NEGP Weekly for September 8, 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 - September 7, 2000 -- Vol. 2 -- No. 71
*************************************************

CONTENTS
**STATE POLICY 
1.) KINDERGARTEN:  HIGHER STANDARDS GREET NEW STUDENTS (Goal 1)
2.) BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL IN TENNESSEE: SCHOOLS THAT FAIL (Goals 3 and 4)
 
**COMMUNITY AND LOCAL NEWS 
3.) BUSINESS-EDUCATION:  PARTNERSHIP IN MOBILE (Goals 3 and 6)
4.) "CITIES VOICES, CHILDREN'S NEEDS": PRIORITIES FROM THE NATIONAL LEAGUE
OF CITIES (All Goals)

**FEDERAL POLICY NEWS 
5.) FEDERAL EDUCATION SPENDING: WHERE THE DOLLARS GO (All Goals)
6.) LAAP GRANTS: TECHNOLOGY FOR ADULT LEARNERS (Goal 6)

**RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PRACTICE 
7.) RURAL EDUCATION: WHY IT MATTERS (All Goals)
8.) LITERACY AGENDA:  "FROM THE MARGINS TO THE MAINSTREAM" (Goal 6)

**FEATURE STORY
9.) GOOD NEWS: MATH SCORES UP (Goal 5)
 
 
***FACT OF THE WEEK***
Between 1990 and 1997, the U.S. and 37 states (out of 49) significantly
reduced the percentages of infants born with one or more of four health
risks.

--The National Education Goals Report: Building a nation of learners, 1999



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


1.) ******** KINDERGARTEN:  HIGHER STANDARDS GREET NEW STUDENTS
(Goal One: Ready To Learn)

California's push for higher standards reached the kindergarten level.
According to the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, kindergarten students can expect to
see math workbooks, spelling tests and writing rubrics (Corcoran, 9/6).
Young students in the San Francisco Bay area will attend a longer-day
program with "beefed-up academics," writes the paper.  

Advocates of extended day kindergarten point to research that shows more
time spent in classrooms at a younger age means better learning habits later
on.  In the Santa Clara schools, last year's second-grade students, the
first to attend all-day kindergarten, saw a jump in their standardized test
scores by 8 to 12 percentage points.

Yet critics argue that the long days are inappropriate for young children
and the new standards "push children to do things they're not yet capable of
developmentally," writes the paper.

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



2.) ******** BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL IN TENNESSEE: SCHOOLS THAT FAIL
(Goal Three: Student Achievement and Goal Four: Teacher Education and
Professional Development)

Tennessee officials have identified 48 low performing elementary and middle
schools for assistance in its first annual review of schools (EDUCATION
WEEK, 9/6).  While some of the schools are not the lowest performing in the
state, they have not demonstrated "adequate progress" in student scores on
state assessments from 1998 to 1999, writes the paper.  

The state Department of Education will provide resources and staff
assistance to the schools.  If the schools do not improve, they could be
placed on probation and required to implement the state's recommendations.

"This is a preliminary measure," said Vernon Coffey, state education
commissioner.  "I want to let schools know now that the department is
looking closely at how well students are progressing and how well schools
are preparing them to meet higher standards."

For more information, visit EDUCATION WEEK at www.edweek.com.



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


3.) ******** BUSINESS-EDUCATION:  PARTNERSHIP IN MOBILE
(Goal Three: Student Achievement and Goal Six: Adult Literacy and Lifelong
Learning)

The Mobile (Alabama) School-to-Work Partnership is a joint effort of the
city's business and education communities to help produce highly skilled
employees to fill job openings in the area (Business Coalition Network
UPDATE, July/August 2000.)  Begun in 1994, the partnership consists of
Bishop State Community College, the Mobile County Public School System and
the Mobile Chamber of Commerce.  The groups work to ensure that the schools'
curricula reflect the needs of industry.

Other programs sponsored by the coalition are job shadowing in the middle
school, a teacher/counselor intern program, high school academies,
career/job fairs and mentoring.

For more information, visit the Business Coalition Network at the National
Alliance of Business' web site: www.nab.org.  Or call the Mobile
School-to-Work Partnership at (334)431-8659.



4.) ******** "CITIES VOICES, CHILDREN'S NEEDS": PRIORITIES FROM THE NATIONAL
LEAGUE OF CITIES
(All Goals)

The quality of schools is at the top of the list of the greatest challenges
faced by municipal leaders nationwide, according to a new report issued by
the National League of Cities (NLC).  The 25-page report is based on
interviews with city leaders in 28 cities that participate in an on-going
NLC research effort on emerging trends and challenges facing local
communities.

City Voices, Children's Needs: New Ways of Taking Action reveals that while
typically not responsible for overseeing public schools, municipal officials
nonetheless perceive school improvement and enhanced academic achievement as
keys to their city's future. 

The report contains examples of ways in which cities are leading, joining or
exploring new collaborations to respond to these challenges.  

Copies of the report are available at www.nlc.org/IYEF.htm.



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


5.) ******** FEDERAL EDUCATION SPENDING: WHERE THE DOLLARS GO
(All Goals)

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) recently released
Federal Support for Education Fiscal Years 1980-2000.  The report offers a
comprehensive picture of total federal financial support for education since
fiscal year 1980. A summary of dollar amounts spent on education programs in
the U.S. Department of Education and other federal agencies is provided.  

For a copy of the report, visit www.nces.ed.gov.



6.) ******** LAAP GRANTS: TECHNOLOGY FOR ADULT LEARNERS
(Goal Six: Adult Literacy and Lifelong Learning)

President Bill Clinton recently announced the award of 10 new grants that
will enable adults to access high quality learning opportunities "anytime,
anywhere," for example on the Internet.  The grants totaling $10.6 million
are awarded through the Learning Anytime Anywhere Partnerships (LAAP).
Under the program, colleges work together and with other public and private
businesses and organizations to develop adult learning programs.  The grants
are awarded to national or regional partnerships involving two or more
institutions of higher education, community organizations, businesses and
other public and private agencies.  

For example, the University of Wisconsin college system will work with a
migrant services agency and food processing companies to offer online
remedial courses, mentoring and career training and counseling to migrant
workers and their families and to Native Americans.

For more information visit www.ed.gov.



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


7.) ******** RURAL EDUCATION: WHY IT MATTERS
(All Goals)

Why Rural Matters, a report released last week by the Rural School and
Community Trust, underscores that as many as one-quarter of America's school
age children attend public schools in rural areas or small towns.  Yet,
little of the current debate over education issues focuses on rural
education.  The report is the first in a series that will discuss rural
education in the United States.  

The report describes particular challenges faced by rural educators and
schools and provides an analysis of the relative urgency with which
policymakers should address the needs of rural schools and communities in
each state.  Researchers intend to add indicators about school facilities,
school finance and other critical topics in the future.

For more information, visit the Rural School and Community Trust at
www.ruraledu.org.



8.) ******** LITERACY AGENDA:  "FROM THE MARGINS TO THE MAINSTREAM"
(Goal Six: Adult Literacy and Lifelong Learning)

The release of an action agenda to improve adult literacy skills concluded
the final phase of the National Literacy Summit 2000.  From the Margins to
the Mainstream: An Action Agenda for Literacy offers recommendations to
improve adult literacy services and increase the number of Americans with
literacy skills strong enough to participate fully in work, family and
community life.

The report represents the suggestions gathered from a series of 25 meetings
nationwide.  Representatives of the adult literacy field, business and labor
leaders and the medical and human services communities joined forces to
agree on the action agenda documented in the report.  

For more information, visit the National Coalition for Literacy at
www.nifl.gov.



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


9.) ******** GOOD NEWS: MATH SCORES UP
(Goal Five: Math and Science) 

Improved math and science preparation are highlighted as the reason SAT math
scores continued their upward trend with this year's 3-point gain to 514
(out of 800) the highest level in 30 years, according to the College Board.
A record 1.26 million SAT takers are entering college this fall with more
high school math and science courses, better grades and higher academic
aspirations that their predecessors of 20 years ago.

"The rise in math scores is cause for cautious optimism, as is the stability
of verbal scores," said College Board President Gaston Caperton.  "Verbal
scores are holding steady even through more of today's college-bound high
school students than ever before have English as their second language or
have parents who aren't native English speakers."  

According to the College Board, this year's SAT takers also are a more
diverse group than ever before.  Over a third are first-generation
college-bound students, more than half are women and 34 percent are
nonwhite.  Other data from the College Board on recent SAT takers:
>  69 percent of both men and women reported taking four or more years of
math, up from 68 percent of men and 62 percent of women 10 years ago.
>  A record 88 percent of students reported at least three years of natural
science study in high school, up from 78 percent 10 years ago.  In addition,
45 percent of women and 53 percent of men reported taking physics, the
science subject with the highest average SAT math score.
>  In the 19909s, Native American, African American and Mexican American
students experienced the greatest increase in college-preparatory
coursework.
>  The gap in average male and female verbal scores, as well as in math
scores, is closing.  Since 1990, women have added 8 points to their verbal
score, while men have added 2 points, reducing the verbal score gap to 3
points.  Since the 1980s, the gap in math scores has dropped 5 points.

"The gender gap may be attributable to a wide range of factors," Caperton
noted.  "More women than men take the SAT, and a higher percentage of test
takers usually results in lower average scores.  In addition, women
test-takers are more ethnically diverse and a higher proportion of them come
from families where neither parent attended college.  We also know that
there's a difference in course-taking patterns for women and men in high
school."

The College Board also found that more SAT takers reported earning an A-, A
or A+ grade point average - 40 percent this year compared to 22 percent in
1990.

"We have made some encouraging gains in recent years, but a rapidly
expanding knowledge-based economy will demand even more of our educational
system in the years ahead," said Caperton.  "In order to meet those
challenges, we must continue to press for high standards and access to
quality instruction for all children."

For more information, visit the College Board at www.collegeboard.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 
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
www.negp.gov. Requests can be made by mail, fax, e-mail, or Internet. 

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