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January 16, 2009 |
Click here to read printable version |
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| Mr. Duncan goes to Washington |
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Secretary of Education nominee Arne Duncan sailed through his recent confirmation hearings, buoyed by bipartisan support that had one senator, Republican Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, calling Duncan the "best" of "several distinguished" cabinet appointments by President-elect Obama, according to Education Week. Duncan was praised in his capacity as an innovator while head of the Chicago Public Schools, and professed a strong commitment to "accountability," while skirting the issue of the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Mr. Duncan also expressed support for charter schools and incentive pay for teachers, but stressed that these kinds of changes should be done with due consideration and in collaboration with teacher unions. He also declared support for increased funding to students in special education, and favors allowing students in special education and English-language learners to use alternative assessments under NCLB. He added that he hoped to get closer to the goal of universal pre-kindergarten. "At the K-12 level, we want to continue to dramatically raise standards and improve teacher quality," Mr. Duncan said. "We must do dramatically better. We must continue to innovate. We must build upon what works and we must stop doing what doesn't work."
Read more | Dissenting View | Back to top
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| Education a major focus in $825 billion federal economic recovery plan |
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House Democrats, in partnership with President-elect Barack Obama, have unveiled an $825 billion economic recovery package. The stimulus package includes huge increases in federal spending on education, aid to states for Medicaid costs, temporary increases in unemployment benefits and a vast array of public works projects to create jobs. Proposed areas of investment in education include: School Construction; Education Technology; IDEA Special Education; Title I Help for Disadvantaged Kids; Statewide Data Systems; Education for Homeless Children and Youth; Improving Teacher Quality; and Early Childhood Education.
Read more | Also read | Back to top
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| Obama gets advice, letters from young Navajos |
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As he prepares to take over the Oval Office, President-elect Barack Obama is getting plenty of advice. And some of it is coming from Navajo students in Arizona. In letters to the incoming president, the youngsters describe their lives -- and ask some probing questions. The project was the idea of Margaret Erhart, who teaches creative writing at Eagle's Nest Intermediate School in the high desert of northern Arizona. The school is in Tuba City, Ariz., on the Navajo Nation reservation. As Erhart told NPR's Renee Montagne, the letters from students in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades exude an excited curiosity about the nation's new leader. And many of them also provide a glimpse at childhoods endangered by poverty. Click below to read sample letters and hear the children in their own words.
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| Keeping kids close while becoming American |
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Immigrants in Minnesota are turning to charter schools to create a cultural space where their children can both preserve the customs of their originating cultures and assimilate American culture at their own pace, The New York Times reports. The charters offer parents a strong voice in their children's education while at the same time allowing participation in American democratic institutions. At Twin Cities International, girls say they can wear head scarves without being teased, the lunchroom serves food that meets the dietary requirements of Muslims, and every classroom has an East African teaching assistant who understands the needs of students who may have spent years in refugee camps. The schools' students are from Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Sudan, with a small population from the Middle East, and similar schools in Minnesota serve Hmong and Latino populations. While some argue that these schools are part of the growing re-segregation of public education and run counter to the idea of public schools as the so-called cultural "melting pot," supporters say new immigrants often become isolated in regular public schools, and that large numbers of them become alienated over time and drop out. In the words of one parent: "We bring our children here because we want them close to us so they don't get lost."
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| Maryland's 'leap of faith' pays off |
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Research has revealed that for every additional $1,000 the state of Maryland has spent per student since 2002, there's been a corresponding, significant increase in pass rates in reading and math, according to The Baltimore Sun. The study, presented to the Maryland General Assembly by consulting firm MGT of America, showed that improvement was twice as great for middle school students as for those in elementary grades. About 80 percent of the additional local and state funding went toward raising teacher salaries, increasing hiring to reduce class size, and requiring a highly qualified teacher in every classroom. The study was an analysis of the Maryland Bridge to Excellence Act of 2002, which put into effect the recommendations of a state education funding commission in a move to shore up academic equity for Maryland students. Maryland superintendent of schools Nancy S. Grasmick called the report "a validation of a leap of faith that the legislature and the governor took to continue to fund" the law. Since 2002, Maryland has gradually increased the amount of money given to local school systems in part through an increase in the tax on cigarettes, reaching an extra $2 billion annually.
Read more | See report | Back to top
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| Don't be a dinosaur: teaching 21st-century skills |
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The skills map designed by the National Council of Teachers of English to ensure that students have so-called 21st-century skills "is far more comprehensive -- and far more helpful -- than a simple focus on using gadgets in the classroom," writes admitted technology dinosaur Kay McSpadden in The Charlotte Observer. McSpadden, an English teacher who still uses checks instead of a debit card and gets her news in tree-killing form each morning, says she was pleasantly surprised that the document listed 12 skills, each illustrated with outcomes and examples from real classrooms that integrate content and technology in a way that demands students become actively engaged in their lessons. Alongside skills dealing directly with information literacy, media literacy, and information and communications technology, are others: creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, flexibility and adaptability, initiative and self-direction, social and cross-cultural skills, productivity and accountability, and leadership and responsibility. Many of these, writes McSpadden, are "'soft skills' educators pushed aside in favor of content goals measured by No Child Left Behind." The problem in implementing such a comprehensive change in education will undoubtedly be funding, McSpadden admits, buts thinks it would be well worth it.
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| Report sees steep drop-off in child wellness after age 10 |
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A major new study by the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine has concluded that the system of care for tweens and teens is fragmented and poorly designed, according to The Associated Press. Few doctors specialize in adolescents' complex needs, or provide comprehensive care that earns their trust at a developmental stage that brings more rapid biological changes than any age except infancy. Most at risk are the poor. Although the past decade has seen declines in teen pregnancy and smoking, tweens and teens are increasingly overweight; their physical activity is dropping; chronic diseases like asthma and diabetes are on the rise; and injuries from car crashes remain this age's leading cause of death. Few tweens and teens are screened for risky behavior so doctors can intervene before a problem arises, the report found, even though 10 to 20 percent of adolescents annually experience a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety. Five million are uninsured, too often left out of federal-state programs designed to provide health coverage to children. "A 10-year-old is probably the healthiest person in America," said Dr. Frederick Rivara, co-author of the report. "Something happens between age 10 and age 25."
Read more | See report | Back to top
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| 1 in 7 Americans is illiterate, federal study finds |
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A new federal study finds that an estimated one in seven American adults, approximately 32 million have such low literacy skills that they would be challenged to understand a medication's side effects listed on a pill bottle. The report is based on the results of a 2003 survey that followed a 1992 survey. During that time, the country added 23 million adults to its population, an estimated 3.6 million of them with very low literacy skills. Some states, such as Mississippi, had drops in the number of functionally illiterate, to 16 percent from 25 percent in 1992. In several large states, however, such as California, New York, Florida, and Nevada, the number of adults with low skills rose. David Harvey, president and CEO of ProLiteracy, which advocates for adult literacy, says that undiagnosed learning disabilities, immigration, and high school dropouts are probable reasons for the poor literacy numbers.
Read more | See report | Back to top
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| Pennsylvania now measures growth, not just proficiency, for AYP |
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Pennsylvania has introduced a new means to measure adequate yearly progress (AYP) that considers student growth, not just a student rating of "proficient," writes The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The move comes after approval by outgoing Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings of this type of measurement, called a "growth model," in Colorado, Minnesota, and conditionally in Pennsylvania and Texas. Eleven other states already have approval to use growth models. Under this new metric, Pennsylvania estimates that 242 schools that did not make AYP in 2008 would have done so -- which would have been fairer to kids and schools who started with low proficiency ratings but saw strong growth over the year, according to Pennsylvania Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak. "Without this growth model, the academic gains of many of these schools would have been discounted or overlooked entirely, which is patently unfair to these students and their teachers," he said. Pennsylvania's growth model is based on the Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System, which uses at least three years of data from schools and students to determine whether a student shows enough growth to be on a trajectory to success.
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| New science standards get down to essentials |
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The Evergreen State has introduced new guidelines for teaching science in schools that it hopes will make classes more interesting for kids, The Associated Press reports. The new science education standards, recently "streamlined," are organized into four essential learning requirements across all grades, from kindergarten to 12th grade. All Washington children going forward should be able to accomplish: systems thinking to analyze and understand complex phenomena; inquiry activities to develop understanding of scientific ideas; application of science to real-world problems; and an understanding of the domains of physical science, life science, and earth and space science. The new standards require teachers to cover fewer concepts per year, but more thoroughly. "In the United States, we teach a mile wide and an inch deep. The folks that are doing better on national standardized tests teach less, more deeply," said Mary McClellan, science director for teaching and learning at the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
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| To shore up Wisconsin's financial outlook: expand arts funding |
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A 36-person task force spearheaded by Wisconsin's lieutenant governor has called for an expansion of arts programs at all schooling levels in the state, reports The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Such an expansion would brighten the state's economic future, according to the panel's report, because people with strong creative backgrounds are often innovators in the workplace. "Arts and creativity education can do more than equip students with the creative competencies they need for success in their future," the report contends. "It can also be an effective way to improve students' performance while in school, improve the school learning environment, and strengthen communities." The report suggests potential ways to increase arts and creativity in education, such as making achievement in the arts a factor in admissions to colleges and universities in Wisconsin, and creating a state-funded program that matches funds from local school districts for efforts promoting the arts and creativity. Recommendations in the report are general, however, and do not provide details such as possible costs.
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| Evaluation system will drill down on Florida's high school data |
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A newer, more stringent evaluation system could make it easier to take an in-depth look at what's happening on the campuses of Florida's high schools, according to The Orlando Sentinel. The new system, still under consideration and subject to revision, relies less on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) and more on graduation rates and student success in advanced courses or on college-admissions tests. Once in place, the evaluation would be the most sweeping change since Florida started grading public schools in 1998, but it would impact only high schools, with elementary and middle schools continuing to be graded only on how students do on FCAT's math, reading, science, and writing exams. In simulations run by the Florida Education Department, many schools, both high- and low-scoring, would drop in their standings somewhat in the first year, but the agency says it will proceed with the new system nonetheless. "It will bring high-school accountability to reflect more what the schools are truly doing," said Florida Education Commissioner Eric Smith. Many educators now have reservations, however, including those who had earlier called for an improved assessment system.
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Inauguration Resources for Teachers
Publicschoolinsights.org has drawn up a compilation of educational resources about the upcoming inauguration (and inaugurations past) that includes resources from the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and PBS among others.
http://www.publicschoolinsights.org/inauguration
See also: http://www.nea.org/home/ns/29554.htm
Rethinking the Notion of Public vs. Private
In this Education Week commentary, Doug Tuthill writes that today's school systems have exploded the historical definition of public education. He describes an emerging public education system that embraces customization and social entrepreneurship while defying traditional labels. In Tuthill's view, "private is not always the enemy of public."
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/01/14/18tuthill.h28.html
Dads in the PTA
In her New York Times parenting blog The Motherlode, Lisa Belkin muses on the significance of having a male -- i.e. father -- head the National PTA for the first time.
http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/06/dads-in-the-pta/?emc=eta1
Hartford tries new routes to desegregation
A new five-year plan to desegregate Hartford-area schools calls for the state to spend $49 million in the first two years, the latest development in the Sheff vs. O'Neill legal case that led to a 1996 Connecticut Supreme Court ruling that segregation in Hartford's schools violates the state constitution.
http://www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-ap-ct-schooldesegregatijan07,0,5814795.story
Report shows NYC-based group for dropouts has helped youth make large gains
Community Education Pathways to Success, a program that serves youth who have dropped out of high school with low academic skills, is sharply increasing reading and math skill levels among these youth, according to a recent evaluation, preparing them for work and further education.
http://www.nyec.org/content/documents/YouthNotes_November_2008.pdf |
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| NEW GRANT AND FUNDING INFORMATION |
Dear Mr. President: Entries Sought for Letter Writing Contest
Are your children showing interest in President-elect Obama as the inauguration nears? There's a cool way to make them feel a part of history. The National Education Association and kidthing have teamed up to gather submissions for Dear Mr. President, a digital book to be published on Presidents' Day, Feb. 16. Kids are asked to send their ideas for President-elect Obama in the form of letters or drawings. Kidthing and the NEA will put the top 50 entries into the digital book and a print version will be sent to the White House. For more information and a submission form, visit the link below. (Warning: you do have to register on the site.) Deadline: January 20, 2009
http://store.kidthing.com/campaigns/dmp.aspx
Community-Campus Partnerships for Health: Annual Award
The Community-Campus Partnerships for Health Award recognizes exemplary partnerships between communities and higher educational institutions that build on each other's strengths to improve higher education, civic engagement, and the overall health of communities. Maximum award: public recognition. Eligibility: "community partner" -- individual, organization or agency; "higher education partner" -- community college, college, university or residency program, including affiliated administrators, faculty, staff and students. Deadline: January 30, 2009.
http://depts.washington.edu/ccph/awards.html
Fiskars: Project Orange Thumb
Fiskars Project Orange Thumb grants give Fiskars garden tools and materials such as plants, seeds, mulch, etc. to eligible gardening groups. Maximum award: $1,500 in Fiskars garden tools and $800 in gardening-related materials (i.e. green goods). Eligibility: gardens and/or gardening projects geared toward community involvement, neighborhood beautification, horticultural education and/or sustainable agriculture. Deadline: February 17, 2008.
http://www.fiskars.com/content/garden_en_us/Garden/Community
U.S. Department of Education: Partnerships in Character Education Program
The Federal Partnerships in Character Education Program supports the design and implementation of character education programs that can be integrated into classroom instruction and that are consistent with state academic content standards. Such programs may be carried out in conjunction with other educational reform efforts and must take into consideration the views of the parents of the students to be taught under the program and the views of the students. Maximum award: $600,000. Eligibility: states, school districts, and nonprofit organizations (in partnership with districts). Deadline: February 24, 2009.
http://www.ed.gov/programs/charactered
Hewlett-Packard: Innovations in Education Grants
The 2009 HP Innovations in Education grants provide funding for secondary school districts to launch innovative pilot initiatives that support the administrators and teachers responsible for student success in math and science in middle schools and/or high schools. Maximum award: $270,000. Eligibility: any public or accredited private school district or school system that serves at least 2000 secondary school (grades 6-12) students. Deadline: March 30, 2009.
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/grants/us/2009-HPIIE-Secondary-US.pdf
For more grants, see http://www.publiceducation.org/newsblast_grants.asp
"One of the smartest stimulus moves we could make would be to eliminate federal income taxes on all public schoolteachers so more talented people would choose these careers. I'd also double the salaries of all highly qualified math and science teachers, staple green cards to the diplomas of foreign students who graduate from any U.S. university in math or science -- instead of subsidizing their educations and then sending them home -- and offer full scholarships to needy students who want to go to a public university or community college for the next four years. J.F.K. took us to the moon. Let B.H.O. (Barack Hussein Obama) take America back to school."
-Thomas L. Friedman, from "Tax Cuts for Teachers". The New York Times. January 10, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/opinion/11friedman.html
See also: http://www.eduwonk.com/2009/01/pay-teachers-like-professionals.html
See also: http://www.quickanded.com/2009/01/very-bad-good-idea.html
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