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New Michigan law seen narrowing kindergarten options
A new state funding law in Michigan could force school districts to
eliminate half-day kindergarten classes and offer only a full-day
option at greater expense unless they cut other programs, according
to the Detroit News. Conversion to full-day programming would force
districts to add teachers and buy more instructional materials
without receiving additional money from the state. Schools where
some kindergarteners attend in the morning and others in the
afternoon would need new furniture and more space. Some parents,
meanwhile, worry that a full day is too much for a four- or
five-year-old.
Relatively few takers for free tuition in Washington State
A Washington State program offering free college tuition for
students from low-income families has attracted applications from
only about 16,500 of 56,000 eligible middle-school students, the
Seattle Post Intelligencer reports. The surprisingly low figure
appeared to result, at least in part, from inadequate communications
within schools and with parents. Established by the state
legislature in 2007 with a $7.4 million set-aside for the first two
years, the program is known as College Bound Scholarships. It
requires students to pledge to maintain at least a 2.0 grade-point
average through high school, and to stay out of trouble with the
law. Acceptance by a particular college isnt guaranteed, and a
student's eligibility hinges on his or her family's financial
status. The scholarship grew out of a 2006 blueprint for improving
education in the state.
With standard relaxed, many California high schools still fall short
Because of a more relaxed standard for measuring adequate yearly
progress than is used for elementary and middle schools, more
California high schools met federal academic targets this year than
otherwise would have, according to an analysis by the Los Angeles
Times. The proportion that did so, however, was only 48 percent. In
a separate rating system devised by the state, high schools are not
rated on whether students master coursework intended for their grade
level, but on whether they pass a test that is designed as a minimum
standard to show what students have learned and that serves as a
requirement for high school diplomas. The Times says that if high
schools were rated on results of the state's "STAR" tests -- the
method used for lower grades -- hundreds more high schools could
face sanctions for insufficient academic achievement.
Girls interest in math and science shown to benefit from adults' support
Contrary to a widespread view that little can be done if middle- and
high-school-aged girls show no interest in science or math, a study
at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has found that
encouragement and confidence instilled in young girls about math and
science by their parents and teachers is more important than girls'
initial interest, Science Daily reports. "For the last 20 years,
there has been all this work done on boosting interest of girls
early on. But I don't think that's it," says Nadya Fouad, a
vocational psychologist who was one of the authors of the National
Science Foundation-funded study. Instead, support -- or its absence
-- and perceptions play heavily into whether girls follow and
develop their interest, and gender-based preconceptions are still
common in teachers.
Considering how Obama would reform education
In a look at Barack Obama's stance on education policy issues, Paul
Tough, an editor at the New York Times Magazine, has examined the
views of three people whose work embodies pieces of the presidential
candidate's approach to education reform. One analyst, James J.
Heckman, an economist at the University of Chicago, sees persistent
poverty as a deficit of skills and resources that allow people to
compete in a high-tech, service-driven economy. Early intervention
in the lives of poor children can narrow or eliminate that deficit,
Heckman argues. Education scholar Susan B. Neuman, meanwhile, points
to nine non-school programs designed to improve the lives of poor
children. In a forthcoming book, "Changing the Odds for Children at
Risk," the University of Michigan professor describes efforts that
work in tandem with schools to provide the kind of intensive
intervention in the early years of a child's life that Heckman
proposes. And Geoffrey Canada, president of Harlem Children's Zone
in New York City, takes the approach of Neuman's programs a step
further, integrating school and social services from the time of a
child's birth through high school graduation. In a synthesis of such
ideas, Obama has proposed what he calls "Promise Neighborhoods."
They would be run as public-private partnerships, with the federal
government providing half the funds, with the rest coming from local
governments, private philanthropies, and businesses. A new book by
Tough is titled, "Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canadas Quest to
Change Harlem and America.
For another take on Obama and education, see
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/us/politics/10educate.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Also see AP's summary of McCain vs. Obama on education at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080910/ap_on_el_pr/next_president_education
Florida high court strikes education amendments from ballot
The Florida Supreme Court has removed three controversial
school-related amendments from the November ballot, reports the
Miami Herald. The amendments had been placed on the ballot directly
by the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, a citizens' panel that
meets once every 20 years. The court held that the amendments were
misleading to voters. One was aimed at eliminating property taxes
that pay for schools, lowering average tax bills by 25 percent, and
forcing legislators to replace the money with sales and other taxes.
Another amendment would have repealed a century-old ban on direct
state funding of religious institutions, including religious
schools. The third amendment would have overturned a decision by the
state Supreme Court that invalidated state-paid vouchers for
students in failing public schools to attend private schools. The
amendments were opposed by a coalition of unions, school boards, and
various interest groups in business, healthcare, and education.
Policy groups join forces on education benchmarking
Three national policy organizations have joined ranks to ensure that
states have a means to benchmark their K-12 education systems to
those of top-performing nations. The National Governors Association,
the Council of Chief State School Officers, and Achieve, Inc., have
formed the International Benchmarking Advisory Group. Its
participants are education experts, members of the business
community, researchers, former federal officials, and current state
and local officials. The new group -- which will be co-chaired by
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, and Craig
Barrett, chairman of the board at Intel Corporation -- will provide
guidance on education benchmarking in such areas as standards,
accountability, the workforce, and assessments. Said Napolitano:
"The most recent results of Programme for International Student
Assessment (PISA) show U.S. students finished 21st in science skills
and 25th in mathematics skills. In a globally competitive world, the
U.S. must do better. We need students capable of competing for
high-paying jobs with students from top-performing countries."
Lawmakers question rising college tuition
Two members of Congress recently convened a roundtable to examine
why college tuition keeps rising when many academic institutions
have endowments of hundreds of millions of dollars. Reporting on the
event, which took place in Washington, the New York Sun says Rep.
Peter Welch (D-VT) and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) are asking
institutions of higher education to justify their nonprofit status.
They want college presidents and academics to consider ways to
reduce charges for students and increase financial aid. Grassley
favors legislation that would require colleges to spend at least 5
percent of their endowments annually toward reducing student costs,
in the manner of foundations. Academic presidents were largely
unreceptive to the idea, however, saying that mandated spending
would make it difficult for their institutions to finance programs
regardless of how their investments performed.
DC chancellor seeks more flexibility to hire, fire teachers
In a move that would substantially increase her ability to remove
teachers she considers to be unsatisfactory, Michelle Rhee, schools
chancellor in Washington, DC, has been preparing to overhaul the
existing system of annual personnel evaluations that spell out
procedures for terminating teachers, the Washington Post reports.
The plan dovetails with new rules that give the District's state
superintendent of education the ability to create an advanced
teaching credential specifying benchmarks that instructors would
have to meet to keep their jobs. The credential would not require
review by the city council or the DC State Board of Education. Rhee
also has received national attention for a contract proposal in
which teachers would forfeit tenure in exchange for much higher pay,
but there has been opposition from the Washington Teachers' Union.
Also see
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/24/AR2008082402397.html
Election campaign brings new focus on teenage pregnancy
The pregnancy of 17-year-old Bristol Palin, daughter of Republican
vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin, has refocused attention on
sex education and how to prevent teen pregnancy. Advocates of
"abstinence only," as well as those favoring a more comprehensive
approach, each say they can point to data supporting their views.
Accounts in various newspapers offer different assessments.
According to the Houston Chronicle, the evidence seems to support
sex-education programs that include discussions of contraception.
USA Today, meanwhile, says there appears to be little correlation
between what teens are taught and their actual sexual behavior. And
the Los Angeles Times reports that the views of Governor Palin
herself on the topic are somewhat mixed. While she has opposed
"explicit" sex education, she also has called herself
pro-contraception, saying, "I think kids who may not hear about it
at home should hear about it in other avenues." The GOP's
presidential candidate, John McCain, has said abstinence education
is the only kind of sex education that he supports.
PEN conference to highlight 25 years of local education funds
The pregnancy of 17-year-old Bristol Palin, daughter of Republican
vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin, has refocused attention on
sex education and how to prevent teen pregnancy. Advocates of
"abstinence only," as well as those favoring a more comprehensive
approach, each say they can point to data supporting their views.
Accounts in various newspapers offer different assessments.
According to the Houston Chronicle, the evidence seems to support
sex-education programs that include discussions of contraception.
USA Today, meanwhile, says there appears to be little correlation
between what teens are taught and their actual sexual behavior. And
the Los Angeles Times reports that the views of Governor Palin
herself on the topic are somewhat mixed. While she has opposed
"explicit" sex education, she also has called herself
pro-contraception, saying, "I think kids who may not hear about it
at home should hear about it in other avenues." The GOP's
presidential candidate, John McCain, has said abstinence education
is the only kind of sex education that he supports.
Also see
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-09-07-sex-education-main_N.htm
In addition:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-sexed6-2008sep06,0,5768481.story
BRIEFLY NOTED
Taking stock of school-based reading coaches
Do they really improve student achievement? A RAND study in Florida finds "mixed" evidence.
Latinos now account for one-fifth of public school students
High birth rates and immigration boost their enrollments, reports the Pew Hispanic Center.
Skills, education, and competitiveness: A new policy guide
Improving public education so Americans can "triumph in the global skills race" is the "central economic competitiveness issue for the next decade," says the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.
Coming to PBS: 'Where We Stand: America's Schools in the 21st Century'
Public TV will air a documentary about U.S education, and what experts say about its problems, on September 15 at 10pm (check local listings).
School-choice program in Massachusetts attracting many affluent students
But kids from low-income families, though targeted in the state plan, don't seem to get much out of it, says an analysis by Education Sector.
'Green clean' your school
Healthy Schools Campaign, a not-for-profit group, has released the second edition of the "Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools."
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"Carnegie/New York Times: Exceptional Librarians"
The Carnegie/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award encourages
library users to recognize exceptional public, academic, and school
librarians. Users may nominate a librarian online based on the
quality of service that the nominee has provided, the librarian's
demonstrated knowledge of the library and its resources, and the
nominee's commitment to helping library users. Maximum award:
$5,000, a plaque, and a $500 travel stipend to attend an awards
reception in New York hosted by the New York Times on Dec. 9, 2008.A
plaque will also be given to each award winners library.
Eligibility: public, school, and academic librarians. Deadline:
public librarians -- Oct. 1, 2008;school and academic librarians --
Oct. 15, 2008.
"Toyota/NCFL: Family Literacy Teacher Award
"
The Toyota Family Literacy Teacher of the Year Award is given to
educators, selected by the National Center for Family Literacy, who
demonstrate exemplary efforts to help parents and children achieve
their academic and non-academic goals. Nominations must be placed
online. Maximum award: $7,500. Eligibility: any educator who strives
to help families improve their literacy skills. Deadline: Dec. 5,
2008.
"AXA/U.S. News & World Report: College Achievement Scholarships"
AXA Achievement Scholarships, presented in association with U.S.
News & World Report, provide resources that help make college
possible for qualified students. Maximum award: $25,000, a laptop
computer, and the offer of an AXA Financial Services internship.
Eligibility: high school students from all 50 states, the District
of Columbia, and Puerto Rico who will graduate in 2009. Deadline:
Dec. 15, 2008.
"TOYOTA/NSTA: Grants for Science Teachers"
The Toyota/National Science Teachers Association TAPESTRY Grants for
Science Teachers recognize K12 science teachers for innovative
projects that enhance science education in a school and/or school
district. Maximum award: $10,000. Eligibility: K12 science teachers
with a minimum of at least two years of science teaching experience.
Deadline: Jan. 21, 2009.
"Liberty Mutual: Responsible Sports Community Grants"
Liberty Mutual Insurance Company Responsible Sports Community Grants
support equipment upgrades, facility repairs, and scholarship
programs for families in need of assistance. Maximum award: $2,500.
Eligibility: youth sports organizations. Deadline: Nov. 30, 2008.
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