Latest News and Comment from Education

Sunday, January 10, 2016

New York stumbles, California advances on Common Core implementation | EdSource

New York stumbles, California advances on Common Core implementation | EdSource:

New York stumbles, California advances on Common Core implementation


If there is a prime example of how one state mismanaged the implementation of the Common Core standards, triggering massive opposition, and how another did it deliberately, with a relatively smooth implementation and considerable public support, look no further than New York and California.
Unlike heavily Republican states where much of the opposition to the Common Core has emerged, New York and California have much in common. They both have large and diverse school populations (2.7 million students in New York, and 6.2 million in California). They are both heavily Democratic states. They both have progressive governors, with fathers who were iconic governors before them.
But their experience with the Common Core standards — and how  Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Gov. Jerry Brown approached them — could not be more different, with potentially far-reaching consequences for the fate of one of the most significant education reforms affecting actual classroom instruction in the nation’s history.
Two weeks before Christmas, a blue ribbon task force appointed by Cuomo and headed by former AOL Time Warner CEO Richard Parsons issued a harshly critical report, charging that “numerous mistakes were made” in New York’s implementation of the Common Core.  It recommended a “comprehensive review” of the more than 1,500 Common Core standards in English and math. Following the review, it called for “a modification, elimination, or creation of standards” in order to come up with “rigorous New York-specific standards.”

The Washington Teacher: Did You Know?

The Washington Teacher: Did You Know?:

Did You Know?



By: Candi Peterson, WTU General Vice President

Statements or expressions of opinions herein 'do not' represent the views or official positions of DCPS, AFT, Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) or its members. Views are my own

The recent emails you have received about me from Coach Spinner are accusations, half-truths and lies intended to mislead teachers as we approach union election season 2016. Coach Spinner continues to be a “campaign surrogate” for former president, Nathan Saunders. Remember they ran together and lost in 2013?  It seems dishonesty is a normal part of any election cycle.

I have prided myself as an excellent communicator and have expressed my views about public education and our union for the past 8-½ years as The Washington Teacher education blogger starting during the Michelle Rhee era. I welcome you to check out my blog @ http://thewashingtonteacher.blogspot.com/

I’m compelled to respond to many of the half truths and lies that have been written about me.

DID YOU KNOW?

Allegation: Peterson’s “lack of negotiation experience and inability to lead has created the poor state of affairs of the WTU.”

Response:
As the WTU General Vice President (GVP), I AM NOT A MEMBER OF THE WTU CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS TEAM. The members of the Contract team are: Elizabeth Davis, Chief Negotiator, Rob Weil, AFT, Jason Edwards, AFT, Chris Bergfalk, Thomson ES,  Janice Brown, Speech Pathologist, Alicia Hudson, Wilson SHS, Mark Montgomery, Plummer ES, Signe Nelson, Whittier EC, and Michael White, Neval The Washington Teacher: Did You Know?:


My New Year's Resolve | The Jose Vilson

My New Year's Resolve | The Jose Vilson:

My New Year’s Resolve

Jose Vilson, US Department of Education
I’m supposed to tell you that I want to lose weight. I’m rounder than ever, so that’s a lofty goal.
But that’s no fun, and I’d rather not spend your time talking about dietary supplements and instead tell you about my visit to the US Department of Education, my second trip to Washington D.C. in as many months. This time, I got the chance to speak to Acting Secretary of Education John King, known primarily as former New York Commissioner of Education, his legacy tarnished by the mass opt-out movement across New York State. I had never met him until he got to D.C., so my only impression of him (mainly from articles, blogs, and memes) was that of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s puppet, placating to the hedge fund managers and charter school CEO’s wills and whims.
Since moving to D.C., he’s gotten a chance to hear me speak to him three times, and in two of those My New Year's Resolve | The Jose Vilson:


Second Charter School Fix is also a Framework for Fraud

Second Charter School Fix is also a Framework for Fraud:

Second Charter School Fix is also a Framework for Fraud



Even though the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that charter schools are unconstitutional and ordered the State legislature to fully fund our real public schools, some of the leaders of the State legislature, in a blatant act of defiance, have decided to hold hearings on two "charter school fix" bills both of which would rob even more millions of dollars from our public schools. The hearing on the two charter school fix bills will be in Olympia on Tuesday January 12 2016 at 1:30 pm in the Senate Cherberg Building. Parents and teachers who want the legislature to focus on funding our real public schoolsinstead of funding charter schools should attend this hearing and let the Senators know that you oppose diverting any more money away from real public schools. 01
This is the second of two reports I have written about the Charter School Fix bills to help parents and teachers better understand how the charter school fix bills would rob millions of dollars away from our real public schools. First, a quick review of how we got to this crazy place. In 2012, the Washington State Supreme Court found that the State legislature had failed to comply with their Constitutional Paramount Duty to fully fund our public schools and ordered the legislature to come up with a plan to fully fund our public schools. When the legislature failed to come up with a plan, in September 2014, our Supreme Court held the legislature in "Contempt of Court" for dragging their feet. In 2015, the legislature claimed that they added a billion dollars in school funding. But in fact, they merely restored funds that they had cut in previous legislative sessions. Therefore, in August 2015, the Supreme Court began fining the state legislature. Thus far, the legislature has simply ignored these fines. 

Then on September 4, 2015, our Supreme Court ruled that the Charter School Initiative 1240, funded with millions of dollars by Bill Gates, was unconstitutional in part because charter schools would divert billions of dollars away from public schools and in part because public school funds would be handed over to private corporations rather than being controlled by publicly elected school boards. 

In response to this Supreme Court ruling, in December 2015, a couple of fake groups, SFC and LEV, announced that they had formed a new PAC to provide a half million dollars in campaign contributions to legislators willing to "fix" the problem created when the Washington Supreme Court ruled that the Charter School Initiative 1240 was unconstitutional. On January 4, 2016, Senate Bill 6163 was submitted to the 
Second Charter School Fix is also a Framework for Fraud:




Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 1/10/15



CORPORATE ED REFORM





A 'No-Nonsense' Classroom Where Teachers Don't Say 'Please' : NPR Ed : NPR
A 'No-Nonsense' Classroom Where Teachers Don't Say 'Please' : NPR Ed : NPR: A 'No-Nonsense' Classroom Where Teachers Don't Say 'Please'Any classroom can get out of control from time to time. But one unique teaching method empowers teachers to stop behavior problems before they begin.You can see No-Nonsense Nurturing, as it's called, first-hand at Druid Hills Academy Charlotte, NC."Your pencil
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Advanced Learning Updates (Good luck, parents)
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Advanced Learning Updates (Good luck, parents): Advanced Learning Updates (Good luck, parents)I say "good luck" only because I read this thing twice and the level of detail that you are supposed to track and follow is hard to believe.  Anyone new to this district and its AL system would be scratching their head.From the district:The Advanced Learning offi
An Open Letter to DPS Parents from DPS Teacher Sarah Jardine
An Open Letter to DPS Parents from DPS Teacher Sarah JardineAn Open Letter to DPS Parents from DPS Teacher Sarah Jardine Dear Parent,I write this to you on this night because you're on my mind. You live in Detroit and you send your child to Detroit Public Schools. You trust me everyday with your children. I feel that I owe you an apology. I apologize because I should have stood up. I kept quiet as
NYC Public School Parents: Please help us put a stop to the new Gates-funded state plan to collect and share personal student data!
NYC Public School Parents: Please help us put a stop to the new Gates-funded state plan to collect and share personal student data!: Please help us put a stop to the new Gates-funded state plan to collect and share personal student data!Please send your own letter to the Commissioner, the Regents and Legislative leaders to halt this new student data collection and disclosure by clicking here.  Tha
Houston Lawsuit Update, with Summary of Expert Witnesses’ Key Findings about the EVAAS VAM | VAMboozled!
Houston Lawsuit Update, with Summary of Expert Witnesses’ Key Findings about the EVAAS VAM | VAMboozled!: Houston Lawsuit Update, with Summary of Expert Witnesses’ Key Findings about the EVAAS VAMRecall from a prior post that a set of teachers in the Houston Independent School District (HISD), with the support of the Houston Federation of Teachers (HFT) are taking their district to federal court t
Is the Supreme Court about to take aim at teachers unions? And what happens if it does? - The Washington Post
Is the Supreme Court about to take aim at teachers unions? And what happens if it does? - The Washington Post: Is the Supreme Court about to take aim at teachers unions? And what happens if it does?The Supreme Court (The Associated Press)On Monday, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, a case that holds important implications for organized lab
Marie Corfield: No armed police in my school, please
Marie Corfield: No armed police in my school, please: No armed police in my school, please"It'll be a sad day for this country if children can safely attend their classes only under the protection of armed guards." ~ President Dwight D. Eisenhower  On January 8th, NJ.com reported:A bill before the state Legislature would create a new category of police officer, stationing armed, retired
From Compassionate Schools To A Compassionate Society | PopularResistance.Org
From Compassionate Schools To A Compassionate Society | PopularResistance.Org: From Compassionate Schools To A Compassionate SocietyThis is the 4th and final post in a series on childhood trauma. In the 1st post, I expose my personal reasons for being an example in this struggle to create Compassionate Schools. In the 2nd post, I tell the stories of how children who have walked through my classroo
GROWING UP IN THE SOUTH BRONX ENLIGHTENED THIS “WHITE SHADOW”. | DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing
GROWING UP IN THE SOUTH BRONX ENLIGHTENED THIS “WHITE SHADOW”. | DCGEducator: Doing The Right Thing: GROWING UP IN THE SOUTH BRONX ENLIGHTENED THIS “WHITE SHADOW”.WARNING: URBAN LANGUAGE  AHEADWilliam Wordsworth wrote in his famous poem, TheRainbow, “The child is the father of the man.” It sure applies to me.I went to kindergarten in PS 96, the Bronx. At the time it was in the mostly Jewish Pelham
Jersey Jazzman: Can We Please Get the Facts Right About Newark's Schools?
Jersey Jazzman: Can We Please Get the Facts Right About Newark's Schools?: Can We Please Get the Facts Right About Newark's Schools?Let me start by saying I like David Kirp's work enormously; I think everyone who cares about education policy should read Improbable Scholars, a detailed and thoroughly readable piece of qualitative research about school reform in Union City, NJ. I have some issues wi
CURMUDGUCATION: NC: Covering Charter Butts
CURMUDGUCATION: NC: Covering Charter Butts: NC: Covering Charter ButtsThis week, reporter Ann Doss Helms of the Charlotte Observer and Lynn Bonner of the News & Observer both offered accounts of a striking example of 'how the sausage is made" and how public officials make sure that the sausage carries a nice chartery taste.Wednesday was the day to present the state department of public in
Connecticut’s historic school funding trial finally begins next week - Wait What?
Connecticut’s historic school funding trial finally begins next week - Wait What?: Connecticut’s historic school funding trial finally begins next weekAs Connecticut education advocate and columnist, Wendy Lecker, reports in her latest commentary piece in the Stamford Advocate, Connecticut’s children finally get day in court.Of the many disappointments that have arisen since Governor Dannel Malloy
Details on the Success Academy “Got to Go List” Lawsuit | deutsch29
Details on the Success Academy “Got to Go List” Lawsuit | deutsch29: Details on the Success Academy “Got to Go List” LawsuitSuccess Academy Fort Greene (SAFG) opened in the 2013-14 school year as an elementary school with grades K-1, with the intention of adding a grade each year until the school served grades K-4.An archived SAFG web page from March 27, 2014, features SAFG’s first principal, form
On Professionalism and Good Intentions: More on Education and Journalism | the becoming radical
On Professionalism and Good Intentions: More on Education and Journalism | the becoming radical: On Professionalism and Good Intentions: More on Education and JournalismWhile journalist Nichole Dobo has not corresponded with me since I posted Dear Journalists Covering Education, Let Me Explain, Dobo has posted a Tweet I believe deserves additional consideration:@yikesers With all due respect, I do
Lead Poisoning and “No Excuses”
Lead Poisoning and “No Excuses”: Lead Poisoning and “No Excuses”It is appalling to hear about the situation in Flint, Michigan where lead has been pouring into the drinking cups of children for months. Lead is known to cause serious health problems, including cognitive disorders and learning disabilities. The effects can last, and most exposed children will need special education.And, if the trend
How to Fix the Country’s Failing Schools. And How Not To. - The New York Times
How to Fix the Country’s Failing Schools. And How Not To. - The New York Times: How to Fix the Country’s Failing Schools. And How Not To.A QUARTER-CENTURY ago, Newark and nearby Union City epitomized the failure of American urban school systems. Students, mostly poor minority and immigrant children, were performing abysmally. Graduation rates were low. Plagued by corruption and cronyism, both dist
Yong Zhao: What Easter Island’s colossal stone statues teach about the dangers of modern school reform WaPo
What Easter Island’s colossal stone statues teach about the dangers of modern school reform - The Washington Post: What Easter Island’s colossal stone statues teach about the dangers of modern school reformEASTER ISLAND, CHILE: A tourist walks behind a platform with seven huge statues (moais in Rapa Nui language), the only ones facing the sea, in Ahu Akivi in Easter Island, 3700 km off the coast o
Christie: Teachers union ‘single most destructive force’ in education | TheHill
Christie: Teachers union ‘single most destructive force’ in education | TheHill: Christie: Teachers union ‘single most destructive force’ in educationNew Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) says real education reform is impossible as long as teachers unions remain a powerful force for the status quo.“The single most destructive force for public education in this country is the teachers union,” Christie
Editorial: Good news for charter schools - Spokesman.com - Jan. 10, 2016
Editorial: Good news for charter schools - Spokesman.com - Jan. 10, 2016: Editorial: Good news for charter schoolsCharter schools still have a fighting chance, thanks to two bipartisan bills in the Legislature, some creative thinking and a timely grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.We support the schools because they provide an outlet for innovation and a learning environment for stud
Out of Options, California Ships Hundreds of Troubled Children Out of State | Alternet
Out of Options, California Ships Hundreds of Troubled Children Out of State | Alternet: Out of Options, California Ships Hundreds of Troubled Children Out of StateOne 14-year-old boy’s search for care takes him to Utah as his home state struggles to safeguard its most challenging children.At 14, Deshaun Becton’s life is a roadmap to California’s faltering efforts to care for its most troubled chil

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BATs LEGISLATIVE ACTION TEAM WEEKLY UPDATE - Badass Teachers Association
Badass Teachers Association: BATs LEGISLATIVE ACTION TEAM WEEKLY UPDATENATIONAL LEVELOn Monday, January 11th the Supreme Court will hear Friedrichs vs. CTA.  In a nutshell, if the Court rules in favor of Friedrichs we will become a RIGHT TO WORK NATION.  It is important that we all spread the word about this.  Here are some materials that you can share which describe what this case is really about
How Standardized Testing is Contributing to the Rise in Charter Schools – Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance
How Standardized Testing is Contributing to the Rise in Charter Schools – Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance: How Standardized Testing is Contributing to the Rise in Charter SchoolsMore and more charter schools are appearing around the country, and in many cities, such as in Philadelphia (alternet), they are replacing public schools that have been shutdown.  For the most part, these school c
Are Charter Schools Todays Version of Sub Prime Mortgages? - YouTube
Are Charter Schools Todays Version of Sub Prime Mortgages? - YouTube: Are Charter Schools Todays Version of Sub Prime Mortgages? Mark Naison debunks Charter School mythology in this episode of Education News. Comparing the Charter School explosion to the subprime mortgage collapse, Naison reveals the startling failures and false promises of the Charter mystique.Are Charter Schools Todays Version o
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 1/9/15
CORPORATE ED REFORM"Gaslighting & Turnaround Schools" by Peggy Robertson from Peg With Pen - Garn Press"Gaslighting & Turnaround Schools" by Peggy Robertson from Peg With Pen - Garn Press: “Gaslighting & Turnaround Schools” by Peggy Robertson from Peg With Pen“Gaslighting & Turnaround Schools” by Peggy Robertson from Peg With PenBy Peggy Robertson| Originally po