The NEGP Weekly for May 24, 2000

[NEGPWEEK@westat.com (NEGPWEEK)]

****INVITATION****

Who:   You are invited to join Governor Tommy Thompson (WI), Chair of the
NEGP and US Senator Jim Jeffords, Panel member
Where:  Trinity College, Delehanty Hall, Burlington, VT
When:  Thursday, June 1, 1:30 - 5:00PM
What:  Regional field hearing on empowering educators to bring all students
to high standards
Why:  Hear current effective practices in use in Vermont, Connecticut,
Boston and New York City.

This field hearing is the second of four scheduled to be held nationwide as
part of the Panel's 2000 agenda. The hearings are intended to raise public
awareness of the current best practices in helping all students achieve high
academic standards.  The NEGP field hearings will be delayed broadcast on
the NEGP web site at http://www.negp.gov.  To view these webcasts you will
need the free Realplayer 7 downloaded to your computer. You can download
Realplayer 7 for free by visiting the Goals Panel's web site at
http://www.negp.gov and following the links to the webcast!

*******************THE NEGP WEEKLY****************
A weekly news update on America's Education Goals
and school improvement efforts across America from the
NATIONAL EDUCATION GOALS PANEL

Thursday - May 24, 2000 -- Vol. 2 -- No. 59
***************************************************

CONTENTS
**STATE POLICY
1.) RATING SCHOOLS: TEST SCORES AND MINORITY ACHIEVEMENT (Goal 3)
2.) COMPETENCY TEST FOR VETERAN TEACHERS?:  MAYBE IN MASS (Goal 4)

**COMMUNITY AND LOCAL NEWS
3.) REPORT CARDS: CHICAGO CONSIDERS GRADING PARENTS (Goal 8)
4.) FIRST IN ITS CLASS: COVENTRY'S SUPPORT OF BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS (Goal
4)

**FEDERAL POLICY NEWS
5.) TEEN BEHAVIOR AND THE ROLE OF PARENTS: A CEA REPORT (Goals 2, 3, 7, and
8)
6.) CHARACTER EDUCATION: NINE STATES RECEIVE GRANTS (Goals 3 and 7)

**RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PRACTICE
7.) SINGAPORE'S SUCCESS: BY THE BOOK (Goal 5)
8.) CIVICS: A CRUSADE TO COMBAT YOUTH CYNICISM (Goal 3)

**FEATURE STORY
9.) EDUCATION AT A GLANCE: A GLOBAL LOOK (All Goals)


***FACT OF THE WEEK***
Between 1988 and 1996, the U.S. and 10 states (out of 51) significantly
increased the percentages of U.S. citizens registered to vote.  These 10
states were the District of Columbia, Georgia, Kentucky, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and South
Carolina.

--The National Education Goals Report: Building a nation of learners, 1999
(http://www.negp.gov/reports/99rpt.pdf)


********************
STATE POLICY NEWS
********************


1.) ******** RATING SCHOOLS: TEST SCORES AND MINORITY ACHIEVEMENT
(Goal Three: Student Achievement and Citizenship)

In an attempt to close the gap between white and minority student
achievement, the New York State school board has agreed to rate schools
based on student test scores, including students from racial and ethnic
sub-groups (Keller, EDUCATION WEEK, 5/17).  "Job one for me is closing the
gap in student achievement," said Commissioner of Education Richard Mills.
"Part of getting that done is being absolutely clear about what that gap
is."

According to ED WEEK, Texas already evaluates schools partly on the basis of
minority test scores, "a practice that has been credited with helping to
close the achievement gap" in that state.  California soon will announce its
own plan to rate schools partly based on minority test scores.

State officials are continuing to grapple with how the targets for the
minority groups will be decided or how they will count toward school
ratings.

For more information, visit the New York State Department of Education at
http://www.nysed.gov


2.) ******** COMPETENCY TEST FOR VETERAN TEACHERS?:  MAYBE IN MASS.
(Goal Four: Teacher Education and Professional Development)

The Massachusetts Board of Education is "poised" to give a nod to testing of
math teachers whose students are among the lowest performers on the
statewide exam (Vigue, BOSTON GLOBE, 5/23).  Governor Paul Cellucci has
urged board members to approve testing of math teachers in schools where 30
percent of students failed the math section of the Massachusetts
Comprehensive Assessment System.  His proposal would require teachers who
fail their test to receive additional training and professional development.
There is no mandate to fire the teachers.

Teacher union leaders were "outraged" at Celluci's plan, reports the paper.
However, Education Commissioner David Driscoll supports the initiative and
would like pilot assessments this summer, with full implementation of the
teacher-testing program in the fall.

Kathy Kelly, president of the Massachusetts Federation of Teachers, charged
that the plan is a "cynical attempt ... to appeal in a simplistic way to
public relations."  She added:  "Holding schools and districts accountable
is fine, but the governor and the board have to be accountable to us that
the resources are reaching the classrooms."

For more information, visit the BOSTON GLOBE at
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/


*************************
Community and Local News
*************************


3.) ******** REPORT CARDS: CHICAGO CONSIDERS GRADING PARENTS
(Goal Eight: Parent Participation)

Chicago Schools CEO Paul Vallas may issue report cards to parents of
students in pre-K through third-grade as part of his district's push to
enhance early childhood education (Rossi, Chicago SUN TIMES, 5/18).  While
parents would not receive letter grades, they would receive a checklist,
issued every five weeks, that reports on sundry parenting issues, including
does your child attend school regularly and bring basic books and supplies
to class.

Parents at Chicago's Harold Washington School are accustomed to receiving
report cards.  Principal Sandra Lewis said she has been grading parents for
years.  Her parents receive grades that range from A to D and cover areas
such as attendance, homework and school uniforms.  She said no parent has
complained to her that the report cards are an insult, as some critics of
the program claim will happen if the district implements a parent report
card plan.

For more information, visit the Chicago School District at
http://www.cps.k12.il.us



4.) ******** FIRST IN ITS CLASS: COVENTRY'S SUPPORT OF BOARD CERTIFIED
TEACHERS
(Goal Four: Teacher Education and Professional Development)

Coventry, Rhode Island, serves as a model school district for supporting
teachers who seek National Board certification.  According to ED WEEK,
teachers receive stipends of at least $7,000 annually, increasing to $7,500
next school year, for the 10-year life of their certificates.  The state
legislature added to the district's coffers for National Board certification
in 1997.  The amount from the state topped $90,000 this year and the Rhode
Island Foundation also anted up $50,000 this year.

Every teacher from Coventry who attempted to achieve National Board
certification has been successful.  Of the district's 450 teachers, 10 are
"home-grown" nationally certified teachers, with two others "lured away from
neighboring districts," reports the paper.

Coventry was one of the first in the nation to include support for National
Board certification in its collective bargaining agreement with teachers.
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards uses the Coventry
language as a model.

Besides payment of the $2,300 application fee, covered by the state,
Coventry teachers seeking Board certification get an additional five days of
leave to use during the preparation of their portfolios.  The district also
helps them find video equipment needed to record classroom work.  Teachers
who earn certification receive stipends each year, while those who fail
still get six credits that advance them on the salary schedule.

For more information on National Board certification, visit
http://www.nbpts.org.


*********************
Federal Policy News
*********************


5.) ******** TEEN BEHAVIOR AND THE ROLE OF PARENTS: A CEA REPORT
(Goal Two: School Completion, Goal Three: Student Achievement, Goal Seven:
Safe Schools, And Goal Eight: Parent Participation)

The White House's Council of Economic Advisers issued a report that examines
key trends in teen behavior and investigates the role of parent involvement
in their teenager's life.  Following are trends in teen behavior:
>  Teens today live far healthier, more prosperous and promising lives than
ever before.
>  Education levels have been improving across the board.
>  College attendance rates have been increasing over the past decade, but
income, race and ethnicity still play a role.
>  School-based teen participation in community service has increased, and
community service has been proven to improve academic and social outcomes.
>  Despite increasing prosperity, teens today are at high risk for poor
nutrition.
>  While there has been a recent decline in teen homicides and suicides,
rates remain high.  Guns are the leading cause of fatal teen violence - used
in 85 percent of teen homicides and 63 percent of suicides.
>  Teen birth and pregnancy rates are steadily declining.
>  About 4 million young people smoke and the incidence of youth smoking
rose during the 1990s.

Parental involvement is a major influence in helping teens avoid risks such
as smoking, drinking, drugs, violence and sexual activity, according to the
report.  For example about half of the 15- to 16-year-olds who are not close
to their parents have used marijuana, compared with just 24 percent of those
who are close to their parents.  Parent involvement also leads to increasing
educational achievement and expected attainment.  Teens of all ages who eat
with their parents, or feel close to their parents, have higher grade point
averages.  In general, they are more likely to intend to go to college and
they are less likely to have been ever suspended from school.

For a copy of the report, Teens and Parents in the 21st Century, visit
www.whitehouse.gov/WH/eop/cea/html/publications.html



6.) ******** CHARACTER EDUCATION: NINE STATES RECEIVE GRANTS
(Goal Three: Student Achievement And Citizenship and Goal Seven: Safe
Schools)

Nine states have received a total of $2.5 million in Department of Education
grants to form partnerships with local school districts and communities to
help youth incorporate good citizenship into their education.  Under the
Partnership in Character Education Pilot Projects Program, the grantees will
launch partnerships with one or more local school districts to establish
character education programs for young people.

The nine states are: District of Columbia, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Virginia.

For more information visit the U.S. Department of Education's web site at
http://www.ed.gov.


*********************************
Research and Education Practices
*********************************


7.) ******** SINGAPORE'S SUCCESS: BY THE BOOK
(Goal Five: Math and Science)

Some American educators as key to student success tout math texts from
Singapore.  According to the San Francisco CHRONICLE, the lightweight
paperback texts are filled with sample problems and step-by-step
explanations that help students understand the how and why of different math
formulas (Dizon, AP, 5/14).

"The curriculum believes in the students' abilities," said Professor Yoram
Sagher, who teaches high school math teachers.  "One of the effects of these
books on all teachers is that they are much more courageous about giving
harder problems to students."  American math texts tend to skip from topic
to topic without helping students master basic concepts that connect all
math problems, said Felicity Ross, a math teacher at Baltimore's Robert
Poole Middle School.  In contrast, the Singapore texts stress logic and help
students develop skills to solve all types of problems.  According to the
paper, Baltimore began using the Singapore books in a program for advanced
middle school students last year.

Math researcher Madge Goldman said that Singapore texts alone will not solve
the U.S. math problem.  "One of the really serious problems is that most
elementary school teachers are expected to teach all subjects and most of
them barely managed to squeak through whatever math classes they had to take
in college."

For more information on math instruction, visit the National Council of
Teachers of Mathematics at http://www.nctm.org.


8.) ******** CIVICS: A CRUSADE TO COMBAT YOUTH CYNICISM
(Goal Three: Student Achievement and Citizenship)

An alliance of 36 organizations representing educators, politicians and
public policy leaders joined forces to launch the National Alliance for
Civics Education.  The group's purpose is to reverse "what they see as
teenagers' growing apathy and cynicism toward government."  (Hoff, EDUCATION
WEEK, 5/17).  University of Maryland Professor William Galston, former
domestic-policy adviser to President Clinton, is spearheading the group.

Galston points to the results of the National Assessment of Education
Progress report, released last fall that found only 20 percent of U.S.
students scored at the "proficient" level on its civics test.  About
one-third of students taking the exam fell below the "basic" level.  One
goal of the Alliance is to increase the time spent in school on civics
lessons.

For more information on civics, visit the Center for Civic Education at
http://www.civiced.org


*****************
Feature Story
*****************


9.) ******** EDUCATION AT A GLANCE: A GLOBAL LOOK
(All Goals)

Compared to most other industrialized countries, the U.S. spends more per
pupil, but our teachers get paid less and they work much longer hours,
according to a new report released by the Paris-based Organization for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).  The report, Education at a
Glance 2000, found that in the U.S. the gap between the pay of high school
teachers and their peers with other college degrees is wide.  Previous
reports show that American teachers also receive relatively little
professional development and little time to plan and evaluate what they are
teaching and what students are learning.

"One reason these new findings are so important," explained U.S. Education
Secretary Richard Riley, "is that research shows that occupations that pay
more attract more highly skilled people, as measured by factors including
college entrance exam scores."  He added:  "Research also shows that these
high achievers prove to be better teachers."
Education at a Glance also found that more young people in OECD countries
are progressing through secondary education to university degrees than ever
before.  However, the data varies greatly among countries.  Young people
from OECD countries spend an average of 16 years studying in educational
institutions, with four out of five reaching upper secondary level and
nearly one in four obtaining a university degree.

The report also found that in many schools, shortages in computer equipment
and software, combined with insufficient teacher knowledge and skills, work
against the effective use of technology.

Other findings:
>  In 12 out of 18 countries, public spending on educational institutions
grew faster than GDP between 1990 and 1997.  Total spending as a percentage
of GDP rose from 5.2 percent in 1990, on average, to 5.8 percent in 1997.
>  Between the ages of about 9 and 13, while students' science performance
improves, their enthusiasm for science wanes; fewer express positive
attitudes towards the subject.  This reduction in enthusiasm is greatest in
Japan and Korea, where students also achieve the highest test scores.
>  In most countries, statutory salaries of lower-secondary teachers after
15 years of service are well above the gross average earning of full-time
employees.  However, only in France, Germany, New Zealand, Switzerland and
the United Kingdom are they comparable to or higher than average earnings of
university students.

The OECD is an international organization comprised of 29 countries,
including the U.S., Italy, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Turkey and Iceland.
OECD provides governments the opportunity to "discuss, develop and perfect
economic and social policy."

For more information on OECD and the report, visit http://www.oecd.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 Executive Director: Ken Nelson
Publisher: Barbara A. Pape
http://www.negp.gov
************************************

The NEGP/ Daily Report Card (DRC) hereby authorizes further reproduction and
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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 Tommy G. Thompson, WI (Chair, 2000);
John Engler, MI; Jim Geringer, WY; James B. Hunt, Jr., NC; Frank Keating,
OK; Frank O'Bannon, IN; Paul E. Patton, KY; Cecil H. Underwood, WV;
Secretary of Education Richard Riley; Michael Cohen, U.S. Assistant
Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education; U.S. Senator Jeff
Bingaman, NM; U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords, VT; U.S. Representative William F.
Goodling, PA; U.S. Representative Matthew G. Martinez, 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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