Ed Reform 101: A collection of articles about Ed Deform, Common Core, and Testing

Every time I talk to someone new about the whole Ed Deform movement and high stakes testing, I curse and wish there was ONE page I could go to and get all the good articles in one shot instead of me having to scramble looking for them all. This is my attempt at compiling the articles. If you know of any great articles that explain things well that I haven’t included, please send them my way!

updated 9/19/15

Education “Reform:”

Sums up Ed Deform movement nicely:

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/10/the-plot-against-public-education-111630.html#.VLV9aSvF-HQ

Who are the Corporate Deformers?

http://billmoyers.com/2014/03/28/public-education-who-are-the-corporate-reformers/#.VLu6_7D5Mok.facebook

How do they make money off of public schools?

http://dianeravitch.net/2014/09/26/lee-fang-education-entrepreneurs-set-to-disrupt-our-schools-for-their-profit/

Public schools for sale:

http://billmoyers.com/episode/public-schools-for-sale/

Pearson:

How the company behind Common Core took over a nation’s testing and cashed in:

http://libn.com/2015/04/23/uncommon-costs/

In recent news, Pearson found a student on social media posting – after school hours- about the PARRC:

https://www.facebook.com/bobbraunsledger/posts/643261159136837

Where blog was originally posted, but suffered a “denial of service” attack and runs super slow:

http://bobbraunsledger.com/breaking-pearson-nj-spying-on-social-media-of-students-taking-parcc-tests/

How Pearson uses Social Media:

http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-for-you/students/contact-us/using-social-media-.html

Pearson uses Tracx, and they had a case study, but after Bob Braun posted that, the link is no more:

http://www.tracx.com/case_studies/pearson/

A site that works for the above article:

https://web.archive.org/web/20140812150059/http://www.tracx.com/case_studies/pearson/

Testing:

Great explanation of why setting cut scores is crazy, and why this is a problem:

http://jerseyjazzman.blogspot.com/2015/05/standardized-tests-symptoms-not-causes.html

Common Core:

10 Colossal Errors:

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2013/11/common_core_standards_ten_colo.html

Specific problems with the Common Core ELA standards:

https://medium.com/common-core-annoyances/ill-be-happy-to-tell-you-what-i-dont-like-e90878933ac0

Why kids struggle with Common Core math:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/11/09/why-young-kids-are-struggling-with-common-core-math/

Are the standards developmentally appropriate?

http://nancyebailey.com/2015/01/13/are-todays-children-developmentally-different-from-children-in-the-past/

Everything you need to know about Common Core:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/01/18/everything-you-need-to-know-about-common-core-ravitch/

Opt Out/Refuse the Test

Parents, yes, you can refuse the test! Lots of information ere as well as state by state guides to opting out/refusing:

http://unitedoptout.com/

No, your school will NOT lose money!

http://unitedoptout.com/optout-refusethetest-without-fear-of-federal-penalty-to-your-school/

New and very important post from Mercedes Schneider about how New York will NOT lose money from opt outers:

https://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2015/08/22/noteworthy-no-federal-sanctions-for-new-york-opt-out/

In one chart, the rules about opting out in all 50 states. Of course, don’t let the “rules” preclude you from opting out! It is an act of civil disobedience!

http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2015/09/in-one-chart-rules-in-all-50-states.html

Charter Schools:

What happens when an entire city goes charter?

http://www.progressive.org/news/2014/12/187949/charter-schools-flood-new-orleans#.dpuf

12 Problems With Charter Schools:

http://yinzercation.wordpress.com/2014/05/02/12-problems-with-charter-schools/

Charters used for segregation:

http://www.salon.com/2015/01/07/the_ugly_segregationist_history_of_the_charter_school_movement_partner/

Want to get involved?

We need everyone- parents, teachers, students, community members- all speaking up about this. Make your voice heard!

Badass Teachers website:

http://www.badassteacher.org/