Representative George Miller and Alliance President Bob Wise Agree: Students Need a 21st-Century Education

It's not every day that a member of Congress teams up with a non-profit organization to further a bipartisan goal, but that's what happened when Representative George Miller (D-CA) and Alliance President and former West Virginia governor Bob Wise co-wrote an editorial for Politico. Both Rep. Miller and Gov. Wise champion educational transformation, and they both believe in the power of digital technology to increase accessibility, opportunity, and achievement for all students, everywhere. 

Earlier this year, Rep. Miller introduced the "Transforming Education Through Technology Act," which would "update and modernize learning systems by supporting teachers and principals in the use of new technology to redesign curricula, incorporate technology into classrooms and provide assistance with real-time data and assessments," as the op-ed explains. If passed, this bill has the power to expand technology innovation that can transform teaching and learning, just as onlnie ordering has changed the way we eat.

At the same time, Gov. Wise has led the Alliance for Excellent Education's Project 24, a district-level initiative to connect school districts to planning and resource materials to aid them in the transition and implementation of digital technology. 

"Over the next 24 months, the Alliance will help school districts to implement a strategic plan for strengthening education outcomes through the use of technology at no cost," the joint op-ed reads. "The Alliance will help participating districts through a comprehensive planning process around seven interconnected areas where technology and digital learning can improve student achievement: teaching and professional learning, use of time, budget and resources, data systems and online assessments, curriculum and instruction, technology and infrastructure, and academic support and resources."

Rep. Miller and Gov. Wise share a common goal: to ensure that every student everywhere has the opportunity to learn. They share the vision that upgrading digital technology in schools around the nation can achieve that goal. 

"Families can order dinner with the click of a button on a smartphone or computer, but teachers are still wiping chalk off blackboards. Newspapers and magazines are delivered to tablets every morning, but students study from texts that become outdated as soon as they are released," Rep. Miller and Gov. Wise write. "No single solution exists for these problems, but an effective use of technology can be a tool to increasing access to educational opportunities for disadvantaged students and closing the achievement gap. It can also empower teachers to design an educational experience that extends beyond the four walls of the classroom."

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Afternoon announcements: Don't confuse the TNTP report with TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

A new report from The New Teacher Project (TNTP) analyzes DC’s teacher retention. It finds the best teachers stay at nearly twice the rate of the District’s lowest performers. The report raises a few questions. Washington Post

Marion Brandy gives his take on education reform in an editorial. You might find his side a little different than many education reformers’ positions. Washington Post

20 schools are set to close in DC, Chancellor Kaya Henderson said on Tuesday. The goal is to move resources towards other schools to boost academic programs. Washington Post

Have you ever audited a free online course from a university? Many universities, including elite schools, now offer these types of courses. Up until now, students of those courses took them for personal enrichment. But that could change. The American Council on Education is reviewing multiple of these online courses and may recommend that colleges grant credit for them. The Chronicle of Higher Education

Despite charter schools being a hot-button topic among educators, policymakers, parents and students, enrollment in them continues to rise. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools reports that enrollment in charter schools has increased almost 13 percent between 2010-11 and 2011-2012. New York Times

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Afternoon Announcements: July 11, 2012

Wednesday! The third day of the work week unless your work week starts on a day other than Monday! That’s all I’ve got, but please enjoy these afternoon announcements!

First, Alliance senior fellow Robert Rothman weighs in on the National Research Council’s recently released report on deeper learning. Here at High School Soup Rothman writes, “Since 2010, the Alliance for Excellent Education has been working to develop and promote policies that support deeper learning—deep content knowledge and the ability to use that knowledge to think critically, solve problems, communicate effectively, and be self-reflective about learning. Our premise, spelled out in a policy brief issued in 2011, was that these competencies are essential for career success and civic life in an increasingly complex world.”

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Morning Announcements: August 31, 2011

Chicago Public Schools officials announced they have agreed with teachers union to implement Common Core State Standards into the city's curriculum beginning in the 2012-2013 school year. The more rigorous standards have been adopted by forty-five states, including Illinois, but have not yet been enacted in Chicago, according to the Chicago Tribune. The state standards curriculum is a national initiative to improve student performance in core subject areas such s math and reading by favoring comprehension and analysis over rote memorization.

President Barack Obama spoke about education issues in an interview on the nationally syndicated radio program the Tom Joyner Morning Show. Education Week reports some people in the education sector are hopeful Obama will include money to help avoid teacher layoffs and to revamp old schools in his job-creation package set to be unveiled in coming weeks.

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