Indiana Education Reform: Community Conversation

Calling All Parents, Guardians, Community Stakeholders

“New Indiana Education Laws and our Children”

                             Tuesday, October 23, 2012, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Light of the World Christian Church, 4646 N. Michigan Road, Indianapolis, IN

Join Us in Discussing How New Laws Affect Our Children’s Education

Special Guest Panelists:  Representative Greg Porter, City County Councilman Leroy Robinson, Washington Township Teacher Glenda Ritz,Ed Power CEO Marcus Robinson, Indianapolis Deputy Mayor Jason Kloth, and Attorney Brenda A. Roper, National Council of Negro Women

Be informed about how several of the following laws impact our children:

-Teacher Evaluation and Performance System

-School Accountability-New Federal Waiver of NCLB

-Growth Model                       -Charter School Expansion

-Discipline                               -Turnaround Schools

-Vouchers                                -Minority Teacher Recruitment

“We can’t ADVOCATE, if we don’t KNOW.”

Co-Sponsored by the Greater Indianapolis National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Indianapolis Alliance of Black School Educators (IABSE), National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), and the Indianapolis Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCBW)

A Timeline of the Battle in Indy

Dear concerned citizen:     Over the past three-plus months, local and state print media have picked up on the value of a dialogue around the future of education in Indianapolis. A slew of commentaries, blogs, and stories from a wide variety of sources including NUVO, the Indianapolis Star and now even the Ft. Wayne Journal-Gazette are providing readers a variety of view points to help them make informed decisions about the future of public education.  In particular is the commentary on local education issues from someone outside Marion County by a Ft. Wayne newspaper editor /blogger. Black & Latino Policy Institute/ Parent Power / Education-Community Action Team September 6 “The problem is not parents” Here’s the link to a commentary “The problem is not parents; it's a crisis in democracy” by Councilor Jose Evans published in NUVO’s Perspectives on Education. http://www.nuvo.net/PerspectivesinEducation/archives/2012/09/06/perspectives-in-education-josandeacute-evans#.UFXmYbJlTwt  September 9 “Daring to trust parents” Here’s the link to Indy Star columnist Dan Carpenter on the issues surrounding Local School Council proposal he titled, “Daring to trust parents…” http://www.indystar.com/article/20120907/OPINION05/209090328/Dan-Carpenter-Daring-trust-parents  September 12 “Coming to a school near you…” The Ft. Wayne Journal-Gazette editorial writer Karen Francisco published a blog she titled: “Coming to a school near you…” http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120912/BLOGS13/120919830/0/SEARCH  September 13 “Our schools can benefit from self-government” Here’s the link to the Letter to the Editor published in the Star regarding the Local School Council proposal he presented: “Our schools can benefit from self-government” http://blogs.indystar.com/letters/2012/09/13/my-view-our-schools-can-benefit-from-self-government/  August 22 “A grassroots approach to school reform” NUVO article on the Local School Council Plan http://www.nuvo.net/indianapolis/a-grassroots-approach-to-school-reform/Content?oid=2484953  In mid-June, NUVO began an on-line forum for written commentaries regarding education called “Perspectives in Education. “  June 14 : Here’s the link to the first Perspectives on Education by community activist Wes Bernard, “What is the purpose of education?” where is argues that education is really all about skillfully drawing out of what is inside the student, establishing and fortifying the students' identity and competence and their place in community and society. http://www.nuvo.net/PerspectivesinEducation/archives/2012/06/14/perspectives-in-education-wes-barnard#.UFYUDbJlTws  June 21: Here’s link to comments by educator Jeffery C. White on urban education reforms around the idea that the cluster of incompetent administrators in IPS warrants significant change right now. http://www.nuvo.net/PerspectivesinEducation/archives/2012/06/21/perspectives-in-education-jeffery-c-white#.UFYX8LJlTws June 28: Here’s the link to essay from local writer Doug Martin concerning those who study the corporate school movement realize that "autonomy" is merely a code word for letting charter school leaders do anything they desire to collect a hefty profit. http://www.nuvo.net/PerspectivesinEducation/archives/2012/06/28/perspectives-in-education-doug-martin#.UFYrUbJlTwt July 5: Here’s the link to teacher Annette Magjuka’s essay on the issue of how we provide free public education for all citizens, so even poor children can compete. But unfortunately, all public education is not equal. http://www.nuvo.net/indianapolis/perspectives-in-education-indys-naacp/Content?oid=2482495#.UFYrbLJlTws July 12: Here’s link to the essay by IPS teacher Mary Noland on how it is terribly frustrating to hear people who are NOT teachers talk about reform, and add to that the term "accountability." http://www.nuvo.net/PerspectivesinEducation/archives/2012/07/13/perspectives-in-education-mary-nolan#.UFYaWLJlTws  August 16: Here’s the link to a commentary from our local NAACP encouraging participation in a new round of talks on education, adhering to the philosophy that "if you are not on the table, you are on the menu." The essay encourages a wide variety of citizens respond to the “What’s possible?” conversations so that solutions to the problems that we did not create should not be left to the politics of power, status, and wealth. http://www.nuvo.net/indianapolis/perspectives-in-education-indys-naacp/Content?oid=2482495#.UFYrbLJlTws  June 8: Here’s link to NUVO story on “In the Mind Trust we trust? http://www.nuvo.net/indianapolis/a-grassroots-approach-to-school-reform/Content?oid=2484953#.UFYEALJlTws August 15: Introduction letter to the Local School Council proposal by Jose Evans www.indy.gov/eGov/Council/Documents/Evans.pdf  The Local School Council proposal: www.indy.gov/eGov/Council/Documents/Local%20School%20Councils%20in%20IPS.pdf

I-READ Petition

Indiana Legislators: Tell the IDOE to Scrap IREAD-3
www.change.org

http://www.change.org/petitions/indiana-legislators-tell-the-idoe-to-scrap-iread-3

Why This Is Important

IREAD-3 is a forty-question test that will determine whether public school students in Indiana may advance to fourth grade. It channels education dollars toward redundant assessment, not instruction, and favors retention over remediation; it is therefore a misuse of public funds.

No major decision about a child's future should be made on the basis of a single test score. Retaining students has been shown to increase the risk that they drop out of school and to have a null or negative effect on their academic achievement in the long run.

Like other high-stakes standardized tests, IREAD-3 will disproportionately punish low-income children and families. Indiana students' reading skills are already assessed continually by their teachers as well as through ISTEP+ and NWEA or Acuity. Money allocated for this test directly reduces funds available for remediation. Our tax dollars should go to local schools for literacy programs and teachers rather than to assessment overhead and testing companies.

Support Brandon Cosby in IPS

The Battle for Indiana Public Education stands in support of these students that are fighting to bring their principal back to Shortridge High School.  Brandon Cosby is a powerful educator trying to do something in a beleagured district and he's inspired his students to the degree that they've sent this email looking for support from the broader community.

Subject: Shortridge Needs Your Help!


The students at Shortridge need your help! We know you can help us with this. We also know you have alot of influence among community leaders and we need as many supporters as possible!

Our Principal Mr. Brandon Cosby was suspended pending an investigation regarding allegations of "insubordinance". This insubordinance stems from Mr. Cosby's desire to prove that Shortridge students are much more than a test score. Amidst much negative media concerning the failings of IPS as a whole, Mr. Cosby fought continually to make Shortridge a safe and inspiring learning environment, to foster connections with families, students, and the community. He is responsible for transforming Shortridge into what it is today. In order for Shortridge to continue to be set apart from other IPS schools, we need Mr. Cosby as our leader. Please let your support for our wonderful principal be known.

*These are the most important numbers to call. The point of this is to flood the phone lines with inquiries about what is going on. Please be respectful and ask questions such as “Why is Mr. Cosby suspended?” “When will he be returning to work?” rather than being accusatory or defensive. Keep asking questions and don’t accept quick answers. Call as many of these numbers as possible, as many times as you can, on Monday and Tuesday.

Phone numbers to call Monday, November 7, 2011

Shortridge Main Line: 226-2810

*Lori Elliott (vice principal) 226-2816

*Jim Larkin (vice principal) 226-2818

Department of Secondary Education:

Nicole Haywood (secretary to Jackie Greenwood) 226-3875

*Jackie Greenwood (direct supervisor of Mr. Cosby) 226-4541

*Willie Giles (Deputy Superintendant) 226-4545

*Li-Yen Johnson (Associate Superintendant) 226-3128

*Dr. White (Superintendant’s Office; Sandra Ginder secretary) 226-4411

*Administrative Assistant to the School Board 226-4418

IPS switchboard 226-4000

IPS Human Resources 226-4150

We need as many people as possible to call in tomorrow, because we know that there is strength in numbers. So if you could foreword this to people who will support us.

You can also show your support of Mr. Cosby by "liking" our Facebook Page Dedicated to our support to reinstate Mr. Cosby:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-our-Principal-NO-Cosby-NO-Shortridge/289399771090579

Thanks in advance for your support of our efforts.

Are You Serious???

Ballard seeks control of 7 failing IPS schools


Mayor Greg Ballard has asked to take charge of efforts to turn around up to seven Indianapolis Public Schools that are facing state takeover.


In a speech to the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee this morning, Ballard cited state law that allows mayors to petition the state board to take control of schools that have been on probation for low test scores for six consecutive years.  Ballard said the schools would be added to a portfolio of charter schools his office oversees and that he would apply "charter like" solutions to them. He pitched his plan as a middle road between mayoral takeover of the entire school district, which has been pushed by some community and business leaders, and state control of local schools.

"I believe our immediate focus should be on the successful turnaround of the schools being taken over by the state," he said. "Once we successfully turn around these schools, then we can tackle the larger issue of IPS as a whole."

State board members and Superintendent for Public Instruction Tony Bennett are holding meetings this month to gather public input at each of the seven Indianapolis schools -- six high schools and a middle school -- that could reach their sixth year of probation when state test scores are released later this summer.

Educational Reform: Who Wins? Who Loses?

As part of the First Wednesdays Discussion Series (see below), a discussion of
“Educational Reform: Who Wins? Who Loses?” will take place, 12-12:50 pm, at WFYI Studios Community Room, 1630 N. Meridian, with panelists Teresa Meredith, VP, ISTA; Eugene White, Superintendent, IPS; Bill Chu, Deputy Superintendent, ISDE; and David Harris, CEO, The Mind Trust; moderated by Matt Tully, Indianapolis Star, sponsored by ACLU of Indiana. For more info, phone ACLU at 635-4059. See more info below



What is First Wednesdays?
The First Wednesday Series serves as a forum for discussion of contemporary issues in our society and features panelists who have subject matter expertise in the chosen topic. We are fortunate to have volunteers and sponsors from local organizations, public and private, who support this event so that we can bring this program to you. Our 2011 community sponsors are WFYI Studios, NUVO Newsweekly and Fraizer Designs. The public is welcome to attend.

Parent Power Meeting on IPS High School Takeover

Dear Friends of IPS,


Many of you have found a great school in IPS, but five high school's are slated for state takeover this year (mine is next year) and our district leaders have done little to work with parents and students to solve school problems. It has never held a community meeting on the issue. In the fall, Parent Power asked the Board to hold a truly open community forum, but the President thought there was little reason to meet with her constituents.

In the year since takeover threat was announced, Dr. White has balanced the calendar, closed schools, announced a new HS for one constituency, and shifted administrators from one failing school to the next, and now he is holding two budget cut meetings--with little or no notice to parents.

I plan to join Parent Power at the first Budget meeting Wed., Feb 9, 6 pm at Arlington HS, 4825 N. Arlington Ave., to make this meeting a truly open forum. Please join us and ask the Board to address issues you care about. If you can, join Parent Power Wednesday morning at 10am for a strategy session, at Central Library third floor meeting room (ask for the Parent Power room).

Josefa

253-1347