Daily News Roundup—March 15, 2010

EEP News

EEP is helping to get the word out about a faith-based education event in New York City, sponsored by First Corinthian’s Baptist Church – “Write the Vision: Make It Clear” (March 27th, Teachers College, Columbia University). The event will feature a number of prominent leaders and EEP signatories including -- Peter Groff, President Obama’s appointed Director of the Center for Faith and Neighborhood Partnership for the US Department of Education, Harold Ford, and Tom Vander Ark.

Visit http://www.tc.edu/calendar/rsvp/writethevision.htm to register for this event. Please note space is limited, and lunch will be provided to those who RSVP.

National

BIG NEWS. Over the weekend, the Obama Administration released its blueprint for ESEA Reauthorization. The blueprint focuses on meeting the ambitious goal of ensuring that every student graduates from high school well prepared for college and a career by 2020. Many of the tenants of Race to the Top are continued in the blueprint, specifically: 1) College and Career-Ready Students, 2) Great Teachers and Leaders in Every School, 3) Equity and Opportunity for All Students, 4) Raise the Bar and Reward Excellence, and 5) Promote Innovation and Continuous Improvement). And while much of NCLB’s focus on accountability and sub-group progress continues, the blueprint is less prescriptive and uses carrots far more often than sticks.

Click here to watch President Obama’s Weekly Address, where he discusses the blueprint and here for the full text of the blueprint. Politico’s done an excellent job of rounding up Secretary Duncan’s TV appearances on the blueprint in one place.

Reaction are coming in fast and furious, representing a wide range of reactions. The Christian Science Monitor, EdWeek, New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post reported on the announcement. Click over to EEP’s Twitter Feed for links to a good number of additional reactions to the blueprint.

Secretary Duncan will address some 2,000 elected officials from small to mid-size cities attending the National League of Cities’ annual Congressional City Conference at 4 p.m. EST on Monday, March 15, in Washington, D.C.

The Washington Post reports on new Congressional Budget Office projections for President Obama’s major student aid bill proposal that would yield billions of dollars less than originally planned.

BusinessWeek reports on Administration’s proposed plans to tie $28 billion in federal school aid to President Obama’s goal of having the world’s highest percentage of college graduates by 2020.

This NY Times op-ed and Washington Post editorial applauds the first public draft of grade-by-grade common standards and detail the benefits of national standards for student achievement.

On Wednesday March 17th, Secretary Arne Duncan will appear in front of the House Education and Labor Committee and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discussing ESEA Reauthorization: The Obama Administration’s ESEA Reauthorization Priorities.

The NY Times Room-for-Debate blog asks the question: What is causing the push-back on charter schools, beyond the local issues involved? Among the respondents, Geoffrey Canada, Harlem Children’s Zone President and Founder (and EEP Signatory).

Edutopia speaks to Principal Mike McCarthy discussing his 30 years of wisdom on how to run a school well.

Put this on your radar screen – In April, the Harvard Education Press released a report “A Critical Examination of the Advanced Placement Program,” which draws together the most recent and rigorous research on the strengths and weaknesses of the Advanced Placement program.

From The States

Alabama

The Montgomery Advertiser reports on Secretary Duncan’s civil rights speech in Montgomery last week, mentioning that the Department would act “with a strict adherence to statutory and case law” and in the coming weeks issue guidance to local K-12 districts and post-secondary institutions to address “issues of fairness and equity.”

Connecticut

Today, education advocates from CA and CT join forces to address the issue of how to close the achievement gap in CT. The education rally will take place at 3pm EST. (South Grounds of the Capitol, Hartford, CT) followed by Education Public Hearing in the Legislative Office Building (LOB) Room 1E.

Iowa

The Des Moines Register reports on the seriously low bar Iowa sets for its new teachers. Many states – particularly RI – are beginning to make changes in this area.

Missouri

KansasCity.com reports that MO’s 52 lowest-performing schools have the opportunity to compete for federal grants under the specified turn-around school models proposed by the Obama Administration.

New York

“The federal government has got to hang very tough to ensure that failing schools are closed, restructured and reorganized,” stated by Joel Klein, NYC Schools Chancellor and EEP Co-Chair, reacting to President Obama’s proposed changes to the No Child Left Behind law.

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Categories: Daily News RoundUp Education News