Afternoon announcements: Hip-hop education reform

T-2 days until Turkey day! The Alliance will be taking a blogging break starting tomorrow, November 21st, to celebrate the holiday. We'll be back with our daily #ednews roundup and our other content on Monday, November 26th. We wish you all safe travels and a happy Thanksgiving!

Indiana University released a new report this week with interesting findings: there is a positive correlation between the amount of time students spend working on their homework and their performances on standardized tests. Perhaps more interestingly, there is little correlation between homework time and better grades in math and science. Washington Post

It’s well-known that with the adoption of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) will come higher academic benchmarks for students. For students who struggle under the current system, it’s easy to think they will lag further behind under the more rigorous standards. But an Education Sector study shows that, on the contrary, there is “no evidence that high standards have hurt low-achieving students.” It’s possible they’ve even helped. Education Sector

A couple of educators are determined to find new, innovative ways to reach black and Latino students. The two men have come together to launch a small pilot program that aims to use hip-hop to teach students science. They believe that connecting with students on an interactive level they enjoy and can understand will make the difficult principles easier to understand. New York Times 

In Idaho, digital learning has sparked immense debate, resulting in a repeal of a graduation requirement in which students took two online courses. Opponents of the policy believed teachers would be exchanged for virtual courses. The Board’s decision was 7-1. The policy would have eventually provided a laptop to every high school teacher and student and a renewed focus on online learning. Huffington Post

Creating a Culture of Excellence: the Role of School Leaders

On April 26, the Alliance for Excellent Education and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) held a Capitol Hill briefing showcasing the MetLife Foundation and NASSP’s Breakthrough Schools project, which recognizes middle and high schools that are high achieving or dramatically improving student achievement while serving large numbers of students most at risk of dropping out.On April 26, the Alliance for Excellent Education and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) held a Capitol Hill briefing showcasing the MetLife Foundation and NASSP’s Breakthrough Schools project, which recognizes middle and high schools that are high achieving or dramatically improving student achievement while serving large numbers of students most at risk of dropping out.

Phillip Lovell, the Alliance’s vice president of federal advocacy moderated a panel of transformative principals who have been recognized by the Breakthrough Schools project:

Thomas Dodd, PhD , Principal, Lesher Middle School (Fort Collins, CO)
Christopher Jennings , Principal, Bloomfield High School (NJ)
Linda Scott, EdD , Principal. Oscar F. Smith Middle School (Chesapeake, VA)
Anthony Smith , Principal, Pierce County High School (Blackshear, GA)

Morning Announcements: April 20, 2012

Happy Friday!

Here are some quick stories to smoothly transition you from a busy work week to a stress-free weekend. Enjoy! 

From National Public Radio- Alabama is near the bottom of the country's academic rankings. The state has problems with test scores, school improvement ratings and dropouts. But the district in Birmingham has a different kind of issue. The state recently took over the school board because of infighting on the board. The move has triggered cries of racism.

Afternoon Announcements: April 19, 2012

Good Afternoon! Here are your latest headlines in education:

According to Education Week, most of the dozen states that have already gotten wiggle room from the No Child Left Behind Act don't have very good plans in place when it comes to a key piece of the U.S. Department of Education's requirements for turning around low-performing schools: extending learning time. This assessment comes from a new report by the Center for American Progress.

From the Washington Post, Washington D.C. Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson has introduced a new five-year plan that calls for higher-achieving public schools with longer days and better graduation rates, but she warned that paying for improvements will require closing some campuses.

Alliance Senior Fellow Robert Rothman Highlights Common Core Standards in Educational Leadership

In an article for Educational Leadership, Alliance for Excellent Education Senior Fellow Robert Rothman offers his thoughts on what separates the Common Core State Standards from those previously developed by various states throughout the country.

Rothman comments that the key difference between previously existing standards and those of the Common Core is that the Common Core State Standards were specifically designed to ensure college and career readiness of students, something that has never before existed. Currently, Rothman argues, the majority of American high schools graduates are ill-prepared for the rigorous work of college or careers. Additionally, with the advancement of technology and the globalization of society, more jobs are requiring some sort of post-secondary education. This underscores the dire necessity for the Common Core State Standards to best prepare students for the changing world.

Morning Announcements April 5, 2012

Don’t worry you’re almost there. Enjoy today because it will soon be over. In the meantime , here are the latest education headlines.

This election cycle, voters want to hear more about education, which is according to College Board, who released a new survey. As Education Week report, the survey conducted by the organization that brings you the ACT an SAT indicates that, specifically in critical swing-states, education reform is a top-tier issue.

Morning Announcements: March 30, 2012

Happy Friday! Before rushing out to enjoy the weekend, get your last educational news fix for week with the latest headlines below.

From Education Week, as the U.S. House of Representatives debates a Republican budget for 2013 that would cut taxes and federal spending, Senator  Tom Harkin (D-IA) is offering a countermeasure that would spend more money on things like education and workforce training, and eliminate some corporate tax breaks.

Afternoon Announcements: March 23, 2012

Happy Friday. We’re sure you’re anxious to get a head start on your weekend celebrations but before you head out the door make sure you’re caught up on all the education news.

According to the Associated Press, the leader of the American Federation of Teachers called on Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee and state lawmakers to boost funding for education in in the state, saying that teachers and schools already have sacrificed all they can.

Morning Announcements: March 21, 2012

It’s the middle of the week. You’re almost there. Keep yourself motivated with the latest in education news.

Republican Congressman John Kline of Minnesota, who serves as the chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, wants to see Congress put more money into state grants for special education. Education Week reports that the sent a letter to the leading lawmakers on the House panel that oversees K-12 spending

Morning Announcements: March 20, 2012

Happy first day of spring! Although most of the nation has enjoyed unseasonably warm temperatures for the last several weeks, today marks the official start of the spring season. Take a moment catch up on the latest in education before taking a springtime stroll to smell the budding flowers… unless you have really bad allergies, then we wouldn’t suggest that.

Two years into the implementation of the federal School Improvement Grant program, Education Week reports that state officials are generally optimistic about its potential, but have a lot of ideas for perfecting it. After a pair of reports were released today by the Center on Education Policy, Education Secretary Arne Duncan finds the early data on School Improvement Grant program to be promising. Education Week also discusses whether the combination of large federal investments and tight federal strings actually make a difference for the nation's lowest-performing schools.