Community Event: What is Really Happening to Camden Public Schools?

A few weeks ago I wrote about how the Camden School District was being dishonest; it refused to talk about the implications of the plan to open so many new schools. That can only mean one thing. Closing others.So I’m particularly intrigued by an event happening at Rutgers-Camden tomorrow: This is the latest in a struggle … Continue reading Community Event: What is Really Happening to Camden Public Schools?

College and Grad Students Leading on Education Issues

I wanted to introduce you to a couple of education activists who also happen to be college students. People often say young people are our future, but that sells them short. The activities of Mel Katz (a student at TCNJ and running for School Board in South Brunswick) and Stephanie Rivera, a graduate student at … Continue reading College and Grad Students Leading on Education Issues

What Can We Do to Make Students’ Lives Easier?

A colleague recently called me and asked what concrete steps I think, as an educator, we need to be taking with our students. I thought about that conversation when I read this article from Danielle Austin from the Building Bridges program at Hopeworks:  Krystle Cook moved into the CRIB after discovering that she did not … Continue reading What Can We Do to Make Students’ Lives Easier?

The School District Won’t Say It, but Camden Schools Are Closing

With news that 10 Uncommon and Mastery Schools have been approved for Camden, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that the Camden School District is being dishonest with the Camden residents. The district has repeatedly assured parents and students that traditional schools were not closing or at risk. That’s simply not possible with close to 7,000 students … Continue reading The School District Won’t Say It, but Camden Schools Are Closing

Circumventing Democracy

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie recently issued an executive order to study new PARCC tests being implemented in New Jersey. This is good news and bad news; it represents Christie’s first flinch in his march towards education reform, but it also came about because of a back room deal with State Senate President Steve Sweeney to … Continue reading Circumventing Democracy

Call In for the “State of Camden Public Schools” on Radio Times (11am)

Update: Here’s the actual show. I’ll try to do a roundup of the show and the fact-checking on Twitter tomorrow: Radio Times on WHYY is running an hour long show today (July 16th) from 11am-12pm on the “State of Public Schools in Camden.” It’s part of a media blitz that the School District is doing … Continue reading Call In for the “State of Camden Public Schools” on Radio Times (11am)