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Teacher Evaluation Plan Draws New Support
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A coalition of teacher-preparation groups came out at the last minute to support a controversial federal plan to track how well new teachers fare as they start teaching in the classroom.
While the groups represent a small segment of the teaching profession-only about 80,000 teachers out of millions-the move sets up a showdown with traditional players in the field.
Teachers become certified in a variety of ways, often at undergraduate- and graduate-level colleges of education. Educators and administrators at such schools have raised questions about federal overreach, the practicality of trying to keep track of every teacher's pathway after finishing training and the accuracy of relying on metrics to grade the programs.
Urban Teacher Center, Teach For America and seven additional alternative-certification programs planned to say on Monday that proposed rules by the U.S. Education Department, intended to weed out poor teacher-training programs, are essential to improving schools.
"The release of regulations by the [Education] Department signify a turning point in the increasing emphasis the U.S. is placing on the need for high-quality teachers in our nation's schools," read the joint statement, which arrived on the last day for public comment on the rules.
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Urban Education Symposium draws discussion on bolstering black youths, gender-specific schools
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"We've got to ask, 'Why are the children thirsty?' What's needed to provide every student a substantive and equal opportunity to learn?" said John Jackson, president of the Schott Foundation for Public Education and keynote speaker during the event at the Main Public Library in downtown.
"I know that you've been doing this for five years plus," Jackson said to a crowd of about 400 people. "I know some of you may be tired. ... There are a group of our children that need water. I hope, Jacksonville, that you will be committed to provide every student a fair and substantive opportunity to learn."
Jackson, who runs the foundation designed to foster and enhance educational opportunities for minorities based in Boston, drew applause from the crowd as he said many young black students were being adversely affected by public policies that make it difficult for minorities to advance. He called for an end to suspensions of black students from schools and encouraged more development of gender-specific schools such as those already operational in cities like Chicago and New York.
The Duval County School Board has already given approval to three similar schools set to begin operations in 2014, pending contract negotiations for construction and facilities. The three are so-called Valor Academy of Leadership schools and are intended to be gender specific.
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Urban Education Crisis Solved By Local Non-Profit Organization
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 The majority of urban school districts around the country face huge deficits, inadequate security, not enough funding and low test scores. For the last decade urban education has been in a crisis mode across this country with no resolution in sight until now! Urban schools are desperate for a solution that will work. The Revitalization Program of Philadelphia (a non-profit organization) has developed a strategic plan of action (short and long term) that will change the way we educate our youth in urban America.
We're planning to implement this new innovative program in the Philadelphia area by working with the Governor, Mayor, city council, community leaders, higher learning institutions, teachers, parents and students. Urban education needs a new beginning, a fresh start, a new prospective and a new plan of action we can be proud of when it comes to educating our youth. We believe this strategic plan of action can be the building blocks for a new foundation that will revitalize the urban school systems around the country, starting with Philadelphia.
Our strategic plan for education is the key to economic growth. It will provide an economic boost to the local economy as well as be a win-win situation for the City of Philadelphia, teachers, parents and students.
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Closing Education Gap Will Lift Economy, a Study Finds
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Study after study has shown a yawning educational achievement gap between the poorest and wealthiest children in America. But what does this gap costs in terms of lost economic growth and tax revenue?
That's what researchers at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth set out to discover in a new study that concluded the United States could ultimately enrich everybody by improving educational performance for the typical student.
When it comes to math and science scores, the United States lags most of the other 33 advanced industrialized countries that make up the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, ranking 24th, far behind Korea, Poland and Slovenia.
Moving up just a few notches to 19th - so that the average American score matched the O.E.C.D. average - would add 1.7 percent to the nation's gross domestic product over the next 35 years, according to estimates by the Washington Center, a nonpartisan, liberal-leaning research group focused on narrowing inequality. That could lead to roughly $900 billion in higher government revenue, more than making up for the cost of such an effort. >> READ MORE
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When the iPad made its debut in April 2010, the first Touchpress app-The Elements: A Visual Exploration-was right there with it. The app was actually an ebook in disguise, with stunningly beautiful and interactive 3D illustrations, and it seemed almost perfectly designed to rebut skeptics (and there were many) who believed tablets could only be niche gadgets. Elements truly showed us the iPad's potential as a vessel for rich, interactive experiences that wouldn't be the same on the iPhone or even on your Mac.
Since then, Touchpress has released more than 20 similarly rich coffee-tablebook-esque apps on science, math, music, literature, geography, and history. The studio's latest release, Molecules, is a worthy successor to The Elements-and, like that pioneering app, it was written and developed by Theodore Gray.
It's easy to see why Apple hailed Molecules as one of the best iPad apps of 2014. On the app's first page, Gray says that Molecules is not in any way intended to be a textbook-he likens it, instead, to a chemistry set, an interactive way to explore how atoms combine to make molecules, and how (and why) even molecules with very similar structures differ. The app's opening image of an old-school chemistry set serves as an immediate invitation to explore-like practically every illustration in the app, you can rotate and view it in 3D.
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CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH OUR QUIZ
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 M. H. West & Co., Inc. has developed a Black History Month quiz. It features images of several notable African-Americans both past and present. The challenge is to see how many individuals you recognize based on their image alone. On the back of the quiz there is an answer key which also lists some of the achievements of the historical figures. We thought this might be a fun and effective tool for you to use while teaching Black History Month. DOWNLOAD THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH QUIZ |
Our Education Services Are Always the Right fit
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All our educational programs are highly adaptable and can be customized to fit your schedule, venue and age group. See how our innovative methods raise the bar on your students academic success!  |
 Karen Kip Kite Kept Kevin Karl Kite's KitesThomas Turkle Tugged Today The Two Turtle Toy Trains. Chandler Cook Cooked Cajun Crispy ChickenSharon Salmon Shared Sharon Snow's Snow Shirt |
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M.H.West & Co., Inc. | Management & Education Consultants
919 E MAIN ST, STE 1302 | RICHMOND, VA 23219 804.782.1938 | [email protected] | mhwest.com
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