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Hopeless situation on Hope Street

3/11/2015

 
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Apparently, Momma Bears stirred up a hornet's nest with our last blog, Hope Street is a Dead End for TN and TEA. Concerned members of TEA contacted their elected leaders, then TEA contacted one of our Momma Bears to clarify their position, then we sent the TEA board even more worrisome info we'd found about Hope Street Group (we posted it below so you can see it, too), and TEA was forced to address the issue at their big board meeting this past weekend.   Like "Alice in Wonderland," things are not quite as they seem.

First, we are posting the response to our first blog from the TEA Executive Director, Carolyn Crowder:
TEA's number one priority is always improving public education for Tennessee students and teachers. We are a member-driven organization which fights for the issues our members tell us are important to them. That is why TEA is leading the fight for a significant pay increase to attract and retain the best teachers, to reduce the state's over-reliance on testing and increase respect for the voice of Tennessee educators.

TEA has formed a partnership with the HOPE Street Group around teacher leadership. Teachers will have the opportunity to apply to be a part of a cadre of Teacher Fellows who gather information on policy issues approved by the partnership. These partnerships have been successful in other states in making teacher-driven policy changes. Each state partnership is made up of the largest teacher organization in the state (in Tennessee, that is TEA); the most active public policy voice (SCORE in our state) and the State Department of Education.

We agreed to the partnership based on the understanding that the three entities had to agree before an issue was researched by the Fellows. There is no money being given to TEA from the HOPE Street Group and no money from TEA is going to them.  The research is based on surveys and focus groups with teachers who have shown an interest in the chosen topics. It is  giving our organization an opportunity to determine which topics are sent out in surveys and focus groups to Tennessee teachers (which helps us make sure the issues our members have identified are actually discussed). The partnership provides our members another opportunity to have their voices heard.  Our members will have the opportunity to become one of the Fellows and/or respond to the research. 

The unique part of this partnership is that the State Department has to agree to work on implementation regarding the priorities that are identified through this process. It is a way to insert our members’ voices into a system that does not always take action on the ideas of the real experts - our Tennessee teachers. 

This will in no way replace our own methods of  interacting with our members and representing their interests in shaping public policy, but it could supplement our efforts in an important way.  If the three entities agree on a topic that we know our members want to be heard on -- and the information that comes back verifies that our members want certain changes or verifies that our members DO NOT want certain changes that affect their practice -- results gathered by the third party will bring extra credibility to the policy issues TEA is already advocating.


Some things Momma Bears need to point out:
  • TEA isn't receiving any money or paying any money for this arrangement.  We are so glad to hear that!  We knew National Education Association has received money from Bill Gates in the past (click HERE to see all those grants), so we're glad that the state level isn't being manipulated with Gates' money.
  • Carolyn Crowder called SCORE, "the most active public policy voice in our state."  Really?  SCORE doesn't represent our students, SCORE represents their donors.  We didn't elect SCORE.  SCORE is here because of money from Bill Gates.  (Click HERE for our previous blogs on SCORE).  In fact, SCORE's latest golden egg from Gates was just last year for nearly $1 million dollars paid over 22 months to "amplify voices on reforms" in TN.  
  • So, that's 2 out of 3 organizations in this arrangement who depend on Bill Gates' philanthropy for their paychecks.  SCORE and Hope Street Group are both signed up for the Gates Meal Plan, so why would those organizations ever bite the hand that feeds it?  Why would they tell the Emperor he has no clothes on when the money flows into their bank accounts if they keep telling him how dashing he looks in his reformy underpants?  
  • This partnership has an "understanding" that all 3 organizations must agree to an issue before it is researched by the Fellows, and the TDOE has agreed to work on whatever issues are brought forth from this partnership.  Read the above bullet point again.  What issues are the other 2 organizations firm on?  Teacher evaluations using standardized testing, charter schools, privatization of public education, high stakes testing, Teach for America teachers, Common Core, etc.  Basically, the same things TEA is battling against.  
  • Carolyn Crowder wrote that Hope Street Group has had "successful partnerships" in other states, but she didn't mention the states.  It is important to know that this "partnership in states" is a pretty new concept for them (even though they have a National Teacher Fellowship to influence national policy).  Their website says, "Hope Street Group’s state teacher fellowship program was launched in Kentucky in 2013 and in Hawaii in 2014 in partnership with teacher associations."  Um, that is more like 1 and a half state partnerships so far.  Let's look at those 2 states:
  1. Hawaii:  They've barely had time since 2014 to go through the teacher selection process, training over the summer, and a full legislative session (Hawaii's starts the 3rd week of January).  So in actuality, the Hope Street Group hasn't done a darn thing yet in Hawaii to influence policy or laws.  We wouldn't call that "successful."
  2. Kentucky:  That leaves Kentucky.  ONE state that has had ONE year of this partnership between their Education Association and Hope Street Group.  We did find out that Kentucky teacher evaluations are now using student surveys as part of their evaluations.  Ugh... TN teachers have experienced the biased surveys (and parents, too), and have plenty to say negative about that.   We asked Carolyn Crowder to give us an example of something positive that has come from the Kentucky Education Association partnering with Hope Street Group, but she couldn't tell us even one thing.  She did say she would ask them and let us know.  We'd be happy to publish details if she responds. 

TEA is clearly outnumbered in this Gates-funded conversation.  Despite TEA having a larger membership than SCORE's well-paid staff and Hope Street's army of lobbyists, TEA will be the minority.  Gates' money will dominate the conversation, as they intend to do, and will dominate the outcome, as they fully intend to do.  And, honestly, can anyone think of ANY organization funded by Gates that doesn't push for his reforms?  Anyone???  Nope.  Because there isn't one.  He's deliberate and strategic in who he funds for a reason. 

We have some major questions about this partnership, and we found some alarming information about Hope Street Group.  Stay with us, readers...

Who gets to pick the teachers that become the Hope Street Fellows?  
There is a application process, including: narrative questions, recommendations, and an interview.  
But who gets to narrow down candidates, interview, and pick the fellows?  
If a teacher doesn't agree with common core and/or merit-based pay, will their application be quietly discarded or do they have a real chance?  
Does TEA have any input whatsoever on this process, interviewing, or selection of teacher fellows?  Does SCORE??  
We asked the Carolyn Crowder those questions, but were surprised to learn that she didn't know the answer to any of them.  She did say that "TEA requested to be invited to the training."  Um, that doesn't sound like TEA will have any control over which teachers will be picked or what they will be trained to do as citizen lobbyists.  Hope Street Group obviously has a plan; the process is already on their website for teachers to apply.   So, it appears that TEA doesn't get a say in that Fellowship process.  Are you surprised?  We're not.

Grab a bucket to puke in, because we found some sickening stuff about Hope Street Group you need to know about:
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On Hope Street's website, we read this:

"Hope Street Group assisted the U.S. Department of Education in designing Race to the Top (RTTT) in 2009. Since then, the organization has partnered with multiple states including the first two Race to the Top winners, Delaware and Tennessee, working on new ways to engage practitioners, complement work efforts and support work product."

Oh, my, we have opened the can of worms with this one...

Nobody.  Nobody.  Nobody likes Race to the Top in Tennessee!!!  So, we're going to allow an organization that assisted the USDOE in designing that horrible RttT program, AND who worked with teachers to get us to the horrible, horrible evaluation system we have now, TO HAVE CONTROL OVER THE CONVERSATION?  

Hope Street Group got us into this mess.  They need to leave TN.   Just go away.  Don't use our teacher voices to further your donor's agenda.  Don't use our children to profit your investors and yourself.  Don't influence our legislators.  Just go back to your own little cushy offices and leave us alone.  Tennessee can control our own education thankyouverymuch!  

Wait, it gets worse... this isn't a worm, this is a monster!

Look at this publication from Hope Street Group that we found on their website (image below).  It appears to be a two-page advertisement of sorts for politicians and state leaders to tell them what Hope Street has done in other states and can do for their state:

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Do you see that?  The very first PRINCIPLE of Hope Street Group says they are COMMITTED to making student test scores AT LEAST 50% OF TEACHER EVALUATIONS!  
That document doesn't have a date on it, but judging by the past tense verbs they used to describe TN and Delaware winning Race to the Top grants and the summer training of teachers by Hope Street Group, this document could not be more than 4 and a half years old, and perhaps newer.  Four and half years ago they were "committed" to 50% of teacher evaluations being test scores.  

Note:  this has been deleted from their website now after we sent it to TEA and TEA asked them about it.  Their first priority now says that student achievement must be "a major component."  Hmmm... Sounds like they watered down the wording because the percentage was offending some people.  Even so, "a major component" is still "major."  

Here's the thing, we Momma Bears don't want our children's test scores evaluating any teacher or school.  That burden should not be on any child's shoulders.  There is no fair way to do it.  Momma Bears oppose this.  

We found more dirt about Hope Street Group, but this blog is wormy enough already.  We'll leave you with some red flags (other than the pointy-arrow American flag logo that Hope Street Group uses) so you can dig on your own if you'd like.  Our links to Hope Street Group may not work since their website says they are getting a brand new website this month (probably just as soon as Bill Gates' check clears the bank).  Lucky for you, we downloaded the documents before they were deleted by Hope Street Group a few days ago.   Click to enlarge any of these:
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Red flags all over this Hope Street Group Braintrust list above.
Wendy Kopp from TFA?  Sir Michael Barber??  All those politicians and charter school investors???


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The boxed quote above was on the advertising for a Hope Street Group 2012 Summit.  For only $25,000 per person (or $100,000 for a group of 5, which is clearly a better bargain), you, too, can get your major pieces of legislation signed into law! 

If you've got a few minutes, watch the above interview of former Commissioner Kevin Huffman with Hope Street Group's CEO (posted May 2012).  You'll see how he planned to correlate the TVAAS scores with teacher's observation scores, and his intent to rid the workforce of ineffective teachers. 

Momma Bears' recommendation = TEA should run away from this lopsided arrangement and should apologize to their members for making Momma Bears do all this research.  

Momma Bears think it is shameful how an out-of-state organization gets a say in our state's public education simply because they have a ton of money.  This is America, for goodness sakes!  Because of money, Bill Gates and special interest groups have bought their way into Tennessee with plans to control the conversation and outcome regarding our children's educations.  This is not okay.  

We're just a group of concerned Moms volunteering our time to research and advocate for students, teachers, and strong public schools.  TEA can brush off our little blog and all these facts we've shared, but they can't say they didn't know.  We kindly gave them all this evidence last week before this blog was published.  The staff and board of TEA know exactly who and what they are dealing with and their motives.  TEA's leaders don't need to explain why they decided to partner with these shady organizations to Momma Bears, but TEA members who give up part of their already small paychecks for TEA membership dues might just want an explanation why TEA is giving so much power to these underhanded organizations.  

This message that TEA's Executive Director sent us over the weekend might help, or it might not:
TEA leads the fight against privatization, defeating vouchers last year. TEA leads the fight for the teaching profession, getting the General Assembly to make basing teacher licenses on TVAAS illegal. TEA leads the fight for fair evaluation, filing lawsuits on the unfairness of value added scores. TEA leads the fight on testing, on funding, on class size, on so many issues critical for teachers, students, and parents. TEA has earned the trust of members and persons who care about schools. 

We are engaged in the fight right now. With so many threats to public schools, students, and teachers, everyone who cares about education needs to be focused on those fights, not spending time on ancillary stuff. 

This weekend, after seeing that the HOPE Street Group (1) responded to our call to drop a support statement  that stated  50% of a teacher's evaluation should be based  on student achievement and  (2) accepted our partnership statement that said we would not engage in any issue that went against our mission and core values,  the TEA Board of Directors turned their attention to important issues such as the fight for school funding solutions and state standards that are appropriate for all students regardless of  age, ability or zip code. 

HOPE Street Group can help with the fight to include authentic teacher voices in the debate around education policy.  If they do not, TEA will stop working with them.  Now, how about joining with TEA as we get back to the real fight?


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Why does it take Hope Street to bring everyone to the table?   
TEA politely partnered with these Gates-funded organizations because they say, "It is a way to insert our members’ voices into a system that does not always take action on the ideas of the real experts - our Tennessee teachers."  TEA may have been invited to the Mad Hatter's "tea" party, but the sloshing and spinning of Bill Gates' teacups will not get them where they need to go.

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Rebranding the TN Department of Education

8/18/2014

 
Remember the bid for a PR firm that that TN Parents wrote about in the spring?  The TN Department of Education desperately sought the help of marketing professionals to fix their dreadful image.  Well, obviously, a firm was hired and is working their makeover magic because there's a monumental difference in the propaganda coming out of the TN DOE lately.  

First, check out the TN DOE website makeover:
BEFORE:
(website screenshot from March 2014)
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The old website had an overcast, almost foreboding, grayish blah color scheme.  Kevin Huffman's name and Governor Haslam's picture were both prominently displayed at the top of every page.  Photos on the page included important people posing with other important people.  Like the other government pages, the watermark at the top and bottom of the webpage showed mountains, which could imply the federal Race to the Top program that everyone hates, or it could be interpreted to mean that East Tennessee is more important than the flat land in the western part of the state.  Take your pick.

AFTER:
(screenshot from August 2014)
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As you can see, the new website has lots of changes.  There are large pops of happy colors and candid pictures of cute kids.  There's a tab for "community".  Gone are the banners with Kevin Huffman's name and Governor Haslam's smirk on every single subpage because maybe that expensive PR firm realized that people's blood pressure skyrocketed every time they saw it. Or maybe, just maybe, this is a foreshadowing that Kevin Huffman may not be around much longer?  Momma Bears can only hope!  Also missing from the new webpage are the smoggy mountain images.  We guess we are not racing to the top anymore now that the entire $500 million prize we won is spent?  

It is kinda funny how the new website says, "We've redesigned and reorganized our site from the ground up with you in mind."  Gee, thanks, for keeping me in mind, when in all honesty, we are sure that the only thing on your mind was: "How On Earth Do We QUICK Fix This Awful Image Problem That Governor Haslam and His Appointed Commissioner of Education, Kevin Huffman, Have Created Before Election Time in November So That The Governor Gets Re-elected And We All Keep Our Jobs?"


And, of course, this dishonest image is still on both websites: 
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Because that is the ONLY thing that the Governor has to cling to.  TCAP scores this year were flatter than a puddle of water on Tennessee asphalt in August.  There is no miracle, not from Common Core, not from this new RTI2 mandate, not from the awful teacher evaluation rubrics or TVAAS system, and most certainly not from giving a chunk of our poorest public schools to charters through the ASD because those schools are lower than ever.  


TCAP scores weren't even released in time for student's final report cards in the spring because they had to adjust the cut scores, take out the non-common core questions to boost scores, and figure out a way for this new PR firm to triage the massive outrage and somehow put a positive spin on the dismal results.

Here is why that claim of "Largest Growth on 2013 NAEP" is not truthful:  
The Governor and Huffman keep saying it everywhere they go, and probably even mutter it in their sleep, but they neglect to mention one ginormous fact:   TN passed a new law the year before the 2013 NAEP test which drastically changed the pool of students eligible to be tested for NAEP.  This new law prohibited 3rd graders in Tennessee from being promoted to 4th grade if they were not proficient.  So, for the first time in TN history, 3rd graders were not socially promoted to 4th grade.  The low-scoring students were left behind in 3rd grade!  Voila!  Don't let the non-proficient kids in to 4th grade to take the test and you magically lift the whole state's average score compared to other states in the nation!  
(A note about NAEP tests in case you don't know:  the NAEP is given every 2 years to randomly selected 4th and 8th graders in every state in the nation.  It is required by the Federal Government to get our federal tax dollars for our schools.  Click HERE and HERE to read more about the NAEP and how is manipulated to suit politicians).

Next, NEW Emails from TNDOE: 
          I Heart You soooooooo much!!!

Subscribers to the TNDOE weekly emails noticed a big difference in the weekly emails, too.  Prior emails were cold, factual, and condescending.  The paragraphs were blocky and had the attitude of "Do This New Policy Or Else".

The new email sent to subscribers last week had hearts, smiles, friendships, relationships, unicorns, and rainbows.  (Okay, so not the last 2, but we're not exaggerating about the difference being night and day.)  Here's an excerpt from the new email:

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See? They are not meany-pants dictator bullies...  They are a "team" wearing cute matching shirts and holding signs of love!  (Bonus points to those who can pick out the former Teach For America overpaid staff).

Another big change to the emails is that they are now being sent through Mailchimp, which is an email service that allows the sender to track opens, clicks on links, reports, etc.  The TNDOE loves, loves, loves data so they are probably in data heaven.  



Save the best for last, a special LETTER:  
         U R MY BFF 4EVR! <3, Bill   XOXOXO

Tennessee teachers were shocked - SHOCKED, I tell you! -  last week to receive personalized emails from the Governor himself.  These letters were addressed to their first names, which left some wondering if they are now considered friends with the Governor.  Bill (we can call him by his first name now, right?) wrote about the way he traveled across the state and had 12 secret meetings with pre-screened teachers and how he listened, oh how he listened, and he just loves teachers and wishes he could pay them more but he has to take care of corporations first.  Okay, so Bill didn't blatantly say that in the letter, but if you read between the lines and know the recent news, it is what our friend, Bill, really meant.  

We bet someone from that fancy new PR firm wrote the letter anyway.  Bill doesn't write letters.  He certainly won't respond to any of ours.  Of course, he has staff that sends out blanket responses because Bill does not have the time to correspond with commoners unless you are pre-screened and agree with Bill's views.  

Not all teachers were fooled by the use of mail-merge fields or by the use of their school email address to try to gain their vote for Bill in November. Other candidates for Governor certainly don't have the luxury, ability, or staffpower to send personalized blanket emails to teachers using their school email addresses, but Bill does.  (Click HERE if you want to see one of those blanket letters Bill sent to a TN teacher)

So, what has changed within the TNDOE?  
        Nothing.  Zip.  Zero.

The same people are still doing the same jobs at the TNDOE and they have the same intentions of forcing Common Core on our children, requiring high-stakes tests on our children, punishing and firing our children's teachers based on our children's test results, and crushing our children's public schools to expand more charter schools in TN so their friends can make big bucks.

The difference is that our tax dollars are now being spent on the best Public Relations Firm our tax money can buy with the goal of fixing the horrible image of the TNDOE, Commissioner Kevin Huffman (for as long as Bill keeps him around as a puppet), and the person who just happens to be up for re-election in November: Bill.  
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Lipstick on a pig, anyone?
Coming up in the next Momma Bear blog:  
     HIDE & SEEK - THE TNDOE hides Common Core
See how the new PR firm has removed the toxic name from TNDOE's vocabulary to fool people

Flip-flopping Fordham Institute & the False Messiah

6/12/2014

 
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There are some really interesting nuggets to be found in this old 2010 report by Fordham Institute that compares the Common Core standards with each of the 50 states + DC's former standards.  Even though Fordham Institute is heavily funded by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, their 2010 report seems to be fairly objective, unlike the more recent reformy propaganda that Fordham Institute has been spewing out.  Momma Bears figured out why they've changed their tune...

In the past few years, Fordham Institute leaders seem to have forgotten their own research and have been traveling the country as cheerleaders for Common Core to states that are trying to drop out.  Hello, do you not remember what you wrote???  Like a fly who can’t resist a pile of youknowwhat, the Fordham Institute regurgitates whatever their donors pay them to say, which also comes out as a pile of youknowwhat.  Yessiree, these guys know which side their bread is buttered on.  The Curmudgucation blogger called Fordham Institute "the best thinky tank money can buy."  Keep reading and you'll see why.

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How come he's covering up the "excellence"? (This is the logo on their Youtube page)


Here are some ironic nuggets that Fordham reported in 2010, and is now conveniently ignoring in 2014:
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Nugget #1:
On the first page, Fordham Institute proudly announces that its very first publication, released in July 1997, was Sandra Stotsky’s "State English Standards."  

Connect the dots...  Sandra Stotsky, a professor at University of Arkansas, was one of 2 educators on the Validation team for Common Core Standards.  She refused to sign her name on the Common Core.  Not only did she refuse, Stotsky now travels the country speaking against Common Core.  

So... Fordham Institute respected Sandra Stotsky enough to give her the honor of being their very first publication, but conveniently ignores her professional assessment and vocal opposition to Common Core now?  Hmmm... 



Nugget #2:
This statement on p.2:  "it’s no great surprise that serious analysts, recently including the Brookings Institution’s Russ Whitehurst, have found no link between the quality of state standards and actual student performance."  

Then why the heck are you forcing Common Core on our states? 


Nugget #3:
This admission on p.3: "The Common Core math standards earn a grade of A-minus while the Common Core ELA standards earn a B-plus, both solidly in the honors range. Neither is perfect."  

So you’re supporting these standards, which you admit are not perfect.  These standards may not be perfect, but shouldn't our standards at least be worthy of making honor roll (all A's)?   



Nugget #4:
On page 6 and several times throughout your research, Fordham Institute admits:  Some states had superior standards to Common Core. Some had standards that were “too close to call”. 

Why aren't you supporting for those standards that are superior to Common Core, then?  Don’t you want the BEST for children in America?  Why are you pushing states to completely swap their standards, purchase new curriculum and tests, and spend a ton of money to implement standards that you categorized as "too close to call."  That doesn't make sense and you know it.



Nugget #5:
This nugget on p.4:  “States will do their kids no favor if they mess up this decision or just go through the motions of embracing new standards, maybe only long enough to qualify for RTT funding.  In short order, everyone in those jurisdictions will recognize that this was a false messiah – and educators and voters alike will grow even more cynical about standards-based education reform.”  

Fordham Institute, you said it:  “A false messiah”.   And you were right about us being even more cynical.



Nugget #6:
Fordham Institute rated Tennessee's prior English Language Arts standards = A minus.
They scored Common Core's ELA standards = B plus.  


Does that sound like Tennessee is raising our standards to go from A- to B+?  Um, no.  We'll keep the A- over the B+ thankyouverymuch, plus save a bunch of money not having to buy new curriculum.  Many other states are in the same predicament.  Like a broke salesman with no morals, you're selling standards they don't need and can't afford.


THE biggest nugget and the most important fact about this report and every word that comes out of the mouths of Fordham Institute well-paid staff:
 
Funding from: 
the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 

Bingo!!!  Continual funding by the Gates Foundation has paid your paychecks.  How much have you received from Daddy Gates?  This link will show at least $3.5 million in grants from Gates so far.  And considering the method that the Gates Foundation pays their grants out over monthly installments (not in one big check, how stupid would that be?), we see you’re now under at least a 6 year commitment, with the possibility for more if the Bossman is happy with your "performance".  That $1 million grant for "general operating support” is especially suspicious... Is that to pay for your travel expenses to all these states who are backing out of Common Core?  Hey, if we paid you $3.6 million to support different standards, would you change your tune?

Not only that, if you look at the list of Fordham donors, you'll find all the usual Common Core supporters like: GE, the College Board, Amplify Learning (makes expensive Common Core technology products), and the Walton Family Foundation.  And if you look at Fordham Institute's finance report, you'll see they are largely dependent upon their donors to exist.  In fact, donors cover 2/3 of their expenses.  That is hard to ignore.  Everyone knows not to bite the hand that feeds you.

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If you don't believe Momma Bears and all the flip-flopping facts and money stats we've linked above, then hear it from their own mouth in this video below made by Michael Petrilli, the Executive Vice President at Fordham Institute.  

In the video, Petrilli is kidnapping another reformer, Frederick Hess (who can be also bought if you ever need a research paper to support your agenda and have an extra $30,000.  In fact, click here to how Hess has hurt TN).  Petrilli kidnaps Hess to give him a makeover at Brooks Brothers.  Apparently, Hess likes to wear shorts year-round, and shorts just aren't appropriate attire for an exclusive black-tie event called "The Eddie Awards".  Fast-forward to the 2 minute mark and you will hear Petrilli say this:

     "Alright, now come on Shug, where are ya?" (looking for his chauffeur) 

     "I got a 2:30 conference call with Gates, and I don't wanna miss it.  

      BIG money on the line, baby, BIG money!"

Watch the video and hear it for yourself.  Even though the video is supposed to be humorous, Petrilli is dead serious about the money.  
It doesn't take a professional researcher to tell you the obvious:  if you don’t keep your donors happy, they will just kick you off the gravy train and replace you with some other desperate researcher.  It is in your best interest to keep on chugging out the stuff they want to see and hear.  As Petrilli said, "Big money on the line, baby, BIG money!" 

NOTE: Fordham Institute (formerly Fordham Foundation) is not the same organization as Fordham University at all.  Fordham Institute doesn't have any students, it is not a college or school; it is a think tank funded by corporate interests to promote their reform agendas.  So, don't let the "Fordham" part confuse you. Fordham University is a real University with real students and real teachers.  They two Fordhams are not affiliated.  
Also, just because an organization is a 501c3 non-profit, it does not mean someone isn't getting rich.

How to get stinking rich in the education industry

12/3/2013

 
Times are tough, but that doesn't mean you can't make a buck in education right now.  No qualifications or experience? No problem!  In fact, it is actually works better if you have zero classroom experience (so you won't have any compassion for the hardworking teachers and innocent students you'll be profiting from).

You could pay $1,395 to attend a workshop (like this one) to learn how to get rich in the education industry, but Momma Bears already did the homework and figured it all out.  And Momma Bears is all about sharing knowledge with other concerned folks.  So, save your money and read about the easy 10-step program to getting rich with other people's money through America's public school system...

10 steps to hitting the jackpot in education:

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Step #1:  Start a consulting business or organization.  It doesn't really matter if it is profit or non-profit.  Non-profit organizations will seem more trustworthy and innocent to the public (but don't worry, that doesn't mean you won't get a nice paycheck.)  

Step #2:  Create a catchy name for your organization.  Acronyms work especially well.  Don't forget a logo.  You cannot go wrong with an apple logo, they are very much in style right now.

Step #3:  Make a website with pretty pie charts and lots of catchy buzz-words like these:
  • achievement gap
  • data driven benchmarks
  • human capital
  • Common Core aligned
  • education strategies
  • global citizen
  • rigorous, relevant, and robust

Step #4:  Convince a school district that they are failing.  You'll need to cherry-pick and manipulate test score data, make some glitzy charts, and use lots of buzz words.  It helps if you can WOW the school board members and Superintendent with free trips or fancy meals, too.

Step #5:  Find a Gullible Billionaire.  (Bill Gates, Eli Broad, or any of the Walton family love education entrepreneurs, especially if you have a great logo.)

Step #6:  Convince that failing school district to apply for a grant from the Gullible Billionaire. Note: the Gullible Billionaire may require a "matching grant" to get his money.  Don't fret your pretty little entrepreneurial heart over that little detail!  There's money to be squeezed from within that school district (those students don't need money for library, art, or music, do they?)  Don't forget to tell the school district to ask for matching grants from that town's Chamber of Commerce and other gullible rich people.  Businesses love to donate if you publicize their names; it is well-known that customers especially love businesses that help children.  Be sure to check all those potential sources of grant money.  

***Disclaimer: the Billionaire will require private student data in exchange for his grant.  Don't worry, you won't go to jail.  The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) law was quietly changed to make it all legal. Parents would be upset if they knew, though, so don't let them find out. 

Step #7:  Name your price (which is conveniently the same amount as their grant funds plus the money they squeezed from their tight budget).  Set a time limit to your involvement with the district, and include in the contract that you get paid no matter what.

Step #8:  Pretend to study the data from the district.  Visit some of their schools to seem legitimate.  Then, convince the elected school board and superintendent to do any or all of the following (it really doesn't matter to you what they do, of course, because you still get paid regardless):
  • Fire teachers.
  • Hire unqualified temporary teachers that cost less and don't stay around long enough to get pricey retirement benefits.
  • Tell teachers they can earn bonuses and/or merit pay for reaching impossible goals.  
  • Spend more money on testing students (but call them "benchmark assessments" to compile even more data, which Gullible Billionaires love).
  • Suggest they give biased surveys to teachers, parents, & students to convince them that you know what you are doing (these surveys are a great way to gather even more data.  In fact, some Gullible Billionaires will often pay 100% for the surveys in addition to the grant!)
  • Squeeze even more students into classrooms to save their school district money (but don't ever mention how much they are wasting on outside consultants like yourself!)
  • Close neighborhood schools and give them to charter school investors.

Step #9:  Now that you have stirred up a hornet's nest in that school district, it is time to get out of Dodge, cowboy!  The citizens are starting to see they've been duped.  It is time to go on a nice vacation or buy yourself a yacht with those millions of education dollars filling up your bank account.  

Step #10:  If you really want to rake in consistent long-term tax-payer money, consider starting charter schools.  Charter operators set their own salaries and you don't have to deal with pesky financial audits and laws that apply to public schools.  Charter investors get ridiculous tax breaks up to 38%, which will double your money in just 7 years!  Yes, sir-ee, just sit back and let some commoners run your charter school empire while you watch your bank account grow.

So there you have it.  Ten easy steps to hitting the jackpot in the education industry.  What is your next goal in life?  Perhaps children of your own?  If you decide to brave the parenthood frontier, just make sure you put your own children in nice private schools with small class sizes, rich art programs, qualified teachers, huge endowments, and none of that common core stuff that some other education entrepreneurs came up with to sell textbooks & testing and gather data for Gullible Billionaires.  Hey, maybe you'll see their yacht when you're on vacation so you can ask them  for private school recommendations???



Don't believe Momma Bears?  This kind of profiteering really has happened... maybe even in your school district!  
Click these links to see for yourself:
  • Click HERE to read about grants & consultants in Knox County, TN
  • Click HERE to read about the enormous profit in Memphis, TN
  • Click HERE and HERE to see how TN's Governor profits 
  • Click HERE to read how charters & testing companies make millions in TN
  • Click HERE to read about the scandals in FL, OK, ME, NJ, TN, NM, & LA 
  • Click HERE to read the waste in Denver, CO
  • Click HERE and HERE to read how this firm profited from chaos in Colorado, New Orleans, New York, & St. Louis
  • Click HERE to read how a smart teacher does the math on Charter Schools
  • Click HERE and HERE to heed other's warnings about the Boston Consulting Group
  • Click HERE to see how Texas is being swindled big-time
  • Click HERE to see Louisana being taken advantage of
  • Click HERE for No Consultant Left Behind
  • Click HERE to see how a billionaire advertised for paid consultants in 15 states through Race to the Top
  • Click HERE to see how a consultant gets paid $625 an hour in Florida with public tax dollars (even though teachers haven't received raises in 7 years and the school board cut sports and student activities).

    Has your school district been duped, too??? 
    Send the info to Momma Bears and we'll post it!

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    Momma Bears

    Just some moms who realize their children's public school systems in TN, as well as public schools across the country, have major threats to their survival.  We research, we write, we share, and we advocate.

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