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July 2009
Side by Side Comparisons of State Standards and Achieve
Submitted by Chris on Thu, 07/30/2009 - 10:10amThere side-by-side comparisons to provide information regarding:
- ADP English Benchmarks with the newly developed College- and Career-Ready Common Core State Standards in Reading, Writing and Communication
Click here to view the report - ADP Mathematics Benchmarks with the newly developed College- and Career-Ready Common Core State Standards in Mathematics
Click here to view the report
Purpose
School Groups Join in Formal Support of Dillon Health Pooling Plan
Submitted by jim on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 7:47amTwelve school groups on Tuesday threw their support behind a proposal by House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford Twp.) to create one health care pool for all public sector employees, saying that members of their organizations have the same benefits as teachers and understand major reforms are needed.
"Without meaningful reform, districts will be hard pressed to offer affordable benefits at all in the future," said Michigan Association of School Administrators Executive Director William Mayes. "We want to reform the system before the system stops working for teachers and kids."
Are any school districts obtaining/purchasing a National Career Readiness Certificate for their students?
I am wondering if school districts across Michigan are purchasing the the National Career Readiness Certificate for their graduates? If not why?If so, are you adding the cost ($5) to student fees such as cap & gown?
Cell Phones as Instructional Tools
I am currently working with a company to develop and pilot a new program for teachers that would allow them to utilize student cell phones to aid in instruction. Our program would primarily use the phone's text messaging feature. Some functions of the program would include student surveys, quizzes and tests, real-time brainstorming, and picture and video galleries. It would be web-based so schools would simply pay a subscription fee and get a log-in. We are thinking about purchasing some pay-as-you-go cell phones for students to use who do not have text messaging service on their phones.
What do you see as the pros and cons of a program like this? I'm curious to get your feedback.
9th Grade Center?
Does anyone currently operate and have success with a "school within a school" model specifically for the 9th grade population? If so, I would like to possibly arrange a visit to your school.
Thank you,
Scott Kapla
skapla@scslakeview-k12.com
Lakeview High School
Report: State Poised to Lift Graduation Rates
Submitted by Diane McMillan on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 10:38amIt says wise use must be made of federal stimulus money
Lansing State Journal
Kathleen Lavey
July 23, 2009
Michigan is one of 17 states in a "make or break" position as the U.S. strives to improve high school graduation rates, according to a nationwide report released Wednesday.
But the report also says the state - along with Ohio and California - is in a good spot to boost graduation rates if local school districts take advantage of federal stimulus money and other resources as well as tailoring solutions to their individual needs.
Education Secretary Duncan Speaks to Principals
Submitted by jim on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 10:03amDuncan Outlines Priorities at Principals’ Conference
Teacher Evaluations Cited As Education Reform Priority
By James Michael Brodie
Education Week
Education Secretary Arne Duncan brought his reform message to school administrators on Friday, calling for teacher evaluations that re flect what is taking place in the classrooms.
“The teacher evaluation system is basically broken,” Duncan told attendees at a joint confer ence of the National Association of Elementary School Principals and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. “Ninety-nine per cent of teachers in some states are rated above average. … Right now we don’t reward excel lence. We don’t know who the superstars are.”
Bill Gates: Tap Stimulus to Achieve Education Reform
Submitted by Diane McMillan on Wed, 07/22/2009 - 3:44pmPHILADELPHIA - The ultimate quality of the country's educational system is in the hands of states and leaders there should use the federal stimulus package to expand the schools and teaching methods that are doing well and track student achievement, Microsoft founder Bill Gates told the summit of the National Conference of State Legislatures on Tuesday.
Mr. Gates began his remarks to the opening of the general session by saying while the United States faces "unordinary" times with more government services needed at a time of declining revenues, "difficult times part to great reforms," and the country can "come out stronger than when we entered" if state officials tap into the power of change.
