The Council would like to thank our corporate partners for their support of Chiefline and CCSSO.
CCSSO Concludes Successful Summer Institute
CCSSO’s 2009 Summer Institute in Broomfield, Colorado ends today. The annual meeting provided chiefs with an opportunity to discuss the imperative to transform state educational systems, while addressing critical opportunities for states in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in relation to the Council's four strategic initiatives.
The meeting theme was “Summer of Opportunity: From Promise to Action,” which was woven into presentations by insightful speakers such as Tony Wagner, Clayton Christensen, and Michael Horn. A record forty-five states were represented at the Summer Institute this year.
Meeting materials for the Summer Institute are posted online here. If you have questions about the program, please contact Bevin Kennedy at bevink@ccsso.org or 202-336-7014.
Headlines
Education Newsbriefs
"Horne: Kids to Know Diet, Exercise Matter" (AZ)
"Get Ready for Readiness Schools" (MA)
"Md. to Receive Nearly $14.4M to Expand Infants, Toddlers Program" (MD)
"Providence Schools Implement New Approach to Hiring" (RI)
"Achievement Gap Still Splits White, Black Students"
"Congress Targets Chinese Language Education"
Education Newsbriefs
Horne: Kids to Know Diet, Exercise Matter
East Valley Tribune (AZ) (07/17/09) Fischer, Howard
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne says it is important for students to know why junk food is bad for them and why they need to exercise to improve their health. In response, he has proposed standards for health and physical education in the state's public schools. While these standards will not mandate physical activity, if passed by the state Board of Education, they will require teachers to prepare lesson plans on making healthier choices. "If I could require them to be physically active, I would. In the meantime, we have to give them a good attitude toward it," says Horne. "You need to know what the junk food does for you, you need to know what being sedentary does to you, you need to know why eating green vegetables is good for you." Students in grades K-2 would have to name fun physical activities, for instance, while those in grades 1-8 would learn about the personal, social, and health benefits of physical activity. High school students would look at fitness development and the effects of motivation, prioritization, dedication, and self-discipline.
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Get Ready for Readiness Schools
The Somerville News (MA) (07/17/09) Twardzik, Cathleen
Beginning in Fall 2010, about 22 "Readiness Schools" will be unveiled in 16 school districts across Massachusetts through grants provided by the state. Grants will range between $10,000 and $36,000 per district up to a total of $200,000 to help educators design new schools that will help close achievement gaps, promote innovation, and provide students and families with more choices. Each of the Readiness Schools will have a performance contract that sets specific student achievement and school improvement goals, but these schools--whether new or conversions of current schools--will have greater curriculum, budget, staffing, scheduling, and calendar flexibility. These schools will fall into one of three categories: Advantage Schools, which place the faculty in charge of developing the innovation plan and performance contract; Alliance Schools, which couple efforts with those of external partners like colleges and other groups; and Acceleration Schools, which convert underperforming schools with the help of the state education commissioner and local stakeholders. Massachusetts Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester says, "These 16 districts are positioning themselves to be among the Commonwealth's leaders in education reform and innovation. [They] have a head start on one of the most exciting education reforms in the past decade. By passing Readiness School legislation quickly, we can give these districts even more tools to work with, and provide Massachusetts with an advantage, when applying for 'Race to the Top' funding."
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Md. to Receive Nearly $14.4M to Expand Infants, Toddlers Program
Southern Maryland Online (07/16/09)
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs will provide the Maryland State Department of Education with almost $14.4 million in grant money to create the Maryland Extended Individualized Family Service Plan Option, which will provide a continuum of services, such as early childhood intervention and special education, to children from birth through age five and their families. The current Infants and Toddlers program model no longer provides intervention services to families with children older than age three. The new program, which will begin in January 2010, is expected to provide families with preschool special education and other services for their disabled children. Maryland Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy Grasmick says, "School readiness is the ultimate goal in expanding the possibilities for children with disabilities and their families. This new grant will provide the opportunity to incorporate the strength of our early childhood education system, along with the existing infants and toddlers family center service model." For more information about these two programs, click here.
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Providence Schools Implement New Approach to Hiring
Providence Journal (RI) (07/13/09) Borg, Linda
The Providence Schools Department is responding to a February order from former State Education Commissioner Peter McWalters to abolish seniority in the teacher hiring process. Beginning this fall, teacher vacancies in six of the city's schools will be filled by teachers deemed a good match for the job and the school. Candidates, who will submit a resume, cover letter, evidence of their professional training, and three pieces of student work, will now be interviewed by a team, including the principal, two teachers selected by the principal, a teacher leader, and two teachers chosen by the School Improvement Team, though the principal will make the final choice. All schools in the district will move to the new hiring system by the 2010-2011 school year. According to current State Education Commissioner Deborah Gist, "We are matching teachers to schools based on the teacher's qualifications and the needs of students. It's how we all got our jobs. We demonstrated our abilities."
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Achievement Gap Still Splits White, Black Students
Associated Press (07/14/09) Quaid, Libby
A report, "Achievement Gaps: How Black and White Students in Public Schools Perform in Mathematics and Reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress," from the U.S. Department of Education released on July 14 reveals that reading and math scores among minority students are improving. The achievement gap between black and white students narrowed seven points between 1992 and 2007. A main goal of the No Child Left Behind law was to reduce and eliminate the achievement gap between minority and white students, but minority students continue to face hefty obstacles, including higher rates of poverty. The National Assessment of Educational Progress reports that only 50 percent of black and Hispanic fourth graders perform at or above "basic" in reading on tests. Experts suggest that to close the gap, schools must adopt policies and practices that emphasize teamwork, self-discipline, structure and routine, and accountability. For more information on the achievement gap report, go here.
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Congress Targets Chinese Language Education
Examiner.com (07/15/09) Loveland, Glen
U.S. Rep. Susan Davis (D-Calif.) introduced H.R. 2313, the U.S.-China Language Engagement Act, to help American workers better compete with China. The bill would give schools competitive grants to create, expand, or enhance Chinese language and cultural classes and broaden technology options to link American and Chinese schools online. While many of the nation's schools are adding Mandarin language courses, it is difficult to get them up and running due to funding constraints and the absence of qualified teachers.
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