One more awful bill in Florida is being used to push public schools towards privatization and poor schooling for students. Said to be 55 bills in one, HB 7069 use words like “starvation” to reference funding for public schools. Charters are called “Schools of Hope” even though Florida’s charter school record is dismal. Many Floridians […]
Endrew F., Special Education, and Charter Schools: What’s the Connection?
It requires an educational program reasonably calculated to enable a child to make progress appropriate in light of the child’s circumstances. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. In light of the current administration’s push for school choice in the form of vouchers and charter schools, and the selection of Betsy DeVos to be education secretary, […]
Where Are the Celebrities Supporting Democratic Public Schools?
The Oscars are over and I wonder where the celebrities are when it comes to supporting public schools. Especially when so many dislike President Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, you would think at least one movie star would champion democratic public schools. Hello out there! Hey Hollywood and beyond! All of you who love […]
A For-Profit Charter ALTERNATIVE School?
A confusing article was just published by USA Today using the term “for-profit charter alternative school.” I’ve never seen a charter school described this way before. Charter schools and alternative schools are two different schools. And since Betsy DeVos is crookedly selling school choice to America, it is important to understand the difference. So I […]
Destroying Special Ed. For Free Market Reform? Question About Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District
Was the defunding of special education used to pave the way for school reforms that would eventually take place in the Douglas County, Colorado school district? Was special education sacrificed to make 21st Century Schools? There’s lots to talk about with this case, but I want to discuss the school district and what was happening […]
Special Education: Vouchers and Betsy DeVos
What will future Education Secretary Betsy DeVos do with special education? Most voucher programs currently go to students with disabilities. My guess is that there will be increased support with the new Trump administration and DeVos. The following states have voucher programs for student with disabilities: Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, […]
Privatization and School Buses? Thoughts, Please, Betsy DeVos?
The private company that owned the bus involved in Monday’s wreck in Chattanooga that killed five [six] elementary school students has had 142 crashes with injuries and three fatalities in the past 24 months, according to federal records. Here I’m thinking of the pictures this past week of Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos beaming about school choice–vouchers […]
I’m Thankful for Real Public Schools!
With the DeVos selection, I thought I’d tweak and rerun an old Thanksgiving post. Here are a few of the things we should focus on instead of breaking up public schools. Have a beautiful Thanksgiving! Enjoy your kids. ____________________ Thanksgiving can be a lonely time. It can be a time where problems appear worse, when […]
President Donald Trump: What NOW for Public Schools?
President Trump certainly won’t be remembered as someone who “Made America Great Again” by churning the past failed public school policies of both parties. What can we expect from President Donald Trump when it comes to our public schools? Is it all doom and gloom? Can we find any silver lining? Is there a smidgeon […]
12 Reasons Why Digital Personalized Learning is Not Special Education
A recent article in Business Insider describes how Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg got their idea for digital personalized learning from special education. A light bulb lit, and they realized that students placed according to their academic level online is needed for every child—not just students with disabilities. They liked the way special education teachers […]