Monthly Archives: July 2008

Education: A shared value and “recession-proof”

An interesting report out on the survey results of presidential pollster Cornell Belcher presented at the recent 8th Annual Quality Education Conference in Washington, DC, focused on the significance of education as a political issue in America. He concluded from … Continue reading

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Filed under AMPS, Gimme Some Truth, National News, School Finance

Dan Nerad Talks 4-Year old Kindergarten

From WISC-TV One thing that needs to be corrected is this: “After the first year, the state kicks in two-thirds of the funding and covers the full cost after four years.” What happens is that the district must absorb all … Continue reading

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Filed under "education finance", AMPS, Best Practices, Budget, finance, Local News, Referenda, referendum, School Finance

We Are Not Alone #21

As Madison prepares to discuss a school operating referendum, it is important to remember that we are not alone. In the past two years districts in Wisconsin have held over 150 operating and maintenance referenda simply to continue the quality … Continue reading

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Filed under "education finance", AMPS, Best Practices, Budget, education, finance, Local News, Referenda, referendum, School Finance, Take Action, Uncategorized, We Are Not Alone

Talkin’ Referendum

Tav Falco and the Unapproachable Panther Burns – “Money Talks” (click to listen or download) On July 28th the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education will begin discussing a possible operating referendum. This is what Board President Arlene Silveira … Continue reading

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Filed under "education finance", AMPS, Budget, education, Elections, finance, Local News, Referenda, referendum, School Finance, Take Action, Uncategorized

New Blog – Mica Pollock, schoolracetalk.org

Curtis Mayfield — “Mighty, Mighty (Spade and Whitey)” (click to listen or download) I’ve highlighted Mica Pollock’s work on the importance of talking about race and other inequalities and ways to cultivate productive conversations here and here on AMPS. She … Continue reading

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Filed under Best Practices, Equity, Gimme Some Truth, National News, Take Action, Uncategorized

New Video from FairTest.org

National Center for Fair and Open Testing. Hat tip to Jim Horn at Schools Matter. Thomas J. Mertz

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Filed under Accountability, Local News, National News, nclb, No Child Left Behind

No Greenbacks for Green Schools — Penny Wise and Pound Foolish

Click on the image for a very cool interactive version from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resourses. Ray Charles, Greenback Dollar (click to listen or download). In many, many ways the Wisconsin school finance system is-in-and-of-itself penny wise and pound … Continue reading

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Filed under "education finance", AMPS, Best Practices, Budget, education, Elections, finance, Local News, Referenda, referendum, School Finance, Uncategorized, We Are Not Alone

The Worst Idea I’ve Heard in a Long Time

re: Civics [Kathryn Jean Lopez] A totally crazy Saturday-morning thought: Wouldn’t George W. Bush make an awesome high-school government teacher? Wouldn’t it be something if his post-presidential life would up being that kind of post-service service? How’s that for a … Continue reading

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Filed under education, National News

Celebrate Independence Day

Some patriotic videos for the holiday. Cyril Neville, “This is My Country” (written by Curtis Mayfield). Woody Guthrie, “This Land is Your Land.” David Bowie, “Young Americans.” Jefferson Airplane, “Volunteers.” Chuck Berry, “Back in the USA.” Thomas J. Mertz

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Filed under AMPS, National News

WAES on the Radio

Tom Beebe of the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools and John Smart of the Park Falls School Board, the Policies & Resolutions Committee of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards and the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Alliance for … Continue reading

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Filed under "education finance", AMPS, Best Practices, Budget, education, finance, Local News, Referenda, referendum, School Finance, We Are Not Alone