The Educated Guess » Riverside Unified in vanguard of digital texts

The Educated Guess » Riverside Unified in vanguard of digital texts:

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger drew national attention last May when he proclaimed a free digital textbook initiative. He caught a second wave of publicity three months later when he declared that 10 of the vetted digital science and math texts were well aligned to state standards and were ready for downloading.
Since then, it’s been pretty much of a dud, which is not all that surprising. August was too close to the opening of school for most schools to switch textbooks – even for free. And the cash-strapped state was offering no incentives and, more importantly, no training for teachers on how to integrate them into the classroom."

Mich. Senate ready to OK bills in hopes of qualifying for fed aid | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Mich. Senate ready to OK bills in hopes of qualifying for fed aid detnews.com The Detroit News:

"Lansing -- Lawmakers returned from Thanksgiving break Monday, determined to push through K-12 education reforms in time to meet a Jan. 19 deadline to qualify for more than $400 million in federal school funding.

The Legislature typically breaks the third week of December and doesn't return until late January -- meaning lawmakers have just weeks to enact reforms, including fast-track teacher certification, additional charter schools and linking teachers' evaluations with students' test scores.

Following a months-long stalemate between Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Senate Republicans over funding for K-12 and higher education, there are indications lawmakers may come to a rare consensus on federal Race to the Top reforms."

2theadvocate.com | News | Grant writers eye school prize — Baton Rouge, LA

2theadvocate.com News Grant writers eye school prize — Baton Rouge, LA:

"Louisiana’s bid for a $250 million education prize is being led by a pair of 20-somethings with lofty credentials.

One is Chris Meyer, 27, who recently finished a year as a White House Fellow assigned to U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and traveled to 30 countries.
The other is Jacob Landry, 26, who spent a year studying politics in France, among other honors.

At stake is whether the state will be one of the winners in the $4.4 billion “Race to the Top” contest, in which federal officials plan to reward a dozen or so states which are creating conditions for innovation and reform."

Education Week: Duncan Aims to Make Incentives Key Element of ESEA

Education Week: Duncan Aims to Make Incentives Key Element of ESEA:

"U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said Monday that he envisions a significant new emphasis on federal incentives for high-performing schools, districts, and states in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, expected to be taken up by Congress as early as next year.

Mr. Duncan said the Department of Education is considering proposals that would offer increased autonomy, recognition, and resources for states that commit to adopting college- and career-readiness standards, and for schools and districts that make significant progress in student achievement."

The Safety Net - Food Stamp Use Soars, and Stigma Fades - Series - NYTimes.com

The Safety Net - Food Stamp Use Soars, and Stigma Fades - Series - NYTimes.com:

"MARTINSVILLE, Ohio — With food stamp use at record highs and climbing every month, a program once scorned as a failed welfare scheme now helps feed one in eight Americans and one in four children."

It has grown so rapidly in places so diverse that it is becoming nearly as ordinary as the groceries it buys. More than 36 million people use inconspicuous plastic cards for staples like milk, bread and cheese, swiping them at counters in blighted cities and in suburbs pocked with foreclosure signs.

Virtually all have incomes near or below the federal poverty line, but their eclectic ranks testify to the range of people struggling with basic needs. They include single mothers and married couples, the newly jobless and the chronically poor, longtime recipients of welfare checks and workers whose reduced hours or slender wages leave pantries bare.

While the numbers have soared during the recession, the path was cleared in better times when the Bush administration led a campaign to erase the program’s stigma, calling food stamps “nutritional aid” instead of welfare, and made it easier to apply. That bipartisan effort capped an extraordinary reversal from the 1990s, when some conservatives tried to abolish the program, Congress enacted large cuts and bureaucratic hurdles chased many needy people away.

Kent schools' Young Authors event: Putting the focus on writing - Kent Reporter

Kent schools' Young Authors event: Putting the focus on writing - Kent Reporter:

"When she grows up, Andrea Alvarez wants to be a poet. Or an artist. Or an author.

“I mostly like to write poetry and stories,” she said, telling a little bit about her most recent story, a tale of a boy waiting in the principal’s office. “I like writing because you can write whatever you want.”

On Nov. 17, the 10-year-old Daniel Elementary School Student got encouragement from Eric Ode - an artist, poet and author - about how she can write better stories and poems."

Parenting daughters to succeed

Parenting daughters to succeed:

"Raising teens today is a challenge. In many cases, raising teen girls today are more challenging. Struggling with peer pressure, appearances, hair, clothes and cliques - it never seems to end.

Parenting expert, and renown author, Dr. Michele Borba (BIG Book of Parenting Solutions) recently discussed this growing concern in teen culture.

The American Psychological Association's study confirms what many parents feared: All those raunchy, sexy girl messages do indeed have an negative impact on our daughters and are correlated eating disorders, lower self-esteem, and depression. The Today Show asked Michele Borba to address what parents can do to counter those negative messages."

Education Week: Spotlight on Parental Involvement

Education Week: Spotlight on Parental Involvement:

"View the complete collection of Education Week Spotlights.
Buy the Spotlight on Parental Involvement
(PDF) for $4.95"

The Education Week Spotlight on Parental Involvement is a collection of articles hand-picked by our editors for their insights on:
building relationships through home visits
math workshops for parents to encourage family learning
barriers to parental involvement
strategies for creating strong family-school-community relationships to benefit student learning
working with non-English speaking parents
enhancing parent engagement in high schools
professional development activities to build teachers' capacity to involve families
web resources on parental involvment
A great value! You get the eight articles below and a resource guide in a downloadable PDF.

Going Home
Teacher home visits can create positive connections among families and teachers, and help educators better understand students' and parents' needs, writes Larry Ferlazzo. August 5, 2009

Parents Schooled in Learning How to Help With Math
Interest is growing in math workshops for parents, which encourage them to take an active role in their children's learning and answer questions and concerns. February 23, 2009

Parents Show Strong Interest in School Involvement
Low-achieving schools are found to do little to reach out to families. October 23, 2008

Building the Parent-Teacher Relationship: Part I
Anne T. Henderson and Karen L. Mapp, are key voices in the national discussion on family engagement. In Part I, they address how to overcome obstacles in the parent-teacher relationship. First of two parts. May 6, 2008

Building the Parent-Teacher Relationship: Part II
Anne T. Henderson and Karen L. Mapp are key voices in the national discussion on family engagement. With input from their colleagues, Henderson and Mapp discuss strategies for teachers, parents, and administrators who are looking to build family-school partnerships.Last of two parts. May 14, 2008

Engaging Schools, Engaging Parents: The School-Community Partnership
In response to research showing a connection between parental involvement and student achievement, districts nationwide have launched initiatives to increase community engagement with schools. Yet many schools find it difficult to sustain parent involvement beyond the parent-teacher conference. September 4, 2009

CommentaryImprove Education From Day One: Leverage Parents
"For too long, schools have assigned parents the role of fundraiser and bake-sale booster. Let’s launch a national campaign that draws them more deeply into their children’s education,” say Bill Jackson & Leanna Landsmann. January 21, 2009

CommentaryThe Parent Factor:
"Telling children that school is valuable is a lot less effective than showing them it is by being involved in what they are doing there," says teacher Daniel Ordorica. January 5, 2009

Here are just a few of our recent Spotlights:

• Parental Involvement Useful tips on building family-school-community relationships, enhancing parent engagement in high schools, working with non-English-speaking parents, and encouraging family learning.

• Algebra A look at strategies to help students struggling in algebra, introducing algebra in the early grades, computer-aided instruction, and efforts to create common algebra assessments across states.

• Common Standards Insights on the Common Core effort to establish uniform expectations for the nation's students, the process of crafting draft standards, and expert Commentary on national content standards.

Other Spotlights our readers have recently found valuable:

• Classroom Management
• Reading Instruction
• ELL Assessment & Teaching
• Response to Intervention
• Tips for New Teachers
• Flu and Schools
• STEM in Schools
• Technology in the Classroom
• Inclusion and Assistive Technology

Big school districts lose big as students leave | StarTribune.com

Big school districts lose big as students leave StarTribune.com:

"At a time when state funding is precarious, Minnesota's largest school districts are losing thousands of students and millions of dollars to one of the state's most noteworthy innovations: open enrollment.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first time open enrollment was a required school-choice option for large Minnesota school districts. While celebrated as a nation-leading school reform breakthrough, open enrollment is robbing some districts of their primary source of state funding: kids."

Court won't revive student's suit over grad speech - U.S. Politics & Government - SignOnSanDiego.com

Court won't revive student's suit over grad speech - U.S. Politics & Government - SignOnSanDiego.com:

"WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court won't revive a student's lawsuit against a school that punished her for talking about her religion during her high school graduation speech.

The high court on Monday refused to hear an appeal from Erica Corder. She was punished for her 2006 speech at the Lewis-Palmer High School commencement in Monument, Colo.
School officials screened Corder's speech in advance but she changed her text, urging the audience to consider the Christian faith."

Denver school reforms approved amid turmoil - The Denver Post

Denver school reforms approved amid turmoil - The Denver Post:

"School reform plans in Denver got the go-ahead Monday night in a board meeting filled with surprises, tears and drama as it raised questions about board cohesiveness going forward.

The night was pivotal as the school board approved turnaround plans for six schools, put in a host of other reforms and saw the changing of the guard for three board seats.

Newly elected board member Andrea Merida caused immediate controversy when she refused to wait until after the reform vote to be sworn in with two others.

Instead, Merida went to a district court judge hours before the board meeting, armed with certified results from the Nov. 3 election, and took her oath."

Dispute leaves Detroit School of Arts TV studio idle | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Dispute leaves Detroit School of Arts TV studio idle detnews.com The Detroit News:

"Inside the Detroit School of Arts, students have big dreams to make movies, deliver hard-hitting broadcast news and star in their own talk shows.

But a contract dispute between Detroit schools and Detroit Public Television has kept the professional TV studios and equipment out of the hands of the students at the gleaming, six-story $122 million school that opened downtown four years ago.

Now, both sides have agreed to end the 10-year contract, freeing up opportunities for Michigan's burgeoning film industry and for students to learn from professionals, according to district spokesman Steve Wasko."

MPS plan gives mayor too much power, aldermen say - JSOnline

MPS plan gives mayor too much power, aldermen say - JSOnline:

"Two Milwaukee aldermen Monday questioned whether proposed legislation would give the mayor too much control over the Milwaukee Public Schools budget.

That legislation also will be the topic of a public hearing by the School Board at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday at the school district's central office, 5225 W. Vliet St.

The Legislature is considering a bill that would empower the mayor to appoint the MPS superintendent and grant the superintendent final authority over the district's budget, labor negotiations and school closings. Backers say the change is needed to improve student performance; opponents argue that it takes power away from the elected School Board."

Teachers make house calls to forge stronger partnerships - JSOnline

Teachers make house calls to forge stronger partnerships - JSOnline:

"Maplewood, Mo. — She pulls up in an orange Mini Cooper. Bold glasses, big smile.

But there are no spaces left in front of the Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District office, where Karen Kalish works to improve student achievement by way of parental involvement.
So she drives right up over a shallow curb, tucks her tiny car alongside the building and steps out into the summer humidity.

Kalish is here to train teachers in this St. Louis County district to act with similar boldness. She will help them leave their classrooms and enter the homes of their students, the place where parents and families hold the most authority."

Why men warrant a break on college admissions

Why men warrant a break on college admissions:

"It is hard to imagine that the controversies over how colleges pick their freshmen classes — the admissions 'black boxes' that all too often seem to prefer someone else's child — could get any hotter. But they are.

Topping the list of gripes are 'legacy' admissions — the students who get an extra boost because their daddy or granddaddy graduated from that college (and kicked more than a few bucks into the college coffers)."

New CPS admissions policy blasted as racist :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: City Hall

New CPS admissions policy blasted as racist :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: City Hall:

"A new admissions policy for elite Chicago public schools is little more than a plot to free up seats for middle-class white families tired of paying private school tuition, black aldermen charged Monday.

The new policy followed a federal judge's decision to void a 1980 desegregation consent decree that let CPS use race to decide admissions to the coveted schools. Now, census tracts, neighborhood income levels and other socio-economic indicators will be determining factors."

Class Sizes Rise in New York City, Mostly Because of Budget Cuts - NYTimes.com

Class Sizes Rise in New York City, Mostly Because of Budget Cuts - NYTimes.com:

"Propelled by budget cuts and enrollment increases, class sizes in the New York City public school system rose this year, with high school students and kindergartners in particular feeling the squeeze.

While class sizes went up in all grades in the past year — generally by slightly less than one student per class — increases were larger in major high school subjects. High school English classes now have an average of 26.4 students, up from 24.7 in 2008, according to preliminary figures from the Department of Education. High school science classes now have an average of 27.4 students, up from 26.1."

Crackpot schools - NYPOST.com

Crackpot schools - NYPOST.com:

"As long as Mayor Bloomberg is rolling up his sleeves for a brawl over the new teach ers-union contract, it's time for him to take a swing at another problem that's festered too long: the radicalization of New York's public schools.

A growing number of city schools aim to foster resentment and rage among the most uneducated students. Under the guise of 'social justice,' the fomenting of racial and socio-economic grievances has supplanted the teaching of basic skills. The result is an even wider gap in learning between the poorest minorities and other students."

The corruption of the curriculum is getting harder to conceal. In the wake of the ACORN scandals, it's more obviously problematic that ACORN is affiliated with three city schools -- including two in Brooklyn bearing the group's name: ACORN Community HS and the ACORN HS for Social Justice.

Karen Watts, the principal of the ACORN HS for Social Justice in Bushwick, seems sensitive to the group's bad publicity: She says ACORN no longer has any involvement with the school. But that's news to Debra Burgess, the school's parent coordinator -- who told me the school's "philosophy" is based around ACORN: "We do have to follow their philosophy, and their philosophy is 'reform and change.' "

Watts says she's aware of no political advocacy in the classroom. Latasha Farmer, an English teacher who lectures her students about the dangers of standardized testing and gentrification, is more candid. "Politics has always been part of the education system, period," says Farmer, whose school Web page shows a student decorating her classroom door with anti-war slogans.



Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/crackpot_schools_CiMhuJFndHG6dcsNDfH1ZK#ixzz0YRYG3PP2

Violence at D.C. charter schools prompts more police - washingtonpost.com

Violence at D.C. charter schools prompts more police - washingtonpost.com:

"D.C. officials have decided to give charter schools the same police protection as regular D.C. public schools after a two-month-long spate of violence near a charter school in Northeast Washington.

Educators and some officials had complained that the absence of regularly posted police officers at charter schools was putting students at risk. At Friendship Collegiate Academy in Northeast, at least eight students have been assaulted or robbed after class since September, and several large fights have broken out in front of the school. The violence quieted last month, although it didn't disappear, after police increased staffing in the area during dismissal time."

CCRI president among 3 finalists for job on Long Island | Rhode Island news | projo.com | The Providence Journal

CCRI president among 3 finalists for job on Long Island Rhode Island news projo.com The Providence Journal:

"Ray DiPasquale, president of the Community College of Rhode Island, is one of three finalists for the top job at the Suffolk County Community College in New York, the largest college in the SUNY community college system.

DiPasquale, 59, who became CCRI’s interim president in January 2006 and was officially appointed to the post later that year, earns $202,910 a year. He also has use of a car and a house on the Warwick campus as part of his compensation package. CCRI has 17,800 full-time-equivalent students on four campuses this year."

Parents' age and child’s autism risk » DoctorNDTV ....for the better health of Indians

Parents' age and child’s autism risk » DoctorNDTV ....for the better health of Indians:

"Children born to relatively older mothers or fathers may have a higher risk of autism than those with younger parents.

Autism spectrum disorders include several developmental brain disorders that, to varying degrees, hinder a person's ability to communicate and interact socially. The precise causes of autism are not fully understood, though researchers believe that genetic susceptibility plays a key role."

A Brief History of Jews in Public Schools | Cover Story | Jewish Journal

A Brief History of Jews in Public Schools Cover Story Jewish Journal:

"With the many LAUSD schools having spotty reputations, and given the array of private schools to choose from, Jewish support for Los Angeles public schools in recent years has been at best tepid. But that wasn’t always the case.

Jews in L.A. have had a long and textured relationship with the public education system. From the 1890s, when the city first established elementary and high school districts, through to the 1960s, public education was a mainstay of the Jewish community. But when school demographics began to shift as working class Latino and African American populations burgeoned, many Jewish families pulled out of public schools and migrated to the private realm."

Middle school teachers get help in closing achievement gap | Inland News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

Middle school teachers get help in closing achievement gap Inland News PE.com Southern California News News for Inland Southern California:

"Don Krasniak knows how difficult school can be for students speaking English as a second language. He grew up speaking Polish at home.

For the last 13 years, he has taught eighth-grade science at Mountain View Middle School in Moreno Valley. The majority of his students speak Spanish at home and some barely speak English. He sympathizes with the English learners, Krasniak said, but it takes more than sympathy to teach them. He and his colleagues need training.

'It's absolutely necessary for new teachers and old teachers alike,' he said. 'There are a lot of new, challenging classroom settings. There's a lot more diversity.'"

University Of California Experience Huge Applications After Shift In Admission Procedure

University Of California Experience Huge Applications After Shift In Admission Procedure:

"Dec. 01, (THAINDIAN NEWS) The authorities of the University of California have reported that there has been an onslaught in the number of applications this year. The largest higher education system in the country, the University obviously presents a lot of lucrative prospects for the students. The sudden rise in the number of applications has been attributed to the increase in the population that chooses to go for higher education. Also, this year, the University of California has made a shift in the admission procedure. Earlier, the admissions used to be on a non competitive basis. From the current academic year, it has shifted to a competitive examination based admission procedure."

Editorial: Spotlight shines on City Hall disarray - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

Editorial: Spotlight shines on City Hall disarray - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

"Amid disarray in City Hall, Sacramento's business leadership is rightly focused on the rifts within the City Council and the need to make sure the city's building department is run properly.
Yet a letter recently circulated by Steve Ayers, the CEO of Armour Steel Company, has created more questions than answers on where the business community is heading on these issues."
Does it want to be a unifying force? Or will it take an overly aggressive stance that could further divide the city?

In his letter to other business owners, Ayers noted that Mayor Kevin Johnson's ballot measure for "strong mayor" authority is a source of tension. The politics of this proposal, wrote Ayers, "is tearing the city council apart."

Ayers was a top supporter of Johnson's opponent, former Mayor Heather Fargo, so he may be overstating things a bit. Yet there's no doubt many on the council think Johnson is overreaching with his strong-mayor proposal. It's also encouraging that Ayers and other business leaders are interested in brokering a compromise that might avoid a costly ballot battle on this proposal.

Sacramento Press / Opponents say strong mayor initiative faces lawsuit

Sacramento Press / Opponents say strong mayor initiative faces lawsuit:

A group that opposes the “strong mayor” initiative says that a citizen is challenging the initiative through a lawsuit.

The group SAVE Sacramento announced it will hold a press conference about the lawsuit Tuesday at 10 a.m. at City Hall.

Detailed information about the lawsuit was unavailable at press time.

Mayor Kevin Johnson backs the initiative, which would provide him with many new powers.

Matt Kelly, executive secretary of the Sacramento-Sierra Building and Construction Trades Council, talked about the lawsuit Monday.

Sacramento Press / Fall in Sacramento

COMMUNITY JOURNALISM AT ITS BEST

Sacramento Press / Fall in Sacramento:

"images from photographer David Roberts, taken during his bike rides around Sacramento."

More of the best and brightest heading to community college - washingtonpost.com

More of the best and brightest heading to community college - washingtonpost.com:

"Kira Cassels applied to 11 colleges and got in to every one. The kitchen of her Laurel home came to resemble a high school guidance office, the breakfast table buried beneath brochures and financial aid forms from destinations such as the University of Virginia and Franklin & Marshall College.

This Story

• The best and brightest take a detour
• The Answer Sheet: Should two-year community colleges offer bachelor's degrees?
• Your Take: A good way to save cash?

Patrick Awuah on educating leaders | Video on TED.com

Patrick Awuah on educating leaders Video on TED.com:

"Patrick Awuah makes the case that a liberal arts education is critical to forming true leaders.

About Patrick Awuah

After working at Microsoft for almost a decade, Patrick Awuah returned home to Ghana and cofounded Ashesi University, a small liberal arts college that aims to educate Africa's next generation… Full bio and more links"

THE EDUCATION FRONT Blog | The Dallas Morning News

THE EDUCATION FRONT Blog The Dallas Morning News:

"Kay Hutchison finally got into education issues in her gubernatorial campaign last week, and, for the most part, I thought she laid out some good ideas. Rick Perry has been all over her for copying some of his ideas. But, you know, I don't care where ideas come from as long as they can benefit kids in school.

Here are a couple of areas where I think her proposals stand out:"

First, she wants to focus on middle schoolers with strategies that will keep them from dropping out once they get to high school. I doubt anyone's been elected governor because of their middle school policies, but she is really on the mark here. As many educators know, kids tend to make progress in elementary school, then fall off once they hit middle school. In some cases, they fall so far behind, they give up and dropout by the time they reach ninth or tenth grade.

What Hutchison proposes is an "accelerated middle school initiative." Here's what her press release says:

"Hutchison will propose an Accelerated Middle Schools initiative to help middle school students who are behind grade level "catch up" by covering core academic curriculum at an accelerated pace. With individualized e-Learning, and a focus on core subjects necessary for graduation, students one or two years behind grade level will be able to catch up to their peers and stay on track."

VSP Company Hiring for 21 Positions in Rancho Cordova — The Rancho Cordova Post

VSP Company Hiring for 21 Positions in Rancho Cordova — The Rancho Cordova Post:

"Eyefinity/Officemate, a VSP Company, has announced they will be hiring for 23 positions within their company, and 21 of those jobs will be located in Rancho Cordova.

Ten positions are currently available and can be accessed on VSP’s website, and the remaining positions will open early next year. The positions that will be available include ”product managers, implementation specialists and coordinators, training specialists, quality assurance specialists and software support representatives,” VSP Public Relations Officer Jace Duval said."

Superintendent hires teacher as chief of staff

Superintendent hires teacher as chief of staff

Sacramento City Unified School District Superintendent Jonathan P. Raymond
announced today he has hired Dr. Teresa Cummings, a district math teacher and instructional expert, as his chief of staff. Cummings will focus on strategic planning to help improve learning district wide and improving support to schools. She begins work in her new position today.

“Dr. Cummings brings an important teacher perspective as chief of staff as well as a strong commitment to involving parents in the education of their children,” Raymond said. “She has had great success in reaching out to and teaching underserved students. The magic and learning happens in the classroom, and Teresa understands that.”

Since 2004, Cummings has worked at Hiram Johnson High School where she taught Prealgebra, Algebra 1, physical education and California High School Exit Exam preparation. She also has taught at the middle school, community college and university levels and has been a strong supporter and participant in the district’s Parent Teacher Home Visit Program as a teacher.

“I believe in the direction Superintendent Raymond is moving the district—putting children first,” Cummings said. “I wanted to be part of the change.”

Cummings earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from California State University, Chico. She earned her Ph.D. in education from the University of Illinois, Chicago where her doctoral studies emphasized curriculum design for urban youth.

Cummings lives in the district and is married to a district math teacher. She has three children and has served on the Peter Burnett Elementary School site council as a parent.

“Urban school districts become great by teaching themselves to greatness. With the
contributions and dedication of staff like Teresa, we will get there,” Raymond said.

http://www.scusd.edu/Pages/default.aspx

DIGITAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS: Tools and Technologies for Effective Classrooms

DIGITAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS: Tools and Technologies for Effective Classrooms:

"I’m heading to Austin next week for a summit on 'Redefining Teacher Education for Digital Age Learners'. If you’re an experienced teacher or currently enrolled in a teacher preparation program, your feedback is urgently needed. Now's your chance...

This invitational summit is scheduled for Dec 6-8, 2009, where education leaders from across the US will be gathering to discuss the future of teacher preparation programs (http://www.redefineteachered.org/). While the invited attendees are an impressive and experienced group, I know there are many important perspectives from practicing (or retired or pre-service) teachers that need a voice, too. Here’s how you can help."

Dan Brown: The "Achilles Heel" of Education Reform is Slashed by Michael Bloomberg

Dan Brown: The "Achilles Heel" of Education Reform is Slashed by Michael Bloomberg:

"High-stakes testing is a bullet train barreling through education reform; you're either on the train, on the sidelines, or waving your hands in frantic protest, only to be run over.

Last week's education speech by emboldened New York City Mayor-for-Life Bloomberg (who just dropped nine-figures of his own cash on his re-election bid) is depressing news to people on the ground in schools. Conducting the Testing Express, Bloomberg announced:"

"As [Secretary of Education] Arne [Duncan] had said a number of times, 'A state can't enter Race to the Top if it prohibits schools from using student achievement data to evaluate teachers and that's why California just repealed its prohibition on doing so.'

"In New York, the State Legislature passed a law last year that actually tells principals: You can evaluate teachers on any criteria you want - just not on student achievement data. That's like saying to hospitals: You can evaluate heart surgeons on any criteria you want - just not patient survival rates! You really can't make this up! Thankfully, the law in New York is set to expire this June - but that is not enough.

"We will urge the State not just to prohibit but to require all districts to create data-driven systems to comprehensively evaluate teachers and principals. And we want New York City to lead the way..."

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse | Empowering Consumers. Protecting Privacy.

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse Empowering Consumers. Protecting Privacy.:

"Welcome to Our New Website!

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse is pleased to welcome you to our re-designed website. Our new site incorporates user-oriented features that make it easier for visitors to quickly find and share information. We’ve also updated our widely popular privacy compilations, including our Online Information Brokers List and our nationally-recognized Chronology of Data Breaches.

Using the open source software Drupal, our new site allows PRC's privacy advocates to update the site more frequently - without compromising the privacy of our visitors."

"SAVE Sacramento"

"SAVE Sacramento"

The Sacramento City Teachers Association CTA/NEA announced a press conference to "SAVE Sacramento" tomorrow, Tuesday December 1, 2009 at 10 am in front of City Hall. SCTA President Linda Tuttle is the featured speaker.

Who Needs Mathematicians for Math, Anyway? by Sandra Stotsky, City Journal 13 November 2009

Who Needs Mathematicians for Math, Anyway? by Sandra Stotsky, City Journal 13 November 2009:

"The statistics on U.S. math performance are grim. American eighth-graders ranked 25th out of 30 countries in mathematics achievement on the 2006 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which claims to assess application of the mathematical knowledge and skills needed in adult life through problem-solving test items. We do better on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), whose test items are related to the content of school mathematics curricula. (Differences in participating countries aren’t significant.) But according to Mark Schneider, a former commissioner of education statistics at the Department of Education, the United States lags behind too many countries in “overall mathematics performance and in the performance of our best students.” And achievement gaps between different student groups within the United States, Schneider says, are “about the same size or even bigger than the gap between the United States and the top-performing countries in TIMSS.”"

The Economic Benefits of Reducing High School Dropout Rates in America's Fifty Largest Cities | Alliance for Excellent Education

The Economic Benefits of Reducing High School Dropout Rates in America's Fifty Largest Cities Alliance for Excellent Education

The Economic Benefits of Reducing High School Dropout Rates in America's Fifty Largest Cities

In the nation's fifty largest cities and their surrounding areas, nearly 600,000 students dropped out from the Class of 2008. These students dropped out at a great cost to themselves, but also to their communities, including the businesses they would have used and the state and local governments to which they would have paid taxes.

Thanks to the model that the Alliance for Excellent Education has developed with the generous support of State Farm® and in partnership with Economic Modeling Specialists, Inc., it can now project how reducing the number of dropouts in half, for just this single high school class, will result in tremendous economic benefits for the business community in those areas and their state and local governments.

This is game-changing research. For the first time ever, the Alliance can demonstrate in dollar terms how every business, every taxpayer and every community benefits when the dropout rate is reduced. It is also able to show that without a doubt, the student is not the only one who benefits from increased educational attainment.
The initial findings from the model answer these and other economic questions for the cities listed below:

How much in additional wages would each metro area benefit from if it reduced the number of high school students who fail to graduate with their class by 50 percent?

What percentage of these new graduates would continue their education after high school? What percentage would earn bachelor's degrees?

How much will annual state and local property, income, and sales tax revenue grow as a result of these new graduates' higher incomes?

To view the combined economic benefits for all fifty cities, read the national analysis.

To view a report for a particular city, please click on it in the list below.

Albuquerque, NM
Memphis, TN
Atlanta, GA
Miami, FL
Austin, TX
Milwaukee, WI
Baltimore, MD
Minneapolis, MN
Boston, MA
Nashville, TN
Charlotte, NC
New York City, NY
Chicago, IL
Oklahoma City, OK
Cleveland, OH
Omaha, NE
Colorado Springs, CO
Philadelphia, PA
Columbus, OH
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
Dallas-Ft. Worth-Arlington, TX
Portland, OR
Denver, CO
Sacramento, CA
Detroit, MI
San Antonio, TX
El Paso, TX
San Diego, CA
Fresno, CA
San Francisco-Oakland, CA
Honolulu, HI
San Jose, CA
Houston, TX
Seattle, WA
Indianapolis, IN
Tucson, AZ
Jacksonville, FL
Tulsa, OK
Kansas City, MO
Virginia Beach, VA
Las Vegas, NV
Washington, DC
Los Angeles - Long Beach, CA
Wichita, KS
Louisville, KY
National Analysis

Additional Documents

Press Release: Read the national press release from the Alliance for Excellent Education, which includes quotes from Bob Wise, president of the Alliance and former governor of West Virginia, and Ed Rust, Chairman and CEO of State Farm®.

Frequently Asked Questions: The Alliance for Excellent Education has prepared a list of frequently asked questions about the cities included in the analysis, more information about the economic model, and future calculations the Alliance will release from the model, among others.

Technical Notes: The technical notes document includes a more sophisticated explanation of how the model was constructed and how specific calculations were performed.

A Washington State Fight, a Nationwide Debate - Curriculum Matters - Education Week

A Washington State Fight, a Nationwide Debate - Curriculum Matters - Education Week:

"Some readers may already be aware of a battle unfolding in Washington state over tough new graduation requirements in math, science, speaking, and writing. State schools Superintendent Randy Dorn has proposed delaying the implementation of the mandate, which has rankled Gov. Chris Gregoire and members of the state school board. But while the story carries a Washington state dateline, it reflects a fight that has played out with what seems like increasing frequency in state capitals around the country in recent years.

Dorn is arguing that the state's students simply aren't ready for the new requirements, that current course requirements don't match the test schedules, and that the mandates need to be phased in more slowly. Here's a sample of his argument, from an op-ed in the Spokesman-Review:"

Our new math and science learning standards won't be tested until spring 2011 (math) and spring 2012 (science). That's... continue reading at edweek.org

Study Sees Little Traction for NCLB's Tutoring Provisions - Inside School Research - Education Week

Study Sees Little Traction for NCLB's Tutoring Provisions - Inside School Research - Education Week:

"A study by the Government Accountability Office made waves a few years ago when it estimated that only about a fifth of students were getting the free tutoring services they were entitled to receive under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. As most of you know by now, the 8-year-old law requires Title I schools that fail to hit their achievement targets under the law for three or more years in a row to offer free tutoring, or supplemental education services, to their students. The GAO report looked at data for the 2004-05 school year and found that only 20 percent of eligible students took advantage of the free tutoring that year. That was an improvement from the previous school year, but it still wasn't good enough."

Now fast-forward two more school years, and what you find is that not much has changed—at least not if you believe the estimates cited in a new report released last week by the National Center for Education Statistics. The report draws on data for the 2006-07 school year from a nationally representative sample of households. It finds that only 22 percent of students in persistently failing, Title I schools received free tutoring services from that year, according to their parents. That compares with 13 percent of students in a comparison group of public schools. (Under the law, states can require all chronically failing schools to offer tutoring, which is why some of the non-Title I schools in this sample provided tutoring, too.)

Education Week: Dropout Costs Priced for 50 Major U.S. Cities

Education Week: Dropout Costs Priced for 50 Major U.S. Cities:

"'The Economic Benefits of Reducing High School Dropout Rates in America’s Fifty Largest Cities'

If half the students who dropped out of the class of 2008 had graduated, they would have generated $4.1 billion more in wages and $536 million in state and local taxes nationally in one average year of their working lives, according..."

Education Week: When Roads Diverge: Tracking the Charter Movement

Education Week: When Roads Diverge: Tracking the Charter Movement:

"When two roads diverge in a yellow wood, in poetry and in life, one must choose. After picking a path to follow, inevitably you ask the unanswerable question: What would have happened if you had chosen the other path?

Now we know what happens, at least in education, thanks to a remarkable study of charter schools in New York City. And that study, released in September, suggests that it’s time to widen one of the roads. ('N.Y.C. Study Finds Gains for Charters,' Sept. 30, 2009.)"

Education Week: New Head of U.S. Research Agency Aims for Relevance

Education Week: New Head of U.S. Research Agency Aims for Relevance:

"If improving the “rigor” of education studies has been the watchword for much of the work carried out by the U.S. Department of Education’s key research agency over the past seven years, “relevance” and “usefulness” seem to be shaping up as twin themes for the half-dozen years ahead."

At least that’s the message John Q. Easton, the new director of the department’s Institute of Education Sciences, is communicating as he speaks to national groups around the country. Five months into his six-year term, the 60-year-old Mr. Easton has perfected what he calls his “five-bullet talk” on his plans for the $617-million-a-year agency, founded in 2002. While not yet a hard and fast agenda, his presentation outlines his own goals for the direction the government plans to take in shepherding federal education research.

One point that Mr. Easton makes clear is that while promoting rigorous research through randomized experiments will be an important part of that agenda, it won’t be the agency’s guiding star as it was under his predecessor, Grover J. “Russ” Whitehurst.