New York Times on systemically and academically marginal online education providers…

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/fashion/31CYBER.html

Board Advisor Bill Bradley addresses Obama generation at Rutgers

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/bill-bradley-and-the-obama-generation/#more-1919

New York Measuring Teachers by Test Scores

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/21/nyregion/21teachers.html?pagewanted=all

By JENNIFER MEDINA

Published: January 21, 2008

New York City has embarked on an ambitious experiment, yet to be announced, in which some 2,500 teachers are being measured on how much their students improve on annual standardized tests.

Teachers Divided: Older teachers support Clinton, while younger teachers vote for Obama.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NDhhNGIxYWQ0NWNkMjUxNjBiNjgxNWE3NjE2M2U0NWU

First, consider older teachers. Not only are they of Clinton’s generation, they also tend to dominate the teacher unions — the very unions that are at the base of her party-mainstream support. While the National Education Association hasn’t yet endorsed a candidate, its New Hampshire affiliate came out for Clinton (and Huckabee on the Republican side). (The Iowa union kept its powder dry.) When you hear about the “Democratic establishment,” think teacher unions; their members regularly constitute some 10 percent of all delegates at the Democratic National Convention, after all. As the “establishment” candidate, then, Clinton is and will likely remain the teacher unions’ favorite.Everybody knows that those unions’ leaders and most active members tend to be older. Why? Simply because senior teachers have the most at stake. After toiling in the classroom for decades for modest pay, they are finally nearing their big pay-off: a plush retirement with full family medical benefits. Protecting this retirement is teacher unions’ number one priority. They want a candidate who signals a steady course, promises job stability, and isn’t going to rock the boat. Clinton fits the bill.

The calculus is much different for younger teachers. Not surprisingly, they are much more open to change — Obama’s theme song. A few years ago, Public Agenda found that a majority of new teachers (55 percent) believed that districts should be able to use other indicators beyond years of experience and higher education to reward good teachers; yet only a third of veteran teachers felt the same way. And newbies were almost twice as likely to believe that merit pay would be effective in recruiting more of “the best and brightest” into teaching. So Obama’s (mild) flirtation with performance pay is much less threatening — and perhaps even exciting — for these younger teachers.

Unions bitterly divided in Democratic race

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-unions13jan13,1,5201798.story?

Sharpton: I’d welcome a Bloomberg run centered on education

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2008/01/04/2008-01-04_sharpton_id_welcome_a_bloomy_run_centere.html

How many successful people do you know in your line of work or your neighborhood who do not have a high school diploma?

Education as a civil right needs strong articulation by a leader willing to say it like it is…

Whether you are black or white, Republican or Democrat, it is undisputed that those with the most education have the best chance of realizing their dreams, and that race becomes less of a factor for those most educated.

While I am not endorsing Mayor Bloomberg for President, I am endorsing the idea that a Bloomberg candidacy centered on education as a civil right would be good for America.

Ed in ‘08

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=axlS9ALgtlUg

The Washington-based organization, led by former Democratic Governor Roy Romer of Colorado, wants the next president to rally support for learning standards, increased pay and training for teachers, and longer class days and school years. It says those ideas would improve access to high-quality education, boost economic vitality and reduce the number of U.S. high school dropouts from 1.2 million a year.

NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS RECEIVES $11 MILLION IN GRANTS

http://www.publiccharters.org/UserFiles/File/Grant%20Release%20Final%2012-3.pdf

“Three major national philanthropies have awarded the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools a total of $11 million to forward the organization’s work of ensuring that high quality public education options are available to families who need them the most.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded the Alliance $5.5 million, the Doris & Donald Fisher Fund $3.4 million, and the Walton Family Foundation $2.1 million, each over three years, to advance the Alliance’s efforts to build the infrastructure needed to support high-performing charter schools, communicate the successes of quality charters to families and policymakers, and to develop sound policy environments to nurture school quality and growth.”

Geoffrey Canada of Harlem Children’s Zone on Charlie Rose

http://www.stager.org/blog/2008/01/charlie-rose-lobotomized-by-education.html