NEW
Resource for ARRA -- Learning Point Associates launched today the Education Recovery and Reinvestment
Center (http://www.learningpt.org/recovery/
) to provide a one-stop shop for educators and policymakers to help
them track developments and find current information on the ARRA. The site
will provide information on the recovery funds for education to help you
understand how the funds are to be used and make a difference in teaching and
learning. Some of the resources will be tailored specifically for those in practicing
in the field, including a helpful side-by-side guide to the funds available to individual
states or localities and the reporting requirements. The site will also have the
best information available from other sources. Contributions of additional
information, sources, etc. are welcomed. The site will be adding features,
tools, and content on a daily basis. If you have questions or want to
provide information for the site, contact Trish Brennan-Gac at trish.brennan-gac@learningpt.org.
This site will be listed below after today as a resource on ARRA 2009.
3
New Hearings, Meetings, Etc.
New
Other Information
New
Job Opportunities
Join
in the contest to rename the No Child Left Behind Act (the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965) by going to EDUWONK – www.eduwonk.com. Already over 400
names have been submitted.
GET
Information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009:
Ø
No guidance issued yet by the Department on Title I or
IDEA stimulus supplemental funding. Hopefully this week.
·
Web resource page for states and LEAs on the best ideas
on school modernization. - http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/modernization
·
The
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 seeks to immediately avert staff
layoffs and program cuts. The stimulus package’s more than $100
billion in education funding, college grants and tuition tax credits, and
school modernization funds will help America educate its way to a stronger
economy. The Department has comprehensive information of the education portion
of the legislation including see how your state will benefit from the
stimulus package, visit, http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/index.html
·
White House information on the
stimulus package – go to:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/White-House-Releases-State-by-State-Numbers-American-Recovery-and-Reinvestment-Act-to-Save-or-Create-35-Million-Jobs/
·
The
ESEA Title I LEA Allocations of AARA funds are live on the web at http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/titlei/fy09recovery/index.html.
·
The Department has created a specific ARRA web page (http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/),
where additional information on the act will be posted as it becomes
available. In addition, the Recovery.gov
web site (http://www.recovery.gov/)
is now live. The mission of this site is three-fold: education (explain
the ARRA), transparency (show how, when, and where ARRA money is spent), and
accountability (furnish data that will allow citizens to evaluate the act's
progress and provide feedback).
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_reports&docid=f:hr016.111.pdf
Appropriations:
The
Senate has begun debate on HR 1105 The Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009.
Debate continues today. The continuing resolution expires on March 6.
Floor
Action:
.
Committee Action:
Legislation
Introduced:
S
514 (Akaka, Hawaii) introduced the Veterans Rehabilitation and Training
Improvements Act of 2009 to amend Title 38, US Code to enhance the
vocational rehabilitation benefits for veterans.
HR
1266 (Abercrombie, Hawaii) introduced to provide retirement equity for Federal
employees in nonforeign areas outside the 48 contiguous States and the District
of Columbia.
H
Joint Res 29 (Jackson, Illinois) introduced proposing an amendment to the
Constitution of the United States regarding the right of all citizens of the
U.S. to a public education of equal high quality.
THIS WEEK
NEW
– Today, Wednesday – Thursday, March 4-5, Education
Sector will be hosting an online conversation about Beyond the Bubble:
Technology and the Future of Student Assessment featuring Education
Sector Chief Operating Officer, Bill
Tucker, Margaret Honey of the New York Hall of Science, Scott Marion of the
Center for Assessment and Charles Barone of Democrats for Education
Reform. At a time when students are tested more than ever—and
test results are used to make critical judgments about the performance of
schools, teachers, and students—our testing methods don't serve our
educational system nearly as well as they should. Can technology transform
the way we assess our students? This online discussion will explore
technology's role in improving student assessment and focus on critical
questions about implementation such as how
and when
such changes should take place. To join in at some point and pose a
question or comment to our experts -- Visit Education
Sector’s Web site at http://www.educationsector.org/ on
March 3rd to join the discussion.
Today, Wednesday, March 4, the House Committee on Energy and
Commerce (Waxman, California) will mark up several bills including HR 577
(Green, Texas) entitled the Vision Care for Kids Act of 2009 at 10 AM in
2123 Rayburn.
Today, Wednesday, March 4, the Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity (Herseth Sandlin, South Dakota) of the House Committee on Veterans
Affairs will meet to mark up several bills at 1 PM in 340 Cannon including:
Ø HR 297 (Buyer,
Indiana), the Veteran
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Subsistence Allowance Improvement Act
of 2009
Ø HR 929 (Welch,
Vermont) to
amend Title 38, US Code to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out
a program of training eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market.
Ø HR 950 (Filner,
California)
to amend Chapter 33, Title 38, US Code to increase educational assistance for
certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance
learning.
Ø HR 1088 (Herseth
Sandlin, South Dakota), the Mandatory Veteran Specialist Training Act of
2009, to amend Title 38, US Code to provide for a one-year period for the
training of new disabled veterans’ outreach program specialists and local
veterans’ employment representatives by the National Veterans’
Employment and Training Services Institute.
Today,
Wednesday, March
4, Webinar -- Schools and community organizations can reap huge benefits
by tapping the creative, enthusiastic and insightful ideas and voices of young
people. This webinar
will explore the powerful benefits of engaging and empowering youth voice
within their organizational leadership teams. The session will include methods
for training and preparing young people to take on leadership roles and
examples shared on how young people have impacted boards and advisory
committees, policy and legislative initiatives, and community planning and
development. Specific examples of how to set up a Youth Advisory Board will be
examined and the benefits of participation will be voiced by young people
currently active on Youth Advisory Boards. Go to www.nylc.org
to sign up now.
Tomorrow, Thursday, March 5,
the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (Mollohan,
West Virginia) of the House Committee on Appropriations will hold
hearings on Science Education at 10 AM in 2359 Rayburn.
Tomorrow, Thursday, March
5, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies
(Mollohan, West Virginia) of the House Committee on Appropriations will
hold hearings on Where
We are Today: Today’s Assessment of the “Gathering
Storm” at 2
PM in 2359 Rayburn.
Tomorrow, Thursday,
March 5, the Center for Education Policy (CEP) will host a public forum on Have
Federal Programs Been Effective in Improving Teaching? The
paper’s authors, Dr. Gary Sykes and Kenne Dibner of Michigan State
University, will present their findings. This is one of a series of
forums CEP is hosting to discussed commissioned papers as part of its project
to rethink the federal role in elementary and secondary education. Advised by a
balanced panel of education experts, CEP has commissioned a series of papers on
key issues, requiring the authors to provide evidence of the effects of various
programs, initiatives, and recommendations contained in the papers. Each paper
is peer-reviewed by individuals with diverse points of view on the issue. The
result of these efforts will be a set of recommendations for President Obama
and and the Congress for shaping the federal role in elementary and secondary
education. The forum will be held from 10 AM to NOON in 2261 Rayburn.
To attend this forum, please send an email to cep-dc@cep-dc.org and enter “March 5
Forum” in the subject line. Prior to the forum, CEP will send
attendees a copy of the paper.
NEW
– Friday, March 6, The Academic Progress
Workgroup (formerly Degree Audit) has re-organized under Co-Chairs David
Moldoff of PESC member organization AcademyOne and Clare-Smith Larson of PESC
member organization Iowa State University will be holding a conference call
meeting from 3:30pm - 4:30pm EST. If you've been interested in this
effort or know of another organization that is, now is the best time to join
this initiative. As a reminder...there is no limit to the number of
representatives that can join a workgroup from a single PESC member organization
but being a member is required for workgroup participation. For
organizations looking to become a member, please contact Jennifer Kim,
Membership Services Manager, at 202.261.6514. For more information go to the
website at http://academicprogress.blogspot.com/
and the home site at http://sites.google.com/site/academicprogress/Home
Friday,
March 6 and Saturday, March 7, The Celebration of Teaching & Learning, a premier
professional development conference hosted by Channel THIRTEEN and WLIW21 in
New York, will expose K-12 educators, academics and policy makers to worldwide
trends in instruction, education policy and the latest research. Conference
attendees will find exciting offerings in science, math, technology, global
awareness, English Language Learning, literacy, autism, and whole school
issues. The Celebration is best known for its incredible array of
Keynote Speakers and will feature Eric Schmidt, Google’s CEO ; Temple
Grandin, the world’s most recognized autistic scholar; education
leaders Dennis Van Roekel, Randi Weingarten, John Wilson, Joel Klein, and Pedro Noguera and
celebrities Alan Alda and Danica McKellar who will discuss
science and math education. For more information about the
Celebration and to register to attend, please visit www.thirteencelebration.org
NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND
March 8-10, National Association of Federally Impacted Schools
(NAFIS) Spring Conference – Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
School
administrators and school board members from across the country will come to
Washington, DC to participate in issue-based and grasstops/grassroots advocacy
workshops concerning the Impact Aid Program, the second oldest elementary and
secondary education program administered by the U.S. Department of
Education. Participants will also meet with their Congressional delegation
on Capitol Hill and with U.S. Department of Education officials. Further
information about the Impact Aid Program and NAFIS can be found on the NAFIS
website located at www.nafisdc.org
Tuesday,
March 10
-- Join the Data Quality Campaign (DQC) and other national thought-leaders at a
summit on “Leveraging the Power of Data to improve Education”
to: Discuss the integral role of data to the national education
improvement agenda and how the newly available stimulus funds can be used to
improve student achievement and close achievement gaps; Celebrate state
progress in building longitudinal data systems; Explore remaining
challenges to the growth and use of these systems; and Highlight and
discuss the state and federal role in addressing next generation issues to
ensure the use of these new data systems. Speakers include: The
Honorable Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education; The Honorable
Edward G. Rendell, Governor of Pennsylvania; The Honorable George
Miller, Chairman, House Committee on Education & Labor; Michael
Casserly, Executive Director, Council of the Great City Schools; Michael
Cohen, President of Achieve, Inc.; Kati Haycock, President of
The Education Trust; Ken James, Arkansas Commissioner of Education;
Dane Linn, Education Division Director of the National Governors
Association Center for Best Practices; Reggie Robinson, President &
CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents; Stefanie Sanford, Deputy
Director of U.S. Advocacy, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and Gene
Wilhoit, Executive Director of the Council of Chief State School
Officers. To be held from 2:00 to 5:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the
Mayflower Hotel located at 1127 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC. A reception
immediately follows in the East Room at 5:30 p.m. Registration
required -- please visit www.DataQualityCampaign.org
to register today! For more information, please contact Erica Wiggins at Erica@DataQualityCampaign.org.
Tuesday,
March 10 in Austin, Texas, the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), in
an effort to have a global conversation, will focus its 8th Annual
International Symposium on the theme, Does
Web 2.0 Belong in Schools? Policy Issues and Leadership Challenges.
The daylong Symposium will take place during CoSN's 14th Annual K-12 School
Networking Conference (See below). The Symposium will draw upon work being done
in a CoSN project being funded by the MacArthur Foundation titled,
"Schools and Participatory Culture: Overcoming Policy and Leadership
Barriers." Steven Berlin Johnson, author of Everything Bad is Good for You: How
Web 2.0 and Popular Culture is Actually Making us Smarter, will
deliver closing keynote remarks focused on the title of his best-selling book,
and will explore the implications of his thesis for our schools.
Additional information on the Symposium agenda and panelists can be found
online at the official Web site for CoSN's 14th Annual K-12 School Networking
Conference: www.k12schoolnetworking.com/2009
Tuesday
– Thursday, 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.
NEW
-- March 17, Technology-Supported
Writing Interventions, Join Dr.
Peterson-Karlan of Illinois State University as he discusses
evidence-based tools for supporting and improving the planning,
organization, drafting, editing, and revising skills of students who
struggle to write. Space is limited – Go to: http://www.cited.org/webinars.html
to register
Note: February's sessions on Accessible Instructional Materials are full.
The recording will be available in the Archive following the
webinar for those who were unable to register.
March 18-21, National
Youth Leadership Council invites you to attend the 20th Annual National
Service-Learning Conference (NSLC) at the Nashville Convention Center. The conference
is the largest gathering of youths and practitioners involved in the service-learning
movement, drawing attendees from across the United States and at least 20 other
countries each year. Through three days of general sessions, featured forums,
and service-learning projects, the conference engages participants in local,
national, and global issues that service-learning addresses. It provides
networking opportunities with service-learning leaders through more than 150
experiential workshops, receptions, and informal meetings. For more
information go to www.nylc.org
Tuesday, March 24, Next SEE FORUM, Building a
Foundation for the Future: A Discussion on the Latest Research on Elementary
School Math Curricula.
According to recent research, many
American children begin school lacking strong mathematics skills, and these
deficits often continue to grow, especially for
children from lower socio-economic
backgrounds. These findings, and the need to educate students for 21st
century jobs, highlight the importance of knowing
how to effectively teach mathematics to
our children beginning in the early grades. The Scientific
Evidence in Education (SEE) Forums will host an
interactive discussion to review the
latest findings on elementary school math curricula and discuss the
current research base. The forum will focus on the
recent findings of the Institute of Education
Sciences’ large-scale study, Achievement
Effects of Four Early Elementary School Math Curricula, which
investigates the achievement results for
first graders in 39 schools using four popular elementary school math
curricula: Investigations in Number, Data, and
Space; Math Expressions; Saxon Math; and
Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley Mathematics. Panelists: Roberto
Agodini, Senior Economist, Mathematica
Policy
Research, Inc. and Study Director and Principal Investigator; Joan
Ferrini-Mundy, Director of the Division of Research on
Learning in Formal and
Informal
Settings, National Science Foundation; Jim Lewis, Director of the Center
for Science, Mathematics, and Computer Education, University of Nebraska-
Lincoln; and Moderator: Rebecca
Herman,
Director of the SEE Forums and Managing Research Analyst, American
Institutes for Research. To be held from
12:30 to 1:45 PM (Lunch served at Noon) at
the National Press Club. Please RSVP
for this event at http://www.seeforums.org/registration.aspx
NEW -- Tuesday, March 24, An Army of Great
Teachers? Today’s most
successful K–12 schools have a voracious appetite for talent. Indeed,
successful charter school networks—like KIPP and Achievement
First—are perhaps most notable for their ability to create a “no
excuses” culture staffed with talented, passionate, and hard-working
recruits. Given that the nation’s public schools employ more than 3.3
million teachers, reform strategies based on these successful models quickly
run into questions about how many superstar teachers can be found and how long they
will teach. In short, the very strategies that have fueled the success of some
of America’s most admired schools may not be feasible nationwide. Such
issues are particularly relevant in light of the Obama administration’s
new Innovation Fund, intended to support efforts to replicate these successful
ventures. Teachers may be the most important element of an effective school,
but must K–12 improvement wait on the ability of schools or systems to
recruit, nurture, and retain outstanding teachers? Can reformers and
practitioners devise ways to increase this pool of talent or devise highly
effective school models that are less reliant on standout teachers? What do
these human capital challenges mean for charter schooling, district reformers,
and teacher education? AEI’s director of education policy studies Frederick
M. Hess will moderate a discussion among distinguished panelists: Norman
Atkins, the founder and CEO of Teacher U at Hunter College; Kaya
Henderson, deputy chancellor for human capital and community relations for
the District of Columbia Public Schools; Katherine K. Merseth, director
of teacher education at Harvard University and author of Inside Urban Charter Schools:
Promising Practices and Strategies in Five High-Performing Schools (Harvard Education
Press, 2009); and Steven F. Wilson, the founder and CEO of Ascend
Learning Inc. and author of a recent
AEI working paper on human capital in charter schooling. To be held
at AEI, 1150
Seventeenth Street, N.W., 12th floor from 3:30 to 5 PM. To attend
RSVP to: ww.aei.org/event1895
Tuesday,
March 24, 2009
–Release of the National Speak Up 2008 Data Findings - hear how K-12
students, parents, teachers and school principals think their schools should
spend stimulus dollars to improve learning. Project Tomorrow will
release its findings from Speak Up 2008 at a Capitol Hill briefing sponsored by
Reps. Mike Ross, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Ruben Hinojosa and Mark Kirk. The
agenda will feature a presentation of key data findings from the Speak Up 2008
National Research Project by Project Tomorrow’s CEO, Julie Evans, other
speakers commenting on the data findings, and an interactive panel discussion
with high school students who participated in the Speak Up surveys, including
students from Australia who are joining us to provide an international
perspective. The release and briefing will be from NOON to 1:30 PM
(lunch provided) in B-339 Rayburn. Learn more @ www.tomorrow.org/speakup/speakup_congress.html.
Please rsvp to: rsvp@tomorrow.org.
For more information about Speak Up and this event, please contact: Laurie
Smith, Project Tomorrow, lsmith@tomorrow.org,
949-609-4660 x17. In Fall 2008, Project Tomorrow, the national
education nonprofit organization that facilitates the annual Speak Up online
surveys, collected the views of over 335,000 K-12 students, parents, teachers
and principals from all 50 states to learn:
§ How
education technology is being used in America’s schools today – and
how students and parents believe technology could be better used to improve
student achievement
§ What
emerging technologies our students, teachers and principals need to be
successful
§ What
are parents’ concerns about internet safety and technology use at school
§ How
would students and parents leverage broadband access at home for educational
purposes
§ Whether
our schools are doing a good job preparing students to compete for 21st
century STEM jobs
§ How
should schools use the stimulus dollars to create 21st century
classrooms and schools
§ What
students would like to tell President Obama about improving education for all
students
Thursday, March 26, The National Council on Teacher Quality will hold a
conference entitled Help or Hindrance?
The Impact of Teacher Roles, Rules and Rights on Teacher Quality. It features five
original papers, presented as part of a competition to make the best use of
NCTQ's database on collective bargaining rules and regulations. Judging the
papers will be Steven Adamowski (Hartford Superintendent), Jane Hannaway (Urban
Institute), Eric Hanushek (Hoover Institution), Susan Moore Johnson (Harvard
University), Eugenia Kemble (Albert Shanker Institute), and Donald
Langenberg (Chancellor Emeritus, University of Maryland). For more
information and registration go to: http://www.nctq.org/tr3/conference/
Friday,
March 27, Pedro Noguera and Wendy Puriefoy will host a joint forum on Capitol
Hill entitled: Education
and Economic Renewal: A Broader and Bolder Approach to School Reform.
It will feature nationally acclaimed leaders in business, education,
government. They will discuss how educational policy should interact with
efforts to promote economic development, community empowerment and child
well-being. Confirmed program participants include: Ohio Governor Ted
Strickland; Montgomery County Superintendent of Schools Jerry vWeast; and
Boston Superintendent Carol Johnson; and Aramark CEO Dennis Maple. Invited but
not yet confirmed are Rudy Crew (now teaching at USC), CEO of Standard and
Poors and the incoming National PTA President. This is an open Policy Forum
to RSVP or additional information contact La Ruth Gray at 212-998-5137 or email
her at laruth.gray@nyu.edu. The forum is scheduled in the House of
Representatives—time and room to be announced in the near future.
April 1-3 (Denver, Colorado), Urban Teacher
Partnership (UTP)* 2nd Annual Summit -- Great Teachers for Our
City Schools: A National Summit on Recruiting, Preparing and Retaining
Quality Urban Teachers. A call for presentations in the areas of
Teacher Preparation, Teacher Recruitment and Teacher Retention with a
deadline of January 9, 2009. Go to http://www.mscd.edu/~utp/. You can
also register on this website. Focus of the conference is to provide
an opportunity for leaders of state and local P-16 partnerships, urban district
teachers and administrators, college and university faculty and administrators,
researchers, and education policy analysts from around the country to share
promising practices, discuss current knowledge, and strengthen our local and
national commitment to quality teachers and student achievement in urban and
high-needs schools. For additional information, contact Isabella Muturi
Sauve at the Urban Teacher Partnership, Metropolitan State College of Denver,
at 303-352-4956 or isauve@mscd.edu
April 2-4 (New Orleans), National
Afterschool Association Convention, Web Site: http://www.naaconvention.org
April 16-17, the annual National
Conference on Summer Learning in Chicago, Illinois. This is
the only national conference dedicated to summer learning, and learn how to
build, strengthen and expand summer programs. For
information and conference registration go to: http://www.summerlearning.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=105&Itemid=427
April 16-18, Big Picture
Learning’s Annual Meeting, “Schools, Innovation and
Influence: Transforming Education, One Student at a Time,” in
Providence, Rhode Island. For more information and registration go
to: www.bigpicture.org.
April
17-18, 2009, Increasing Student Achievement: Using Data to Lead Change,
Spring 2009 K-12 Leadership Institute, Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines in 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 a two-day institute to: * Learn
to use your school’s data in a continuous improvement process; * Examine
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 is available at: http://www.cddre.org/institute.html
April 17-19, The National
Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) will hold its 9th Annual National
Teacher Advancement Program (TAP)™ Conference at the Westin Bonaventure
Hotel & Suites in Los Angeles, California. The National TAP Conference will be held in conjunction
with the Milken National Education Conference (NEC)—an annual gathering
to welcome the newest class of Milken Educator Award recipients and
distinguished representatives from academia, government, business and the
community to discuss solutions to America’s biggest challenges in
education. The theme of this year's conference is Comprehensive Teacher Quality Reform:
Policy and Practice for a New Era.
Participants will include more than 600 school-based practitioners implementing
TAP's comprehensive teacher quality reforms. More information and
registration at www.talentedteachers.org.
April 22-24, American
Association of School Administrators' Legislative Advocacy Conference. This is the major federal legislative event of the year for
school system leaders! Learn more at http://www.aasa.org/conferences/iMisEventDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=10860
Monday,
April 27 – Friday, May 1, School Building Week 2009 presented by the
Council of Educational Facility Planners International. School Building Week
2009 features a weeklong celebration of school facilities. Reinforcing the
connection between school facilities and student learning, School Building Week
provides an opportunity to increase public awareness of the importance of
well-planned, healthy, high performance, safe and sustainable schools that
enhance student performance and contribute to community vitality. It is a
time when schools and school districts may engage in activities and celebrations
that channel students, parents, legislators and other affected constituencies
to consider the role the school building plays in the educational process and
in the current and future vitality of their communities. Each community
values its schools in a manner unique to its local educational needs and
curriculum focus. Today we have an opportunity to create effective
learning environments that reflect the community’s unique assets as well
as its needs; serve as a resource of education, health and human services to
students and neighborhood members alike; and strengthen community life.
Every day of the week has a different theme: Monday, April 27 - Healthy
Schools Day; Tuesday, April 28 - Historic Schools Day;
Wednesday, April 29 - Senior Citizens in Schools Day and School of the
Future National Jury; Thursday, April 30- Schools as Centers of
Community Day and School Building Week Reception and Awards Ceremony; and
Friday, May 1 - School Building Day. Please visit www.cefpi.org/sbw for more specifics or
contact Barbara Worth, barb@cefpi.org for
further information. More on School Building Week in Other Information.
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
May
28, American Enterprise Institute present an all-day forum entitled: Educational Innovation and Philadelphia's School of the
Future. Grand claims about the
transformative power of technology in education are common, yet decades of high
school redesign have yielded mixed results. One of the most widely touted
efforts to tackle these challenges has been the School of the Future in the
Philadelphia School District, created in 2006 through a partnership with the
Microsoft Corporation. This $63 million school incorporated new technologies in
areas such as data and curriculum management, virtual simulations and
mentoring, and personalized instruction intended to fundamentally change how
students learn in high school. National Public Radio touted the school as
“the next big thing,” and Education Week described it as “a
new high-tech school [that is] strutting its stuff.” AEI and
Microsoft have assembled a select team of analysts to explore how this
pioneering effort is unfolding on the ground and the lessons it holds for the
use of technology and high school redesign. New research will examine key
elements of the School of the Future—including its genesis, design,
flaws, and implications—and what it can teach about broader questions
regarding educational innovation, public-private partnerships, and the
integration of technology in the classroom. At this AEI conference, researchers
will present their findings, and an array of discussants will respond. To
be held from 9:00 a.m.–3:45 p.m. at 1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W.,
the Wohlstetter Conference Center, Twelfth Floor. To attend RSVP
to: www.aei.org/event1865. For more
information, contact Thomas Gift at thomas.gift@aei.org
or 202.862.5822.
June 21-24, 2009, 9th Annual National Charter
Schools Conference -- “Charter Schools:
Leading Change in Public Education” being held in
Washington
D.C; You can register for the meeting online by going to http://www.nationalcharterconference.org. If you have
questions write or call: veriavs@gmail.com OR call (954) 481-8960.
June
21-26, 2009, 14th Special Education Law Symposium - Balancing Change and
Continuity
will be held on the campus at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa. You
can register online by going to http://www.lehigh.edu/education/law. If you
have questions write or call: tlp205@lehigh.edu or 610.758.3226.
July 7-9 – National
Meeting on 21st Century Community Learning Centers program,
Nashville, Tennessee. More information to follow.
Fall 2009, the next ETS Achievement Gap Symposium
will be held on the topic of out-of-school learning and its impact on academic
achievement.
More information to follow.
September
15-17, The National College Access Network (NCAN) invites you to submit
proposals for breakout sessions at its Annual Conference to be held this fall. Please forward this
opportunity widely to your colleagues, associates and organizational members.
If you would like more information on how to be a presenter at our 2009 Annual
Conference, please visit our conference homepage --
http://www.collegeaccess.org/ncan/ItemPage.aspx?groupid=2853&id=2853.
Proposals are due March 20. The Annual Conference will take
place at the Hilton San Francisco. Online registration is coming soon!
Other Information
·
Lisa Jackson, administrator of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, announced yesterday a new initiative to
further measure levels of toxic air pollution near many schools across the
country for better protection. EPA and its state partners will
prioritize and monitor schools for more extensive air quality analysis, looking
closely at schools located near large industries and in urban areas.
Administrator Jackson has outlined an aggressive timeline for prioritizing and
monitoring schools to determine any which are exposed to high levels of toxic
air pollution. EPA anticipates monitoring at some schools will begin within the
next 30 days. Directed by EPA, the monitoring will be conducted primarily by
state and local governments. Some states have already begun monitoring.
·
Nominations are being accepted for the 2009 Harold W.
McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education. This year's award will recognize three
individuals who address the connection of education and innovation in one of
three broad categories: PK-12-focused school and community programs, teacher
training and professional development, and policy at all levels of
government. The deadline for nominations (which can be completed online)
is March 20. Recipients will be honored at a dinner in New York
City this fall and will each receive $25,000. FOR MORE INFORMATION,
PLEASE GO TO http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/prize/
·
School Building Week features a weeklong celebration of
school facilities.
Reinforcing the connection between school facilities and student learning,
School Building Week provides an opportunity to increase public awareness of
the importance of well-planned, healthy, high performance, safe and sustainable
schools that enhance student performance and contribute to community
vitality. The School of the Future Student Design Competition is the
centerpiece of School Building Week and illustrates the kind of creativity
students bring to the planning and design process. The competition challenges
middle school students to design or redesign their schools to enhance learning,
conserve resources, be environmentally responsive and engage the surrounding
community. The multi-disciplinary solution requires students to
follow a planning process from the concept phase to the completion of a formal
school building design project. The first-place regional winning teams
travel to Washington, DC for the final jury process, awards ceremony and cash
prizes.
·
Downtown Office Space Available:
Bernstein Strategy’s office suite will have one or two offices available
to sublet as of April 1, 2009. Each available office comes equipped with phone,
Internet and satellite television connections. Tech support is available to
support your computer needs. All suite occupants will have access to our
suite's fully furnished conference room and kitchen/workroom facilities.
Additionally, our fax machine, printer and copier could also be at your
disposal. Our building is well located -- on 18th Street between I and K
Streets on -- and directly across the street from the Farragut West
Metro. In-building parking is available. The building itself has a concierge
and security. Please contact Jon Bernstein at jbernstein@jbernsteinstrategy.com if
you are interested in the space.
Job
Opportunities
·
The Mind Trust (www.themindtrust.org)
is now accepting applications for its third cohort of Education Entrepreneur
Fellows.
The Fellowship, a nationally unique incubator for transformative education
ventures, offers promising education entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop
and launch their break-the-mold education ventures and the support necessary
for success. Fellows receive an annual salary of $90,000 for two years,
benefits, and a $20,000 stipend for travel and professional development.
Interested candidates may apply online at www.themindtrust.org.
Statements of Intent are due July 31, 2009. Fellowships will be
awarded by November 20, 2009. Attached please find a job
description and profiles of The Mind Trust’s current fellows. For
more information, please visit our website at www.themindtrust.org or contact us at fellowship@themindtrust.org or
317-822-8102. The Mind Trust’s mission is to dramatically improve
public education for underserved students by empowering education entrepreneurs
to develop or expand transformative education initiatives.
·
The
Pew Charitable Trust’s Pew Center on the States is in search of a Project
Director to join the Make Voting Work Initiative within the Pew Center on the
States. The
initiative, Make Voting Work seeks to develop and pursue an ambitious agenda to
modernize the means by which we administer our elections by advancing policies,
practices and technologies that address critical aspects against which any
election system should be measured. The Associate, Make Voting Work will
help design and implement research and analysis for the initiaive, coordinate
convenings, manage special projects, maintain internal and external
communications and support other programmatic investments and budget
activities. A Bachelor's degree is required and Master's is preferred. One to
three years of relevant professional experience conducting research and policy
analysis and strong MS Office skills are required. This position is approved
through December 2009 with the possibility of renewal depending on the
initiative's program success, board approval and continued funding. The
position is based in Washington, D.C. For a complete job description and
additional information go to: http://intranet-pct.icims.com/jobs/1665/job.
·
Citizen Schools , Campus Director, New York City --
This is an instructional leadership and management role for individuals with at
least two years of highly successful teaching in a low-income environment,
ideally with students in the middle grades. Charged with the
management of a campus site serving about 100 middle-school students,
Campus Directors are responsible for the supervision and coaching of 5-7
professional educators, as well as recruiting, selecting, and supervising
approximately 30 volunteers from the local community. Campus Directors are also
responsible for budget management, event planning, and have the opportunity to
lead an annual fundraising campaign. While not required, fluency in Spanish
will be highly advantageous in this role. Successful Campus Directors are
well-positioned for more senior leadership roles in national non-profits,
charter management organizations, school districts, and also the private
sector. Interested applicants should apply immediately by submitting a resume
and detailed cover letter using the link below. Applicants will be reviewed
on a rolling basis. The start date for this position will be in June
2009. To apply go to: http://tbe.taleo.net/NA6/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=CITIZENSCHOOLS&cws=1&rid=193
·
Director, Government Relations
for the National Association of State Boards of Education in Alexandria, VA. The Director
of Government Relations, working in close partnership with the NASBE leadership
team and members of the NASBE Governmental Affairs Committee, leads federal
advocacy efforts on behalf of state boards of education. To be successful, the
Director must be pro-active, high-energy, and able to develop strong bipartisan
relationships with the staff and Members of Congress, the Administration, and
relevant education advocacy organizations and coalitions. The position requires
a strong membership service ethic, including steady coordination and frequent
communication with the NASBE membership. Success of the position will be judged
by the visibility of the public policy priorities of NASBE and state boards of
education, the improvement of NASBE advocacy tactics and tools, and the
improvement and strengthening of relationships across the political
spectrum. The Director of Government Relations position is intended to further
the aims of NASBE and its members as follows (in order of importance): (1)
Manage all NASBE federal government relations initiatives, including staffing
the NASBE Government Affairs Committee (comprised of state board of education
members from across the nation); representing NASBE on coalitions, advisory
groups, alliances, and related groups; and keeping NASBE leadership and
membership informed in a timely manner of pending issues; (2) Lead the
development and implementation of an annual legislative and regulatory advocacy
strategy. Achieve solid knowledge of the work of NASBE and state boards of
education and facilitate contacts between NASBE leadership and members and the
Administration and the Congress so that policy goals can be achieved; (3) Keep
abreast of and report on all relevant federal legislative and regulatory
activities and appropriations and analyze the impact of such proposals; (4)
Create written summaries, briefs, testimony, correspondence, and related
documents supporting the NASBE advocacy agenda and keep key members and
constituencies informed; (5) Organize and manage the annual Washington,
DC-based NASBE Legislative Conference; (6) Support other major NASBE member
activities as needed, including the annual conference, study group and
committee meetings, and policy-focused NASBE programmatic work; (7) Work
closely and collaboratively with the Executive Director, the Deputy Executive
Director, and other NASBE staff to contribute to the short and long term
planning, development, and operation of NASBE; and (8) Participate in ad hoc
duties at the discretion of the Executive Director and Deputy Executive
Director. Qualified applicants will bring: (a) Relevant experience in
K-12 education advocacy at the national and/or state-level, preferably
including 5-7+ years of Capitol Hill, association, or advocacy experience; (b)
Strong strategic focus with a proven track record of developing and
implementing complex public policy and legislative advocacy programs; (c)
Exceptional member service orientation and skills, including a willingness to
embrace a member-centric association culture; (d) Superior collaborative and
interpersonal skills; proven ability to work on a bipartisan basis; (e) An
ability to synthesize complex information into focused public policy materials
and to quickly grasp policy issues affecting public education; (f) Strong
written and oral communication and presentation skills – and ability to
juggle multiple tasks and work under tight time-lines; (g) bachelor’s degree
required; Master’s degree, with concentration in public policy, education
policy, or related field preferred. Please send cover letter and
resume to: Director, Government Relations Position, NASBE, 277 S Washington
St., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22314, Or via e-mail: employment@nasbe.org. Salary
$75-80,000.
·
Managing Director, Collaborative Communications Group,
Washington, DC.
The Managing Director will lead an internal review process, in close
collaboration with the Partners and Leadership Team, to develop an integrated
plan to support growth and best performance and to achieve the Company’s
goals and to address new priorities. S/he will work with the leadership team to
assure that the outcomes of operations achieve the Company’s strategic
programmatic goals, and to strengthen internal management and team building,
that enhance productivity and performance. S/he will implement new models of
operation, as necessary, and facilitate required cultural changes. The Managing
Director is expected to build on and reinforce a culture of accountability,
productivity, and teamwork. The Managing Director will be responsible for
the day-to-day management of the Company to ensure that the planning, execution
and administration of all projects, initiatives, shared services and systems
are in alignment and are highly functioning. The Partners and Managing Director
will work together on organizational strategy and update each other on external
trends and internal operational issues. The Managing Director will assure that
the Company’s leadership team has full access to all of the information
and circumstances necessary for effective oversight of the Company. The
position will also collaborate and support the leadership team’s efforts
to concentrate on market and business development, institutional strategy, team
identification and capacity building, and forming external relationships to
bolster the Company’s positioning and growth strategies. firm with a business development and impact focus, and a
passionate commitment to the mission and purpose of public education. The
Managing Director should care deeply about making a measurable and sustainable
difference in the lives of the people working in and served by this
organization, and about strengthening the quality of public education and
community life. S/he should possess the confidence, knowledge, and wisdom
to work effectively and creatively toward Collaborative’s goals.
Candidates should have proficiency in management, organization development,
implementation and measurement, communications, human resources, and budgeting
and finance. Candidates should have the ability to align operations and systems
in pursuit of overall institutional goals and to manage a complex, diverse
organization in a progressive, entrepreneurial and consistent manner. The
ability to attract, assess, and retain the best staff available is crucial.
Candidates must have a keen grasp of the major political, economic, social, and
cultural issues facing public education today. The Managing Director must have
the skills to assure that Collaborative’s strategy is highly responsive
to the changing external landscape and to opportunities to bring about positive
change. The Managing Director must have superior presentation of written
and oral communications skills. Resumes
and cover letters will be reviewed as received. They may be submitted, in
confidence, via email or mail. Kris Kurtenbach, Collaborative Communications
Group, Inc., 1029 Vermont Ave., NW, Ninth Floor, Washington, DC, 20005 or Kurtenbach@collaborativecommunications.com.
. Contact information: info@collaborativecommunications.com
·
The Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) in
Washington is seeking a new Director of Research and Evaluation. Go to www.ihep.org for information on the Institute.
Apply at drre@ihep.org. No closing
date.
·
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 21st 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.
·
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.
·
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.
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