Archives for the month of: October, 2013
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Will Mark NAISON Run for Governor of Néw York?

By dianeravitch
October 27, 2013 //
31

Mark Naison, professor of African American studies at Fordham University and co-foundr of the BATS, is considering throwing his hat into the ring as a write-in candidate for Governor of Néw York.

I would vote for him!

He calls his new party the Restore Recess Party.

Here is his platform:

From: mnaison <mnaison@aol.com

RESTORE RECESS PARTY- NEW YORK STATE- EDUCATION PROGRAM (Draft)

1. Restore Recess. No use of Recess or Physical Education for Test prep
2. Cut the state testing budget in half and use the money to lower class size and fund arts programs, sports programs and school counselors.
3. No Data Sharing. No information about children can be shared with anyone outside of the school district without parental permission
4 Create a new Education Policy Committee to replace the Education Reform Commission, and require it to have a majority of currently active teachers and parents
5. End the use of student test scores in teacher evaluations.
6. Cancel all State Education Contracts with for profit companies
7. Stop all School Closings- Help Schools in Trouble, Don't Close Them
8. End state support for the Common Core Standards- Leave that decision up to each individual school district.
9. Multiply the number of portfolio schools which require no tests at all. Let teachers and parents form them within the public school system, not as charters
10. Bring back vocational and technical education into every school district if parents and teachers support it
11. Withdraw from Race to the Top and take no Federal Funds that require more testing or adoption of Common Core Standards
12. Make sure all schools, especially those in high poverty areas, have strong after school programs.
13, Make Community History welcome in the schools
14. Encourage the creation of school farms and gardens

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 New York

A New Hero for Public Schools in Texas?

By dianeravitch
October 27, 2013 //
2

A letter from a reader notes a worrisome trend in Texas, where money talks loud:

Diane,

Maybe we have a new potential hero in Texas, Representative Lon Burnam.

I received this Alert this week from his office concerning the proliferation of Charters in Texas and the potential harm to district credit ratings (financing for new construction). I have previously been contacted by a person doing research for him concerning a presentation I was doing at the TASA-TASB conference this last September titled “School Reform and the Danger To Our communities”. (Diane, I promise I did not plagiarize your book, I had to submit the proposal early last summer!) This contact was very helpful and supportive. By the way, my session was well attended (150) and attendees, particularly school board members, were very attentive. I have been asked to present now to local superintendents and a northeast Texas School Board gathering. The ALERT is below.

ED-ALERT
OCTOBER 23, 2013
VOLUME 33

The latest news on education in Texas from
State Representative Lon Burnam, District 90

IN THIS ISSUE:

Moody’s finds increased charter enrollment may endanger local district credit ratings

Make your voice heard on charter applications:

State Board of Education on November 20, 2013

As the State Board of Education meets to consider whether to grant final approval or veto the charter applications tentatively approved by the Commissioner of Education, I want to highlight three recent news articles that make it very clear why we should pay close attention to charter school enrollment and expansion in local school districts.

A study conducted by Moody’s Investor Service describes the downward spiral that may result from increased charter enrollment in urban districts. It’s critical that we understand the long‐term impact that increased charter enrollment may have on local school districts so that we can take steps to strengthen public schools and create a level playing field in which they can thrive.

The State Board of Education will consider final approval of four new charter applications at its next meeting on November 19 – 22, 2013. These applications, if approved, will increase charter enrollment in North Texas, San Antonio, Austin, and El Paso. I urge parents, districts, and education leaders to make your voice heard at the State Board meeting.

The four articles are below and the information for commenting on or participating in the charter approval process is at the end of this Ed Alert.

Moody’s Investor Service – Increased charter enrollment may endanger district credit ratings

Moody’s released a new study that raises concerns about the credit rating of local school districts in urban areas where charter enrollment is growing.

“The dramatic rise in charter school enrollments over the past decade is likely to create negative credit pressure on school districts in economically weak urban areas…Charter schools can pull students and revenues away from districts faster than the districts can reduce their costs. As some of these districts trim costs to balance out declining revenues, cuts in programs and services will further drive students to seek alternative institutions including charter
schools.”

Full article:
Charter schools pose greatest credit challenge to school districts in economically weak urban
areas (10.15.13)
https://www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-Charter-schools-pose-greatest-credit-challenge-to-schooldistricts&#8211;
PR_284505?WT.mc_id=NLTITLE_YYYYMMDD_PR_284505%3c%2fp%3e

Washington Post – Downward spiral for urban districts

*A Washington Post article provides a concise summary of the findings in the Moody’s study:

“And some urban districts face a downward spiral driven by population declines. It begins with people leaving the city or district. Then revenue declines, leading to program and service cuts. The cuts lead parents to seek out alternatives, and charters capture more students. As enrollment shifts to charters, public districts lose more revenue, and that can lead to more cuts.
Rinse, Repeat.”

Full article:

Charter schools are hurting urban public schools, Moody’s says (10.15.13)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2013/10/15/charter‐schools‐are‐hurtingurban‐
public‐schools‐moodys‐says/

Nashville – Charter expansion creates a tipping point for public schools

The scenario described in the Moody’s study is playing out not only in large urban areas such as Philadelphia, but also in smaller urban districts such as Nashville. A recent article quoted district officials in Nashville who are worried that the district budget may be reaching a tipping point as a result of increased charter enrollment.

“Too many charter schools too fast could force the district ‘off the fiscal cliff’ unless there are proper guardrails’ in place, school officials say.”

“ ‘There is a lot of pressure on us because everyone wants to come here and open a charter school. How many schools the community can afford to go to scale is a real question,’ said Jesse Register, Metro Nashville Public Schools director of schools who said he doesn’t know where the tipping point is.”

Full article:

Could charters break MNPS bank? (3.31.13)

http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city‐news/could‐charters‐break‐mnps‐bank

Make Your Voice Heard: Public Testimony on New Charter Applications

The State Board of Education will meet November 19 – 22, 2013 in Austin to consider four new charter applications that have been approved by the Commissioner of Education. The Board can take no action and let the Commissioner’s approvals stand, or it can veto the applications.

Public testimony will be allowed at the meeting of the Committee on School Initiatives on Wednesday, November 20. The committee will make recommendations to the full State Board.

Committee on School Initiatives meeting

Wednesday, November 20, 2013
8:00 AM
Room 1‐111
Travis Building – 1701 N. Congress (Austin)

People who wish to testify should register online in advance of the meeting. Online registration starts on Friday, November 15 and ends on Monday, November 18 at 5 PM. Registration on the day of the hearing (November 20) will be considered “late” and may not be allowed if time is limited.

To register online:

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=25769804082
Charter applications under consideration
The commissioner of Education approved the following charter applications on September 27, 2013 that
will be considered by the State Board in November:
Carpe Diem Schools – San Antonio
El Paso Leadership Academy
Great Hearts Academies Dallas (North Texas)
Magnolia and Redbud Montessori for All (Austin)
To review new charter applications (listed on the last page):
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4_wide.aspx?id=2147507674
Make Your Voice Heard: Public Testimony on New Charter Applications
The State Board of Education will meet November 19 – 22, 2013 in Austin to consider four new charter applications that have been approved by the Commissioner of Education. The Board
can take no action and let the Commissioner’s approvals stand, or it can veto the applications. Public testimony will be allowed at the meeting of the Committee on School Initiatives on
Wednesday, November 20. The committee will make recommendations to the full State Board.
Committee on School Initiatives meeting
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
8:00 AM
Room 1‐111
Travis Building – 1701 N. Congress (Austin)
People who wish to testify should register online in advance of the meeting. Online registration starts on Friday, November 15 and ends on Monday, November 18 at 5 PM. Registration on the day of the hearing (November 20) will be considered “late” and may not be allowed if time is limited.
To register online:
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=25769804082
Charter applications under consideration
The commissioner of Education approved the following charter applications on September 27, 2013 that
will be considered by the State Board in November:
****Carpe Diem Schools – San Antonio
****El Paso Leadership Academy
****Great Hearts Academies Dallas (North Texas)
****Magnolia and Redbud Montessori for All (Austin)
To review new charter applications (listed on the last page):
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4_wide.aspx?id=2147507674
###

If anyone knows of documented negative actions by the Charters, please send links to bendeancarson@gmail.com

Categories Texas

NY Principal: “Reforms” Kill Love of Learning

By dianeravitch
October 27, 2013 //
22

Tim Farley is a brave man and a fearless educator. He wrote the following letter and he also testified in a similar vein to State a commissioner King.

Tim Farley is a principal in New York state and his wife Jessica is a teacher. In addition, they are parents of four school-age children. They have been participants in the most disastrous, mandate-driven, top-down experimentation on students, teachers, and administrators in our nation’s history. These experiments demoralize teachers and destroy children’s love of learning. The Farley’s have become so disheartened that they are considering homeschooling their children. Is this the goal of the reformers? Do they want to destroy public confidence in public education? It seems that way.

Tim Farley wrote:

My wife and I are the proud parents of four school aged children. They are in grades K, 3, 5, and 7. I happen to be a building Principal in the district my children attend. I have been in education for 22 years. My wife was a teacher for 12.

The transformational changes to public education over the past few years has been quite alarming, not only from an educator’s perspective, but from a parent’s perspective as well.

We have observed a change in how our children are perceiving their educational experience. A couple of years ago, all of them were excited about school and all the wonderful things they would learn. My wife and I no longer observe this. Our children have lost their love of school.

Every week, at least two of our children have meltdowns over the developmentally inappropriate homework assignments, the poorly worded questions, the amount of homework that comes home, repetitive and inane assignments, etc.

We cast no blame on our children’s teachers. They are the kind of teachers every parent would want for their children. They are doing their jobs to the best of their abilities even though the great majority of teachers knows that the reforms they are implementing are truly harmful to children. However, they have no choice because their jobs are literally at stake. Administrators are terrified to speak out publicly because SED is quick to intimidate those who do not comply with their dictates.

My wife and I cast the blame exactly where it belongs: John King, Merryl Tisch, Andrew Cuomo, Arne Duncan, Barack Obama, Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch, the Board of Regents, et al.

These corporate reformers did an excellent job in denigrating teachers and the profession. They systematically manufactured a crisis that US schools are not competitive internationally (e.g. – the PISA study, which Dr. Gerald Tirozzi [of NASSP] wrote about, correcting the fallacy that our schools are failing). Our educational system isn’t perfect, but it is far from being in a crisis. Actually, we should be proud of our achievements. But accolades do not sell expensive data systems that deprive our students of their privacy. Accolades do not sell software that “fixes” the students who do not achieve at the same rate as their peers.

My wife and I are quite frankly disgusted. We can no longer tolerate the abuse of our children. We will likely pull our children out of a school district that we hold most dear; a district in which we have made our home for the past nine years. We will likely homeschool our children unless drastic changes to these reforms take place.

My feeling is that we will not be the only parents making a decision of this magnitude. Fortunately, my wife has many years experience as a teacher, so our children will do well. But I feel badly for the parents who would like to do the same thing but due to their individual circumstances cannot.

I’m tired. My wife is tired. My kids are tired. My teachers are tired. When will this insanity end? When will the parents rise up and take back their schools from the billionaires?

Signed,

Tired dad, educator, administrator

Categories Corporate Reformers, New York, Parents, Principals, Students, Teachers

New York Principal Sounds Off at First of King!s New Listening Tours:

By dianeravitch
October 27, 2013 //
32

After Commissioner John King had a disastrous meeting with parents in Poughkeepsie, he canceled his remaining five open meetings. But the Board of Regents decided what was needed was even more meetings, so King is now holding more meetings around the state, though so far not in New York City.

At his first new round of meetings, one principal got up and spoke fearlessly about what was happening in the state. This was his statement:

“Dr. King, My name is Tim Farley, from Kinderhook, NY, and I am the proud father of four school-aged children and I happen to be an educator of 22 years. Since this is now a listening tour, I would like to offer you three suggestions from the field followed by a question.

1. We do not want your corporately-backed Common Core. We don’t like it. We don’t like it as parents and we certainly don’t like it as educators. Common Core has not been properly field tested and we do not want our children used as guinea pigs for one of Bill Gates’ newest whims.

2. We do not want inBloom or any 3rd party vendor to have access to our children’s once private and confidential information. We know it’s now legal because those in power literally changed federal law in 2011 just so they can do what they are currently doing. We demand and immediate cease and desist on this wide-spread data collection and specifically, the now mandated “Data Dashboard”.

3. We demand an end to high stakes testing. It isn’t NYSUT that wants to curtail tying student scores to teachers’ ratings of effectiveness; it is us, the parents. We know that the ratings are meaningless and it is unfair to the students and to the teachers.

Now for my question: We know that the NYS Education Department used SAT scores of 560 in reading, 540 in writing, and 530 in mathematics, as the college readiness benchmarks to help set the “passing” cut scores on the 3-8 NYS Tests. These NYSED scores, totaling 1630, are FAR higher than the College Board’s own “college readiness” proficiency cut scores for students as young as 9 years of age. Why did you anchor the cut scores to 1630 on the SATs instead of the College Board’s 1550? And I have NYSED’s benchmark study here for your reference.

Thank you.”

Categories Common Core, New York, Principals, Testing

Another Perspective on International Test Scores

By dianeravitch
October 27, 2013 //
16

The Atlantic published a very interesting article about the latest international test scores by Julie Ryan, and the title is significant.

It says: “AMERICAN EDUCATION ISNT MEDIOCRE, ITS DEEPLY UNEQUAL.”

That’s an apt way of saying that poverty drags down test scores.

This is true of every standardized test, whether it is the state tests, the SAT, the ACT, the NAEP or international tests.

As I wrote in an earlier post, the tests ores don’t predict our economic future.

If we wanted higher scores, we would reduce poverty and foster greater equality.

Categories International, Poverty, Testing

Melissa Harris Perry: Fabulous

By dianeravitch
October 26, 2013 //
90

Friends, I was interviewed this morning on MSNBC by Melissa Harris Perry and was incredibly impressed by her. Unlike most TV journalists, she had actually read the book.

She asked smart questions. She really gets it.

This was the best conversation I have yet participated in on national TV, including the panel that followed. No “Gotcha” questions, just a thoughtful effort to assess some important issues.

Here is the link: http://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/watch/the-case-against-school-privatization-57195587667

Diane

Categories Corporate Reformers, Poverty, Race to the Top, Reign of Error

The Common Core in Florida: A Mixed Assessment

By dianeravitch
October 26, 2013 //
82

This is an interesting and even-handed report by Sarah Carr on the implementation of Common Core in the Florida schools.

Clearly, the new standards will be easier for affluent students and harder for disadvantaged students. There is no indication that they will close the achievement gap. Maybe the bright students will arrive in college even better prepared for their English classes. Who knows what will happen to the English learners and the students who are struggling to read?

Two things jumped out at me:

First, the English teachers said they would not be able to teach To Kill a Mockingbird or The Great Gatsby anymore. No time for that. Anyway, they are not informational text.

Second, one English teacher said she would just have to give up assigning whole novels. Now, students will read excerpts. That makes me despair. Authors write whole novels, not excerpts. You cannot understand what the book is about unless you read the whole thing.

And one other point: Did no one read the New York Times’ article about the study showing that reading great literature is the best preparation for a job interview and for personal interactions?

Categories Common Core, Florida

A New Business Opportunity for Entrepreneurs

By dianeravitch
October 26, 2013 //
14

A reader spots a niche business:

“How about the idea of online early childhood? Learning to play with virtual toys with virtual friends?”

Categories For-Profit, Technology, Computers

Teachers: How to Get a Seat at the Table

By dianeravitch
October 26, 2013 //
15

Paul Thomas has the advantage of nearly two decades as a high school teacher and now a teacher educator at Furman Uniiversity, one of only four teacher education programs given. High rating by the non -professional National Council on Teacher Quality.

Thomas has already called for a moratorium on privileged white men pontificating about race, class, and gender.

He previously made this recommendation because of Mike Petrilli’s paean to the good old days of selective and segregated schools, preferably with no excuses.

He here extends the moratorium to include the prolific champion of reform Rick Hess. Paul is exercised by Rick’s ideas about how teachers can earn a ” place at the table.”

Whose table? Who else will be there? Who built the table? What or who is on the menu?

Whenever anyone offers you a place at the table, think of that brilliant episode in “The Twilight Zone,” called “To Serve Mankind.” If you haven’t seen it, do so.

Categories Education Reform

Pleasantville Schools Withdraw from Race to Top to Protect Student Privacy

By dianeravitch
October 26, 2013 //
26

The superintendent of schools in Pleasantville, New York, announced that the district was returning its Race to the Top funding and withdrawing from Race to the Top.

The reason: the district wants to protect the privacy of its students. New York is one of the few states that has agreed to turn over all student data to inBloom, the Gates-funded data mining operation whose software was developed by a company owned by Rupert Murdoch . Since New York is not allowing parents to refuse permission to remove their names from this mammoth database in the “cloud,” the whole district has opted out of RTTT.

“Superintendent Mary Fox-Alter said the district will return grant funds in favor of protecting student privacy. Citing a desire to “protect student privacy,” Pleasantville Union Free School District Superintendent Mary Fox-Alter said she thinks it’s “a really big deal” that the Board of Education voted to withdraw from the federal Race to the Top program.

“The district’s Board voted on a resolution at Tuesday’s meeting to return the $6,000 in grant funds—distributed over the course of four years—that would require Pleasantville to “comply with a number of New York State requirements, including participation in an electronic data portal—a data dashboard,” according to a statement from the schools.”

Apparently, many other districts have also dropped out of Race to the Top:

“In an interview with Patch Friday, Fox-Alter said the “data dashboard” would remotely host student information that ranges from academic programs to immunization records, disciplinary records and attendance.

“This dashboard has the potential to collect over 400 data elements that have been identified in the State Education Department’s data template dictionary,” according to the statement.

“Many of the student-tracking data is already collected—and protected—by the district, according to Fox-Alter.

“Pleasantville already has a password-protected system that provides student information to parents and protects student privacy; the data dashboard required by the State Education Department is both redundant and, through inclusion of personally identifiable information such as discipline flags, immunization shots, attendance, and more, could violate students’ privacy rights,” the statement said.

“Fox-Alter added other area school districts have taken similar measures in the name of protecting student privacy, including Hastings-on-Hudson, Mount Pleasant, Pocantico Hills, Pelham, Rye Neck and Hyde Park.

“The potential for data mining is staggering,” Pleasantville’s Superintendent added. “It is frightening that corporations such as Pearson and EScholar are involved in this data cloud and are forecasting great profit in the K-12 public education market.”

I wonder if this means that the districts do not have to judge their teachers by student test scores or open charter schools?

Imagine: the Pleasantville district was wrapped up in federal mandates and massive invasion of student privacy for only $1500 a year. What a bad deal!

Categories New York, Privacy and Privacy Rights, Race to the Top
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