| News for the Education Profession |  |
- High school develops formula to become high-achieving
Valley High School in Las Vegas has been designated a "high-achieving turnaround school" based on results from state tests that show the school now measuring up to No Child Left Behind goals. Students have shown gains in math, reading and writing. District officials credit a formula of teacher enthusiasm, after-school teaching, individual help for marginal students, and emphasis on literacy, basic skills and preparing for the proficiency exam. Las Vegas Sun
(7/27)
      
- 19 Louisiana school districts opt out of "career track" diplomas
Louisiana has granted 19 school districts a waiver from having to participate in the state's new "career track" diploma program for the upcoming school year. In an effort to reduce the state's 35% dropout rate, schools were allowed to relax state academic requirements for students who decided to pursue technical and vocational courses. But some critics say the new diploma relaxes academic standards too much. The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
(7/27)
- Test scores hold steady in South Dakota
South Dakota schools showed little change from last year in meeting No Child Left Behind standards, according to the state's Education Department. Although the results were statistically the same -- 94% of districts and 82% of individual schools met progress standards -- the results showed a 9-percentage-point drop in students deemed proficient in reading. Officials say a more difficult test caused the drop. Math scores declined by 1 percentage point. The Daily Republic (Mitchell, S.D.)/The Associated Press
(7/28)
 | "The best single book on the first days of school — The First Six Weeks of School. I give copies to my K-6 teachers now to jump start the new year." Concrete strategies for turning intention into practice. Guidelines, daily lesson plans, sample activities. Click here for details. |
- Educating adult Americans could benefit all
 Though the undereducated are not the focus of much attention, 93 million American adults cannot read at the high-school level, writes author and educator Gayle B. Samuels. Studies show they are likely to face problems, including lower incomes and a higher likelihood of being arrested. Educating adult Americans could also prevent generational patterns of low educational attainment within families, meaning a brighter future for all, Samuels argues. Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org)
(7/27)
 | Progress Zone-the first web-based formative assessment service that recommends standards-aligned video clips for target remediation. Monitor student progress throughout the year with teacher-created diagnostic probes tied to your state's curriculum standards and automatically linked to appropriate, fun, and engaging Discovery Education streaming video clips. Learn more. |
- Study: Students feel technology aids in academics
A study from the Consumer Electronics Association found that three-quarters of teens feel that technology helps with their schoolwork. The study also discovered that 82% of participants ages 13 to 17 use cell phones more than any other electronic device in school. "Teens want more technology to be implemented into the educational process, and they are finding ways to include these tools themselves," said Jessica Boothe of Strategic Research. Dealerscope
(7/28)
 | Acuity™ is today's CODiE award-winning InFormative Assessment™ solution—an innovative mix of research-based assessments, actionable reports, and instructional resources—formulated to help educators target classroom instruction and keep all students moving forward.
Take an online tour and discover more. |
| SmartBlogs |  | |
|
 |
-
School district's staff-evaluation tool is questioned
A Dallas Morning News reporter questions the value of an evaluation system used by a school district in Texas because it generated almost exclusively positive reviews. The Professional Development and Appraisal System rates educators in eight categories. Applied to 2,346 teachers in the district, only two were deemed unsatisfactory in any category. The Dallas Morning News/Richardson blog
(7/28)
|
|
| Read more from the top education blogs here |
| Policy Watch | | |
|
- California schools chief responds to criticisms on teacher accountability
California's superintendent of public instruction, Jack O'Connell, on Tuesday countered criticism from the Obama administration that the state does not tie teacher performance to student test scores. O'Connell said the state's districts are allowed to do just that. To make his point, he visited the Long Beach Unified School District, one of the few in the state that uses student-performance data to evaluate strategies and staff. O'Connell called the district "a model" for others. Los Angeles Times
(7/28)
- Florida district closes 2 charter schools
Two Florida charter schools will close, one for not improving student performance and the other because low enrollment caused money difficulties. Re-Birth Academy got an "F" on standardized tests after "D" grades for two years. Taylor Peace Academy never opened but owes the Hillsborough County district $122,000 borrowed for operating costs. The Tampa Tribune (Fla.)
(7/28)
 |
|  |
| The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
Thinking Through Genre gives English teachers 6 units of study—memoir, feature article, editorial, short story, fairy tale, and response to literature—along with model texts, lessons, assessment tools, and a rich portrait of how the units play out in real classrooms. Click here to read Chapter 1 online!
Interested in learning more about advertising in ASCD SmartBrief? Contact Joe Riddle at (202) 737-5500 x228 or jriddle@smartbrief.com.
 | |
 |
|  |
| In the Field | | |
|
- Test scores may sell a neighborhood over another
Improving standardized test scores can boost a community's profile and property values, say business and real estate professionals. Maryland state test scores are driving people to areas with better-performing schools and can give a community a good reputation. They are also one of the first things a homebuyer may look at, experts say. The Sun (Baltimore)
(7/26)
- Poll: Most parents want children to get swine flu shots at school
An Associated Press-GfK poll found that two-thirds of parents would allow children to be vaccinated for swine flu at school, while only one-third of adults would be vaccinated themselves. "If one of my kids were to [die] and I had the opportunity to get them vaccinated and I chose not to, I would feel very stupid. ... It's hard for a parent to live with that," one mother said. Google/The Associated Press
(7/28)
 |
|  |
| | Want to reach 7,500 International Educators?
ASCD Worldwide SmartBrief connects with educators across the globe, at both American and International Schools. Click here to receive information about advertising with SmartBrief today! | |
 |
 ADVERTISEMENT |
|  |
| Association News | | |
|
-
ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award
ASCD, in its ongoing search for what works in schools, has decided to highlight and celebrate the accomplishments of young educators who achieve excellence and equity in teaching and learning. ASCD's Outstanding Young Educator Award Program recognizes creative and committed teachers and administrators under the age of 40 who are making a difference in the lives of children. These educators are developing and using best practices to ensure all children are healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged. Nominate a colleague. Nominations are due before Aug. 1.
-
What Works in School Online Surveys
After conducting a meta-analysis of 35 years of educational research, expert Robert Marzano has identified 11 factors that have the greatest effect on student achievement. As a result of his work, ASCD has created the What Works in Schools Online Surveys based on those 11 factors. The surveys ask participants to create a profile of how their schools or districts address the factors that influence student achievement. The results are compiled into analytical reports that provide an instant snapshot of the areas that are most critical to each school or district's efforts to improve student-achievement levels.
| SmartQuote | | |
|
 | If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking."
|
| |
| |
|
Read more at SmartBrief.com |
|
A powerful Web site for SmartBrief readers including:
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| | Recent ASCD SmartBrief Issues:
- Tuesday, July 28, 2009
- Monday, July 27, 2009
- Friday, July 24, 2009
- Thursday, July 23, 2009
- Wednesday, July 22, 2009
| | | Lead Editor: Amy Dominello
Contributing Editor: Sarah McFarland
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005 | |
| |
|
| © 1999-2009 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information |
|
