Archives for the month of: February, 2014
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Jeff Bryant on Vouchers: A Failed Agenda for America’s Children

By dianeravitch
February 11, 2014 //
13

Jeff Bryant here describes in alarming detail the push for vouchers at the state and federal levels.

Vouchers give taxpayer dollars to families to pay tuition at any private or religious school. The best private schools, whose tuition runs into tens of thousands, seldom if ever accept vouchers, which don’t amount to a significant part of the tuition.

Voucher plans usually subsidize fundamentalist Christian schools and fly-by-night private operators.

Accountability is minimal. Children typically get worse education than their local public school.

Voters have never approved a voucher plan, yet they are spreading from state to state and have champions in Congress.

Don’t be fooled. The voucher movement is not about “saving” children or improving education. It is a bold-faced effort to destroy public education.

Categories Vouchers

Network for Public Education Endorses Baraka for Newark Mayor

By dianeravitch
February 10, 2014 //
6

The Network for Public Education has endorsed City Councilman Ras Baraka for Mayor of Newark, New Jersey. He is a career educator who opposes school closings and supports reduced class sizes and other research based strategies.

We are proud to support him and believe that his election will begin a movement to restore democracy to education in Newark, whose schools have been under state control for nearly 20 years.

Categories Network for Public Education, New Jersey

NY Saga Heats Up as Advocates Blast Regents

By dianeravitch
February 10, 2014 //
28

The Regents pledged to tweak the botched Common Core rollout, which caused Governor Cuomo to accuse them of backing away from tough teacher evaluation (they didn’t).

Now parents and educators condemn the Regents for failing to address their concerns:

From: “NYS Allies for Public Education”
Date: February 10, 2014 at 4:40:37 PM EST

To: “‘NYS Allies for Public Education'”

Subject: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- Parents and Educators Outraged by Regents Unwillingness to Assume Responsibility and Change Course
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 10, 2014

More information contact:
Eric Mihelbergel (716) 553-1123; nys.allies@gmail.com
Lisa Rudley (917) 414-9190; nys.allies@gmail.com
NYS Allies for Public Education http://www.nysape.org

Parents and Educators Outraged by Regents Unwillingness to Assume Responsibility and Change Course

The leaders of the NYS Allies for Public Education (NYSAPE), a coalition of more than 45 parent and educator groups from throughout the state, expressed extreme disappointment that the NYS Regent Common Core Taskforce refused to address the real issues undermining education in this state and made only minor tweaks to current policies. The report is quite clear that the Regents continue to ignore the deep flaws in the Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS), excessive high stakes state testing and student data sharing. The recommendations can be viewed here: http://www.regents.nysed.gov/meetings/2014/February2014/214p12hea3.pdf

Tim Farley, a parent of four public school children and the Principal of Ichabod Crane Elementary/Middle School said, “Today’s recommendations from Commissioner King and the Regents task force reveal just how out of touch they are and how obsessive their appetite is for excessive state tests. The fact that they refuse to subject their own children to these excessive testing and data policies is very telling. The parents and educators of New York have been paying attention, and they are justifiably outraged.”

“The need to replace the four incumbent Regents members is more important than ever,” said Eric Mihelbergel, Ken-Ton public school parent and founding member of NYSAPE. The Regents Taskforce failed to address the real concerns of parents and again has displayed disconnect from their constituents. Their recommendations today tell me the State is full steam ahead with this failed reform agenda.”

Carol Burris, South Side High Principal and 2013 Principal of the Year stated, “For a deliberative body that is so insistent that students, schools and educators be held accountable, their unwillingness to assume responsibility for their blunders and respond by correcting course is breathtaking. For example, they shift the review of the New York State Common Core standards to the National Governors Association, rather than assume that responsibility themselves. At nearly every turn they “advocate”, or “encourage” others to take action, rather than earnestly respond to what they heard. Developing a “teacher portal” and more low quality materials, is hardly the response our parents expected. The tinkering with dates and semantics about college ready scores at the high school level provides no relief for our K-8 students from testing or from the implementation of flawed curriculum. ”

“Instead of simply calling for a delay in the uploading of private student data onto an insecure data cloud, and pass the responsibility to deal with this issue to the Legislature, the Regents should have insisted that the inBloom contract be cancelled, as every other state has done. Why should New York continue to be the worst place in the country when it comes to student privacy?” asked Leonie Haimson, Executive Director of Class Size Matters.

“The notion that more time to phase in standards or train teachers will somehow cure the ills of a deficient curriculum and inappropriate tests is misguided. Just as troubling is the suggestion that teachers should continue to be evaluated on the basis of a system no one believes in, and that if they are threatened with losing their jobs, they should “raise an alleged failure” of their districts to properly implement the Common Core – when the fault lies with the state. There is no need for more money to ‘engage’ parents with implementation of CCLS. Parents have made their voices perfectly clear in demanding that these destructive policies be brought to an immediate halt,” said Jessica McNair, New Hartford public school parent.

“The Regents appear not to understand that the actual time spent on testing per day, multiplied out over six days of the state assessments, is inappropriate for all students despite the misleading statistics quoted in recommendations,” stated Chris Cerrone, Western New York public school parent of two elementary-aged children.

“Our state education system remains in turmoil, yet the recommendations of this task force do nothing to address the profound problems associated with the standards and excessive high stakes testing. They simply echo the false sentiments of Chancellor Tisch and Commissioner King, by providing nothing more than superficial suggestions in an attempt to pacify the public. Parents will not be so easily assuaged,” said Jeanette Deutermann, Bellmore public school parent and founder of Long Island Opt-Out.

###

Categories Common Core, New York

Cuomo Blasts Regents for Common Core Fumbling

By dianeravitch
February 10, 2014 //
50

Governor Andrew Cuomo released a statement blasting the Regents for seeming to delay the tough teacher evaluation that Cuomo wants.

Common Core has turned into a giant mess. The Regents and Commissioner John King want to appear to compromise without compromising.

The governor condemns them for compromising.

Here is the Regents’ statement.

This is the report of the Regents Working Group that came up with tweaks.

The governor said this:

Andrew M. Cuomo – Governor
Statement From Governor Cuomo

Albany, NY (February 10, 2014)

“Today’s recommendations are another in a series of missteps by the Board of Regents that suggests the time has come to seriously reexamine its capacity and performance. These recommendations are simply too little, too late for our parents and students.

“Common Core is the right goal and direction as it is vital that we have a real set of standards for our students and a meaningful teacher evaluation system.

However, Common Core’s implementation in New York has been flawed and mismanaged from the start.

“As far as today’s recommendations are concerned, there is a difference between remedying the system for students and parents and using this situation as yet another excuse to stop the teacher evaluation process.

“The Regents’ response is to recommend delaying the teacher evaluation system and is yet another in a long series of roadblocks to a much needed evaluation system which the Regents had stalled putting in place for years.

“I have created a commission to thoroughly examine how we can address these issues. The commission has started its work and we should await their recommendations so that we can find a legislative solution this session to solve these problems.”

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Categories Common Core, Cuomo, Andrew, New York

NC Democrats Blast McCrory Pay Plan

By dianeravitch
February 10, 2014 //
66

North Carolina Governor McCrory tried to defuse criticism of his hostile policies toward teachers by offering a pay raise to teachers in their first five years instead of responding to a call by former Governor Jim Hunt to lift salaries to the national average. NC teachers are now 46th in the nation in salary.

Under McCrory’s proposal, 70% of teachers get no raise. Salaries for teachers have been flat since 2008. It takes 15 years for a teacher in NC to earn $40,000 a year.

This blast just was released about the McCrory plan:

Dear xxxxxxx,

Today, NC Speaker Thom Tillis, along with Governor Pat McCrory and Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, unveiled a plan that fails to provide a pay raise to 70% of North Carolina’s hardworking teachers. If you, like us, believe ALL North Carolina teachers deserve a pay raise please sign our petition today and forward to it to 5 friends.

Their plan is simply an election year gimmick. Republicans only want to shield themselves from public backlash over the damage they’ve done to public education. Unfortunately for the Republicans, they have already made it clear during the 2013 Legislative Session that public education was simply not a priority for them. They laid off 3,800 teacher’s assistants, cut $500 million from public education, denied all teachers a pay raise and raised tuition at community colleges – all while allocating tens of millions of dollars for private school vouchers.

This Republican plan only offers a pay raise to a select few teachers at a time when ALL teachers in North Carolina deserve a raise. The plan DOES NOT raise teacher pay to the national average, DOES NOT make teacher pay in NC competitive with other states – like Virginia – that are luring teachers away and DOES NOT offer a plan that will prepare our students for the modern workforce.

Perhaps most appalling is the fact that the money to give ALL North Carolina teachers a pay raise exists in the state budget but the GOP would rather use that money to give tax breaks to out-of-state corporations and millionaires.

Please stand with House Democrats today by signing this petition that demands the Governor and the General Assembly Republicans treat our teachers with respect and helps them to get what we as North Carolinians know they deserve.

We thank you for your continued support as we fight for a greater future for all North Carolinians.

Sincerely,

Rep. Larry D. Hall

Democratic Leader

P.S. This petition seeks to protect the North Carolina public education system by asking for a pay raise for ALL North Carolina public school teachers – not just a select few – to the national average. PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION TODAY AND FORWARD TO 5 FRIENDS.

Paid for by the NCDP- House Caucus

220 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27603

Categories North Carolina, Teachers

Long Island Poll: 86% Thumbs Down on Common Core

By dianeravitch
February 10, 2014 //
22

Even as the Néw York Board of Regents made minor tweaks to the Common Core standards and testing, a poll by News 12, Long Island’s only TV news station, showed simmering anti – Common Core sentiment in this crucial suburban area.

8% say Delay It
86% say Eliminate It
6% say Leave It Alone

Long Island has been a hotbed of anti-Common Core activism.

A special committee of the Regents reviewed the botched implementation.

The committee proposed asking the original writers of the standards to review them, instead of assembling Néw York’s best teachers to do a review.

Very odd recommendation. The National Governors Association, the Council of Chief State School Officers, and Student Achievement Partners wrote the standards. Why would the Refents expect these inside-the-beltway, Gates-funded groups to know how to fix them?

Why not trust the state’s practitioners who know the students and know how to improve the standards?

Categories Common Core, New York

NY Times: Are Parents to Blame for Low Test Scores?

By dianeravitch
February 10, 2014 //
34

The Néw York Times blog published a debate about whether parents are to blame for “failing schools.”

The question is: “Do parents care enough about schools?”

Various writers offer their opinions.

The debate is based on President Obama’s assertion in his State of the Union address that parents don’t demand enough.

Of course, that begs the question of which schools are “failing” and how they are identified. It leaves aside the fact that the overwhelming majority of such schools enroll high proportions of students who are poor, are English language learners, have severe disabilities, and/or are racially segregated. It leaves aside inequitable resources that affect class size and availability of programs, after-school activities, music, technology, and other amenities that affluent districts take for granted.

Leonie Haimson has an excellent contribution arguing that this is an effort to shift blame from policy makers to parents

Brian Jones says that the question shifts blame from society–which is indifferent to children–to their parents, many of whom struggle for daily survival in a society that accepts poverty as inevitable.

Categories Parents, Poverty, Students

Los Angeles Lawyer: How to Fire a Teacher

By dianeravitch
February 10, 2014 //
72

Ron Lapekas, an attorney in Los Angeles, submitted the following comment to the blog about the Vergara trial, in which plaintiffs claim that tenure (due process) for teachers violates the civil rights of students. The case of the plaintiffs is funded with millions of dollars by a wealthy Silicon Valley entrepreneur, who thinks that teachers should be fired at the will of their employer without hearings or evidence. Lapekas was a teacher before he became an attorney:

This is a show trial in which Deasy, purportedly testifying in “defense” of LAUSD, is trying to provide evidence in support of the plaintiffs to justify his own failed “leadership”. Notice that he was called as the first witness by the plaintiffs. His testimony about the difficulty of dismissing teachers is, to be blunt, false. The primary reason poor teachers are difficult to fire is because administrators like Deasy are incompetent.
Deasy is an example of an administrator who has been out of the classroom too long — and it is questionable whether he ever should have been in one in the first place. Indeed, his teaching experience is scant and completely unrelated to the challenges of LAUSD.
Deasy’s Resume shows the following:
TEACHING EXPERIENCE – SECONDARY SCHOOL
1983-1986 Science Teacher and Resident Dormitory Counselor, Coach for Track and Cross Country: LaSalle Military Academy, Oakdale, Long Island, New York – Population: 800 Students
So, Deasy brings his three years of “experience” teaching at a private military academy that has 100% control over the students it admits to LAUSD and orders teachers to do a better job. Of course, Deasy’s orders would be easier to follow if he had any clue about the challenges of actually teaching in a troubled LAUSD school.
Deasy’s “management style” is consistent with his background in military academies. He appears to believe that giving orders will produce results. Thus, he orders teachers to “be effective”; however, such an order can’t be followed until teachers are given the power to order their students to learn. Oops — learning isn’t part of Deasy’s business model for a successful school — only “objective” results from “data driven” models can determine if a teacher is “effective.”

Like most incompetent managers, Deasy blames subordinates with generalized accusations. However, without specific allegations, teachers are unable to respond because there are no objective means to evaluate improvement — except for standardized testing. And the circle goes round and round ….
The press coverage describes the kinds of teachers who need to be fired as those who fall asleep, read newspapers in class, and show YouTube videos. For these transgressions, one needs to ask “where is the administrator who did not see this in the two year probationary period?” If the teacher has tenure, where is the administrator who did not see this and document it?
Lastly, Deasy’s testimony that teachers are difficult to fire is contradicted by the evidence. Testifying that teachers are “grossly ineffective” is a conclusion, not evidence. Indeed, this trial is an example of how LAUSD substitutes its beliefs for facts. Furthermore, there are several instances where the charges against a teacher have failed to satisfy the three member panel called the Commission on Teacher Competence that dismissal is warranted. However, Deasy usurps the function of the School Board and unilaterally orders that the teacher will not be returned to the classroom.
In conclusion,
I believe that “ineffective teachers” — such as inexperienced and minimally qualified but well intentioned Teach For America” graduates — should be provided an opportunity to improve to meet objective standards of competence.
I believe that any teacher with tenure who fails to meet objective standards should be provided the opportunity to improve as provided by the California Education Code. If the teacher fails to meet objective standards within the 45 or 90 day period provided, he or she should be dismissed in accordance with law.
And I believe that any teacher who acts inappropriately with a student and every incompetent administrator who disregarded complaints from parents and students or was unable to identify such behavior should be fired.
Lastly, I offer a suggestion to help obtain evidence: Cameras in every classroom. I had them in mine. When my principal questioned me, I told him they were legal because everyone knew they were being video recorded. When he said that they might catch me doing something improper, I responded: “If I do, then I should be caught.”

Categories Accountability, Education Reform, Teacher Tenure

Jon Stewart Interviews Bill de Blasio: Hilarious!

By dianeravitch
February 10, 2014 //
2

This is a fabulous interview of Bill de Blasio by Jon Stewart.

Bill is funny, smart, terrific!

What a change!

And watch to see how great it is to live in Brooklyn.

Laughter, not hectoring.

Categories Bill de Blasio, Humor, New York City

Schneider: Updates on State-by-State Common Core Controversies: Part 3

By dianeravitch
February 10, 2014 //
6

Mercedes Schneider here reports on the ongoing debates about Common Core standards and tests in the states.

Links to the earlier posts are included in this one.

The reason for the controversy is the lack of democratic process in imposing the standards.

Imposing them by stealth was not a good idea.

The public doesn’t know what they are, and their merits and demerits were never discussed and debated in an open democratic process.

Even now, the standards have a copyright, by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers.

I have never heard of “national standards” that were copyrighted, essentially outside the public domain.

These standards need to be reviewed and revised by expert practitioners. They can be fixed by the experts, the teachers who know the children and the classroom.

In the meanwhile–and perhaps forever–they should be decoupled from the two federally funded testing consortia–whose very existence is legally dubious, since the federal government is legally prohibited from seeking to control, direct, or supervise curriculum and instruction. Nothing is more effective in controlling, directing, and supervising curriculum and instruction than the tests used.

 

Categories Common Core
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