?20120105-OC-AMW-0479? by USDAgov/CC/flickr
Today?s Top Picks:
KSL looks at rising charter school enrollment in Utah.
http://goo.gl/6P8J1?(KSL)
Rand looks at the impact on rising charter enrollment nationally.
http://goo.gl/InluN?(LAT)
and http://goo.gl/WxKAe?(Ed Week)
or a copy of the study
http://goo.gl/bRU2L
Ogden High opens its International Baccalaureate program.
http://goo.gl/4DIoq?(OSE)
Ed Week looks at the expansion of online options in Utah and nationally.
http://goo.gl/lEucM?(Ed Week)
AP offers a brief synopsis of the GOP education platform.
http://goo.gl/F45nW (AP)
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TODAY?S HEADLINES
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UTAH
Charter school attendance on the rise in Utah
Students ready for International Baccalaureate program at Ogden High School
New Laws, Programs Expand E-Learning Options Several states now require districts to give students more choices
Study reveals potentially hazardous chemical in school supplies
Red Carpet Welcome For Butler Elementary Students
Have You Seen This? An awkward welcome
OPINION & COMMENTARY
Public High Schools Are Not Doing Their Jobs
ACT and race
Let?s sharpen our pencils
Teacher enjoyed her 38 years at Davis High School
Appreciation for LHS dress code
The Parent-Trigger War Escalates
Shades of Faubus: A school board defies a judge?s order.
5 Questions with Gov. Scott Walker
?Government needs to reduce costs for job creation?
Convention?s Youngest Delegate Wants Local Control for Schools
What I learned teaching your kids
The popular actor devoted a year to teaching in high school. His new book has timely advice.
NATION
A glance at key items in GOP platform
Charters draw students from private schools, study finds A Rand Corp. study finds that the switch from private to public schools has added $1.8 billion to public funding obligations.
Williams named new head of Texas Education Agency
Biggest Back-to-School Purchase: A New Home?
Drop in high school test results causes UK angst
Yao calls on China schools to invest in sport
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UTAH NEWS
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Charter school attendance on the rise in Utah
NORTH SALT LAKE ? Thousands of Utah children are returning to the classroom this week, but many aren?t returning to their traditional, neighborhood schools. Nearly 10 percent of Utah students now attend charter schools.
Pacific Heritage Academy, is one of seven charter schools opening this year. Many families come from the nearby Rose Park neighborhood, but others come from a much longer distance.
?We have families coming from The Nebo School District as well, so even south of Provo,? ?Ofa Moea?i, the school?s executive director, said Saturday at the school?s grand opening celebration.
http://goo.gl/6P8J1?(KSL)
Students ready for International Baccalaurate program at Ogden High School
OGDEN ? In the sixth grade, Laura Castro and her friends set a goal to go to college.
Their teachers, counselors and parents told them to shoot for the stars when they started middle school and to plan to go to college no matter what.
Last year, when their high school counselors told them about the International Baccalaureate program, which was coming to Ogden High School, they were intrigued.
But the six girls, who begin their junior year at Ogden High School on Monday, were faced with a dilemma: They were missing a full year of the required math courses needed to get into the IB program.
http://goo.gl/4DIoq?(OSE)
New Laws, Programs Expand E-Learning Options Several states now require districts to give students more choices
Lawmakers in Utah recently mandated that school districts allow high school students to take online courses from state-approved providers. In Florida, large districts must give students online-course options from at least three different providers. Recent legislation in Georgia altered the funding structure for students who take virtual courses; the action provides an incentive for districts to encourage students to try online classes.
In recent years, several states have enacted laws that require more choices for students who want to try taking courses online, outside the offerings of brick-and-mortar school districts. In some cases, such legislation?as in Florida and Utah?is a companion to requirements that students take at least one online course before graduating from high school.
The new reality of such requirements, however, means that districts are often facing a significant change in the way they provide options to students. In some places, the legislation has even introduced a level of competition among providers?which sometimes are the districts themselves?in an effort to boost the quality of offerings. At times, the measures have spawned new methods of cooperation and collaboration.
http://goo.gl/lEucM (Ed Week)
Study reveals potentially hazardous chemical in school supplies
A new report reveals toxic chemicals linked to asthma and birth defects that are banned in toys were found to be widespread in children?s vinyl back-to-school supplies, according to a chej.org news release.
Seventy-five percent of children?s school supplied tested in a laboratory have elevated levels of toxic footholds, including popular Disney, Spiderman, and Dora branded school supplies such as vinyl lunch boxes, backpacks, 3-ring binders, raincoats and rain boots, the news release continues.
http://goo.gl/XhsKa?(KTVX)
http://goo.gl/GN4KM?(KSTU)
Red Carpet Welcome For Butler Elementary Students
Monday was back to school day for many kids in Utah, including thousands of students in the Canyons School District.
?The kids are all excited, we have a few new teachers and it?s always fun this time of year and the kids are always so excited to be here,? Christy Waddell, the Butler Elementary principal said.
http://goo.gl/Lp48N?(KUTV)
http://goo.gl/4nAmQ?(KSL)
Have You Seen This? An awkward welcome
LEHI ? You got to hand it to educators. They know they?ve got to go beyond comfortable to have any sort of impact on their students.
And the LDS Seminary teachers at Lehi High School went way beyond comfortable.
Except for the white shirts and ties, nothing else fits. And that?s obviously the point.
http://goo.gl/nJeC2 (KSL)
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OPINION & COMMENTARY
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Public High Schools Are Not Doing Their Jobs U.S. News & World Report op-ed by James R. Harrigan, Antony Davies (James R. Harrigan is a fellow of the Institute for Political Economy at Utah State University. Antony Davies is associate professor of economics at Duquesne University.)
With the start of the new academic year, results from last year?s ACT college admissions tests have been made public, and the results are disturbing. The incoming freshman class is woefully unprepared for college. The class of 2016, as a group, failed all four subjects the test assesses: English, math, reading, and science. According to ACT, only 25 percent of students are proficient in all four subjects. Sixty percent came up short in two of the four subject areas, while more than 25 percent failed to demonstrate proficiency in any subject at all. If the point of high school is to prepare students for college, high schools are clearly failing. Unfortunately, this doesn?t stop the undereducated masses from heading off to the ivory tower each year.
Today, ready or not, nearly 70 percent of American high school graduates go on to college. By comparison, only 43 percent of Americans attend church regularly, and only 51 percent are married. College, it seems, is far more popular than either God or spouses. As unprepared as they are, students are well-advised to go to college just the same. The time has passed when a high school diploma and a good work ethic were enough for a comfortable life. That?s not because life demands more highly educated workers, but because high schools are producing such poorly educated workers.
http://goo.gl/790r0
ACT and race
Salt Lake Tribune letter from Sydney Ward
It?s fantastic that more Utah high school students are thinking of the future and taking the ACT college entrance exam (?More Utah kids taking ACT, but scores deflating,? Tribune, Aug. 23).
However, with more schools administering the test during school, they are encouraging every student to take it, even though some may not want to. Not every student is prepared to take such a difficult test. It takes a lot of time to prepare. Pressuring unprepared students to take it during school just wastes tax dollars.
http://goo.gl/foUOx
Let?s sharpen our pencils
(Provo) Daily Herald letter from Kevin Moffitt
I have always been surprised that voters in Utah approve school bond proposals the first time they are proposed. Having lived in other states, school bond proposals are not always approved the first go around. What always happens after a bond is rejected is school administrator sharpen their pencils, lower their bond request, and make a new proposal. It is amazing to me that with a lower bond, they are still able to accomplish what they originally wanted.
This causes me to ALWAYS question a request for more money by the government. Have they really sharpened their pencils? Most of the time ? they have not.
http://goo.gl/Vv9xx
Teacher enjoyed her 38 years at Davis High School
(Ogden) Standard-Examiner letter from Marie Lemon Barber
After spending the past 38 years at dear old Davis High School, I express gratitude to former students, many of whom has become dear friends, for making it such a wonderful and successful experience. As I graduate, or retire to write a new chapter in my book of life, I can firmly state that I have no regrets. I have loved teaching home economics and family and consumer science. Child development and early childhood education have been my passion. Essential life skills are also taught in foods, adult roles, financial literacy, clothing and interior design classes although, titles have changed.
http://goo.gl/slIvd
Appreciation for LHS dress code
(Logan) Herald Journal letter from Jan Weekes
I?m a mother of young men who attend Logan High School and I would like to thank the teachers and administrators for the work you do in keeping the students? adherence to the dress code in the handbook. The last few years my boys have complained about how the girls are wearing inappropriate clothing and not having anything said to them. I know one of my sons asked a girl not to wear that kind of clothing, which started a conversation as to why he didn?t like it. He explained that he thought girls who wear modest clothing are more attractive than girls who don?t. Because of what he said, she was more selective in what she wore after that. I am grateful he could express himself to his peer and I, too, would like to add my voice to his and let the students know that as a parent I appreciate those young men and women who try to follow the rules and understand why they are there and thank them and the faculty who make sure the rules are followed to make a better environment for my children to learn in. So thank you and keep up the good work!
http://goo.gl/kKaZL
The Parent-Trigger War Escalates
Shades of Faubus: A school board defies a judge?s order.
Wall Street Journal editorial
It has come to this in California?s saga over ?parent-trigger? education reform: A local school board is openly defying a judge?s order, with one member declaring ?If I?m found in contempt of court, I brought my own handcuffs, take me away.? So now the stalwarts of the status quo will break the law rather than allow parents school choice.
A California Superior Court judge ruled last month that several hundred parents in Adelanto, California had successfully pulled the nation?s first parent trigger to force change at their children?s failing public school. The judge ?commanded? the Adelanto school board to let the parents ?immediately begin the process of soliciting and selecting? proposals to transform Desert Trails Elementary into a charter school.
At a recent hearing, the school board unanimously refused. Instead, the board wants to implement what it calls ?alternative governance? reforms: a somewhat longer school day, a ?technology infusion into the classroom,? better training of teachers, and a ?community advisory committee? to oversee such changes. That is, the board wants to keep tinkering around the edges of a school that?s been classified as failing for six years in a row, with 70% of sixth-graders not proficient in English or math.
http://goo.gl/LF5qH
5 Questions with Gov. Scott Walker
?Government needs to reduce costs for job creation?
Washington Times commentary by editorial page editor Brett M. Decker
Scott Walker is the 45th governor of Wisconsin. Although hailing from a blue state that has voted Democratic for president in the last six elections dating back to 1988, Mr. Walker, a Republican, was elected governor in 2010 with 52 percent of the electorate and beat down a union-driven recall in June by an impressive 7 points. His career in public service includes eight years as the Milwaukee County Executive and five terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Before entering the political fray, Mr. Walker worked for IBM and the American Red Cross. Interested in civic events early in life, he was a representative to Boys Nation and an Eagle Scout. You can find out more about the governor?s policies at:walker.wi.gov.
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Decker: Every spring around graduation time, embarrassing studies are released that show large majorities of U.S. high-school graduates don?t have a grasp of basic math skills or know fundamental details about our history such as in what century the Civil War occurred. It?s fair to say there is a national crisis in public education. You have a comprehensive vision for education reform. What can be done to reverse this dangerous slide?
Walker: In 2010, Megan Sampson was named an Outstanding First Year Teacher in Wisconsin. A week later, she got a layoff notice from Milwaukee Public Schools because her collective-bargaining contract required staffing decisions to be made based on seniority. We changed the system. Now, school districts can make staffing decisions based on merit and pay based on performance. Ultimately, this will keep the best and the brightest in our classrooms and improve education for all children.
Beyond reforming collective bargaining, we need to empower parents so they can make educational decisions for their children based on verifiable data. This involves a number of different items ranging from giving them the tools and choice to utilize virtual schools or charter schools to empowering them with information about the performance of all area public and private schools. We are in the final stages of implementing a school-accountability system, which will provide parents with data-based ratings for all area schools. Rewarding excellence and empowering parents will provide positive results for all students.
http://goo.gl/zKd1v
Convention?s Youngest Delegate Wants Local Control for Schools Education Week commentary by columnist Nirvi Shah
Among the thousands of delegates who have converged on Tampa this week is one just shy of the legal voting age.
High school senior Evan Draim, who has been dubbed the GOP?s version of Doogie Howser (and led to at least one comparison of Gen Xer Paul Ryan with Grandma Moses) won his delegate spot last May at only 17.
But don?t let his age fool you. Draim?the youngest-ever delegate, by one longtime Republican convention staffer?s estimate?can talk about any subject near and dear to the Republican Party agenda. He can quote unemployment figures and cites industries he believes have been ruined by the Obama administration. He?s thrilled at the potential for Virginia, a swing state, to help deliver Mitt Romney the presidency.
http://goo.gl/sC0hA
What I learned teaching your kids
The popular actor devoted a year to teaching in high school. His new book has timely advice.
USA Weekend commentary by Tony Danza, known from TV?s Taxi and Who?s the Boss?
There are at least two harder jobs than acting ? one is teaching and the other is writing a book about teaching. I?ve now done both, having gone toe-to-toe with a class of Philadelphia 10th-graders for an entire year and then written about it. And, let me tell you, when it comes to teaching, perfection is elusive.
The question I still wrestle with is, ?In the midst of a tough economy and continuous budget cutting, how do we send a message to students that being in school and making the most of their time there is important??
http://goo.gl/N9Cqy
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NATIONAL NEWS
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A glance at key items in GOP platform
Associated Press
Some key elements of the Republican platform, which is to be approved Tuesday at the party?s national convention in Tampa, Fla.:
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EDUCATION:
Republicans support consumer choice, including home schooling, local innovations such as single-sex classes, full-day school hours and year-round schools. It says Republicans renew their call for replacing family planning programs for teens ?with abstinence education which teaches abstinence until marriage as the responsible and respected standard of behavior.?
http://goo.gl/F45nW
Charters draw students from private schools, study finds A Rand Corp. study finds that the switch from private to public schools has added $1.8 billion to public funding obligations.
Los Angeles Times
Charter schools are pulling in so many onetime private school students that they are placing an ever-greater burden on taxpayers, who must fund an already strained public education system, according to research released Tuesday.
The study by a Rand Corp. economist found that more than 190,000 students nationwide had left a private school for a charter by the end of the 2008 school year, the most recent year for which data was available.
And charter schools have exploded in number since that time. The Los Angeles Unified School District has more charters, 193, than any system in the country.
This student migration is especially apparent in large urban areas, where charters are drawing 32% of their elementary grade enrollment from private schools, study author Richard Buddin said. The percentage for middle schools is 23%, and 15% for high schools
Charters are free, independently managed public schools that are exempt from some rules governing traditional schools. Most are not unionized.
About 10% of students nationwide attend private schools ? a number that is dropping.
http://goo.gl/InluN
http://goo.gl/WxKAe (Ed Week)
A copy of the study
http://goo.gl/bRU2L
Williams named new head of Texas Education Agency Associated Press via Houston Chronicle
AUSTIN, Texas ? A tea party favorite who worked for the U.S. Department of Education under President George H.W. Bush was tapped Monday to become Texas? top education official, and he?ll take over just weeks before the start of major litigation over the way the state funds its public schools.
On the first day of school for many students across the state, Gov. Rick Perry chose Michael Williams to lead the Texas Education Agency, which oversees Texas? 1,200 school districts and charter schools. The former Texas Railroad Commission chairman begins work Sept. 1, ahead of a trial in a lawsuit filed by most of the state?s school districts after lawmakers cut more than $5 billion in public education funding and grants.
Williams is succeeding Robert Scott, who stepped down in July after five years at the agency?s helm. Scott had made headlines earlier this year by suggesting that too much emphasis on standardized testing across the state was a ?perversion? of the testing regime?s original intent.
http://goo.gl/PsMXn
Biggest Back-to-School Purchase: A New Home?
Wall Street Journal
Last year, Nicole Salama and her husband moved from a ranch-style house in San Mateo, Calif. to a larger home in nearby Hillsborough, a forested community south of San Francisco and one of the wealthiest and most expensive towns in the state.
The main reason why they moved? Their son Benjamin, age 5, starts school this week.
?We definitely moved here for the schools,? Ms. Salama, who works in sales for a healthcare company, says. ?We wanted out kids to be with other children whose parents had as much involvement with education. The people here have similar backgrounds to ours ? Those are the types of people you want to become friends with, and you want your friends to become friends with.?
Across the country, parents are preparing this week to send their children back to school, spending hundreds of dollars on books, uniforms and cold cuts for brown bag lunches. Another key back-to-school purchase for many families is a new home.
http://goo.gl/NHgSv
Drop in high school test results causes UK angst Associated Press
LONDON ? Britain?s top teachers are unhappy with their students? grades, but it?s the government they?re blaming.
Results for British high school test exams have fallen for the first time in 24 years, prompting some educators to accuse the government of arbitrarily toughening standards in a bid to curb grade inflation.
The fall in tests for science, English, and other subjects has also has drawn angst from children and parents, who have voiced fears that students have been penalized to make a political statement.
Education Secretary Michael Gove has denied leaning on evaluators to give high school students a tough time, but some principals are demanding that tests be re-graded.
http://goo.gl/lcEAy
Yao calls on China schools to invest in sport Reuters
Former NBA all-star Yao Ming has called for China?s school system to invest more in sport at the grassroots level, claiming much was needed to be done in his homeland to prevent further stagnation.
?The growth of sport?s status in school life in our country has halted now,? the giant former Houston Rockets center told the China Daily newspaper.
?We should start over and let it go beyond just a function (for) keeping (students) fit.?
With the inaugural season of Yao?s ?Foundation Hope? elementary school basketball program recently concluded, he has been making a considerable push of his own.
Yao?s foundation had reached some 27,000 students from 47 schools in 17 cities nationwide, providing sports facilities and basketball coaching, according to the China Daily.
http://goo.gl/BCdMJ
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CALENDAR
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USOE Calendar
http://tinyurl.com/5x9oh9
UEN News
http://www.uen.org
September 6-7:
Utah State Board of Education meeting
250 E. 500 South, Salt Lake City
http://www.schools.utah.gov/board/Meetings/Agenda.aspx
September 13:
Utah State Charter School Board meeting
250 E. 500 South, Salt Lake City
http://1.usa.gov/Axtt5K
September 18:
Executive Appropriations Interim Committee meeting
1 p.m., 445 State Capitol
http://goo.gl/E0hoC
September 19:
Education Interim Committee meeting
2 p.m., 30 House Building
http://le.utah.gov/asp/interim/Commit.asp?Year=2012&Com=INTEDU
Related posts:
Source: http://utahpubliceducation.org/2012/08/28/education-news-roundup-aug-28/
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