November 15, 2011
Why Science Majors Change Their Minds
Much has been written of falling test scores in math and science placing American students behind their international peers. President Obama has made it a priority for colleges to increase the number of students graduating with degrees in the hard sciences: science, technology, engineering and math. In Read More…
November 15, 2011
Impact of Single-Sex Schools in Question
A recently published report in the September 2011 issue of the journal Science, questions the effectiveness of Singe-Sex education for improving student Read More…
October 24, 2011
| The Gateway to the Profession: Assessing Teacher Preparation Programs in Washington State Based on Student Achievement was released on the September 22, 2011. The study examines the relationship between teacher’s preparation program and it’s impact on student achievement, as measured by growth on the state’s standardized tests. The research employed a value-added methodology to confirm that the program a teacher attends matters when it comes to improving student performance. The study was limited to elementary school teachers and the programs from which they graduated. Importantly, it was noted that the teacher’s training program accounted for a small percentage of the overall effect (approximately 1%) but that accounts for more of the difference in student performance that the teacher’s experience or degree held. It is suggested that perhaps it is better to directly assess teacher’s actual classroom performance than on pre-service credentials.
This information may be helpful in recruiting and hiring teachers as well lead to answering questions as to what practices differentiate exemplary programs from their peers. This knowledge will ultimately assist all teacher training programs improve through adopting practices that have a proven track record of making a difference. |
October 4, 2011
In September the United States Department of Education released a proposal for revamping teacher preparation in America. The report, Our Future, Our Teachers: The Obama Administration’s Plan for Teacher Education Reform and Improvement, makes the administrations case for effective teacher preparation as a key component of improving American’s education system. Read More…
September 29, 2011
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently published the annual report, Education at a Glance, which highlights the importance of education and a person’s ability to find a job and earn a good living. The OCDE is an international economic organization comprised of 34 countries founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade
According to this report, the global economic crisis has had a significant impact on people without university degrees. Unemployment rates in 2009 among university graduates stood at 4.4% as compared to 11.5% for people who did not complete high school. Graduation trends indicate that 82% of young people internationally will complete the equivalent of high school, but those failing to graduate will face greater challenges in the job market. Unfortunately, in the United States graduation rates are averaging even less at around 75%. The result is over 50% of 15 to 19 year olds who are not in school are unemployed or out of the labor force.
The report called for increased spending on education based to improve the lives of individuals as well as the economic benefit from counties receive for this investment. Better-educated people were reported to be less likely to require unemployment benefits or need welfare. Additionally, better-educated workers contribute more in taxes. A person with a college education will pay back an average $91,000 in income taxes and social contributions above what the government has invested for his or her degree.
The report found that between 2000 and 2008, education expenditure increased at a faster rate than GDP in 25 of the 32 countries examined. Unfortunately, the current financial climate may have a negative impact on countries future abilities to continue investing in education.
go to the website: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/61/2/48631582.pdf
September 27, 2011
Congress failure to reauthorize NCLB since 2007 has placed the nations schools in a precarious position. Education Secretary Arne Duncan told Congress that the department of education estimates that 82 percent of America’s schools could fail to meet education goals set by No Child Left Behind this year. About 38,000 of 100,000 public schools fell short of their test-score targets last year, and Mr. Read More…
August 20, 2011
Authors: Kratochwill, T. R. Hitchcock, J. Horner, R. H. Levin, J. R. Odom, S. L. Rindskopf, and D. M Shadish, W. R. Read More…
July 27, 2011
The importance of teachers in promoting student achievement has been the topic of discussion in education circles for the past decade. During this period the role the principal plays in the building effective schools has received much less attention. The July 2011 release by Integrated Leadership Development Initiative and WestEd changes this by focusing on the principal with the publishing of paper on the available research for evaluating principal’s performance. Read More…
July 14, 2011
The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement released official results from their investigation into cheating on the state 2009 Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT). All public school students residing in the state of Georgia in grades 1-8 are required to take the CRCT in reading, English and math. Students in grades 3-8 also take science and social studies exams. Read More…
June 23, 2011
Combating absenteeism has become a major goal of public schools across America. Chronic absenteeism affects both the academic success of students and severely impacts the fiscal health of a school. Read More…