By Devin Boyle, Director of Communications
DFER Seen & Heard:
- DFER Illinois’ Huffman co-authors Sun-Times article, “How mayor can bring hope to city’s disadvantaged students.”
- McNeil of Education Week and Resmovits of Huff Post report on coalition letter opposing district waivers.
- Republican budget in IN fails schools. DFER IN’s Grau weighs in.
- Teacher evaluation debate heats up in CA, reports the San Diego Union Tribune.
- “Look at the achievement gap (between minorities and white students). We should be speaking with urgency about improving our public schools, not (with) pride,” says DFER’s Fields.
- “Gloria Romero, Slimed By Teacher Unions, Says Sober Up,” reports LA Weekly.
DFER Blog:
- Larry Grau pens, “Common Core Messaging.”
- “DFER-TN Hosts First Installment of Speaker Series featuring Howard Fuller,” reports Natasha Kamrani.
- Mac LeBuhn writes, “Randi Weingarten’s Ill-Advised Moratorium on Common Core Assessments.”
- “Before you decide to get into bed with extremist right-wing critics of the Common Core, we highly recommend that you get to know them better,” says Larry Grau. Get the details here.
- “CTC Decision Puts Politics Before Students,” says LeBuhn.
- Joe Williams asks, “How Many Cranks Does It Take To Cause a Furor?”
Advocacy, Policy Briefs, & Such:
- DFER launches in Arizona; Christina M. Martínez appointed state director. (DFER)
- Coalition sends letter to USDOE opposing school district waivers. (DFER)
In Related News:
- “Gov Cuomo To City: Almost Time To Put Pencils Down On Teacher Evaluation Deal,” reports Lovett of NY Daily News.
- NY Daily News says John King should stand his ground on Common Core.
- TN Sen. Gresham says Common Core equips TN students to succeed in a global economy. (The Tennessean)
- AFT’s Weingarten calls for moratorium on all stakes associated with CCSS. Chad Aldeman weighs in.
- Read this summary of public charter school success by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
- TNTP’s Daly says, “Don’t put the brakes on teacher evaluations.”
- Report highlights the debt burden of college ‘noncompleters,’ via Ed Trust.
- 300 educators and business groups gathered to support Common Core in AL; legislation to repeal the CCSS dies.
- Read the USDOE’s “A Blueprint for RESPECT.”
- University of Arkansas study finds, traditional public schools in Denver receive 19.4% more funding than public charters; in LA it’s 34.7% more; in Milwaukee it’s 31.4%; and in DC it’s 43.9%.
- Russo reports, “Parent Trigger: An “Easy” Button For Parents & Kids.”
- USA Today editorial says, “When schools cheat, don’t blame tests.”
- Math professor at the University of Austin says, “if the common-core collapses, it’s going to be a bad thing.” (Education Week)
- NY Times editorial board has this to say about Common Core: “if the country retreats from the Common Core reforms, it will be surrendering the field to competitors that have already left it behind in math and science education, which are essential to participation in the 21st-century work force.”
- Unions attacking tests in NY, reports Times Union.
- Are kids ready for college? High school teachers say yes; professors say no. (Education Week)
Fun with Infographics & More:
- EVENT | Don’t miss the NLC’s 6th Annual Progressive Fundraiser on May 15th. Sign up here.
- What’s New | DFER has a new Tumblr account. Check it out.
- Free Food! | Teachers get free burritos from Chipotle on May 7th.
- Infographic | 7 Elements of USDOE’s RESPECT Project.
- VIDEO | A Nation at Risk: 30 Years Later via Fordham.
- If you support Common Core, share this image and use hashtag #SupportTheCore on Twitter.
- Infographic | Mind the Gap: ACT Survey Finds Gap in Views of College Readiness.
- VIDEO | DFER IL is on the scene at the “Love Out Loud” (LOL) Youth Summit at the North Lawndale College Prep Charter High School.
Call to Action:
- Contribute to DFER.
- Support our Reformer of the Month.
- Sign our Statement of Principles.
Have A Great Weekend!