Michigan Schools Close, But Texas Ones Might Be Safe

Buena Vista Schools in Michigan have closed for the year, leaving teachers unemployed and parents in a panic.  They ran out of money.

The Texas House and Senate have finally reached budget decisions that span contributions to Foundation School Program and pension funds to Texas' Teachers Retirement System.  The two-year plan will restore about $4 billion of $5.4 billion of the cuts made to public education in 2011, ad the bill allows for a couple of other beneficial add ons for Texas.

Finally, I wish all students who will be testing the best of luck.  Have a great week!

Eastside Memorial is saved!

9-0 in favor of NOT allowing IDEA Schools to take over the campus.  I do endorse educational reform and perhaps even some administrative overhaul, but not necessarily having a charter school take over an up-and-coming public school effort.

Climate Change Education

Since we really seem to be experiencing Climate Change, it will now be available as actual science curriculum as part of required science content.  Not all states HAVE to adopt these changes, but over half are considering doing so.  There are both sides to the Climate Change debate, but studying patterns in general crosses over to learning in other curriculum and to real-life scenarios.   Wouldn't you want your kids to be able to understand that much more about the world in which they live?  More information on the new science curriculum and adoption is below:

http://www.care2.com/causes/finally-climate-change-introduced-to-us-science-curriculum.html

SB 1263 - Texas "Parent Trigger Bill"

The Senate is set to vote on this bill.  What it means is that schools would have only three years to improve test scores and graduation rates instead of up to five years and that the "in-district charter" school status, which requires 80% of households (parents) agreeing to any changes, be reduced to 50%.

Many believe this not a progressive move when it comes to improving Texas school quality, but if it does not sit well with you, please learn more about it and contact your senators.

Moral Compass - www.homeworkforyou.com

I'm not sure how I feel about this. Kudos to the person(s) who came up with a successful business plan and the "tutors" who have been able to make some decent cash off of the site, but isn't part of the general concern the abilities of people you will eventually hire for your own company or trust to hold you, your family, and property safe? I feel that if you sign up for a class, YOU should do the work; if I'm doing your work, I should get the grade and another transcript.

Another qualm is that this kind of thing is really only available for those who can afford to pay.  And I guess money talks, but that makes me question some of the entitlement issues that may spring up for some people later in life.  Maybe I am taking this too seriously, and maybe I took my education too seriously, but I feel that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, and there is not good outcome if anyone enables any bad habits.

A worldwide comparision test for education

Listen as Andreas Schleicher explains what it is and why we could use it.

http://www.ted.com/talks/andreas_schleicher_use_data_to_build_better_schools.html

Andie Graph - Your TI-8* on your Android or Windows Phone

Tablet or phone.  Thanks to Doug Melton, those of us who have lent out and never received their TIs back or need a familiar face for a quick calculation can download the emulator and choose from a few "calculator" types.  You will have to extract the ROM from a TI or find the zip file somewhere on the internet, but calculations and graphs process considerably faster on high end smartphones, making the small trouble very much worth your time.

See the link for more information on the app, it's capabilities, and compatibility:

http://dougmelton.com/android/andie-graph/