A weekly report on education news and commentary you won’t find anywhere else — from the nation’s leading voice on education innovation and opportunity.
Caution: This week’s edition is not for the faint of heart, or easily offended. Yes, it is that kind of week - not just in Washington, DC but all over the country as cameras roll on Capitol Hill. But...
WHAT IF THE WORLD paid as much attention to what’s happening to children and families in this country as it is to the justice drama playing out on every news station. Tales of teenage and college parties, with or without alleged sexual abuses, are hardly new. But just imagine if a child or young adult student, having failed to learn to read, or having been tracked based on class, race or bureaucratic whim into horrible programs or classes, could get THEIR day in court, or in Congress. What would that take, people?
TWO WEEKS AGO, IN TENNESSEE... A little boy with mental illness was ARRESTED (!!) He gets little support from his school, and there are no other options where the family lives but the local public school at which he is zoned. Where is the call for the investigations on that one, friends?
ALSO, IN THE LAND OF OPRY... A school with a proven model designed to catch kids before they fall through the cracks - Journey Academy of Success - was denied a chance to provide that option, despite the school making a valiant appeal that demonstrated, as the state code they cite in the report makes clear, the schools’ existence to be in the best interest of both the pupils, the school district, and the community as a whole. Since Shelby County’s schools are failing a majority of students, citizens should be outraged. The Rethink Forward board is appealing to the Tennessee State Board. Put politics aside and approve the school!
HOW ABOUT INVESTIGATING GEORGIA’s ED DEPT... Which funds a statewide network of special education schools that according to the New Yorker, “traps black children in neglect and isolation.” How about getting worked up about that?
EVERY DAY STUDENTS FAIL TO LEARN TO READ. All kids, not just those in poverty. A new bombshell study examining reading scores found that “many kids at the wealthier schools weren't reading very well either. This was not just poverty. In fact, by some estimates, one-third of America's struggling readers are from college-educated families... Scientific research has shown how children learn to read and how they should be taught. But many educators don't know the science and, in some cases, actively resist it. As a result, millions of kids are being set up to fail.” The study was done by the non-partisan APM Reports, which is dedicated to investigative journalism. Let’s have them lay out the case before Congress, shall we, and ask why we don't require teachers to learn the science, before condemning students to ignorance & worse.
KENTUCKY SCHOOLS BRACING FOR BAD MARKS. But despite headlines screaming that most KY schools will be on a failing schools list, schools look largely like they did in 1850 with no moves afoot to change that, and lawmakers cannot seem to find a way to enact a law to provide a much-needed lifeboat to many.
AND THEN THERE’S THE PAY GAP... And some thought-provoking commentary on potential solutions for the teacher pay conundrum, brought to us by Larry Sand of CaliforniaPolicyCenter.org, who directs us to a rebuttal of the Time Magazine cover story on teacher pay “'I Work 3 Jobs and Donate Blood Plasma to Pay the Bills.' This Is What It’s Like to Be a Teacher in America.” Reason’s Nick Gillespie says that before we reach for a hankie, we should consider the facts. Among them consider how teacher pay compares to other median household incomes and the way public funds are allocated. ‘Researcher Benjamin Scafidi found that between 1950 and 2015, the hiring of non-teacher education employees in government run schools –– rose more than 7 times the increase in students... Absent this mostly wasteful expenditure, our schools would have had an additional $37.2 billion to spend and could raise every public school teacher’s salary by more than $11,700 per year.'
ALL IS NOT LOST HOWEVER. You can fight ignorance and build bridges between opportunity and innovation on the new Route 66 of Education, which starts in Miami at CER’s Silver Summit & Gala Dinner October 25-26. We are thrilled to announce the participation of the Honorable Frank Brogan, Former FL Ed Commissioner, Higher Ed president, Lt. Gov. and now Assistant Secretary of Education, who joins an all-star event cast with more special guest reveals to come daily. See you on the Road to Innovation? Register here.
LISTEN to the latest episode of Reality Check with Jeanne Allen. This week, North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest joins RC to talk about making education a priority, using funds effectively and working in and out of the business, education and technology sectors to create a more fluid and opportunity-rich economy in his state.
Founded in 1993, the Center for Education Reform aims to expand educational opportunities that lead to improved economic outcomes for all Americans — particularly our youth — ensuring that conditions are ripe for innovation, freedom and flexibility throughout U.S. education
On the morning after Brett Kavanaugh was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Trump, Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed, “I will oppose him with everything I’ve got.”
Judge Kavanaugh’s professional qualifications were made clear throughout the confirmation hearings but Chuck Schumer and the Democrats were not satisfied. Now, at the eleventh hour, an unsubstantiated allegation against Judge Kavanaugh has been brought forward after the Democrats held onto it for six weeks in secret.
Kavanaugh’s accuser, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford deserves an opportunity to share her story in a fair and respectable environment. That opportunity will be in the Senate Judiciary Hearing on Thursday. However, no individual is entitled to blind faith, and the weight of evidence shows that Brett Kavanaugh is every bit as qualified personally as he is professionally.
What we do know:
Many have laid out the clear arguments demonstrating how this is a smear campaign carefully orchestrated by the Democrats, and there is a clear case for why the Senate should move forward with Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
The future of the Supreme Court is at stake, and if Democrats win this November, this will be the new normal for every one of President Trump’s nominees. There is too much is at risk for our country and Constitution for us to sit back and do nothing.
I am asking you to call your Senators and voice your support for Judge Brett Kavanaugh and Senator McConnell’s promise to hold a floor vote on his confirmation “in the near future.”
Thank you for joining with us in this fight!
Jessica Anderson
Vice President
Heritage Action for America
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To Write Love on Her Arms
Partners With Insomniac For First-Ever
EDC Orlando Charity Initiative
Once-in-a-lifetime festival prize packages include experiences with Alesso, Dombresky, GTA, Illenium, Kaskade, Kayzo, Nervo, Tiësto, and Valentino Khan
Donate now for a chance to win: http://www.givesurreal.com/edc-orlando-2018
Melbourne, Fla. - September 26, 2018 - Today, the mental health nonprofit, To Write Love on Her Arms is announcing a charity-based collaboration with Insomniac, the team behind North America's largest dance music festival, Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC), and the online fundraising platform Surreal. Participants will be able to donate to win packages that include VIP passes and accommodations to EDC Orlando, as well as unparalleled artist experiences. The funds raised during the EDC Orlando Charity Initiative will benefit To Write Love on Her Arms, a movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide.
"For the last 12 years, our travels and relationships have spanned from crowded venues to sprawling festival fields, and bridging genres from punk rock to EDM," says TWLOHA's Chad Moses. "We believe people need other people, and should have the opportunity to tell and share their stories with others. Insomniac has played such an integral role in our story as they have made space in their festivals for us to engage with one of the most dynamic music scenes in the world. Their desire to positively affect everyone in their orbit falls directly in line with our mission and vision."
Now through Friday, Nov. 2 at 11:59 p.m. PT at http://www.givesurreal.com/edc-orlando-2018, fans can enter for the chance to win various prize packages, where each winner will be chosen at random. Participants will have the option to make a donation ranging from $5 for one entry up to $100 for 75 entries for the chance to win meet-and-greets with the world's top dance music artists and once-in-a-lifetime experiences at EDC Orlando 2018. Fans can also choose a bundle pack donation starting at just $50, which includes entries into every experience offered.
In addition to experiencing EDC Orlando with artists including Alesso, Dombresky, GTA, Illenium, Kaskade, Kayzo, Nervo, Tiësto and Valentino Khan all unique packages will include:
The proceeds of this campaign will benefit To Write Love on Her Arms, funding their efforts to connect people dealing with mental illness to the professional help they need and deserve. With just a $25 donation, you can help bring the message of hope to 150 people, connecting them to free and reduced cost mental health resources online and in their communities. Since its establishment in 2006, To Write Love on Her Arms has granted funding to 110 unique organizations and counseling practices, and has sponsored more than 2,000 counseling sessions every year.
EDC Orlando returns to Tinker Field for two days of nonstop dance music Under the Electric Sky Friday, Nov. 9 and Saturday, Nov. 10. Headliners will witness epic sets across three iconic stages featuring a variety of fan-favorite genres including top artists such as Alesso, Alison Wonderland, Dillon Francis & Friends, Don Diablo, Illenium, Kaskade, Martin Garrix, Vini Vici and more. Throughout the two-day festival, Guests will be transported through the iconic Sunshine State event as they indulge in elite Insomniac stage production and interactive art installations.
*Winner and guests must be 21 or older. Valid photo ID will be required.
Please note that the scheduling of artist meetings it subject to artist's availability. A donation is not necessary for entry nor will it improve your chances of winning. For details on how to enter without making a donation, see the Sweepstakes Rules.
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To Write Love on Her Arms is a nonprofit dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. Since its start in 2006, TWLOHA has donated over $2 million directly into treatment and recovery and answered over 210,000 emails from over 100 countries.
For more information on To Write Love on Her Arms,please visit: www.twloha.com
Insomniac produces some of the most innovative, immersive music festivals and events in the world. Enhanced by state-of-the-art lighting, pyrotechnics and sound design, large-scale art installations, theatrical performers and next-generation special effects, these events captivate the senses and inspire a unique level of fan interaction. The quality of the experience is the company's top priority.
Throughout its 25-year history, Insomniac has produced more than 2,000 festivals, concerts and club nights for nearly 5 million attendees across the globe. Insomniac's events are held across the globe. The company's premier annual event, Electric Daisy Carnival Las Vegas, is the largest multi-day music festival in North America and attracts more than 400,000 fans over three days.
The company was founded by Pasquale Rotella, and has been based in Los Angeles since it was formed in 1993.
Surreal is a fundraising platform that partners with festivals and music artists to offer their fans unforgettable experiences, with proceeds going to the charity of their choice. To participate, anyone can donate as little as $5 for a chance to win the experience -providing an engaging way to create positive exposure, raise awareness, and make a difference in the world.
