February 12, 2008: Professional Development Linked To Literacy Gains

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February 12, 2008: Professional Development Linked To Literacy

Gains

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Customized Briefing for THERESA CAVANAUGHFebruary 12, 2008

Leading the News

In the Classroom

On the Job

Law & Policy

Safety & Security

Facilities

School Finance

Also in the News

Leading the News

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Professional development linked to literacy gains.

Education Week (2/13, Honawar) reports, " An audit of

professional-development literacy programs in a Florida district has found

that students of teachers trained in those programs showed significant gains

in reading-test scores. For each " day-long course offered by the Schultz

Center for Teaching and Leadership in which teachers from the Duval County

district participated, their students' " scores on state tests rose by half a

point. " Education Week explains that, " if teachers completed a Literacy 101

program offered by the center that includes 84 hours, or 14 days, of

instruction, one could expect to see, on average, students in that teacher's

class scoring 7 points higher than the students of a teacher who did not

undergo the same training. " Further, according to researchers, " teachers at

all experience levels benefited from the professional development. " Schultz

Center President Wilkinson added that the center would be

" coordinating with the district to build better databases and provide

follow-up support for teachers, as well as devising an appropriate blend of

teaching subject-matter content and effective teaching strategies. "

In the Classroom

Hydroponics used to teach science.

Massachusetts's Sun Chronicle (2/12, LaHoud) reports that a Mansfield, Mass.

science teacher is using hydroponics, " a technology for growing plants

involving nutrient solutions (water containing fertilizer) with or without

the use of an artificial medium, like sand, perlite or peatmoss, " to teach

third graders. Teacher Cote said he initially " thought it would be

too complicated for third graders, " but then realized that a modified system

he had seen used for growing tomatoes could be understood " at any level. " He

explained, " This is a passive system, usually there are pumps. " In class,

students working with the system are taught " observation skills and lessons

on the water cycle. " Cote said that " [t]he containers and plants have varied

over the past several months. " One class had begun " planting golden pathos

cuttings. " The children also use a variety of containers, including Slinkies

and Legos.

North Carolina district reports decreased dropout rate.

North Carolina's Goldsboro News-Argus (2/12, ) reports that " Wayne

County Public Schools (WCPS) had 101 fewer dropouts during 2006-2007 than

the previous year. " However, the state's annual dropout report, " just

released by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, " found that " a total

of 23,550 [students] dropped out of school statewide " in 2006-2007, an

increase of 1370 from the previous year. WCPS officials " are attributing

[the] decline to shored-up efforts of teachers and administrators across the

county, preparing students for testing and graduation. " For example, the

district has implemented " [d]istance education classes, a take home computer

program, and freshman academies " as dropout prevention measures. In

addition, WCPS launched " the Early Middle College High School in the fall of

2006 and the Wayne School of Engineering in the fall of 2007 with a focus on

science, technology, engineering and math. " The News-Argus adds that the

district is also working with " Wayne Community College to create career

academies aimed at better preparing students for careers in business/finance

or engineering after graduation. "

On the Job

Florida district reinstates teachers over test scores.

Florida's Palm Beach Post (2/11, DeNardo) reported that, in Florida, " the

state's reliance on the FCAT and other standardized tests to boost student

achievement and hold schools more accountable is forcing the district to

take back teachers it deemed incompetent. " In West Palm Beach, " teachers

have been fired for poor performance " without the schools taking student

test scores into account. Now, " [t]he district is paying hundreds of

thousands of dollars in back pay to fired teachers whose students' FCAT

performance wasn't considered in their dismissals. " The Post noted,

" Evaluations that don't take into account student performance have drawn

criticism from education reformers who say they allow incompetent teachers

to remain in the classroom. " But while " the issue has yet to get much

attention " under policies such as NCLB, schools in places such as New York

will soon begin using student scores to " determine teacher tenure, " and also

use them for " evaluations and bonuses. " Still, organizations such as the

Florida Education Association warn that the policy " assumes [students are]

equal from the start. "

Utah considers increasing teacher librarian numbers.

The Salt Lake Tribune (2/11, Schencker) reported that teacher librarians,

" licensed educators with endorsements in library media who teach students

how to understand, research and organize information, " are in short supply

in Utah schools. However, Rep. Tim Cosgrove (D) " is asking for $1.7 million

a year for the next three years to help hire 50 more teacher librarians. "

Then, " after three years, districts would continue funding the teacher

librarians themselves, and the state could spend more money to hire another

50 teacher librarians. " The plan also calls for student achievement

evaluations. Rep. Cosgrove's request was ranked " relatively high on [the]

list of priorities for education funding this session " by the Public

Education Appropriations Committee, " ut the request still faces some

stiff competition for state money this year. " There are " [a]t least 10 other

bills seeking money to ease the state's teacher shortage...progressing

through the legislature " which " address other areas of critical shortages

such as math, science, special education and other teachers. "

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Florida district's schools specialize in career programs.

Florida's Hernando Today (2/12, Brown) reports that the Florida Career and

Professional Education Act, " implemented in July, " requires that " every

school district in the state " have in place " at least one career and

professional academy " by the start " of the 2008 school year. " But last

week, the Hernando County School Board was updated on " local officials'

plans to comply with [the] new " requirements. Instead of " focusing on only

one career academy for the district, officials at each of Hernando County's

high schools have chosen an area of study to focus on " in order to meet the

new academy standards. According to the Hernando Today, Nature Coast

Technical High School will enhance " its allied health academy, Central High

School " will strengthen its business program, F.W. Springstead High School

" will focus on a web design program and Hernando [High School] will focus on

its veterinary and agriscience service program. " Zoning rules will still

remain active, but students will be allowed to " choose their school based on

the program they wish to enroll in. "

Law & Policy

Oklahoma Senate considers charter schools for Indian tribes.

The AP (2/12) reports that, in Oklahoma, " Indian tribes could start charter

schools in Oklahoma and Tulsa counties under a bill that won approval by a

Senate committee. " At present, " only the state's largest school districts

and public universities [can] establish charter schools. " According to

Oklahoma Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, " expanding the number of

groups that can set up charter schools will give parents more educational

choices for their children. " The AP notes, " The bill passed through

committee Monday and now goes to the Senate floor for consideration. "

Safety & Security

land legislation would reform school victim transfer policy.

land's Daily Record (2/12, Farmer) reports Dels. Ann Marie Doory

(D-Baltimore) and ph F. Vallario Jr., (D-Calvert) have introduced a bill

in land's House of Delegates that proposes to reform education policy by

allowing " victims of violent crime the option of having their attacker

change schools rather than themselves. " The legislation, backed by " the

nonprofit land Crime Victims' Resource Center, " seeks " to provide more

protection to victims by clarifying land's compliance with a provision

in the federal No Child Left Behind Act, which mandates that each state have

a transfer procedure when such crimes occur. " The legislation would only be

applicable " when the attacker is found guilty...of committing a violent

crime, and is allowed by the court to return to the same school. "

Wisconsin schools consider background checks for part-time employees.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (2/11, Hetzner) reported that the School

District of Waukesha is considering a " proposed policy change " that would

expand criminal background checks to non-fulltime employees such as " some

non-head coaches, after-school coordinators and personnel who assist in

activities and events. " Jack Bothwell, the district's executive director of

human resources, said the move " would be the first step in a larger look the

district is taking at people who have close contact with students. " Under

the current policy, " only staff members whose employment is processed

through the human resources office have to pass a criminal background check

before being hired. " Because each check costs roughly $5, the " district is

being careful in how far it wants to go. The district already pays for

about 300 to 400 checks per year on everyone from full-time professional

employees to substitute teachers, teachers aides, and custodians, Bothwell

said. "

Pittsburgh anti-gang program sees drop in killings.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (2/11, Smydo) reported on the Gang-Free Schools

and Communities program in the East End of the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

" Since the program's inception " in 2003, " there's been a drop in the

percentage of gang-related killings in eastern neighborhoods, while the rate

of other gang-related crimes has held steady. " Further, " the initiative --

involving city police, probation officers, social service caseworkers and

the Homewood-Brushton YMCA -- has yielded a more complete picture of gang

activity and given gang members repeated opportunities to start anew, "

according to supporters. The Post-Gazette noted, " While outreach workers

offer daily guidance to gang members, the intervention team determines

whether vocational training, mental health services, or participation in

sports or church activities might benefit them in the long run. " Explaining

the program's impact, outreach worker Walls said, " You can't save

everybody. ... But if you can save one or two, you're doing your job. "

Facilities

N.H. officials consider geothermal heating systems for schools.

New Hampshire's Nashua Telegraph (2/11, Brindley) reported that many Nashua

city officials " said they agree that replacing outdated boiler systems in

three elementary schools with energy-efficient geothermal systems appears to

be the best way to go. " However, the estimated $23 million price tag and

the " scope of the work " will " need closer examination before the city moves

forward with the project. " According to Jim Mealey, the district's chief

operating officer, " the cost of the project depends on what aspects of the

work the joint special school building committee approves. " Mealey noted

that the price could be reduced by keeping " the piping in place " and doing

" a basic system. " He added, " That's part of what this committee will have

to decide. " Under the proposal, the schools would receive " a closed-loop

geothermal system, utilizing a combination of underground water and solar

power on the roofs to heat and cool the buildings. " Meanwhile, the

buildings would " still have a small boiler, which would be used during the

extreme cold. " The three schools " would be the first in the state to go

green with a geothermal system. "

School Finance

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Florida schools consider advertising revenue.

The Miami Herald (2/11, McGrory) reported that, in Miami-Dade county,

" Superintendent Rudy Crew and his staff are exploring the possibility of

allowing advertising in schools as a possible stream of revenue for the

cash-strapped district " after being urged to do so by the School Board.

However, " the move...is nonetheless controversial. Critics say children are

already inundated with advertising, and that a captive audience of students

shouldn't be bombarded with the wiles of Madison Avenue. " Proponents of the

measure " say allowing advertising encourages partnerships between local

businesses and schools. " The idea of " advertising in schools has fueled an

intense national debate " since a 2000 investigation by the U.S. Government

Accountability Office " reported that commercial activities in public

elementary and secondary schools were rising " quickly. Since then, some

states have " passed laws limiting advertising activity in schools, " but

other states continue to explore the idea. While Miami-Dade officials " have

yet to move forward on any plans, " they say that they would " like individual

schools to choose whether or not to sell advertising. "

Also in the News

Youth literature ambassador says adults don't acknowledge difficulties of

reading.

USA Today (2/12, 6D, Toppo) reports on children's author Jon Scieszka who

was named by " the Library of Congress and the Children's Book Council " as

" the USA's first 'ambassador for young people's literature,' a sort of poet

laureate for the Harry Potter set. " He " will travel the USA over the next

two years, speaking to parents and school groups. " The post was created

" amid worries about children's reading skills. " Scieszka " says adults have

done a disservice to children in general -- and boys in particular " by

failing " to acknowledge how difficult reading is for many kids, " as well as

by providing reading material that is " pretty dull. "

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