Hey, did you see the September, 2007 issue of the FLDOE's "Just for Teachers" newsletter from Ms. Nicole Flesvig, the Teacher Liaison of the Office of Public Affairs for the FLDOE? I get mine deilivered free to my SCPS Inbox. Gee, I hope I don't get in trouble for violating the SCPS Acceptable Use Policy!
Here's the link to the newsletter on the Web.
http://www.fldoe.org/JustForTeachers/Newsletters/2007_09.asp
Anyhoo, you'll be surprised at the wealth of information provided by Ms. Flesvig.
For example, did you know that according to Ms. Flesvig, "A common misconception is that "F" schools receive less funding than schools receiving recognition funds. Not true [my emphasis]. In fact, the "Assistance Plus" program provides additional funding, resources and support to schools that need it. Additionally, failing schools receive school improvement facilitators, reading coaches, technical assistance and assessments to monitor student progress."
Wow, I never realized that the 81 "F" schools received as much funding through Assistance Plus as did the 1,476 "A" schools in 2006 through the A+ School Recognition program! Those 1,476 schools don't even include those schools that earned school recognition money for improving a grade. I was so impressed that I emailed Ms. Flesvig and asked her to cook up some numbers for me so that I could share the details with you all. I'll let you know when the timer goes off and when I receive a response.
Check the newsletter out for yourself. You'll be surprised!
Full Version: “Just for Teachers” Newsletter
passing notes > Seminole UniServ > Seminole GetsActive > Vouchers, RTTT, other Bad Policies, and the Folks Who Want Them
Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention this item. Ms. Flesvig directs us to "Education Gadfly: Education-Related Newspaper Articles from Around the State" Courtesy of Meridian Strategies, Florida educators now have a new Web resource allowing access to education-related articles from newspapers statewide. The site also provides links to education-related blogs, education research organizations, and more. Check it out, click here!"
On the surface it seemed like a good resource, but after I scratched the surface I was pretty glad this wasn't one of those new "scratch and sniff" sites! The choice of linked education articles makes a stab at objectivity, but it's the choice of links across the horizontal bar near the top of the page that speaks volumes.
For example, one can link from the Gadfly page to such entities as:
- the Alliance for School Choice, which "operates both a state and a national agenda for advancing K-12 education options such as school vouchers, tuition tax credits, and public charter schools;"
- the Center for Education Reform;
- the Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation, "The Nation's Leading Voucher Advocates;"
- the James Madison Institute, "a Florida based research and educational organization engaged in the battle of ideas;"
- the Heartland Institute, an another advocate for school choice;
- the Manhattan Institute, the home of Dr. Jay P. Greene who "has conducted evaluations of school choice and accountability programs in Florida, Charlotte, Milwaukee, Cleveland, and San Antonio. Dr. Greene was the only researcher cited in the Supreme Court's majority opinion and Justice O'Connor's concurring opinion in the landmark Zelman v. Simmons-Harris case upholding the constitutionality of school vouchers;" and
- Jeb's Foundation for Florida's Future, "a not-for-profit public policy organization dedicated to keeping the promise of quality education by advocating reforms that raise standards, increase accountability, provide incentives for success and offer choices – key factors for improving quality in any system, including public schools."
Granted, it's not all one way. There is a link to the Florida Education Association chapter at the University of Florida.
On the surface it seemed like a good resource, but after I scratched the surface I was pretty glad this wasn't one of those new "scratch and sniff" sites! The choice of linked education articles makes a stab at objectivity, but it's the choice of links across the horizontal bar near the top of the page that speaks volumes.
For example, one can link from the Gadfly page to such entities as:
- the Alliance for School Choice, which "operates both a state and a national agenda for advancing K-12 education options such as school vouchers, tuition tax credits, and public charter schools;"
- the Center for Education Reform;
- the Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation, "The Nation's Leading Voucher Advocates;"
- the James Madison Institute, "a Florida based research and educational organization engaged in the battle of ideas;"
- the Heartland Institute, an another advocate for school choice;
- the Manhattan Institute, the home of Dr. Jay P. Greene who "has conducted evaluations of school choice and accountability programs in Florida, Charlotte, Milwaukee, Cleveland, and San Antonio. Dr. Greene was the only researcher cited in the Supreme Court's majority opinion and Justice O'Connor's concurring opinion in the landmark Zelman v. Simmons-Harris case upholding the constitutionality of school vouchers;" and
- Jeb's Foundation for Florida's Future, "a not-for-profit public policy organization dedicated to keeping the promise of quality education by advocating reforms that raise standards, increase accountability, provide incentives for success and offer choices – key factors for improving quality in any system, including public schools."
Granted, it's not all one way. There is a link to the Florida Education Association chapter at the University of Florida.
QUOTE(Chris Spiliotis @ Sep 9 2007, 06:14 PM) 
Hey, did you see the September, 2007 issue of the FLDOE's "Just for Teachers" newsletter from Ms. Nicole Flesvig, the Teacher Liaison of the Office of Public Affairs for the FLDOE? I get mine deilivered free to my SCPS Inbox. Gee, I hope I don't get in trouble for violating the SCPS Acceptable Use Policy!
Here's the link to the newsletter on the Web.
http://www.fldoe.org/JustForTeachers/Newsletters/2007_09.asp
Anyhoo, you'll be surprised at the wealth of information provided by Ms. Flesvig.
For example, did you know that according to Ms. Flesvig, "A common misconception is that "F" schools receive less funding than schools receiving recognition funds. Not true [my emphasis]. In fact, the "Assistance Plus" program provides additional funding, resources and support to schools that need it. Additionally, failing schools receive school improvement facilitators, reading coaches, technical assistance and assessments to monitor student progress."
Wow, I never realized that the 81 "F" schools received as much funding through Assistance Plus as did the 1,476 "A" schools in 2006 through the A+ School Recognition program! Those 1,476 schools don't even include those schools that earned school recognition money for improving a grade. I was so impressed that I emailed Ms. Flesvig and asked her to cook up some numbers for me so that I could share the details with you all. I'll let you know when the timer goes off and when I receive a response.
Check the newsletter out for yourself. You'll be surprised!
Here's the link to the newsletter on the Web.
http://www.fldoe.org/JustForTeachers/Newsletters/2007_09.asp
Anyhoo, you'll be surprised at the wealth of information provided by Ms. Flesvig.
For example, did you know that according to Ms. Flesvig, "A common misconception is that "F" schools receive less funding than schools receiving recognition funds. Not true [my emphasis]. In fact, the "Assistance Plus" program provides additional funding, resources and support to schools that need it. Additionally, failing schools receive school improvement facilitators, reading coaches, technical assistance and assessments to monitor student progress."
Wow, I never realized that the 81 "F" schools received as much funding through Assistance Plus as did the 1,476 "A" schools in 2006 through the A+ School Recognition program! Those 1,476 schools don't even include those schools that earned school recognition money for improving a grade. I was so impressed that I emailed Ms. Flesvig and asked her to cook up some numbers for me so that I could share the details with you all. I'll let you know when the timer goes off and when I receive a response.
Check the newsletter out for yourself. You'll be surprised!
I did not, and do not, receive the Just for Teachers newsletter. I emailed them several times quite awhile back and demanded that they quit sending me their propaganda trash. They finally quit sending me that garbage. Our education dollars at work. Don't you just love it?
I'm still waiting on a reply from the FLDOE Teacher Laiason, Ms. Flesvig, regarding the comparative amounts of funding for schools earning [sic] school recognition money versus those "F" schools receiving money through the Assistance Plus program.
I'll let you know when I get a reply.
I'll let you know when I get a reply.
No response yet, but I did receive a mailing requesting that I take a survey.
http://www.fldoe.org/JustForTeachers/surveys.asp
http://www.fldoe.org/JustForTeachers/surveys.asp
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.