Archives for the month of: February, 2013
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Charter Scandal In New Jersey

By dianeravitch
February 22, 2013 //
7

The LEAP charter school in Camden, New Jersey, is now caught up in allegations of incompetence, cronyism, and abuse, reports Jersey Jazzman.

The finances of the school are a mess, its academic performance is poor, yet State Commissioner of Education showers it with praise. It’s problems are long-standing, but the department close to ignore them. Just last fall, Cerf joined LEAP leaders in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its $12.5 million new school.

The school lost its tax-exempt status in 2010, and it failed to make AYP for the past two years.

Why are Jersey politicians so eager to expand a sector that is still unproven? Why he favorable treatment of a low-performing school?

Where is the accountability?

Categories Charter Schools, New Jersey

Oklahoma Chief Channels Jeb Bush

By dianeravitch
February 22, 2013 //
8

Coach Bob Sikes in Florida knows how phony that state’s A-F grading system is. (This was confirmed recently by Matt Di Carlo of the Shanker Institute, who pointed out that the state changed the system to improve the results.)

Now he finds that Oklahoma State Superintendent Janet Barresi is copying the Jeb Bush playbook.

This is hardly surprising because she is a member of the Jeb Bush group of rightwing state superintendents called “Chiefs for Change.”

Barresi wants Oklahoma to grade its schools with a simple-minded A-F grade, just like Jeb Bush did. If Jeb did it, it must be right. Remember the “Florida miracle”?

Unfortunately a group of Oklahoma researchers examined her proposal and sharply criticized it.

No problem for Barresi. She has been going around the state telling people that the researchers have recanted their views. Except they haven’t.

Before Barresi was elected superintendent, she was a speech pathologist. In 1984, she became a dentist. Later, she opened Oklahoma City’s first charter school and served on the board of another charter school. She is a big supporter of privatization.

 

 

Categories Bush, Jeb, Charter Schools, Chiefs for Change, Corporate Reformers, Education Industry, Florida, Oklahoma, Privatization, Testing

Will This New Teacher Survive?

By dianeravitch
February 22, 2013 //
34

One of the great myths of the current corporate reform movement is that they want to elevate the teaching profession. They want to change it so that future teachers are drawn from the top third of their college graduating class. They advocate merit pay tied to test scores to create high-paying positions (always a small minority of all teachers). They push to fire teachers whose students get low scores or see small changes in their scores (even though researchers find that such teachers usually are teaching students with disabilities, or ELLs, or gifted students). They insist on eliminating all job protections for teachers, presumably to make it easier to fire those they consider laggards (and at the same time, removing any academic freedom from teachers). They demand longer working days and longer school years. Will their ideas make teaching more or less attractive to those they expect to attract into teaching? It seems impossible to imagine that they can elevate the teaching profession by their methods, their rhetoric, and their indifference to teachers’ voices.

A reader commented in response to an earlier post:

What the Public Needs to Know about Teaching

As a first-time commenter, I need to preface with how grateful I feel for Diane’s tireless advocacy (and blogging) and the spirited debate it inspires.

Now, what I think the public needs to know about teaching. I began my first full-time teaching job this fall. I soon realized that teachers work harder than anyone outside the profession, or without direct ties to someone in the profession, can appreciate. The majority of the teacher’s workday occurs before or after the students arrive in the classroom. For the first two months, I spent nearly every waking hour rearranging my classroom to be at least somewhat kid-friendly. Now, I plan constantly, muddling through and adapting cumbersome and, frankly, developmentally inappropriate canned curriculum. In addition to that, I try to keep parents in the loop, calling and writing notes and newsletters. Most days, I rack up between twelve and thirteen hours. I also work Sunday afternoons, planning for the week to come.

And let me be clear: I am not a great teacher. I am not remotely adequate. This is my first year, my first classroom, and I struggle almost daily. Furthermore, I receive very little support. The people tasked with providing support to teachers and students in the district constantly fall through on promises. I initially became frustrated with them before realizing that they faced the same professional challenges I do: everyone in the district is spread thin and overwhelmed.

To make a bad situation worse, the national dialogue dominated by the so-called “reformers” seems determined to remove the only mechanisms of support available while blaming me for not working hard enough. Let me tell you, me working hard enough is not the problem. Nor are my credentials. I went to a fancy school with name recognition that makes people do a double take after I tell them I teach kindergarten. But here is the truth. The students in my class do not care what school I went to. They need more, and I need more. We both need more support staff, smaller class sizes, developmentally appropriate curriculum, organized outreach to families, learning materials, playtime, recess longer than 10 minutes, snacks subsidized by someone other than the teacher, while I’m at it, let’s add preschool to my wish list…

…not to mention a well-rested teacher. I cannot wait for the day when someone with influence realizes that what is good for teachers is ALSO good for students and vice versa.

Teachers are not martyrs. The profession should not be one of continual sacrifice and exhaustion. I hope conditions improve, for our students’ sake.

Categories Merit pay, Teacher Evaluations, Teacher Tenure, Teachers and Teaching

Naison: A Letter from a New Teacher

By dianeravitch
February 22, 2013 //
7

Mark Naison received a letter from a first-year teacher who is working in a school that the New York City Department of Education is closing because of low test scores. How would you advise this teacher?

This is the letter Naison received:

“I wanted to touch base with you about the chaotic and seemingly fatal
status of my school. Tonight, I attended a Joint Public Hearing between
the DOE and the School Leadership Team, along with an opportunity for
public comment. All 3 proposals that were introduced [all including
charter schools] seem to lead nowhere fast. Sheepshead Bay HS has taken
in the lowest performing students from across Brooklyn; students who
are no longer able to go to their local community high school because
the large high schools [Tilden, Canarsie, South Shore] were broken down
into smaller schools that screen their students before admission and do
not accept these low performers. SBHS has a huge population of ELL
students, students with multiple and profound disabilities, and those
who live within the traumatic world of poverty. If these students are
not going to be admitted into the charter schools that are housed
within the corpse-like building of former public community schools,
where are they to go?

“I know that you feel as passionately about this issue as I do [we are
facebook friends], so I’m sure you can accept and witness the
pain of a first year teacher who is struggling to hold on to her
idealism”

Mark D Naison
Professor of African American Studies and History
Fordham University

“If you Want to Save America’s Public Schools: Replace Secretary of
Education Arne Duncan With a Lifetime Educator.” http://dumpduncan.org/

Categories Charter Schools, Closing schools, New York City, Special Education, Teachers and Teaching

What the Best and Wisest Parent Wants for His Child……

By dianeravitch
February 22, 2013 //
63

John Dewey wrote this great sentiment over a century ago:

“What the best and wisest parent wants for his child, that must we want for all the children of the community. Anything less is unlovely, and left unchecked, destroys our democracy.”

I do not begrudge any parent their decision to send their child to a private or religious school, so long as they pay for it themselves. What I object to is when parents choose a private school for its small classes, its experienced faculty, its wonderful curriculum, its great arts programs, and its freedom from standardized testing…..but advocate for something far different for other people’s children.

Instead of fighting to get comparable programs for public schools, they insist that other people’s children should have larger classes, a school day devoted to reading and math, no arts programs, and nonstop testing.

Sandy Kress, the architect of NCLB, is now a lobbyist for Pearson, which won a contract worth nearly $500 million from the state of Texas as the legislature cut the schools’ budget by $5.4 billion.

This comment came from a reader in Texas:

Ms. Ravitch – I found the following as I was researching private schools for my son last night. The first part is a part of the homepage for a primary school affiliated with the middle school that Sandy Kress’ children have attended. The second part includes testimonials from Sandy Kress. I removed his childrens’ names.

Why Paragon for grades 2-5?
• Central Austin Location
• Small class sizes
• Experienced and caring teachers
• Academic challenge
• Daily PE, plus Art, Music, Electives
• Selective admission
• Fully accredited
• No STARR test = more time to learn!
To schedule a visit – contact Headmaster ____________________________________________________

Testimonials for Paragon Prep

Paragon creatively concocts the perfect recipe for bright adolescents: begin with a classically driven curriculum seasoned with open-minded innovation, high moral expectations with a good dose of humor and a hilarious pinch of irreverence. Then add competitive spirit on the field and in the classroom, blended with genuine care so that each student and athlete feels a valued part of the school. But their secret and unique ingredient: the total focus is on the middle schoolers’ needs with the aim to provide the best preparation possible for high school. We as ourselves how is it possible that all this takes place in such a modest building with no aggressive fundraising or fancy bells and whistles. How do they turn out kids with a disciplined work ethic and a passion for learning? Now we know. Our son, _____, comes home everyday with stories of friendship, teamwork, and a mind brimming full of new thoughts. Paragon Prep is one of the smartest decisions we have ever made.
Camille and Sandy Kress
Parents of _____ Kress (Class of _____)
and _____ Kress (Class of _______)
________________________________________

Categories Arts Education, NCLB (No Child Left Behind), Teachers and Teaching, Testing, Texas

How Governor Kasich Lied to Poor Kids in Appalachia

By dianeravitch
February 22, 2013 //
23

At a legislative hearing in Ohio, a representative of a high-poverty district asked whether state funding might help provide a basic education for the kids he represents.

Republican Representative Ryan Smith said:

“Olentangy schools have German 1,2 and 3, Jewelry 1, Ceramics 1, Sculpture 1, Stage Craft 1, Concert Orchestra,” said Smith. ”These are things that children of Appalachia don’t get exposed to.”

“I’m not asking for synchronized swimming or a swimming pool or anything extra. I’m not asking for violin lessons or cello lessons. What I want for is my kids is music. And art… just give them a basic education,” pleaded Smith.

State Rep Smith also tells the story of Symmes Valley School District where the Superintendent had to layoff his board secretary, transportation director and curriculum director and is now doing all of those jobs himself. Another school district in Smith’s area has lost 40 teachers and the rest have had no raises in four years.

Smith ends by asking Ross if there is any “special sauce” in this budget that will help superintendents just provide a basic education to the kids in his district?

The governor’s representative Richard A. Ross laughed and suggested that the poor kids in Appalachia could learn music online from a computer.

Categories Ohio, On-Line Education, Poverty

Two Determined Moms in Indiana Take On Common Core

By dianeravitch
February 21, 2013 //
18

These days, parents and educators often feel powerless in the face of the powerful forces that are steamrolling them.

In Indiana, two moms started a campaign against he Common Core standards. They started with small groups, then organized large ones, and eventually made their voices heard in the state legislature.

The battle is far from over, but hey made an important point. This is still a democracy. Two informed citizens can make a difference.

Categories Common Core, Education Industry, Indiana

How One Man Makes a Difference

By dianeravitch
February 21, 2013 //
7

Tim Slekar gave a powerful speech to a meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Watch it.

If all of us spoke out, we could stop this train wreck that dares to call itself “reform.”

A teacher who heard him wrote this letter:

Dr. Slekar,

You won’t believe what I just did!

I stood before my school board at a public meeting and asked them to
consider opting out of standardized testing!

I was asked to speak on the writing process in 8th grade, but as the meeting
went on and teacher after teacher and administrator after administrator
praised the achievements we were reaching with test prep, computer programs
and data, something snapped. I said to myself, if I’m going to be here I
might as well tell the truth.

So when it was finally my turn, I said I had good news and bad news. The bad
news was that there’s an elephant in the room we haven’t been addressing. I
told them I had severe reservations about high stakes standardized testing
and went on to explain them. I told them 8th graders conservatively take 7-9
standardized tests: PSSA Reading, PSSA Math, PSSA Writing, PSSA Science,
Three GRADE tests, Keystone Algebra and Keystone Literature! I told them
there was no academic study showing this was effective – in fact just the
opposite. I told them these tests don’t measure learning, only achievement.
I told them how parents, teachers and school boards were opting out. And I
told them about you and much more.

When I was done, most of the board agreed with me. They thanked me for
speaking out. My principal slapped me on the back and said it had to be
said.

I asked the board to please meet with you and consider it.

I have my doubts they’ll follow through, but this is a big step. Would you
mind if I sent them your contact info? I’d love to get us all sitting down
at a table or to have you address the board at a public meeting. Would you
be wiling?

My school district is Steel Valley in Munhal. We’re pretty close to
Pittsburgh.

Anyway, I just wanted to share this with you. I feel good for speaking out
but would like to build on this. Unfortunately there were hardly any members
of the public there and NO media.

Thanks again.

Yours,

Steve

Categories Pennsylvania, Privatization, Support for public schools, Testing

Los Angeles United Way Allies with Corporate Reform

By dianeravitch
February 21, 2013 //
16

United Way of Los Angeles strongly supports the demolition of public education. (A reader pointed out that this stance is not typical of other United Way organizations. This post is about the United Way of Los Angeles.)

In 2011, United Way-L.A. partnered with the National Council on Teacher Quality (see Mercedes Schneider’s series about NCTQ, whose board includes reform luminaries such as Michelle Rhee and Wendy Kopp) to produce a report calling for tougher teacher evaluations based on test scores. Who knew that United Way was expert on the subject of education? Wonder how they reacted to the suicide of Rigoberto Ruelas?

Here is a conference the United Way is sponsoring, right before the Los Angeles school board election, featuring mayors best known for closing public schools, battling the teachers’ union, and giving public money to private entrepreneurs without accountability. You will hear no complaints at this event about how billionaires corrupt democracy by buying state and local school boards.

If you want to know how to reform the nation’s schools, why not ask the mayors of some of the lowest performing districts in the nation? Newark has been under state control since 1995. Chicago has had mayoral control since 1995. Los Angeles is not likely to learn much from either of them.

Mayors Cory Booker, Rahm Emanuel and Antonio Villaraigosa Headline United
Way of Greater Los Angeles’ Education Summit Market Watch
2/19/13

LOS ANGELES, PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Three of the country’s leading
“Education Mayors,” Cory Booker (Newark), Rahm Emanuel (Chicago), and
Antonio Villaraigosa (L.A.), will gather for the first time to discuss the
challenges of urban education reform at the United Way of Greater Los
Angeles 2013 Education Summit on February 27th from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the
Los Angeles Convention Center. Through frank conversation among some of
education’s most progressive, if controversial figures, the Summit will
address the greatest obstacles to improving our schools, particularly those
that have chronically struggled. All 1,200 seats are sold out.

The Summit will honor Mayor Villaraigosa for championing education reform.
Looking ahead to the future of L.A. education, the event will feature a
panel discussion with the five top mayoral candidates to share their visions
for improving our schools. Eric Garcetti (invited), Wendy Greuel, Kevin
James, Jan Perry and Emanuel Pleitez will debate pressing education issues,
including teacher evaluations, school choice, budget cuts, the relationship
between the District and UTLA, and parents’ roles in schools.

“Given that we’re heading into a local election March 5th, it’s important to
hear from our potential leaders about their plans for addressing the immense
challenges facing our schools,” says Elise Buik, President and CEO of United
Way of Greater Los Angeles.

“This Summit is an opportunity for everyone who cares deeply about education
in L.A. to learn from one another, and to confront the complex issues that
demand our attention,” says LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy, one of the
event’s featured speakers. Other speakers include philanthropist Eli Broad
and school board president Monica Garcia.

The Summit will also include two breakout sessions with key education,
business and community leaders about improving education in high-poverty
areas. One session will focus on how businesses can impact struggling
schools. The other session, whose panelists include UTLA President Warren
Fletcher, will investigate how innovative practices can strengthen teaching.
This is the second Education Summit that United Way of Greater Los Angeles
has held at the Convention Center. The first was in 2011 and featured
keynote speaker U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. United Way has positioned itself as a
leader in the fight to improve education for all of L.A. County students.

Categories Charter Schools, Closing schools, Emanuel, Rahm, Los Angeles, New Jersey

Louisiana Shocker: Ties Between White, Murdoch, Gates

By dianeravitch
February 21, 2013 //
11

In response to litigation, the Louisiana Department of Education released a trove of emails that shows a department obsessed with public relations while flailing about to impose new rules nd programs.

Worst of all is the deal that John White made to share confidential student data (including names and addresses, test scores and grades and other information) to an organization jointly created by the Gates Foundation and Rupert Murdoch’s organization Wireless Generation.

The story says:

“Copies of emails released to LouisianaVoice by the Department of Education (DOE) under threat of litigation reveal an agency over which there is little or no oversight, where escalating costs of expensive programs appear to be of no concern to administrators and a department that appears to be flailing about in search of some direction. The electronic communications also unveil a cozy relationship between DOE, Rupert Murdoch and his company, News Corp., which apparently will be provided personal information on Louisiana public school students for use by a company affiliated with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. News Corp. is the parent company of Fox News Network. In 2011, News Corp. was implicated in a major phone hacking scandal in which private telephone records were compromised.”

Categories For-Profit, Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, Louisiana
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