The NEGP Weekly for January 19, 2001

[Negpweek <NEGPWEEK@WESTAT.com>]

*****************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 - January 18, 2000 -- Vol. 2 -- No. 87
*************************************************

CONTENTS

**STATE POLICY 
1.) ALASKA:  POSTPONING ITS HIGH-STAKES EXAM (Goal 3)
2.) NEW JERSEY STATE STANDARDS: ACHIEVE'S REPORT (GOAL 3) 

**COMMUNITY AND LOCAL NEWS 
3.) MAYOR IN CHARGE: HARRISBURG'S CITY HALL RUNS SCHOOLS (All Goals) 
4.) TEACHER SHORTAGES: HITS MINNESOTA (Goal 4) 

**FEDERAL POLICY NEWS 
5.) PARTY UNITY: DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AGREE ON FEDERAL ROLE IN
EDUCATION (All Goals)
6.) HIGH-STAKES TESTS: NEW GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS (Goal 3) 

**RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PRACTICE 
7.) INTERNET-BASED SCHOOL: BACK-TO-BASICS WITH BENNETT (ALL GOALS)
8.) REINVENTING EDUCATON: AN IBM PROGRAM (Goals 3 and 8) 

**FEATURE STORY
9.) QUALITY COUNTS: AN EDUCATION WEEK REPORT
(All Goals)
 

***FACT OF THE WEEK***

Between 1992 and 1996, 39 states (out of 51) significantly increased the
percentages of high school graduates who immediately enrolled in 2-year or
4-year colleges in any state.

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


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


1.) ******** ALASKA:  POSTPONING ITS HIGH-STAKES EXAM
(Goal Three: Student Achievement)

The Alaska state board of education last month unanimously passed a
resolution recommending to postpone until 2006 the use of a high-stakes high
school graduation exam, reports EDUCATION WEEK (Bushweller, 1/10).  Bruce
Johnson, deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early
Development, explained that the state wants to continue testing students,
but without the high-stakes requirement.

EDUCATION WEEK notes that a debate is likely to ensue in the legislature,
since some lawmakers oppose any delay.

For more information, visit the Alaska Department of Education and Early
Development at http://www.ed.state.ak.us/home.html


2.) ******** NEW JERSEY STATE STANDARDS: ACHIEVE'S REPORT		
(Goal Three: Student Achievement)

Achieve, a non-profit organization, reviewed New Jersey's language arts and
math standards.  The group found that while the state's assessments are
"among the best we have reviewed, the standards in both language arts and
literacy and mathematics need improvement."	

The group examined the state's Core Curriculum Content standards and its
assessments at grades 4, 8 and 11.  Achieve conducts reviews of state
standards and assessment through its Benchmarking Initiative, which works
with state leaders to evaluate standards and testing and advises
policymakers and school leaders on ways they can improve their systems of
assessment.

For more information on the New Jersey report and other state evaluations,
visit Achieve at http://www.achieve.org. 



*************************
COMMUNITY AND LOCAL NEWS
*************************


3.) ******** MAYOR IN CHARGE: HARRISBURG'S CITY HALL RUNS SCHOOLS
(All Goals) 

Mayor Stephen Reed of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, gained authority for running
the city public school system.  The state-authorized takeover was cleared by
a December 15 state court ruling, reports EDUCATION WEEK (Sandham, 1/10).  A
court battle over who should be in charge of the city schools has been
underway since the summer.

According to the paper, the legislature 'broadened the scope of the law [in
November], opening up the possibility that other low-performing districts
meeting certain criteria could be targeted for takeover as well.
For more information, including Harrisburg's Improvement Plan for 2000-2003,
visit the school district's web site at: http://www.hbgsd.k12.pa.us

	
4.) ******** TEACHER SHORTAGES: HITS MINNESOTA	
(Goal Four: Teacher Education and Professional Development)

The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reports on the state's growing teacher shortage
(Lonetree, 1/12).  A poll of school superintendents across the state by
Education Minnesota, the state's teachers union, found that the shortage is
"widespread and appears to be worsening."  

According to the paper, the shortage, particularly in the areas of math,
science and special education, was the catalyst for increases in teacher
contract settlements last year.  School-funding increases, including teacher
salaries, are on the legislative agenda again this year.  The teachers union
also is pursuing legislation to fund mentorship programs for the first three
yeas of a teacher's tenure.  

Education Commissioner Christine Jax has proposed a plan to speed up teacher
training for mid-career professionals who would like to teach.  Education
Minnesota leaders have opposed her plan, arguing that teacher turnover is
even higher among "unqualified" teachers, reports the paper.

For more information on Minnesota education, visit
http://www.educ.state.mn.us/.


*********************
FEDERAL POLICY NEWS
*********************


5.) ******** PARTY UNITY: DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AGREE ON FEDERAL ROLE IN
EDUCATION
(All Goals)

The CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR reports on a "truce" in the battle between
Democrats and Republicans over the role of the federal government in
education (Chaddock, 1/12) The paper editorializes that both parties share
the view that the federal government's overriding issue in public education
is quality.  "The next Education secretary takes over a department that has
won back its right to exist," pens the paper.

The article also points out that the recent presidential election found both
candidates rallying for standards-based reform and urging more federal
dollars to be targeted to improving student achievement.  And, both teachers
unions - who campaigned against Bush - "are already expressing an interest
in a Bush reading initiative, likely to be his first legislation."

For more information, visit the CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR at
http://www.csmonitor.com, January 12, 2001.


6.) ******** HIGH-STAKES TESTS: NEW GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS
(Goal Three: Student Achievement)

The Department of Education's office for civil rights recently released a
resource guide for educators on the use of tests as part of high-stakes
decision-making for students.  Chapter One of the guide provides information
about professionally recognized test measurement principles. Chapter Two
discusses the legal frameworks that have guided federal courts and the
office of civil rights when addressing the use of tests that have
high-stakes consequences for students.   

The guide does not establish new legal or test measurement principles,
according to the introduction.  

For more information, visit the Department of Education's web site at
http://www.ed.gov/ocr/testing/introduction.html


*********************************
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PRACTICES
*********************************


7.) ******** INTERNET-BASED SCHOOL: BACK-TO-BASICS WITH BENNETT
(ALL GOALS)

Simply called K-12, former U.S. Education Secretary William Bennett late
last year launched his back-to-basics internet-based school.  The school is
expected to open next fall and will cost students from $1,000 to $5,000 a
year.

Home-schooled students constitute the largest group of students signing up
for K-12, but Bennett also has forged partnerships with virtual charter
schools in California, Alaska and one is pending in Pennsylvania.

For more information, visit K-12's web site at http://www.k12.com.


8.) ******** REINVENTING EDUCATON: AN IBM PROGRAM
(Goal Three: Student Achievement and Goal Eight: Parent Involvement)

EDUCATION WEEK reports on IMB Corporation's "Reinventing Education" program.
The program, launched in 1994, offers school districts and states a partner
to help boost schools' technological capacity and introduce other education
reform initiatives with the goal of improving student reading skills,
teacher-parent communication and management of school information.  

An independent study of the IBM initiative conducted by the Center for
Children and Technology found the program to be a success.  "What had to be
in place at the senior level was a real commitment to a real school reform
plan," said Bob Spielvogel, a senior scientist at the New-York-based Center
for Children and Technology. 

For more information, visit IMB's "Reinventing Education" program at
http://www.ibm.com/ibm/ibmgives/grant/education/programs/reinventing


*****************
FEATURE STORY
*****************


9.) ******** QUALITY COUNTS: AN EDUCATION WEEK REPORT
(All Goals)

EDUCATION WEEK's Quality Counts 2001 addresses the "enormous energy" states
have invested over the past decade to raise academic standards in schools
across the country.  The report found that the effort is beginning to pay
off in schools.  Students are posting higher test scores in some states,
many teachers report the expectations in their schools are on the upswing
and the curriculum in many schools is beginning to change to reflect the new
standards.

However, Quality Counts 2001 also found that in many states, tests are
"overshadowing the standards they were designed to measure and could be
encouraging undesirable practices in schools."  Problems detected include a
lack of alignment between standards and the tests and a rush by states to
hold students and schools accountable without providing the "essential
support."

Quality Counts 2001 is based on a new survey of 1,019 public school
teachers.  According to EDUCATION WEEK, the report also is based on "the
most comprehensive survey to date of what the 50 states are doing to set
academic standards, create testing and accountability systems linked to
those standards, and provide support for students and educators to reach the
higher expectations."

Findings from the report include:
>  Almost eight in 10 teachers said the curriculum was "somewhat" or "a lot"
more demanding of students.
>  More than six in 10 said the expectations for what students would learn
were "somewhat" or "a lot" higher.
>  Nearly seven in 10 said teachers in their schools were collaborating
more.
>  More than six in 10 said students were writing more, nearly half reported
students were reading more.
>  Of those who said the curriculum was more demanding, more than six in 10
attributed the change to statewide academic standards.  Slightly more than
half said their students were working harder because of them.

The report also found that:
>  Nearly seven in 10 teachers said instruction stresses state tests "far"
or "somewhat" too much.
>  Sixty-six percent said state tests were forcing them to concentrate too
much on what's tested to the detriment of other important topics.
>  Nearly half reported spending "a great deal" of time preparing their
students in test-taking skills.

Quality Counts 2001 also found that forty states have tests aligned with
their standards in English at the elementary, middle and high school levels,
while 34 report alignment in math.  Yet the report includes a detailed
analyses by Achieve, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based non-profit, that found
the match between state standards and tests are not close enough.

Besides a thorough analysis of this year's theme - standards-related
policies - this years Quality Counts report also grades the states in four
areas:  standards and accountability, efforts to improve teacher quality,
school climate and resources.  The report includes a State of the States
section, which reports on more than 75 indicators of the health of each
state's public education system.

For more information and a copy of the report Quality Counts 2001, visit
EDUCATION WEEK at http://www.edweek.com.


************************************
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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