Monday, December 29, 2008

The Progress of Education Reform: Counseling

The Progress of Education Reform: Counseling (PDF) - This issue of Progress of Education Reform takes a closer look at research related to:

* The variation in access of college counseling across schools and the impact of schools, districts, postsecondary institutions and states on the availability and type of college counseling
* The types of information traditionally underserved students need to prepare for postsecondary education
* The varying types of guidance students receive based on their academic pathway or ethnic background.

http://www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/78/25/7825.pdf
(Jennifer Dounay, Education Commission of the States, June 2008)

Monday, December 22, 2008

Budget and Appropriations

Week of Dec. 22, 2008

The most exciting announcement last week for education advocates was the naming of Arne Duncan, superintendent of Chicago Public Schools, to the position of secretary of education. His nomination by President-Elect Obama was met with high praise and great enthusiasm. Duncan is viewed as a practical reformer who has energized and revamped the troubled Chicago school system. His close personal relationship with the president-elect is further evidence that education will be a priority in the new administration. The full spectrum of the education community endorsed the selection, a sign that Duncan is as skilled a politician as he is a school leader.

With Congress home for the holiday recess, the Capitol was quiet last week. In sharp contrast was Obama's Transition Team. There were countless meetings with stakeholders, many focusing on education plans and promises. In spite of the frightening budgetary climate, it appears the new president is intent on keeping his campaign pledges about more funding for early childhood services, K-12 education programs and reducing the cost of higher education for low-income students.

Those few Hill holdouts were hard at work readying a large economic stimulus package, now estimated at $850 billion, for debate in early January. Appropriations staffers also continued their efforts to finalize the omnibus spending bill for FY 2009. The goal for both of these proposals is to have them on the new president's desk for signing the day he takes office. Education advocates are optimistic that the stimulus will address school construction needs, special education, Pell Grants and perhaps other efforts to help school districts recover from dwindling state revenues.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

President-elect Obama announces Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education

President-elect Obama announces Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education (Update 2: video)
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 05:43pm EST / Posted by Dave Rochelson

For Arne Duncan, CEO of the Chicago school system, "school reform isn't just a theory in a book -- it's the cause of his life," President-elect Obama said in announcing him as his choice for Secretary of Education.

"In the next few years, the decisions we make about how to educate our children will shape our future for generations to come," President-elect Obama said. "And the results aren't just about test scores or statistics, but about whether our children are developing the skills they need to compete with any worker in the world for any job."

Read more and watch a video:

http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/president_elect_obama_announces_arne_duncan_as_secretary_of_education/

Monday, December 15, 2008

Legislative Update

Congress returned to Washington, D.C., last week to continue organizational planning for the 111th Congress and to try to further respond to the country's economic woes. Hearings were held throughout the week at which governors and other experts made the case for a second economic stimulus package. The enormity of the crisis is fueling expectations that this new infusion of cash from the government, set to be taken up by President-Elect Obama on his first day in office, could cost as much as $1 trillion.

The recovery package's scope of payments and investments range from infrastructure projects ($3.5 billion targeted to schools) to Pell Grant supplements. The plans in between include increased funding for Medicaid, hiring teachers through more funding for Title II of the No Child Left Behind Act, funding for IDEA, more money for food stamps, furthering green energy efforts, general fund payments to states, investments related to technology and health-care reform, expanding early childhood education programs and extended unemployment benefits. The congressional leadership and the Obama administration are trying hard to hold down expectations but, so far, without much success.

Obama transition team members are moving at a fever pace. Meetings are being held with stakeholders of every persuasion as transition team members prepare to advise the new president on how he can change policies to accomplish campaign promises and hit the ground running at all government agencies when he takes office on Jan. 20. It is an enormous and complex undertaking that is generating high expectations for new and improved investments in every conceivable domestic arena.

On the more realistic front, Appropriations Committee staffers in the House and Senate are working hard behind the scenes to reach agreement on FY 2009 spending bills for all federal agencies. The goal appears to be debating an omnibus conference agreement in early January that can then be presented to the new president well before the continuing resolution expires March 6, 2009. If this bill includes the additional $25 billion that was a point of disagreement between President Bush and the 110th Congress, it will mark a small but important victory for education advocates who objected strongly to the education cuts the administration's FY 2009 budget proposed. It is uplifting to imagine billions of dollars of important new investments in education having the support of the new president and his team. It is also hard to imagine that the Treasury Department can print money fast enough to keep up with the new expectations and promises.

 

Friday, December 12, 2008

Various Updates from PEN Weekly NewsBlast for December 12, 2008

Excerpted from PEN Weekly NewsBlast for December 12, 2008

 

Best education stories of 2008
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development SmartBrief Editors offer a list of reader choices for the most compelling education stories of 2008.


No more maneuvering around school districts to create Florida charters
A state appellate court has ruled that Florida Schools of Excellence Commission, an agency created by the state to charter new schools, is "facially unconstitutional," returning exclusive power to grant charters to local school districts, many of whom sued to retain that control.

 

When it comes to funding education, lawmakers "lie" about valuing Florida students
When Florida lawmakers say they care about the state's children, the president of the state's school superintendent association tells them, based on the fact that Florida pays the least per student in the country for education, "You lie."

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

FSCA Legislative Update

NEW STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBER NAMED

The Governor has appointed Peter Boulware of Tallahassee to a seat on the seven-member state Board of Education that was vacated when Donna Callaway resigned in June. Boulware, 33, is an FSU graduate and former linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens who currently owns and operates an automobile dealership. He lost a close state House election last month to Democratic opponent Michelle Rehwinkel of Vasilinda. He was selected from 13 applicants.

Full story in the Tallahassee Democrat at http://tallahassee.com/article/20081208/BREAKINGNEWS/81208014&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

* * * * *

NEW LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP LINE-UP NAMED

I've discussed this in bits and pieces previously, but as it stands now, here's your full Florida Legislature leadership for the 2009 session (including the just-in House positions).

Florida House of Representatives:

Speaker of the House: Ray Sansom (R-Destin)

Speaker Pro Tempore: Larry Cretul (R-Ocala)

Rules & Calendar Chair: Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton)

Majority Leader: Adam Hasner (R-Delray Beach)

Deputy Majority: Leader Ron Reagan (R-Sarasota)

Minority Leader: Franklin Sands (D-Weston)

Minority Leader: Pro Tempore Geraldine Thompson (D-Orlando)

Education Council Chair: Faye Culp (R-Tampa)

Education Council Vice-Chair: Marti Coley (R-Marianna)

Education Appropriations Chair: Anitere Flores (R-Miami)

Education Appropriations Vice-Chair: John Legg (R-Port Richey)

Florida Senate:

President: Jeff Atwater (R-Palm Beach Gardens)

President Pro Tempore: Mike Fasano (R-New Port Richey)

Rules Chair: Alex Villalobos (R-Miami)

Senate Majority Leader: Ken Pruitt (R- Port St. Lucie)

Minority Leader: Al Lawson (D-Tallahassee)

Minority Leader Pro Tempore: Charlie Justice (D-St. Petersburg)

Education Committee Chair: Nancy Detert (R-Venice)

Education Committee Vice-Chair: Frederica Wilson (D-Miami Gardens)

Education Appropriations Chair: Stephen Wise (R-Jacksonville)

Education Appropriations Vice-Chair: Gary Siplin (D-Orlando)

 

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Spellings Announces Priorities for Education Grants

Spellings Announces Priorities for Education Grants

In one of her last acts as U.S. Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings announced on November 21 that in discretionary grant competitions for FY 2009, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) will continue its focus on: secondary schools; professional development for secondary school teachers; school districts with schools in need of improvement, corrective action, or restructuring; student data systems; state data systems; mathematics; science; and critical-need languages (i.e. Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Turkish).

To view the notice, visit http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-27744.pdf.

 

Thursday, November 20, 2008

A Special Message from Governor Charlie Crist, November 20, 2008

 

November 20, 2008

 

Dear Friends,

 

This week I unveiled a comprehensive proposal to reform our state university system in a way that provides access for you and your families while giving Florida’s 11 institutions the resources and governance they need to prepare a strong workforce for our many businesses and industries.

 

Every Floridian should have access to a high-quality and affordable higher education. As Governor, and as a graduate of Florida State University, I am committed to supporting Florida’s public colleges as they prepare graduates for the increasingly competitive global marketplace.

 

For decades, we have looked to Florida’s universities to make our great state better by educating future doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers, scientists and entrepreneurs. Many of you are graduates of this system. Your success in life is proof of how important these universities are to our quality of life here in the Sunshine State. As Governor, I am committed to giving our universities the resources and support they need to excel.

 

That is why I am proposing a set of reforms that will strengthen Florida’s universities now and for decades to come. By establishing clear lines of governance at the individual institution and the state level -- and by balancing universities’ financial needs with affordability for families -- our universities and our students can flourish.

 

I remain as committed as ever to keeping our universities affordable. But I also understand that our institutions must be able to set tuition at levels that enable them to maintain the strength and competitiveness of their faculty and degree programs by recruiting the best professors. My proposal balances these two ideals.

 

Under this proposal, the boards of trustees at each of our 11 state universities would have the option to establish, with final approval from the Board of Governors, a tuition plan that is higher than the base rate charged to in-state undergraduates. This could not exceed 15 percent each year.

 

Base tuition would continue to be covered by the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. Also, the tuition changes would not affect families that have purchased contracts through the Florida Prepaid College Plan. To help families with financial needs, 30 percent of the differential tuition would go toward need-based aid. The remainder of revenues would be used to retain and recruit professors and researchers, programs that improve graduation and retention rates, and other areas identified by the individual schools. The result will be stronger Florida universities that prepare graduates for the increasingly global marketplace.

 

My proposal also would clarify governance of the universities, by giving individual boards of trustees the authority to oversee daily operations and university-level matters including the selection of presidents, budgets, and growth planning. The Board of Governors would have authority to approve trustees’ tuition requests, as well as their requests for curriculum changes, program expansions, and long-term strategic plans.

 

A well-educated workforce opens the door to endless opportunities for every Floridian, and for the Sunshine State. I look forward to working with the Legislature and the higher education community to make our universities stronger than ever.

 

God bless you and God bless Florida.

 

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

SECRETARY SPELLINGS RELEASES WHITE PAPER ON EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY

SECRETARY SPELLINGS RELEASES WHITE PAPER ON EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY

This is not the snooze-fest that it probably sounds like, and it's worth a look. She chose to announce the white paper via Eduwonk, a very well-known blog run by Andy Rotherham, a member of the Virginia state board of education who is also an advisor to president-elect Obama. The Secretary made extensive comments on the blog posting, which is a notable event in itself. Although the paper is definitely not a manifesto for Web 2.0 or authentic use of social networking tools, it does note significant changes in expectations (e.g., students and parents now expect access to educational services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week), supports next-step research into leveraging technology for educational benefit, and calls for changes in E-rate, among other things.

Full blog entry and link to white paper at http://www.eduwonk.com/2008/11/guestblogger-margaret-spellings.html

 

FORMER NCLB ADVOCATE EXPLAINS WHAT WENT WRONG AND WHAT TO DO NEXT

FORMER NCLB ADVOCATE EXPLAINS WHAT WENT WRONG AND WHAT TO DO NEXT

Diane Ravitch, the educational historian and former assistant U.S. Secretary of Education who was once of NCLB's most distinguished, scholarly, and fervent supporters, has written a short, simple, but potent call for the abolition of NCLB in Forbes magazine. I don't think I have ever seen any article so short capture so much about NCLB in all the years people have been writing about it.

This is a big event in the policy wonk world, even though it's not the first time she has signaled her belief that we need to make significant changes in NCLB. Ravitch is well-known for being an independent thinker: she manages somehow to be affiliated with both the conservative-libertarian Hoover Institution and the (slightly) left-of-center Brookings Institution, she has received important appointments from President H.W. Bush and from President Clinton, and she's pals with both Checker Finn and Deb Meier. Because of this, perhaps, Ravitch's support for NCLB was once used to great effect to make the law acceptable to skeptics. We will now see if her influence works in the other direction.

I know I forward a lot of articles, but this article really can be useful. It is extremely short and written in jargon-free format for non-educators, so it could easily be used as the basis for all sorts of communications, especially briefings and communications with elected officials, parents, and citizens. It would be an outstanding piece for most local education reporters to read, since it so neatly and simply summarizes what did and didn't happen as a result of NCLB. It concludes with a simple but compelling vision of how the new version of the law ought to be written.

Full text at http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/09/obama-education-president-oped-cx_dr_1109ravitch_print.html

 

FLORIDA HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERS ASSUME OFFICE

FLORIDA HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERS ASSUME OFFICE

This morning, the Florida House unanimously elected Ray Sansom (R-Destin) as the chamber’s new Speaker. An FSU Seminole, Sansom is an economic development representative for the Northwest Florida Region Alabama Electric Cooperative. His recent education votes were in support of school vouchers (SJR 2170), the "65% solution" (SJR 1150), and prohibitions against exposed underwear in Florida schools (SB 302).

Jeff Atwater (R-North Palm Beach) also took over as the Senate's new President. A Florida Gator, Atwater is market president of Riverside National Bank. His recent education votes were in support of protecting teachers who express criticisms of evolution (SB 2692), expanding tax credits to businesses for providing scholarships to private schools (HB 7145), and expanding eligibility for the Florida KidCare health insurance program for underprivileged children (HB 7189).

Florida's Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink has called for a special session of the new legislature to deal with the state's budget shortfall. Sansom does not support the special session, but Atwater has declined to rule it out.

A Miami Herald article discusses the challenges before these new leaders at http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/776597.html

 

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

In Florida, Virtual School Could Make Classrooms History

In Florida, Virtual School Could Make Classrooms History (OrlandoSentinel.com)

A new law that takes effect next fall requires every district in the state to set up an online school for kindergarten through eighth-grade students. More...

 

 

Full Story from Orlando Sentinel:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-virtual1008nov10,0,978666.story

 

Friday, November 07, 2008

Obama's Possible Candidates for Education Secretary

By PAUL BASKEN

If history is any guide, Barack Obama will spend several weeks chugging through higher priorities on his presidential to-do list before choosing an education secretary.

 

And if he follows past trends, Mr. Obama is not likely to choose a secretary on the basis of higher-education policy. His nominee will be the ninth U.S. secretary of education, and nearly all of the previous eight were known more for their backgrounds at the elementary and secondary levels.

Read more:

http://chronicle.com/free/2008/11/6631n.htm

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

NEW RULES FOR GRADUATION RATES, ANNUAL REPORT CARDS, NAEP, AND TITLE I

Regulations recently issued by the Secretary have changed many NCLB-related processes and requirements, including but not limited to the following:

  • States and districts must adopt a new national standard for calculating and reporting disaggregated high school graduation rates as soon as possible, but by 2010-2011;
  • States and districts must include on their annual report cards the most recent NAEP reading and mathematics results for the state and to also include the participation rates for students with disabilities and for limited English proficient students;
  • States and districts must toughen restructuring penalties for schools at the end of the Title I SIP process.

The actual regulations are technically quite detailed, and will be published in the Federal Register tomorrow (October 29). A prepublication version is available at http://federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2008-25270_PI.pdf (This link may expire after official publication.)

TIP: These regulations were posted for public comment back in April. Even though these regulations affect about 16,000 school districts, the U.S. Department of Education reported that it only received 400 comments. A similar request for public comment from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this year generated over 300,000 comments.

ANOTHER TIP: The announcement was made via a Webcast from South Carolina, which will be archived for later viewing. See http://www.scetv.org/index.php/video/live_event/secretary_spellings_webcast

 

Monday, October 27, 2008

CAP Hosts Event on Disconnected Youth and Working Adults

CAP Hosts Event on Disconnected Youth and Working Adults: On Friday, Oct. 17, the Center for American Progress hosted an event, "Disconnected Youth and Working Adults: Meet the 21st Century's Newest College Grads." The event centered on the release of two papers: Federal Access Policies and Higher Education for Working Adults by Derek Price and Angela Bell. According to Price, the core issue in the United States' failings to provide adequate post-secondary education options for working adults is that there is no communication across the education and labor systems. The second paper was Creating Postsecondary Pathways to Good Jobs for Young High School Dropouts: The Possibilities and the Challenges, presented by Linda Harris and Evelyn Ganzglass. They see the solutions to the problems for high school dropouts to also lie in the intersection of systems - the secondary, post-secondary, workforce, and adult education systems. When asked what their wish list was for a new administration, panelists responded that they would like to see: the reauthorization of the Youth Opportunity Grants and directing the grants to communities in need; the use of a high-priority topic, such as energy independence, to discuss disconnected youth and working adults as a national imperative; and implementation of an Office of Youth Policy at the executive level to help address some of the needed paradigm shifts.

 

Read more:

http://www.americanprogress.org/

 

U.S. News & World Report Hosts Summit on High School Reform

On Monday, Oct. 20, U.S. News and World Report joined with Intel Corp. to host an education summit focusing on America's high schools at the National Press Club. Joel I. Klein, chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, delivered what was called a "Keynote Conversation" to a diverse audience of education and business representatives. Klein said the most important improvement he made in New York City high schools was to make sure the standards and assessments in place properly measure a sufficiently rigorous curriculum and student performance. Klein believes a diploma must be an accurate tool for post-secondary institutions and employers to evaluate what a student has learned in high school. In discussing the influence of the No Child Left Behind Act on the system as a whole, Klein said the impact has been enormous. He said people who oppose the accountability provisions as requiring too much testing are wrong; testing will inform strategies for improving outcomes for students. Klein also spoke in strong support of national standards.

Moderating the first panel on the topic "Secondary Education: A Road Map for the Future," was Andy Rotherham, co-founder and co-director of Education Sector. Rotherham posed the first question to Mike Cohen, president of Achieve Inc., asking what is working and what isn't in the high school reform realm. Cohen said there is growing clarity about the mission of high schools and a growing consensus that everyone needs a meaningful high school diploma. The concern he raised is the lag time between this growing consensus and developing the capacity to change the current system. Turning to Rick Hess, director of education policy at the American Enterprise Institute, Rotherham asked what challenges have been ignored to date. Hess spoke about the institutional structure and nature of public school systems that is hard to change or to overhaul. He referred to a human capital challenge that requires the re-tooling of the teaching workforce to meet labor force needs in the future. The current system simply will not attract the needed talent. Rotherham also asked the panelists what they think the next administration needs to do to address the crisis in America's high schools. Among the many suggestions offered were the removal of barriers between K-12 and post-secondary education; making high school curriculum more relevant to the workplace; providing incentives for states to develop high-quality, common assessments; establishing a blue-ribbon panel to identify good providers to work with high schools on strategic and innovative reforms; prohibiting the use of federal funds to pay teacher salaries, instead investing in more effective reforms; and the scaling back of the micromanagement inherent in the No Child Left Behind Act.

The event's second panel was "Business in the Classroom: Can Private/Public Partnerships Build Better Students?" Brian Kelly, U.S. News & World Report editor, served as moderator and asked whether the increased role of business in education has undermined local school board control. Ann Bryant, executive director of the National School Boards Association, said no, citing the benefits of increased high school student attendance and lowered dropout rates in schools with a strong business presence. According to Bryant, schools partnering with local businesses results in more relevant curriculum and experiences for students.

The final keynote speaker of the day was former Gov. Bob Wise (D-W.Va.), president of the Alliance for Excellent Education, who said America cannot afford to perpetuate the model of heavy investment in the early grades and in post-secondary education, neglecting middle and high school.

Read more:
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/promotions/intel/

Budget and Appropriations

With just over a week left until the election, most members of Congress remain on the campaign trail, and Capitol Hill is a pretty quiet place. But not everyone has left. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is working hard, along with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and many committee chairs and ranking members, to build a case for quick action on a large economic recovery package. They got a boost for that plan this week when Ben Bernanke, Federal Reserve Board chairman, indicated he thought a targeted stimulus package would be necessary to kick the United States out of what is now called a recession.

Throughout the week, hearings were held on the Hill on topics of deep concern to the public: the impact of the Wall Street meltdown on 401(k) holdings, infrastructure needs across the nation and how the government might create jobs and assist unemployed workers. More hearings are scheduled for the week leading up to the election. President Bush, who had rejected an earlier economic recovery plan that passed in the House before the current recess, has also softened his opposition. Up to this point, Democratic leaders in the House and Senate have sought ideas from members of Congress and the public about what to include in the package but have also indicated they won't try to move a bill that would be rejected by the Senate or vetoed by the president. A final decision will be made after Nov. 4.

Whether or not a large economic recovery bill moves quickly through the Congress during the November lame-duck session or is held off for the new Congress in January is a subject for speculation. What is certain is that Congress will have to act in the new year on a final budget for FY 2009. The current continuing resolution, set to expire on March 6, is preventing the wheels of government from grinding to a halt. Appropriations staffers acknowledge they are hard at work trying to resolve funding levels for programs that are treated differently in the House and Senate proposed plans for FY 2009 spending. They too will have to wait until after Nov. 4 to find out just how generous the new administration and the newly elected Congress will be and how much money they can allocate to agencies such as the Department of Education. Nov. 4 can't come soon enough.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

President Bush Signs Health Care Safety Net Act of 2008 into Law

On October 8th, President Bush signed the Health Care Safety Net Act of
2008, reauthorizing appropriations for 2008-2012 for community health centers and the National Health Service Corps program. The law supports various groups working to meet the health care needs of medically underserved populations and makes provisions for a national study of school-based health centers. The law requires the Comptroller General to conduct a study in the next two years about the health impact to students from school-based health centers. The study must include an analysis of the impact of federal funding on centers, cost savings to other federal programs that may be realized if services are delivered in school-based centers, the impact of centers in rural and underserved areas and an analysis of other sources of federal funding. The also law makes provisions for developing new centers to serve medically needy populations, accelerating quality improvements in community health centers, expanding the delivery of rural health care services, and addressing dental workforce shortages.

To view a summary of the law, please visit
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-1343&tab=summary

To view the entire text of the law, please visit
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-1343

Monday, October 20, 2008

Century Foundation Holds Briefing on Suggestions for NCLB

On Oct. 15, the Century Foundation hosted a briefing titled, "Getting Education Reform Back on Track," to discuss its new book, "Improving On No Child Left Behind." This book is designed to bring the major flaws of the No Child Left Behind Act to the political forefront to encourage the act's reform and reauthorization. In "Improving On No Child Left Behind," several authorities on education policy and reform criticize three different aspects of NCLB: the "under-funding" of NCLB; the provisions for standards, testing and accountability; and the problems students and parents face regarding school choice.

Providing an overview of the book's chapter on under-funding NCLB, John Yinger, one of the chapter's authors, explained that to achieve the goals established by NCLB, federal funding for NCLB programs must increase exponentially, although states' needs vary in efforts to reach the law's proficiency goals. For example, according to their research, the authors believe that while Kansas will need an increase in annual funding for Title I aid of about 18 percent to achieve 100 percent proficiency by 2014, Missouri will require an increase of approximately 1,077 percent.

The book's chapter on standards, testing and accountability criticizes states' development of rigorous content standards and high-quality student assessments. Lauren Resnick, of the University of Pittsburgh, discussed the chapter on standards, opining that clear, rigorous content standards and assessments linked to these standards should be developed on a national level.

In summarizing the final chapter of the book, Amy Stuart Wells, of Columbia University, criticized NCLB for not providing low-income students attending failing schools with the opportunity to attend a higher-performing school. The authors of this chapter strongly encourage inter-district school choice programs, urging the reauthorization of NCLB to provide higher-performing schools with funding to encourage the acceptance of low-income transfer students from low-performing schools.

More information:
http://www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=EV&pubid=237

Monday, September 22, 2008

Read an article related to SB 1908 and the decreasing emphasis on the FCAT for school grading beginning in 2009-2010.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/article490131.ece

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Legislative Update

Source: American School Counselor Association

Congress recently returned to the Capitol following a six-week recess. These periodic breaks are designed to let tempers cool and let the electorate inform the elected of their priorities and their assessment of work done to date. By all accounts the public is dissatisfied; the approval rating for Congress has never been lower. Given the long list of unfinished business before Congress and the limited number of working days that remain, let's hope they got the message.

The first order of business was the very item that sent members home in a bad mood in early August - U.S. dependency on foreign oil. The leadership in the House and Senate, both Democratic and Republican, has been working hard to come up with a compromise energy package that would ensure the public something is being done to address high prices at the gas pump. The issue of drilling for oil, where it can be done and what it costs corporations, is not just a matter for an energy bill. Congress will be at risk of shutting down the government on Oct. 1, the start of the new fiscal year, if members can't come to agreement on this issue. How are these two items connected? The Energy and Water Development appropriations bill contains language each year that prohibits offshore drilling. Republicans in the House of Representatives and the president have threatened to oppose or veto the continuing resolution that must pass by the end of September to ensure continued government operations if the language is included this year.

A continuing resolution will be necessary because Congress has run out of time to pass individual spending bills. Missing that Oct. 1 deadline means all federal agencies would lose their spending authority for the new fiscal year. Given the fact that many Democrats have moderated their positions on offshore drilling, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) fear they lack the votes to keep the prohibition in place and, as a result, are in a mood to compromise. Everyone on Capitol Hill is anxious to return home to campaign for presidential candidates and, in many instances, for themselves. The Sept. 26 target adjournment date will certainly mark the end of the 110th if the issue of oil drilling can be resolved.

Another unresolved matter is whether or not members will return to Washington after the election. Again, the details of the continuing resolution will come into play. If the leadership can garner enough votes to keep the government operating through January, that would be the preferred plan. Alternatively, if there are only enough votes for a bill that expires in November, a lame-duck session will be required. A November expiration date would mean a return to Washington in mid-November or early December, with hopes of moving forward on adopting a new budget.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Disaster Recovery Centers Opened

From Senator Bill Nelson:

September 4, 2008


Dear Floridian:

Sadly, a number of Floridians lost loved ones during Tropical Storm Fay, and many others sustained injuries or property damage. I wanted to take a minute to let you know where you and your neighbors can turn for help.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced individuals and families in Brevard, Duval, Hendry, Lee, Leon, Okeechobee, Seminole, St. Lucie, Volusia, and Wakulla counties who sustained uninsured or underinsured losses as a result of Tropical Storm Fay are eligible for individual assistance.

FEMA's assistance program can help eligible applicants with serious unmet needs including temporary housing assistance, uninsured personal property, and medical, dental, and funeral expenses caused by the storm. Low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration also are available to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes in the designated counties.

To apply for individual assistance, call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). FEMA operators are available 7 a.m. to midnight local time, seven days a week, until further notice. If you experience problems reaching FEMA, please try calling them early in the morning or late in the evening. Or, you can use this link to apply for assistance online: http://www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm

Disaster Recovery Centers Opened
FEMA has opened Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) to expedite service once you have registered for assistance. Officials suggest you bring your identification, social security numbers, insurance information, proof of address, contact phone numbers as well as your special FEMA application number to one of the below centers which are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until further notice.

Brevard County
Agricultural Center
3695 Lake Drive
Cocoa, FL 32901

Near Lamplighter Village
505 N. Jones Rodes Blvd
Melbourne, FL 32904

Grant Street Community Center
2547 Grant Street
Melbourne, FL 32901

Hendry County
(will close permanently at 6 p.m. Saturday, September 6)
Harlem Civic Center
2000 7th Street
Clewiston, FL 33440

Labelle Rodeo Grounds
100 Rodeo Street
Labelle, FL 33935

Okeechobee County
(will close permanently at 10 a.m. Thursday, September 4)
Across from County Courthouse
304 N.W. 2nd Street
Okeechobee, FL 34972

St. Lucie County
St. Lucie Logistics Center
3855 South U.S. Hwy 1
Fort Pierce, FL 34945

Seminole County
Reflections at Hidden Lake
520 W. Lake Mary Blvd.
Suite 101
Sanford, LF 32773

Volusia County
Wal-Mart parking lot
2400 Veterans Memorial Parkway
Orange City, FL 32763

Sincerely,

A
Bill Nelson
U.S. Senator

Friday, September 05, 2008

Amendments 5, 7, and 9

Legislative Update

 

A Note in case you missed the news: The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that Amendments 5, 7, and 9 will not be on the November 4th ballot.  This is very good news for Public Schools including students with exceptionalities!

Thank you to everyone who sent emails, wrote letters, made phone calls, etc. and thank you to FSCA communication team who quickly got this information about the Nov. ballot onto the FSCA website and out to our members.  This is truly a grassroots effort to help students in Florida!  

 

Best Regards,

LeAnn Pollard

FSCA Advocacy Committee

 

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Rep. Sanchez to Announce Education Legislation

Congresswoman Linda Sánchez will hold a news conference Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008 at 1 p.m. at Whittier High School in Whittier, Calif., to announce education legislation she has introduced in Congress that will increase the number of school counselors, social workers and psychologists in qualified schools in low-income communities.

Friday, August 29, 2008

November 4th ballot

Dear Florida School Counseling Association Members,

 

As we approach a new election period, the Florida School Counseling Association (FSCA) wants to bring to light some of the new amendments that impact the counseling profession in various ways. Three of the nine amendments being proposed have an educational component. These amendments have been placed on the November 4th ballot. Please take the time to read over this brief summary of those amendments.

Amendment #5:

 

Summary:

Replacing state required school property taxes with state revenues generating an equivalent hold harmless amount for schools through one or more of the following options: repealing sales tax exemptions not specifically excluded; increasing sales tax rate up to one percentage point; spending reductions; other revenue options created by the legislature. Limiting subject matter of laws granting future exemptions. Limiting annual increases in assessment of non-homestead real property. Lowering property tax millage rate for schools.

 

Translation:

ü  Eliminates funding for education through property tax and replaces it with a new option.

Options:

§  Repealing sales tax exemptions.

§  Increase sales tax by a penny

§  Impose spending reductions.

§  New revenue created by legislature

ü  Taking $11 billion dollars from education.

 

Comments:

ü  Proposed by the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, a non-elected body of appointed members.

ü  Currently, approximately 50% of funding for Florida Education comes from Property taxes.

ü  Many of the statewide education and business associations are actively opposing it.

ü  Currently, Florida is last in the nation for dollar per pupil.

ü  Amendment identifies $4 billion from penny sales tax increase. Where comes the other $7 billion.

 

FSCA’s Stand:

ü  Say NO to amendment 5.

ü  Florida needs to generate more sources of funding for the educational system, not eliminate current funding.

 



Amendment #7:

 

Summary:

Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to provide that an individual or entity may not be barred from participating in any public program because of religion and to delete the prohibition against using revenues from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution.

 

Translation:

ü  Provides state funding for religious organizations that are permitted to discriminate along religious backgrounds.

ü  Reinstates the voucher system.

ü  Puts the government in a position of funding religious organizations that restrict who they hire.

 

Comments:

ü  This amendment was also drafted by the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission.

ü  Removes ban on funding for religious groups proposed by former Gov. Jeb Bush’s school voucher program.

 

FSCA’s Stand:

ü  Vote NO on amendment 7.

ü  Provide funding to develop current educational employees and provide incentives for highly qualified teachers.

 

Amendment #9:

 

Summary:

Requires at least 65 percent of school funding received by school districts be spent on classroom instruction, rather than administration; allows for differences in administrative expenditures by district. Provides the constitutional requirement for the state to provide a "uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free public schools" is a minimum, nonexclusive duty. Reverses legal precedent prohibiting public funding of private school alternatives to public school programs without creating an entitlement.

 

Translation:

ü  Requires that 65 percent of school funding be spent on classroom instruction, rather than administration.

ü  Allows public funding for private schools through vouchers.

 

Comments:

ü  Result would likely be that the renewal and expansion of voucher programs.

ü  Undermines the Supreme Court's decision striking down the school voucher program.

ü  Providing 65 % of school funding takes the attention away from a more critical issue, appropriate and stable funding for our educational system.

o   Again, Florida is the worst state for dollar per pupil spending in the nation.

ü  Currently, according to the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES), Florida spends more than 65% of funds on “classroom instruction”.

 

FSCA’s Stand:

ü  Vote NO on amendment 9.

ü  This amendment seems to be misleading. By providing 65% funding for classroom instruction they are slipping by support for the voucher system.

 

All the information in this email was found at the following websites:

 

http://www.votesmartflorida.org/mx/hm.asp?id=home

http://www.protectfloridasfuture.com/index.php

http://www.fsba.org/briefsupdates.asp#2008electionsconstitutionalamendments

 

You are encouraged to research the topic at your leisure.

 

 

Advocacy & Public Policy Committee

Florida School Counselor Association

 

Friday, August 22, 2008

Senate Bill 1716

As the new school year begins, students will be seeking advice on college preparation. Community colleges have long been the postsecondary option of choice for many students due to their accessibility and variety of course offerings. With the passage of Senate Bill 1716 during the 2008 legislative session, came changes in the Florida Community College System. Some colleges have dropped “community” from their name, while others have added “state”. These changes have left many parents and students wondering “What do these name changes mean?”, “Will I be able to get in?” In order to provide helpful information to students and parents, it is important that counselors have all the facts.

Under the new legislation, the 28 institutions which once made up the Florida Community College System are now collectively referred to as the Florida College System. With permission from the State Board of Education, institutions within the system are permitted to drop “community” from their name but not all institutions have elected to do so. The 2008 legislation also authorized a select group of pilot colleges to add “state” to their name. In recent years, ten colleges have been authorized to offer baccalaureate degrees in high need, high demand workforce majors in order to meet Florida’s employment needs. In order to reflect the increasing number of baccalaureate degree programs and expanding missions of the colleges in the system, the legislation granted the community colleges the option of changing their name. Although many colleges have expanded their program offerings to include baccalaureate degrees, each institution within the system will continue to offer career education and associate degrees while maintaining an open door mission. Students will continue to be able to access the colleges within the Florida College System by earning a standard high school diploma, GED, or CPT-Eligible Certificate of Completion. Upon admission, students are required to take the CPT, ACT, or SAT to determine placement in developmental and college-ready courses and there is no GPA or SAT/ACT score required for admission. Students who earn a special diploma may enroll in the career and technical education programs. The Florida College System is dedicated to serving students and meeting the needs of local communities.

Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Community College representatives at the Department of Education at 850-245-0407.

 

 

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Proposed Rulemaking to amend the No Child Left Behind Act

National Governor’s Association

The nation’s governors have submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Education in response to the April 23rd Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend the No Child Left Behind Act.  The National Governors Association (NGA) comments focus on the proposed regulations as related to a common high school graduation rate and the use of that rate for accountability purposes.

 

While NGA appreciates the acknowledgment of gubernatorial leadership in establishing a voluntary state high school graduation rate, concerns remain about the implementation.

 

Governors focus on three specific areas in their comments:

 

1)      Interim Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate – NGA is concerned that proposed regulations would “require states to calculate an interim high school graduation rate.”  The Department “should not require an interim rate.”

 

2)      Alternate Definition of Standard Number of Years – “Governors believe additional discussion and clarity is necessary to ensure a clear, transparent process and timeline for states to use an alternative definition.” This is critical for state comparability and for the flexibility to promote “innovative education solutions to enhance student outcomes in high school.”

 

3)      Use of Common Graduation Rate for Accountability Purposes – The commonly referred to “NGA Graduation Rate” was created to “ensure transparency, accountability, comparability and, ultimately, to improve our nation’s high schools.” The NGA Compact was not created for “federal accountability purposes.” Governors believe that federalizing the NGA Compact and “attaching high-stake accountability measures” raises several challenges and requires further discussion and clarification.

 

To view NGA’s full comments, go to

 

http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.cb6e7818b34088d18a278110501010a0/?vgnextoid=796cb5cd2977a110VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD

 

Friday, August 15, 2008

Amendment 5

From the FASA …

We Won!!!


Yesterday in Tallahassee, Circuit Court Judge, John C. Cooper, ruled in FASA's favor by striking Amendment 5 from the November, 2008 ballot. He ordered it removed on the grounds that the ballot title and summary accompanying the proposed amendment are incomplete and misleading.       

We anticipate that the Secretary of State and the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission (TBRC) will appeal immediately, and that the District Court will certify it directly to the Supreme Court based on what occurred with a similar order entered last week dealing with two other TBRC proposed amendments.

This is due to the short time between now and the time that the General Election ballots will actually have to be printed. It is pretty clear from Judge Cooper's ruling that Amendment 5 was deliberately deceptive and the ballot summary failed to meet the standards of accuracy required by the Courts.
 
However, this costly struggle is far from over. The TBRC will immediately appeal yesterday's ruling and we still have amendments 7 and 9 in appeal process.

Thanks to all of you who have already contributed to FASA's "Protect Our Public Schools" PAC. If you haven't done so already you can get more information by clicking: http://fasa.net/Political-Action.cfm

Jim Warford, Executive Director
Florida Association of School Administrators

 

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Legislation Calls for Increased Number of Student Support Professionals

Reps. Ed Towns (D-N.Y.) and Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) and Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) introduced education legislation in Congress July 30 to increase the number of school counselors, school social workers and school psychologists in qualified schools in low-income communities.
H.R. 6654/S.3364, the Increased Student Achievement Through Increased Student Support Act, will authorize grant funding to form partnerships between higher-education institutions that train these student support professionals and local educational agencies (LEAs) that serve low-income student populations in both urban and rural communities. The legislation also creates a student loan forgiveness program for individuals who have served five or more consecutive school years as school counselors, school social workers or school psychologists in similarly qualified low-income schools.
"We recognize that in many of our nation's public schools, teachers are struggling to meet not only the academic needs of their students but their social, emotional and behavioral needs as well. This is a tall order for any one individual and points to the need for increasing counselors, social workers and psychologists in the schools that need them most," Towns said of the new legislation.
"Students in low-income neighborhoods should have the same opportunities as others for a productive and supportive learning environment," Sánchez said. "By providing additional school support professionals, we can help address children's out-of-the-classroom needs so that when they're in the classroom, they can be safe, engaged and achieving to their full potential."
A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Lincoln and Clinton. "School counselors, psychologists and social workers play an essential role in helping students achieve a bright future," Lincoln said. "Many schools, particularly those in rural and low-income areas, have limited access to these crucial support service personnel to the detriment of our children. Our students, whether they are first-generation college-bound students, children coping with the absence of a military parent deployed overseas or students with special needs, all face unique challenges that can hinder their ability to succeed in school. It is our duty to ensure that all schools have the resources they need to address the ever-changing needs of our students so that they can reach their full potential."
"All students should have the opportunity to achieve their goals and realize their full potential," Clinton said. "Expanding support and counseling services to schools in low-income communities will further help level the playing field. This bill will not only bring important resources to students who need it but will also encourage counseling professionals to pursue a career providing these critical services where they're most needed."
The legislation has been endorsed by more than 20 education and mental health organizations, including the American School Counselor Association, the American Counseling Association, the School Social Work Association of America and the National Association of School Psychologists. A joint statement released by these four organizations stated, "Increasing the achievement of students from low-income homes is critical to our nation, but schools must have the proper support systems in place to ensure that teachers are not alone in this effort. This legislation provides an opportunity for schools to access the appropriately trained school-employed mental health professionals necessary to ensure that students who need the most help receive it in a timely, focused manner."

Put School Counselors Where They're Needed

On July 28, Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) introduced the Put School Counselors Where They're Needed Act, which aims to put more school counselors in struggling secondary schools. The bill would create a competitive grant program under No Child Left Behind to help reduce the drop-out rates at low performing secondary schools.

"One of many challenges secondary school counselors face today is ensuring that every student receives the individualized support he or she needs," Casey said. "Low-performing secondary schools need our help to make sure they have enough counselors on staff so all students are given the opportunity to succeed."

Currently, the average school-counselor-to-student ratio in America's public schools is one-to-476, which hardly allows for individual attention and intensive support. ASCA recommends one school counselor for every 250 students for all schools and an even lower ratio for school counselors working primarily with at-risk students.

The Put School Counselors Where They're Needed Act would:
* Require the Secretary of Education to create a demonstration project under which the secretary makes grants available on a competitive basis to secondary schools that have a drop-out rate of 40 percent or higher.
* Provide funds for additional school counselors to identify students who are at risk of not graduating in four years. These additional school counselors would also work intensively with students and would collaborate with parents, teachers and others to create a comprehensive plan to help at-risk students.
* Include a sense of Congress that a secondary school that receives a grant should aim to provide one additional school counselor per 250 students at risk.
* Allow any additional resources to be used to supplement, rather than supplant funds from available non-federal sources.
* Provide for demonstration projects to be implemented in no fewer than 10 schools. The first five schools selected to participate should each be located in a different state.
* Authorize $6 million a year for four years and mandate that only schools able to increase their graduation rates by an average of 2.5 percent per year are able to renew their grants.

This bill is a Senate companion to H.R.3439, the Put School Counselors Where They're Needed Act, introduced by Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif).

This bill is supported by the National PTA, the American School Counselor Association, the American Counseling Association and the National Association of College Admissions Counselors.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Information Sought for CDC Review of School Policies on E-Bullying

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is conducting a review of state, district, and school policies related to the use of such technology as cell phone text messaging and picture taking, blogs, and instant messaging to perpetrate aggression against peers (making threats, spreading rumors, sending embarrassing photos, etc.)

CDC has requested that districts or schools that have such a policy provide it or the appropriate contact information to Marci Hertz at mhertz@cdc.gov or 770-488-2547 by August 1, 2008.

 

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Women's Initiative Enlists First-Ever Case Manager for Homeless Students in Volusia County


At the start of the 2008-09 school year, homeless students and their families in Volusia County will have a new resource for finding and accessing available support and aid. The new Homeless Children Case Manager will work in conjunction with the Volusia County school system, and under the direction of the Volusia/Flagler County Coalition for the Homeless, to offer support to the more than 1,800 homeless students identified in Volusia County. For more information, contact (386) 253-0563, or visit www.ThePowerOfThePurse.org.

 

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Moratoria on CMS Regulations Cutting Medicaid Payments to Schools Included In Legislation Signed by President

On June 30, President Bush signed the supplemental war funding bill passed by both houses of Congress that included a suspension of the CMS regulations
that would have reduced or eliminated Medicaid reimbursement to schools for administrative and transportation services and payments for case management. The suspension will last until April 1, 2009.

A background brief on the issues under dispute has been issued by the Congressional Research Service. See: http://opencrs.com/document/RS22397

 

Ethics in Education Act takes effect on Tuesday

School districts around the state await instructions to implement Florida's Ethics in Education Act, which officially goes into effect Tuesday. Some fear it may force them to fire good employees, impose a burdensome bureaucracy and lead to lawsuits.

One of the law's authors says it sets important standards and cautions against hasty conclusions before the state's Department of Education issues its guidance on putting the act into practice.

Read more:

http://floridacapitalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080629/CAPITOLNEWS/806290325&theme=

Friday, June 20, 2008

Governor Crist Signs 2008-09 Budget
The Fiscal Year 2008-09 budget was signed by Governor Charlie Crist. The budget contains education funding to continue long-term academic gains that Florida students have experienced over the last decade. These learning gains are further evidenced by Florida’s performance on national and state measures.
Florida’s achievements are demonstrated in recent educational assessments that have ranked the state near the top of the nation in student performance. The 2008 Quality Counts report placed Florida 14th in the nation, a 17 place jump compared to last year’s ranking of 31st. In addition, Florida’s latest results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Advanced Placement (AP) and Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) all demonstrate increased student performance. For the full story, visit www.fldoe.org/news/2008/2008_06_11.asp.
 

Monday, June 16, 2008

CEC Holds Briefing on RTI

CEC Holds Briefing on RTI: On Monday, the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) held a briefing titled, "Understanding Response to Intervention (RTI)." Douglas Fuchs, Ph.D., professor of special education at Vanderbilt University, presented his views on RTI and explained why he believes RTI should be used to identify struggling students and diagnose learning disabilities. According to CEC, RTI is designed to identify struggling learners early in their education, to provide access to needed interventions and to help identify children with disabilities. Fuchs argued that there are two purposes of RTI: to provide an alternate method of learning disability identification and to re-orient general education toward early intervention and prevention. CEC believes RTI merges special education into the overall policies of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) by having clear standards, useful measurement and sound instructional practices. Dr. Susan Fowler, CEC president, said RTI "lays the groundwork for bringing a new focus on enhancing the performance of all students, including those with disabilities, through a common system in which classroom teachers and special education teachers can work together."

More info at http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home

Budget and Appropriations

Consideration of funding bills for fiscal year 2009 went into full swing on Capitol Hill last week. Although the full Appropriations Committees in the House and Senate are not scheduled to meet to divide up the kitty, almost $1 trillion for domestic discretionary programs, several subcommittees got to work in the House and completed four mark-ups, based on preliminary conversations with the committee leadership.

The House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved on a party line vote a bill that will provide $27.9 billion for the Interior Department and EPA programs, which is approximately 5 percent over last year. Funding for the National Endowment for the Arts grows by $15 million to $160 million, with identical funding provided for the National Endowment for the Humanities. When the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science met it provided a $1.7 billion increase in funding for programs supporting science, technology and innovation. For the National Science Foundation that translates to $6.9 billion, up from $6.06 in FY 2008. $17.8 billion was allotted for NASA and $785 million for NIST.

On June 19, the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services (LHHS) and Education will meet to mark up a funding bill for those agencies. Although exact numbers aren't public, it is anticipated that subcommittee members will ignore the program eliminations called for by the president as well as with many significant proposed cuts in spending. How many programs will actually be increased is not known, but staff members are doing their best to lower expectations in what is considered to be an austere budget climate.

The Senate LHHS and Education Subcommittee will meet on June 24 to consider its spending plan. The full Appropriations Committees in the House and Senate will probably also act that week to adopt LHHS and Education spending plans. Taking the bills to the floor for a vote, however, remains a long shot. The leadership is not interested in an extended debate with the president, who has already made it known that he will veto anything that allocates more funding than he requested. The LHHS bill in both Houses is certain to exceed his request by as much as $10 billion, making a presidential veto a sure thing.

While appropriators got to work on their FY 2009 plans, the House and Senate remained tied up in knots over what to do about the emergency supplemental spending bill. Funding for the military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are top priorities, so that portion of the measure will surely be agreed to before the July 4 recess. What is in question is whether and how much domestic emergency funding will be included in the bill. The Senate is insisting on new GI Education benefits and funds to extend unemployment insurance payments along with funds to pay for a moratorium on controversial new Medicaid rules. In the House, there was an effort to move a stand-alone unemployment benefits bill that finally passed but with barely enough votes to override an anticipated veto. What happens when the stand-alone bill reaches the Senate is anyone's guess. What we can be sure about is that the final budget decisions regarding education spending for FY 2009 will be postponed through a continuing resolution and handed off to the new president just as soon as he takes office.

Friday, June 13, 2008

CONTINUATION OF CONTROVERSIAL D.C. VOUCHER PROGRAM IN DOUBT


The possible demise of a groundbreaking federal voucher program in Washington, D.C. is one more sign of the new directions K-12 education reform might soon take as a result of the 2008 election, write Valerie Strauss and Bill Turque of The Washington Post. The aid program awards scholarships of up to $7,500 a year to 2,000 low-income D.C. children for tuition and other fees at participating private schools. Creation of the program in 2004 put the District at the forefront of the school-choice movement. At that time, the Republican-led federal government was taking steps to use the nation's capital -- with its ailing public school system -- as a showcase for educational reforms, which also included the country's most sweeping charter school law. Parents of scholarship recipients offer high praise for the program, crediting it with changing the direction of their children's lives. The program has also drawn criticism. A 2007 Government Accountability Office study found that some participating private schools lacked proper permits to operate. It has also been faulted for allowing ineligible families to receive federal funds and for failing to ensure that families selected accredited schools. Opponents said they thought the program blurred the separation of church and state because more than half of the students have enrolled in religious schools, most of them Catholic.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/08/AR2008060802041.html

 

A PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PRIMER


Authentic public engagement is a highly inclusive problem-solving approach through which regular citizens deliberate and collaborate on complex public problems. Rather than relegating people to the sidelines, it invites them to join the public dialogue surrounding a problem and provides them the tools to do so productively. As a result, leaders know where the public stands as problem solving progresses, while citizens themselves contribute to solutions through their input, ideas and actions. The Center for the Advancement of Public Engagement has released a primer on ways to cultivate greater community engagement with public life and a more citizen-centered approach to politics. The primer is organized around four themes to help citizens engage other citizens in their work toward a common goal: Creating Civic Capacity for Public Problem-Solving; Ten Core Principles of Public Engagement; Examples of Key Practices and Strategies; and the Power of "Citizen Choicework." "In our society, public decision-making is typically the domain of powerful interest groups or highly specialized experts," the primer states. "To the extent that citizens are considered at all, it is usually as consumers or clients of government, while as a whole, the public is most often viewed as an audience to educate or a problem to manage. In this dominant framework, the citizenry is rarely viewed as a vital resource or potentially powerful partner in problem-solving."
http://publicagenda.org/pubengage/pdfs/public_engagement_primer.pdf