This Week In Education: FRITZ: The Inauguration Day Countdown

Click below for your weekly dose of the Fritzwire -- chock full of meetings, reports, events, and jobs (yes, jobs).

It's like the PEN NewsBlast, only daily (and with more crazy formatting).

Or, check out the cover of the new Vanity Fair.

Fritz Edelstein <fritz@publicprivateaction.com>

Tue, Dec 2, 2008 at 9:51 AM

To: fritzwire@lists.aacrao.org

· 49 Days until the Inauguration

· Today the car makers plan on how they would use $25 billion is to be presented to Congress. One CEO was driving his hybrid to D.C. – who is really driving?

2 new – Hearings, Meetings, Etc.

new – Other Information

0 new - Job Opportunities

THIS WEEK

Today, Tuesday, December 2, 2008, Join Education Sector for a forum entitled -- "Is Technology the Answer to Rising College Costs?" It is being held from 9 – 11 AM at the Capital Hilton – Federal Room. It is College costs are skyrocketing even as low- and middle-income families struggle to make ends meet. Federal and state financial aid hasn't kept up, forcing more students to borrow more money than ever before. Many colleges claim that rising costs are unavoidable, because—unlike other industries—higher education is inherently labor-intensive and cannot become more efficient. But a growing number of institutions, mostly public universities operating below the elite institution radar screen, are proving otherwise. They're using technology to transform undergraduate education, dramatically cutting labor costs while improving student learning results at the same time. Is this the future of higher education? What does this mean for the professoriate and the role of colleges in the creation of new knowledge? And why aren't more of these cost savings being passed on to students? Hear the answers to these and other important questions about undergraduate education's new direction. A panel of experts will also discuss a forthcoming Washington Monthly article about technology and cost in higher education, written by Education Sector Research and Policy Manager Kevin Carey. Featured panelists include: Kevin Carey, Research and Policy Manager, Education Sector; Burck Smith, CEO, SMARTHINKING and StraighterLine ; James Wohlpart, Associate Dean and Professor of English, Florida Gulf Coast University, College of Arts and Sciences; Paul Glastris, Editor, Washington Monthly; and Scott Jaschik, Editor, Inside Higher Ed. Register online at: http://www.educationsector.org/events/events_show.htm?doc_id=717088. Light refreshments will be served.

Today, Tuesday, December 2, The Impact of Media on Child and Adolescent Health: A Briefing for Policymakers and Staff presented by the New America Foundation and Common Sense Media. The media is increasingly pervasive in the lives of children and adolescents. The average child today spends nearly 45 hours per week with media, compared with 17 hours with parents and 30 hours in school. However, until now there has been very little comprehensive analysis of the research tracking the impact of media on children's health. Researchers from Yale University School of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health will discuss their systematic review of 173 studies examining connections between media exposure and health outcomes for children, and explore the policy implications of their review. Featured Speakers: Dr. Zeke Emanuel, Department of Bioethics, National Institute of Health; The Hon. William Kennard (invited), Managing Director, The Carlyle Group, Former FCC Chairman; Dr. Cary Gross, Yale University School of Medicine, Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, Yale University School of Medicine; Jim Steyer, Founder and CEO, Common Sense Media; and moderator: Michael Calabrese, Director, Wireless Future Program, New America Foundation. To be held from 12:30 to 1:45 PM in 254 Russell Senate Office Building. To RSVP for this event, go to the event page: http://www.newamerica.net/events/2008/impact_media

Today, Tuesday, December 2, The Cheney Vice Presidency: The Silent Coup That Changed America. Featured speaker: Barton Gellman, Author, Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency, Special Projects Reporter, The Washington Post; respondent, Steve Coll, President and CEO, New America Foundation and Staff Writer, The New Yorker; and moderator, Steve Clemons, Director, American Strategy Program New America Foundation, Publisher, TheWashingtonNote.com. To be held from 12:30 to 2 PM at the New American Foundation, 1630 Connecticut Avenue, 7^th Floor. To RSVP for this event, go to the event page: http://www.newamerica.net/events/2008/angler_cheney_vice_presidency

New Location**Today, Tuesday, December 2, A National Broadband Strategy Call to Action -- A large and diverse array of stakeholders in America's broadband future will announce the formation of a U.S. National Broadband Coalition [BB4US.ORG] and release a Call to Action that provides President-elect Obama and the incoming Congress a framework for a comprehensive national broadband strategy. The Coalition includes prominent communications providers, high technology companies, manufacturers, consumers, labor unions, public interest groups, educators, state and local governments, utilities, content creators, foundations, and other stakeholders in America's broadband future. These organizations believe that such a strategy is critical to America's economic vitality, educational opportunity, public safety, energy efficiency, environmental stability, global competitiveness, and a continuing high quality of life. At the event, representatives of these groups will voice support for the Call to Action, discuss their shared goals, and announce their intent continue to work together to address key issues and policy priorities. Please plan to join us at this unprecedented event. To be held from 10 to 11:30 AM in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, SD-G50, First Street NE and C Street NE . To RSVP for this event, go to the event page: http://www.newamerica.net/events/2008/national_broadband_strategy_call_action

Today, Tuesday, December 2, The Center for Applied Linguistics is pleased to invite you to attend a special presentation by Professor Rod Ellis on Educational Settings and the Acquisition of English as a Second Language. To be held at the Center, 4646 40^th Street NW, Suite 200 beginning at 4 PM. The aim of this talk is to present a broad-brush picture of how English is differentially positioned in these settings and the implications of this for the teaching and learning of English. The talk will help clarify the educational options available for teaching English as an international language and thus assist realistic policy making in different contexts. Space is limited, so please confirm your attendance by November 24, 2008. You may RSVP by sending an email to Olesya Warner at CAL, owarner@cal.org

Tomorrow, Wednesday, December 3 -- Measuring Up 2008:The National Report Card on Higher Education. The release of Measuring Up 2008: The National

Report Card on Higher Education from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. The report measures the performance of the nation and all 50

states in five key areas: college preparation, college participation, college affordability, college completion, and benefits to the state. The report will include international

comparisons for the U.S. and all 50 states on several indicators. Measuring Up will highlight 10-year trends in higher education performance in the states. James B. Hunt

Jr., Former Governor of North Carolina; John Engler, President, National Association of Manufacturers and Former Governor of Michigan (invited); Pat Callan, President,

National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education; Anthony P. Carnevale, Research Professor, Georgetown University; Jamie P. Merisotis, President, Lumina

Foundation for Education (invited); and Hilary Pennington, Director of Special Initiatives, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (invited). To be held at the National Press

Club (Murrow, White, and Lisagor Rooms) from 9:30 AM to NOON. Please direct RSVPs to Patrick Murray at Pmurray@commworksllc.com or (202) 955-9450

NEW – Tomorrow, Wednesday, December 3, The U.S.-Israel Relationship: Obama, Israel's Political Course, and the Future of the Peace Process. A discussion with Naomi Chazan, President of the New Israel Fund, about fears and hopes pegged to Barack Obama, likely policy changes resulting from Israeli elections, and the future of the stalled peace process. From 3 to 4:30 PM at the New America Fund, 1630 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 7^th Floor. RSVP to: http://www.newamerica.net/events/2008/u_s_israel_relationship

Thursday, December 4, National Importance for Accelerating Latino Success in Higher Education -- BRIEFING on Texas Border Institutions. This briefing will describe the participation and success of these eight institutions, the policy environment in which they do their work, and discuss acceleration plans and promising strategies for improving success rates for Latino students in higher education. Respondents will discuss the application of these ideas to national higher education policy. Accelerating Latino Student Success (ALASS) at the Texas Border Institutions: Possibilities and Challenges was produced with support from TG, a Texas-based nonprofit corporation that administers the Federal Family Education Loan Program. Speakers and respondents include: Sarita E. Brown, President, Excelencia in Education; Patrick Callan, President, National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education and principal author, Measuring Up 2008, the national report card on higher education performance; Ruben Hinojosa, U.S. Representative, 15th District of Texas and Chairman Subcommittee on Higher Education; Life Long Learning and Competitiveness; Sue McMillin, President, TG; and Deborah Santiago, Vice President for Policy and Research, Excelencia in Education and author, Accelerating Latino Student Success and Texas Border Institutions: Possibilities and Challenges. The briefing will take place from 9 to 11 AM in 122 Canon. RSVP to: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=V4hJGIpYMo5lXxtKvBOMsj8ZPZAIW9jc

NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND

Monday, December 8, Hopes, Fears, & Reality: A Balanced Look at American Charter Schools in 2008 is the fourth annual report from the National Charter School Research Project (NCSRP) at the University of Washington’s Center on Reinventing Public Education. Presentations will include: Introductions and Overview: Robin Lake, Center on Reinventing Public Education ; Charter Schools and Student Achievement: A Review of the Evidence; Julian Betts and Y. Emily Tang, University of California San Diego; How Charter Schools Organize for Instruction, Betheny Gross, Center on Reinventing Public Education; New Options for Serving Special-Needs Students; Joanne Jacobs, joannejacobs.com; Commentary: Cynthia Brown, Center for American Progress. To be held at the Urban Institute’s Katherine Graham Conference Center, from NOON to 2 PM (lunch served at new and program begins at 12:30 pm). Please RSVP by November 21 to Karina Klepach or call (206) 616-4641.

NEW – Monday, December 8, Putting Workers First featuring Governor Jon Corzine (D-NJ) -- A Proposed Agenda for the Obama Administration . Making the economy work again for ordinary workers will be a top priority for the Obama Administration and the new congress. The Bush years - even before the current economic downturn - were not good for the pocketbooks of ordinary Americans. Wages stayed flat and health and retirement benefits became scarce, while the cost of living rose. Addressing these fundamental economic challenges will require years of effort and significant new legislation. Yet there are also strategies to help workers that can be implemented much more quickly. Two new reports by the Center for American Progress Action Fund's American Worker Project describe how the Obama administration can immediately improve on the Bush administration's poor track record. As the reports detail, workers, taxpayers and law-abiding businesses will be helped by strategically enforcing existing worker protection laws at the Department of Labor and reforming federal contracting policies to promote good jobs. The reports focus on administrative reforms that can be implemented right away, but also note where Congress must also act. To be held from 9 AM to NOON at the Center for American Progress, 1333 H Street, NW, 10^th floor. RSVP to: events@americanprogressaction.org. AGENDA: 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. -- Panel I: Enforcing Change: Strategies for the Obama Administration to Enforce Workers' Rights at the Department of Labor with Jordan Barab, Senior Labor Policy Advisor, Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. House of Representatives; Kim Bobo, Founder and Executive Director, Interfaith Worker Justice ; Thomas E. Perez, Secretary, Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation; Catherine K. Ruckelshaus, Litigation Director, National Employment Law Project; Karla Walter, Policy Analyst, American Worker Project, Center for American Progress Action Fund; and Moderated by: David Madland, Director, American Worker Project, Center for American Progress Action Fund. 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. -- Keynote Address: Governor Jon Corzine (D-NJ). 11:00 - 12:00-- Panel II: Making Federal Contracting Work for the United States with Scott Amey, General Counsel, Project on Government Oversight; Margaret Daum, Counsel, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee; Richard C. Loeb, University of Baltimore School of Law; David Madland, Director, American Worker Project, Center for American Progress Action Fund; and Moderated by: Scott Lilly, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress Action Fund.

NEW Information – Tuesday, December 9, Release of TIMSS 2007: Mathematics and Science Achievement of U.S. Fourth and Eight-Grade Students in an International Context. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) will release the report, Highlights from the TIMSS 2007: Mathematics and Science Achievement of U.S. Fourth and Eighth-Grade Students in an International Context, at a briefing. TIMSS, or the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, compares the mathematics and science achievement of U.S. 4th and 8th grade students with that of students in other countries. The NCES report also examines trends in U.S. student performance over time and that of different racial/ethnic groups and for students attending low and high-poverty schools. To be held at 11 am at The Sumner School, 1201 17th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. To attend you must RSVP: to Connie Ward at mailto:cward@hagersharp.com or (202) 842-3600 ext. 264 (note: seating is limited)

Wednesday, December 10 – ACT Report -- The Forgotten Middle: Ensuring that All Students Are on Target for College and Career Readiness before High School. In recent years, there has been heightened awareness of the importance of early childhood education and high school as intervention points in the educational lives of America’s children. Less attention, it seems, has been paid to the importance of the upper elementary grades and middle school and the role they must play in the preparation of students for life after high school. ACT’s newest report, entitled The Forgotten Middle, suggests that the end of eighth grade is a critical defining point for students in the college and career readiness process—one so important that, if students are not on target for college and career readiness by the time they reach this point, the impact may be nearly irreversible. Please join us for a lively discussion about what steps can be taken to assure that more students are on target for college and career readiness by the time they enter high school. Speakers include: Mr. Jon L. Erickson, Vice President, Educational Services, ACT ; Dr. Cynthia B. Schmeiser, President and COO, Education Division, ACT; and Mr. Ranjit Sidhu, Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, ACT. You should receive an invitation within two weeks. For additional information, contact ACT Washington Office at 202- 223-2318. RSVP for this event to: Jenelle.Oxendine@ACT.org

Wednesday, December 10, Pre-K Now National Conference will have a live broadcast at 1- 2:30 PM ET. A live conference broadcast hosted by Ray Suarez, Senior Correspondent for The NewsHour — viewable at hundreds of sites throughout the country — will share new lessons and best practices to help you win high-quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten for all children. For more information go to www.preknow.org, especially if you wish to host a site to view this broadcast.

Thursday, December 11, Thomas B. Fordham Institute presents -- Resolved: America Needs a "Broader, Bolder" Education Reform Strategy. To learn more about the topic go to: http://www.boldapproach.org/ Starring: Peter Edelman, Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center and former Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and Marshall "Mike" Smith, Senior Advisor, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and former Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Education - for the affirmative; and Douglas Besharov, Joseph J. and Violet Jacobs Scholar in Social Welfare Studies, American Enterprise Institute and former Director, U.S. Center on Child Abuse and Neglect , and Eugene Hickok, Senior Policy Director, Dutko Worldwide and former Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Education-for the negative. To be held from 4:30 to 5:30 PM at the Institute, 1016 16th Street NW, 7th Floor. RSVP to Christina Hentges at rsvp@edexcellence.net or 202-223-5452.

Monday, January 12, 2009, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Learning Point Associates and the Collaborative for Building After-School Systems (CBASS) will release a new report on Enhancing School Reform Through Expanded Learning. The briefing will feature Arne Duncan, CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, Michelle Rhee, Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools, Lucy Friedman, President of The After-School Corporation in New York City, David Sinski, Executive Director of After School Matters in Chicago, An-Me Chung, senior program officer at the C.S. Mott Foundation, and Gina Burkhardt, CEO of Learning Point Associates. Enhancing School Reform Through Expanded Learning explores the extent to which low-performing schools incorporate expanded learning time (ELT) opportunities in their improvement plans, provides up-to-date information on the research evidence, resources, and current initiatives offering student-focused enrichment services as an effective complement to school improvement efforts, and provides examples where ELT strategies are helping to improve student. To register for this event, please send an e-mail to Doreen Suigitan (doreen.suguitan@learningpt.org). The briefing will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Monday, January 19, Martin Luther King Day

Tuesday, January 20, Inauguration Day

Tuesday, January 20, 2009, NCTET Inaugural Gala -- National Coalition for Technology in Education & Training (NCTET) will once again be hosting a special inaugural event honoring the new Administration and Congress. This preeminent education celebration will be held at the Folger Shakespeare Library. Its Board represents the leading education and industry organizations supporting this important mission.

March 1-3, 2009 - 18th Annual National Conference on Family Literacy: "Family Literacy — Family Progress". Check their Web site for frequent updates at www.famlit.org/conference. It is being held at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Florida. Proposals for presentations are welcome from literacy practitioners and educators, program administrators and school leaders, public and school librarians, parent and community liaisons, researchers, and professional development specialists. Lead presenters receive a 50% discount on their Conference registration. Proposals are accepted online only through October 20. For more guidelines, go to www.famlit.org/conference. NCFL is now accepting nominations for the 2009 Toyota Family Literacy Teacher of the Year. The winner will receive $7,500 for his or her family literacy program, as well as a free trip to the 2009 National Conference on Family Literacy in Florida. Several finalists will receive a $500 scholarship. Programs are encouraged to nominate exemplary family educators online at www.famlit.org/ToyotaTeacher. The deadline to submit nominations is December 5.

March 10-12, 2009 -- CoSN Annual Conference: Leadership, Policy & Innovation In Collaborative World. The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) announced that bestselling authors Don Tapscott, Clayton Christianson and Michael Horn will deliver keynote addresses at its 14th Annual K-12 School Networking Conference at the Hilton Austin Hotel in Austin, TX. Opening keynoter Don Tapscott is a thought leader on the strategic value and impact of information technology and the Net Generation that has Grown Up Digital. In a follow-up to his seminal work Growing Up Digital, his new book Grown Up Digital: How the Net Generation is Changing the World revisits the Net Generation as the eldest of its members turns 30, enters the workforce and marketplace, and establishes their roles as life-long learners and contributors to society. Closing keynote speakers Clayton M. Christensen and Michael B. Horn are co-authors of Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns. Their keynote explores why "can't schools customize their teaching?" The current education system, "designed for standardization," must by its nature ignore the individual needs of each student. The answer to this problem, according to Christianson and Horn, is "disruptive innovation," a principle introduced (and initially applied to business) by Christensen, a Harvard Business School Professor, in The Innovator's Dilemma. The idea is that an audience in need will benefit from even a faulty opportunity to fulfill that need; in education, the demand for individual instruction could be met through infinitely customizable online computer-based instruction.

April 17-18, 2009, Increasing Student Achievement: Using Data to Lead Change, Spring 2009 K-12 Leadership Institute, La Jolla, California. Presented by Johns Hopkins University School of Education’s Center for Data-Driven Reform in Education. Please join leading education researchers and district and school leaders at an intense two-day institute to: * Learn why using research-proven interventions are your best bet for school improvement; * Step through a process of continuous improvement, from goal setting to selecting interventions; * Bring your school’s data to engage in an evidence-based process that’s customized for you; and * Network with other district and school leaders. On-line registration will be available soon at: http://www.cddre.org

April 30 – May 2, Education Writers Association Annual Meeting to be held at the Madison Hotel in Washington, DC. More information to follow. Speakers and registration information will be posted at www.ewa.org and http://www.ewa.org/desktopdefault.aspx?page_id=118&resource_id=4003

June 21-24, 2009, National Charter Schools Conference, Washington D.C; Call for Session Presentations; Deadline is December 12, 2008 at 5 p.m. PST. To send in a proposal go to: http://www.nationalcharterconference.org/themesstrands.php. For questions write or call: veriavs@gmail.com OR call (954) 481-8960. Conference registration: http://www.nationalcharterconference.org

Other Information

· NEW -- The Partnership for 21st Century Skills has released A Transition Brief: Policy Recommendations on Preparing Americans for the Global Skills Race, which offers broad proposals for forging a workforce and creating an education system that will thrive in the 21st century. The brief notes that the current economic challenges facing the United States cannot be adequately addressed without focusing on America’s competitiveness, which is intrinsically tied to the ability of Americans to effectively compete in the new global economy. Consequently, the next administration must concentrate on helping every American obtain the skills, such as critical thinking, problem solving and effective communicating, that are required to be successful. “Fundamental changes in the economy, jobs and businesses have reshaped industry and the nature of work, and are driving new, different skill demands,” said Paige Kuni, worldwide manager of K-12 education for Intel Corporation and chair of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. “Other, competing, nations understand that the key to economic prosperity is creating a flexible, adaptable workforce with diverse 21st century skill sets. Their focus has created an international achievement gap.” While the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) attempts to address the achievement gap between minorities and low-income students and their more affluent peers, the 21st century skills achievement gap between American students – even top performers – and their international counterparts is widening, according to the brief. To ensure that the American economy is strong and viable and students graduate high school capable of prospering in college and the 21st century workplace, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills offers key recommendations located at: http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/documents/p21_presidential_transition_paper_nov_2008.pdf.

· Reminder-- Students, Teachers, Parents and Administrators Speak Up! Online surveys open from October 27th through December 19th, 2008. Now in its 6th year, Speak Up is a national online survey where K-12 students, parents, and educators can participate in the national, state and local dialog about key educational topics. Each year the Speak Up findings impact federal, state and local policies, programs and funding for education and technology. This year’s survey topics include:

· Technology usage in and out of the classroom

· Science Education and career exploration

· 21st Century skills: information and media literacy

· Emerging Trends: digital content, broadband access and policy, online learning, mobile devices in instruction

· Designing the 21st century school

Speak Up which is facilitated annually by Project Tomorrow (formerly known as NetDay) is open to every school and district in the United States and American schools on military bases worldwide. Participating schools and districts receive free, online access to their aggregated results in Feb 2009 – with the national data findings to use as benchmarks. Additionally, in spring 2009, Project Tomorrow will release the national data findings in our annual Congressional Briefing event on the Hill. Since fall 2003, the Speak Up project has collected the viewpoints of over 1.2 million K-12 students, educators and parents representing over 14,000 schools from all 50 states. To learn more about Speak Up visit http://www.netdayspeakup.org/speakup2008/ or contact Julie Evans, Project Tomorrow CEO at jevans@tomorrow.org, 949-609-4660 x15. Please feel free to share this information with your colleagues, affiliates and constituents.

Job Opportunities

· The University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education Invites applications for The Katzman/Ernst Chair in Educational Entrepreneurship, Technology, and Innovation. This individual will serve as a catalyst for transforming education, the Rossier School of Education (RSOE) plans to create a center that will reinvent what it means to be a school in the 21^st century. The center will focus on innovations that will look radically different from the status quo in terms of the boundaries between school, home and community; the utilization of diverse types of personnel and technology; the structure of schooling (e.g. calendar, grades); and the physical environment in which schooling takes place, to name just a few examples. It also will (a) rethink curriculum, for K-12 students and for those who will teach them, and (b) make effective use of technology for innovative teaching and learning. This, an unprecedented position within a school of education. The individual recruited for this important position will be an intellectual leader and an entrepreneur in information technologies, including advanced electronic media, telecommunications and related satellite technology. He or she will be able to identify and implement programs and projects at the national level to improve elementary and post-elementary education. This person will be a visionary leader who will convene and lead a group of multidisciplinary scholars — from across the USC campus and beyond, and from such fields as business, engineering, cinematic arts, communication. As well, she or he will establish a collaborative network of education providers in a range of settings and roles, from public and charter school operators to leaders in for-profit educational-services companies. This position is to begin August 15, 2008, if possible. Applicants should send a CV, a cover letter outlining qualifications, experience and career goals, and the names of three references. They should be addressed to Associate Dean Rodney Goodyear c/o Cecilia Olmos, Administrative Services Coordinator, Office of the Associate Dean for Faculty, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California, Waite Phillips Hall 1100, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-0031. Review of applications will begin 05/15/2008 and continue until the positions are filled.

· Michigan Based Education Research Center located in Lansing is Searching for its First Director. The goal of the Center is to inform the debate around education through the production of analyses in the form of reports, white papers and briefs based on that data. It is hoped that the center will come to be viewed as a trusted source of information in education and education policy. A primary asset that the center will possess is access to a large database of K-12 student and teacher data - currently it contains 5 years of individually identifiable demographic records, individual student state assessment data to item level responses, individual teacher information and Student Information System data. In particular, they are looking for an "up and comer" for whom this kind of work would be interesting - a strong leader with vision who could build the center's reputation and chart and guide the work of the center. Obviously, a strong analytic background is essential to success. The Director will provide leadership in creating high quality, relevant analysis to address the needs of education decision-makers. The position is responsible for ensuring the center conducts analyses of educational intervention strategies to advance the understanding of promising educational practices and policies, as well as fast response projects to ensure that educators and policymakers have access to evidence-based information as they make decisions that impact the quality of education for students. The position will also lead in coordinating strategic efforts, discerning and leveraging the center’s data and analysis. The Director will provide leadership in the designing and conducting of analysis of existing data; organizing and documenting analytical procedures and resulting conclusions; preparing reports and journal articles; and presenting findings to internal and external clients for public release. The Director will also direct the dissemination of work through current venues, including online journals, podcasts, and Web 2.0 technologies. Minimum Qualifications: Graduate education in research methods. Ph.D. desired.; Three years of increasingly responsible work experience of a qualifying nature; Documented expertise in conducting qualitative and qualitative analyses; Ability to work with large datasets and statistical software; Understanding of research design issues; Knowledge of critical education issues, especially school and district improvement or English language learners; Excellent oral and written communication skills; Documented expertise in writing products for broad distribution that are understandable to practitioners and policymakers; Experience presenting information and engaging audiences in ways that help members apply the knowledge they are receiving; Experiencing working with state departments of education, school districts, or other human service organizations preferred; and Experience working with individuals, private sector, and university faculty providers of technical and analytical services. If interested or have questions, contact Andrew Henry, President, Red Cedar Solutions Group, Andrew.Henry@redcedarsolutionsgroup.com

· Learning Point Associates is seeking a Senior Policy Associate to contribute to and lead challenging high-profile work in educator quality, as well as guide staff on performance and project development. The position’s primary office location is in our Washington, DC, office and will require up to 25 percent travel (local and national). Learning Point Associates is working to ensure that all of the pieces are in place—from teacher preparation and mentoring programs to professional development and compensation—to help teachers be the best they can be and make a difference for every child. Through our partnership in the National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality and our contributions to the Center for Educator Compensation Reform, Learning Point Associates staff works to do the following: identify gaps and compile sources on teacher shortages, mobility, and quality ; convene education leaders to address emerging policy issues; conduct rigorous research studies to transform policy and practice; evaluate teacher quality initiatives; and provide online teacher quality resources. The individual’s responsibilities include: Manage projects with national implications and be responsible for new project development, and supervising two to three staff members; Lead policy research and evaluation projects in educator quality, collaborate with other researchers and subject-matter experts, and serve as a mentor to staff in reporting, interpreting, and documenting study results; Develop and maintain networks of contacts in state and national policy organizations; Lead and facilitate state and national conversations on education topics focusing on teacher quality and leadership; Influence the public conversation on teacher quality and leadership by writing for peer-reviewed publications, submitting commentaries, presenting at national conferences, and responding to requests by the education media; Collaborate with other senior staff on project management, financial management, quality assurance, or business development; Provide guidance and coaching to assigned staff related to performance and career development; and Lead team in writing proposals, grants, and evaluation reports. Qualifications include: Master's degree in education policy, leadership, education evaluation, research methods, psychology, or related field required; doctorate degree preferred; Minimum of 5 years of project and staff management experience; Significant experience in the education policy arena; Demonstrated knowledge of the main issues facing teachers and school leaders working in high-needs schools and districts; Demonstrated knowledge of the main issues facing federal and state policymakers working to develop educator quality policy solutions; Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills for use in conducting education policy research and/or evaluations; Strong knowledge of SPSS; Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook; and the Internet; Strong communication skills, both written and oral; familiarity with American Psychological Association (APA) style preferred; Ability to work in a collaborative, team-based environment both with staff internally and other individuals externally, prioritizing multiple objectives to meet project deadlines; and Strong communication/presentation skills with the ability to work with a variety of constituencies as well as to provide guidance and supervision to internal staff. To be considered, include a cover letter, resume, salary requirements, and a writing sample of 3 to 5 pages of your analytic work. Please send your writing sample to recruitment@learningpt.org.

· Project Director, Home Visiting, The Pew Charitable Trusts -- The Pew Charitable Trusts has begun a search for the Project Director, Home Visiting Project, in the Pew Center on the States, a division of The Pew Charitable Trusts. The Pew Center on the States (PCS) works to advance state polices that serve the public interest. The project director could start immediately and will be in place for an initial 18 months through March 2010, with the potential for renewal pending the success of the initial stage and board decisions on continued support for an additional 3 1/2 years. The successful candidate will be responsible for implementing the home visiting strategy and accountable for accomplishing its goals, supervising project staff and managing the day to day administration of the initiative. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 10 years of experience that demonstrates a high level of understanding of early childhood policy, including working with state policy makers, researchers, advocates and other stakeholders. Excellent knowledge of the current trends, principal theories, leading thinkers, evidence base, major concerns and climate for change in the field also required. Bachelor’s degree is required, and an advanced degree in public policy or other relevant field is preferred. The position is located in Washington, D.C. and is open until filled. Pew offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits package including four weeks vacation, a generous 401(k) plan and flexible benefit options. For application instructions and to view the full job description candidates are invited to visit the Careers@Pew page on our Web site at www.pewtrusts.org.

· e-Luminate Group has two jobs:

1. Seeking an experienced, energetic PR professional to join our team as a Senior Account Executive. Candidates must have 5-7 years experience developing strategic communications plans, leading accounts, managing client relationships and delivering solid results. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who has superior critical thinking skills, exercises good judgment, is a creative, ‘out-of the-box’ thinker, and has excellent writing and interpersonal skills. Must be a self-starter and multi-tasker, have excellent communications skills and work well in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. e-Luminate Group is a leading education consulting firm, and our Marketing Communications team is growing! Our team has a powerful combination of industry expertise, marketing-savvy and PR know-how. We represent some of the most well-known companies in the education arena. Requirements: Bachelors degree in Journalism, Communications, PR or related field. Agency experience preferred! Salary is commensurate with experience; includes attractive benefits package. For more information, please visit our Web site: www.e-luminategroup.com. How to apply: Please submit resumes to: jobs@eluminategroup.com. Applicants should send a detailed cover letter describing their profile and include a resume. References will be required.

2. Seeking an experienced, energetic PR professional to join our team as an Account Supervisor. Candidates must have strong managerial experience and a successful track record of managing accounts, leading teams and delivering solid results. As Account Supervisor, you will cultivate and manage relationships with clients, participate in business development and support organizational initiatives. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who has superior critical thinking skills, exercises good judgment, is a creative, ‘out-of the-box’ thinker, and has excellent writing and interpersonal skills. Must work well in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Qualifications: Bachelors degree in Journalism, communications, PR or related field, a minimum of 7 years of PR/Marketing/Communications experience, self-starter and highly motivated, ability to balance strategy with execution, outstanding organization skills, creative and pragmatic thinker, excellent communication and presentation skills, and ability to multitask effectively in a fast-paced environment. Please submit resumes to: jobs@eluminategroup.com. Applicants should send a detailed cover letter describing their profile and include a resume. References will be required.

· Director, Public Policy, ASCD has an exciting opportunity for a Director of Public Policy. This position directs the Association’s efforts to influence education decision-making and policy development at the local, state, and federal levels and is responsible for the development and implementation of ASCD’s legislative agenda. The successful candidate must have extensive knowledge of current and emerging policy issues in education coupled with a strong understanding of legislative and regulatory processes. Experience working with federal, state, or local policy makers is required. Strong writing and public speaking experience are critical along with the ability to synthesize legislative and budget information and communicate it to practicing educators. Public education experience is highly desirable and should include 5-10 years experience in advocacy work. A degree in public policy, education, or government relations is preferred; a graduate degree is a plus. For more information, check out our website at www.ascd.org . To express interest, send your resume and cover letter to HR@ascd.org Subject: Director Public Policy

· The Education Testing Service (ETS) is hiring a federal and state policy analyst to manage the government relations activities specific to federal and state areas as assigned. Responsibilities include monitoring and analyzing legislation, building relationships with decision makers and stakeholders, and seeking to promote ETS’s business and policy interests. Seeking applicants with 3-5 years experience in government relations and federal and state policy analysis within education sector. Strong writing and communication skills also required. If interested, please apply through ETS's website at http://ets.pereless.com/careers/index.cfm?fuseaction=83080.viewjobdetail&CID=83080&JID=64227&type=main&cfcend

· The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) seeks an individual to be a Director of Public Relations, an important member of the team responsible for advancing the association’s advocacy agenda, and help to support the “national voice” of the organization. Position requires serving as public information and media contact; responding to media inquiries; working with reporters and media representatives to generate news stories that meet organization’s mission. The job requires the individual to have a bachelor’s degree in communications or a related field and 5+ years of experience in the field. Starting salary is mid $70s to mid $80s with excellent benefits package. To apply send resume, cover letter and salary history to: NASSP/HR, 1904 Association Dr., Reston, VA 20191, beasleyb@principals.org . The job responsibilities include: Provide public relations support to NASSP staff, board members, and constituents as required.; Draft corporate communications and public relations vehicles, including position statements, speeches, press kits, feature stories, op-eds, news releases, etc.\ ; Attend and report back on meetings of importance to the association; Work closely with the various program offices to develop public relations tools and materials to promote NASSP programs, publications, products, partnership activities, scholarships, and awards programs; Serve as a public information and media contact; respond to media inquiries, provide background research and information as requested; work with reporters and media representatives to generate news stories that meet the mission of NASSP.

· The Data Quality Campaign (DQC) is seeking to add 3 staff members to our high energy, productive and fun team. We are looking for individuals who are passionate, motivated and eager to promote how data can improve student achievement and inform critical issues in the P-20 arena. All three positions require strong research, writing, presentation, communication, and organizational skills; positions may be located in Washington, DC, Austin, TX, or Minneapolis, MN All 3 postings at: http://www.act.org/humanresources/index.html . The positions are:

1) Senior Program Manager for Early Learning and Postsecondary Data: http://www.act.org/humanresources/jobs/0911-540.html. This senior position will help develop the strategy and manage the efforts of the DQC to expedite the development and use of longitudinal data systems linked across the knowledge supply chain to help improve the rigor, relevance and results of P-20 education and increase career and college readiness of every student.

2) K-12 Program Associate http://www.act.org/humanresources/jobs/0911-538.html: will develop resources, tools, presentations to assist the development, growth and use of longitudinal data as it pertains to vital issues in K-12 education, including teacher quality, college readiness, academic growth, graduation rates.

3) PreK/Postsecondary Program Associate http://www.act.org/humanresources/jobs/0911-539.html: will focus on improving the quality, linkages and use of data among postsecondary, early learning and other critical systems impacting student achievement.