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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?

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.

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.

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, 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.

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

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

According to Marcie Lipsitt co-chair of the Michigan Alliance for Special Education, the sequestration cuts are devastating special education. There is a 5% reduction in federal funding of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Lipsitt said it means that many schools have eliminated resource rooms where children can go to get help in areas such as math, reading, writing and organizational skills. Many schools will have fewer speech, occupational or physical therapists, along with social workers and school psychologists, which means students who previously received speech therapy twice a week might only receive it once week, for example. And in some general education classrooms that had two teachers ““ one for the whole class and one specifically to support students with special needs ““ the special education teacher has been eliminated.

There is little hard data on the impact of the budget cuts on special education. The U.S. Department of Education estimates the sequester cut about $579 million in federal funding for IDEA Part B, which supports students age 3-21 with specific learning disabilities, speech or language impairments, intellectual disabilities, autism or emotional disturbances.

The National Education Association estimated that if states and local school systems did not replace any of the funds lost through sequestration, nearly 300,000 students receiving special education services would be affected. The union estimated up to 7,800 jobs could be lost as a result of the federal budget cuts. 6.5 million disabled children from ages 3-21 received services funded by the

In a survey by American Association of School Administrators, earlier this year on the impact of the recession on schools, more superintendents indicated that special education spending would decline for the first time in the nearly five years the survey has been conducted. In previous years, school systems were able to cover the cuts in federal funding, but superintendents indicated this year they can no longer do so because of continuing recessionary pressures and the depth of the sequestration cuts.

Those cuts further exacerbate the federal government’s chronic underfunding of its contribution toward the education of students with disabilities. Under the IDEA, the federal government committed to giving states funding for up to 40% of the difference between the cost of educating a disabled student and a general student. The most the federal government has ever given the states is 18.5% in 2005 (aside from a one-time infusion of economic stimulus funding in fiscal year 2009). Under the sequester, the federal share fell to 14.9%, the lowest federal contribution by percent dating to 2001. Federal funding aside, local school systems are obligated by law to provide children with disabilities with a free appropriate education.

The impact of the sequester on special education varies from state to state and even district to district. Many school systems have also reduced or eliminated staff development, which is critical in special education.

Virginia schools reported big cuts in budgets for materials and technologies to support students with disabilities, which can include electronic devices to help nonverbal students communicate, technology to help students who are hearing-impaired and computers to enlarge text, for example.

In Florida, Broward County this year eliminated five of 11 behavior specialists, 10 program specialists and an assistant technology position.