Advertorials in standardized tests?

in

A strange story out of New York

At least a half-dozen companies got an unexpected boost in marketing their brands to New York’s children this week — with free product placement on the state’s English exams.

Teachers and students said yesterday’s multiple-choice section of the eighth-grade tests name-dropped at least a handful of companies or products — including Mug Root Beer, LEGO and that company’s smart robots, Mindstorms.

IBM, the comic book and TV show “Teen Titans” and FIFA — the international soccer federation — were also mentioned in the test booklets, some of them with what educators referred to as out-of-place trademark symbols.

“I’ve been giving this test for eight years and have never seen the test drop trademarked names in passages — let alone note the trademark at the bottom of the page,” said one teacher who administered the exam.

How long before corporate education boosters push for companies to pay for advertising within standardized tests?

Teacher of year not a fan of corporate ed reform

in

The new teacher of the year is Jeff Charbonneau,from Zillah, Washington, a high school science teacher and co-president of the Zillah Education Association. Much like the last teacher of the year, isn't a big fan of corporate education reform

Charbonneau said that it is not even clear if the standardized tests themselves are “completely valid or show what students know.”

“At this point I don’t think you can tie those test scores [to teacher evaluations] as it currently being done,” he said. “Could they have relevance in the future if the tests are better? Yes.”

Charbonneau also said that he disagrees with school reformers and others who say that American public education is in a crisis.

“The concept that we are a nation of failing schools I believe is false,” he said. “We are a nation of succeeding schools. I think our schools are succeeding far more and at higher levels than given credit for…. I agree that there are areas that need improvement, but at the same time, there are many things we are doing right that are not celebrated.”

Amen.

Voucher demand falls

in

We have previously reported how the last budget expanded the availability of vouchers from 14,000 a year to 60,000, and how little demand there was for them. This year demand for vouchers has fallen even further.

The Department of Education received nearly 600 fewer applicants to the Educational Choice scholarship this spring compared to last year
[...]
The 16,848 students whose families submitted applications by last Friday's deadline comes in short of the 17,438 who did so a year ago and still far below the 60,000 limit on vouchers. ODE also held a second application window last fall that brought the total applications to 17,516 for use in the present school year.

Let's look at the graph

If parents in school districts that are struggling are rejecting the voucher option, why would the legislature think expansion of vouchers into districts where schools are excellent, prove to be any more popular?

School choice proponents need to begin to understand that the vast majority of parents choose public schools, and that choice deserves the same vigorous support for-profit education receives from the "choice" community and Ohio's current crop of legislators.

Education News for 04-23-2013

in

State Education News

  • Delays predicted in Common Core success (Cincinnati Enquirer)

    • There’s good news and bad news about the rise of the Common Core, that new system of math and English standards people hope will reshape and restore American education…Read more...

  • Lorain's Academic Distress Commission looks to set foundation for schools (Lorain Morning Journal)

    • Lorain’s Academic Distress Commission’s first meeting yesterday allowed the group to lay the foundation for its plan to dig Lorain schools out of its academic hole…Read more...

  • Common Core education goals come under fire (Marietta Times)

    • Three years after Ohio adopted the Common Core educational standards and a little more than 15 months from the start of the first year…Read more...

  • State superintendent OKs updated school recovery plan (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • Saying the city school district and the academic commission that oversees it have made progress, the state superintendent of public instruction has approved an updated academic recovery plan for the schools…Read more...

Local Education News

  • Free school lunches coming soon to some local elementary schools (Chillicothe Gazette)

    • Starting this fall, free lunches will be available to every student at Mount Logan, Tiffin and Worthington…Read more...

  • T.J. Lane appeals life sentence without possibility of parole (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

    • Convicted Chardon High School shooter T.J. Lane has appealed his sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole…Read more...

  • Dual enrollment options explained (Marietta Times)

    • Marietta High School students will have more ways to earn college credit without leaving campus next year…Read more...

  • Strongsville teachers union offered 'one-time' proposal to school board (Sun Newspapers)

    • The negotiation team for the Strongsville Education Association presented a new contract proposal to the school board…Read more...

  • Bay Village school district reaches contract agreement with teachers' union (Sun Newspapers)

    • The Bay Village school board Monday night approved a new three-year contract with the district’s teachers…Read more...

  • Boardman schools oppose state expansion of voucher program (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • The board of education approved a resolution Monday in opposition to two voucher programs included in Gov. John Kasich’s biennial budget…Read more...

Education News for 04-22-2013

in

State Education News

  • Some high-rated districts failing with gifted students (Columbus Dispatch)

    • Most Ohio schools earn passing grades for making progress with gifted students…Read more...

  • Columbus schools pitch data safeguards (Columbus Dispatch)

    • Columbus principals would have to get permission to change students’ grades at the end of the school year under rules the superintendent is proposing…Read more...

  • Changes made to state report cards (East Liverpool Review)

    • Changes made by the Ohio Department of Education have report cards for schools taking on a whole new look, according to a report…Read more...

  • Huffman wants to make school funding more stable (Lima News)

    • State Rep. Matt Huffman is working on a school funding plan he says will create a consistent and steady increase in education money…Read more...

  • Controversy downplayed; Naming of Ramos, Patterson to academic commission (Lorain Morning Journal)

    • Local school officials said that concerns about the appointment of Raul Ramos and Henry Patterson Jr. to the Academic Distress Commission…Read more...

  • Students to take OAA tests this week (Newark Advocate)

    • This week, students will begin taking this year’s Ohio Achievement Assessments. One of the best things parents can do to help their students do well on the test…Read more...

  • ACT, AP can cut college costs (Springfield News-Sun)

    • Data included on the state report cards for high schools about how students performed on the SAT, ACT and AP tests can translate into money saved for families…Read more...

Local Education News

  • Buckeye Local School District does administration shuffle (Ashtabula Star-Beacon)

    • A reshuffling of administrators in the Buckeye Local School District will result in a familiar face returning to Edgewood High School next year…Read more...

  • Cleveland District considers using money from sale of headquarters to offer more (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

    • Although the Cleveland School District is leaving its longtime offices on East Sixth Street this summer, school board member Eric Wobser wants the district to increase…Read more...

  • Columbus shuffling principals (Columbus Dispatch)

    • More than 1 in 4 Columbus schools will get new principals this fall as the district makes new efforts to rescue poorly performing schools…Read more...

  • Parents to rally over teacher contract talks (Dayton Daily News)

    • Parents and teachers rallied Friday in front of the Springboro Board of Education in support of the district’s teachers and in opposition to the school board…Read more...

  • Vermilion to expand student drug testing (Lorain Morning Journal)

    • Drug testing at Vermilion High School will expand to include all students next school year, Superintendent Phil Pempin announced yesterday…Read more...

  • Newark schools preparing for curriculum shift (Newark Advocate)

    • For decades, there have been students sitting in their classrooms wondering, “Why do I have to learn this?” and “When am I going to use this in the real world?”…Read more...

  • After no deal to end Strongsville teachers strike (Sun Newspapers)

    • Yet another negotiation session in the seven-week teachers strike failed to produce a deal…Read more...

Education News for 04-19-2013

in

State Education News

  • Projections show funding increases for charter schools (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • After cutting $82.2 million from Gov. John Kasich’s original school funding proposal, recent reports detailing…Read more...

  • Emotions run high at 1st school board meeting since Strongsville teachers strike (Sun Newspapers)

    • Emotions wound taught and simmering frustrations snapped and boiled over…Read more...

  • Strongsville teachers continue workplace picketing (Sun Newspapers)

    • At the end of their seventh week on strike in Strongsville, teachers there have resumed picketing at workplaces of school board members…Read more...

Local Education News

  • Medina levy issue crumbles as state probes district, superintendent’s finances (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • The Medina school board has rescinded Superintendent Randy Stepp’s contract…Read more...

  • Geneva BOE: Rehiring Zappitelli saves money (Ashtabula Star-Beacon)

    • Geneva Board of Education members have not been shy about their intention to retire, then rehire Superintendent Mary Zappitelli, and have given official public notice and scheduled a public hearing on the matter…Read more...

  • Emphasis placed on ability to write (Cincinnati Enquirer)

    • Northwest Local Schools is making big changes in its three middle schools to get its adolescent students writing papers before they get to high…Read more...

  • Participation fees might see reductions by Northridge board (Newark Advocate)

    • The Northridge School Board is considering eliminating school fees for students and reducing pay to participate fees…Read more...

Editorial

  • Reeling in Medina (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • It won’t be easy, and it probably won’t be cheap, but the Medina school board must find a way to move forward, rebuilding public trust shattered by revelations…Read more...

  • Relief from dysfunction (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • Medicaid expansion will remain a contentious issue for many more weeks as Ohio debates the next biennial budget. Advocates of expansion…Read more...

  • Inspired teachers inspired students (Columbus Dispatch)

    • Great teachers don’t just pound knowledge into a student’s head; they care, inspire and change lives. They teach with such passion…Read more...