When I was interviewing for my position at The Center for Arts Education, I called a senior NYC education official to seek advice. My friend at the NYCDOE was very enthusiastic about the prospect of my being hired, until eerily, the issue of arts education advocacy came up.I asserted that a major area of opportunity was in the arena of advocacy, since there was still so much … [Read more...] about The New York Observer: Teaching the Arts on the Cheap
NYCDOE
A Moment of Clarity: Test Scores in New York State Are Recalibrated
Many of you have no doubt heard the great news over the past few years about rising ELA and math test scores in the New York City Public Schools. But wait, there was more: test scores were rising all across the state, no matter what the intervention.The New York State Department of Education has recalibrated the state test scores for ELA and math, and this moment of clarity … [Read more...] about A Moment of Clarity: Test Scores in New York State Are Recalibrated
NYC Teacher Layoffs Averted?
Even with the state budget in flux, this morning the news broke that the City will cancel proposed teacher layoffs, choosing instead to cancel proposed salary increases for the next two years. Emails started to fly, with people cheering the good news. But not so fast, The city was in the middle of contract negotiations with the UFT, and while the city can certainly choose to … [Read more...] about NYC Teacher Layoffs Averted?
Guest Arts Education Blogger, Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Six
Click here for Part Five Caracas, 13 de Abril, 2010 Having been so blown away by the rehearsal of the Simón Bolívar orchestra the previous Friday (see Part Three), and totally involved with planning these Young Composer classes, one might excuse me if attending the concert of the Mahler 7th Symphony this Tuesday evening would be somewhat of a let-down. But no. Even though … [Read more...] about Guest Arts Education Blogger, Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Six
Proposal to Scorch the Earth in Toledo Public Schools
There are times when the little policy matters seems irrelevant. Who cares if a subject is declared "core" by your state department of education or USDOE?Take a good look at this story coming out of Toledo. It is a rather stunning example of how a school district is proposing the elimination of all certified arts and physical education teachers and justifying it by declaring … [Read more...] about Proposal to Scorch the Earth in Toledo Public Schools