ICYMI: Edu-reads from the week

Here's your assortment of reading goodies for the week:

Race and the Standardized Testing Wars

Kate Taylor's piece from yesterday's New York Times is a worthwhile read about tough issues. Additionally, she quotes Jennifer Berkshire's Have You Heard podcast and Jose Luis Vilson (an actual teacher). Nice to see a major mainstream article about education that doesn't just go straight to the usual reformy mouthpieces (though those voices are certainly represented here).

Sam Brownback Declares War on Kansas

Kansas has become a real showplace for the efforts to starve government to death and beat democracy into dust. Here's a good look at how Brownback did it.

Charlotte Danielson on Rethinking Teacher Evaluation

I know I already wrote a whole blog piece about this, but if you haven't gotten around to reading Danielson's thoughts, now's your next chance. Worth a look.

My ESSA Accountability Plan

Russ Walsh offers his own basic layout for an accountability plan under the new federal education regulations. This is how it could be done well.


The New Emergency Manager: Woman who got over $100K for school she never opened now imposing CEOs on struggling schools

From Eclectablog, a tale of more "you can't make this stuff up" shenanigans from Governor Snyder.

Off the Deep End: Swim Test vs. Standardized Test

Jesse Hagopian, Progressive Education Fellows, nationally renowned ed activist, and editor of More Than A Score, takes a moment to respond to writer's attempt to dismiss the opt out movement.

He Is More Than a Test Score

One writer's personal response to the results of the testing movement.

Who Will Lead the Edu-Revolution

Jose Luis Vilson's blog hosts the North Carolina teacher of the year, who offers some challenging thoughts for teachers of non-white, noon-wealthy students. It's the piece that includes this line: "teachers cannot simply advocate for student’s educational rights and stay silent on their civil and human ones."