PARCC is NOT a graduation requirement for the Class of 2016!

IMPORTANT: PARCC is NOT a graduation requirement for the Class of 2016

On Friday, May 6 the NJDOE and the Education Law Center reached a settlement on a case that has far reaching implications for graduating high school seniors. The settlement provides important protections for students in the Class of 2016 who have met all other requirements for a diploma, but have not fulfilled the new testing requirements imposed by the NJDOE.

Key points of the settlement are as follows:

• By this Friday, May 13, Districts should provide information about the portfolio process to parents/guardians of all students who still need the portfolio review to graduate. 
• The portfolio process is available to all students, regardless of IEP status. 
• Districts have been granted the power to oversee the portfolio review process. Districts may: 
• Determine whether or not a student has met the graduation proficiency standards. 
• Set portfolio requirements OR collect previous classwork to fulfill the portfolio requirements (or a combination of the two). 
• Administer portfolio assessments in a student’s native language. 
• Allow students awaiting final review of portfolios to participate in graduation ceremonies. 
• Districts must provide staff assistance for students completing portfolios. 

Full details of the settlement are available here. The Department of Education’s guidance on the settlement is available here.

If you have additional questions about the implications of the settlement for students in your school, contact Stan Karp of the Education Law Center at skarp@edlawcenter.org.

A Dangerous Place: Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place

A Dangerous Place is Jacqueline Winspear's 11th book in the Maisie Dobbs series.  It is spring, 1937 in the British garrison town of Gibraltor.  Late 30's Gibraltar is a place of "between," full of transient people, clashing cultures, and dangerous opinions.

Maisie Dobbs, the lead character, is also "between."  A woman of many talents, principal of which is as an investigator.  However, personal tragedy has led her to flee her profession, or at least she tries to.  Trouble seems to have a way of following her.

Murder, lies, and wartime propaganda make this a page-turning read, but without the extreme highs and lows of typical suspense thrillers.  This book, obviously written by a seasoned author, seems to flow effortlessly.  The characters and setting are all so well detailed that the reader is quickly immersed in the history of this tumultuous time; a definite recommendation for anyone studying the underlying emotional motivations behind World War II, and the economic impact that still arrested much of the world after World War I.

The reason I gave this book three stars instead of more is because of the ending.  The entire plot is a slow burn of untangling twists and revealed truths.  However, what would be the climactic reveal felt like it was delivered as an afterthought to the main character's next venture.  This may be a customary  tactic for Maisie Dobbs novels, I don't know.  This is my first.  But rather than hungrily making me want to read the next book, I instead just felt robbed of my "aha" moment that I had been climbing towards.

Either way, if you are a fan of historical fiction, Winspear is definitely an author you should add to your list.  She is a very talented writer.

Author Links:  www.jacquelinewinspear.com and Facebook

City of Blades: A Divine Read

City of Blades is the second book in The Divine Cities series by Robert Jackson Bennett.  It tells of the continuing war between two peoples:  the Saypuri and the Continentals who once enslaved them.  While reading book one, City of Stairs, isn't required to enjoy this book, it is recommended to fully understand some of the motivations behind the main characters.

Saypuri General Turyin Mulaghesh - a secondary character in City of Stairs - takes center stage in this novel.  She is a blunt, gritty, seasoned veteran who constantly struggles to reconcile her duty as a soldier with the unimaginable amount of blood that she's seen, and spilled.  Hailed as the "Hero of Bulikov," for an impactful battle that occurred in the city of the same name, she presents a constant contradiction of self.  Is she the hero that everyone claims her to be or is she the monster that she recognizes from her own past?

Mulaghesh enters retirement at the beginning of the book but, through a direct request from her old friend Shara Komayd, (who is featured in book one City of Stairs), serves her country for what she believes will be the last time.  But the catch is...Shara won't tell General Mulaghesh what the mission is.

City of Blades is a story of dying gods, religious fanaticism, terrorism, and the red tape of bureaucracy.  While categorized as an epic fantasy, I felt that this book had a heavy amount of mystery to it as well.  Much of the story revolves around relentless attacks in back-water Voortyashtan, which is occurring the same time that the administration is also trying to rebuild their harbor, as well as their economy.  What General Mulaghesh must discover is who is behind the attacks, whether or not the divine are involved, and how many more people are going to die under her watch.

Robert Jackson Bennett not only has a female as the main character in an epic fantasy story, but she is a soldier in her late middle years.  This is not generally typical of epic fantasy and I know because I've read a lot of it!  Yet Bennett nails it and has created a strong and complex character who can serve as a role model for readers and a template for future writers.  You've definitely never met anyone like Turyin Mulaghesh!  The author actually presents many female characters throughout the book and constantly breaks stereotypes.  It is so refreshing.

Recommend this book to fans of military fantasy, (such as author Myke Cole who consulted on City of Blades), epic fantasy, urban fantasy, fantastic mystery, dystopias, and even science fiction.

• More Info
• Author Bio

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

The Forgotten PD: Meeting Face to Face

I <3 professional development.  I enjoy attending conferences.  I am energized by giving workshops.  I delight in learning from my online personal and professional learning communities and even reading independently on various topics to better myself.

But, in my opinion, there is a type of professional development that is under-celebrated that I have recently revisited and need to shout about.

Talking to your neighbor!

Back in the Genrefication Saddle

Almost two years ago I began a mission:  to genrefy my fiction section.  I did lots of research, attended workshops, and picked the brains of other librarians who have already made that journey.

And then I had twins lol...

So we are back to the challenge of genrefying my fiction section again!

If you recall, I was at the point where I was applying a genre to every book in my library.  I have picked up where I left off and am currently in mysteries.  A teacher recently asked me for mysteries and it rekindled my realization that a genrefied fiction section is such a desired service for my library!

I will keep you apprised, especially since I am publicly declaring that I am back on this mission.  Hold me accountable!  :)

Is Checking Out Too Big a Price to Pay?

I did some weeding in my library today.  I placed books of interest to adults in the faculty room and books of interest to teens in the library entrance.  I sent an email to staff telling them where to find the books.

I was really surprised by the response.

Teachers immediately started looking at the cart before I had finished rolling it into the faculty room.  Teachers also came out of their way to visit the library in order to view the books I had put aside for teens.

Why?

ESSA: Victory for Libraries!

ESSA:  What you need to know!

ESSA stands for the Every Student Succeeds Act, a new bill signed in last month by President Obama.  ESSA is basically a renewal of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 and seeks to fix many of the issues found in NCLB (No Child Left Behind).

In short, ESSA gives the states more power over how to teach our students. Basic changes include:

•          The number of tests and the grades tested remains the same, but states now have the flexibility in how and when they administer those tests.
•          Common Core is no longer required by states.
•          Accountability goals are now almost entirely up to the states.
•          “Failing” schools have more choices regarding interventions for improvement.

how does this affect libraries?