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Read about OVAE and other Department of Education announcements, including administrative changes and grant information. From the field, see Other News and Initiatives and Articles and Media Information.
Please note that the some of these archived articles may no longer be available at the URL listed. Registration may be required to access older articles.
CareerVoyages.gov
The U.S. Department of Labor, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education,
has developed this useful web tool that helps bridge the gap between education,
skills, and opportunities in the workforce.
Federal
Student Aid
This website assists students of all ages plan for education beyond high school.
National
High School Leadership Summit (October 8, 2003)
The Summit kicked off a new leadership initiative for high schools called, "Preparing
America's Future."
NCES Report
on Postsecondary Attainment (NCES, 2003)
Using postsecondary transcript data, NCES researchers have compiled a tabular
summary of the postsecondary attainment, attendance and performance of a sample
group of students.
Smaller Learning Communities Program (SLCP). OVAE announces the FY 2002 SLCP implementation and planning grantees. See the announcement and list of grantees.
Tech Prep Demonstration Program (TPDP). OVAE announces the FY 2002/2003 TPDP grantees. See the announcement and list of grantees.
Community Technology Centers Program (CTC). OVAE announces the FY 2003 CTC general and novice grantees. See the announcement and list of grantees.
Susan
Sclafani Named Acting Assistant Secretary.
President Bush also announced the intent to nominate Susan Sclafani to be Assistant
Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education.
OVAE Representation at State Vocational Education Conferences
One of OVAE's Deputy Assistant Secretaries, Hans Meeder, spoke at five regional
Career-Technical/Vocational Education conferences, from July 22 to August 4.
He visited North Carolina, Nevada, Tennessee, Ohio and Kansas to talk about
the proposed Secondary and Technical Education Excellence Program. More details
to come.
Distance
Education: Distance Education at Degree-Granting Postsecondary Institutions:
2000-2001 (NCES, 2003)
Report with data on postsecondary distance education programs, including data
on program goals, enrollments, degree programs, technologies used, and accommodations
for students with disabilities.
Condition
of Education, 2003 (National Center for Education Statistics, 2003)
NCES has released the latest version of The Condition of Education, which summarizes
important developments and trends in education using the latest available data.
Performance Measurement
Initiative
OVAE invites state teams to apply for participation in this initiative conducted
by the Academy for Educational Development (AED), in collaboration with MPR
Associates, Inc. and Johns Hopkins University to explore building a new performance
accountability system.
Grant Reviewers
Needed
The Division of High School, Postsecondary and Career Education is looking for
field/peer reviewers to evaluate applications in upcoming grant competitions.
FY 2004 Budget Proposal Released
The Administration has released its education budget proposals for fiscal year
2004. View the budget overview for the entire Department
of Education, and for OVAE.
Secondary and Technical
Education Excellence Program Proposed
Included in OVAE's FY 2004 budget proposal is a new program to ensure that high
school students receive high-quality academic and skills preparation that will
lead them to higher education and good jobs (Perkins Reauthorization).
Updated Guidance on High Quality Teachers. Guide for state officials on standards for highly qualified teachers under No Child Left Behind. The provisions require educators in core academic areas to be licensed by the state, hold a bachelor's degree, and demonstrate competence in their subject area.
Take Part in the State Scholars
Initiative!
The Center for State Scholars is now accepting applications from State business
and education coalitions and State business partnerships that are committed
to improving high school students' academic achievement. In collaboration with
the Center for State Scholars, States can establish policy and incentive systems
to support high school students in completing a rigorous course of study, preparing
them for postsecondary education and careers.
Implementation of No
Child Left Behind
Materials from regional conferences, including presentations on accountability,
annual yearly progress, teacher quality and other important facets of NCLB.
Request
for Applications: Adolescent Literacy Research
Successful applicants will conduct research projects to identify what contributes
to the development of reading and writing abilities in adolescents. The projects
also will help create methods for the identification, prevention, and remediation
of reading and writing disabilities in adolescents. Letters of intent are due
February 26 and are non-binding. Applications are due March 26, 2003.
Three Exciting New Initiatives Underway at OVAE
Read about three exciting new initiatives underway at OVAE: College
and Career Transitions Initiative; Community
College Labor Market Responsiveness Initiative; and Performance
Measurement Initiative.
What Works Clearinghouse
The Department of Education has established a clearinghouse for effective, research-based
practices in education. The group is currently soliciting topic areas for review.
Department Announces
"Evidence Report" Topics for the What Works Clearinghouse
Among the initial topics for which the Department is seeking exemplary programs,
practices, products, policies and studies are: (1) curriculum interventions
to increase high school math proficiency; (2) high school dropout prevention;
and (3) programs for increasing adult literacy.
School Choice: Doing It the Right Way Makes a Difference (Brookings Institution,
2003)
.
The National Working Commission on Choice in K-12 Education has released their
report on how communities can benefit from school choice and avoid any potential
damage presented by choice options.
NetDay Students Speak
Up (NetDay, 10/29/03)
On October 29th, students across the country will go online to speak up about
how technology can be used in schools.
Why
We Need a New Secondary School System: An Agenda for State Leaders (JFF, 2003)
Hilary Pennington of Jobs for the Future proposes a secondary school system
that is closely connected to postsecondary education to ensure that students
are prepared for additional education after high school.
Manufacturing
Talent Shortage Looms (National Association of Manufacturers, 2003)
The NAM has released a report detailing an upcoming talent shortage in manufacturing,
and calling for a national initiative to let young people know there are high-skilled,
high-paying jobs available in manufacturing.
Small
Schools and Race (Voices in Urban Education, Annenberg Institute for School
Reform, October 2003)
Articles from a number of school reform experts on how (and if) the small schools
movement translates into an urban school environment with a large minority enrollment.
Conference on Information
Technology (League for Innovation in the Community College, 2003)
October conference on using information technology to improve teaching and learning,
student services and institutional management.
Competition
Helps Schools (Manhattan Institute, 2003)
A new report says that Florida schools that felt most threatened by competition
from vouchers (under Florida's A+ program) improved the most.
Cross-sectoral Alliances in Education (Center on Educational Governance, 2003)
The Center on Educational Governance has issued a report on strategic alliances
between charter schools and outside organizations that have a stake in education
issues.
President
Bush Discusses Top Priorities for the U.S. (Press Conference of the President,
7/30/2003)
With regards to a question concerning the fundamental changes in the work force
and the economy, President Bush offered up community colleges as an option for
continuing education.
Now That I'm Here: What America's Immigrants Have
to Say About Life in the U.S. Today (Public Agenda, 2003)
Key Findings from this report prepared by the Public Agenda organization for
the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
UNESCO
Publishes New Bulletin (UNESCO-UNEVOC, April 2003)
UNESCO has published a new bulletin with updates on international efforts in
the field of technical and vocational education.
Community Colleges Eligible for Excellence
Awards (Jobs for the Future, 3/28/03)
Community colleges can apply now for the 2004 Metlife Excellence Awards, given
to colleges that are particularly effective in helping students from underserved
populations succeed in postsecondary education (deadline August 1, 2003).
Collaborative
to Improve State Higher Education Policy (National Center for Public Policy
and Higher Education, March 2003)
Three national higher education policy groups are collaborating to help states
evaluate their postsecondary education results and make improvements.
MIT Offers Invention Grants to High School Teams
High School InvenTeams--made up of students, their teacher and an industry mentor--can
apply for an MIT grant to invent something of value for their school or community.
Bridge Project Releases
Final Report on K-16 Links
Stanford University's Bridge Project has released its final report documenting
the disconnection between K-12 and postsecondary education, and making recommendations
to policy makers for making the transition between high school and college much
smoother.
Connecticut
Charter School Evaluation (Western Michigan University, 2002)
An independent evaluation of Connecticut charter schools found positive effects
on student achievement within the context of the state's strong accountability
systems.
Commitment to Youth in Australia (Dusseldorp
Skills Forum)
Australia's Dusseldorp Skills Forum has put together a package of material on
the benefits of providing every young Australian with 12 years of learning and
access to decent work. The package includes a policy paper, a report on focus
groups with young people, five fact sheets on key issues related to youth learning
and transition to work, a presentation from the business perspective, and additional
resources and links.
Philadelphia
Introduces Major High School Reforms
The Philadelphia school district plans to completely overhaul its high school
system, offering more challenging academic courses, providing twice as many
guidance counselors, ensuring that entering freshman are well-prepared, and
engaging in a five-year capital construction effort.
California's Teacher
Quality Index
A California legislator has spurred the development of a teacher quality index
for California school districts that reveals the overall quality of teaching
in a district and the spread of quality teaching among district schools.
21st Century Skills
Initiative (Benton Foundation, 2003)
The Benton Foundation has announced an initiative to help underserved young
adults acquire "21st Century Skills" through community-based strategies
that use media and communications tools.
Youth Policy Fellowship
The American Youth Policy Form has announced annual fellowships to young scholars
or scholar-practitioners. Fellows study issues in youth policy, practice, research
or program evaluation, focusing particularly on disadvantaged youth. The first
Fellowship begins in Summer 2003.
New Family Literacy Initiatives
The Partnership
for Reading is introducing two new family literacy initiatives that will
bring research-based practice to bear on professional development for family
literacy professionals.
Teens and School Success
Involved parents, high expectations and mentoring are some of the factors that
relate to positive achievement for teens at school.
Excellence in Community Colleges (Jobs for the Future and Metlife)
Community colleges can apply this spring for the Excellence
in Community College Practice awards, which focus on colleges that are especially
effective in helping students from underserved populations succeed in postsecondary
learning.
No Child Left Behind
Reference Guide
The Department of Education has issued a desktop reference guide for the No
Child Left Behind Act, outlining its effects on each program supported under
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and describing the new law's four
guiding principles (accountability, flexibility and local control, parental
choice, and what works).
An
Early Taste of College (ASCD Eduation Update, December 2003)
The Early College High School Model shows promise in motivating average or low-performing
students to achieve.
Report
Examines Motivation Among Students (Education Week, 12/10/03)
The National Research Council released a report showing that many high school
students are disengaged from learning, but schools can make changes to motivate
their students.
In ESEA Wake,
School Data Flowing Forth (Education Week, 12/10/03).
Education Week looks at state education data two years after the passage of
NCLB, and assembles comparative data across the states in several key areas.
Why Choice is Good for
Teachers (Education Next, Winter 2004).
David J. Ferrero argues that teachers would be happier and work better in schools
that supported their own philosophies of teaching, which means we need a wide
variety of schools from which to choose.
Engaging the Disengaged
(American School Board Journal, December 2003).
High school students are susceptible to outside influences that take their attention
away from the classroom, but teachers can structure lessons so learning is meaningful
and students are fully engaged.
Beyond Testing:
The 7 Disciplines for Strengthening Instruction (Education Week, 11/12/03).
District leaders can make systemwide changes to improve teaching and learning.
No Drive-by Teachers (Carnegie Perspectives, October 2003)
Lee S. Shulman argues that accountable teachers are those who take the time
to make sure students are learning to high standards, and to make changes in
method if they are not.
Schools
Offered Money to Go Small (The Oregonian, 10/31/03)
A business group in Portland has offered to fund the breaking up of large high
schools into small schools focused on achievement.
No Parent Left
Behind (Christian Science Monitor, 10/28/03)
NCLB has spurred school districts across the country to find innovative ways
to reach out to and include parents in their children's education.
Rethinking
Thinking (Christian Science Monitor, 10/14/03)
Colleges are trying to instill criticial thinking in their undergraduate students,
so they have the skills for lifelong learning.
Career
Programs Under Construction (Catalyst, October 2003)
Chicago Public Schools is revamping its career and college transition programs
to help students make a smooth transition into life after high school.
States
Urged to Make High School a Priority, or Face Consequences (Education Week,
10/8/03)
A group of state leaders, policymakers and business representatives met to talk
about how American high schools could offer more choices and graduate students
who are more prepared for work or college.
Online
School Keeps Kids in Line (Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/8/03)
A Cincinnata virtual high school learns how to keep students on track and achieving
in an unconventional atmosphere.
The Great Escape
(Christian Science Monitor, 10/7/003)
There are enough teachers for hire at the moment, but teachers are leaving the
profession faster than they're entering it.
Deciding
to Teach Them All (Educational Leadership, October 2003)
Using a challenging curriculum for all students leads a teacher to deeper questions
about student abilities and achievement.
City
School Rules on Hiring Found to Deter Teachers (Education Week, 9/24/03)
Urban districts lose out on quality teachers because of hiring practices, not
lack of qualified candidates.
NY Charter Schools
Surpassing Public Schools (wnbc.com, 9/11/03)
A state report shows that charter schools in New York are showing "dramatic
increases" in student performance compared to their traditional public
school counterparts.
Flexible
School Facilities (DesignShare, September 2003)
School design can incorporate the needs of the future as well as those of the
present.
Got Skills?
(Christian Science Monitor, 09/02/03)
There will be a shortage of skilled employees in 10 years, but employers can
take steps now to foster a skilled workforce.
Small Schools Encouraged in San Francisco (San Francisco Chronicle, 8/25/03)
The San Francisco school district is providing resources and encouragement to
entrepreneurs within the public school system who want to start and run small
schools.
AP Courses Not for Everyone, Educator Says (Washington Post, 8/5/03)
Some think AP classes should be limited to top students, but there is evidence
that mid-level students can rise to the challenge.
Grades That Mean Something
(George Lucas Educational Foundation, 2003)
A California charter school breaks grades down into eight specific categories
so students can identify their strengths and weaknesses.
Where are the
Future Scientists? (Christian Science Monitor, 7/29/03)
Science-technology companies are trying to attract girls to the field by showing
them its interactive, team-oriented side.
Who
Needs Certification? (Wall Street Journal, 7/29/03)
The Summerbridge program uses dedicated high school and college students to
teach disadvantaged urban youth in a rigorous academic setting.
The Ultimate Shop Project: $1.3 Million Home (Washington Post, 7/10/03)
Fairfax county students combine academics and building skills in a unique vocational
education program.
Agent of
Change (Education Week, 7/09/2003)
Superintendent Eric J. Smith believes that all children can learn, and he's
making big changes in Maryland's Anne Arundel County to prove it.
Program Sends Kids to College for Free (CNN.com/Education 1/30/02)
The
100 Best High Schools in America (Newsweek, 6/2/03)
Newsweek has chosen the 100 best high schools in the U.S. based on the percentage
of students taking challenging Advanced Placement course.
Schools
Seek a Higher Standard for Grades (Washington Post, 4/14/03)
Montgomery county school leaders want grades to reflect academic achievement
only, not effort or behavior in the classroom.
Grammar Valued More in College Than in
High School (Chicago Sun-Times, 4/9/03)
College instructors are looking for proper grammar in student writing but high
school English teachers often don't teach grammar.
Colleges to Create 15 High Schools to Help Kids At Risk (Sacramento Bee, 4/3/03)
California community colleges will create 15 small high schools where students
can earn both a high school and an Associate's degree, smoothing the transition
to postsecondary education for disadvantaged students.
America's
High School Crisis: Policy Reforms That Will Make a Difference (Education Week,
4/2/03)
Tom Vander Ark of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation puts forth essential
elements for high school reform (requires registration; free).
"Bot"
Competition Inspires Technical Teamwork (Christian Science Monitor, 4/1/03)
A national robotics competition for high school students emphasizes teamwork
as much as results.
Bush Eyes Changes to Vocational Schools (Boston Globe, 3/31/03)
The Administration wants to ensure that vocational programs give students a
rigorous academic grounding as well as a trade.
City School
District Charting Revolutionary Course (Buffalo News, 3/30/03)
The Buffalo School District is looking into the idea of setting up district-sponsored
charter schools.
Radio
Rookies (What Kids Can Do, March 2003)
New York City students create radio projects at the Columbia School of Journalism
lab and take their personal stories on the air.
Forging Habits
of Inquiry at Urban Academy (What Kids Can Do, March 2003)
High school students at a New York academy learn to ask the questions and defend
their answers in a rigorous, self-directed learning program.
Where Girls and Tech Make a Match (Washington Post, 3/20/03)
Women in technology fields are mentoring girls to overcome perceived barriers
to careers in science and technology.
Paige Backs Reform in Certification of Teachers (Washington Times, 3/19/03)
The Secretary of Education gave his support to alternative certification for
teachers that focuses on subject matter knowledge instead of education degrees.
A Radical Formula for Teaching Science (Washington Post, 3/18/03)
Joy Hakim has written a textbook that emphasizes the story of science instead
of disconnected facts, and many in the scientific community applaud the effort.
Bill
Would Simplify Teacher Firings (Houston Chronicle, 3/18/03)
School administrators in Austin, Texas want more discretion to fire incompetent
teachers.
Teaching the American Way (Washington Post, 3/11/03)
Columnist Jay Mathews says American education methods that encourage independent
thinking are appreciated and emulated by educators and parents around the world.
Western Governors
University Opens New Online College for Teachers (Chronicle of Higher Education,
3/11/03)
Western Governors University will let prospective teachers earn certification
online, and that may help ease the nationwide teacher shortage.
Charter
Laws Targeted in Fiscal Tilts (Education Week, 3/5/03)
In lean budget times, some states are seeking to scale back or eliminate charter
schools.
Students
Learn Skills in Restaurant Project (Houston Chronicle, 3/5/03)
A Houston school now has its own Outback Steakhouse, which is acting as a business
laboratory for budding entrepreneurs.
The Rote Stuff (Teacher Magazine, March 2003)
The No Child Left Behind Act provides funds for a math development program designed
by a parent and featuring timed tests. (Requires registration to view)
Is the Shine Off
the A.P. Apple? (American School Board Journal, March 2003)
More students are taking challenging A.P. courses in high school because of
the College Board's commitment to access and equity, but some fear equity comes
at the price of excellence.
Administrators
Join Testing Support Group (Catalyst, Cleveland, February/March, 2003)
School district administrators in Cleveland find they can make more sense of
data when they combine their efforts.
Rural Schools Use Place-Based Learning to Help Students Achieve (Rural School
and Community Trust, 02/03)
Building curriculum from projects connected to the local community helps rural
schools keep students interested and raises achievement.
Grants
for Alternative High Schools (Gates Foundation, 2/26/03)
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is sponsoring nine organizations that
will create partnerships to develop alternative high schools nationwide.
Great Expectations
and Creative Teachers (Christian Science Monitor, 2/25/03)
A Boston high school business class combines classroom learning with solid workplace
experience, and helps students save for college.
They
Fail to Connect (New York Daily News, 2/10/03)
Reporters from the Daily News called school districts rated as "failing"
under No Child Left Behind to ask about transferring children to better schools.
School officials gave wrong or bad advice about 50% of the time (For the real
facts on parents' options to transfer their children out of underperforming
schools, see the No Child Left Behind webpage on parent
choice).
Parent
Involvement in Migrant Education is at Home, Not at School (Ascribe Newswire,
2/3/03)
Traditional school parent involvement programs may not take different cultural
patterns into account.
District
Turns Focus to High School Improvement (Cleveland Catalyst, December/January
2003)
The Cleveland school district is reforming high schools by creating smaller
learning communities, eliminating remedial classes and scheduling classes to
run for 90 minutes instead of 40 (includes links to related articles).
CSU
Freshmen lag in English, Math (Sacramento Bee, 1/29/03)
Incoming freshmen to California's state university system need extensive remediation
in basic skills.
Class Menagerie
(Education Week, 1/29/03)
Cincinnati high school students can take part in the Zoo Academy, which stresses
strong academic skills and hands-on experience in studying and caring for animals.
Schooled the
Sundance Way (Christian Science Monitor, 1/28/03)
Students in Park City, Utah get their start on a film career through a middle
school screen writing program.
Not for
the Timid (Education Week, 1/22/03)
Hayes Mizell says that communities, school systems and schools need to work
together for bold education reform.
Geek is Chic
(Florida Educational Technology Corporation, January 2003)
Two Florida educators develop a program that attracts girls to technology--with
the help of the girls themselves.
Turning
Senior Year on Its Ear (Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/16/03)
Cherry Hill High School East in New Jersey is giving seniors more to chew on
in their final year, including meaningful work and projects.
R.I. Plans to
Personalize High Schools (Education Week, 1/15/03)
Rhode Island's state board of regents approved a plan to make high schools smaller
and more personal, and to institute performance-based assessments.
Where
The Girls Aren't (New York Times, 1/12/03)
Educators struggle to get more girls into advanced computer classes.
School
Indicators for Parents (Center for Community Change, 1/03)
Summary of how well individual school report cards convey information to parents,
and suggestions for parents on what to look for in the report cards.
Myths vs. Realities on No Child
Left Behind (Education Trust, 1/03)
The Education Trust exposes some myths about the No Child Left Behind Act and
encourages states to use the law to improve education for all children.
Teacher Quality Lacking in High-Minority, High-Poverty Schools (Education
Week, 1/8/03)
An Education Week analysis reveals that teachers in high-minority, high-poverty
schools are less likely to have majored in their subject and more likely to
be inexperienced than their peers in more affluent schools.
Effective Instructional Strategies (NCCSR Bookmark Series, January 2003)
The Assistant Superintendent of Arlington Public Schools (VA) describes how
the district developed instructional strategies that resulted in greater understanding
among students and contributed to a reduction in the achievement gap.
Teacher Quality
Lags in Poorer Schools (Christian Science Monitor, 1/7/03)
High-poverty schools have more teachers without a major in the subject they
teach and more inexperienced teachers than low-poverty schools.
A Decade of
Charter Schools (Christian Science Monitor, 1/7/03)
After ten years, charter schools show both successes and failures, but it is
likely their full impact has not yet been measured.
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