Education News Roundup

 Actually, my first item is this  - a plea to all who work in the public domain. There is now a website called  Charliesmurderers.com by the "Charlie Kirk Data Foundation." 

We track statistics on the prevalence of political extremism

They claim they are not a "doxxing website." That might be true but only up to the point where they won't print addresses. But what they want are submissions (bold mine):

We lawfully collect publicly-available data to analyze the prominence of support for political violence in the interest of public education.

We do not publish data which identifies individuals.

But I think they will take those submissions and start campaigns to get people fired or let go from their jobs.

Teachers and staff, it is your First Amendment right to say whatever you want on any topic. But I am hearing that even saying something as vague as "karma is a bitch" could land you on their list.

I tell you this not to shush you. But is making a comment on social media more important than your job?

I know you're thinking that I am letting these petty little losers get want they want. But know what? There are a lot of us NOT in the public sector or even retired who will have no problem being loud about what we see.

Do as you feel best for your life but know this is what is happening.

The Blosser Center for Dyslexia Education has a free speaker series on Dyslexia and Learning Differences. The first one is Wednesday, September 24 at 7 pm via Zoom. All the topics look good. Details here.

I see that the Change.org student-created petition for "No More Schedule Changes" has over 5,000 signatures. This is around the just announced scheduling changes for the comprehensive high schools and their lunchtimes.

I see the first public engagement meeting for Highly Capable Services planning is this week on Tuesday, September 16th at South Shore PK-8 at 6:30 pm. Complete schedule.

This week also sees the first Superintendent Search Community Engagement, this one for the Black Community on Friday, September 19th at 6 pm at the Byrd Barr Place, 722 18th Avenue. 

There is no other information but I would assume that any parent could come and listen, recognizing that this is a community-specific meeting. 

In national news, there is no good news. 

Families, educators and advocates of children and youth who are both blind and deaf are scrambling to reclaim abruptly canceled federal funding that they say is a “lifeline” for students’ educational and developmental progress. 

A notice of noncontinuation from the U.S. Department of Education recently went to four deafblind projects in Washington, Oregon, Wisconsin and a consortium of New England states including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. Advocates say the notice was sent Sept. 5, although a letter reviewed by K-12 Dive is dated Aug. 27. 

The grants in those states serve about 1,365 children and their families, advocates said. The projects are going into the third year of a five-year grant. The federal funding supports deafblind youth who attend public, private, and charter schools or are homeschooled. It is used for teacher training and professional development, family resources and training, educational materials and technology, and other activities.

Apparently this is over DEI issues. Deaf and blind children will not get some services because of the Trump regime's hatred for DEI. 

Via Newsweek:
Trump told attendees of the Religious Liberty Commission meeting on Monday that new guidance would be released regarding prayer in public schools.

"I'm pleased to announce this morning that the Department of Education (DOE) will soon issue new guidance protecting the right to prayer in our public schools," Trump said at the meeting at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.

The exact timing of the new guidance announcement was not immediately clear.

Trump made the announcement during the Religious Liberty Commission meeting, saying: "For most of our country's history, the bible was found in every classroom in the nation, yet in many schools today, students are indoctrinated with anti-religious propaganda."

The Religious Liberty Commission was established by Trump in an executive order issued in May, with the President appointing Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as Chairman and Dr. Ben Carson as Vice Chair.

According to the White House website, the Commission was created to "advise the White House Faith Office and the Domestic Policy Council on religious liberty policies of the United States."

The Supreme Court recently upheld a ruling that would not allow Oklahoma to launch the country's first religious public charter school.

I would like to see some backup info on that statement about a bible in every classroom. I never saw one in any of my classes, ever.