionaires are worth as much as h