Out of proportion? Florida in line for as much as $1 billion of Arne's $4.35 billion?

[madfloridian]

That really does seem out of proportion. Why should Florida be in line for so much of that money that Arne Duncan is spreading around to districts and states who go for merit pay for teachers tied to student testing...more testing and more testing? It is tied to merit pay and charter school formation.

States are lining up for that money, they are selling out teachers' unions for that money. They are falling in line for that money.

Why would Florida be getting so much?

Florida is in line for as much as $1 billion of the $4.35 billion Race to the Top stimulus funds for states. If the state receives $1 billion, it would keep $500 million and give the other half to districts that qualify. Polk would receive $18.8 million.

Schools up for funds, change.

Here is more from the article:

Polk County Schools Superintendent Gail McKinzie told School Board members Tuesday that board members must make a decision to pursue the money by Jan. 12. The application is due Jan. 19.

If they choose to pursue the money, district officials and the Polk Education Association must come to an agreement on pay for performance by August. The district would not be able to collect any money if an agreement has not been reached by then.

Specifics about changes the district will be required to make were unavailable Tuesday. McKinzie said they will be outlined by the state chancellor in a memo she plans to send to superintendents Thursday.

Here are Arne Duncan's requirements.

Duncan offers money for merit pay, more testing, charters and entrepreneurs.

Some comments he has made.

Part of the stimulus money, he told Sam Dillon of The New York Times, will be used so that states can develop data systems, which will enable them to tie individual student test scores to individual teachers, greasing the way for merit pay. Another part of the stimulus plan will support charters and entrepreneurs.

..."Charlie Rose: Around how will you measure their performance?

Arne Duncan: There are a number of ways to measure. You measure by student achievement, not just in the classroom level, at the school level. What we did at home is we didn't just reward teachers based on what the students are doing. We rewarded every adult in those buildings, the custodians, the security guards, the social workers, the lunch room attendants.

One reason Florida might be in line for so much money from that part of the stimulus....we are third in the nation in the number of charter schools forming. The others in the top four are California, Arizona, and Texas.

States with the greatest number of charter schools

States with the greatest number of charter schools, Fall 2008

California 763
Arizona 506
Florida 384
Texas 333
Ohio 299
Wisconsin 254
Michigan 249
Minnesota 158
Colorado 147
Pennsylvania 133
Source: Center for Education Reform

[tonysam]

1. Rec for Arne's latest shenanigans. People need as much info as possible. n/t

[Tansy_Gold]

2. CHARTER SCHOOLS IN ARIZONA SUCK BIG TIME

Just wanted to make sure you all heard that.

And what they suck are DOLLARS, dollars away from public education. In many cases these are FOR PROFIT schools, which means some of the tax money that funds these schools is going into the "owner's" pocket. More profits = less money spent on students.

Charter Schools in Arizona Suck.


You heard it here


from


Tansy Gold

[madfloridian]

4. Yeh, well, Arne loves them...just gave them 54 million.

In August Arne gave Arizona 54 million to form more charter schools.

"Arizona has been awarded a $54 million federal grant to expand top-performing charter schools
and foster new ones across the state.

The state aims to open as many as 92 new campuses, particularly junior highs and high schools offering advanced academic programs, and others that boost academic achievement among minority children and those from low-income families.

Go to Schools Matter blog, type in Arizona. Not good.

[Tansy_Gold]

3. glitch -- dupe

[waterscalm]

5. Hey Gov Doyal-you are pushing to change state laws to get some of this pot

but looks like it will be piddlings.

[madfloridian]

9. Yep, looks like FL will get your share.

That is too much for one state.

[waterscalm]

23. Its not my

state but I have friends there in education who I keep up with.

[madfloridian]

6. In reality this is bribery. It's goal is to profit corporations, not help education.

If it were really to help education, they would not be putting down teachers and their unions. They would not be so insulting to them. It is all about privatization.

They are leaving education open to abuse. They are kicking students and teachers out of public school buildings so charters can more in.

People get upset when this topic comes up because we want to believe Obama and Arne care about real learning. It goes up against our wishes to believe our leaders.

But it is the truth. This will be the death of true public education, and few seem to be alarmed.

Right-wing legal power exploiting loopholes for a fundamentalist takeover of public education.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5158

Palmetto Christian School in Florida joins 7 former Catholic schools, turns charter for public money
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5151

AP says "ethic rules have been waived" to allow DOE folks to deal more easily with Gates Foundation
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5105

DOE money to flow to schools which defy their unions. To districts which form charter schools.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5099

Some Catholic schools in Florida converting to charter schools this fall.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5085

NY public school students get limited use of school library so 3 charter schools can use it.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5077

Private Christian school gets charter school taxpayer money. Expels children of woman who questions.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5073

Jeb Bush is delighted that Obama is taking on teachers' unions.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5046

Up to 250 public schools to be turned over to outside bidders? Called a hostile takeover.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5015

Are the words "school choice" public code words for the movement to privatize public education?
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5000

"Stand and Deliver" school, Garfield High, sadly is one of 12 schools available to outside bidders
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/4973

The demeaning of public education began under Reagan. It has worked well.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/4966

Charter school director blames too-hard tests and pupils tired of test-taking for poor test scores.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/4932

The hodge-podge nature of schools getting public money makes it hard to have funding accountability.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/4879

Herbert Kohl on scripted curriculum, surveillance of teachers, and TIME on Arne's 5 billion
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/4833

Charter school principals fired after questioning taxpayer money spent on school's real estate arm.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/4784

[tonysam]

8. This is a sneaky way to undercut teacher protections.

Republicans would NEVER have thought of this, or have gotten away with this. Traditional Democrats would never have proposed this. But we don't have a traditionally Democratic administration.

[madfloridian]

14. Destroy public education by defunding it.

Undercutting public education.

[zopilotetexas]

11. Florida Imagine Schools Illegal?

Hillsborough rejects charter school bid by Imagine, raising legal questions about its other Florida schools 12/09/09

School Board unanimously rejected an applicant...not a legal nonprofit, and controlled by a corporation 1,000 miles away.

Florida Department of State official told the St. Petersburg Times that he backed Hillsborough's interpretation.

"Under Florida law, there is no nonprofit LLC," said Jay Kassees, director of the Division of Corporations.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/hillsborough-rejects-charter-school-bid-by-imagine-raising-legal-questions/1057485

[madfloridian]

13. So far as I can figure, just Imagine Charters so far.

They have really had problems.

[pscot]

7. If I were a teacher

This might affect the candidtes I supported and the way I voted. It's getting to where I hardly recognize the Democratic party anymore.

[Riley18]

10. Florida is the type of state that has always been anti-union.

I have been a teacher here for almost 12 years, and it just gets worse every year. We can't strike, and there hasn't been a raise or step increase in two years. If someone comes here from another state with 11 years experience, they get the pay scale for 11 years of experience. Those that have been teaching here are still getting the 9 year scale. Our school board and superintendent do not see anything unfair about such a policy. Go figure...so long as they are overpaid and under worked they could care less.

Charter schools are just another way for the rich to get richer. After they tire of this little game, then free public education will cease to exist in America. Sad that it took a democratic president to hammer in the final nail into education's coffin.

[madfloridian]

12. Yes, once the CMOs get their feet in the door....they will own education.

You are right about Florida and unions. And their lack of respect for teachers has gone on for years now.

[BobTheSubgenius]

15. Is it just me?

Am I the one missing something important in this issue? Something that makes it NOT taking from those that need it most and giving it to those already more likely to succeed?

[madfloridian]

16. I wonder how other states feel about FL getting so much of the pie?

:hi:

[Mithreal]

17. WA state is looking at another year of deep cuts, skipping Arne's farce this year

Budget cuts will harm students and the economy, educators warn

There's no way to sugarcoat it: The state budget released today cuts more than $400 million from K-12 schools and will force school districts to lay off thousands of education employees. The cuts include:

* K-4 class-size reduction money (3,000 teacher layoffs, larger class sizes)
* The rest of I-728 (class sizes, student programs and professional development)
* All-day kindergarten
* Levy equalization in 220 school districts (jobs, class sizes, other basics)
* The remaining learning improvement day (time for collaboration and preparation)
* Funding for highly capable students (student programs).

The news is just as grim for higher education: Nearly $90 million slashed from operating budgets, and $146 million cut from student financial aid. This is on top of nearly $2 billion in education cuts during the last legislative session.

http://www.washingtonea.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1920:budget-cuts-will-harm-students-and-the-economy-educators-warn&catid=185:articles-with-user-comments

And we are weathering the recessions better than most. I won't forgive or forget Arne's or Barack's stake to the heart of public education, teachers, and students.

[Mithreal]

18. $4.35 billion is a joke considering the cuts individual states have had to make

[Mithreal]

21. Stimulus funding was significant.

http://www.k12.wa.us/Communications/StimulusPackage/default.aspx

I added this because I forgot about the other stimulus money, argh.

Just shoot me, I sometimes let my emotions get ahead of me. Still we are looking at massive and painful cuts.

[JDPriestly]

19. Horrendous!

Do charter school students take the same tests that public school students take? Are charter schools measured by the same standards as public schools?

[madfloridian]

20. I know for sure that some don't.

At least if they do the scores are not published. It is really hard to find out.

[w4rma]

22. This guy is pissing me off. And Obama is pissing me off for picking this right-wing union buster. nt

[Hannah Bell]

24. Payoff?

[Hestia]

25. This must be why the Pulaski County Special School District voted the other night NOT to recognize

two teachers unions. Walk out's started today. I wonder what was up that the Board was just up and quit negotiating with the teachers.

http://www.todaysthv.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=95721&catid=2

[mia]

26. Evaluating all the school workers? Not so. At our school

teachers vote on how to share the school's bonus for Students' gains on the FCAT. At the school where I am now teachers always vote to share the bonus with all of the employees. The school climate is infuenced by the custodians and the cafeteria workers and they too share the reward.



"More from Arne on testing. He likes evaluating all the school workers on how the students do."


Charlie Rose: Around how will you measure their performance?

Arne Duncan: There are a number of ways to measure. You measure by student achievement, not just in the classroom level, at the school level. What we did at home is we didn't just reward teachers based on what the students are doing. We rewarded every adult in those buildings, the custodians, the security guards, the social workers, the lunch room attendants."

[madfloridian]

27. He advocates merit pay, tying teachers to student test scores.

That is my point.