Friday, June 5, 2009

SmartBrief: State leaders agree to draft common curriculum standards

SmartBrief: State leaders agree to draft common curriculum standards
source: ASCD Smart Brief


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News for the Education Profession
Eye on Curriculum

* State leaders agree to draft common curriculum standards
A single set of benchmarks could soon shape what students in 46 states and the District of Columbia learn, under an agreement between the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. "This is the beginning of a new day for education in our country," said U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan. Alaska, Missouri, South Carolina and Texas are the only states not on board. The Washington Post (6/1) , Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (6/1) LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email this Story

* Portland schools' focus on freshmen helps some Ore. students succeed
Three struggling ninth-graders in Portland, Ore., are enrolled in special programs for freshmen who are at risk of dropping out. Two are making progress toward earning enough credits to stay on track for graduation in four years. But one continues to do poorly in algebra, English and science. The Oregonian (Portland) (5/29) LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email this Story

* Other News

* Early college classes improve student achievement at N.C. school
The Charlotte Observer (N.C.) (5/29)

Professional Leadership


* N.C. students scramble to support teachers facing layoffs
High-school students in the Charlotte, N.C., area are fighting to save the jobs of several popular teachers who have received layoff notices. The students are sending letters to decision makers and rallying support on Facebook pages. "We all know that we have about a .001% chance of winning the fight, but these teachers taught us to take a stand in the face of difficulty," wrote senior Bethany Pico in an e-mail. The Charlotte Observer (N.C.) (5/31) LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email this Story

* Deputy state superintendent is picked to lead Utah schools
Utah Deputy State Superintendent Larry Shumway, 55, will replace retiring state Superintendent Patti Harrington, the state education board announced Friday after a unanimous vote. Shumway will begin July 1 with a 2009-10 departmental budget that was cut by 20.5% from this year's level. The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah) (5/29) LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email this Story

* Other News

* Appointment of creationist as chairman of Texas state education board rejected
San Antonio Express-News (5/29)

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Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by ASCD SmartBrief readers in the past week.

* Latest generation of NYC principals have more autonomy, but struggle (The New York Times)

* Report: School satisfaction does not equal learning (The Charlotte Observer (N.C.))

* Superintendent: School leadership is not a popularity contest (The Sun (Baltimore))

* Some state tests could be eliminated under N.C. budget proposal (The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.))

* Doctors: Too much texting may reshape adolescent development (The New York Times)

* Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

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Technology Solutions

* Soldier's blog teaches Kentucky sixth-graders about Afghanistan
Aaron Connor is serving near Ghazni City, Afghanistan, with the Illinois National Guard. He corresponds with social studies students at one Kentucky school through a blog on which the students can ask him questions. "I make mention about our little shootouts not to scare folks, but because I want people to know that this is a dangerous country," Connor wrote. The New York Times/The Associated Press (5/30) LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email this Story

Policy Watch

* Florida educators struggle with restrictions on stimulus funds
Restrictions on some education stimulus funds are frustrating Florida educators, who say they are being forced to lay off teachers at the same time they are adding programs for low-income and special-education students. Some are calling for more flexibility for Title I and special-education stimulus funds, while others are adding Title I designations to more schools within their districts. Orlando Sentinel (Fla.) (6/1) LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email this Story

* Find out more: Have questions about the stimulus money available for education? Check out ASCD SmartBrief's "Making the stimulus money work for school improvement" special report Part I and Part II .

* Other News

* Florida students pray at graduation in defiance of a court order
Pensacola News Journal (Fla.) (5/30)



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In the Field

* 13 years and many obstacles later, most in class receive diploma
Twenty-two of the 28 students who began kindergarten with San Francisco teacher Kanikah LeMon 13 years ago received diplomas this spring despite facing difficulties including imprisoned parents, homelessness and poverty. Two others passed their courses but not the state's exit exams. San Francisco Chronicle (5/31) LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email this Story

* Involved mom helped teen stick with high school: Four years after the St. Petersburg Times profiled four Florida students as they started ninth grade, just one is finishing school on time. Alex Wert, who will graduate with a 4.34 GPA and received scholarships to attend the University of South Florida, had one thing her classmates who dropped out did not: an involved parent. St. Petersburg Times (Fla.) (6/1)

* Other News

* Column: Helicopter parenting may be on the way out
The New York Times (5/29)

Association News

* ASCD Communications Tool Kit: Using Stimulus Dollars for Lasting Impact
ASCD has created a stimulus plan communications tool kit to help educators advocate for the best use of their stimulus funds, highlight the importance of capacity-building professional development and communicate transparent messages about their fund allocations. This kit contains a variety of tools including backgrounders, key messages, a customizable op-ed and a PowerPoint presentation to help educators communicate with the media and public about how allocations of the stimulus funds will support student achievement. The tool kit aligns with ASCD's Planning the Possible report about the stimulus package and is free. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email this Story

* A Cyber Chance for 21st Century Learning
An ASCD blog post explains how to get involved in the Cyber Summit on 21st Century Skills , which runs from today through June 12. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is sponsoring free online discussions and live webinars leading up to its physical gathering of influential leaders in Washington, D.C., on June 11 and 12 to develop a national action agenda for 21st-century education. ASCD has been actively involved in the partnership and especially in the creation of the 21st Century Implementation Guides available to Cyber Summit participants. More Cyber Summit features include videos from ASCD, including portions of the best-selling video 21st Century Skills: Promoting Creativity and Innovation in the Classroom .



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