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<div>February 11, 2014 - In This Issue:</div>
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<div><a style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-decoration:none;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;" shape="rect" href="http://mail.aol.com/38366-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27586843&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK45">Some alternative paths equal dead ends</a></div>
</td></tr><tr><td style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-decoration:none;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;border-bottom:2px dotted #8c8d8d;border-color:#8c8d8d;padding:7px 0px 7px 0px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" align="left" valign="top">
<div><a style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-decoration:none;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;" shape="rect" href="http://mail.aol.com/38366-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27586843&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK44">The realities of pre-K expansion in NYC</a></div>
</td></tr><tr><td style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-decoration:none;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;border-bottom:2px dotted #8c8d8d;border-color:#8c8d8d;padding:7px 0px 7px 0px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" align="left" valign="top">
<div><a style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-decoration:none;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;" shape="rect" href="http://mail.aol.com/38366-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27586843&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK43">Seismic ideological shift toward preschool</a></div>
</td></tr><tr><td style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-decoration:none;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;border-bottom:2px dotted #8c8d8d;border-color:#8c8d8d;padding:7px 0px 7px 0px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" align="left" valign="top">
<div><a style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-decoration:none;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;" shape="rect" href="http://mail.aol.com/38366-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27586843&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK42">The evolution of public kindergarten</a></div>
</td></tr><tr><td style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-decoration:none;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;border-bottom:2px dotted #8c8d8d;border-color:#8c8d8d;padding:7px 0px 7px 0px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" align="left" valign="top">
<div><a style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-decoration:none;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;" shape="rect" href="http://mail.aol.com/38366-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27586843&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK53">High-test vs. low-test</a></div>
</td></tr><tr><td style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-decoration:none;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;border-bottom:2px dotted #8c8d8d;border-color:#8c8d8d;padding:7px 0px 7px 0px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" align="left" valign="top">
<div><a style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-decoration:none;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;" shape="rect" href="http://mail.aol.com/38366-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27586843&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK55">Not just new assessments; new philosophy</a></div>
</td></tr><tr><td style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-decoration:none;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;border-bottom:2px dotted #8c8d8d;border-color:#8c8d8d;padding:7px 0px 7px 0px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" align="left" valign="top">
<div><a style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-decoration:none;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;" shape="rect" href="http://mail.aol.com/38366-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27586843&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK54">Second line of attack in Vergara</a></div>
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<div><a style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-decoration:none;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;" shape="rect" href="http://mail.aol.com/38366-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27586843&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK46">BRIEFLY NOTED CALIFORNIA</a></div>
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<div><a style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-decoration:none;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;" shape="rect" href="http://mail.aol.com/38366-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27586843&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK56">BRIEFLY NOTED</a></div>
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<div><a style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-decoration:none;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;" shape="rect" href="http://mail.aol.com/38366-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27586843&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK19">GRANTS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES</a></div>
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<a name="aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK60"></a><table id="aolmail_content_LETTER.BLOCK17" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;padding:8px 25px 9px 25px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" align="left" valign="top">
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<div style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;"><span style="color: #f14e23;"><b>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Getting it together for SPED</div>
</b></span></div>
<div style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span>Wide
gaps in graduation rates between students with disabilities and those
in general education raise the stakes for next year's first-ever federal
evaluation of state special education, writes Christina Samuels in
Education Week. U.S. Department of Education data show a four-year
graduation-rate gap that ranges from a high of 43 percentage points in
Mississippi to a low of 3 percentage points in Montana. Nationally, the
largest proportion of students with disabilities -- 41 percent -- are
classified as having "specific learning disabilities," including
dyslexia or auditory processing disorders. The second-largest group,
18.5 percent, have speech and language impairments. Most of these
students are expected, with appropriate supports, to achieve at
grade-level standards. Since the reauthorization of the IDEA in 2004,
states have been required to collect various special-education
indicators and submit those data federally. These indicators do not
relate to student results, but to factors such as how quickly
individualized education plan (IEP) meetings are scheduled, or whether
high school</span><span>-</span><span>aged students have postsecondary
goals in their IEPs. By next year, states will be asked to create
"systemic improvement plans" that comprehensively address how they'll
improve outcomes for students with disabilities. States that fall short
of federal requirements -- a standard still under development -- risk
having federal funds reallocated to problem areas, or even withheld.</span> </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4nqmSgRcdXRNuXhfgtCfWcm88IDrBrOrVgZ-ZRDA26ZMSls4FBFbyLWEfB0EVe8L-UYh-Qs_4LftDPJIbeUluIAjAP9z12BqTlaUEHmQIg-LWXd1ZRZODtyRff6Pr06sRdi1p24tATLTlP_KaliNt1SpFfChXCiKshToAY4cR4iE7Lx2FqInSC7McQcmoeltRsfKB8fU2kLpg==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
</div>
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<div>
<div style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;"><span style="color: #f14e23;"><b>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Alternate diplomas, dead ends</div>
</b></span></div>
<div style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The alternate diploma
that many Mississippi special-education students choose if they can't
meet academic requirements for a regular diploma is a roadblock to
higher education and a career, write Jackie Mader and Sarah Butrymowicz
in The Hechinger Report. Students in the state are much less likely to
graduate with a regular diploma after classification with a disability.
The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Mississippi found the majority of state
special-education students receive an occupational diploma or a
certificate of completion, and as a result, thousands of capable
students leave high school with few career and educational options, even
if wrongly placed in special education or having minor or highly
specific learning disabilities. This is particularly common when
students are black or Hispanic: Most states, including Mississippi,
diagnose twice as many African-American students as having emotional or
intellectual disabilities as white students, according to the Equity
Alliance. In the 12 years since its "occupational track'' was developed,
Mississippi's 15 community colleges have wavered on admitting alternate
diploma graduates. Only seven accept alternate diploma students into
academic programs. No universities in Mississippi accept occupational
diplomas -- nor do four-year colleges. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4mOAc1J3BNI_wucznnEpq_5ZD1HwwQ-rL89yvNgrf39NX-PnlkpZCuCYBzWRhV4yyBCxth0iN8tTuu-WFX3RSqZeivv3tkyaui62swjfF35fc0WODJPj-LaTAWtIuhVI62kLo9qxbL2Vhstc6DRU8XM0LZXLBOCjVwWnfZmt1_UYxiE7VxkKaZqpmJETQ-csc38xxsfo8JZ_HwUm4ufqdtrwLL6jEnGBj0=" shape="rect">More</a></div>
</span></div>
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<div>
<div style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;"><span style="color: #f14e23;"><b>The realities of pre-K expansion in NYC</b></span></div>
<div style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">In an op-ed on NPR's
WNYC, Elizabeth Hartline argues that New York Mayor Bill de Blasio's
proposed universal high-quality preschool agenda will fail. The reason
is simple, she says. Most of the proposed expansion will take place at
community-based organizations (CBOs), rather than at public schools.
Public schools give a week off at Christmas, a week in February, a week
in April, and two months in summer, as well as excellent insurance and a
pension. CBOs offer four weeks paid vacation throughout the year at a
school that rarely closes, with mediocre insurance and pension. CBOs
have a longer day and fewer programmatic supports; maximum salaries,
even for those who teach 30 years, are lower than starting salaries in
public school pre-K. Importantly, CBOs pay rent. Allocating the same
amount of money to pre-k programs at CBOs as to public schools gives
CBOs less to work with, leading to lower salaries and staffing
challenges. Assistant teachers, who typically have less training, stay,
while head teachers turn over. The projected new pre-k sites will not be
replicas of the highly lauded Perry Preschool Project or even similar
to those in New Jersey's Abbott districts, Hartline says. They will
merely be childcare. Some CBOs do it brilliantly, most will not. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4kKaOQ-vk_el-jnT1zSR6mcLpQ0Q7N4d1SU1vj5n9O5BU8aA8JcTeUfXb0kMfZauaF2hW7yfBpXZrUWJNEvglseVPlfEDGptbv66uFtI83HCK1H328HjmUgceMZ4y6QKeDcG9J2dDS0jJxkvlngyzdegyjJM0ccaF694gBse8j6jQ==">More</a>. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4lsGbiQxcq64WEQnjJ9DfexmsC4cLaE1oV_c855WYPTMxbqlAH6poSq6bdq_nxbTMwHhTX0QnjzeXG3QRMl7qI_BCxF_CUXeZhC8wGaW6Y2YiBQipkmbJjVT2eZxxQFEP2AHgHcob8kCxQpCIMiI41X09tLmlZUSiJd8aIAYFxDcuo2IczzYMval1N-mwhNpiykT_HIMCCbcPPwgHuXYpYYj8b5oeTx-og=">Related</a></div>
</span></div>
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<div>
<div style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;"><b>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Seismic ideological shift toward preschool</div>
</b></div>
<div style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span>Republican
governors and lawmakers who control state capitols have been pushing
aggressively to cut spending and shrink government, but with one notable
exception, writes David Lieb for the Associated Press. Many are pumping
money into preschool at a rate equal to or exceeding Democratic
counterparts. The push reflects a widespread determination among
conservatives that this part of the social safety net deserves more
governmental help, a trend that could mean creation of a new educational
entitlement at a time when both parties are concerned about entitlement
program costs. For the GOP, preschool spending will likely have
positive political consequences: Research indicates preschool help
appeals to the blue-collar voters important to broadening the party's
base of support. State funding to help families afford preschool plunged
during the recession but has surged back and is now $400 million higher
than before the downturn, according to the Education Commission for the
States. James Heckman, a Nobel Prize</span><span>-</span><span>winner
in economics at the University of Chicago (home to Milton Friedman), has
calculated that money spent on quality preschool for disadvantaged
children generates an annual 7 to 10 percent return by boosting their
eventual wages and reducing likelihood of their ending up in prison or
in costly social welfare programs. Fewer than half of the nation's 3-
and 4-year-olds attend publicly funded preschool.</span> </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4kQAgVzUHvdH_jKPNQj3866E67icl1LpjVjdq5GS0dM-XVLVW08UAs8n30oTZLn40MMqhI1dPOo9LLO0GRAO8KwJfZ8KmGqJVGYXSvbqJY18z5P8nn2wILWX57gNgNqvjMTFW6TA-7iMVkqxrImf8OCMXuaXCyfXAKsLGnfkNZqOXm8kK19M_T6Cy8Wa-3KXWaeU0HQ5J_FBkSGV7iVR9jEHlVbuTXZp8C0m1Hwbh0sJA==">More</a></div>
</div>
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<div>
<div style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;"><span style="color: #f14e23;"><b><span>The evolution of public kindergarten</span></b></span></div>
<div style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">A new study from
EdPolicyWorks examines how kindergarten changed between 1998 and 2006,
in what way kindergarten in 2006 resembled first grade of the late '90s,
and whether changes over this period were systematically different in
schools with high proportions of non-white students or students eligible
for free and reduced-price lunch (FRPL). Using two nationally
representative data sets, the paper found that today's kindergarten
classrooms focus on more-advanced academic content, are more
literacy-focused, and rely more heavily on teacher-directed whole-group
instruction. Yet the changes are not a wholesale shifting of the first
grade curriculum down by a year. Kindergarten in 2006 is distinct from
both kindergarten and first grade in the late '90s in that students are
exposed to much less physical education, science, and social studies,
and much more standardized testing. Results also suggest that while time
per week spent on reading and language arts increased in all schools,
in schools serving the most students eligible for FRPL, the increase was
18 minutes more per week. The overall effect of these changes for young
children is an important open question, the authors write. Critics of
academically focused kindergarten caution that heavy academic content is
not "developmentally appropriate." At the same time, research suggests
that advanced content can improve the learning trajectories of young
children. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4lNDglKsOM6S1n13Va_kgO87f_N8xMVJ1FuTQeu2tH2_U2zgDZ1qgD2HuaxXiSRsZG_CXQQA9AsraaDF7VJYQvq6asP7WoEaeOGkYzBqBttt0vsRPLUOo_8emkAFtmPkpDtCZkTnVrKRaP7-IoEWOt8iZp-EX82S9As2nDyy9jN6IpNkrGyuARJZM3Y7xIv_aUEOK2gYBDXIXcL4TFFADEs">More</a></div>
</span></div>
</div>
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<div>
<div style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;"><span style="color: #f14e23;"><b>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">High-test vs. low-test</div>
</b></span></div>
<div style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">A new report from Teach
Plus finds that across 12 urban districts, time students spend on state
and district tests equals 1.7 percent of the school year in third and
seventh grade, and substantially less in kindergarten. Variation across
districts is large, with high-test districts spending five times as many
hours on testing. After nine school years, this amounts to 22
instructional days. Teachers calculated test-administration time as more
than double the length reported in district calendars in elementary
grades, three times as much in kindergarten. In seventh grade, reported
time-on-testing was closer to district calculations. The study
recommends that districts evaluate their testing regimes in light of
knowledge that no uniformity of "testing in America" exists; there are
wide-ranging expectations that vary considerably. Teacher comments make
clear that when tests are aligned with the curriculum and standards, and
are part of a teacher's regular instructional practice, time allocated
for testing is less important for student outcomes. Assessments
associated with the Common Core, which aims to measure higher-order
skills, may take more time than bubble tests, but should provide
meaningful data on student progress. District leaders should listen to
teachers about which tests are worthwhile, and work with teachers to
streamline testing in high-test districts. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4kfztzBtyBaOqAAvz9kulyMMbHw7yDvy6wvSCgQ5nMJnFLBxEcGaJKN_-CJOCdBJg2zc73NDUlHZuG8A4FHQ5oLHToNrkXRO7fJrKhuQb7bTAgal8NDBw2f8Umm0h9gRqckXwZv4S9JdTkjMmqOHWKrDqsdJmSlPJfFXK49drZPafTDMON_nAdf4OChwyFexCxtg45ZAuhPbZWP23gFSTmchtPgAK3b9J0=">More</a></div>
</span></div>
</div>
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<div>
<div style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;"><span style="color: #f14e23;"><b>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Not just new assessments; new philosophy</div>
</b></span></div>
<div style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">An article on the NAESP
website by Linda Darling-Hammond calls for Common Core-aligned
assessments to be much broader than standardized tests of the NCLB era,
measuring a full range of higher-order thinking skills and education
outcomes, including critical thinking, communication, collaboration,
social-emotional competence, moral responsibility, and citizenship. They
must also be part of a framework that considers multiple measures of
valued outcomes in all decisions about students, educators, and schools.
Decisions about student promotion, placement, and graduation -- as well
as teacher, principal, and school evaluation -- should not be based on a
single test, but on a combination of classroom and school measures
appropriate to the students, curriculum, and context of the decision.
The new assessments must also become part of an accountability system
that replaces the old test-and-punish philosophy with one that aims to
assess, support, and improve. Tests should be used not to place
sanctions, but to provide information, and in conjunction with other
indicators, to guide educational improvement. If used wisely,
performance assessments can potentially address multiple education goals
through a concerted investment. Not only will pedagogical capacity be
enhanced, assessment will remain focused on its central purpose:
learning for all involved. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4lWv5YDl2nBvGAFbbLjMk3CACn6cJFsjtWyjL2Ken4ErwCh5-jmFkSsKTaEXwbIcTHD1zyrQPxrDMC5EpKIOx0WNdZTsNvAB2Z6AnP2SmGSwquRSFQdL4rFN45uMpoxtcdi-K4RWbyxUJVcvP-uXflVm04ZWcIVFHY5Z-vgtmSrvQSHJiOlW-sHYFpioWoCR3fidBG8FQ9bfG_EfIjH6pE9JNzV3rgiO3MC2OUqkguD8g==">More</a></div>
</span></div>
</div>
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<div>
<div style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;"><span style="color: #f14e23;"><b>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Second line of attack in Vergara</div>
</b></span></div>
<div style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The potentially
game-changing Vergara v. California lawsuit has been accompanied by an
aggressive public-relations campaign, writes Louis Freedberg in
EdSource. The efforts seem to ensure that the suit has impact far beyond
Los Angeles. This one-sided communications war flows from a single
person -- David Welch -- and is a case study in the impact an individual
can have with resources to back up his beliefs. The sophisticated
campaign from communications firm Griffin|Schein vastly amplifies the
voice of Students Matter, founded in 2010 by Welch. Students Matter has
no staff, or even office, but instead is run out of Griffin|Schein. The
organization's sole purpose, as described on its website, is "sponsoring
impact litigation to promote access to quality public education." In
weeks leading up to the trial, media outlets received a stream of emails
and announcements about pending proceedings. No significant
communications counterattack has come from the State of California or
the California Teachers Association and the California Federation of
Teachers. The Los Angeles Times has run reports each day on the trial
during its opening week, but most outlets haven't covered beyond the
first day. Those in the media and elsewhere who want summaries of the
proceedings may have as their main source of information the daily
bulletins put out by the plaintiffs. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4kky_0gaQ56oEnKKefyYw6wEGRjpozLkNYpzUeoXV826i7yg6J8rjgHjmnTUVn72vCntwZj2cOTVYTUeCdHRqv8WiQ8fiKxzfhAAKwXrkjuUi2nsXPzc-bW_LrLwKRSQGshpk5f3ubMXHXVb2MLaNHwVpdzmhB-HHfz-qmw-O6aSMgXdAl_lWXThXKLueqS_8-5UxYlUa8aj43H_9wLhETibaWDtx79u-p7WbUImOQ1yacSt2D6aUjHxnImRoXSOMdTkOpk1U8uzQ==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
</span></div>
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<td style="background-color:#989898;padding-bottom:3px;height:1px;line-height:1px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" height="1" align="center" bgcolor="#989898" valign="top"><img style="display: block;" alt="" src="http://img.constantcontact.com/letters/images/1101116784221/S.gif" height="1" border="0" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="5"></td>
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<div><b>BRIEFLY NOTED CALIFORNIA</b></div>
</td></tr><tr><td style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;padding:8px 25px 18px 25px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" align="left" valign="top">
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #f14e23;"><strong>Ultra-transparent</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">California State
Controller John Chiang has asked every public district in the state to
provide salary and benfit information for all employees and elected
officials so that it can be posted on the web and shared with the
public. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4nOejMUNSxVthXJMy7EIn9k4CjaInG2k58VaPnpeLvAStfFa-uFnV7xkGtSj_DciQeecpFBiEFbQoDZEDljqTZ1P0BmvWu4JFzz2NiMxgDziocAGBP1P8fDNjzjCJMbAnAY8F5XVo-BjVZjsEIgfk_KrHf04RJ2nSPrVyELtcQ_htqJeCnjkNWmkT9HITdHp2f0KXPcnLhbiVGRase9QJkF" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #f14e23;"><b>Surcharge</b></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Still struggling to find
a fiscal footing in the wake of the recession, California's Commission
on Teacher Credentialing would have authority to impose fees on
educator-preparation programs under a proposal from the Brown
administration. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4mr-zgG0j3-TUmHBE9BZ8kjAn08Vy49OdGKhAHG0R_pZ7BwnKQB1A28X9RXacP0x573WymniZNDBOPGB6yjQ2d9yGAp7N_oMVRjAWkKnHNTYI01qD59I90pJEU7yQCQOy9UEZCulAfhTqaJUoEt1-1qkNRWtr8ahQwZmumdVqeCQAySuk-5SRDswX4-RDARHzUBAYFtmZeERBPUe57PxbVX" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #f14e23;"><strong>The Waltons heart LA charters</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Los Angeles charter
schools have been the largest recipients of funding from the foundation
associated with the family that started Wal-Mart, according to newly
released figures. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4k2fjLV0zVVqCU599sW8StRvVP-YB_H1r8jvnYYNS96pxTO98Cv9qUpTnxYpNPjMWW_D4DmXZrQZerxJNrgLxZb-mokGT3BJ9U83ow6KZl8W-KsvMvLR4TJESjigmUv1uooHKX5LzRUbOLubHrWoTbAU9-Lr5YjkOmhcEn6kYqAD9HdvvDok_1453Z0Nbq8NzhS7sLyj3NvMc8Lf4Aosg9RiGxpYJeEprs=" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #f14e23;"><strong>For shame</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">LAUSD staff have taken
to Facebook to put a spotlight on crumbling school infrastructure and
neglected repairs -- and to shame officials. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4nc_oky9PWUuffwmmm_pT9IcdBwUn1XXzXsj5rjhy508rxL7W0CKA8nvK4m3h2q3cTzYdCJFmu6fwSde08-vWAIJ0O_as5ti10g5KkOmS1P9dKt9cgyVozll4OAl_Mjykk8GGjlV-ZN0UlQC2wTmtVoQFntKSV9srfmfokZXP5a_m2idSr3AUftr3YCIlultPTYbgbsdv4IZqH8e9XNW6ZZQKt8nT-yscI2eCRZJlgqrg==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
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<tbody><tr>
<td style="background-color:#989898;padding-bottom:3px;height:1px;line-height:1px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" height="1" align="center" bgcolor="#989898" valign="top"><img style="display: block;" alt="" src="http://img.constantcontact.com/letters/images/1101116784221/S.gif" height="1" border="0" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="5"></td>
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<div><b>BRIEFLY NOTED </b></div>
</td></tr><tr><td style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;padding:8px 25px 18px 25px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" align="left" valign="top">
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #f14e23;"><strong>Yikes</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">A statewide screening found that 51 percent of Kentucky students were not prepared to start kindergarten this past fall. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4lZYHvHLbElzP15RwFcLuwOfqU0Tys9e5_n7TDg1ROKTlMfgHL9ILZnHm_gJPZzWCeHiPC8VP2-P6tUjpnTNVqBvbzDGOPPx1rkG4ndhgMEjoaIhaFqFDnFtFKB2g7xJ22gA3DjZuOlUj12frK16WMw9w8g5cUCWCmv5T2goUFZUZjO94D7Fz-TnagTGvEyuyU5Ezn0YdyCfC8qQ19YVpEPMC7mePPKu0E=">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #f14e23;"><strong>Entering the fold</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Seattle will be home to
the first charter to open in Washington -- a privately funded elementary
school for homeless children that will become a publicly funded K-5
charter next fall. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4kL8aBnXS4zWozPF0-Mqie0_ZwthKhSGk1_kEPg-JuotQzo6ZB2fBANjC1P4la_XqvsMADlXQ1ZC_7OeyBBOB0h9lmPHKk_wgvwrBFVtQ6Dl6-Kxb2AsAaxMsPveWyr1Azw1pTxVNvs_NiqtELKF0QcUckg9tv7tiyXj9dd-IxEIB1B7F5IMtpV">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #f14e23;"><strong>Flex time</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The Department of
Education announced that it has awarded more NCLB flexibility in testing
to Connecticut, Mississippi, South Dakota, and Vermont so the states
won't have to offer their own state tests along with new Common Core
assessments during the same year. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4m3G1b99rp-tljKCTSj12ZWwfGFkmnxrPmXnUmmbvl893eZRNKrhk_0phaxnR36LlLfg39OTl3P6blKoMdkBJGnZIQFMtXAYiZD9qRStATZdUTkfnRzkA7GA-K1No1jU3uvbil8hZ-uF4uj2Me1cKppFcZk89MGtT0tn32HzPeHiSFRKC2hdPsAqsTYQOaXsvpEiejPvybg2A==">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #f14e23;"><strong>They're getting wired</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The Federal
Communications Commission plans to double a fund to $2 billion to bring
broadband internet to schools and libraries, bolstering a White House
push to wire all U.S. schools with faster speeds. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4nv84BH6L48U6ix7LjE8y_f9sBhehGoL3mVKk_AkXxYKc9emr4-EZxAjjtNLOxFXF7agRCsGVGT8WXc1Jjdazzs7dfJAQeAOlhTiu1ml5nJiERI7WQcJs5zP6TtA0WVwTRoSwcKJOETZo_BF2nbyCnTWcIyF3sLTKCUDXYtSp-9c21mjKWgBfEY1mAD2YdnhWuEGFNqmsaQg9fUBqPPLmHZixciiLpqp1_sLWk-H72UtMhJgf5gt_JdiyGvtAi0u04iXPudScdXGZJ6EuNNWZCwCOyETNzv7dQsJx4OdOvP2W4Xa2uoJUoCSUqd8PqF_TzvmJVuwd5wXmZJWQxDXday3TLOzPS3qtVrWF6wOgCY-NKA5rzSRMl8">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #f14e23;"><strong>An intelligent design</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The Texas Board of
Education, which has long been an ideological battleground for the
teaching of evolution, will limit the use of citizen review panels and
instead give priority to teachers in determining science and history
curricula. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4n18_iTTe2p88D71Xx_SsFsQXUvpUIkb8FIn9lCSli-XqHJ1Lzpc7kcjk_bEBMhdg5lH9qndDKJ9_f8csFtqpw3VR1yMrb8Evtc99ZIzeyduodFgFlgfcpgZtBxld-uLre4tyxOjJ6EZ9xJ70ToMOdcAWuon7XrgpoEYfltuPLJOYj_Jlra6EG-ZuQxsBv0ge4mzXoP21Dfn24KUByc9AJp8Sefb9xVOZ2Dkq8y9dNHz2EDd3Ci22Z5f-JNplS8jtAndzf-tEw3JyaBOT2ot5kh8sqzBPp-c-Y=">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #f14e23;"><strong>Leave no child behind</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The National Federation
of the Blind and the parents of a blind high school student have filed
suit in federal court against PARCC because assessment tests created by
PARCC, Inc. will be field-tested at the student's school and other
locations this spring and are not accessible to students who are blind. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4kRtVIuJ-MNd1yj2FNKLy8cxw5eUUftDtzyt_CQji5b5Bkiwl0dj5C6Rn0iHJmYXcvyqxBF6JPRsmPINpEP_C81z4qt8kTlCq8URGoLm5FIkOVFgPHl-s4oDP_k3Isjig2xY9z26Ts2-Zmsa0wCCJv1l6xN9EqCFLRb5D2A79h56JzBTukYLmGxg-6cynzr_XVtrO_YYncaYJF0kHiWJtrnevNOESqPmWo=">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #f14e23;"><b>No complaints</b></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Early education -- a
continuing element of President Barack Obama's education agenda --
appears to be maintaining legislative momentum at the state level this
year, where lawmakers around the country will deal with healthier
budgets. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(241, 78, 35); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4ncQ4-Px6RxFh80Eao0QO_vhxjTbT1Givxu1vXKCj9JIahiNJhjy6eum0PFkGDzs1vtZWzhqo-2Agb1D1aCZnNbvWSpslA8TVuI1_rTM9A0oEbq81RIuqSZozCK3gisZBS1W3gzuBEfM9kFcS1SqD11BA__OBxwEgV-5NhbZX_f4w==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #f14e23;"><strong>Triggering</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">A bill being considered
by South Carolina lawmakers would allow the state's education department
to take over a district that is mismanaged or needs to improve its
schools if a majority of parents call for reform. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(241, 78, 35); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4mF3nBE1fTeK7LrjU96rXY4ssQaKcbXGouHr_xAW0zHxdBTPU-7P2hoSF9Qr08RXpHaZR2JdivOPj12RdDOr4XgZf6XzJtc5bQIogoZEPRuvubwTqZgh37Bif3_coCyf7cXzHivpaB1LNWimqnTcSFGTl52AL52BRYfvIgBC22WMKnMV6gLiJpvXQT--yq4l9udP9yH0PEdbdO7Ob8VnoH6C1u1Ujwu1AinTKgDPi5-RQwnWEbfkY4n0fqflPoG3fFIqZpfsNfcmNxvxeI_LyNo" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #f14e23;"><strong>California-style</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">A proposal to overhaul
Illinois' education funding system to streamline how state funding flows
to districts would provide weighted funding for "at-risk" students and
provide minimum state funding levels for districts. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(241, 78, 35); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4lKzh48sMnd8P9JnvdcW_bfa5ybjPX0OVAhWLvyoAyLPg7WXIXNCIr2KCodLh8WSzTAjRRaVuuVS_pIkgoBdlfB1tmpOFt_OVBq1TTQOEdT2hCKzc58I41QeLQQH1n9vyyyqo-8sTmZIzdM5MgofPLbF2nBNhE0t-9vXE0Ipyi5yDFX6-dBXMiZ9YhjDzjA1jU05CIra8dOWkznqcH1gms4BIlHu7fhzvmtLpDtn-T6NRmvWspFWEVpMLZrEIcq39aqxj_eVv4A-g==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
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<div style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;"><b>GRANTS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES</b></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(241, 78, 35); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4nYqgELVkh4EHKomKf_lvNjNuDE3B8IVThKSkTb2T3HN0EQ0eJ1_2egzVWJVnbv44y38VutMd6O77uROgqs5AwYSKp56_w1DouJ_IzFeS4LTv0NbmXOzvt5itfRDDHmz1s8mvNRSbgT36iq7kUmmNBc">Together Counts: Smart from the Start</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The Smart from the Start
Awards are designed to reward preschools (including Head Start
programs) that develop plans for creating practical, long-term
improvements in nutrition and physical activity at their school. As a
preschool teacher, you are encouraged to identify your school's Energy
In and Energy Out needs, to write a goal statement that addresses these
needs, and to create a simple action plan that incorporates support from
your community in order to meet this goal. Maximum award: $20,000.
Eligibility: U.S. residents over the age of 21 employed at an early
childhood education center or elementary school in the United States
that offers a Pre-K program or Head Start program. Deadline: February
28, 2014.</div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(241, 78, 35); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4kwNExlolj1edfGvnL9Xe5XSzShkFUhowSa2Lb9QOxisvDP4p-AlA51xxzrbz1t8eAxpuKew7dgLYY98HCH2Tp6y04k4XIkM_amM-BUdHhbtCxu9FAnHCjQeeZSxwzGI4I=">Kohl's Cares</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Kohl's is seeking
nominations for its Kohl's Cares Program of young people who have made a
difference in their communities. Maximum award: $10,000 in
scholarships. Eligibility: Students between the ages of 6 and 18 as of
March 15, 2014, and not yet high school graduates; each must be
nominated by someone 21 years or older. Deadline: March 15, 2014.</div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(241, 78, 35); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4ltCw3sXKazmyriuwRjivFTk32MZ7qZ7FSZgVfabpkWK380ON4JhaZjdYbpHcbmck86j9CVIbnQjacUpUIzzTMncvm0CK3lW98_d7sxxKWW__PcxFQvcLrg0AFTrYnFW9-UAUu0U0BS7hzXMlhdt_ssYa09V5T-n84jvvtMpj6PKo7mCrC6EKBONUaBGOdCq057skvEeGOCLg==">Yamaha: Young Performing Artists program</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The Yamaha Young
Performing Artists Program (YYPA) recognizes outstanding young musicians
from the world of classical, jazz and contemporary music. Each year,
the YYPA Finalists are invited to perform at the Music for All Summer
Symposium held in late June. Maximum award: $5,000 in retail credit
towards a professional model Yamaha instrument, as well as a series of
clinics and master classes with renowned artists, designed to help
winners launch their music career. Finalists will also receive a
professional recording of their performances and national press
coverage. Eligibility: musicians ages 16-21. Deadline: March 31, 2014</div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(241, 78, 35); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4k8ikKbwohmWz6JqrBODfin_BKEADFW7e3UBkuhpOJLIIljA7ToiT-A6hPxw5-KCH9cKZ9dCIA-e7bWcHR5jeZmbjCiyOlMrn6riSFKFDPTMrPbzSejS48u3WLumo1q7pg8kVzPJGlw4A==">Jamba Juice: It's All About the Fruit</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The Jamba Juice It's All
About the Fruit grant program provides schools with fruit trees to
create engaging nutrition and gardening experiences. Observing and
exploring fruit production gives a deeper understanding and appreciation
for this essential element of our diet. Recipients will be selected
based on plans to promote nutrition education, ideas for incorporating
fruit tree activities into the curriculum, and ability to sustain the
program over multiple years. Maximum award: fruit trees valued at $500
and the Jamba Juice It's All About the Fruit Youth Garden Guide; trees
will be selected based on recommended varieties for each area.
Eligibility: schools and community garden programs in the United States
gardening with at least 15 children between the ages of 3 and 18.
Deadline: March 10, 2014.</div>
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<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #f14e23;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>QUOTE OF THE WEEK:</strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">"If you want quality, you have to pay for it." - <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(241, 78, 35); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0017S-iRsa7x4n99JFR4gQLgY0G6r-KCxv8JNSqp6Lw6t0iCRi6cecFs0XgG5WojMpDE0o65i7to66VEKXdN6eOfCJX2ExM-AEREdIw2R_2sbILNUpuco9p3QEqW_aiIO0yy4rvfdogVv0_bc8k1oUTJJ7z7rCyH41LpUPjTn9d30RH2sSWQcFSXWCFA3sYRYvTh2pBbvZVAvdbb2I5WVGqhs4wSFmFIthr6jgv_B4jYPnzZykhdl-bwRsw_QnofrkIaQnEAwsmAgXOx_CyeUJ20dMVzKF1j4bJLpbvNE-q0TdvNuFAq36bIwi78hCuCMQwROUbQNnF6thYhS18mHNqNT2YF7Hnjn_nJ_lNGhb1-hhRZq8WwKqqUT0lRjgUWS425HZNDzkAO3GycKAj78FTHxoa1F1k23Tr">Sen Tom Harkin</a>, sponsor of a multibillion-dollar bill that seeks to dramatically expand the federal role in early-childhood education.</div>
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