| News for the Education Profession |  |
- School district to test for achievement gap in kindergarten
Some kindergarten students in a Minnesota school district will take reading and math tests to pinpoint early reasons for an achievement gap between white and minority students. The effort is in addition to testing done three times a year in second through ninth grades at the St. Cloud district. "If we can follow them from kindergarten, it will show us a pattern of what intervention needs to happen," said a leader of a group providing a $5,000 grant to pay for the testing. St. Cloud Times (Minn.)
(9/17)       
- City's high schools will move to a common curriculum
High schools in Providence, R.I., have announced plans to have common curriculum and graduation standards, a move education officials say may improve graduation rates and student preparation for college. Previously, each of the city's 10 public high schools had their own guidelines, which educators said created confusion. The plan includes changes to the curriculum and more Advanced Placement courses. The Providence Journal (R.I.) (free registration)
(9/17)
- Who should be included in Texas social studies curriculum?
The historical figures -- from Benjamin Franklin to Thurgood Marshall and Sandra Day O'Connor -- who could be included in social studies curriculum in Texas schools are under politically charged scrutiny. The state's Board of Education will begin discussions about curriculum changes today. Conservatives and liberals are debating which figures -- and what information about them -- should be included in Texas textbooks. The state is one of the country's biggest textbook purchasers, and its decisions could have a broader effect. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/The Associated Press
(9/16)
 | A Comprehensive Solution for All RtI Tiers
Now is the time to take a systematic approach to intervention for sustainable impact. Professional development and technical assistance make America's Choice solutions particularly easy to implement. All our offerings are available for purchase with ARRA, Title I and IDEA funding. Check our RtI menu. |
- School districts share effort to develop staff abilities
An annual leadership academy that brings together teachers and staff from two Georgia school districts is being praised by participants and district officials for enhancing professional development. The cooperative effort, now in its fourth year, includes training and sharing between employees of the Dalton and Whitfield County school systems. "It definitely focused my efforts and also refined my actions. It made me more efficient and effective," said a participating teacher. Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tenn.)
(9/17)
 | RTI the reliable, cost-effective way
STAR computer-adaptive tests offer an efficient way to assess students with minimal cost and disruption to the instructional schedule. Learn more. |
- Web-based lesson-plan evaluator is used to improve teaching
Teachers and students can receive real-time feedback on their lessons through Web-based evaluations, a system developed through a collaboration with educators and technology experts, writes the president of an education foundation. As one teacher who uses the system said, "ASPIRE goes beyond the other tools that we have. It takes care of the grading so teachers can get to the heart of assessment -- making data-driven decisions and using feedback to increase student achievement." The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)
(9/13)
 | "If ever there were a book on education that should be read, it is certainly this one... Chenoweth shows us what it takes to beat the odds against adversity and improve student learning and achievement in schools serving disadvantaged children." —Pedro Noguera, New York University on How It's Being Done, by Karin Chenoweth, new from Harvard Education Press. |
- Facebook policies for teachers can vary widely
 Schools across the country are debating how to use social-networking sites. South Dakota's Sioux Falls public-school district has banned teachers from accepting students as "friends" on sites such as Facebook. But at Catholic schools in the city, teachers use social media as an extension of classroom teaching, posting homework assignments and communicating with students. Administrators in favor of less restrictive policies say educators' ethics apply everywhere and that online relationships should be strictly business. KELO-TV (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
(9/16)
 | Google Apps makes "All of the Above" an easy answer
Build your 21st Century classroom with free, easy, secure Google Apps – communication and collaboration tools for teachers, schools, and students. Now includes free Google Message Security. |
| Policy Watch |  | |
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- A D average may be good enough for graduation in Seattle
Students in Seattle's public schools may soon need only a D average to graduate. Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson supports lifting the rule requiring a C average, and the school board will vote on the issue Oct. 7. A survey found parents to be in favor of the tougher graduation standard, but district officials argue that they've increased standards and that students must also pass a state test to graduate. The Seattle Times
(9/15)
- Proposed charter in Massachusetts would have Asian focus
A proposed charter school in Massachusetts would fuse cultures by mixing Asian immigrant students with native English speakers. Classes would be taught in English and focus on Eastern and Western traditions. Mandarin would also be taught. "Think how valuable it would be ... for anyone who wanted to live or work in China, especially in high-powered economic areas like Shanghai and Hong Kong," said one supporter. However, the charter-school proposal has been criticized as "renewed segregation" and for possibly diverting funds from public schools. The Boston Globe (free registration)
(9/17)
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| The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
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4 Strategies for Technology-Driven Student Achievement
Pull up a virtual chair and listen in as 4 state and district education leaders discuss how they've employed classroom technology to help their students (and teachers) reach new levels of achievement.
Free On-Demand Webinar – View Now.
Interested in learning more about advertising in ASCD SmartBrief? Contact Joe Riddle at (202) 407-7857 or jriddle@smartbrief.com.
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| In the Field | | |
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- Hawaiian schools look for ways to deal with furloughs
Teachers in Hawaii face 17 furlough days this school year if a contract proposal is approved. Some school officials said that one way to reduce the effect on instruction time would be to use paid holidays and planning days as furlough days. But "whether we like it or not, there is going to be a negative impact on school days," said the chairman of the state board of education. The Honolulu Advertiser
(9/16)
| Association News | | |
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Election of Officers
ASCD's election of officers opened on Sept. 1. Eligible ASCD members are asked to vote for president-elect, members of the Board of Directors and members-at-large of the Leadership Council by returning a paper ballot or by voting online at my.ascd.org and entering their member ID and password by Nov. 15.
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ASCD Provides Many Opportunities for Educators
With more than 175,000 members and a commitment to excellence in education, ASCD stands out as a leading source for information, ideas and professional-development opportunities that are guiding the world's most successful schools. Join other ASCD members in getting access to the best new ideas in education. Find out more about ASCD membership on ASCD's Web site.
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 Faculty of Education Specialist | Northwest Nazarene University, Department of Education | Nampa, Idaho |
| Head of Upper School | Collegiate School | Richmond, VA |
| Director of Grade-Level Reading | Foundations, Inc. | Moorestown, NJ |
| 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. |
| Director/CEO | Dual Immersion Academy | Salt Lake City |
| Director, Healthy School Communities | ASCD | Alexandria, VA |
| Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education | Moravian College | Bethlehem, PA |
| Sales Manager Educational Curriculum | IRIS Media, Inc. | Eugene, OR |
| Executive Director | New England League of Middle Schools | Topsfield, MA |
| Principal | Pacific Collegiate School | 255 Swift St, Santa Cruz, CA |
| 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 |
| Coaching and Learning Program Director, Achievement Program | National Heritage Academies | Grand Rapids, Michigan |
| Director of Career Technical Education Partnership | Raritan Valley Community College | North Branch, NJ |
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 | We are born charming, fresh and spontaneous and must be civilized before we are fit to participate in society."
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Knowing what type of learner a student is doesn't necessarily lead to greater achievement, writes Daniel Willingham, a cognitive scientist and author of "Why Don't Students Like School?" In this guest blog post, Willingham argues that focusing needlessly on learning styles categorizes children. "Learning styles has become unquestioned dogma among many educators, despite the utter lack of evidence to support it," he writes. 
