Everyone's Getting Straight A's: House Spending Plan Would Cut Education

It's time for another edition of Straight A's, the Alliance for Excellent Education's bi-weekly e-newsletter. You can read the entire issue online, pick from the article snippets below, or receive Straight A's in your inbox by emailing JAmos@all4ed.org. Here are the articles featured in this issue:

A spending plan being circulated by U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee Chairman Harold Rogers (R-KY) would cut funding for the Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education appropriations bill by about $35 billion, or 22 percent less than the current level, in favor of protecting spending for the military and homeland security. Working within an overall spending limit of $967 billion, Rogers chose to allocate a total of $625 billion for the Defense, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security appropriations bills, a cut of $4 billion or less than 1 percent from the current level. Getting Defensive

In a May 9 speech at Manor New Technology High School in Austin, Texas, President Obama called on Americans to rally around what he called the “single-greatest challenge” facing the nation—reigniting the “true engine of economic growth”—a rising, thriving middle class. He listed three things necessary to create more jobs and opportunity for the middle class: (1) making America a magnet for good jobs; (2) ensuring that hard-working people can achieve a decent living; and (3) helping people earn the education and develop the skills they need to succeed in good jobs. Obama Sees Deeper Learning in Action  

Originally signed into law more than a decade ago by President George W. Bush on January 8, 2002, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) technically expired in 2007. On several occasions over the last few years, various attempts have been made by both political parties in Congress to rewrite the law, but they ultimately fell short. Since 2012, President Obama has granted waivers to thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia from some of NCLB’s requirements, including the one requiring that 100 percent of students be proficient in reading and math by 2014. Although Republicans and Democrats alike have expressed concerns about the waivers, they have been unable to pass legislation to replace them. ESEA in Play?

State education agencies (SEAs) must play a pivotal role in the implementation and performance of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS)—adopted by forty-six states and the District of Columbia—if states are to see gains in teacher effectiveness and student learning outcomes, a new policy report from the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the Aspen Institute finds. The report, Teaching to the Core: Integrating Implementation of Common Core and Teacher Effectiveness Policies, offers ten organization and functional recommendations to help state departments succeed in carrying out the new responsibilities necessary to see long-term improvements in teacher and student outcomes. Teaching to the Core

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Afternoon Announcements: State Education Spending Per-Pupil Lowest in Three Decades

When Arne Duncan testified this week before the House Education and the Workforce Committee on the President’s 2014 fiscal year budget, he received numerous questions on student loan interest rates that are set to rise this summer, No Child Left Behind Waivers, and the Common Core State Standards. Politics K-12

New census report data shows how much states are spending per pupil on education. New York spends the most per-student, and Utah spends the lease. Overall, states are spending less per-pupil than they were in previous years. Stateline

The Wall Street Journal covers the new census bureau data on per-pupil spending, as well, today. They note that spending on public-education fell in 2011 for the first time in more than three decades. Wall Street Journal

Why is the GOP opposing the Common Core State standards? One opinion writer claims that the state-level rebuke of the standards is unfounded and challenges leaders to rethink their views. Washington Post Read Entire Post

Afternoon Announcements: Microsoft Donates $1 Million to Expand Blended Learning in DC

For the Common Core to succeed, it must overcome seven challenges, one noted education writer posits. No matter what, he says, states should move toward better instruction and more learning. Eduwonk

Microsoft has donated $1 million to help DC schools integrate and expand blended learning programs. Blended learning refers to the combination of online learning and traditional classroom instruction. The donation will expand the Education Innovation Fellowship, a DC-based program that “exposes teachers to the latest thinking in the field and then encourages them to adapt those ideas into their own classrooms.” Washington Post

If high school students began going through college and career counseling in the 9th grade, would it make a difference in college enrollment rates? A new report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling shows it would make a big difference in students’ likelihood of enrolling in college. Education Week

Digital learning has been touted as a means of improving equity in education for all students. One group in particular that may benefit from it is students with learning disabilities. One program in California is seeing an increased number of these students participate in college courses through the use of digital technology. Homeroom Read Entire Post

Afternoon Announcements: Students in Rural Alaska Fight to Keep School Open

Tom Vander Ark gives his take on why we need the Common Core State Standards and better tests in our nation’s schools. He calls both “a big step forward.”  Huffington Post

Four rural Alaskan schools were shut down this year, and a fifth was scheduled to follow suit. The students at the school rallied together, determined not to let another shutdown happen. They’ve pledged to contribute $18,000 to keep the school open, using funds primarily from ice cream sales at the student store. It doesn’t get more inspiring than this. Alaska Dispatch

Is Google Glass the future of education? Is it possible to imagine a future where students and teachers where the new Google glasses technology, using it to advance teaching and learning? The Kansas City Star

According to new state-by-state analysis of recent data on graduation rates for students with learning disabilities, states are struggling to reach the national graduation rate average of 68 percent for students in that category. Education Week Read Entire Post

Afternoon Announcements: AFTPresident Randi Weingarten Says Teachers Need Time with Common Core

“Although the two of us have disagreed about several school-reform issues, we strongly believe that the Common Core State Standards, voluntarily adopted by 45 states, is one of the most promising education initiatives of the past half century.” A powerful opinion piece from two scholars. Wall Street Journal

American Federal of Teachers President Randi Weingarten explains how she would teach the Common Core. First, she reiterated that teachers are supportive of the new standards but they need time and practice to get it right before they should be evaluated on teaching them. State Impact

The Buena Vista School District in Michigan succumbed to budgetary restraints and closed their schools for the year, even though the academic year shouldn’t end until the middle of June. Students will attend “skills camp.” Huffington Post

More than half of college graduates surveyed in a recent study said they would choose a different major or “do things differently if they had to do it all over again.” The study, conducted by the consulting firm McKinsey & Co. in conjunction with online student hub Chegg, involved more than 4,900 graduates. CNBC Read Entire Post

Afternoon Announcements: Common Core Standards Create a Level Playing Field

Education Secretary Arne Duncan sent a letter to Department of Education Staff with good news: there will be no furloughs due to sequestration cuts. He fears that furloughs would put delays on getting grants to school districts, states, and universities. Politics K-12

Student loan debt hurts more than the borrowers – it hurts the national economy. Students burdened with debt are spending less and delaying big purchases like homes and cars, slowing down growth, according to economists. New York Times

Claremont Middle School in Oakland, California has seen a significant reduction in suspensions – from 25 percent of students suspended to just 7 percent – in the last year. The success has been attributed to twin brothers who took over as co-principals last year. CBS News

Some Republicans have vocally opposed the Common Core State Standards as an intrusion on states rights. One scholar argues against this claim, saying the Standards create  a level playing field: “It is more important than ever that we create a level playing field to give students from all states equal opportunity to thrive in our technology-driven world in which formulas and equations play a crucial role.” Wall Street Journal Read Entire Post

Afternoon Announcements: President Obama Visits New Tech School Known for Deeper Learning

Utah’s State School Board supports the Common Core State Standards and has asked the Governor, along with state lawmakers, to do the same. In a series of passed resolutions, they outlined their support of the new Standards. “There seems to be some confusion surrounding the Common Core so the intent was the help clarify some of the misconceptions about that,” said David Crandall, vice chairman of the State School Board. Deseret News

Yesterday, President Obama visited a New Tech school in Texas. The school is part of a network making a name for itself by incorporating innovative digital technology and deeper learning standards to improve student outcomes. “The workforce is demanding these skills,” Alliance president Bob Wise said of the approach New Tech schools take. Christian Science Monitor

High school graduation costs seem to rise with every passing year. In addition to purchasing ga cap and gown, parents are encouraged to spend money on senior photos, yearbooks, class rings, and proms, among other things. CNBC

New proposed legislation submitted this week in the House of Representatives aims to tie student loan interest rates to the 10-year Treasury note, plus 2.5 interest. The bill would half the interest rate hike that will go forward this summer on student loan interest rates if Congress and the administration don’t stop it. Politics K-12 Read Entire Post

Everyone's Getting Straight A's: Fewer High School Grads Enrolling in College

The Alliance for Excellent Education’s newest e-newsletter, “Straight A’s” is online. You can read the full articles from this issue here, or short synopses below. As always, if you would like to receive Straight A’s in your inbox, please email jamos@all4ed.org.

Sixty-six percent of high school graduates from the Class of 2012 were enrolled in colleges or universities in October 2012, a slight decline from the 68.3 percent rate one year earlier for the Class of 2011, according to an April 17 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The college enrollment rate was higher for young women (71.3 percent) than for young men (61.3 percent). College Enrollment Rate Drops for High School Graduates

Although the national unemployment rate ticked down slightly from 7.6 percent in March to 7.5 percent in April, the unemployment rate for individuals aged twenty-five years and older without a high school diploma increased from 11.1 percent to 11.6 percent, according to the May 3 jobs report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unemployment Rate Increases for High School Dropouts Aged Twenty-Five and Older

A large gap persists between how prepared high school teachers believe their graduating students are for college-level course work and what college instructors expect their first-year students to know, according to the 2012 ACT National Curriculum Survey. The report, Policy Implications on Preparing for Higher Standards, finds that while improved standards—such as the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) or ACT’s College Readiness Standards—are intended to close this gap, states, districts, schools, and teachers need to ensure they are prepared to teach college- and career-ready standards. The report offers policy recommendations to assist states in their preparation. College- and Career-Ready Standards Can Help Close Perception Gaps on Student Preparedness

In a competency-based education system, a student advances from grade-to-grade based on mastery of course content, not on the number of days spent in the classroom. A new policy brief from KnowledgeWorks examines the growing national movement toward a competency-based education and highlights key barriers within the federal accountability and assessment systems that pose a challenge to this work. The brief, An Emerging Federal Role for Competency Education, is the first in a series from KnowledgeWorks to help policymakers define the appropriate role for the federal government supporting competency education in the nation’s K–12 schools. An Emerging Federal Role for Competency Education

Released on January 22, 2013 by the Alliance for Excellent Education, Strengthening High School Teaching and Learning in New Hampshire’s Competency-Based System, profiles two high schools in New Hampshire that moved away from “seat time” toward a competency-based system. The report also examines the changes that were necessary to make competency-based advancement an important part of New Hampshire’s strategy for implementing the Common Core State Standards and ensuring that students graduate ready for college and a career. Additional Resources on Competency-Based Education

On April 30, the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) released a series of documents, including assessment blueprints and evidence statement tables, for the English language arts and mathematics assessments set to debut in 2014–15. The documents were created to help educators and the general public better understand the design of the PARCC assessments. Along with the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, PARCC is working to create assessments that are aligned with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Updates from PARCC

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Afternoon Announcements: TEDTalks Education

Coursera, a well-known provider of massive open online courses (MOOCs), announced this week that they’ll be partnering with several publishers to provide some textbooks for free for student-use while taking the courses. The textbooks would be available on e-readers. Washington Post

A one-hour TED Talks Education program aired this week, bringing together teachers and education advocates who each delivered short, high-impact talks on the theme of teaching and learning. You can watch the program online. PBS

The Texas Senate approved a bill this week that will dramatically reduce the number of standardized tests that students need to take in order to graduate high school. The House passed a different version of the bill that also reduces the number of tests. The two bills will have to be reconciled. Huffington Post

Increasing numbers of cities and school districts are surveying their teachers to find out if they feel prepared to begin teaching to the Common Core State Standards. The newest is Sacramento; the results are broken down into school districts. Sacramento Bee Read Entire Post

No Expectations: Harmful Treaties in Community Colleges

In his classic book, Horace’s Compromise, the late educator Ted Sizer wrote that high school teachers and students enact “treaties” with one another: the students agree not to cause trouble, and the teachers agree not to push the students too hard. The result, all too often, is that students don’t learn very much.

A new study by the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) shows that community colleges and their students appear to engage in similar negotiations, with similar results for students. The cost is much higher than it was three decades ago, when Sizer wrote his book, though, because the need for higher levels of knowledge and skill is much greater now.

The NCEE study looked closely at entry-level mathematics and English courses in seven community colleges. The researchers examined the textbooks used, the assignments given to students, and the tests teachers administered. What they found was disturbing. Read Entire Post