Publications To read a press release on Reading First Implementation Evaluation: Interim Report, click here.
States Submit Highly Qualified Core Subject Teachers Plan: Results Still to Come
As required by the U.S. Department of Education, all states have submitted their revised plans for having all core academic subject classes taught by 'highly qualified teachers' according to the provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The plans will be peer reviewed for success in order to evaluate the success of each program and give final approval to the states.
For more information, click here.
Combating High School Dropout Rates
This year's increase in high school dropout rates has led to an influx in reports and recommendations on methods of improvement for years to come. Below are three reports recently made available.
Jobs for the Future has released a report that examines trends in the increasing national dropout rates, focusing on the historical patterns in dropout rates. Read more here.
A study by the National Center for Educational Accountability (NCEA) focuses on high-performing schools in order to determine the best educational practices, including rigorous course content to all students no matter what their past academic performance, instructional collaboration, differentiation rather than remediation, a focus on writing, a reliance on data to make a decision, and interventions in the classroom for every student. For more information, click here.
Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, faced with a decrease in results from the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP), has discussed the benefits of comparing higher-scoring schools with lower-scoring schools in order to develop interventions to reduce the dropout rate in schools across her city. In April, Granholm signed a new law mandating a complete rigorous core curriculum for all students, beginning with the class of 2011. For more about graduation requirements in Michigan, click here.
Former U.S. Secretary of Education Discusses the No Child Left Behind Act
EducationNews.org has released an interview with Rod Paige, U.S. Secretary of Education (2001"2005). Paige, who spearheaded the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), discusses the future initiative and impetus of NCLB, his thoughts on whether or not NCLB addresses the increasing needs of students with disabilities, and his new company affiliation with Chartwell Education Group.
To read the interview, click here.
New Web Site Gathers and Shares Policy Information
The National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) has launched a new Web site that shares information supporting changes to policy and practice at the national, state, and local levels. The site also maintains, in collaboration with Regional Resource Centers, a national database of state laws, policies, and regulations that govern special education in order to help improve services to youth with disabilities.
To view this Web site, click here.
