McRel Rural E-News, February 2007

1. Economists Tout Value of Reducing Dropouts Education Week
Many studies have attempted to calculate the cost to society of high school dropouts. A new report from the Columbia University Teacher College claims to be the "first to come up with concrete costs of specific interventions that have shown to be effective," according to lead reporter, Henry Levin. According to this study, cutting the dropout rate in half would yield a lifetime benefit of $45 billion in tax revenue.

2. In NJ schools, lots of languages and little time to teach English NJ.com
In Ventnor Elementary School, as in many schools nationwide, the number of English language learners (ELLs) is skyrocketing. Not only is the number of ELLs growing every year, but the diversity of primary languages is also growing � it is not uncommon for four or five different languages to be spoken in a single classroom. At the same time, the pressure to ensure that all of these students achieve on standardized tests is growing.

3. 'What Works' Reviewers Find No Learning Edge for Leading Math Texts Education Week
The federal What Works Clearinghouse labels one popular mathematics program as offering "potentially positive results," while the other major players are said to have "no discernable effect." Critics complain that these labels are misleading, and could actually indicate that most mathematics programs are equally good � or equally bad.

4. McREL summer professional development opportunities McREL
Do you want to know the "right" things to do to raise your students' achievement? Do you need to improve the quality of your science lessons? Do you strive to become a better leader? McREL is offering nine opportunities for practitioners to learn, reflect, and interact this summer! Select from offerings that focus on science, instruction, or leadership.

5. NCER Summer Research Training Institute National Center for Education Research
The National Center for Education Research (NCER), Institute of Education Sciences (IES), is sponsoring a Summer Research Training Institute on the implementation of cluster (or group) randomized trials in education settings. Training will take place June 17�29 at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. NCER will cover the cost of course materials and of travel to and from the Training Institute site, lodging, and meals on days of instruction. Training Institute Fellows will be asked to pay a registration fee of $250. The application deadline is February 28.

6. McREL seeks high school teachers to participate in nanoscience field test McREL
McREL, in partnership with the Stanford Nanofabrication Facility and ASPEN Associates, has been awarded a National Science Foundation grant to develop and evaluate a set of nanoscale science instructional materials for use at the high school level. Fifty chemistry and 50 physical science teachers from public high schools are needed to participate in a three-week field test of these materials, to take place during the 2007�2008 school year. The deadline for submitting applications is March 2.

7. 27th Annual Excellence in Education Conference Nebraska Department of Education
Improving Student Achievement by Creating a Culture of Learning is the theme for the 27th Annual Excellence in Education Conference, set for March 28�29 in Lincoln, Neb. Attendees will learn about the national trends and innovations in education and gain a better understanding of how the school improvement process can increase learning, what resources are available to assist in local efforts, and how to create a job-embedded system of professional development. The format of the conference includes study groups, allowing participants to experience first-hand how Professional Learning Communities work.

8. Dept. of Ed. announces grant for Improving Literacy Through School Libraries U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education has announced its Improving Literacy Through School Libraries grant, available for local educational agencies (LEAs) in which at least 20 percent of students served by the LEA are from families with incomes below the poverty line, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The purpose of the program is to improve student reading skills and academic achievement by providing students with increased access to up-to-date school library materials; well-equipped, technologically-advanced school library media centers; and well-trained, professionally-certified school library media specialists. Application deadline is April 2.

NEW FROM McREL

9. Teacher Effects in scientifically rigorous research International Society for Technology in Education
Helen Apthorp, a principal researcher at McREL, has written an article for February's Learning & Leading with Technology, the journal of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), on how teachers play an important role in improving student outcomes by how well they implement new programs. Teachers with a higher degree of understanding of a program's design and better management of its use get better results from their students. This article is available to subscribers only.

10. Web site for The Future of Education: A Structured Response to Uncertainty McREL
This new Web site focuses on McREL's scenario planning work and includes publications and resources from McREL, information on our futures services, a suggested reading list, links to relevant pages, and a "Trend of the Month" � a text and/or audio essay about the future of education.

11. Knowledge and Skills for the Early 21st Century Colorado Association of School Boards
John Kendall, Senior Director of Research for McREL, wrote an article for PRISM, the Colorado Association of School Boards' semi-annual publication. Kendall points out the difficulty of aligning core standards in school with the knowledge and skills required for the 21st century. Surprisingly, the message from colleges and employers suggests that both require the same core knowledge, which is generally lacking in high school graduates. Kendall points out, "As the world grows flatter�students will not succeed anywhere until they are prepared to succeed everywhere."

12. How Do You Know � Scientifically Speaking? Kansas Association of Teachers of Science
Anne Tweed, Lead Consultant for McREL, wrote an article for KATS News, a publication of the Kansas Association of Teachers of Science. Tweed explains that to understand how we know what we know scientifically means that teachers must teach about the "scientific way of knowing," which is based not only on evidence, but can be influenced by prior knowledge, training, beliefs, and experiences. Thus, teaching theories such as evolution do not have to create conflict in the classroom when they are understood to be a scientific way of knowing, and when students are presented with opportunities to talk about and challenge one another's ideas.

REPORT ROUNDUP

13. America's Perfect Storm ETS
According to this report from ETS's Policy Information Center, a convergence of three powerful sociological and economic forces is bound to put the American Dream and our nation at risk: increasing disparities in reading and math skill levels, widening wage gaps, and a shift toward less education and lower skills. In order to slow or stop this convergence, educators must raise learning levels, increase reading and math skills, and narrow the achievement gap.

14. Beyond NCLB The Aspen Institute
This extensive report, drafted by a 15-member bipartisan commission co-chaired by former Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson and former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes, makes several recommendations for the renewal of No Child Left Behind. Chief among these are the establishment of national standards for student achievement, a broader definition of highly qualified teachers, and the revamping of testing systems. The Commission intends for report to be used as a blueprint for Congress when NCLB comes up for reauthorization later this year.

15. The Nation's Report Card: 12th-Grade Reading and Mathematics 2005 &
High School Transcript Study The Nation's Report Card
Results of the 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in reading and mathematics at grade 12 are now available from The Nation's Report Card, along with results of the High School Transcript Study.

16. Toward Proficiency Voices in Urban Education
The Winter 2007 issue of Voices in Urban Education, published by the Annenberg Institute for School Reform, focuses on defining proficiency in the era of No Child Left Behind. While all students are required under NCLB to be "proficient" in reading and mathematics, the definition of "proficiency" is left up to each state. In this issue, five different education experts (or groups of experts) weigh in on the subject.

McREL IN THE NEWS

17. February 19
McREL Researcher Trains Early Childhood Educators in Southwest Wisconsin McREL
McREL principal researcher Elena Bodrova has provided extensive early childhood training to teachers in Wisconsin since 2004. This press release from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville announces the expansion of this program for the next three years.

18. January 27
Researchers give their preliminary impressions of Grand Island Senior High Grand Island Independent, Neb.
McREL researchers recently visited with several focus groups at Grand Island Senior High (GISH) in Grand Island, Neb., to look at school culture, educational leadership, student learning experiences, organizational structure and the school improvement process.