NEGP Weekly for August 31, 2000

[Negpweek <NEGPWEEK@WESTAT.com>]

****INVITATION****

Who:   You are invited to join Governor Tommy Thompson (WI), Chair of the
NEGP and Governor Paul Patton (KY), Panel member
Where:  Grady High School Theater, Atlanta, Georgia
When:  Tuesday, September 19, 1:30 - 4:30 PM
What:  Regional field hearing on changing school structures to help all
students reach high standards
Why:  Hear current effective practices in use in Florida, Georgia, and
Kentucky as well as researchers and practitioners on this important issue.


This field hearing is the third 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 - August 31, 2000 -- Vol. 2 -- No. 70
***************************************************

CONTENTS
**STATE POLICY 
1.) ADVANCED PLACEMENT: GROWTH IN TEXAS (Goal 3) 
2.) SHORT CUT TO TEACHING: STATES BLAZING NEW TRAIL (Goal 4)

**COMMUNITY AND LOCAL NEWS 
3.) TAKEOVER IN BALTIMORE: GIVEN A GREEN LIGHT (Goals 2 and 3)
4.) PAY FOR STUDY: CHEROKEE COUNTY TEACHERS MAY GET RAISE FOR GRADUATE WORK
IN FIELD THEY TEACH (Goal 4)

**FEDERAL POLICY NEWS 
5.) "GROWING PAINS:" SCHOOL ENROLLMENT CONTINUES TO GROW (All Goals)
6.) RECRUITING TEACHERS?:  LOOK ON-LINE (Goal 4)

**RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PRACTICE 
7.) HIGH-TECH HIGH: THE BUSINESS OF EDUCATION (Goals 2, 3, and 6)
8.) "INTO ADULTHOOD": STUDY FINDS LONG-TERM IMPACT OF HEAD START (Goals 1,
3, and 6)

**FEATURE STORY
9.) THE PUBLIC AND EDUCATION: SATISFACTION AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH (All Goals)

 
***FACT OF THE WEEK***
Between 1991 and 1998, 49 states (out of 51) significantly increased the
numbers of children with disabilities enrolled in preschool (per 1,000 3- to
5-year-olds.)

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


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


1.) ******** ADVANCED PLACEMENT: GROWTH IN TEXAS
(Goal Three: Student Achievement)

A dramatic increase in the number of Texas students taking Advanced
Placement exams is attributed to a $30 fee reduction approved by the state
legislature last year (Stutz, DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/24).  During the
1999-2000 school year, 55,176 Texas students took AP exams - nearly an 18
percent increase from the previous year and double the nationwide rate of
growth, reports the paper.

Prior to last year, only low-income students were eligible for fee
reductions.  The $30 fee reduction, passed by Texas lawmakers, applies to
all students who enroll in AP classes in high school to take the test at a
lower rate, bringing the cost per test down to $46.  Due to a federal
subsidy, low-income students pay $5 per AP exam.

For more information on the AP program, visit the College Board at
http://www.collegeboard.org.



2.) ******** SHORT CUT TO TEACHING: STATES BLAZING NEW TRAIL
(Goal Four: Teacher Education and Professional Development)

A teaching shortage coupled with increasing demands for higher standards and
improved student achievement have led officials in some states to create
shortcuts to entry into the teaching profession (Zernike, NY TIMES, 8/24).
Kentucky, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, along with several school
districts, are the vanguards of state-run teacher-training programs.  

Previous alternative-certification programs, led by New Jersey, in which
college graduates who did not major in education could enter the teaching
profession after completing a "heavy load of courses at schools of education
at nights or on weekends," was deemed a failure because it made "the path to
teaching still seem cumbersome," writes the paper.  The new approach depends
on state-developed and state-run "crash courses" that place teachers in the
classroom sometimes in as little as three weeks.  For more information,
visit the N.Y. TIMES at http://www.nytimes.com.


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


3.) ******** TAKEOVER IN BALTIMORE: GIVEN A GREEN LIGHT
(Goal Two: School Completion and Goal Three: Student Achievement)

The Maryland State Board of Education's decision to reconstitute three
Baltimore schools was given a go-ahead by the Baltimore City Circuit Court
(Cardman, EDUCATION DAILY, 8/23).  Judge Stuart Berger rejected a lawsuit
filed by the Baltimore Teachers Union that claimed the state board was
out-of-bounds when it took over the three schools last February.

"It is well within the statutory authority proscribed by the General
Assembly, and therefore within the [board's] discretion to propose, adopt,
and implement regulations that ensure a quality education for all Maryland
public school students," wrote Berger.

The board made its decision to take over the schools based on poor
attendance records and low scores on the statewide exams for third- and
fifth-grade students.  The Edison Project will run the schools.

For more information, visit the Maryland State Board of Education at
http://www.msde.state.md.us.



4.) ******** PAY FOR STUDY: CHEROKEE COUNTY TEACHERS MAY GET RAISE FOR
GRADUATE WORK IN FIELD THEY TEACH
(Goal Four: Teacher Education and Professional Development)

Teachers in Cherokee County (Georgia) may earn more money for pursuing an
advanced degree in the field they teach (Reinolds, ATLANTA
JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 8/25).  A group of parents, teachers and
administrators proposed this novel approach to improving classroom
instruction last year and school Superintendent Frank Petruzielo has asked a
committee to develop guidelines and incentives, writes the paper.  

More than half of high school teachers in Cherokee have advanced degrees,
but the degrees are mostly in counseling and administration.  "That kind of
thing makes colleges of education happy, but does not necessarily make
better teachers," said Petruzielo.

According to Tom Jennings, associate dean of the Teachers College Columbia
University, New York schools will require teachers to earn master's degrees
in or related to their teaching field by 2004.  He noted that most teachers
today pursue degrees in counseling and administration with the hope of
earning more money; a practice that would be ended if teachers were paid
more for earning a degree in their field of teaching.

For more information, visit the ATLANTA JOUORNAL-CONSTITUTION at
http://www.accessatlanta.com.


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


5.) ******** "GROWING PAINS:" SCHOOL ENROLLMENT CONTINUES TO GROW
(All Goals)

School enrollments will stay at record levels over the next 10 years,
according to a new report issued by the Department of Education.  Growing
Pains: The Challenge of Overcrowded Schools is Here to Stay reports that
currently the greatest increase in enrollments is at the high school level.
Over the next decade the number of high school graduates nationwide will
increase by about 10 percent, with six states - Arizona, California,
Florida, Illinois, Nevada and North Carolina - seeing the number of high
school graduates jump by 20 percent or more.

While national K-12 enrollments will remain relatively stable over the next
10 years, all Western states will have increases.  Alaska, Idaho, Nevada and
New Mexico can expect jumps in enrollment of more than 10 percent.  After
2010, the number of school-age children nationally will begin to increase,
rising some 6 percent by 2020.

"We need to figure out where we will put these children, and who will teach
them," said Riley.  "Many communities need to be building more schools now,
to reduce overcrowding and to reduce class sizes.  We also need to find ways
to induce more people into teaching as a career."

For more information on Growing Pains, visit the Department of Education at
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/bbecho00/



6.) ******** RECRUITING TEAHCERS?:  LOOK ON-LINE
(Goal Four: Teacher Education and Professional Development)

President Clinton recently announced the launch of a new web site dedicated
to recruiting new teachers.  The web site is a one-stop source of
information about teacher recruitment and offers practical resources for
recruiters, teachers seeking jobs, prospective teachers and school districts
seeking ways to retain teachers.  Recruiting New Teachers, Inc., under a
$350,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education, developed the web
site.  

At the web site, teachers can access online job banks and job listings
across the country, compare school districts and job offerings on a national
basis and learn how to finance teacher preparation.

For more information, visit the web site at
http://www.recruitingteachers.org.


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


7.) ******** HIGH-TECH HIGH: THE BUSINESS OF EDUCATION
(Goal Two: School Completion, Goal Three: Student Achievement and Goal Six:
Adult Literacy and Lifelong Learning)

A group of Redwood City school officials are exploring the creation of a new
high school designed to prepare low-income students for jobs in the region's
lucrative high-tech industry (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 8/10).  The high-tech
high school most likely would be located in East Palo Alto and is supported
by many Silicon Valley executives as a way to both bridge the digital divide
between low-income and minority students and their more wealthy counterparts
and provide a top-notch workforce for the technology industry.

According to the paper, the school would be modeled after a San Diego school
that will open its doors this year to 600 students.

For more information, visit the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS at
http://www.mercurycenter.com



8.) ******** "INTO ADULTHOOD": STUDY FINDS LONG-TERM IMPACT OF HEAD START
(Goal One: Ready To Learn, Goal Three: Student Achievement and Goal Six:
Adult Literacy and Lifelong Learning)

Head Start programs can have "important long-term effects on the lives of
the children they serve," said Sherri Oden, upon release of a new study on
Head Start she co-authored with several other researchers.  Into Adulthood:
A Study of the Effects of Head Start, a 17-year follow-up study of 622 young
adults (22 years old) born in Colorado and Florida, who were born in poverty
and did or did not attend Head Start as young children, found that the
program helped the children avoid crime and achieve greater school success
as they grew up.

The report also found greater success from students enrolled in a Head Start
program that used the High/Scope educational curriculum, compared to Head
Start programs using another program.  Children who attended Head Start
programs that used High/Scope rather than the standard Head Start curriculum
had a significantly higher grade-point average throughout their school years
and experienced fewer than half as many criminal convictions by age 22.  A
national survey found that only 37 percent of today's Head Start programs
use the High/Scope program.

For more information, visit High/Scope Educational Research Foundation at
http://www.highscope.org.


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


9.) ******** THE PUBLIC AND EDUCATION: SATISFACTION AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH
(All Goals)

Public approval of public schools reached an all-time high, according to the
32nd Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public
Schools.  According to the survey, nearly half (47 percent) of Americans
give the schools in their community an A or B.  The figure jumps to 70
percent when public school parents are asked about the school their oldest
child attends.

"Public satisfaction is also evident in the fact that 59 percent of
Americans believe that reforming the existing system of public schools,
rather than seeking an alternative system, is the best way to bring about
school improvement," notes the survey.  Seventy-five percent of those
surveyed said they would improve and strengthen existing public schools,
while only 22 percent would opt for vouchers.

The poll also found that the most pressing educational problem with which
the local public schools must deal is no longer discipline, but lack of
financial support (18 percent).  Lack of discipline moved down to second
place (15 percent) followed by overcrowded schools (12 percent) and
fighting/violence/gangs (11 percent).  

Many of this year's survey questions focused on testing.  Forty-three
percent of respondents said that just the right amount of testing is going
on in the schools, down from 48 percent in 1997.  During the same period of
time, the percentage of respondents who indicated that there is too much
emphasis on testing jumped from 10 percent to 20 percent.  Sixty-five
percent of those surveyed said the tests should be used primarily to
determine the kind of instruction needed, while 68 percent responded that
the best means of measuring academic achievement is done by classroom work
and homework.

This year's poll also includes a section called "Policy Implications,"
designed to "provide policy makers with information that will be of use in
making the decisions that shape the future of the public schools."
Following are several conclusions and the data that support them from the
survey:

Conclusion:	The public is not seeking an alternative to the public
schools, does not view choice programs and voucher plans in this light and
is focused on improving the public schools.
Data:	Nearly 60 percent of respondents indicate that public policy should
focus on reforming the existing public school system versus 34 percent who
said we should find an alternative system.  75 percent said we should
improve and strengthen the existing public schools system, while only 22
percent indicated that we should provide vouchers to use at private or
church-related schools.

Conclusion:	The public's belief in the importance of qualified,
competent teachers is strong.  This makes teachers a key element in school
improvement efforts.
Data:	52 percent said the strategy with the most promise for improving
public school achievement is ensuring that a qualified, competent teacher is
in every classroom, 19 percent said free choice for parents among a number
of private, church-related and public schools; 17 percent, rigorous academic
standards; and 10 percent, elimination of social promotion.

Conclusion:	The public, while divided on whether all students can learn
at a high level, is almost unanimous in the belief that students do not
achieve their full potential in school.  This suggests that helping students
reach their full potential could become a rallying cry for the public
schools.
Data:	55 percent said all students have the ability to learn at a high
level; 43 percent said only some students do.  80 percent said students
currently do not achieve at their full potential, while only 17 percent said
they do.

For more information or a copy of the full survey, visit Phi Delta Kappa at
http://www.pdkintl.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
distribution with proper acknowledgment. 

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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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