We are aware that school dropouts are an international problem. There are various names for these students who do not complete their education – “disaffected youth”, “non-completers”, etc. But no matter what they are called they are a major concern for the national leaders. Over one-third of those people who access this website are from outside America. So beginning in November I will be posting information, on a regular basis, about the global problem of school dropouts.
Franklin Schargel’s Blog
Is The Common Core the “Flavor of the Day”?
A report, “Out of Sync,” produced by Change the Equation (CTEq) and the National School Boards Association’s Center for Public Education (CPE), found that of the 45 states and the District of Columbia that have voluntarily adopted Common Core, only 11 have aligned their graduation requirements in mathematics with those standards.
In what could be compared to, well, many education reform initiatives over the years””educational technology included””a once-widely, and quickly, accepted initiative is dividing the education community; begging the question, “˜Are the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) just another flash in education’s pan?’
The K-12 Core Standards, developed for Mathematics and English Language Arts, are designed to bring student learning into the 21st Century through the inclusion of, and focus on, digital media, social learning tools, critical thinking skills, and online assessments.
Yet, many states, policy makers, and educators are saying that though giving the go-ahead was easy, successful implementation planning didn’t factor well enough into the decision to adopt, causing problems states are only now beginning to fully comprehend.
Policy makers find it easy to accept and adopt and much harder to implement. Will Common Core go the route of New Math?
Bullying Prevention Month
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. You can download my Bullying Prevention White Paper from my website by “Searching” for Bullying White Paper”.
On Wednesday, October 9th the media will celebrate Unity Day. If you care about students who are bullied and want bullying to end, make your color ORANGE on Unity Day. That’s the day everyone can link together””in schools, communities and online””and send one large, ORANGE message of support to students who have experienced bullying.
Free Bullying White Paper
Now that schools are back in full swing, there have been repeated incidents of bullying – at school, on school buses and on the Internet.
I have written a Bullying White Paper which is available free for download. Simply search for it on this homepage or go to the “Resources” page.
Safe Schools Request
I am in the process of writing a book dealing with “Safe Schools”. I would appreciate any suggestion in how your districts are dealing with bullying, cyber bullying, fighting, suicides, etc. Please send any suggestions to [email protected]
And thank you.
Chicago School System Task Force on Truancy
Chicago, like many places, has a truancy problem. The data indicate that truancy is a major predictor of students dropping out of school. As a result, a “Truancy in Chicago Public Schools Task Force” is being formed that would include representatives appointed by the statehouse leadership, as well as by city and state schools officials, the governor and Chicago’s mayor, community groups and business leaders, and top state agencies.
The task force would schedule public hearings and report its findings to the general assembly next year.
Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) is seeking to create the task force in response to a Chicago Tribune investigation finding that nearly 32,000 Chicago students in grades K-8 “” or roughly 1 in 8 “” missed four weeks or more of class during the 2010-11 year, while the cash-strapped district does little to stem the problem.
Absenteeism in the elementary grades is especially acute in African-American communities on the South and West Sides that are scarred by gang violence, unemployment and poverty. Counting truancy, excused absences and gaps in enrollment, more than 20 percent of black elementary school students missed at least four weeks of school in 2010-11, compared with 7 percent of whites and 8 percent of Hispanics, the Tribune found.
Children with a learning or emotional disability also miss class in disproportionate numbers, despite federal laws designed to keep such students in school. About 42 percent of K-8 students with an emotional disability missed four weeks of classes in 2010-11, compared with 12 percent of students without a disability, for example.
The flood of empty desks places the education of thousands of children in peril, undermines the Chicago Public Schools’ efforts to boost achievement and costs the district millions in attendance-based funding, the Tribune found.
Does your district have a truancy problem? What is the district doing to lower the truancy rate, especially among elementary school students?
Most Lucrative College Degrees
Most people go to college to get a higher paying job. In the current economic climate, what are the most lucrative jobs for those with a college degree and what do they have in common?
The top 15 highest-earning college degrees all have one thing in common””math skills. That’s according to a recent survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, which tracks college graduates’ job offers. Specifically, engineering diplomas account for 12 of the 15 top-paying majors. The three non-engineering majors in the top 15″”computer science, actuarial science, and construction management””all require a high level of math skill.
While engineering graduates are feeling the pinch of fewer job offers, graduates with technology degrees have an advantage in a tough job market. “It’s a tech-driven world, and demand [for engineers] is only going to grow,” said Farnoosh Torabi, employment expert and Quicken blog editor. “You can’t say that about many fields, especially in a recession.”
15 Top-Earning Degrees
1. Petroleum engineering $83,121
2. Chemical engineering $64,902
3. Mining engineering $64,404
4. Computer engineering $61,738
5. Computer science $61,407
6. Electrical engineering $60,125
7. Mechanical engineering $58,766
8. Industrial engineering $58,358
9. Systems engineering $57,438
10. Engineering technology $56,447
11. Actuarial science $56,320
12. Aeronautical engineering $56,311
13. Agricultural engineering $54,352
14. Biomedical engineering $54,158
15. Construction management $53,199
Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers
GRANT ALERT!
U.S. Soccer Foundation – Program and Safe Places to Play Grants
Deadline: October 1st, 2013
The U.S. Soccer Foundation awards grants on an annual basis to support both soccer programs and field-building initiatives in underserved areas nationwide. Grants are provided to support all aspects of the game – from assisting programs with operational costs to creating Safe Places to Play.
Funder: The U.S. Soccer Foundation
Eligibility: Any organization with a 501(c)(3) tax exempt status may apply. This can also include churches, individual schools or school districts, cities or municipalities, etc.
Amount: Program Grants: up to $50,000
Search: Safe Places to Play Grants: Varies depending on project scope.
W.K. Kellogg Foundation – Family Engagement Efforts to Support Early Childhood Educational Success
Deadline: September 23rd, 2013
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) announces a $5 million investment to identify and cultivate innovations in the growing field of family engagement that support children’s educational success from birth to 8 years old. Organizations that have developed effective family engagement models that address obstacles faced by low-income families are encouraged to send initial submissions.
WKKF defines family engagement as a shared responsibility of families, schools and communities for student learning and achievement. It is a continuous process from birth to third grade and beyond that occurs across multiple settings where children learn. The foundation seeks to support and expand on-the-ground family engagement efforts that include program design and implementation, service delivery and/or policy development and implementation.
Funder: The W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Eligibility: Public entities or nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and can demonstrate the fiscal capacity to manage the funds are welcome to apply.
Amount: up to $500,000.
Contact: The W.K.Kellogg Foundation
These grants are listed on the Youth Today website. There are many others. Check: https://youthtoday.org/grants.cfm?topic_id=99