Daily News Roundup—July 12, 2010

EEP News

President of National Council of La Raza and EEP Co-Chair Janet Murgía writes in the Huffington Post today about preparing Latino high school students with the skills they need to “transition into college and later compete in a competitive workforce.” Also, Janet Murgía is now on twitter, and you should follow her @jmurguia_nclr!

Kati Haycock, President of The Education Trust (and EEP Signatory), pens a powerful response to last week’s National Journal discussion prompt on saving education reform programs.  She writes, “creating fundamental change in our schools isn’t something we can wait to do when we are comfortable.”

Greg Richmond, President and CEO of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (and an EEP signatory), discusses six criteria for ensuring the quality of charter school governing boards in his Education Week op-ed “Who's in Charge at Charter Schools?”

National

The Chicago Tribune has joined the chorus of major newspapers with an editorial opposing cutting funding for Race to the Top and other education reform initiatives. The LA Times, alternatively, has released an editorial supporting Rep. Obey’s proposal to cut the ed reform funds in favor of preventing teacher layoffs.

The National Journal is featuring a new question for education experts this week.  What do you think should define an effective teacher?

The New York Times reports on the sustained popularity of Teach for America, (celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year) in this troubled economy. “In interviews, two dozen soon-to-be-teachers here in Houston, one of eight national Teach for America centers that provide a five-week crash summer course in classroom practices, mentioned the chance to help poor children and close the achievement gap as major reasons for applying.”

The Washington Post highlights the Gates Foundation’s pivotal role in education reform, citing $650 million pledged to schools and other groups in the past 2 ½ years, the most of any other foundation in that period.

The Washington Post also provides a by-the-numbers look at the top-five U.S. charitable foundations donating to elementary and secondary education (2008 data), with an additional breakout of where the Gates grants went, by sector.  The top five foundations are:

1. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ($219 million)

2. Walton Family Foundation ($56 million)

3. The Wallace Foundation ($51 million)

4. Eli & Edythe Broad Foundation ($44 million)

5. W.K. Kellogg Foundation ($32 million)

Bill Gates addressed (full text) the American Federation of Teachers this weekend, stressing that education reform initiatives such as teacher evaluation and tenure reform need to be carried out in partnership with unions in order to succeed.  EdWeek’s commentary on the address can be found here. “There is a new understanding that school reform must include teacher partnership. If reforms aren’t shaped by teachers’ knowledge and experience, they’re not going to succeed.”

EdReformer interviews Richard Lee Colvin, guest editor of “Fighting the Dropout Crisis” in the July-August edition of the Washington Monthly (well worth a read).  Colvin shares some of the lessons learned from the study, and how to sustain momentum while keeping everyone accountable for reducing the number of high school dropouts.

Harlem Children Zone founder (and EEP Signatory) Geoffrey Canada talks about a no-excuses approach to teacher quality during the Aspen Ideas Festival, The Atlantic (video) reports.

EdWeek reports that the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) announced its next Innovation Fund grantees.  These groups will be addressing issues such as teacher support, teacher evaluation, student engagement, and performance-pay.

State EdWatch (EdWeek) shows that “transformation”, the least disruptive of four intervention methods endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education, is the most popular school improvement model employed by states.  Transformation typically includes a new principal, teacher evaluation, and a longer school day 

EdWeek reports that new teacher distribution methods hold promise, and appear to be more effective at pairing highly effective teachers with high-need, low-performing schools.

From the States

Colorado

The Denver Post notes that many school districts across the state have been slow to tap into federal stimulus funds, citing that less than half of the funds have been claimed by the midpoint of the disbursement program.

Minnesota

The Minnesota Post highlights several public schools throughout the state that are closing the achievement gap, and tries to learn the recipe for their “secret sauce” of success.  The Pioneer Press draws lessons from one such school that has been making gains in student achievement since 2001.

New York

The New York Post reports that a large education nonprofit (New Visions for New Schools) and two city colleges have submitted applications for charter schools for next year.

New Jersey

The Wall Street Journal reports on Seth Boyden School, an elementary school that tries to look beyond standardized test data and undertake a holistic approach to teaching and learning.

Washington, D.C.

Dwan Jordon, principal of Sousa Middle School (featured in WaPo last week), has to continue to find success with his controversial methods in order to outweigh the criticism of his former staff, the Washington Post observes.

Public Schedule of U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

The Week Ahead: Monday, July 12-Sunday, July 18

Monday, July 12

No public events scheduled.

Tuesday, July 13

Noon

The Secretary will read to local school children at the Department’s Let’s Read. Let’s Move. summer reading program. Washington Redskin and education activist Chris Draft will also participate. U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C.

Wednesday, July 14

11 a.m.

The Secretary will address the NAACP annual convention, Kansas City Convention Center, 301 W. 13th St., Kansas City, Mo.

Thursday, July 15

4:50 p.m.

The Secretary will address the College Board’s AP Annual Conference, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 2660 Woodley Road, N.W., Washington, D.C.

Friday, July 16

9:15 a.m.

The Secretary will address the CCSSO and SHEEO (Council of Chief State School Officers and State Higher Education Executive Officers) joint annual meeting, Graves Hotel, 601 1st Ave. North, Minneapolis, Minn.

Saturday, July 17

No public events scheduled.

Sunday, July 18

No public events scheduled.

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