Spotlights Archive
2007
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February 19
Topic: Making Algebra Work: Instructional Strategies that Deepen Student Understanding
Audience: Mathematics Teachers (Grades 6–12), Mathematics Department Chairs, Principals, District-level Mathematics Supervisors, Mathematics Technical Assistance Providers, and Professors of Pre-service Mathematics Teachers
Sponsor: The Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement
Webcast Information: http://www.newmediamill.com/webcasts/ccsri/register/
135 Ohio Teachers Earn National Board Certification
Columbus, Ohio—In December 2007 the Ohio Department of Education announced that 135 of its teachers have joined the elite by becoming National Board Certified Teachers. National Board Certification (NBC) is an advanced teaching credential and a challenging professional development experience offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. NBC is a voluntary certification system based on high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. To learn more please visit: https://webapp1.ode.state.oh.us/cncs/
view.asp?id=894423743775481152
Computer-Based Teaching Tools Vault Indiana to National Forefront of Instruction, Assessment
Indianapolis, Indiana—Beginning Fall 2008, Indiana will help teachers improve student learning by offering new computer-based instructional tools to local schools on a voluntary basis. These resources offer educators unlimited access to on-demand checkups of student progress from Kindergarten through Grade 8. To learn more please visit: http://www.doe.state.in.us/reed/newsr/2007/
12-December/computer-based_system.html
Final Report Released on the National Assessment of Title I
Washington, DC—In a letter to Chairman George Miller of the Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, U.S. Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings announced the release of the National Assessment of Title I Final Report.
In her letter to Chairman Miller, Spellings reviews the report, which looks at data collected from the 50 states during the past several years.
View the press release.
View the letter from U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling to the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor.
View the National Assessment of Title I Final Report.
Indiana—Lakeside Elementary Receives National Recognition: Named Title I Distinguished School for Consistent High Achievement
October 3, 2007—"Representatives from the Indiana Department of the Education surprised students, faculty and staff at a local elementary school today with a national recognition that includes a $25,000 grant award. Lakeside Elementary School in MSD of Warren Township joins 60 schools honored nationwide as Title I Distinguished Schools by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Association of State Title I Directors." To learn more about the Lakeside Elementary award, visit http://ideanet.doe.state.in.us/reed/newsr/2007/10-October/Lakeside.html
Indiana—Handley Elementary Receives National Recognition: Named Title I Distinguished School for Consistent High Achievement
October 1, 2007—"Representatives from the Indiana Department of the Education surprised students, faculty and staff at a local elementary school today with a national recognition. LaPorte Community School Corporation's Handley Elementary School joins 60 schools honored nationwide as Title I Distinguished Schools by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Association of State Title I Directors." To learn more about the Handley Elementary award, visit http://ideanet.doe.state.in.us/reed/newsr/2007/10-October/Handley.html
Ohio—State Board of Education Recognizes High-Performing Schools and Districts
October 22, 2007—"State Board of Education members will honor schools and districts that performed well on the 2006-2007 Local Report Cards by delivering banners and certificates this month...The 139 school districts that received an Excellent designation on the 2006-2007 Local Report Card are receiving a congratulatory letter signed by President Sheets and Susan Tave Zelman, superintendent of public instruction. Banners will be presented to 62 districts that have received an Excellent designation for at least five consecutive years. The 1,150 individual schools that earned an Excellent designation will receive a congratulatory letter and a certificate to be displayed in the school." To learn more about these high-performing schools and districts, visit https://webapp1.ode.state.oh.us/cncs/view.asp?id=397686323192716931
Michigan—Department of Education Sets the Date for 5th and 6th Grade MEAP Writing Tests
October 19, 2007—"To prevent another security breach of the grade 5 and 6 MEAP writing prompts, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is requiring that all fifth and sixth graders in the state be given the replacement writing prompts as the first school activity on Wednesday, November 7, 2007. Last week, there was a security breach at a local school district of the MEAP writing prompt at grades 5 and 6. To ensure fairness to all students and to protect the federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status of each school giving that test, the department determined that all students in those grades be given a replacement writing prompt—a decision concurred in by the U.S. Department of Education on Thursday." To learn more about the new testing dates, visit http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-37818-178480--,00.html
Thousands More to Benefit From Full-Day Kindergarten
Indianapolis, Indiana—Full-day kindergarten (FDK) got a long overdue shot in the arm Sunday when Indiana lawmakers boosted two-year funding for state kindergarten grants to $92 million, a $75 million increase. The approved budget also increased basic school spending by 3.7 percent in each of the next two years. "Thousands more Indiana families will now have the opportunity to experience the benefits of full-day kindergarten firsthand," said Dr. Suellen Reed, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. "Though this falls short of our ultimate goal to make FDK available to every Indiana child, lawmakers took a significant step in the right direction." To learn more, visit http://www.doe.state.in.us/reed/newsr/2007/05-May/benefitFDK.html
Indiana Schools, Colleges Partner to Promote Student Achievement in Math and Science
Thirteen Indiana school corporations will share $3.1 million in federal funds designed to increase student achievement in math and science through partnerships with state colleges. Studies have linked student proficiency in math [and] science with later success in college and the workforce. Completion of Indiana's Core 40 curriculum, which includes a minimum of six credits each in math and science courses, will become a state requirement for high school graduates beginning with incoming freshmen this fall. To graduate with less than Core 40 (general diploma), students must formally opt-out with parental consent. To learn more, visit http://www.doe.state.in.us/reed/newsr/2007/04-April/math-sciencegrants.html
Flanagan Strongly Supports Funding for Education Technology in House Budget
Lansing, Michigan—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan today said that any recent controversy over proposed funding in the state’s School Aid budget for education technology does not diminish its need in the state’s classrooms. To learn more visit:
http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-
37818-166281--,00.html
Ohio Summit Focuses on International Education
Columbus, Ohio—Leaders from education, business and industry, foundations and government gathered today at the Ohio Historical Center for Ohio's first International Summit for Education to explore the implications of globalization and technological change for education, and to identify the resources and action steps required to ensure that Ohio's students are prepared to compete and collaborate successfully in a global economy and interconnected world. To learn more, visit https://webapp1.ode.state.oh.us/cncs/view.asp?id=111622163546546959
New Directory of Technical Assistance Service Providers and R&D Centers Available
The Directory is a compilation of technical assistance service providers and research and development centers funded by the U.S. Department of Education. It is intended to be a comprehensive, easily accessible guide that users can keep at their fingertips for contact information. To learn more visit: http://www.learningpt.org/greatlakeseast/resources/
directory.php
State Sees Gains on Federal Progress Measure
Indianapolis, Indiana—Slightly more than half (52 percent) of Indiana schools met the federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirement under the No Child Left Behind Act this year—an increase from 49 percent a year ago. Schools made the largest gains statewide in the special education and minority student populations. To learn more visit:
http://www.doe.state.in.us/reed/newsr/2007/04-April/
AYPgains.html
Leadership Awards in Early Childhood Education Announced
Columbus, Ohio—The Ohio Department of Education’s (ODE) Office of Early Learning and School Readiness will announce the recipients of the 2007 Irene Bandy-Hedden Leadership Awards at the Ohio Early Care and Education Conference tonight at the Columbus Convention Center. To learn more visit:
https://webapp1.ode.state.oh.us/cncs/view.asp?
id=377815781432535397
Indiana Announces Four Star Schools
Superintendent of Public Instruction Suellen Reed today announced the state’s Four Star School Award for the 2005-2006 school year. Of the 1,870 Indiana schools, 175 earned the award, the highest state distinction, which is based on overall attendance rates and student achievement on 2005 ISTEP+ assessment. To learn more visit: http://www.doe.state.in.us/reed/newsr/2007/03-March/4starsschools.html
Michigan State Board of Education Announces 23 Blue Ribbon Schools for 2006-2007
LANSING – The State Board of Education has announced that Michigan Blue Ribbons are being awarded to 23 elementary schools this year, recognizing outstanding improvement strategies throughout the state. To learn more visit: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140--162429--,00.html
Ohio State Board of Education to hear from Governor Strickland
Columbus – The State Board of Education will hold its monthly meeting March 12-13 at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road in Columbus. On Tuesday, Governor Ted Strickland will attend the meeting and take part in a discussion on education policy. On Monday, the Board will recognize Ohio’s 2006 Milken Educators – Anne Hartmann Cunningham of West Elementary School in Athens City School District, and Julie Herman of Compton Elementary School in Athens City School District. To learn more visit: https://webapp1.ode.state.oh.us/cncs/view.asp?id=491651397472719426
Secretary Spellings Launches Priorities for NCLB Reauthorization
On January 24, 2007, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings launched Building on Results: A Blueprint for Strengthening the No Child Left Behind Act. It was designed to provide additional tools to help America's students read and do mathematics at grade level by 2014. To Learn more about Building on Results, visit http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2007/01/01242007.html
Indiana Launches College Access Campaign
KnowHow2GoIndiana is part of a national effort to raise awareness among low-income students about the basic steps they need to take to turn college dreams into reality. To learn more, visit http://www.doe.state.in.us/reed/newsr/2007/01-January/CollegeAccess.html
Michigan State Test Scores Show Increases in Mathematics and Reading
A report from the Michigan Department of Education on January 22, 2007, showed that mathematics and reading scores on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) tests increased for the state's elementary and middle school students. To learn more, visit http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140--160514--,00.html
Ohio Adds 109 New National Board Certified Teacher
On January 11, 2007, The Ohio Department of Education announced that 109 Ohio teachers received their National Board Certification, which is the highest credential in the teaching profession. To learn more, visit https://webapp1.ode.state.oh.us/cncs/view.asp?id=244519246184953917
