Daily News RoundUp—July 29, 2010

EEP & Signatory News

EEP released an official statement supporting the courageous stance that the Obama Administration has taken on reforming our failing public education system.  Read the release on our website or download the release here (pdf).

Former U.S. Secretary of Education (and current EEP Board member) Margaret Spellings responds to the National Journal’s education blog question – Are Common Core Standards an effective education reform tool? Why or why not? – arguing that common standards are just one piece of the puzzle to improving student achievement.

National

• President Obama addressed the National Urban League today at their Centennial Conference.  In his remarks, President Obama addressed recent criticism directed towards his education reform initiatives, including Race to the Top.

“There have been criticisms from some folks in the civil rights community about particular elements of Race to the Top.  So I want to address some of those today.  I told you we’re going to have an honest conversation.

First, I know there’s a concern that Race to the Top doesn’t do enough for minority kids, because the argument is, well, if there’s a competition, then somehow some states or some school districts will get more help than others.  Let me tell you, what’s not working for black kids and Hispanic kids and Native American kids across this country is the status quo.  That's what’s not working.  (Applause.)  What’s not working is what we’ve been doing for decades now.

So the charge that Race to the Top isn’t targeted at those young people most in need is absolutely false because lifting up quality for all our children -- black, white, Hispanic -- that is the central premise of Race to the Top.  And you can’t win one of these grants unless you’ve got a plan to deal with those schools that are failing and those young people who aren’t doing well.  Every state and every school district is directly incentivized to deal with schools that have been forgotten, been given up on. “   

• The address can be found on the White House website (transcript, video). Reports from the Wall Street Journal, EdWeek, The New York Times, CNN, and the Washington Post can be found here.
• The New Republic defends President Obama’s reform initiatives, and directly addresses some of the shortcomings of the civil rights coalition’s critique -  also known as the National Opportunity to Learn - proposed framework.
• The Annenberg Institute at Brown University has released a new report (pdf) (Commissioned by Communities for Excellent Public Schools) today that identifies the characteristics of each public school that has been slated for turnaround (using School Improvement Grants) by the administration.  Some top-line highlights include:
  • There are currently 2,136 schools on the list of schools targeted for SIG grants. Nearly 1.5 million students attend these schools;
  • 81% of students in these schools are students of color;
  • 85% of the most urgently targeted schools (tier i) have high concentrations of poverty (defined as more than 50% of students eligible for federal free and reduced priced meals);
  • Black and Hispanic students are overrepresented in SIG schools;
  • Black students are 7.5 times more likely to be in a SIG -eligible school than white students;
  • Hispanic students are 4.5 times more likely to be in a SIG -eligible school than white students.
• City Limits reports that Congress is contemplating a major reduction to President Obama's flagship anti-poverty program, as its model—the Harlem Children's Zone—faces new questions about results. If you missed it, founder of Harlem Children’s Zone Geoffrey Canada’s (EEP signatory) response to the recent criticism of his programs can be found here.
• The Center for American Progress stands behind two proposals for reform of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act: removing a loophole that systematically underfunds high –poverty schools, and ensuring that all students have access to highly effective teachers.
• EdWeek reports that the majority of school districts are turning around their schools by using the “transformation” model, the least disruptive of the four school intervention methods endorsed by the US Department of Education.

From the States

Illinois

This Week in Education reports that Chicago teachers union president Karen Lewis today called for the board of education to terminate its Teach for America (TFA) contract, which calls for 200 new corps members to be placed this fall. Lewis is disappointed that the TFA contract is still active despite recent firings of Chicago Public Schools teachers and a current hiring freeze. Lewis’ comments can be found here (download).

Michigan

The Detroit News reports that Secretary Duncan joined a growing chorus of public officials who believe residents should have to power to decide whether the Detroit Public Schools should be managed by the Mayor.

New York

• The New York Times reports that after applying tougher standards to state exams, more than half of New York City public school students failed their English exams this year.  54 percent passed in math.  The Wall Street Journal reports on the “hard truth” on education in the state, after years of progress had been erased by the higher standards.   The Daily News reports that charter schools in New York City experienced a more dramatic drop – 28 percentage points - in pass rates for the exams, with 43 percent passing reading and 63 percent passing math.
• The Capitol reports that after increasing the state charter cap from 200 to 460 in May, the two statewide charter authorizers, the State Board of Regents and the State University of New York’s Charter Schools Institute, may have difficulty handling the influx of new applications.
• Gotham Schools reports that NYC Schools Chancellor and EEP Co-Chair Joel Klein and United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew will join New York State education officials when they travel to Washington, D.C. to pitch New York’s Race to the Top application.

Pennsylvania

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that in the latest shakeup of her administration, Philadelphia School Superintendent (and EEP signatory) Arlene Ackerman has dismantled the long-held regional division of schools, redeployed top administrators, and hired a new chief public information officer.

Public Schedule of U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
The Week Ahead: Monday – Sunday, July 26-August 1

Information/Schedule Subject to Change

Monday, July 26

No public events

Tuesday, July 27

1:00 p.m.
The Secretary will make a major speech on education reform at the National Press Club, 529 14th St., N.W., Washington, D.C.

Wednesday, July 28

1:10 p.m.
The Secretary will address the National Center for Education Statistics' Summer Data Conference, Hyatt Regency Hotel, 7400 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, Md.

2:45 p.m.
The Secretary will deliver remarks at the National Urban League's Centennial Town Hall: the Past 100 Years of Black Education, Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt. Vernon Place, Washington, D.C.

4:00 p.m.
The Secretary will meet with the Education Department's 15 new Teaching Ambassador Fellows, LBJ Bldg., (ED Headquarters), 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C.

Thursday, July 29

11:00 a.m.
The Secretary will participate in a town hall meeting with some 30 teachers, as well as call-in questions from listeners, on the Sirius/XM Satellite Radio Network, details to follow.

Friday, July 30

Noon
The Secretary will read to local school children at the fifth event of the Department's "Let's Read. Let's Move." summer reading program. Actor Quinton Aaron, who portrayed Michael Oher in the movie "The Blind Side" will also participate.

Saturday, July 31

No public events

Sunday, August 1

No public events

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