From: "Public Education Network" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: PEN Weekly NewsBlast <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thu, 25 Apr 2002 17:54:34 -0700 Subject: PEN Weekly NewsBlast for April 26, 2002
Public Education Network Weekly NewsBlast "America’s Favorite Free Newsletter on Improving Public Education" *************************************************************************** AMERICANS OPPOSE CUTS TO EDUCATION SPENDING: WILL TURN AGAINST POLITICIANS WHO TRIM SCHOOL AID Even amid the worst economy in a decade and widespread concerns about terrorism and war, improving public schools remains at the top of the "to do" list for most Americans, according to a new national public opinion poll conducted by Public Education Network and Education Week. The poll indicates the public is deeply concerned about funding for education and will vote against elected officials who cut support for public schools, putting pressure on nearly 40 states now struggling with significant budget shortfalls that threaten to reduce state funding for schools by $10 billion nationwide. Americans oppose cuts to education funding--even if it means painful cutbacks in healthcare, Social Security, law enforcement, and roads and transportation says the report, "Accountability for All: What Voters Want From Education Candidates." When asked to name one or two priorities that government should shield from spending cuts, 53 percent of Americans cite education and schools. Click here to read the executive summary or the full report. http://www.publiceducation.org/news/042402.htm MAKING THE GRADE: EDUCATION BILL TESTS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION No longer hiding in the back of the class, the US Department of Education is taking a more prominent role in improving schools’ performance. The new education bill, the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act, is no small test. There are significant cultural and management challenges to overcome, starting with the Education Department’s compliance mentality. It typically issues regulations and makes sure that states are meeting various deadlines. Now, however, the department must provide states with guidance on meeting the requirements of the new law--something it has never been good at, according to state educators and current and former Education Department officials. In addition, despite its emphasis on compliance, the department also lacks a strong enforcement arm. State superintendents generally are skeptical of threats that their funding will be jeopardized if they fail to comply with federal mandates. According to this article, it won't be easy for the Department of Education to balance its new mandate to offer a helping hand while enforcing legislative requirements. http://www.govexec.com/features/0502/0502s5.htm BUILDING CAPACITY: TOOLS TO HELP DISTRICTS HELP SCHOOLS While there is widespread support for policies and practices to improve the capabilities of educators, there has been less attention to the crucial question of whether central offices of school districts are in a position to provide such support. If central offices lack the capacity to enhance the knowledge and skills of teachers and school leaders and build new structures for ongoing support within schools, the goal of high-quality teaching and leadership is unlikely to be reached. While other entities can provide some support, few can do so on the scale of central offices. This newsletter from the Annenberg Institute for School Reform shares a variety of ideas on building district capacity and assessing school district central offices. http://www.schoolcommunities.org/SCtW_newsletter_v2_n1.html PUBLIC SCHOOLS A VITAL ELEMENT IN URBAN LIFE Public schools can be strong and caring, flexible and resilient, according to Harold Levy, chancellor of the New York City Board of Education and Wendy Puriefoy, president of Public Education Network. They were recently part of a gathering of educators who were asked to reflect on the future of public education in the nation's urban schools. Puriefoy said the United States needs nothing short of a Marshall Plan for education if the country wants to bring all children to high standards. http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo_20020416_city16.2e8e589.html YOUNG TEACHER GROWS INTO JOB HE LOVES It wasn't too long ago that Herman Mizell, now a strict English teacher with a pencil behind his right ear, was hustling his way to class at Lakeland High. Four years, to be exact. The former senior class president had plans to be an attorney. That was before he fell in love with teaching as a student at Norfolk State University. The 22-year-old wears a tie every day but Fridays to avoid being mistaken for a student. That still happens occasionally. At one point, he stopped shaving two stripes in his left eyebrow. Then his students said they missed the stripes, so he resumed the style. But there's no mistaking who he is when he stands in front of one of his classes. He recently was honored as "Rookie Teacher of the Year" in Virginia Beach. http://www.pilotonline.com/news/nw0421tea.html STUDY: WEBSITES DESIGNED FOR KIDS OFTEN CONFUSING FOR STUDENTS Children don't have the patience to navigate the complex designs of many of the websites targeted to their age group, according to, "Usability of Web Sites for Children: 70 Design Guidelines." Although the study participants were very young, the researchers found children had greatest success surfing the websites intended for adults. However, children frequently clicked on advertisements, usually because they couldn't distinguish between advertising and the site’s content. This finding reinforces the need for parents and educators to explain Internet advertising to children and how they can recognize ads. Researchers also found that children who browse poorly designed websites are just as likely as adults to get frustrated and give up, dispelling the popular notion that kids quickly master anything on a computer. http://www.eschoolnews.org/news/showStory.cfm?ArticleID=3664 HELPING COLLEGE-GOING MINORITIES OVERCOME OBSTACLES The U.S. Department of Education reports that minority college students are statistically less likely than non-minority students to complete their studies and earn a bachelor's degree in four to six years. With this in mind, the BellSouth Foundation has launched a new initiative to help colleges and universities guide minority students toward ultimately achieving their goals. http://www.pnnonline.org/education/bellsouth042302.asp EQUAL ACCESS TO TEXTBOOKS FOR BLIND AND PRINT-DISABLED STUDENTS The Instructional Materials Accessibility Act of 2002 (IMAA), legislation that will dramatically improve access to textbooks for students who are blind or who have other print disabilities in K-12 schools, was introduced today in Congress. The purpose of this bipartisan legislation is to ensure that instructional materials for blind or other people with print disabilities are received in an accessible medium at the same time as their The IMAA mandates the adoption of a standardized, national electronic file format. Publishers of instructional materials will be required to submit an electronic file of all textbooks in this universal file format. These files will enable the instructional materials to be more easily converted into accessible formats according to an industry standard. http://www.afb.org/info_document_view.asp?DocumentID=1705 TRANSITION TO KINDERGARTEN The transition to formal schooling is a landmark event for millions of children, families, and educators. But new research indicates that the transition practices commonly used in schools may not be well suited to the needs of children and families. This 4-page policy brief outlines key issues in preparing children for formal schooling, examines current practices, and makes policy recommendations. Accompanying the policy brief is a two-page fact sheet. http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~ncedl/PAGES/prdcts.htm#BriefsAnchor LINKING GRADES TO STANDARDS When schools begin to experiment with nontraditional assessments, many parents are apprehensive. They're used to the grading system they remember--it's an A or a B, a C or a D. Breaking the mind-set that grades are all-important indicators is difficult, according to the experts cited in this ASCD article, "Assessing Assessment: Are Alternative Methods Making the Grade?" But, in the long run, student assessment linked to standards may give students a better chance to demonstrate their academic growth to schools and colleges. http://www.ascd.org/readingroom/cupdate/2002/spr02_franklin.html STATE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS The National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) is pleased to announce a new website that links visitors to information on state graduation requirements, which includes all US states that have their graduation requirements online. NCEO also provides state policy information on accommodations, alternate assessments, out-of-level testing, participation, reporting, and standards. http://education.umn.edu/nceo/TopicAreas/Graduation/StatesGrad.htm THE KEY LEARNING COMMUNITY: CULTIVATING "MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES" Swimming against the tide, the Key Learning Community, a public K-11 Indianapolis school, emphasizes project-based exploration and deep understanding over rote memorization. The school's program is based on Harvard researcher Howard Gardner's theory of "multiple intelligences," which holds that each individual possesses different forms of intelligence to greater or lesser degrees. While teachers carefully plan what their students need to know in accordance with Indiana state standards and Key Learning's own competencies, the best way they have found for students to acquire information and critical thinking skills is through projects. Teachers, in consultation with students, spend a fair amount of time in the spring coming up with possibilities for themes for the next school year. Parents, community members, and other interested parties can provide input. http://glef.org/keylearning.html |---------------GRANT AND FUNDING INFORMATION--------------| "The Educational Foundation of America" The Educational Foundation of America (EFAW) gives nationwide to nonprofits working primarily in education, the arts, and Native American issues. Projects should have a broad impact and should be closely linked to the funder’s objectives. Application deadline: ongoing. http://www.efaw.org "The NEA Foundation" The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education (NFIE) now offers certain grants on an ongoing, year-round basis. Over 300 small grants of $1,000 to $3,000 are awarded each year to fund classroom innovations or professional development for improved practice in public schools and higher education institutions. http://nfie.org/ "Wolfram Research Inc." Wolfram Research Inc., makers of Mathematica, a technical computing software system, announces the High School Grant Program. Grants support K-12 teachers worldwide who use Mathematica to develop computer-based classroom materials. Recipients earn copies of Mathematica software for their schools, other course materials, and technical support. Application deadline: July 1, 2002. http://www.wolfram.com/company/programs/hsgp/ "Fundsnet Online Services" A comprehensive website dedicated to providing nonprofit organizations, colleges, and Universities with information on financial resources available on the Internet. http://www.fundsnetservices.com/ "Department of Education Forecast of Funding" This document lists virtually all programs and competitions under which the Department of Education has invited or expects to invite applications for new awards for FY 2002 and provides actual or estimated deadline dates for the transmittal of applications under these programs. The lists are in the form of charts -- organized according to the Department's principal program offices -- and include programs and competitions the Department has previously announced, as well as those it plans to announce at a later date. Note: This document is advisory only and is not an official application notice of the Department of Education. http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCFO/grants/forecast.html "eSchool News School Funding Center" Information on up-to-the-minute grant programs, funding sources, and technology funding. http://www.eschoolnews.com/resources/funding/ "Philanthropy News Digest-K-12 Funding Opportunities" K-12 Funding opportunities with links to grantseeking for teachers, learning technology, and more. http://fdncenter.org/funders/ "School Grants" A collection of resources and tips to help K-12 educators apply for and obtain special grants for a variety of projects. http://www.schoolgrants.org QUOTE OF THE WEEK "Appeasers believe that if you keep on throwing steaks to a tiger, the tiger will become a vegetarian." -Heywood Broun (reporter/activist) ===========PEN NewsBlast========== The PEN Weekly NewsBlast is a free e-mail newsletter featuring school reform and school fundraising resources. 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