The NEGP WEEKLY for November 9, 2001
From: NEGPweek (NEGPWEEK@WESTAT.com)
Date: Tue Nov 13 2001 - 12:52:30 PST
*****************THE NEGP WEEKLY*****************
A weekly news update on America's Education Goals
and school improvement efforts across America from the
NATIONAL EDUCATION GOALS PANEL
Friday - November 9, 2001 -- Vol. 2 -- No. 125
*************************************************
CONTENTS
**STATE POLICY
1.) Teacher Testing: Illinois Reforms Exam (Goal 4)
2.) Foreign Language Programs: Massachusetts' Teachers Say Si (Goal 3)
**COMMUNITY AND LOCAL NEWS
3.) Fundraising In St. Louis: Wealthy Districts' Efforts Are Questioned
(All Goals)
4.) Gone With The Wind: Grades In Niagara Falls (Goal 3)
**FEDERAL POLICY NEWS
5.) E-Learning Projects: An Apec Initiative (Goals 3 and 4)
6.) Blue Ribbon Schools: Honoring The Best (Goals 2, 3, 4 and 8)
**RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PRACTICE
7.) Improving Science Education: NSF Launches $100 Million Campaign (Goal
5)
8.) Choosing Content: A Tough Decision (Goals 3 and 5)
**FEATURE STORY
9.) Friendship Through Education: It's A Small World Program
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STATE POLICY NEWS
********************
1.) ******** Teacher Testing: Illinois Reforms Exam
(Goal Four: Teacher Education and Professional Development)
Illinois State School Superintendent Glenn McGee claims that the state's new
test for would-be teachers is "far-harder" to pass than the old one (Rossi,
Chicago SUN TIMES, 11/6).
The old test was written at about an eighth-grade level and had a first-time
pass rate of more than 90 percent. The new test is a more rigorous
college-level Basic Skills test. However, teacher-candidates could get
nearly two-thirds of the math questions wrong and still pass the exam under
scoring procedures being debated this month by State Board of Education
members, writes the paper.
For more information, visit the Illinois State Board of Education at
http://www.isbe.state.il.us.
2.) ******** Foreign Language Programs: Massachusetts' Teachers Say Si
(Goal Three: Student Achievement and Citizenship)
Foreign language teachers throughout Massachusetts are trying to save
foreign language programs from losing ground as schools face pressure to
help students perform better on the statewide exam (Coleman, Boston GLOBE,
11/14). These teachers claim that the Massachusetts Comprehensive
Assessment System (MCAS) is causing schools to make "tough choices,
resulting in foreign languages becoming the "forgotten framework," writes
the paper.
State Education Commissioner David Driscoll, while sympathetic, does not
think foreign language study will become a high priority for schools. "I
think everybody understands that we are light years away from having the
kind of universality of foreign language as these other areas," he said.
For more information, visit the Massachusetts Department of Education at
http://www.doe.mass.edu.
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COMMUNITY AND LOCAL NEWS
*************************
3.) ******** Fundraising In St. Louis: Wealthy Districts' Efforts Are
Questioned
(All Goals)
"Fundraising has gone way beyond the bake sale," said Howie Schaeffer,
spokesman for the Public Education Network (PEN), of the efforts of public
school education funds nationwide. The St. Louis POST-DISPATCH reports on
St. Louis' parent associations' successful efforts to raise funds to pay for
better buildings and special programs ((Bower, 11/5).
One of the city's oldest public school foundations is the Parsons Blewett
Memorial Fund, established by a former superintendent in 1916 to "provide
teachers in St. Louis city schools with scholarships for continued education
as well as financial assistance after retirement." Last year, the fund
spent a little more than a million dollars. The money was spent on teacher
and principal training, recruiting teachers from South Africa and helping
teachers get special certifications.
The article details fundraising operations at other local schools
nationwide. It also details opposition to public school fundraising, citing
equity issues as the main reason some oppose the foundations.
For more information, visit the Public Education Network at
http://www.publiceducation.org.
4.) ******** Gone With The Wind: Grades In Niagara Falls
(Goal Three: Student Achievement and Citizenship)
Niagara Falls elementary and middle school students no longer will receive
report cards with grades. Instead, parents will be sent report cards with a
list of skills for each subject area and "indications of whether their child
mastered the skills," reports THE BUFFALO NEWS (McNeil, 11/5).
The new evaluation process was initiated seven years ago by a group of
district educators. According to the paper, the goal is to increase student
achievement by "taking the focus off grades and offering each student an
individualized learning plan."
*********************
FEDERAL POLICY NEWS
*********************
5.) ******** E-Learning Projects: An Apec Initiative
(Goal Three: Student Achievement and Citizenship and Goal Four: Teacher
Education and Professional Development)
The Departments of State and Education are supporting an APEC e-
learning initiative that will use the Internet to share best practices in
education and to promote international collaboration on Internet-based
learning among the economies that form APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation).
Projects include:
* The APEC Cyber Education Cooperation, a consortium of the U.S. Department
of Education and similar organizations from Korea, New Zealand, Hong Kong
and Singapore, that will develop an on-line knowledge bank for educators of
best practices in education.
* The Asia-Pacific e-Learning Alliance, a private sector effort involving 10
major computer companies working with APEC economies to identify ways to
improve education and boost productivity through greater use of web-based
learning opportunities.
* The e-Language Learning Project, a proposal to help students and educators
in the APEC region use the Internet to learn a second language, with an
initial focus on English, Chinese and Spanish language skills.
For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Education at
http://www.ed.gov.
6.) ******** Blue Ribbon Schools: Honoring The Best
(Goal Two: School Completion, Goal Three: Student Achievement And
Citizenship,
Goal Four: Teacher Education And Professional Development and Goal Eight:
Parent Involvement)
U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige recently announced the winners
of the Blue Ribbon Schools initiative. This year, 223 public schools and 41
private schools in 38 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, as
well as a Department of Defense school, will be recognized. The schools were
nominated by state education agencies, the Department of Defense and the
Council for American Private Education.
The 18-year-old Blue Ribbon Schools program spotlights some of the
nation's most successful schools by honoring excellence in leadership,
teaching, curriculum, student achievement and parental involvement.
Specifically schools this year were evaluated on several characteristics,
including:
* high student retention and graduation rates;
* challenging standards and curriculum;
* excellent teaching and an environment that strengthens teachers skills and
improvement;
* school, family and community partnerships; and
* student performance on measures of achievement.
For more information, visit the Department of Education at
http://www.ed.gov.
*********************************
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PRACTICES
*********************************
7.) ******** Improving Science Education: NSF Launches $100 Million
Campaign
(Goal Five: Math and Science)
The National Science Foundation (NSF) in an effort to improve science
instruction announced a $100 million initiative. NSF's plan is to establish
Centers for Learning and Teaching throughout the country. The centers will
encourage the development of new faculty and new materials to boost learning
in kindergarten through 12th grade. It also will focus on better preparing
graduate students in areas of critical national need.
For more information and a list of the Centers, visit the NSF at
http://www.nsf.gov.
8.) ******** Choosing Content: A Tough Decision
(Goal Three: Student Achievement and Citizenship and Goal Five: Math and
Science)
In an article for EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP, George Nelson, director of Project
2061, discusses why choosing what should be taught in any academic area is a
challenge for educators. Math, science and technology provide a framework
for his article, but the questions and challenges can be applied to any
subject area.
Nelson calls on educators to first think about the "why" when selecting
content. "Stating exactly what the curriculum is supposed to achieve is
essential to defining who should learn what," he writes. He goes on to
raise tough questions, including is the goal coverage of a subject or actual
learning? If learning is the goal, he writes, "and even the brightest
students take more time to learn than is commonly thought, then the
curriculum must be pared down to give students time to focus on a coherent
set of the most important ideas and skills."
For a copy of his article, visit http://www.ascd.org.
*****************
FEATURE STORY
*****************
9.) ******** Friendship Through Education: It's A Small World Program
President Bush recently announced the formation of Friendship Through
Education, a consortium of groups facilitating expanded links between U.S.
students and students in countries with Muslim populations. As a first
step, three schools in U.S. communities most directly affected by the
September 11 terrorist attacks will be linked for student and teacher
interchanges with schools in Islamic nations.
The program is a consortium of non-governmental organizations and private
groups "committed to connecting children from different nations in an effort
to bridge cultures and broaden understanding," writes the Department of
Education. Several of the organizations involved in Friendship Through
Education are: iEARN-USA, People to People International, The UN's
Cyberschoolbus, ePals Classroom Exchange, Global SchoolNet Foundation,
Schools Online, Sister Cities International, US Fund for UNICEF and Paul D.
Coverdell World Wise Schools Program of the Peace Corps.
Friendship Through Education is modeled after several successful programs
including the President's People to People program, launched on September
11, 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. "After touring the liberated
death camps after World War II, Eisenhower was sure that, if people could
have face-to-face contact, future atrocities could be avoided through better
understanding," writes the Department of Education. The People to People
International group is now a member of Friendship Through Education.
Friendship Through Education will begin with expanded student and teacher
exchanges among countries throughout the globe. Initial efforts will focus
on countries with Islamic populations, including Egypt, Indonesia, Qatar,
Pakistan, Turkey, Bahrain and Afghan refugee camps. The Friendship Through
Education program will identify appropriate friendship schools in Islamic
nations, help provide safe and secure Internet-based communications among
students, assist with translations and facilitate classroom projects.
Two projects featured in the initial work of Friendship Through Education:
* E-Mail PenPals: gives students a chance to exchange e-mails with students
from one of the identified countries in an attempt to better understand each
other's countries and cultures.
* Laws of Life Project: invites students to submit essays describing the
rules, ideals and principles by which they live and explain the sources of
their laws of life (literature, life experience, religion, culture, role
models).
For more information, visit http://www.FriendshipThroughEducation.org.
************************************
The NEGP WEEKLY is a publication of:
The National Education Goals Panel
1255 22nd Street NW, Suite 502
Washington, DC 20037;
202-724-0015
NEGP Acting Executive Director: John Barth
Publisher: Barbara A. Pape
http://www.negp.gov
************************************
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WHAT IS THE NATIONAL EDUCATION GOALS PANEL?
The National Education Goals Panel is a unique bipartisan body of state and
federal officials created in 1990 by President Bush and the nation's
Governors to report state and national progress and urge education
improvement efforts to reach the National Education Goals.
WHAT DOES THE GOALS PANEL DO?
The Goals Panel has been charged to:
* Report state and national progress toward the National Education Goals.
* Work to establish a system of high academic standards and assessments.
* Identify promising and effective reform strategies.
* Recommend actions for state, federal, and local governments to take.
* Build a nationwide, bipartisan consensus to achieve the Goals.
WHAT ARE THE NATIONAL EDUCATION GOALS?
There are eight National Education Goals set for the year 2000. They are:
1) All children will start school ready to learn.
2) The high school graduation rate will increase to at least 90%.
3) All students will become competent in challenging subject matter.
4) Teachers will have the knowledge and skills they need.
5) U.S. students will be first in the world in math and science achievement.
6) Every adult American will be literate.
7) Schools will be safe, disciplined, and free of drugs, guns and alcohol.
8) Schools will promote parental involvement and participation.
WHO SERVES ON THE GOALS PANEL AND HOW ARE THEY CHOSEN?
Eight governors, four state legislators, four members of the U.S. Congress,
and two members appointed by the President serve on the Goals Panel. Members
are appointed by the leadership of the National Governors' Association, the
National Conference of State Legislatures, the U.S. Senate and House, and
the President. The number of Republicans and Democrats are made even by
appointing five governors from the party that does not control the White
House.
The current Panel Members are Governors Frank O'Bannon, IN (Chair,
2001); Jim Geringer, WY (Chair-elect); John Engler, MI; Jim Hodges, SC;
Frank Keating, OK; Paul E. Patton, KY; Jeanne Shaheen, NH; Tom Vilsack,
IA;
U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, NM; U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords, VT; U.S.
Representative George Miller, CA; Representative G. Spencer Coggs,
WI; Representative Mary Lou Cowlishaw, IL; Representative Douglas R.
Jones, ID; Senator Stephen Stoll, MO.
The annual Goals Report and other publications of the Panel are available
without charge upon request from the Goals Panel or at its web site
http://www.negp.gov. Requests can be made by mail, fax, e-mail, or Internet.
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