Daily News Roundup—July 19, 2010

EEP News

The Providence Journal highlights Commissioner of Education (EEP signatory and board member) Deborah Gist’s first year, noting that Gist has been the “change agent” that Governor Carcieri had hoped for.  Go Local Providence also underscores Commissioner Gist’s commitment to closing the achievement gap, and her recent addition to EEP’s Board of Directors.

Filmmaker and EEP Signatory Madeleine Sackler’s documentary - The Lottery - is opening at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco this week.  Congratulations, Madeleine, on the film’s success thus far! If you haven’t had a chance to see the film yet, we can’t recommend it enough!

National

The New Republic follows up on the ongoing Edujobs debate, describing the “ugly choice” that lawmakers have to make between draining education reform funding, laying off teachers, or paying them less.

This week, the National Journal’s education blog asks, Can communities and parents help turn around schools? EEP Signatories Lisa Graham-Keegan and Bill Jackson have already offered their opinions.

The New York Times aggregates its readers’ responses to its recent article on Teach for America (NYT: “A Chosen Few are Teaching for America” July 11, 2010) to highlight some differing opinions on the extremely popular teaching program.  An excerpt of one such letter to the editor, from a TFA alum: “Every career choice I’ve made has been influenced by my time as a teacher. I’m no saint, but I do like to think that some people are better off because of the work I’ve done and continue to do, even if I’m no longer in front of a classroom.”

Rock the Schoolhouse’s Jim Stergios (Executive Director of the Pioneer Institute of Public Policy Research) offers three ways to prepare effective teachers for success in the classroom.

The McLaughlin Group discusses education reform with a diverse panel of liberal and conservative thinkers during its July 9th episode (video).  The participants of the discussion included: Host John McLaughlin, Newsweek contributing editor Eleanor Clift, Chicago Tribue columnist Clarence Page, political analyst Monica Crowley, and Washington Examiner Political Editor Chris Stirewalt.

Education Next speaks to the authors of two new teaching books - Doug Lemov’s Teach Like a Champion and Steven Farr’s Teaching as Leadership - about their efforts to identify what great teachers are doing in the classroom and how best to share these techniques with new teachers (podcast and transcript).

GOOD Magazine explores how to foster a college-going culture in K-12 schools when so many children strive to be rich and famous without seeing higher education as the vehicle to get there.

From the States

Indiana

EdWeek reports that Indiana is set to open its second virtual charter school, Indiana Connections Academy Virtual Pilot School.

Louisiana

Good Magazine offers a detailed and comprehensive analysis of the role of education in rebuilding New Orleans.  A must read!

Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education recommends adoption of the Common Core educational standards for the state today.  Importantly, they also recommend that the state bolster its education requirements by exceeding the standards by up to 15 percent.

Missouri

EdWeek reports that Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro is promoting federal legislation that offers additional money for teachers and could save the jobs of about 3,200 educators in the state.

New Jersey

With the latest charter school approvals to be announced by the State Dept. of Education this week, some state lawmakers are pushing for a bill that could expand the alternative school movement in New Jersey, the Daily Record reports.

The Wall Street Journal reports that three charter schools set to open in affluent areas in New Jersey have been derailed due to zoning and other issues, rekindling the debate in the state over which students can and should be served by charter schools.

North Carolina

The New Observer reports that the battle over socioeconomic integration in Wake County public schools (who just recently discarded the school system’s mandated diversity policy) is about to heat up, with possible large-scale protests looming.  EdWeek’s report also details the series of events that led up to this debacle.

Rhode Island

EdWeek reports that for the first time in 15 years, Rhode Island has a statewide school funding formula that intends to more equitably distribute funds to public schools, and now faces the challenge of developing the blueprint for divvying up the state funds in practice.

Tennessee

After winning $500 million in the first round of Race to the Top, The Tennessean follows the state as it plans out the structure for its education reform initiatives.

Washington D.C.

The New York Examiner interviews DC Prep founder Emily Lawson on her school’s success, culture, and her own personal calling to urban education.

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

The Week Ahead: Monday, July 19-Sunday, July 25

MONDAY, JULY 19
No public events.

TUESDAY, JULY 20
No public events.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 21
8:30 a.m.
The Secretary will speak at the National Rural Education Technology Summit, hosted by the U.S. Department of Education in partnership with the Smithsonian.  More than 100 rural superintendents, school leaders, researchers, technology experts and rural education advocates are attending from 24 states.  The Summit will be held at the National Museum of the American Indian, National Mall, Fourth Street and Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C.

THURSDAY, JULY 22
Noon
The Secretary and Marian Robinson, mother of First Lady Michelle Obama, will read to local school children at the Department’s Let’s Read. Let’s Move. summer enrichment program. U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C.

FRIDAY, JULY 23
2:45 p.m.
The Secretary will tour the Delaware State Fair at the fairgrounds, 18500 South DuPont Highway, Harrington, DE 19952.

SATURDAY, JULY 24
No public events.

SUNDAY, JULY 25
No public events.

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