Monday, September 23, 2013

L.A. Unified dropped from suit to limit seniority rights of teachers - latimes.com

L.A. Unified dropped from suit to limit seniority rights of teachers - latimes.com:

L.A. Unified dropped from suit to limit seniority rights of teachers

By Howard Blume

September 23, 2013, 12:57 p.m.

The Los Angeles Unified School District has exited litigation that seeks to limit the seniority rights of California teachers by voiding several provisions of state law.

The lawsuit, filed by the group Students Matter, originally targeted the nation's second-largest school district and two other school systems, as well as state officials and state government. But the organization decided to focus instead on the state, dropping L.A. Unified as a defendant.

L.A. Unified and the other districts "are hindered by rigid and outdated state laws that harm students," according to a statement from Students Matter, which is based in Silicon Valley. "We believe the trial should be focused on the actors who are chiefly responsible for devising, promoting, enacting, and maintaining those laws — namely, the State of California and the teachers’ unions."

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of nine students and their families, targets several state laws, including one that grants tenure rights to teachers after two years. Also at issue are regulations that complicate and prolong efforts to dismiss tenured teachers.

In addition, the lawsuit challenges "last in, first out" policies that apply when teachers are laid off. The advocates contend layoffs should be based on merit rather than seniority.

Altogether, these laws violate the constitutional rights of students, according to the suit, which is scheduled for trial in January.

L.A. Unified has had a complex relationship with the litigation. L.A. schools Supt. John Deasy has been listed as a supporter, even though his school system was being sued. The current school board has not taken an official position, but it's not clear that Deasy's stance would be endorsed.

The school system escaped the litigation under terms of a settlement, dated Sept. 16, that calls for

Employers and students still prefer brick-and-mortar—not online—education | HechingerEd Blog

Employers and students still prefer brick-and-mortar—not online—education | HechingerEd Blog:

Employers and students still prefer brick-and-mortar—not online—education

Credit: Public Agenda

Virtual learning is on the rise as more students enroll in online courses at both online and physical universities. The enthusiasm for online learning, including the increasing interest in MOOCs—free massive open online courses—has led some to question the future brick-and-mortar institutions.

But employers still like to see traditional, in-person educational experiences on the resumes of job candidates, according to a new survey.

The poll released by Public Agenda, an independent nonprofit research group, shows that 56 percent of employers prefer a job applicant with a degree from an average school where they attended physical classrooms rather than one from a more elite university where they took only online coursework. Only 17 percent prefer a degree from the latter.

Public Agenda surveyed more than 600 human resources staff at employers in four cities – Los Angeles, Detroit, Philadelphia and the El Paso-Las Cruces metropolitan area.

Proponents of online courses say the classes can be more accessible, sometimes cheaper and that they allow for personalization – a buzzword that refers to the ability to learn at your own pace and

¡Turn it Around! | EduShyster

¡Turn it Around! | EduShyster:

¡Turn it Around!

What if there was a way to turn schools around without turning them upside down?

It’s field trip time, reader — and today we’re off to visit a real live school success story. FYI: it’s not the Massachusetts miracle turnaround school that got a shout-out at the Democratic National Convention, merited a stop by Yo Yo Ma, or whose students recently visited the White House in order to recite a Martin Luther King speech to President Obama. In other words, we’re NOT headed to Orchard Gardens, which has received more adulatory press coverage than any other public school in Massachusetts…

The missing miracle
Our destination is a formerly failing elementary school in Lowell, MA, which last week was named one of the top-performing schools in the state. How did the Charlotte M. Murkland Elementary School accomplish this miraculous miracle? Not by following the “upside down” model that has made Orchard Gardens such a media darling. You see, Orchard Gardens pursued what we now now is a guaranteed recipe for success, or at least media attention and political praise: 80% of its teachers were fired and replaced by fresh new teachers, including many who are Teaching for America. The Murkland, whose student are similarly high poverty and English-language-learning, skipped the silver bullets, bypassing

Read Eric Cantor’s ‘major’ education speech

Read Eric Cantor’s ‘major’ education speech:

Read Eric Cantor’s ‘major’ education speech

By Valerie Strauss, Published: September 23 at 3:23 pmE-mail the writer

Rep. Eric Cantor (By Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Rep. Eric Cantor (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor delivered what his office called a major policy speech about education reform at Freire Charter School in Philadelphia.

He spoke about what he said was the importance of expanding charter schools (though he didn’t mention that when judged by standardized test scores — the metric school reformers love to use — they don’t do any better than traditional public schools). He also spoke about growing school voucher programs, like the one in Louisiana (though he didn’t mention that many students in that program are using public funds to attend private Christian schools that teach that dinosaurs co-existed with humans and that there is no accountability system in place at many voucher schools).

Cantor, who, I remind you, was speaking in Philadelphia, said not a single word in his speech about the “grim new normal” in the public school system in Philadelphia, caused by the state’s failure to adequately fund the district. After months of financial chaos in which a “doomsday budget” was passed and 24 schools were closed, students returned to classes this month having to deal with the fallout from more than 3,800 personnel and other cuts.The result: Most district schools have no dedicated guidance counselor or nurse. Assistant principals are in short supply. Classes are overcrowded, sports and other programs have been cut back, and that’s not the half of it.

Here’s what Cantor did say in his remarks as prepared for delivery, provided by his congressional office.

Thank You, Tyrone, for that kind introduction. What an amazing young man. Thank

Rick Scott Pulls Florida Out of PARCC | Truth in American Education

Rick Scott Pulls Florida Out of PARCC | Truth in American Education:

Rick Scott Pulls Florida Out of PARCC

Filed in Common Core Assessments by Shane Vander Hart on September 23, 2013 • 0 Comments

Governor Rick Scott (R-FL) announced today that he is ordering Florida to withdraw from PARCC. He is also ordering that public comment sessions to be held in order to receive input on any alterations that should be made to the Common Core State Standards. He is also ordering a data security review and ordering the Commissioner of Education to develop policies that safeguards student data.

Governor Scott in a released statement said:

We listened to many people who are passionate about making Florida’s education system the best in the world during our Education Summit in Tampa a few weeks ago. The summit’s discussions were so robust and diverse that they have led to three actions today. First, I sent a letter to Chairman Chartrand outlining a six-step course forward for Florida to ensure we continue to hold our students to high education standards. Excellence in education begins with high expectations for our students. Second, I told the federal government we are rejecting their overreach into our state education system by withdrawing from PARCC. Last, I issued an executive order to address state assessments, ensure student data security and support a

“My Connected Educator Interview” | My Island View

“My Connected Educator Interview” | My Island View:

“My Connected Educator Interview”

September 23, 2013 by tomwhitby

From time to time I am asked to answer interview questions for some organization, or upcoming conference, so that the interview can be shared with other educators. Many educators are asked to provide these videos as a common practice. It is not as timely, or spontaneous as SKYPE or a Google Hangout, but it is portable and controllable, so that makes it preferable too many people. They can edit and tie it into others and then send it out to their audience, or present it in a gala presentation for all to see.

Unfortunately, not every video interview makes it to the final production for a myriad of reasons. Sometimes only a snippet of a larger version makes it into the final production. For those of us who figured out how to make a video, and took the time to do so, it is always a little disappointing not to make it in the final production. My best takeaway is that I figured out how to use iMovie on my own to put it all together. Of course I should point out that this is but another connected learning benefit.

The organizers of The BAMMY AWARDS recently asked me to do such an interview tape. It was to be a rough-cut video that they would edit to

Evidence shows alternative discipline more effective in keeping kids in school SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources:

Evidence shows alternative discipline more effective in keeping kids in school
By Tom Chorneau
Monday, September 23, 2013

Even with the deterrence posed by more than 5,000 campus police personnel, the New York public school system averages five student arrestsevery day – a cycle that steals thousands of hours of class time from a largely at-risk population and boosts their odds of dropping out and ending up in the social welfare or justice systems.

A better approach, researchers from the Alliance for Excellent Education suggest, might be to apply those resources to alternative disciplinary practices that emphasize a more positive school climate.

One example is restorative justice programs, which combine teacher training and classroom management techniques to resolve conflicts before they escalate. School-wide Positive Behavior Intervention brings together not just students and administrators but also parents and members of the surrounding community to provide support and mediation.

A growing number of districts are employing social-emotional learning programs that rely on peer-based engagement to help manage campus conduct issues.

“There is little evidence that suspensions and jail time are effective at improving student behavior or decreasing minor violations of school rules,” the report authors said. “Moreover, there is strong evidence of a positive correlation between

The Weekly Update: Inequality for all, the charter school gravy train, Common Core, TFA and the pushback | Seattle Education

The Weekly Update: Inequality for all, the charter school gravy train, Common Core, TFA and the pushback | Seattle Education:

The Weekly Update: Inequality for all, the charter school gravy train, Common Core, TFA and the pushback

I thought we would start the week off with this great video featuring Bad Ass TeacherDudley aka Origin.

Stop This Madness!

Another part of the madness is the income gap that is increasing daily, putting most of us and our children in a very precarious position.

Robert Reich breaks it down for us during his interview with Amy Goodman:

Inequality for All: Robert Reich Warns Record Income Gap Is

Mad, Mad, Mad World of At-Will Work — Teachers Thrown Under the Bus, Parents Facing a Decade in Jail for Speaking Out | Dissident Voice

Mad, Mad, Mad World of At-Will Work — Teachers Thrown Under the Bus, Parents Facing a Decade in Jail for Speaking Out | Dissident Voice:

Mad, Mad, Mad World of At-Will Work — Teachers Thrown Under the Bus, Parents Facing a Decade in Jail for Speaking Out

by Paul Haeder / September 23rd, 2013

Let’s call this adjunct worker looking for work, Chip. You know him or her – chip off the old block. He or she is looking for work, err, well, it’s a calling, teaching, and no one ever said you should get paid for a calling. A passion? “You pay, dude, like a hobby. Remote control planes, my thing, and, well, teaching is your thing . . . your calling. So pay, dude? Give us a break — no one said life was fair.” He or she is past 40, could be mid-fifties, or even closer to hip replacement or amputation years. Forty or Eighty-five, is there a difference?

It’s just some of the daily bullshit looking for work in the gentrifying Portland area, and you are getting closer to Alan Simpson (Repube-Wyoming) retirement age. You know, 80 or 81, that seems like a good age to start collecting Social Security (“har-har-har,” says Jon “Stewart” Leibowitz).

Old Chip might be easier to manage as she careens around in her wheelchair. “Stay home, log on, work at all hours of the day and night (hell, you have to take all those pills at all those odd hours, anyway, so who needs sleep?). We will give you the materials to deliver and spoon feed to the supplicants, and, remember, this is a state you work in that wants common stuff to be processed as education. Do not deviate from the script, and no worries about

‘What we’ve got here is failure to communicate’

‘What we’ve got here is failure to communicate’:

‘What we’ve got here is failure to communicate’

By Valerie Strauss, Published: September 23 at 12:15 pmE-mail the writer

A growing number of parents are opting their children out of taking high-stakes standardized tests, but do school reformers who have imposed the testing regimes really understand why? Award-winning Principal Carol Burris of South Side High School in New York doesn’t think so. Burris, who has for more than a year chronicled on the test-driven reform in her state (here, and here and here andhere, for example) was named New York’s 2013 High School Principal of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. In 2010, she was tapped as the 2010 New York State Outstanding Educator by the School Administrators Association of New York State. She is the co-author of the New York Principals letter of concern regarding the evaluation of teachers by student test scores. It has been signed by more than 1,535 New York principals and more than 6,500 teachers, parents, professors, administrators and citizens. You can read the letter by clicking here.

By Carol Burris

“What we’ve got here is failure to communicate.” In the 1967 Paul Newman movie classic, that memorable line is used by Captain to justify beating Cool Hand Luke. Captain of Road Prison 36 has just told Luke that he is wearing chains for his own good—to which the prisoner cleverly responds, “Wish you’d stop bein’ so good to me, Cap’n.”

Reformers believe that “failure to communicate” is the reason for parent and teacher discontent. When teachers complain about test scores in their evaluations, they are

Common Core Standards: Conservative Victory or Debacle in the Making? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Common Core Standards: Conservative Victory or Debacle in the Making? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:

Common Core Standards: Conservative Victory or Debacle in the Making?

By Anthony Cody on September 23, 2013 11:35 AM

Last week I was a guest on a public radio show called To the Point, hosted by Warren Olney. The episode was titled "Is Public Education Too Soft on American Students." The other guests were Maria Ferguson of the Center on Education Policy at George Washington University, and Michael Petrilli of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.

I want to share some parts of the conversation there, because I think it is useful to look closely at the arguments being used for and against the Common Core, and also to dig in to the facts behind the claims being made in this debate. So here is a partial record of the discussion, with some notes inserted related to various claims that were made.

I will begin my transcript after Maria Ferguson has suggested that the concerns I have raised about high stakes tests lie with the tests, rather than the Common Core.

Warren Olney (host): Might it then be possible to use the Common Core in a creative way and not have the kind of consequences that you're worried about?

Anthony Cody: The problem I have with that is this is not a surprise. The people who designed Common Core expected tremendous drops in proficiency rates, and that's exactly what we're seeing. In New York state only 31% of the students passed the Common Core

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Monday, September 23, 2013

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team:

Ward: Bill would prevent double testing and double frustration for students, teachers

Education Headlines

Monday, September 23, 2013

Computerized exams put to the test in Kern

Two dry runs for a new computerized test meant to replace pencil and paper throughout California schools went generally well locally but exposed a few weaknesses, educators say.

Tablet computers all the rage as schools get ready for Common Core

Tablet computers began inching their way into classrooms almost as soon as they came on the market about three years ago. This year, the touch-screen devices are entering schools full force through what educators call the "1 to 1 device" initiative.

New arts charter school gets OK

Doors will open next year to a new charter school in Tuolumne County, which will emphasize leadership and community involvement and use art to teach core academic classes.

Castaneda ordered to quit school board; pay $5,000 fine

Embattled Salinas City Councilman Jose Castaneda was ordered to step down from his seat on the Alisal Union school board Friday following a Superior Court hearing in Monterey.

Lodi Unified School District, classified union reach tentative deal

Lodi Unified School District classified employees have had all of the furlough days in place since January 2011 restored under a tentative contract agreement reached this week.

Diversity an issue for San Diego Unified

The latest management changes made by new Superintendent Cindy Marten have reignited concerns that the leadership of San Diego Unified does not reflect the diversity of California’s second-largest school district.

Schools review hire of accused molester

Chula Vista Elementary School officials are suing the federal Department of Justice, trying to figure out why no red flags came up when the district went to hire a teacher who had been involved in a child pornography ring.

Empty for years, flawed Julian High building to be razed

Today, a huge mistake is set to be torn down in the middle of the small Julian High School campus. The school’s science building — which underwent pricey renovations before being abandoned nine years ago, after officials determined it was unsafe — will finally be demolished.

School board hears about transgender law

The law requires schools to allow students to follow their gender identity when participating in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including sports teams, and to use restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.

Modesto City Schools spends millions in salaries for teachers who don't work

Modesto City Schools has spent at least $5 million over the last three school years paying teachers to stay home – and it won’t say why.

Ward: Bill would prevent double testing and double frustration for students, teachers

Of all the bills sitting on the desk of Gov. Jerry Brown, perhaps none is more important to the future of education in California than Assembly Bill 484. Sponsored by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and authored by Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, D-Concord, AB 484 would end the standardized tests that have been in place since 1999 and move California forward in implementing tests based on the new Common Core State Standards.

Adams: New focus on school climate in massive student survey

The California Healthy Kids Survey – a massive survey of student behavior and a key resource for schools – has unveiled extensive revisions that put a stronger focus on students’ emotional health.

Friday, September 20, 2013

KCSOS updates policies after disabled child forgotten on bus

The father of an 8-year-old autistic boy who was discovered abandoned on an otherwise empty school bus said he's not appeased by new safety measures the Kern County Superintendent of Schools office has added since the incident last week.

Water, school meals cost Conejo Valley district unexpected $6 million

Spiraling water costs and poor sales of school meals cost the Conejo Valley Unified School District slightly more than $6 million in unforeseen costs in the last school year.

Moorpark school board discusses changes at continuation school

Moorpark Unified School District board members have been meeting with staff members at Moorpark Community High School to work on changing the school into "a career and technical education-themed high school."

Santa Ana Unified may announce new superintendent Tuesday

The board of the Santa Ana Unified School District may announce the appointment of a new superintendent at its meeting on Tuesday. “It is on the agenda to discuss and possibly name the appointment,” said Deidra Powell, the district spokeswoman.

A Sociological Eye on Education | It’s ‘Opposite Day’ among ed policymakers in Albany

A Sociological Eye on Education | It’s ‘Opposite Day’ among ed policymakers in Albany:

It’s ‘Opposite Day’ among ed policymakers in Albany

Black is white. Day is night. Common Core-aligned tests are just like other standardized tests.

Wait, what? Haven’t we been told that Common Core-aligned tests are a completely different species? That’s been the message across the country, and particularly in the state of New York, which administered Common Core-aligned tests of English Language Arts and mathematics to students in grades 3-8 for the first time this past April. New York’s policymakers-in-chief—John King, Shael Polakow-Suransky, Merryl Tisch and Dennis Walcott—took to the pages of the New York Daily News five months ago to prime parents about the shift. The Common Core standards, they wrote, are much better markers of readiness for college and a dog-eat-dog workforce because they call for heightened critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. The new tests aligned to these standards, they claimed, tap new and different competencies than the old generation of tests, which “assessed only basic skills.”

The new tests thus “raised the bar”—a metaphorical phrase that should be banned from every policymaker’s vocabulary, unless it refers to pole-vaulting or rooftop cocktail parties. But New York already raised the bar in 2010, increasing the level of performance required on the old tests to be classified as proficient at grade-level in English Language Arts and mathematics in grades 3-8. The Common Core-aligned tests did more than this—they raised the bar by introducing new dimensions of student performance not previously represented on the old generation of tests.

Predictably, students across the state fared poorly on the new Common Core-aligned tests, as many teachers lacked access to a curriculum designed to assist students in mastering the Common Core

9-23-13 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.:

It pays for the Sun-Times to beat up on Rahm.

I often complain about today lazy Chicago reporters who never let a good scandal go reported. I long for the old days when Chicago’s investigative reporters investigated like dogs on a bone. They bore no resemblance to the Eric Zorn’s of the Chicago press corp. Remember Zorn’s own kid was at Lane when the Persepolis banning went down. The kid went home and told him about it and Eric went to bed.

8 by Fred Klonsky / 1h

Life in Rahm’s Chicago. No art.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kate Bolduc 773-454-5015 [email protected] CHICAGO, September 23, 2013 – As Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Public Schools announced $24 million in capital projects to build or renovate schools, neighborhood schools in Chicago began their fifth week of school in desperate need of operating funds to pay for textbooks and teachers. In a survey by the Common Sense

2 by Fred Klonsky / 31min mark as read // save

The in box. IEA Retired Chair Janet Kilgus on the petition for a graduated progressive income tax in Illinois.

The IEA in coalition with other unions, faith-based and non-profit organizations, as well as small business owners are engaging in a petition drive to demand a fair tax system. As you are aware, Illinois has a revenue problem; and the only truly effective way to remedy this problem is to amend the Constitution to allow for a graduated income tax. The first step to getting this amendment in fr

by Fred Klonsky / 1h

What’s behind door number one? Police powers and our state pension

Question: What scares many teachers about the Democratic leaders attempts to diminish or impair our pensions in spite of the pension protection clause of the Illinois Constitution? Answer: The Illinois Supreme Court may buy into the theory that the state is in such dire financial straits that the constitutional protection and a contractual promise can be abrogated by the state using its right of

by Fred Klonsky / 21min

Thinking about learning styles.

Third grade mask-making. I once had a fifth grade student who was, let us say, not fully engaged in the activities I had provided in the art room. He goofed around a lot. One day, following a request to settle down, he turned to me and said, “Mr. K. Your teaching is not really differentiated to meet my personal learning style.” Who had this kid been talking to? Probably my Assistant Superintend

1 by Fred Klonsky / 12min

9-22-13 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Sunday reads.On the road to Three Oaks, Michigan for dinner last night. Rahm announces “rapid-fire” construction plans. If I were Rahm, I’d pick another term. Millions spent on “differentiated instruction” professional development and changes in teacher evaluations. And there’s nothing data driven abo

by mike simpson / 21h

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