Archives for the year of: 2013
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Indiana: Politicians and Landlord Welcome New Charter School

By dianeravitch
February 16, 2013 //
2

Ball State University terminated three low-performing charter schools, but not to worry. More are on the way.

Despite the lack of demand, the state board of education invited charter school Carpe Diem to come to Fort Wayne. As veteran Fort Wayne journalist Karen Francisco put it, “Indiana supporters of corporate education reform are determined to force a charter school on Fort Wayne– whether the community wants one or not.”

The state charter board will hold a “hearing,” but apparently the most interested party is the charter’s prospective landlord. Read the article to see all the really cool connections between the charter board, the landlord, and politicians.

Carpe Diem is heavily dependent on computers, has very large class sizes, and is reportedly a favorite of ALEC.

Another step backward for American education.

Categories ALEC, Charter Schools, Education Industry, For-Profit, Indiana, On-Line Education

Charter Leader Resigns in Chicago

By dianeravitch
February 16, 2013 //
50

The UNO charter schools are well connected. Juan Rangel, the head of the Chicago charter corporation, was a co-chair of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s campaign. He is a major figure in The city’s Hispanic community.The legislature gave UNO $98 million to build three charter schools.

Unfortunately, charter schools are so deregulated that problems arise, like lack of accountability, lack of transparency, and nepotism.

The second-in-command at UNO, Miguel d’Escoto, had to resign when the news came out that he awarded contracts worth millions to his relatives.

Here is the key revelation: l

“D’Escoto’s brothers were paid with state funds under a $98 million grant UNO got to build new schools. The Sun-Times reported Feb. 4 that UNO’s contractors under the grant included d’Escoto Inc. — owned by former UNO board member Federico “Fred” d’Escoto — and Reflection Window Co., owned by Rodrigo d’Escoto.

“Rangel said Sunday UNO would stop doing business with d’Escoto Inc. until after the organization completes an internal review of its contracting process.

“Fred d’Escoto was the secretary of UNO’s board until stepping down at some point in 2010, according to public records. His company received its first payment of state grant money in August 2010 for work on the construction of the Soccer Academy Elementary School on South Homan Avenue.

“D’Escoto Inc. has been paid more than $1.5 million so far for working as “owner’s representative” on that project and on two other UNO schools: in the Galewood neighborhood, on the Northwest Side, and at the Soccer Academy High School that’s under construction.

“Rodrigo d’Escoto’s company was paid about $6.7 million for work on the Soccer Academy Elementary and Galewood schools, and the firm has a contract for about $3.1 million to help build the new high school.

“Rangel has said UNO hired d’Escoto Inc. without seeking other bids but solicited multiple offers for the deals awarded to Reflection. UNO did not use the sealed-bid process that’s required to select contractors for new Chicago Public Schools facilities and other public construction projects.”

But that was not all. In addition to the contracts awarded to the family of d’Escoto, UNO also awarded contracts to the sister of the organization’s lobbyist and to brothers of State Rep. Edward Acevedo, who voted to award the $98 million grant in 2009.

Is this business as usual in Chicago? As the article notes, the public schools are required to ask for competitive, sealed bids. Conflicts of interest are prohibited.

It is certainly not a wise expenditure of taxpayers’ dollars at a time when Chicago is slashing the schools’ budgets, when schools lack guidance counselors, librarians, psychologists, and teachers of the arts.

Categories Charter Schools, Chicago

Florida Pays Crooks and Liars to Tutor Kids

By dianeravitch
February 15, 2013 //
6

Florida hands out millions of dollars to ex-convicts, profiteers, and crooks to tutor poor kids.

People who would never be hired to teach in a public school because of their criminal history are paid as much as $60 an hour to tutor needy students.

The program has no accountability or quality.

The next time you hear boasting about Florida, think of this story. Privatization opens the public treasury to corruption. It’s predictable.

Another step backward for American education.

Categories Education Industry, Florida, For-Profit, Privatization

Zombie Ideas in Education

By dianeravitch
February 15, 2013 //
36

I have written on many occasions that merit pay is an idea that never works and never dies. It has been tried for over a century, and failed again and again. Yet it comes back. I didn’t realize it, but merit pay is a zombie idea.

There are many more zombie ideas, like the well-known adage that “the beatings will continue until morale improves.”

Today, the federal government mandates zombie policies in No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top. These programs might be called High Zombie. They rank and rate children, teachers, and schools. They fire people and cause their schools to close. They do not improve education. They suck the life out of it. Maybe they are Vampire policies. Flip a coin.

Arthur Camins, who has written brilliantly on the failure of current policies, here offers his list of zombie ideas in education.

“Zombies appear to be popular today. Paul Krugman talked about Marco Rubio’s zombie economics in today’s NY Times. Among the zombie education ideas (ideas that were dead or should have been) that keep coming back to life) are:
• People are motivated to do their best by rewards, threats and punishments.
• You can fatten the pig by weighing it. Frequent measurement will improve educational outcomes.
• When students aren’t performing well on current (low) standards, setting higher standards will cause improvement.
• People who are poor have lower levels of educational attainment and get lower paying jobs. Therefore, if they all have higher levels of educational attainment they will all get higher paying jobs and won’t be poor.
• People who are successful should be given more autonomy. People who are not as successful need rules and regulations (except charter schools that should have autonomy whether or not they perform well).
• Market place competition always improves quality.
• If one school even in unique controlled circumstances can “beat the odds,” so can all schools at scale.”

Dear Readers,
Please feel free to add your own zombie ideas.
Diane

Categories Accountability, Closing schools, Education Industry, Merit pay, NCLB (No Child Left Behind), Race to the Top, Testing

Goldenberg: Why You Should Oppose the Common Core

By dianeravitch
February 15, 2013 //
22

As readers know, I am agnostic about the Common Core standards.

I want to see how they work in reality before supporting or opposing them. I know the case for both views.

However, I am troubled by the rush to force compliance without trial. I am concerned about shoddy implementation without preparation or resources. I am concerned about diversion of resources fro classroom. I am concerned that corporate interests are eagerly waiting for scores to fall so they can rush to sell stuff to schools or replace teachers with gadgets.

Michal Paul,Goldenberg is not just concerned. He is opposed to the CC. Read here to learn why.

Categories Common Core

Should a Child with Autism Be Compelled to Take the Tests?

By dianeravitch
February 15, 2013 //
62

A reader wrote to ask for advice. The situation she describes is outrageous. Does anyone know of a group that can help her fight this and protect her child?

I am a special education teacher and mother of a 3rd grader with Autism. I am trying to excercise my parental right to opt my son out of high stakes testing in New York State. These tests are detrimental to all children, but even more so for children like my son who will not be able to read the exam or understand why he is being asked to do something that he cannot hope to be successful with.

Imagine his confusion and frustration. Presenting a child with a test that is not developmentally appropriate and is inaccessible due to his or her disability is not only educational unsound, but morally as well.

I have been told that my son will be tested against my will if he walks through the door on any day within the testing window. The only way to opt him out is to keep him home for 12 days.

This violates his right to a free and appropriate education and is tantamount to educational blackmail. I have contacted our state and local representatives, the ACLU and The Autism Society.

Can you recommend any other advocacy groups that might be able to help us or offer any words of advice?

Categories New York, Special Education, Testing

When Big Money Started in L.A. School Board Races

By dianeravitch
February 15, 2013 //
11

This interesting article traces the rise of big spending in Los Angeles school board races.

In 1978, a candidate was elected after spending only $56,000.

This year’s election will break all records.

The big spending began with Mayor Richard Riordan, who decided he needed to shake things up.

He and his fellow zillionaire Eli Broad won control of the board in 1999, promising to guarantee quality education for every child.

And now Eli Broad, Michael Bloomberg and other super-rich are pouring over $2.5 million into the school board races.

To what end?

Is it about power? control?

Do they think they know how to produce a great education for every child? Where have they done it?

Certainly not in New York City, where Michael Bloomberg has exercised autocratic control for more than a decade.

In the latest poll, only 18% of New York City voters want the next mayor to control the schools.

Some affirmation.

Where are Eli Broad’s success stories?

If these guys don’t know how to improve schools, why do they keep meddling?

Categories Accountability, Bloomberg, Michael, Broad Foundation, Los Angeles

Ten Excellent Ideas for President Obama

By dianeravitch
February 15, 2013 //
7

Jere Hochman, superintendent of the Bedford Central School District in New York, has some excellent ideas for President Obama. Ten of them, to be exact.

He believes in putting first things first, in thinking clearly about what the federal role is and doing that role well. He believes in career professionals. He believes that the corporate types who think they know how to run the schools need a reminder that the factory model of the 1950s doesn’t work for them and doesn’t work for schools either.

Read and enjoy some good sense and good advice for the President.

Categories Administrators, superintendents, U.S. education

Tim Slekar: Rhee’s Biggest Lie

By dianeravitch
February 15, 2013 //
37

Tim Slekar is a tireless advocate for public education and teachers.

He was upset that Michelle Rhee got a chance to sell her book on the Jon Stewart show, because Jon is one of the best friends of public schools and teachers on national television.

Tim knew that Rhee would use the opportunity to say how much she loves teachers, and that she loves them so much, that she wants to fire more of them.

He was even more upset that she went unchallenged when she repeated her usual claim that teachers are the most important factor in schools that affect test scores.

This is progress, in that she used to say that teachers were the most important factor inside or outside the school.

Tim quite rightly points out that the research says that non-school factors like home and family income have a far greater impact on student test scores than teachers.

This is not to take away from teachers, but to acknowledge that there are problems that even the best teachers can’t overcome.

As Anthony Cody recently noted in one of his columns, many of the students in his Oakland classes suffered PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) because they had witnessed a murder or suffered other horrible experiences. Very few teachers can induce a student to get a high test score when she saw someone murder her brother, sister, or parent the day before.

Read Tim here:

http://atthechalkface.com/2013/02/04/jon-stewarts-betrayal-michellerhee/

http://atthechalkface.com/2013/02/04/jon-stewarts-betrayal-michellerhee-update/

http://atthechalkface.com/2013/02/11/teachers-rock-in-school-but-what-about-out-of-school/

Categories Accountability, Rhee, Michelle, Teacher Evaluations

Paul Thomas: Do Not Become a Zombie

By dianeravitch
February 15, 2013 //
8

Paul Thomas, our collective voice of conscience, explains the way that zombies take control. When your leaders are zombies, do not follow them. They will make you a zombie too.

How can you recognize a zombie? They talk about data, not individuals. They always say they put “kids first” or “children first,” but they don’t mean it. That’s meant to persuade you they are not zombies. People who truly put children first don’t boast about it.

Don’t be fooled by zombie rhetoric.

Categories Corporate Reformers
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