Politics

The Atlanta Cheating Scandal: Suspicions Raised About the AJC Investigative Methods

March 30, 2013

A Fulton County grand jury indicted former Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Beverly Hall and 34 others — top aides, principals, teachers and a secretary — for racketeering as well as theft by taking for the bonuses they received for good test scores or making false statements or writings, charges that provided the basis for the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization count.

The indictment came about 20 months after Governor Deal released the results of an investigation carried out by two attorney’s appointed by former Govern Sonny Perdue and an investigative team of about 50 GBI agents who fanned out into schools and classrooms to interrogate educators who were suspected of involvement in the “Atlanta Cheating Scandal.”

As stated in the Governor’s Investigative Report a “culture of fear” took over the Atlanta School System, and led to a conspiracy of silence which enabled the bubble sheet erasure scandal to happen.… Read more

Why Don’t Our Elected Representatives Write Their Own Legislation?

By Jack Hassard

March 19, 2013

Update 3.22.2013: EmpowerEd Georgia reported that the Parent Trigger legislation in Georgia was tabled for this legislative session. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution story, the bill was pulled because it didn’t have the votes needed in the senate for passage.

Today, a committee in Georgia Senate will discuss the Parent Trigger Bill which has already passed the House. The bill will enable disgruntled parents of low performing school to fire the teaching and administrative staff and turn the school over to a for-profit charter management company paid with school district money.… Read more

Parent Revolution in Georgia’s HB 123?: I Don’t Think So

By Jack Hassard

March 16, 2013

Today I received a letter from Ryan Donohue, Deputy Director Advocacy Director of Parent Revolution informing that the Georgia House of Representatives passed HB 123, the “Parent & Teacher Empowerment Act.” It is actually the Parent Trigger bill that you have all heard about, especially if you saw or read about the movie Won’t Back Down. The letter I received said that this was a great first step for Georgia parents because they got a seat at the decision-making table for their children’s education. I called the local board of education, and asked if they would reserve my seat at the decision-making table!… Read more

The Common Core, Lightning Rod or Reform?

By Jack Hassard

March 6, 2013

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in mathematics and English language arts are set to be implemented in many states across the country next year. The CCSS will be the content basis for national computerized tests being developed by two consortia, The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) and Smarter Balanced Assessments. On the heels of these standards and assessment movements is the roll out of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) next year.… Read more

Race to the Top Results are In: 16 Winners, More than 300 Losers

By Jack Hassard

December 19, 2012

The Race to the Top continues with the announcement that 16 educational organizations including charter organizations, urban schools, and consortia, will share about $400 million. According to the U.S. Department of Education website, 16 applicants, representing 55 school districts in 11 states and D.C.–have won the 2012 Race to the Top-District competition. The $400 million will be used improve achievement and educator effectiveness, close achievement gaps, and prepare every student for college and career.… Read more

Education Secretary Duncan on the TIMSS Results: We’re Being Out-Educated & Out-Competed

By Jack Hassard

December 17, 2012

If you go over to the U.S. Department of Education website, you will find the Secretary Arne Duncan’s statement on the release of the 2011 TIMSS and PIRLS assessment. You can read it online here, and I’ve copied it and posted it below. Highlighted (my own) words describe the essence of Mr. Duncan’s view of American science and mathematics education.… Read more

Georgia’s Movement Toward the Corporatization of Higher Education

By Jack Hassard

December 13, 2012

Laura Diamond reported December 13th in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Newspaper that a new formula will be used to fund colleges and universities in Georgia staring in 2015. The new formula, approved the Higher Education Funding Commission, will be the first step toward the corporatization of higher education in Georgia. Scan the “wordle” that I created based on the text of Laura Diamond’s article.… Read more