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Legislative Announcements
Proposed National Graduation Rate Formula
http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2008/04/04292008.html
U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced in April that the Department of Education will propose new rules requiring states to use a uniform formula when calculating graduation rates, and that the department will publish data on the graduation rates of students of various racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic categories.
Calls to Participate
Free Online Course Available on Improving Education Data
http://www.academypa.org/sifa/splashDQ.html
The National Forum on Education Statistics and the National Center for Education Statistics recently released a free online course for Local Education Agencies to improve the collection and use of education data.
PSA Contest for Youth
http://www.bkfk.com/Modules/Competition/Competition.aspx?section=sayit
The By Kids For Kids youth empowerment company and DoSomething.org announce the Advertise Your Cause Media Challenge, which encourages young people to discover what cause matters most to them and then “Do Something” to propel their cause into the public eye. The competition will reward the cleverest and powerful new Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign idea that will also have the broadest impact. Maximum Award: $10,000 and national media exposure for the winning PSA. Eligibility: U.S. residents ages 5 to 19, not graduated from high school at the time of competition. Deadline: June 30, 2008.
Self-Advocates Invited to Lead Workshops at National Self-Advocacy Conference
http://www.sabe2008.org/register/presenter.aspx
Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) invites self-advocates to lead workshops at the National Self Advocacy Conference, September 4-7, 2008, Indianapolis IN, on topics they choose. Any number of topics can be submitted. Presentations should be 60 minutes in length and may have multiple presenters. Presentations must identify with one or more of six objectives: (1)eliminating institutions through Money Follows the Person legislation and mentorship by self-advocacy organizations to individuals to assist in choosing support they need in the community; (2) importance of educating people with disabilities and having them educate others about issues that affect their lives; (3) SABE as a political power house to work on legislation affecting people with disabilities; (4) equal employment opportunities for equal pay for all people; (5) having self-advocacy at all stages of their lives for people with disabilities, with funding to support state, local and national self-advocacy organizations; and (6) SABE’s support for affordable and accessible housing for all people in the community. Submission deadline is Thursday, May 15, 2008.
Transition Coalition Short Courses
http://www.ContinuingEd.ku.edu/is/sped.shtml
The Transition Coalition offers five online transition short courses for education professionals, as well as parents, adult service personnel, and consultants, on the tools and collaboration necessary to improve transition planning and services for students with disabilities. Topics and dates are: Interagency Collaboration during Transition Planning, April 28-May 25, 2008; Introduction to Transition Education and Services, June 2-29, 2008; Family Involvement and Student Involvement in Transition, June 2-29, 2008; Transition Assessment, July 7 - August 3, 2008; and Preparing Students for Employment/Postsecondary Education, July 7 - August 3, 2008. Courses can be taken for graduate or undergraduate credit, continuing education, or noncredit.
The Resource Zone
Other National Resources
Current-Generation Youth Programs: What Works, What Doesn't, and At What Cost?
(April 2008)
Report
http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/OP215/
A new RAND report looks at the costs and benefits of youth programs offered during out-of-school time. The strongest evaluation results for at-risk youth come from programs that are costlier and provide more intensive services for youth.
ICARE Schools Projects: ICARE Transition Protocol & Kids with Cameras
(April 2008)
Tools
http://inclusiveschools.org/inclusivepractices.cfm
The ICARE Schools study, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, focuses on families of students with disabilities and their connections with their adolescents’ schools. ICARE presented two new tools at the 2008 Council for Exceptional Children’s Annual Convention: Talking about Transition to High School: A Focus Group Protocol for Families of Students with Disabilities in Transition is a protocol to encourage discussion of transition to high school, and can be used by either parent groups or school staff to discuss the unique issues of transition to high school that students with disabilities and their families face; and Kids with Cameras: An Activity for Assessing Students’ Connections to their School Connectedness studies the attachment of students to their school, obtaining information about what students connect with in school.
Improving Transition to Higher Education for Out-of-School Youth
(March 2008)
Brief
http://www.aypf.org/forumbriefs/2008/fb031408.htm
This forum, co-sponsored by the American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) and the National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC), held March 18, 2008, highlighted factors influencing the success of youth programs that provide support for formerly out-of-school youth as they transition to postsecondary education and employment. The session featured NYEC’s policy recommendations intended to inform federal higher education and workforce development policy.
Mentoring, Policy and Politics
(October 2007)
Brief
http://www.ppv.org/ppv/publications/assets/224_publication.pdf
Public/Private Ventures’ October 2007 brief discusses the impact and appeal of mentoring, addresses various critiques of the movement, and suggests future directions for mentoring’s application. Available in PDF (18 p, 260 KB).
MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: The Homework Experience
(November 2007)
Report
http://tinyurl.com/23decf
The November 2007 MetLife survey finds connections between attitudes about homework and student achievement. The majority of teachers, students, and parents believe doing homework is important, but some (33% of parents, 26% of students, but only 16% of teachers) feel that the quality of homework assigned is poor or irrelevant. Students who held a low opinion of homework are more likely to be low-achieving and to be associated with other risk factors. Available in PDF (270 p, 960 KB).
New Videos Featuring Youth Sharing Their Success Strategies
(April 2008)
Videos
http://adaptiveenvironments.org/neada/site/student_videos
The New England ADA Center and No Limits Media released informative videos this spring featuring students with disabilities sharing their strategies for successfully staying in school, graduating and getting jobs. Students reveal their struggles with self-reporting their disability, and negotiating accommodations in school and at work. These videos can be used as part of trainings (each video is 7-9 minutes) and shared with students and other professionals. The videos are open captioned.
Putting the Public Back in Public Schools: Focus on Co-Production
(April)
Article
http://www.pdkintl.org/kappan/k_v89/k0804mat.htm
David Mathews, president of the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, in an April Phi Delta Kappan article, argues that many Americans have lost a sense of ownership of their public schools and educators have lost sight of democracy’s role in education. This dynamic weakens America's democracy. Mathews explains that engagement campaigns, accountability standards and good customer service are born of impulses to reconnect communities with the schools. However, they fail to build the kind of public that exercises responsible ownership. Because people typically take responsibility for what they create, all members of the community need to be part of the co-production of education. Involving all will ensure that democracy prospers and schools benefit.
State Support of Education-Related Assistive Technology
(April 2008)
Policy Analysis
http://www.projectforum.org/
This In-Brief Policy Analysis reports findings gathered from a survey of state special education staff, in such areas as: staffing and funding for AT services at the state and local levels; state guidance; and professional development. Most of the responding states provide guidance and support to local education agencies regarding the need for AT evaluation and addressing student-specific needs. All states provide at least general training about AT services and programs. Most states do not provide an AT certificate or degree program. Findings show much variability among states in the amount of staffing provided, the ways in which funds are spent for AT and the types of professional development provided. An appendix provides access to state Web sites for education-related AT programs and services. To access this title visit the Web site and click its document search button.
Wise Words
(April 2008)
Video Series
http://www.all4ed.org.
Bob Wise, of the Alliance for Excellent Education, has begun a monthly video series to address issues related to high school reform and the dropout crisis. His April 2008 discussion is “How Does the United States Stack Up? International Comparisons of Academic Achievement.” The videos are accessible through the Alliance’s Web site.
What's Happening
Other National Events
No Health Without Mental Health: Mental Health America 2008 Conference
Conference
June 4, 2008 - June 7, 2008
Washington, DC
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/annualconference/index.html
The Mental Health America Conference draws leaders and advocates, including executives and staff from its state and local affiliates, mental health consumers, family members, policymakers, advocates, providers, and academic, government and business leaders to Washington, D.C. to learn about critical issues in the behavioral health field and strategies for collective action. The 2008 Conference adds a Promotion and Prevention Summit, June 6-7, on driving down the high rates and profound impact of mental illnesses in the United States.
National Workshop: Personal Assistance Services for Students with Severe Physical Disabilities
Conference
June 5, 2008 - June 6, 2008
Urbana-Champaign, IL
http://www.pascenter.org/documents/PASinPSE.pdf
This Workshop, hosted by Midwest Alliance in Science, Tech., Engineering, and Mathematics, in Urbana-Champaign IL, is intended for members of the NFS, ED, and NIH, Vocational Rehab, Veterans Administration, and independent Living Centers. The Workshop objectives are to assess the state of personal assistance services (PAS) for students with severe disabilities, review strategies, identify barriers, and develop recommendations to increase opportunities for PAS. Available in PDF (3 p, 126 KB).
Society for Disability Studies 21st Annual Conference
Conference
June 18, 2008 - June 22, 2008
New York, NY
http://www.disstudies.org/
The Society for Disability Studies for its 21st Annual Conference invites proposals from any field that examine the ways in which disability and urban issues intersect; engage the mobility of metaphor and the refiguration of space; and/or explore the ways in which Disability Studies shifts and translates in application to specific sites and communities.
The International Center for Leadership in Education 16th Annual Model Schools Conference
Conference
June 22, 2008 - June 25, 2008
Orlando, FL
http://www.modelschoolsconference.com/
The Annual Model Schools Conference will showcase student engagement strategies used by high performing schools, as well as effective instructional practices and leadership approaches, research on best practices, and measurable learning criteria for evaluation of instructional practices.
2008 Transition Summer Institute: Transition Assessment: What's It All About? How Do We Make it Happen?
Institute
June 23, 2008 - June 28, 2008
Lawrence, KS
http://www.transitioncoalition.org/cgiwrap/tcacs/new/training/summerinstitute/index.php
The University of Kansas, Department of Special Education & the Transition Coalition present the 2008 Transition Summer Institute: Transition Assessment June 23-27, 2008 Lawrence KS, with Dr. Mary E. Morningstar, on Transition Planning Inventory, Life Skills Assessments, Self-Determination Assessments, Vocational Assessments, Building Statewide and Local Transition Toolkits, Student Involvement in Transition Assessment and Planning, Federal Perspectives on the Summary of Performance, State Policies and Perspectives on Assessments and SOPs, Overview of IDEA 2004 and Effective Practices in Transition Planning and Services, and Understanding Formal and Informal Assessments The week-long conference is geared toward professionals and family members involved with secondary transition programs and services for students with disabilities.
IES Research Training Institute: Cluster-Randomized Trials
Institute
July 6, 2008 - July 18, 2008
Evanston, IL
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=310
The National Center for Education Research (NCER) in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), U.S. Department of Education, announces its second Summer Research Training Institute on Cluster-Randomized Trials to increase the national capacity of researchers to develop and conduct rigorous evaluations of the impact of education interventions.
2008 Georgetown Training Institutes: Developing Local Systems of Care for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Needs and Their Families: New Directions to Improve Care
Institute
July 16, 2008 - July 20, 2008
Washington, DC
http://gucchd.georgetown.edu/programs/ta_center/TrainingInstitutes/TI2008/theinstitutes.html
This institute will offer in-depth, practical information on how to develop and operate systems of care and how to provide high-quality, effective, clinical interventions and supports within them, with special focus on three “new directions” to strengthen systems of care and improve outcomes, each comprising a distinct track: Implementing a Public Health Approach, Partnering With Schools, and Partnering With Child Welfare.
National Institute of Justice Annual Conference
Conference
July 21, 2008 - July 23, 2008
Arlington, VA
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/events/nij_conference/welcome.htm
The Office of Justice Programs’ National Institute of Justice will hold its annual conference which brings together criminal justice scholars, policymakers, and practitioners at the local, state, and federal levels to share the latest research findings and technology. This year’s conference includes a panel on youth gang research and best practices organized by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and panels on commercial sexual exploitation of children, school-based prevention programs, and bullying. Conference registration is free, and early registration is recommended.
Get Wired!
Web Sites
Building the Legacy Training Curriculum on IDEA 2004
http://www.nichcy.org/training/contents.asp
This Web site from the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) includes 19 modules from its Building the Legacy Training Curriculum on IDEA 2004. Each module includes a PowerPoint presentation to use in training sessions, discussions of IDEA for trainers, and handouts for audience participants. The modules are available for download, use, and sharing.
Career Voyages
http://www.careervoyages.gov/
Career Voyages, collaboration between the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education, provides information on high-growth, in-demand occupations and identifies the skills and education needed for those jobs, with basic labor market information such as wage and employment trends as well as occupation descriptions and career videos for in-demand occupations. In addition, Career Voyages works directly with industry associations, providing direct access to their career exploration information, videos, education opportunities, scholarships, and other industry-specific resources.
CCSSO Secondary School Redesign Web Portal
http://highschool.ccsso.org/web/guest/home
The Council of Chief State School Officers launched the Secondary School Redesign Web Portal in 2008. The Web site provides a collection of existing resources, tools, and practices produced by state education agencies and others to bolster and inform secondary school redesign initiatives.
Funding Forecast
Federal Grant Opportunities
FY 2008 Discretionary Grant Application Packages
http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html
This site, US Department of Education, provides information on grant competitions that are currently open.
Additional Funding and Award Opportunities
AILF Offers K-12 Education Grants
http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/15012347/ailfgrants
The American Immigration Law Foundation (AILF) will award grants to teachers for the 2008-09 school year of $100 to $500 each to fund a limited number of K-12 grade-level projects that provide education about immigrants and immigration. The foundation seeks to fund classroom-based activities that are innovative and supportive of AILF's mission of promoting the benefits of immigrants to the United States. Applications are limited to educators teaching in public or private primary, intermediate, and secondary-level schools. The 2008 program focuses on proposals that relate to: innovative use of technology; underrepresented minorities; community outreach and partnerships with community based organizations; and math and science. Deadlines: June 1, 2008 and November 28, 2008
NEA Grants for Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth
http://www.arts.gov/grants/apply/GAP09/LITA.html
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Grants for Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth are given to advance arts education for children and youth in school-based or community-based settings. The program supports in-depth, curriculum-based arts education experiences that occur over an extended period. Projects must provide participatory learning and engage students with skilled artists, teachers, and excellent art. Maximum Award: varies. Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations that administer school-based projects for children and youth between kindergarten and grade 12, are directly connected to the school curriculum and instructional program and ensure the application of national or state arts education standard; or community-based projects for children and youth between ages five and 18. Deadline: June 9, 2008.
Newspaper Association of America Foundation to Support Middle and High School Student Newspaper Projects
http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml?id=211900026
Two-year grants of up to $5,000 in Year One, plus an additional $2,500 in Year Two, will be awarded to twelve middle and high schools who are partnering with professionals to produce student newspapers. Grant funds may be used for equipment, software, adviser training, and printing. Deadline: May 16, 2008
Scholarships and Awards
Award for Emerging Education Leaders
http://tinyurl.com/5esfl
The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development is seeking nominations for its Outstanding Young Educator Award, which recognizes a teacher under the age of 40 who demonstrates excellence in his or her profession, a positive impact on students, creativity in the classroom, and leadership in his or her school or district. Maximum Award: $10,000. Eligibility: K-12 teachers under age 40; no self-nominations accepted. Deadline: August 1, 2008.
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