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More on Ritz Lawsuit Vs. Governor Pence in Indiana

By dianeravitch
October 22, 2013 //
10

This news article explains the background of State Superintendent Glenda Ritz’s lawsuit against Mike Pence, Governor of Indiana.

The state board–whose members were appointed by former Governor Mitch Daniels and his successor Mike Pence–moved to strip control of the state’s controversial A-F grading system from the office of State Superintendent Ritz and turn it over to the Republican-controlled legislature. The decision was made, Ritz says, in her absence (she is chair of the state board) and in violation of the state’s Open Meetings Law.

Since Ritz’s surprise upset of former State Superintendent Tony Bennett last November, Governor Pence has acted repeatedly to dilute or remove any powers from the State Superintendent. Bennett moved on to become State Superintendent in Florida, where he resigned shortly after the story broke that he had manipulated the A-F grading system to protect the charter school of a campaign contributor.

The A-F grading system is of dubious value, as are all such simplistic grading systems, which reduce the performance of complex institutions to a single letter grade. It sets schools up for failure and closure, and the metrics behind the grades are nearly incomprehensible. A recent study by scholars in Oklahoma criticized that state’s A-F grading system as opaque, incoherent, and confusing.

Categories Accountability, Administrators, superintendents

Glenda Ritz Sues Governor Mike Pence for Violating State Constitution

By dianeravitch
October 22, 2013 //
15

Governor Mike Pence, in his continuing efforts to make sure that the duly elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz is stripped of her constitutional authority as chair of the state board of education, has encouraged the state board to hold secret meetings when Ritz was not present.

At a recent meeting, the Pence board voted to transfer authority over the A-F grading system from the board to the state legislature. This is the same grading system that was created and manipulated by former Superintendent Tony Bennett to protect the charter school of a campaign contributor.

Superintendent Ritz issued the following press release today:

INDIANA SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION GLENDA RITZ FILES SUIT AGAINST GOVERNOR PENCE’S STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Daniel Altman
Press Secretary

INDIANAPOLIS – In response to apparent violations of the Open Door Law by members of the State Board of Education, Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz filed suit today naming ten members of the Board as defendants.  The lawsuit alleges that the named members of the State Board violated Indiana’s Open Door Law by taking action in secret by drafting, or directing the drafting of, a letter they sent to President Pro Tempore Long and Speaker Bosma dated October 16, 2013.  The suit seeks to prevent the State Board of Education from continued violations of the Open Door Law and declaratory relief.

Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that ten members of the State Board violated Indiana’s Open Door Law when they took action by requesting that Senator Long and Speaker Bosma appoint Indiana’s Legislative Services Agency to perform calculations to determine the 2012-2013 A-F grades for Indiana schools.  The suit alleges that no public notice was issued for a meeting that allowed for this action and that Superintendent Ritz was not made aware of this action until after it was taken, despite her role as Chair of the State Board of Education.

“When I was sworn in to office, I took an oath to uphold the laws of the State of Indiana,” said Superintendent Ritz.  “I take this oath very seriously and I was dismayed to learn that other members of the State Board have not complied with the requirements of the law.  While I respect the commitment and expertise of members of the board individually, I feel they have over-stepped their bounds.

“Since my inauguration, I have worked tirelessly to communicate openly with the Board and the public.  I do not take this action lightly, but my obligations as elected state Superintendent require it.   I look forward to continuing to work to improve education for all Indiana students in a fair, transparent and collaborative manner.”

The suit is Ritz v. Elsener, et al and it has been filed in the Marion Circuit Court.  The cause number is 49C01-1310-PL-038953.  The Department of Education is using in-house counsel to avoid any additional costs to the state.

Categories Accountability, Administrators, superintendents, Indiana

A Brilliant Post Wherein “Hamlet” Exposes the Guilty Conscience of NY’s King

By dianeravitch
October 20, 2013 //
4

We have heard numerous calls for NY’s Commissioner of Education John King to resign. He disrespects parents. He brooks no dissent. He accuses them of refusing to engage in dialogue after they sit patiently through his hour-plus monologue. And when they boo and hiss him, he storms away and cancels all future scheduled meetings with parents, fearing, no doubt, the same humiliating response.

This blogger, Teacherbiz, has a fresh look at the whole sorry episode. She sees the event presaged in “Hamlet” and demonstrates how literature helps us to understand life (with apologies to David Coleman, who may find greater meaning in “informational text”).

Categories Accountability, Administrators, superintendents, Common Core, Parents, Testing

John King: The Object of Righteous Anger

By dianeravitch
October 17, 2013 //
47

A parent in Poughkeepsie writes about the infamous meeting where John King lectured for 1 hour and 40 minutes and was then hooted by parents and teachers:

 

On October 10, 2013, SED Commissioner John King spoke at the Spackenkill School District in Poughkeepsie, NY.  This was the first of several forums on the Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS) that NYS adopted on July 19, 2010. 

It has been widely seen in social media that Dr. King’s presentation was not well received by the audience.  However, his perception of what transpired is not shared by those in the audience.  He is quoted in Newsday as saying, “The disruptions caused by the ‘special interests’ have deprived parents of the opportunity to listen, ask questions and offer comments.  Essentially, dialogue has been denied.”

Au contraire.  If you take the time to watch the video (http://youtu.be/swWm9b_LUAU), you will see that Dr. King dominates the first hour and 40 minutes.  At that point, audience members were allowed to speak for a whopping 23 minutes.  Between speakers, Dr. King was defensive and tried to control the “dialogue”.  A dialogue is supposed to be a two-way conversation where both sides speak and are listened to.  The audience did their part by listening to him.  King failed to do his part.

What “special interests” is he talking about anyway?  Parents and teachers are not special interests.  Pearson, inBloom, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, et al, are special interests and their interests are money, not children.  He tries to depict the audience as having been infiltrated by an angry mob with an agenda.  If you take the time to watch the video, you will see that the entire audience was filled with parents and teachers who have legitimate concerns for their children.  Their frustration and yes, anger, were delivered to the man it belongs to. 

Some have expressed concern about this anger – that it may come across as unseemly or unprofessional.  I say that their anger can be defined as “righteous anger”.  In John 2:13-22, Jesus shows his righteous anger toward the “money-changers” doing work in his Father’s home.  This is the way many of those adversely affected by the reform movement feel.  The work we do is sacred.  What could be more sacred than working with children?  In Matthew 18:6, Jesus talks about the special care given to children; woe to those who would harm one hair on their heads.

The parents in the audience were angry, very angry.  It is justified and righteous.  Dr. King has harmed a lot of children with his dictates and mandates.  He has aligned himself with the “money changers” and they have assembled themselves in one of our sacred places – our schools.  He has violated a trust that we have in education and he needs to suffer the consequences.

Dr. King is a failure and if he were evaluated with one of the tools in which we evaluate our teachers, he would rate as “ineffective”.  Please join the many parents from across the state who will be demanding King’s resignation this week.  Please call Governor Cuomo’s office (518-474-8390) and demand his resignation.  Take back the schools from the corporations and give them back to our teachers and students.  They deserve it.

 

Categories Accountability, Administrators, superintendents

Oregon: Lost in the Quagmire of Pseudo-Accountability

By dianeravitch
October 16, 2013 //
8

Steve Duin is an excellent writer for The Oregonian.

In this column, he tries to wade through the semantics and mathematical formulae of the state accountability system.

He can’t make sense of it. No one can.

Is it fair to compare these two schools on “growth” measures?

Crane Union and Lincoln are considered demographically comparable high schools, even though Crane is a rural, Title 1 boarding school with 69 students, and Lincoln a sprawling urban high school with a student body of 1,471.

State officials twist and turn and do somersaults but the bottom line is the nation’s obsession with “accountability” is insane.

Schools are not in the business of manufacturing widgets or toothbrushes or tennis balls or chewing gum.

Every child is different.

The tests do not define what matters most in school or in life.

Someday, sanity will return to education policy.

It will come when parents get angry, because they boo and hiss and make noise when state officials tell them their child is failing and their school will be closed.

It will come when parents–the sleeping giant–wake up and burst the bubbles of the data-obsessed robots now running  our state education departments and school districts.

Demand that they visit the schools. Demand that they look every child in their eyes and tell them they are failures.

Make the leaders accountable for the damage they are doing to our children and our schools and our society.

Categories Accountability, Administrators, superintendents, Corporate Reformers, Education Industry, Students, Testing

Parent: I Was at the Poughkeepsie Meeting

By dianeravitch
October 15, 2013 //
27

This comment came from a mother who attended the infamous meeting where State Commissioner John King announced his intention to have a dialogue with parents, then lectured the audience for over an hour, and interrupted those who disagreed with him. Having announced five such meetings, he canceled the other four, claiming that “special interests” had manipulated the parents.

This parent says she was there.

She writes:

“….I was at the Poughkeepsie Meeting. Sat in the front row, cause I wanted to look directly into the eyes of the man who has stolen the love of school from my 9 year old.

I am a mom, I have two boys (9 and 14) and we reside in the small community of Millbrook NY. No matter if the persons who did speak were teachers, they were most likely parents too….and I trust them to be surrogate parents to my children when they are in their care 6-7 hours a day.

We are a team.

So, I suggest that every parent start attending every BOE meeting and PTA/O meeting (as I have for the last 4 years, and that’s why I was at that meeting in Poughkeepsie) to show the local districts our support and encourage them to break free of the STATES hold on our children’s love of learning and their own love for teaching.

REVOLT…..great history lesson….lets stop talking about how teachers are scared for your Jobs…implementing the CC cause you have to…and lets NOT DO IT ANYMORE.

The claim from King was that local districts have some control…and I agree, so now we should show him!!!! Some of the problem is that not enough parents understand how much power we hold in the accountability dept. But, we are educating ourselves and in turn becoming more involved whether our districts want us there or NOT.

It’s time for WE THE PEOPLE…..Teachers and Parents TOGETHER….No excuses, we are just as much to blame for this mess as anyone else. Let’s listen to each other and lets take back the importance of educating our youth.

I am writing for King’s resignation. His disrespect for anyone to have a voice showed him to be the Dictator of his “Communistic Core” and I will not be silenced….this mama bear will fight for her cubs.”

Categories Administrators, superintendents, Common Core, Education Industry, Education Reform, New York, Parents, Students, Testing

John King Is Unfit for His Position as State Commissioner

By dianeravitch
October 15, 2013 //
13

Arthur Goldstein, who teaches at Frances Lewis High School in Queens, New York, observed the video in which John King was completely unable to maintain order when faced with an audience of angry parents. He condescended to them, which seems to be his default mode, and they responded angrily. He could not control the class. He probably wanted to expel them, but he couldn’t. They were not “bad students,” they were outraged parents and taxpayers. He forgot that he works for them. They are his boss, not his subjects.

Goldstein wrote the following about John King’s debacle.

 

John King? Or King John?

The spectacle of NY State Education Commissioner John King losing his composure while speaking to Poughkeepsie parents last week was remarkable. I’m just a lowly teacher, but even I know that’s not how you face an audience you’re trying to persuade. I tell young teachers that every time you lose your temper, you make the kids trying to distract you happy. Not only that, but you also embolden and multiply your opposition.

I don’t mean to condemn critical parents or students here. I’m simply saying that educators ought to be able to accept differences of opinion without getting emotional. There are many viewpoints I do not share with my students, but that doesn’t mean they can’t express them in my classroom. How can I engage kids if I don’t tolerate their expressing themselves?

Honestly, how can King, who deems the public schools he administers unsuitable for his kids, tell us with a straight face that they’re good enough for ours? And how dare he suggest we have no right even to ask this question?

Young teachers in my school have concerns similar to those of upstate parents. One tells me his daughter, who used to love to read, is now spending hours doing homework for which she is not developmentally prepared. He says she now cries as a result of being overburdened.

A young mom with whom I work tells me her second grader is overwhelmed by demands he do algebra. She visited his school, claimed he left something in his desk, and surreptitiously used her iPad to photograph every page of his English and math books. She says that’s the only way she can effectively help him with his homework.

These are fundamental issues that are not effectively answered by pontifications on the wonders of Common Core. In fact, I’m amazed at the format utilized in Poughkeepsie. As a teacher, one of my prime directives is to engage my audience. Were I to attempt a two-hour lecture, with a twenty-minute comment period after, my teenage audience would likely engage in open revolt. This would be particularly true if I’d chosen a topic with which they disagreed strenuously, and would be exacerbated if my presentation failed to influence them or address their concerns.

King, ostensibly our state’s foremost educational authority, showed communication and management skills that would be unacceptable in a second-year teacher. He would not have fared well under the Danielson framework city teachers now face. There can be serious consequences for teachers who fail to engage their audiences, but I’ve seen none for King.

Even worse, after this exchange, Chancellor King saw fit to cancel the rest of his appearances. I’ve seen teachers, overwhelmed by the pressures of facing 34 teenagers at a time, get up and walk away. However, I’ve never seen them cancel all future classes and get to keep their jobs.

Last I looked, we’re still a democracy, and We, the People are the ultimate voice. John King is supposed to represent us, not dictate to us. If King cannot abide by what we and our children want and need, let alone allow us to question him, he ought not to keep his job either.

 

Categories Accountability, Administrators, superintendents, Common Core, Parents

Parent Groups in New York Call for Commissioner John King to Resign

By dianeravitch
October 14, 2013 //
35

Commissioner John King made the mistake of treating parents with disrespect. He doesn’t listen. He cannot lead. He was hired to serve the public. He can’t and he won’t.

A statement just released by parent groups in New York:

New York State Allies for Public Education Calls for the Resignation of NYS Commissioner of Education John King

Billed as an opportunity to “gather information, ask questions and share concerns with NYS Commissioner of Education John King”, the NYS PTA sponsored Town Hall Meeting on the Common Core and privacy issues was anything but. After speaking uninterrupted for 1 hour and 40 minutes, Commissioner King allowed parents 20 minutes to speak. During this time, parents expressed concerns and attempted to share stories regarding the impact that the CC has already had on their children. Commissioner King repeatedly interrupted parents and refused to answer parent questions or address their concerns. Commissioner King subsequently cancelled all future scheduled town hall meetings, called concerned parents “special interests groups” and stated that the forum was “co-opted by special interests whose stated goal is to ‘dominate’ the questions and manipulate the forum,” King went on to state that “Essentially, dialogue has been denied.”

When a public official such as Commissioner King refuses to participate in the democratic process and refuses to hear the concerns of parents while simultaneously carrying out educational policies that affect thousands of children, he is no longer fit to carry out the duties of the NYS Commissioner of Education. Commissioner King, we would argue that it is because of you that “dialogue has been denied.”

According to award-winning Principal Carol Burris of South Side High School in New York, last week’s Town Hall meeting in Poughkeepsie, NY highlighted the fact that “The New York State Education Department has lost its moral authority.” Burris states. “One might imagine that if John King had first been a principal of a New York City public school, or the superintendent of a district, he would have become skilled in dealing with emotional and boisterous groups….. Leaders must listen deeply, learn and respond. They must be willing to consider alternative courses, and even in loud crowds, hear truth.”

Anthony Cody, nationally recognized educator, public speaker and writer for Education Week says, “Speaking truth to power, as these parents did, is an intoxicating thing. It delivers to both speaker and witnesses a shiver, an awakening to the fact that we do not need to suffer in silence, or allow our children to suffer without objection. Those in power may cancel future hearings, but these parents’ voices are ringing out, like a bell that cannot be un-rung.”

We would say to Commissioner King that in this age of apathy, you should be proud to represent a state where parents have taken the time to inform themselves about the current education reforms and have taken the time from their busy schedules to engage with public officials such as yourself. Aren’t these parents the kind of critically thinking, involved citizens that our public schools hope to create? We would argue that a competent leader does not run away from concerned parents, or call them a “special interest group.” Commissioner King, you are a disgrace to the field of education. It is not surprising that in NYS, your lack of teaching experience would not allow you to be granted tenure in a public school.

The NYS Commissioner of Education sends his own children to a private school, a school that is not legally bound to carry out the same testing and data sharing mandates that he is subjecting thousands of public school children to. He has stated, “I believe that every parent should have the right to choose the school that is right for their child.” Commissioner King subjects public school students to harmful practices while maintaining that parents do not have the right to refuse these mandates. This certainly does not afford all parents “the right to choose the school that is right for their child.” Commissioner King is guilty of promoting inequitable education policies that essentially create a different set of educational opportunities and experiences available to those with the means to afford private school and those who attend public school. This is an attack on the freedoms and rights that are afforded to every American citizen and on public education itself.

New York State Allies for Public Education calls for the immediate resignation of Commissioner of Education John King as he is unfit to carry out the duties of his position competently and he is no longer able to conduct himself in a manner that is consistent with the principles and ideals of the American democracy. NYSAPE urges parents, educators and concerned citizens to:

Spend 10 minutes adding the attached emails and phone numbers to your contacts
Call, email, and fax Governor Cuomo DAILY
CC all emails to Senator John Flanagan, Speaker of the House Sheldon Silver, Senator Dean Skelos, Assemblywoman Nolan and Senator Jeffrey Klein and the entire Board of Regents
Call your local Regent
Let them know that:

*New Yorkers deserve a COMPETENT leader who listens to and engages his or her constituents

*New Yorkers deserve a COMPETENT leader who can handle the concerns and dissenting opinions of educated and involved New York parents.

*John King has let abusive testing and data sharing practices dominate the implementation of the Common Core Learning Standards

*John King runs away from the public.

*John King calls concerned parents “special interest groups.”

*John King is not competent to be the NYS Commissioner of Education

Western New Yorkers for Public Education statement on canceled town hall.

Western New Yorkers for Public Education expresses its disappointment in the cancellation of a

series of town hall forums on the Common Core sponsored by the New York State PTA. Locally a

meeting was scheduled for October 24 at Williamsville North High School. Families, the ultimate

stakeholder in public education, deserve to have to their voices heard by state education officials.

“NYSED Commissioner Dr. John B. King, Jr. blamed ‘special interests’ for dominating a recent forum in

Poughkeepsie, when it was the commissioner who controlled the first hour and a half of the meeting.

When parents began to make critical statements about the impact of state education policy on their

children, Dr. King tried to interrupt the limited time allotted to the speakers,” stated Chris Cerrone,

Springville parent and Hamburg teacher.

Molly Dana, a West Seneca parent, reacted to Commissioner King’s comments “The only special

interests in the town hall meeting held in Poughkeepsie, were parents! So who is denying dialogue?

Commissioner King has canceled the rest of his town hall appearances because he doesn’t like what he

is hearing from parents. Commissioner King, every time you attempt to silence parents, our voices

only grow louder.”

Eric Mihelbergel, a KenTon parent, replied, “If John King thinks parents everywhere in the state are a

special interest group, then we are likely the largest special interest group in the history of the

world.”

“It’s disturbing to see that an official with so much power over the day to day lives of our students

and teachers will refuse to meet with concerned parents in a public setting. Commissioner King’s

tone deaf actions are having the effect of mobilizing thousands of parents to take a more vocal and

active role in advocating for their kids, in spite of NYSED’s lack of leadership and fear of ‘special

interests.’ My children are my special interest,” stated Kara Kane, SpringvilleGriffith Institute Board

of Education member and parent.

Cerrone added, “Commissioner King’s actions during the forum in Poughkeepsie showed a lack of

leadership. The commissioner’s lack of composure is a poor reflection on the New York State

Department of Education and our entire public school system.”

Western New Yorkers for Public Education calls for new leadership at NYSED that will listen to the

families of New York State. WNY4PE will be joining New York State Allies for Public Education on

Tuesday October 15 in a day of action where individuals across New York will be contacting their

elected leaders and Board of Regents members about their lack of confidence in the New York State

Education Department.

For more information visit http://www.wnyforpubliced.com

Categories Accountability, Administrators, superintendents, Common Core, New York

Aaron Pallas Rates NY Commissioner John King: Zero

By dianeravitch
October 14, 2013 //
14

Aaron Pallas, one of our best sociologists of education, looks at the terrible scores of teachers in Syracuse.

“The summary evaluations reported by Superintendent Contreras [of Syracuse] were striking: Just two percent of Syracuse teachers were rated highly effective, and an additional 58 percent were deemed effective. Seven percent were classified as ineffective, and 33 percent as developing, categories that suggest low levels of teaching performance, the need for teacher improvement plans, and the threat of eventual dismissal. Not a single elementary or middle-school teacher in the entire district was rated highly effective.”

Pallas writes:

“I wonder how State Commissioner John King, Jr. would like it if his performance evaluation were based on the same criteria applied to teachers in Syracuse. The percentage-point increase in students statewide scoring at level 3 and 4 in ELA from 2012 to 2013? Well, that actually fell from 55 percent to 31 percent. The Commissioner gets a zero. The percentage-point increase in students scoring at level 3 and 4 in math? That fell from 65 percent to 31 percent. The Commissioner gets a zero. The percentage-point decrease in students statewide scoring at level 1 in ELA from 2012 to 2013? That actually increased from 10 percent to 32 percent. The Commissioner gets a zero. And the percentage-point decrease in students scoring at level 1 in math? That rose from eight percent to 33 percent. The Commissioner gets a zero.

Just for the heck of it, let’s also allow the Commissioner to score some points if the average teacher growth percentile across the state increased from 2012 to 2013. But because that’s constrained by definition to be 50 each year, there’s no growth there, either. Sorry, Commish! Another zero.”

Judged by the same metric, the leaders of New York State have failed.

Who will hold them accountable for imposing tests and standards for which no one was prepared?

Categories Administrators, superintendents, Common Core, New York, Testing

Carol Burris: Commissioner John King Has Lost All Moral Authority

By dianeravitch
October 13, 2013 //
18

In this post, award-winning Long Island principal Carol Burris catalogues the disasters associated with the New York State Department of Education.

The recent disastrous appearance of Commissioner John King in Poughkeepsie, where he first lectured the audience, and then was shocked when parents had opinions of their own, put his own lack of moral authority and lack of leadership skills on display.

The New York State Education Department’s educator evaluation system–that “plane built in mid-air”–is falling apart.

In Syracuse, not a single teacher in elementary and middle school was rated highly effective.

The State Education Department’s help line recently directed called to a sex line.

Small snafus are not surprising.

What is disheartening is that Commissioner John King repeatedly shows his contempt for teachers and parents.

Apparently he thinks he is the only person in the state of New York who has an opinion worth hearing.

He actually accused dissenting speakers in Poughkeepsie of being the tools of an unnamed “special interest” group, suggesting a degree of paranoia that was shocking.

King should practice listening. For a man so certain of his own righteousness, this will be hard, but it would be helpful to him if he ever hopes to gain the confidence of the people he works for: the people of New York state.

Categories Accountability, Administrators, superintendents, New York
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