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Federal Update: May 8, 2013
posted by: Ruthie | May 08, 2013, 01:31 PM   

 

Secretary Duncan Issues Thoughts on Teacher Appreciation Day

In an opinion piece issued today, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan commended National Teacher Appreciation Day and further called for renewed support of Educators beyond just small gifts and cards.  

"Don't get me wrong - teachers deserve a week of celebration with plenty of baked goods. But I hear, often, that this is a time that teachers want some extra support. They deserve real, meaningful help - not just this week, but all year long." Secretary Duncan appealed.  

He called on policy makers, district leaders, and principals to find ways to help ease these transitions to higher standards. Below are specific ways Duncan concluded would ease the transition:  
  • Find opportunities for teachers to lead this work. There is far too much talent and expertise in our teaching force that is hidden in isolated classrooms and not reaching as far as it can to bring the system forward. Teachers and leaders must work together to create opportunities for teacher leadership, including shared responsibility, and that means developing school-level structures for teachers to activate their talents.
  • Find, make visible and celebrate examples of making this transition well.
  • Use your bully pulpit - and share that spotlight with a teacher. Whether you are a principal, superintendent, elected leader, parent or play some other role, you have a voice. Use your voice to help make this transition a good experience for teachers, students, and families.
  • Be an active, bold part of improving pre-service training and professional development, and make sure that all stages of a teacher's education reflect the new instructional world they will inhabit.
  • Read and take ideas from the RESPECT Blueprint, a plan released last month containing a vision for an elevated teaching profession.  

Click here to read the full article.


 

Congressional Hearing: "Raising the Bar: Exploring State and Local Efforts to Improve Accountability"

With continued controversy over No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Waivers and the approach to standards, there is no doubt that schools need to be held accountable to students and communities. However, the most effective measures of accountability continue to be up for debate. Today the House Education and the Workforce Committee held a hearing that investigated effective methods of accountability in various states and districts across the country.

"It is time to reduce the federal footprint. Innovation and effective reform cannot be mandated from Washington," Congressman John Kline (R-MO) said. He continued to expound on the need to "put control back in local hands." He emphasized the importance of states developing their own teacher evaluation systems, and empowering parents to select the school that best fits their child's needs. Several witnesses concurred with Kline.

Louisiana State Superintendent John White outlined four factors effective in shaping Louisiana's schools:  empowered school leaders, uncompromised accountability, state-wide parent choice, and city-wide investment in educators. He called for federal parameters that compel states but also offer freedom to design their own state measures. 

Local Missouri Superintendant Dr. Chris Richardson stated the two most important needs: for teachers to engage in professional development and for children and parents to be connected to education and choices. Gordon concurred, emphasizing the advantage of a portfolio school model, over one-size-fits all approach.

Click here to watch the full hearing.



U.S. Department of Education Kicks Off Investing in Innovation Program


Last week, the Department of Education announced the opening of the fourth Investing in Innovation contest, an initiative that rewards the most innovative ideas in educational advancement. The largest awards go to the programs with evidence of strong past success.

The department is offering over $135 million dollars to districts, groups of schools, and nonprofit partners. The awards will be divided between scale up grants, validation awards, and development awards.

While winners will have to secure private matching funds for 15% of their projects, they only need to have 50% of the required match before the end of 2013, and the rest within six months of the project's start.

The department asks contestants to send notification by May 23rd, 2013 for federal funding purposes.

Click here find out more about the program.


Secretary Duncan Supports Expansion of Early-Childhood Education

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan reiterated the importance of a sweeping early-childhood education program, saying, "The average child from a disadvantaged country comes to school a year to a year and half behind." Duncan discussed the issue with reporters during a round table discussion in which he made a sales pitch for the program." Politicians are used to thinking short term. This is the ultimate long-term play."

According to estimates, the program would be 90% funded by the federal government, but eventually decreasing to 25%.

While the states need to sign on to the initiative, the entire program hinges on congressional approval. Duncan admits that "Congress is clearly difficult these days." But he added that many Republican governors, including in Alabama, Georgia, and Michigan, have favored boosting prekindergarten in their states.

The news comes on the heels of President Obama's recent comments at an economic development forum where he expressed uncertainty as to whether or not Congress would pass his plan to dramatically expand pre-kindergarten in the U.S.

He cited lack of financial resources and the difficulty of quality control as reasons the plan may not pass. Still, Senator Tom Harkin, (D-IA), the chairman of the Senate education committee, ideally would like to add the preschool expansion onto the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which Duncan is still discussing.


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