Eye on Curriculum

• High schools could change focus under new Florida grading scale
  The focus of many Florida high schools could change under a new complex formula to grade the schools, according to this newspaper analysis. One principal said schools had concentrated on preparing students for state tests to earn the school good marks from the state, but they must now focus on much more. "Now we have to prepare them for SAT, ACT, AP. ... That creates a much better-educated student," the principal said. "We all should have been doing that all along, and now we're going to be measured on that." The Palm Beach Post (Fla.) (9/19)

• High standards are more important than meeting NCLB goals
  Massachusetts sets a demanding standard with its state assessment tests with the ultimate goal of improving the skills of students, according to this newspaper editorial. That may mean it's harder to meet No Child Left Behind goals, but by sticking to a difficult standard, Massachusetts is producing students who perform better on national and international tests, the editorial board writes. The Boston Globe (9/21)

• Cursive writing fades from school curriculum
  Instruction in cursive writing has fallen by the wayside as students use computers more often and schools use more technology in their curriculum. Although some are concerned about the loss of the traditional skill, many educators say that it is important to emphasize more widely used communication means. Houston Chronicle/The Associated Press (9/19)

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Professional Leadership

• Study to look at influence of skilled teachers in troubled schools
  Seven school districts across the country are taking part in the Talent Transfer Initiative, a federal study to determine if top teachers can improve student achievement at poorly performing schools. Teachers recruited to participate receive $20,000 bonuses to teach for two years at struggling schools. "I know that I've achieved a degree of success where I'm coming from," said one of 19 Houston school district teachers involved. "Is it the system that's done it for me? Is it something I'm doing?" Houston Chronicle (9/20)

• Other News

• Teachers in Pennsylvania school district strike over lack of contract
  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (9/21)

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Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by ASCD SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Report: Reading and writing skills must be a priority (Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org))

• Research: Students can be motivated by tough math (Edutopia magazine)

• Strategy helps school district reduce achievement gap (San Diego Union-Tribune)

• Cognitive scientist says educators focus too much on learning styles (The Washington Post)

• Professor: Students need knowledge to think critically (The Boston Globe)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

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Technology Solutions

• Multimedia projects put concepts in context for at-risk students
  Schools and academia are increasingly coming together to develop multimedia-based curriculum to excite at-risk students about learning. GameDesk, a project created at the University of Southern California, enables students at an inner-city Los Angeles high school to learn art and math skills by developing video games. "We've never forced difficult information on them," a USC professor says of participating students. "They actively employed strategic thinking and problem-solving that is engaging, interactive, creative and rewarding." Edutopia magazine (10/2009)

• Smaller netbooks are being used by Texas students
  School districts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas are replacing student laptop computers with smaller, cheaper netbooks, which some teachers say are more suitable for classroom use. The netbooks have similarities to cell phones, which students are used to, and one expert says he expects more schools to begin using cell phones in the classroom to meet student demand. The Dallas Morning News (9/20)

Policy Watch

• Early-learning programs to be focus of proposed federal fund
  In an effort to broaden, improve and standardize early-childhood education, the House approved a bill including the Early Learning Challenge Fund last week. The Senate is also expected to approve it. States with initiatives to improve education for children from infancy to preschool could be eligible for a portion of $8 billion to be disbursed over eight years. "This will move us more than any other piece of legislation toward higher quality in early education, not just more spaces for children," an education expert said of the effort. The New York Times (free registration) (9/19)

• Mississippi governor defends teaching trade skills to students
  At a meeting of educators, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour defended his support for expanded trade instruction for Mississippi high-school students. Barbour argues that an emphasis on attaining a college education sets some students up for disappointment, while skills training could put them in good careers quickly. Some educators argue that while students should be presented with all options, academics must be emphasized. Picayune Item (Miss.)/The Associated Press (9/19)

• Other News

• Advocates, parents worry that gifted programs get little attention in Massachusetts
  The Boston Globe (9/20)

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In the Field

• Documentary highlights strategies of high-achieving Arizona charters
  A documentary screened recently for education leaders delves into the success of an Arizona charter-school program. "Two Million Minutes: The 21st Century Solution," made by Bob Compton, examines BASIS Charter School campuses in Tucson and Scottsdale. "I was shocked to find what I consider to be the world's best high school in one of the poorest parts of America," Compton said. "The school is educating its students at a level that is globally competitive and preparing them to compete in the 21st-century economy." eSchool News (free registration) (9/21)

• Culture of Spain colors language instruction at two high schools
  Two teachers from Spain hired through an international teaching-abroad program are credited with adding a greater cultural dimension to Spanish-language instruction at two Memphis-area high schools. "They're able to share their content knowledge," said a foreign language instructional specialist for one district. "They're able to share their cultural background. They bring an international perspective." The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tenn.) (free registration) (9/21)

Association News

• 21st Century Scholars
  Although Bethpage Union Free School District in suburban New York had a 99% graduation rate and a 98% Regents Diploma rate, its educators thought they could do more to prepare students for success after high school. The district examined the work of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, which provided a useful framework for educators determined to go beyond No Child Left Behind mandates, and established the Bethpage 21st Century Scholars' Program. The latest Educational Leadership reveals the district's journey in establishing this program.
  
  • Read the article.
  • Related Resource: See the ASCD blog post, Accountability vs. 21st Century Skills
  

• PD In Focus Wins EDDIE Award
  PD In Focus, ASCD's interactive, Web-based professional learning application, was named a winner in the Teacher Tools category of the ComputED Gazette's 14th annual Education Software Review Awards (EDDIEs) last week. The award review noted: "PD In Focus is a unique technology tool for expanding professional development, and we highly recommend it." ASCD just released an upgrade of PD In Focus, including more video content, new downloadable readings, and enhanced reporting features.
  
  • Learn more about PD In Focus.
  

Faculty of Education Specialist Northwest Nazarene University, Department of Education Nampa, Idaho Head of Upper School Collegiate School Richmond, VA Mondo Publishing Project Manager/Professional Development Mondo Publishing NYC w/travel throughout US K - 12 Teachers and Administrators International Schools Services Worldwide Literacy Education, Assistant Professor, Tenure-Track Teachers College, Columbia University New York, New York Head of School American Education Group Western & Southwestern U.S. Founding Principal - College Prep Academy Lighthouse Academies Northwest Indiana Teacher Education/Elementary Education Keene State College Keene, New Hampshire Director/CEO Dual Immersion Academy Salt Lake City Sales Manager Educational Curriculum IRIS Media, Inc. Eugene, OR Director, Healthy School Communities ASCD Alexandria, VA Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education Moravian College Bethlehem, PA Executive Director New England League of Middle Schools Topsfield, MA Principal Pacific Collegiate School 255 Swift St, Santa Cruz, CA Coaching and Learning Program Director, Achievement Program National Heritage Academies Grand Rapids, Michigan Executive Director San Francisco School Alliance San Francisco, CA Dean / Assistant Principal National Heritage Academies Dayton, Ohio Assistant Principal - Buffalo United Charter School National Heritage Academies Buffalo, NY Director of Career Technical Education Partnership Raritan Valley Community College North Branch, NJ

SmartQuote

1. Never tell everything at once." --Ken Venturi, American former professional golfer