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| Federal Update: July 8, 2013 |
| posted by: Ruthie | July 08, 2013, 02:02 PM |
|
Secretary Arne Duncan Speaks at National Charter School Conference Last week, Secretary Arne Duncan spoke at the National Charter School Conference in Washington, DC. He praised the "extraordinary accomplishments" of charter schools, but acknowledged that the "charter movement is not yet a dream fullfilled." Among the extraordinary accomplishments, Duncan praised high-performing charters for irrefutably demonstrating that low-income children can and do achieve at high levels. Duncan concluded, "I look forward with great optimism and anticipation to what the next 20 years of the charter movement will bring. And I cannot wait for the day when educational islands of excellence become systems, districts, and states of excellence." Click here to view the entire speech. Update on High School Redesign Initiative Earlier this month, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visited Aviation High School in New York City as an example of what the Administration is trying to replicate through the High School Redesign initiative. Through competitive grants to districts, in partnerships with colleges, universities, and other organizations, the proposed initiative would challenge schools to personalize learning and customize content and instruction, so that students master challenging academic concepts and skills and pursue their own individual interests. Also, these schools would align teaching and learning so that all students graduate with college-level coursework or college credit and career-related experiences. The program was created in response to the ever-changing economy and the call to prepare students for the challenges of tomorrow. Click here to read the a fact sheet outlining the initiative and highlighting several transformative high school designs. Summer Opportunities for Students
Building on last year’s highly successful 2012 Summer Jobs+ program, the Department of Education is working to increase employment opportunities for low-income or disconnected youth and decrease juvenile violence through its 2013 Youth Jobs+ initiative. To help local communities developing and enhancing programs that support these goals, the Obama administration is offering technical assistance, online resources, and local events across the country that spotlight the value and importance of providing pathways to employment for young people. It is also partnering with several national organizations to disseminate resources, including the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which has issued its own summer jobs challenge this year. The program mostly serves inner-city students. Click here for more information on the program. House Pushes Student Success Act as NCLB Replacement Late in June, members of the House of Representatives Education and the Workforce Committee passed the Student Success Act through committee. This legislation, introduced by Chairman John Kline (R-MN) and Representative Rokita (R-IN) would rewrite K-12 education law, also known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), and is designed to provide state and local leaders the flexibility necessary to innovate in the classroom and raise student achievement. The student success act has four main goals: reducing the federal foot print, restoring local control, supporting effective teachers, and empowering parents. "It's time for a different approach, one that puts control back in the hands of the parents, teachers, administrators, and leaders who know our students best," said Rokita in a statement. Democrats objected to the GOP bill, arguing that it does a poor job of ensuring all students have access to high quality education, especially lower income or minority students. The Senate's rewrite of NCLB, shifting responsibility from the previous one-size-fits-all approach and allowing state officials to write their own school improvement plan, remains under consideration. Education advocates maintain that even if the Student Success Act is passed by the full House of Representatives, it would face a tough road when being reconciled in the Senate. Click here to read the Student Success Act. Click here to read the full markup of this legislation.
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