Build and Support

Stop ignoring the innovations that occur in public schools. https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2019/11/27/stop-ignoring-the-innovation-that-happens-in.html?cmp=eml-enl-eu-news1-rm&M=58992512&U=56558&UUID=963b3ee1b30e99b18f611b1fbc9d893e

Getting reading right report. https://www.edweek.org/ew/collections/getting-reading-right/index.html?cmp=eml-enl-eu-news1&M=58995349&U=56558&UUID=963b3ee1b30e99b18f611b1fbc9d893e

There is a right way to teach reading and Mississippi knows it. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/05/opinion/mississippi-schools-naep.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage   

Too many early reading teachers are using the debunked cueing system and guessing strategies to the detriment of reading performance. https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2019/12/04/data-how-reading-is-really-being-taught.html?cmp=eml-enl-eu-news1-rm&M=58994577&U=56558&UUID=963b3ee1b30e99b18f611b1fbc9d893e and http://e-news.edweek.org/ct/98293588:7Ln9R0umN:m:1:3139580984:BBD4F440C91BEC50B516A79AEF1C40DF:r:56558  

https://www.educationnext.org/put-whole-language-on-trial-case-against-reading-instruction-illiteracy/

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/54452/why-deeply-diving-into-content-could-be-the-key-to-reading-comprehension?utm_medium=Email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=20191027MindShiftNewsletterSubscribers&mc_key=00Qi000001WzO2NEAV

Pondiscio: A plea to conservatives to pay attention to the importance of broad content knowledge and the goal of citizenship https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/classroom-content-conservative-conundrum?mc_cid=cafba688d5&mc_eid=ebbe04a807

Pondiscio: Curricular efforts https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/curriculum-advocates-prepare-long-hard-struggle?mc_cid=1972e93aed&mc_eid=ebbe04a807

The Case for Teaching about Sharks and Mummies, Not Captions and the Main Idea (Natalie Wexler)

Schmoker on making reading instruction more efficient. https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2019/11/20/how-to-make-reading-instruction-much-much.html?r=599652308&cmp=eml-enl-cco-news2-rm&M=58989597&U=56558&UUID=963b3ee1b30e99b18f611b1fbc9d893e&mkey=D3494795-8EEA-48E1-B02B-97496ABA726A

Robert Pondiscio: “Are You In?”, the importance of civic engagement. https://www.educationnext.org/metric-that-matters-most-ask-kids-are-you-in/

Stanford on-line civic reasoning website. https://cor.stanford.edu/

https://hotair.com/archives/john-s-2/2019/11/30/prominent-historians-criticize-ny-times-1619-project/

Arthur Camins: Take Back Our Government. Start with Public Schools.

Superintendents to Public: Get Your Facts Right!

An inside look at Singapore schools. http://ncee.org/2019/10/building-the-nation-builders/

Economists Say: More English Majors Needed!

What teachers need. https://www.weareteachers.com/what-teachers-need/?utm_source=WAT_MDR&utm_medium=Enews&utm_campaign=WAT_Enews103119

The problem of teacher demoralization. https://www.edsurge.com/news/2019-11-19-many-frustrated-teachers-say-it-s-not-burnout-it-s-demoralization?utm_source=EdSurgeEdsChoice&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=12-03-2019&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiT0dSbFltVTROR1JtWmpZdyIsInQiOiJrZFFYd2lmVFJvOHRwcWZLKzFJdDg2WWVLeG5DUFpjdUZyMzVOajVQRGpyM2EyRWpLN2duR0dlRlVzeUQ1b09JYzNQN0FlN1RCZ29qYjZoRkpKcDFOaFwvaWdvanNVN2Z0VW5uXC9WWklYSFZIRTdCV2VaVjBuekRCbG9iXC9yeHFnMCJ9

One-stop shopping for teachers by Ken Burns https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/11/19/indisensable-ken-burns-has-new-initiative-one-stop-online-teachers/

A union teacher pens an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal. https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/17/glenn-sacks-in-the-wall-street-journal-teachers-unions-have-the-cure-for-what-ails-americas-schools/  

Jan Resseger: Building the case for public education. https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2019/11/18/22024/

A large study concludes inquiry methods in math beat traditional strategies. https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2019/10/09/students-learn-more-from-inquiry-based-teaching-international.html?r=328926239

Two community colleges show how students can succeed without remedial math courses

Mississippi: Pastor Speaks Out for Public Schools!

Anthony Cody: How to Improve Struggling Urban Schools

https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/05/wendy-lecker-philanthopy-is-no-substitute-for-equitable-public-financing-of-public-schools/

Dyslexia Pilot Program’s Early Intervention a Success

Randi Weingarten: How AFT Helped Teachers in Puerto Rico

Teachers nationwide strike for better education. https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2019/11/27/22141/

Massachusetts adds billions for equity in public schools. https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2019/12/06/22296/

Chicago teachers strike for better student conditions. https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2019/10/18/21502/

Jan Resseger: The History and Context of the Chicago Teachers Strike 2019

Chicago teachers win improved student support. https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/06/chicago-the-teachers-strike-brings-a-sea-change-in-education-policy/

Public Education Won Big Last Night!

The New Unionism: Bargaining for the Common Good

Marc Tucker: The Relationship Between Child Poverty and Education Outcomes

Breaking the Cycle of Reforming Again and Again (Thomas Hatch)

Help Students Analyze the Impact of Political Ads

Valerie Strauss Interviews Historian Jack Schneider: Are Schools Unchanged for a Century?

End of course exams show positive results. https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/research/end-course-exams-and-student-outcomes?mc_cid=f96883c18f&mc_eid=ebbe04a807

Petrilli: Fewer Children Left Behind https://fordhaminstitute.org/sites/default/files/publication/pdfs/20191015-fewer-children-left-behind.pdf?utm_source=Fordham+Institute+Newsletters+%26+Announcements&utm_campaign=76ddf18adc-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_201900730-discipline-reform_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5fa2df08a3-76ddf18adc-71867561&mc_cid=76ddf18adc&mc_eid=ebbe04a807

John Thompson on Natalie Wexler’s Book

Peter Greene: Finn and Hess Make the Case for Tenure

Charters, Vouchers, and Privatization Issues

Peter Greene Explains Why Market Forces Do Not Provide Charter School Accountability

Study: Charter Schools Do Not Create a Rising Tide That Lifts All Boats

Helen Ladd on the Negative Effects of Charter Schools

The Lucrative Loophole That Charter Operators Exploit

Robert Kuttner (and I) Challenge the New York Times Slant on Charter Schools

An Ongoing Debate about Charter Support Among Black and Latino Families

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/12/05/to-embrace-charter-schools-is-embrace-betsy-devos-donald-trump-says-black-scholar-who-once-led-charters/

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2019/11/charter-school-research-silver-bullet-apocalypse.html?cmp=eml-enl-eu-news2-rm&M=58992512&U=56558&UUID=963b3ee1b30e99b18f611b1fbc9d893e

http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2019/11/david-osborne-tells-big-charter-lie.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FORjvzd+%28CURMUDGUCATION%29

Denis Smith: The Questions You Should Ask When You Visit a Charter School

Valerie Strauss: The Koch Strategy to Eliminate Public Schools

Andrea Gabor: Big Philanthropy Wants to Privatize Public Education

http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2019/11/why-market-forces-will-not-provide.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FORjvzd+%28CURMUDGUCATION%29

Charters want public school transportation dollars. http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2019/12/buddy-can-you-spare-ride-to-charter.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FORjvzd+%28CURMUDGUCATION%29  

Shawgi Tell: Charters Open and Close Like Day Lilies

How School Choice Works: The School Has the Choice to Close Mid-Year and Transfer Its Students

https://gadflyonthewallblog.com/2019/10/19/charter-schools-cherry-pick-students-call-it-choice-part-1-the-i-didnt-do-it-excuse/ ; https://gadflyonthewallblog.com/2019/10/26/charter-schools-cherry-pick-students-call-it-choice-part-2-the-everyones-doing-it-excuse/

Larry Cuban’s review of Pondiscio’s recent book “How the Other Half Learns”. https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2019/11/27/how-the-other-half-learns-a-review-part-1/ ; https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2019/11/30/how-the-other-half-learns-a-review-part-2/ ; and https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2019/12/03/how-the-other-half-learns-a-review-part-3/

Peter Greene: Federally supported vouchers are a major cause of discrimination. http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2019/10/vouchers-and-federally-supported.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FORjvzd+%28CURMUDGUCATION%29

John Thompson: Why School Integration Matters

You Can Tell That *Charter Schools Are Public Schools* by Their Marketing (um…)

Beware! Charter-Friendly Group Launch Campaign to Sabotage School Board Elections

California Democratic Party: Charters Should Have Elected Boards

Alabama https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/05/alabama-fired-principal-of-charter-school-sues-board-for-excluding-students-with-disabilities-nepotism-and-cronyism/

Arizona https://dianeravitch.net/2019/10/26/arizona-charter-founder-paid-his-companies-46-8-million-in-taxpayer-money-in-one-year/

Arkansas https://dianeravitch.net/2019/10/17/cathy-frye-inside-the-shadowy-world-of-the-arkansas-school-choice-movement-part-6/ ; https://dianeravitch.net/2019/10/23/cathy-frye-tells-all-about-the-shadowy-world-of-school-choice-in-arkansas-part-7/

Arkansas https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/17/lilsis-maps-the-walton-billionaires-who-are-crushing-the-teachers-parents-and-public-schools-of-little-rock/  

Arkansas https://dianeravitch.net/2019/10/19/max-brantley-the-waltons-vicious-assault-on-arkansas-public-schools-and-its-teachers-union/

Boston https://dianeravitch.net/2019/12/02/boston-falling-enrollment-forces-charter-chain-to-retrench/

Cleveland School closures threaten to destroy neighborhoods in Cleveland. https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2019/11/11/21909/

Dallas https://dianeravitch.net/2019/10/25/dallas-chamber-of-commerce-leads-campaign-to-destroy-public-schools/

Denver https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/08/tom-ultican-the-denver-miracle-voters-eliminate-billionaire-backed-corporate-reformers/  ; and https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/08/jeannie-kaplan-denver-voters-give-reform-an-f/

Florida http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2019/11/fl-how-state-supports-discrimination-by.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FORjvzd+%28CURMUDGUCATION%29

Florida (Michigan, DC, and Mississippi) https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/08/g-f-brandenburg-invites-you-to-spot-the-miracles-in-florida-michigan-d-c-and-mississippi/

Florida http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2019/11/fl-even-state-thinks-florida-virtual.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FORjvzd+%28CURMUDGUCATION%29  

Houston https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/07/outrage-state-plans-to-take-control-of-houston-district-due-to-1-failing-school/ ; https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/07/houston-shame-on-the-texas-education-agency-for-attacking-local-democratic-control-of-public-schools/ ; https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/07/houston-the-double-standard-that-favors-charters/; https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/18/yes-something-stinks-about-the-state-takeover-of-the-houston-independent-school-district/ and https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/20/houston-hft-files-lawsuit-to-block-state-takeover/

Indiana https://dianeravitch.net/2019/12/03/indiana-karen-francisco-on-shady-charter-real-estate-deals/

Kentucky https://dianeravitch.net/2019/10/17/peter-greene-beware-kentucky-here-come-the-charter-hucksters/

Kentucky https://dianeravitch.net/2019/10/22/kentucky-dont-be-fooled-charters-and-vouchers-harm-children/

Kentucky https://dianeravitch.net/2019/12/05/kentucky-state-board-of-education-meets-omits-request-to-fund-charter-schools/

Kentucky https://dianeravitch.net/2019/12/05/kentucky-districts-required-to-take-charter-school-training-with-no-charter-schools-in-sight/

Little Rock https://dianeravitch.net/2019/12/05/thomas-ultican-wealthy-white-elites-are-attacking-the-little-rock-school-district/

Louisiana https://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2019/10/18/1-3m-wasnt-enough-still-more-walton-money-appears-in-la-s-october-2019-elections/

Louisiana https://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2019/11/03/john-whites-2019-la-naep-and-act-failure/ and https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/04/gary-rubinstein-the-reformers-desperate-effort-to-find-hope-in-the-naep-scores/

Louisiana https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/01/mike-deshotels-on-john-whites-record-as-louisianas-state-superintendent-and-education-reformer/  and https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/04/mercedes-schneider-the-failure-of-reform-in-louisiana/

Michigan/Detroit https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/19/michigan-state-takeover-of-detroit-schools-was-a-costly-mistake/

New Hampshire https://dianeravitch.net/2019/12/03/new-hampshire-legislature-puts-46-million-federal-charter-school-grant-on-hold/

New York City Robert Pondiscio: Success Academy is better and worse than you think. http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2019/11/pondiscio-success-academy-is-better-and.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FORjvzd+%28CURMUDGUCATION%29

New Orleans https://harpers.org/archive/2019/11/the-k-12-takeover-charter-schools-new-orleans/?emci=391a9478-05ff-e911-828b-2818784d6d68&emdi=cf8d21eb-09ff-e911-828b-2818784d6d68&ceid=7442779; and Jan Resseger’s review of Gabor’s article. https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2019/11/04/21745/ 

New Orleans https://thelensnola.org/2019/11/04/nola-public-schools-sends-warning-letters-to-three-schools-over-special-education-concerns/

New York City https://dianeravitch.net/2019/10/21/class-size-matters-the-cost-to-new-york-city-of-paying-rent-for-charter-school-facilities/

New York City https://garyrubinstein.wordpress.com/2019/11/11/success-academy-class-of-2020-sheds-239-scholars-along-the-way/

North Carolina https://dianeravitch.net/2019/10/18/betsy-devos-floods-north-carolina-with-charter-cash/

Oakland https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/12/jane-nylund-oakland-is-in-the-sights-of-the-destroy-public-education-crowd-who-control-the-board/

Ohio https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/10/bill-phillis-an-experiment-in-ohio-that-will-probably-never-be-repeated/

Ohio. Resseger: Wealth and Power Undermine Equity and Democracy Across Ohio’s Public School Districts https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2019/10/25/21617/

Ohio. Resseger  Voucher expansion creates a new kind of school funding inequity. https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2019/11/06/21811/

Ohio https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/21/bill-phillis-it-is-wrong-for-ohio-to-require-public-schools-to-pay-for-transportation-costs-of-charters-and-vouchers/

Oklahoma https://dianeravitch.net/2019/12/06/john-thompson-the-new-wave-of-misnaepery-heading-towards-oklahoma-and-other-states/

Pennsylvania https://gadflyonthewallblog.com/2019/11/15/vulture-voucher-bill-latest-in-mike-turzais-quest-to-please-betsy-devos-in-pa/; https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/15/pennsylvania-gop-speaker-pushes-devos-plan-for-vouchers/ and https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/21/breaking-news-pennsylvania-voucher-bill-blocked-for-now/

Pennsylvania https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/19/pennsylvania-low-performing-charter-school-demands-charter-takeover-of-elementary-schools-in-entire-school-district/

Pennsylvania http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2019/11/pa-charter-drains-public-schools-now.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FORjvzd+%28CURMUDGUCATION%29

Pennsylvania https://dianeravitch.net/2019/12/06/pennsylvania-why-did-this-charter-school-ceo-pay-himself-11-million-without-board-approval/

Pennsylvania https://dianeravitch.net/2019/12/08/peter-greene-who-ripped-off-the-public-schools-in-the-chester-upland-district-in-pennsylvania/

Pennsylvania https://gadflyonthewallblog.com/2019/12/06/demand-reform-to-pennsylvanias-charter-school-law-before-its-too-late/

 Philadelphia https://dianeravitch.net/2019/10/21/philadelphia-school-choice-has-harmed-not-helped-the-citys-public-schools/

Philadelphia https://dianeravitch.net/2019/10/24/philadelphia-charter-school-excludes-student-because-she-is-adhd/

Rhode Island https://dianeravitch.net/2019/10/29/rhode-island-a-frightening-tour-of-an-achievement-first-charter-school/

Rhode Island: State Commissioner Approves Renewal of Failing Charter School

Tennessee https://dianeravitch.net/2019/10/18/tennessee-dont-copy-alabamas-mistakes/

Tennessee https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/25/tennessee-achievement-school-district-continues-to-show-very-low-test-scores/

Tennessee https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/22/great-hearts-charter-schools-target-middle-class-and-affluent-students/

Texas https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/14/texas-a-power-grab-to-squeeze-the-public-out-of-public-education/  

Washington state. https://dianeravitch.net/2019/10/23/washington-state-another-charter-school-closes-due-to-dwindling-enrollment/

Washington, DC https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/11/valerie-jablow-d-c-ripped-off-by-charter-real-estate-deals/

Washington, DC https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/11/d-c-charter-enrollment-declines-for-first-time/

Wisconsin https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/15/north-carolina-a-mother-sends-her-children-to-a-charter-school-but-is-shocked-when-she-finds-out-about-the-real-estate-deal/

“Reform” foibles

The failed policy of third grade retention. https://dianeravitch.net/2019/10/31/nancy-bailey-the-haunted-third-grade-classroom-that-traps-children/ and http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2019/11/tn-doubling-down-on-bad-reading-policy.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FORjvzd+%28CURMUDGUCATION%29

The tragedy of “portfolio districts”. https://dianeravitch.net/2019/11/26/jan-resseger-the-tragedy-of-portfolio-districts/

Truth for America: A Podcast about Teach for America

High attrition rates in Washington, DC. The highest rated teachers are most likely to leave. https://dianeravitch.net/2019/10/23/valerie-jablow-teacher-attrition-in-d-c-reaches-crisis-level/

Review of Jeff Bryant’s article on the ongoing impact of the School Leadership pipeline created by Eli Broad’s Superintendents’ Academy. https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2019/10/21/21533/

Research: Teacher Effects on Student Height: A Cautionary Tale

William Mathis: What to Do with a Dead Horse? Beat It Even Harder.

PISA: Another Bad Showing for “Reformers”

Unequal Access and Denial of Opportunity: the Collateral Damage of Portfolio School Reform

Unequal Access and Denial of Opportunity: the Collateral Damage of Portfolio School Reform

Peter Greene on DeVosian Nonsense

David Dayen: How Betsy DeVos Radicalized Her Own Staff

SCANDAL! Tennessee: Fake “Reform” Group Endorses Annual Testing

Morgan Ames: Why Techies Are Not Experts About Everything

Maurice Cunningham: Waltons Are Trying to Block Funding Increase for Massachusetts Schools

Two Conservative Billionaire Foundations Collaborate to Fund Disruptive Innovations

Technology

Larry Cuban: https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2019/10/18/the-puzzle-of-similar-teaching-in-universities-and-schools-the-case-of-technology-use/

Hooked on Social Media, the Brain, and School Lessons

Australian Study: Is Digital Literacy Undercutting Literacy?

Audrey Watters on Fables of School Reform

https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2019/10/28/design-tech-high-school-part-1/ ; https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2019/10/30/teaching-at-d-tech-high-school-english-part-2/ ; https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2019/11/05/teaching-at-d-tech-high-school-chemistry-part-3/ and https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2019/11/07/teaching-at-d-tech-high-school-government-part-4/  

Do You Want Your Child to Attend a Mark Zuckerberg School?

The connection between ed tech and “reform”. https://thebaffler.com/salvos/fables-of-school-reform-watters?emci=a5b0ebb9-1715-ea11-828b-2818784d6d68&emdi=c3e6b449-1c15-ea11-828b-2818784d6d68&ceid=7442779