--- Friday --- September 27, 1996 --- Vol. 6 --- No. 70 ---
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THE NATIONAL UPDATE ON AMERICA'S EDUCATION REFORM EFFORTS
A service of the National Education Goals Panel
__________ __________
TIME FOR KIDS | SPOTLIGHT |
TIME Magazine offers a | |
classroom version called "TIME | MAKING HEADLINES |
for Kids." The student | |
magazine, geared for grades 4 | Violence in the schools |
through 6, will publish a pair | has been making headlines |
of special issues on the 1996 | for several years. |
Presidential election. | Initially, media coverage |
"Election '96" and "Kids' | focused on schools that |
Agenda for the Nation," will be | were adding metal detectors |
published in addition to "TIME | or hiring police. Now, |
for Kid's" regular weekly | get-tough policies and |
issues and will be underwritten | alternative placements for |
by Ford Motor Company, the | hard-core troublemakers are |
first sponsored issues in the | in the news. |
magazine's history. | |
"Election '96," will focus on | One Fairfax County, Va., |
the candidates, what they stand | teacher threatened to |
for, and how they plan to win. | transfer out of his school |
It also will include | because administrators |
educational articles on the | allowed a student who |
electoral college, political | threatened him to return. |
advertising and the role of the | (#2) Recently, N.Y.C. |
First Lady. | school chief, Rudy Crew, |
Student essays and political | proposed to simply expel |
cartoons submitted to "TIME for | any student 17 or older who |
Kids" will form the basis for a | carries a lethal weapon to |
second special issue, "Kids' | school. (See DRC 9/25) |
Agenda for the Nation," to be | |
released in Jan. The issue, | Another hot topic is |
which will take the form of | standards, including |
recommendations to the | standards for teachers. |
Administration, will be sent to | Ill. wants to raise the bar |
the President and Congress. | for their teachers. (#1) |
|_____________________________|
============== QUOTE OF THE DAY ==============
"We all celebrated and did a little victory dance when we heard
the news." -- Sondra O'Shea, a Fairfax County, Va., teacher,
ecstatic over a decision to tighten student discipline policies.
(#2)
_______________________________________________________________
| A service of the National Education Goals Panel |
| Published by the Education Policy Network |
| 1255 22nd Street NW; Wash, D.C.; 20037; 202/632-0952 |
| The DRC hereby authorizes further reproduction and |
| distribution with proper acknowledgement. |
| Publisher: Barbara A. Pape |
|_______________________________________________________________|
============== TABLE OF CONTENTS ==============
GOAL FOUR: TEACHER EDUCATION/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
TEACHER STANDARDS: On the way in Illinois. (#1)
GOAL SEVEN: SAFE SCHOOLS
COMBAT DUTY: Threats and violence against teachers. (#2)
STATESIDE
DOWN THE TUBES: Two "high-profile" bills fail in Calif. (#3)
HIGHER EDUCATION
COLLEGE COSTS RISE: Increase holding steady over years. (#4)
FROM COURTHOUSE TO SCHOOLHOUSE
SEE YOU IN COURT: St. Paul sues Minnesota. (#5)
BYTES AND PIECES
DISTANCE LEARNING: Growing in Michigan. (#6)
FROM SCHOOL TO WORK
SCHOOL-TO-WORK: Urban and rural grants. (#7)
TAKING OVER
SIGH OF RELIEF: Cleveland teachers okay contract. (#8)
===== GOAL FOUR: TEACHER EDUCATION/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT =====
*1 TEACHER STANDARDS: ON THE WAY IN ILLINOIS
Teacher training is lacking in Ill. and needs improvement at
the university and school level, according to a new study issued
by a state Board of Education task force (Long, CHICAGO SUN
TIMES, 9/4). "Rising to the Challenge: The Future of Illinois
Teachers" recommends the creation of teacher preparation programs
at universities, ongoing professional development, better teacher
assessments and more accountability, writes the paper.
The task force also suggests basing teacher standards on
what they are able to do in a classroom rather than "emphasizing
a hodgepodge of college credits that pays little or no attention
to students' needs," reports the paper. According to the report,
teacher training programs "were developed throughout the first
half of this century and have become too entrenched to be
significantly improved to minor adjustments. Nothing less than a
thorough reconstitution of this system will enable new and
experienced teachers to meet the challenge of educating students
as [the] 21st century begins."
Teachers just out of college would receive a new "initial
license" valid for three years. A "standard teaching license"
would be awarded to teachers who successfully complete a state
assessment. Teacher licenses could be renewed after the first
five years and every seven years thereafter following the
"development and demonstration of knowledge, skills and
dispositions consistent with established standards," writes the
report.
Kathleen Kelly, deputy director for academic affairs at the
State Board of Higher Education noted the significance of the
recommendations. "It's important because it will fundamentally
change the preparation of teachers, their licensure and their
continuing development," she said.
A SUN TIMES editorial endorses the recommendations made in
the report. At the very least, the Legislature should pass a law
"requiring teachers colleges to obtain national accreditation in
addition to state certification," writes the paper. The National
Commission on Teaching and America's Future earlier this month
released a state-by-state report on the quality of teaching in
America that found Ill. to be "doing poorly indeed." The paper
conclude: "... children deserve teachers who know how to teach."
===== GOAL SEVEN: SAFE SCHOOLS =====
*2 COMBAT DUTY: THREATS AND VIOLENCE AGAINST TEACHERS
An award-wining physics teacher, Steve Scholla, at Oakton
High school, in Fairfax County, Va., and several of his
colleagues have threatened to seek transfers due to the
readmission of a student who allegedly threatened Scholla
(Robberson, WASH POST, 9/25). Fairfax County school
administrators agreed to re-examine disciplinary rules that
govern students who threaten faculty members.
Last spring, a teacher overheard a 17-year-old student say
Scholla was "a dead man." The teacher reported it to Scholla and
to the police. According to the paper, Scholla did not press
charges. The student was suspended for 10 days. He completed
his junior year at another school, and was allowed back into
Oakton for his senior year, reports the paper.
However, Scholla and other teachers were displeased with the
decision to re-admit the student. A group of faculty members
"warned" administrators that they would all seek transfers
"unless action was taken to help ensure their safety and make it
harder for students to return to school after making such
threats," reports the paper. They complained that if
administrators allowed Scholla to leave, they would be sending a
message to students that "abusive or threatening behavior was
tolerable," writes the paper.
Oakton Princpal Roseanne Winter agreed and met with
Superintendent Robert Spillane to develop stronger disciplinary
language.
The new language would require students who are suspended
for making threats to "petition" school administrators and
faculty members for readmittance. Winter explained that the
student "would have to appear before a review board and explain
why I am different now, why I am a better person ... and why I
should be allowed to come back." The "offended teacher" would be
a member of the review board. Board members would have to reach
consensus about allowing the student to return to class.
Sondra O'Shea, an Oakton teacher said the faculty was
ecstatic over the new ruling. "We all celebrated and did a
little victory dance when we heard the news," she said.
===== STATESIDE =====
*3 DOWN THE TUBES: TWO "HIGH-PROFILE" BILLS FAIL IN CALIF.
Bills on two "high-profile" issues, bilingual education and
the funding split between K-12 and community colleges, failed to
pass the Calif. Legislature (Cairns, EDUCATION BEAT, 9/13).
AB 2310, a "bi-partisan, wide-ranging effort to revamp
bilingual education," stalled in the Senate Appropriations
Committee, after passing the Assembly, writes the newsletter.
The bill would have shifted control of bilingual education from
the state to the local level. School districts would have been
granted "wide discretion" over what types of bilingual programs
to use in the classroom, according to ED BEAT.
Some advocates of bilingual education bashed the bill on
grounds that local control would not serve the needs of English-
learners.
The other bill, AB 445 was designed to put a stop to the
annual debate between community colleges and K-12 education over
how to divide up Prop. 98 funds. According to ED BEAT, it would
have protected community colleges even when their enrollments did
not keep pace with K-12. The bill was not able to move out of
the Senate Budget Committee.
===== HIGHER EDUCATION =====
*4 COLLEGE COSTS RISE: INCREASE HOLDING STEADY OVER YEARS
The cost of going to college during 1996-1997 continued to
rise at almost the same rate as last year, according to "The
College Board Annual Survey of Colleges, 1996." Undergraduates
at American colleges will pay, on average, approximately 5% more
this year than last in tuition and fees at four-year
institutions. Students also can expect to pay 4 to 6% more for
room and board.
An accompanying College Board Report indicates that
financial aid was available to students at a record level -- more
than $50B. However, the shift from grants to loans continues.
The federal government supplies 75% of financial aid to students,
notes the report.
"For most Americans, the fact remains that college is still
accessible -- especially in the light of financial aid currently
available," said Donald Stewart, president of the College Board.
However, he added that the "clearest, simplest, more effective
federal policy for increasing educational opportunity is to
restore the purchasing power of the Pell Grant." Stewart
explained: "Since the mid-70s, the Pell Grant has lost ground
both to inflation and to the rising cost of college -- a 40%
decrease over 20 years. A substantial investment is needed to
restore this lost value and fulfill the Pell Grant's promise of
providing a consistent, substantial federal scholarship for low-
income students."
U.S. Ed Sec Richard Riley echoed Stewart's call for
increased assistance via Pell Grants. Riley: "President
Clinton's budget proposal would increase Pell Grants and Work-
Study opportunities for needy students to record levels. In
addition, President Clinton's HOPE Scholarships would give a
boost to working and middle-income families who earn too much to
qualify or need-based grants but see college as simply out of
reach financially."
According to the report, students at four-year private
institutions are paying $12,823, $607 more than last year; four-
year public institutions -- $2,966, $155 more; two-year private
institutions -- $6,673, $344 more; and two-year public
institutions -- $1,394, $64 more.
The College Board estimates sample budgets that range from
$5,910 for a student who lives at home and commutes to a two-year
public college, to $20,361 for a student living on-campus at a
four-year private college.
Visit the College Board's web site for more information on
college costs and scholarship information:
http:\\www.collegeboard.org.
===== FROM COURTHOUSE TO SCHOOLHOUSE =====
*5 SEE YOU IN COURT: ST. PAUL SUES MINNESOTA
The St. Paul, Minn., school board has sued the state,
charging that it has not provided sufficient funds to the
district's needy students (Smith, Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE,
9/18). In the lawsuit, district officials cited several
indicators of inadequate education in St. Paul: low achievement
and test scores, high dropout rates and poor attendance,
particularly from the district's disadvantaged, minority and
limited-English speaking families, writes the paper.
Last spring, Minn. Gov. Arne Carlson (R) made the same
complaints and proposed a voucher system for the city that would
allow children to attend private schools. However, the board did
not pass his proposal.
School Superintendent Curman Gaines said educators know how
to solve the system's problems but "have met resistance from
state lawmakers to provide sufficient funding and other
resources," notes the paper. Gaines: "What we hope to
accomplish with this effort is to ... clearly articulate to
policymakers that we do have legitimate concerns that are not
being addressed."
The suit was filed in Ramsey County District Court,
according to the paper.
===== BYTES AND PIECES =====
*6 DISTANCE LEARNING: GROWING IN MICHIGAN
A 1996 update of the Michigan DoEd's Inventory of
Instructional Telecommunications Systems in the state reveals a
"significant growth" in the number of educational video and data
networks operated by schools, colleges and universities since
1992 (Mich. DoEd press release, 9/16). The "Inventory" is
designed for electronic distribution on the Web and is a "living
data base" that can continually be updated, writes the release.
"This data base is the most complete collection of
information about educational telecommunications networks in the
state, and it shows that the vast majority of intermediate school
districts, community colleges and public universities in Mich.
participate in some type of distance learning network, generally
with Internet access," explained State Superintendent of Public
Instruction Arthur Ellis.
According to the release, "virtually every" intermediate
school district, community college and public university in the
state, plus local school districts, two- and four-year private
institutions of higher education and distance learning
organizations provided data. An examination of the data found
that: approximately 98% of the ISDs in Mich. manage or
participate in a data network of some type, most with access to
the Internet; nearly two-thirds of those ISDs use the data
network as a classroom resource; almost four out of five ISDs
operate a video network, often linking local districts in their
area; video networks are used for direct instruction by 79% of
the ISDs; all community college respondents operate a video
network, with 90% of those using the network for direct
instruction; 90% of community colleges also operate data networks
with Internet access; the state's 15 public universities each
operate video and data networks, the video systems used by every
institution for classroom instruction; Internet access is
provided by the data networks of all universities.
The 1996 Inventory is accessible via MDEnet, Michigan's
DoEd's World Wide Web and gopher services. The Internet address
is: http://www.mde.state.mi.us/report/inventory.
==== FROM SCHOOL TO WORK ====
*7 SCHOOL-TO-WORK: URBAN AND RURAL GRANTS
Grants totaling $17M are being awarded under the 1994
School-to-Work Opportunities Act's Urban and Rural Opportunities
Grants program (DoEd and Department of Labor press release,
9/19). Thirty-two business, education and labor partnerships in
America's rural heartland and inner cities will be the recipients
of the competitive grants.
"Every year in America, of the millions of teens who start
high school, many will graduate without the academic preparation
to succeed in higher education, or the skills to get a good-
paying job," said U.S. Ed Sec Richard Riley. "These grants
address the lack of resources, opportunities and role models that
may place young people in high poverty areas at additional risk."
The funds will be used to acquire the academic and job
skills and labor market information students need to succeed in
school and at work, writes the release. Funds are directed to
urban and rural areas with high poverty rates to develop and
implement School-to-Work initiatives.
"These dollars will build a bridge between the classroom and
the world of work so that all our youth will be better prepared
for the demands and challenges facing them in the 21st century,"
said Robert Reich, Sec of Labor.
The release notes that since the inception of the School-to-
Work Opportunities Act, every state has received a development
grant of between $200,000 and $750,000 to create a comprehensive,
statewide plan to encourage partnerships among students,
employers, educators, labor, elected officials and community
organizations. An additional 27 states have received
implementation grants through a competitive process after
presenting comprehensive school-to-work plans that were ready to
be put in place.
==== TAKING OVER ====
*8 SIGH OF RELIEF: CLEVELAND TEACHERS OKAY CONTRACT
A collective sigh of relief was heard throughout Cleveland
earlier this week when public school tachers overhwhelmingly
ratified a new three-year contract (Ortiz and Stephens, Cleveland
PLAIN DEALER, 9/25). "I think everyone has to be relieved it's
over," said Cleveland Teachers Union President Richard DeColibus.
The teachers agreed to a wage freeze and to pay $10 to $40
more per month for health-care premiums. DeColibus said teachers
accepted the wage freeze because it was better than what the
district originally had offered -- wage givebacks. The paper
also reports that teachers will receive a 3% increase in the
final year of the contract and step wage increases based on
seniority will continue.
Many teachers and district officials described this year's
contract negotiations as one of the most "hard-fought ... in
memory," reports the paper. Teachers were ready to go out on
strike and the district had lined up replacement teachers as the
first deadline, 4 September, approached. However, both sides
agreed hours before midnight on 3 September to a 10-day
extension.
Two school-related unions still have not reached settlements
with the district: the International Brotherhood of Firemen and
Oilers Local 701, which represents assistant custodians, laborers
and mechanics and Local 777, which represents custodians.
According to the paper, the major obstacle is the district's plan
to permit principals of "transformation schools a choice in the
custodian assigned to their school." The unions prefer decisions
to be based on seniority. Both unions promised to continue
working until a contract is agreed upon.
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