ICYMI: Outdoor Overture Edition (10/22)

Today I appear in concert with the local orchestra, subbing in for the trombonist who is also the piano player who is also the piano player for the orchestra. My high school band director always told us that playing leads to more playing, so don't trap yourself in a little box, and that has been good advice forever. But that's just the tip of the time-eating iceberg this week, so the list is not as hefty as some. But still some worthwhile reads from the week. Remember to share them on whatever social medium you're using these days.

M4L Continues to Post Misleading Information

Add the Moms to the list of people who misuse NAEP results. Bookmark this post from Sue Kingery Woltanski, who provides the links to some of the now-standard debunking of the now-usual baloney about NAEP proficiency (no, it's not the same as on grade level)

Having chaplains in schools is bad for students. Leave mental health care to professionals.

From USA Today, some mor folks who want to point out that the Texas plan to put chaplains in school (and amateur, untrained ones at that) is a dumb plan.

Plumbers are training as substitute teachers so full time teachers can protest a bill

Meanwhile in Texas, help from an unexpected source for teachers pushing back against Abbott's voucher plan. From All Things Considered on NPR

HB 1422 Cyber Charter Reform – A Bipartisan Call to Get it Done

A Democrat and Republican agree-- cyber charter is long overdue in PA.

Scholastic's "bigot button"

Judd Legum at Popular Information looks at Scholastic's gift to bigots--with just one touch, they can get rid of book fair books about non-white non-straight persons.

As Texas lawmakers consider school vouchers, does spending public dollars on private education work?

Spoiler alert: No. Edward McKinley of the Houston Chronicle breaks it down.

Band Director Quits and Other Evidence of Pandemic Aftermath

Nancy Flanagan with a sweet-yet-scary story from West Virginia

Where’s Evidence from The Reading League’s Corporate Sponsors?

Look at all these sponsors for Science of Reading stuff! Do any of them have evidence that their stuff works? Nancy Bailey takes a look.

The Number of School Apps To Keep Track of Will Be the Death of Me

At Parents, Melissa Willets has so many feelings about the barrage of techno-assistance that schools throw at parents (and teachers).

On Philly trip, U.S. education secretary assails vouchers like those backed by Shapiro

Miguel Cardona says some harsh words about the vouchers that some folks are still trying to pass in Pennsylvania. Good for him. In Chalkbeat.

One More Time Around the Mulberry Bush

TC Weber once again with lessons from Tennessee in how the players can change, but the games (and the players behind the players) remain the same.

It’s Time to Watch for the Next Step in Ohio State Board of Education Lawsuit

Jan Resseger has been following this Ohio business, which seems very wonky, but is all about the anti-public ed folks trying to consolidate power.

Reproductive rights advocates: You can’t trust Carolyn Carluccio

This is mainly for folks in PA, where a supreme court election involves a candidate who is trying to hide her very anti-abortion agenda. It's an object lesson for everyone, but a ringing alarm bell for Pennsylvanians in the next election.

Meanwhile, at Forbes I break down the latest chapter in the continuing GOP-on-GOP battle over the nation's first religious charter school. At the Bucks County Beacon, a deep dive on the plans of the Hillsdale-trained amateur who's rewriting their curriculum. 

Also, substack me!