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<div>October 7, 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="https://mail.aol.com/38771-416/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27694347&seq=1&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK17">Fewer drop out</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="https://mail.aol.com/38771-416/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27694347&seq=1&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK45">Atlanta cheating trial opens</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="https://mail.aol.com/38771-416/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27694347&seq=1&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK44">Teachers 'somewhat' prepared for CCSS</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="https://mail.aol.com/38771-416/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27694347&seq=1&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK43">Teachers lectured on not teaching Common Core with lectures</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="https://mail.aol.com/38771-416/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27694347&seq=1&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK42">How poor districts will fare with CCSS</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="https://mail.aol.com/38771-416/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27694347&seq=1&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK53">The many benefits of deeper learning</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="https://mail.aol.com/38771-416/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27694347&seq=1&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK55">Obama administration urges equity</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="https://mail.aol.com/38771-416/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27694347&seq=1&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK54">That fuss about AP History</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="https://mail.aol.com/38771-416/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27694347&seq=1&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK46">BRIEFLY NOTED CALIFORNIA</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="https://mail.aol.com/38771-416/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27694347&seq=1&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK56">BRIEFLY NOTED</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="https://mail.aol.com/38771-416/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27694347&seq=1&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.BLOCK17"></a><table style="display: table;" id="aolmail_content_LETTER.BLOCK17" border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><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">
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Fewer drop out</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Just 7 percent of the
nation's 18-to-24 year olds dropped out of high school last year,
continuing a steady decline in the nation's dropout rate since 2000,
when 12 percent dropped out, reports Richard Fry for the Pew Charitable
Trust. The decline has been driven in part by substantially fewer
Hispanic and black youth dropping out: Although Hispanics still have the
highest dropout rate among all major racial and ethnic groups, it
reached a record low of 14 percent in 2013, compared with 32 percent in
2000. The decline is particularly noteworthy since it comes as the
Hispanic youth population is growing. In absolute numbers (889,000), it
was the lowest number of Hispanic drop-outs since 1987. However,
Hispanics account for just 9 percent of adults ages 25 to 29 with a
bachelor's degree; by comparison, whites account for 69 percent. The
dropout rate for blacks was also at a record low in 2013 (8 percent),
falling by nearly half since 2000 (15 percent). Among non-Hispanic white
youth, the dropout rate has also declined since 2000 to 5 percent in
2013. Asian youth continue to be the major racial group with the lowest
high school dropout rate (4 percent in 2013), but it was not at a record
low last year. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m32dvbcCRluEkE-mYTqau4PZt4anlThipwD49JCgtd5BzmzM2C4zo9Cb70HYLH4JNnogY-bOqQg4A_RaqrWB_wvEf6iVfgC-JIqwe16p8OGMRhPJHhZvoyoR0y1WQL2NDJl5YesioY2k8150t80Vt1O8yEDEKBUmkagBL3oClro3JAUVETmruSxdZ7rP_YjWwgH1BDbdh_m5w3rGTzYfUK7c7GWJq07N8n53PYBRDJ-yHz_bwAD5dI-7n_ZBqSm6-VeLVLd7HRhix_Fe79gyeljg==&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==">More</a></div>
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<a name="aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK45"></a><table id="aolmail_content_LETTER.BLOCK45" border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><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">
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Atlanta cheating trial opens</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The trial of a dozen
public school educators has opened in Atlanta, with prosecutors alleging
that teachers and administrators engaged in a "widespread, cleverly
disguised" conspiracy to cheat on standardized test scores to protect
their jobs and win favor and bonuses, reports Richard Fausset for The
New York Times. A state investigation in 2011 found 178 principals and
teachers were involved. Dozens of former district employees have been
fired or resigned, and 21 educators have pleaded guilty to crimes like
obstruction and making false statements. In her opening statement,
Assistant DA Fani Willis argued that educators and Superintendent
Beverly Hall had violated Georgia's RICO statute by using the
"legitimate enterprise" of the school system to undertake the
illegitimate act of cheating. Like the defendants -- and a majority of
Atlanta residents -- Willis is African-American. She noted that many
victims of the cheating were struggling black students who could have
received "millions" in federal aid for tutoring, but didn't because
scores showed they met or exceeded grade-level expectations. Whether a
jury can be convinced that a group of teachers engaged in racketeering
has been a topic of intense discussion. All defendants have pleaded not
guilty to participating in a racketeering conspiracy. All but one also
face various lesser charges, for which they have entered not guilty
pleas. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3Pnr3deG8Txrs0wiiInUm4_2Zbfcs_oiJUoypYaZX3fl0R5fk1_sAIAGLk6LkjlVpxBLf1aUNgwJ8tRdauXow2ivT6-jzUwOSZml-pBzUZcGcvXWuD8zIGn7D6XeUUxlsyS88AfB0akIygp2l58fxXKBJ39n04EWjXdWOKWBfWZLS5URkCo2rSr4utiZT4NT9X2QGMad4QEPRKOQCjvk3Q6M6tD30AOf2DvIQwnDiOarrtEs0hPcNKDHfJOXFiXpr8MiUlWGr7alIX35jjOTgIA==&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==">More</a></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Teachers 'somewhat' prepared for CCSS</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">In a new survey
underwritten by Scholastic and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,
79 percent of teachers say they feel "very" or "somewhat" prepared to
teach under the new Common Core standards, up from 71 percent last year,
reports Greg Toppo for USA TODAY. Sixty-eight percent say
implementation is "going well" in their schools, compared to 62 percent
last year. However, 81 percent of teachers say the Common Core is
"challenging" to implement, up from 73 percent. Fewer than half of
teachers say the Common Core will be "positive" for most students, but
among the small group of teachers who have taught for more than a year
under the standards, the vast majority are enthusiastic. The survey also
found most teachers get information about the Common Core from
colleagues, but also get information from newspapers and other media. As
an indicator of how the debate has played out on social media, twice as
many teachers this year said they got information about the Common Core
through sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Vicki Phillips of the Gates
Foundation said the findings show teachers are enthusiastic about the
standards, but need more help in teaching lessons built around them. The
survey polled 1,676 pre-kindergarten through 12th grade public school
teachers from 43 states and the District of Columbia. All had
participated in a similar survey in 2013. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3m-kaTdgNwIcqtQ8UNcm-6RyNQAHseWHfrouTVf_Qh-OsCE0txxKpNWAvKVySGagmxYHdVTddC2G_73CHD_cn9BKYh6W_Ei1QxwezoZ4xiHaZNv4Zx3wkynniwKTehOvaKepkBEfpAMKe6mhnnhRedwOkXKvqaK9Kimj2isrqYBV7619XLkTt-p0NOww4pj2tUmdkUfEYU-JOFI4dJ_uUkSAzMZ5uoPQY&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==">More</a></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Teachers lectured on not teaching Common Core with lectures</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The Common Core marks a
stark change in what American public schools will expect students -- and
teachers -- to do in the classroom, writes Alexandra Neason for The
Hechinger Report. Students will need to use critical thinking, and no
longer will educators teach that there's one right answer or one right
path to an answer. Teachers will be held to new expectations in the way
they instruct students, yet for the most part, on-the-job teacher
training, which has long been criticized for its ineffectiveness, hasn't
changed much in response to the demands of the Common Core. Despite
research that says onetime workshops and short-term training sessions
have poor track records for changing teacher practices, they continue to
be the most common form of professional development. A 2009 report from
Learning Forward on professional development found that while 90
percent of teachers participated in short-term training, just 22 percent
observed classrooms in other schools. The same study found that fewer
than half of participating teachers considered training useful. Yet
districts continue to spend considerable money on professional
development, receiving federal money for this purpose; more than $1
billion in federal funds went to such training in 2012-2013. Experts
argue that if the Common Core is to live up to expectations, teacher
training must change, and fast. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m39JFFRju1utiGe0khmRocSmGH71yHn2OvFmVe6jDpLVXd-hVzERuA-l_bYBRP0IqxWcYBEyIcbvzgwCp4RjLm_nuzNy1TfEKujGL3n1-sbwXnENZKsJPz9UUD66ryFC9YlZnkeLZUJ40-UrwK-aEKIgoDdszKlIZ8omApfKGDbv4=&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==">More</a></div>
</td></tr></tbody></table><a name="aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK42"></a><table id="aolmail_content_LETTER.BLOCK42" border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><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">
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>How poor districts will fare with CCSS</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Prior to the Common
Core, states set their own standards and chose their own tests to
measure student progress, writes Marc Tucker in Education Week. States
that required a test for graduation used exams that could be passed by
students with a 9th grade level of English literacy and a deeply flawed
understanding of middle school math. We currently recruit teachers from
the lower ranks of those high school graduates, Tucker notes, and our
expectations for their command of subjects they eventually teach is
modest, especially for elementary school. The Common Core requires
students not simply to execute mathematics algorithms accurately, but
understand why those algorithms work. It requires students to marshal
knowledge from different arenas to make carefully reasoned and
persuasive arguments in good English. Tucker finds no reason to believe
our teachers are better writers than the average college student, a
lower standard than drafters of the Common Core had in mind. Only
wealthy districts are likely to fulfill the promise of the Common Core
unless something is done to radically improve the capacity of
less-favored districts to employ teachers with the education and
training to function at high levels. The Common Core is far more likely
to be declared a failure by the public because states failed to
implement it well than fall victim to attacks from the right or left. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3uLQyAr0ycsaTLH2d1kQoHrF5kbfDpRGq1pGGnmb5meAFL_409u7mg5N9lOiJg60YjxlIZrBHxBZ2fTIfjclcBvbQclAb1XmG6AX3dFsjyU_oPmKrNPUkoUJRfln1gr0BqsHQTGfWPRNdLZzqVFgZ-p9QvE5itTonwlIyDtpfqW-jdCCAu6ZxWpMbZSdGsZ74EhFNeP9MqZM=&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==">More</a></div>
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<a name="aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK53"></a><table id="aolmail_content_LETTER.BLOCK53" border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><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">
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>The many benefits of deeper learning</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The American Institutes
of Research (AIR) has published the third of three reports from its
study of Deeper Learning, which employs strategies and resources that
help students master core academic content -- reading, mathematics, and
science -- while developing the ability to think critically and work
effectively with others. Researchers examined selected high schools in
California and New York associated with 10 established deeper learning
networks; the schools serve a diverse and traditionally underserved
group of students, including substantial numbers in poverty, in some
cases English language learners. The study finds that on average,
students attending network schools achieved higher scores on the OECD
PISA-Based Test for Schools -- which assesses core content knowledge and
complex problem-solving skills -- than did similar students attending
non-network schools. Students in network schools also reported more
positive interpersonal and intrapersonal outcomes, and were more likely
to graduate from high school within four years. Students in both network
and non-network schools had similar rates of post-secondary enrollment,
but those in network schools were more likely to enroll in four-year
and selective institutions. Attending a network school had similar
benefits for students entering with low achievement and those entering
with high achievement, particularly for test score and graduation
outcomes. Attending a network school increased the postsecondary
enrollment of students entering with low achievement, but had little
effect on those entering with high achievement. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3cwx4YqY64Wcbag5H-PyK_BlBKn_93nEsLZf-7dSfwpLqxDtn1L1C0yufnCIkQTTQDsyL7SOZhnNZrlGQpUtKYEOaHBlXT4DpDLXf26WP0YiQwjAsxB1MMYbfJgG--OHNxkYjhEE1SybWsMWOQ6l5lO44kAXb1b9Ut2dBDDGQmPgfGTKw6qptczDo2bwqwr0_03wOOYdfI-uDn60wIGyDjh0q8xPQPNDjLy9Jfuei2MQ=&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m31idchEFkf5jaI1DduWlrILQ1FA1tOkXo-i5i-I9OpSHY2_UpzqydlMfflql_cUrWVPtx5GQ59q99xcPomUjlBja3-KX0l4pfX0BggbHyihIGg39L6QTUiFUCXN3tAE9c-H_asrJtWGWJIggjXXkVOVrA99AL8iWmZbOqNBJ58K9NQQgc2_eAoK4mLIZB5g4V-JrtktiJ-C6yiGRp9lj0vYLnOWmLtib_Zm2IiAJs3e4ZhOJQwTE7gdKyvBtk0gJqBKySFkGE2QU=&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==">1st report:</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m31idchEFkf5jaI1DduWlrILQ1FA1tOkXo-i5i-I9OpSHY2_UpzqydlMfflql_cUrWVPtx5GQ59q99xcPomUjlBja3-KX0l4pfX0BggbHyihIGg39L6QTUiFUCXN3tAE9c-H_asrJtWGWJIggjXXkVOVrA99AL8iWmZbOqNBJ58K9NQQgc2_eAoK4mLIZB5g4V-JrtktiJ-C6yiGRp9lj0vYLnOWmLtib_Zm2IiAJs3e4ZhOJQwTE7gdKyvBtk0gJqBKySFkGE2QU=&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==">2nd report:</a></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Obama administration urges equity</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">A new 37-page document
by the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Education urges
state officials, superintendents, and principals to monitor policies and
facilities and ensure they are equitably distributed among students of
all races, reports Motoko Rich for The New York Times. Education
Department data point to persistent inequality for minorities in public
schools: Black students are more than four times as likely as white
students to attend schools where one-fifth of teachers do not meet all
the requirements for state teaching certifications; Hispanic students
are twice as likely. Schools with high concentrations of minorities are
much more likely to have temporary classrooms in portable buildings. The
document highlights Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which
states that while students need not have identical resources, they must
have equal access to comparable programs, materials, and facilities. The
administration advises school officials to collect data on course
offerings; gifted and preschool programs; athletics; teacher
credentials; and access to librarians, psychologists and guidance
counselors. The Office for Civil Rights can also monitor school
facilities to make sure that minority students have the same quality of
lighting and air-conditioning as white students or the same access to
technology. When disparities are identified, the administration urges
districts to "take prompt and effective steps to eliminate any
unjustified inequities." <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m33ykTGuHG66ocOCSfRohHeTSOiWg_czTKhCRoB_AkARVvsonwJAMpG_b8hpg1F1R2r7iDRAk1fzDuXAQ6luwqql4VS1YkmWQMy3iz103-QuvoImoT8naUwhwLyzVQzWmVAjdMITwTykAa_OYY743oRcZuI2A0frNR31_NWN2Wu8fZb502RJe-zCTPKF0M-qvBvVQQ6oLub_3bQi1zp9twD5xPjXUPB9vFHs7bq6FZsObNLWeBlM88F4QpXTezlQaxTQ5oIjx-mjjtafXJfuLrdw==&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==">More</a></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>That fuss about AP History</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">In October 2012, the
College Board revamped its AP History course to encourage greater depth
in fewer topics, writes Emmanuel Felton for The Hechinger Report. The
class is the College Board's second most popular after AP English
Language and Composition, with 442,890 students taking the exam in 2013.
Its course description for the first time calls for teachers to impart
critical thinking skills to their students, ideas in line with the
Common Core, and raised little notice until July, when the Texas State
Board of Education expressed concern that the class would bring the
Common Core into Texas schools, where it is banned. In August, the
Republican National Committee passed a resolution that the new
curriculum "reflects a radically revisionist view of American history
that emphasizes negative aspects of our nation's history while omitting
or minimizing positive aspects." Other conservative groups joined in.
Responding to concerns of anti-American bias, the College Board released
a full sample exam and said the new course is more balanced than
previously, as it requires "teachers and students to look at multiple
sides of an issue." The framework does not mention Martin Luther King
Jr., Benjamin Franklin, George Washington Carver, James Madison, or Rosa
Parks -- omissions that have prompted complaints -- but neither did the
course description in effect from 2010-2011 through the end of the last
school year. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3A3cg3YlZiyekan0Gh7kGbR0h3j2XoaH-kzx5NrXF1HNzncpxnLJqHnHkwV8UPbBMBDhJ7iFR38A5VHI3__9GplvyjxaAASauOLn0nOAxG3ITAsJZbMbzbXLvqSqNW38IWFaQ0YMObalzRQGs8pqQ2AY5eQOiHqPUZIJ4B9ytyCZsBSj5grFSudo83MrkxvQK&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<span><a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3KbfgXpPI9eFGkXe0rCg09avHMnVh4naT3HLHlhl9f8ISe2a4guYeI_Qv3DYMyPIhWO4qbHDaFEipoBjR63nTFGxMTmimSG1ElpYhEDqrx_3H-wFNqflVSHG44gZ_XqRZCF-oGM5bYTyMqSvzbAbZWdCdX_BgvGsQ68-Jqy1-xMA1gww_zam5Tw==&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==" shape="rect">Related: </a></span><br>
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<div><b>BRIEFLY NOTED CALIFORNIA</b></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>SOPIPA now law</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">California Gov. Jerry
Brown has signed into law the Student Online Personal Information
Privacy Act (SOPIPA), a sweeping measure aimed at restricting use of
students' educational data by third-party vendors and one of the most
aggressive legislative attempts to date to balance the promise of
digital learning technologies with concerns about the privacy and
security of children's sensitive information. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3Hhp0d87F_RcMCd1UqK1g78_90-AEP8YGKQudEohn_yoD0H8lC0ghRRRJkJqkSq964_smjNjtxDXW22xRAp2itLy7zPVDyO2GHpE4y7Nssq6t1DLCNXIrc8IYjYcHVDm4VhgYqMMGxIb6tWcDNGYt_oT9tIZ3ZV--m0CjGEhgyBuw_Zyise5mkmttsTnoY1q4KqnY-_thPP_cM14N73RHZg==&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Mixed message</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Gov. Jerry Brown has
vetoed a bill that would have made kindergarten mandatory, while at the
same time signing one intended to show the overwhelming boost that
optional year gives kids headed to first grade. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3M0qP8BOKh2xu_35ocLvsQqEg_8lfmBet9n2sYpg7eiC-2j1f5rfcfx6h6hAyXJ6u9COpGvam2bSt_b4hP9tgBd6LqQAXTPmj88TxVvdtuqvkqhX4fA6E-W_t_0S76hRP4S3t5dkwDl9BPOUOlM1b3AxNrYmY5FKv9rYNi7BaOBvcgQPMAW8xeiChinJAP_Q9T98gTUKAHwH-Nku8-6Nv8g==&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Valid indicators</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">A biennial state survey
of Californian junior high students and teachers can serve as a valid
indicator of middle school climate, according to new federal analysis. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3ZkyBEMQzD4Q3sGGu31R6mKgiXzUZ_hySiOXZbLMxW_hqaU_j0Ku3Pa-xl5OkYZ6IPkaQkn1djuR3wRpMHdU_oDkt9WTFCOSBxYT295uiBVneUYbOtn56pfaZCvKZw4DQtym9wbP7mmK_4CaLjPRgCTn56tB_-jS-FQupGMh84ZN89MdsVGWUXBV8abIBjWMZfO2t-_DpMhg=&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Needed resource</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">With districts working
this fall to put into action their first locally created school
accountability plans, the California Department of Education has rolled
out a new online resource center designed to help schools change. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3WSMa2zarLDwW9nQa1SbxGftW4EdrBo_w83B9sfCvIH4yimMpvl2BXmCmmu3hPO0OEO3NOc25bN3pHJwC9Fj6aPqaPiUF70LFt6_D0Uq3700lQjxptkUjepzPsIrRV0FCn73_AO6LvyaJzw-qHekrgvVFGRBDpxEmSOS9m-C8cRpoKEvvp3VkHjl7h334M2j7eBLfeKY7xHo=&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>A step forward</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Fewer than 11,000 of
California's 6.2 million students will likely be affected each year by a
new law that limits the use of "willful defiance" as a reason to expel
or suspend students, but Gov. Jerry Brown's signature on the bill
signifies a growing commitment on the part of the state to find more
positive approaches to disciplining students. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3zcIRPhbYjI9297NcR646uOIQfgSAmXZ-kVhFIMcmzhZQeNyPcQLQPTK1yI3BukpOZS3O068wqu3HdVxMAPTp-mOFrqBn2BWjLc2a-qLplok2_E-lZ73wOeGsJ7wvjDDxnKekdca-RvASj8F78uWX-otASqd_yONXpE7-sNCdFgRWuryDNKe3fd39o43w-uuFaFZd9u9573Q=&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>The plot thickens</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Local business and civic
leaders are calling on the Los Angeles Board of Education to retain
Supt. John Deasy, hoping to head off potential action by a board
majority that is unhappy with him. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m36tV-0CljQLaDE6KyGQAE44aGRiGlJd5LSXDYoFXx_LSZbFlKG7dqKcXfldBQvilfXw1DLIjDbsLdeIJIF80STxmdx4zuaFU4YXCJvcmVSAVQb-JCKXxZD4zjbYu5DP8rW16VcKpAigu6UXqjg5MQU6JDJuv1HA8Co-A4_sgY_dxVaaU_ND394l-I4_GFF-ieKjympTVHUms=&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Once burned</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The Los Angeles school
district's bond oversight panel has rejected a move by officials to
spend an additional $42 million on new computers, including purchases
under a controversial - and recently suspended - technology contract. <span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>More</strong></span></div>
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<td style="background-color:#989898;padding-bottom:3px;height:1px;line-height:1px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" align="center" bgcolor="#989898" height="1" valign="top"><img style="display: block;" alt="" src="http://img.constantcontact.com/letters/images/1101116784221/S.gif" border="0" height="1" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="5"></td>
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</tbody></table><a name="aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK56"></a><table style="background-color:#ebf5f6;display: table;" id="aolmail_content_LETTER.BLOCK56" bgcolor="#ebf5f6" border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:25px 25px 0px 25px;font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" rowspan="1" colspan="1" align="left" valign="top">
<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: #ee5624;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Safety zone</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The U.S. Department of
Education has awarded more than $1.6 million in grants to Arizona
programs focused on school climate and safety. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3VNq-d3PFtedv8B7U15njOsMvrMbE55ZQhO1KcYDjNnOqZrYH_-Qsaop9hRudhbW_HPmfxSWMX9N2dkP6rt7ktq3lX6ao6HiRt23Gyl03x8vwxXuTtHJ8dL4lEBPIxhudSQ7I4fjNh9RL1sHw47vzThZ5Tx7Rad1mcLs9wN1zv0YzI5B-97Z-r8-mDypgURLQVCROzyy5x9Kcn-yPceqMTvhmhW3HGXUjIbVqG3wGDo_soBzvFlU6I9v5inSylfJm6pmYRl0LsiY=&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Healthy majority</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">About two-thirds of
district superintendents say states should stick with their Common Core
testing consortia, while 16 percent remain on the fence over the issue,
according to results from a new survey from Gallup and Education Week. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3mPwccfqwnNsH_2dJQycJ2FwQJMEDaHiURDc2nywfJQxCnoC4E5Ia1rTcmVAwqAYulp3jShilUxKp-adjBZ4QrtFSc0Uh29jeuqOsVRWjZqnXp-C2loCpnZNc0q3qncr-GTTnchGOgl7eOITW1hakZ8tP8ZPZqNQuE0MeNRGm554=&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Seems like old times</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The Russian government
has cancelled a 20-year-old exchange that sent Russian high school
students to the US amid escalating tensions between the former Cold War
enemies. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3yYV6wIJsjHxyFY_uapD0b3gks2AyHEf4PHxvhBlBvkGLZuSzIj_HMEeyGnJUQA8DVWdnuG-6StGhOB8BAQsYbSruXFHY6Ya5VuXRSY3PXJk5b-PWTtG19N7B3ZmbvcOLk1XArbUTHB5JCw0RuM_dPMFX9qj7lupUiR4JbBpM9PcBcggyq4OJTA==&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Make way for vouchers</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">A Kansas education
official says a new tax-credit system to fund private school tuition for
low-income students in the state is on track to start in January. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3Nc4GmGu4Bv2OJ78CHXQxhkW6grNkkIv6jeJGGyWRegNz5C4VgrjTF2qJe-Tz1wB2rPoxYPez_KWmYIIkVIm-Uyw-wbrungOENV7O6kgE129FMWpfv-b5r89Y8z2Y1LlB9D1RvS-OhSV_AQE9gSR3uEf0JmefL1IQUFqOcKdqPwFneBFdhGoruQgrDc-wuobBMzgRMq9DIQSbETxxu6_7zQ==&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Clout</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">American Federation of
Teachers President Randi Weingarten has announced that the union is on
the path to spend more in the 2014 elections than in any other cycle,
including during presidential elections. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3tabyID5SRd5OyoD-lUMUzSkjDcnZwwIllJZuBhc86Y_4g3bBFJlBOLjL6CtGV_UQc6qSaaZeuw2Zst_oTOXj_G2XhQ5KB4NXhQa8dDzKP8AsIiDiaeTlqj0EuCsTHMMoE1BeIalTqXtY2Qz13uAL-MYA_o9l60Z9KPG1blXl8m2XIwBVkL9giTF2HU1sV2-3-ELUohCuuSGkaRWHJcGo-XzrALYw05BLzSuWB3s0CSq-dV3ErAuPjytXlf75ufblJKj2qaJSYjA=&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Rubber stamp</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">With almost no discussion, the Florida Board of Education has approved new rules governing the state's newest voucher program. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3cmp_Lmkg-rOk9wwHNQYFLaG4e_QLGaRyNDF4YxfjOwFEqFduuBBN1qoOVt3TWxLgYZi1_BCwfj50lpw2rRwgbMGtRgSgFg_kGClDkU3L8wFu31NBH2E6C-JhL9RSl6OT0-lvyZhVtOLLo_rA2i5GvajwqD5aKha82H131a4JhfNLJjeCut-oVc4TZjoUly9xLvQXsVbmTaBiUbz3xzj9GhRQOxExmgoSgP5PzOfOFH7JIPH_ggzthw==&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Throwdown</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The National Education
Association is backing a lawsuit by its New Mexico chapter against state
education secretary-designate Hanna Skandera, seeking to invalidate her
agency's requirements for evaluating teachers. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3WPZvW2Qb6zfvVOWT__NGKuK1R-H2jo-JENF_B9STGplmV6TY7Mvphejp3VzVq_PywWa0HhHqRSxAdvmGaKHadM0zMUW26_qXc0Q1NOEoQUAzi1tKm9elL9AmXLTYBP-6ocsfK1gC3A5mdUaE5UoWwQbSk1mArjcm_PpmlNt99GAVtyWvRAFg6s0GkeFvjJWJEk-3mZT8oQY=&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Attrition</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">For the first time since at least 1970, Chicago Public Schools will serve fewer than 400,000 students. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3zCuZ6pAcHUfrfn7lO8QI1umdjjEGYRlsXYoRnYPt0BX00xPX-QnLpttdu2lIM5eVsKNrVaGczVj2r95Dk6dc76WWy-tEtVjWFezDk0pRYkULJWrHHQ3VyY2TGt6an9oSZ-Ro36Ta2hbJK6lpYiAwrl3TancT1ew2h1pXy84YM1J8z9nfegWwDeGBduJd2Zz6&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Beefing up security</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">This school year in Florida, the 300 lowest-performing elementary schools are required to add an hour of reading instruction. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3ajJpxbQYys0KeO_KRwJjJCJzIdfOo6OBbUS_WozQYDDV_MQmPXySqdBCc_TXlnHU7NEMlxiTOYdhow-ifDd_MBzanKy99x7_vs2QdJLa-kWv8w1m4DH9K3MKmqw7O77NeiDFkgMbIO7HP2osy1p5xLT9Oy7UgxcJLjfje4qK_-89U0eEzQN15tUtRIN8pjVQ9Pn2CYlfpjANc6p0BXVBKbiS5GSEh1LLmFQWzr8h3nE=&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Alternate route</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Pushing against measures
of teacher effectiveness they say rely too heavily on test scores, a
coalition of education groups -- including the state's largest teachers
union -- have outlined their own approach they said would better develop
New Jersey teachers' skills. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3UF45P_WHrb6lXKnv1IMa2_GQP3ntmmPLIF23DjVcdbHX6ystPoI7-wd6HRlBKIe44G61tFHlfhEfTDST9_FUL36c6imT0Pv43zuagKQlQRZamVezNKKhBjMwFX6a-n2zQGXNvaHPg0hnzlodrrzv8qrmNKBQaAQw6MeMW70TMdFC0NNkdNESGqfgo4eDdtw1tGIj3AG36dMvxQG6LQcH7z_65gVyWXaoEREheSHvoXkiFzHwr7Z20Q==&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>No more letter grades</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">New York City is
overhauling its system for evaluating schools, de-emphasizing test
scores in favor of measures like the strength of the curriculum and the
school environment, and doing away with an overall A-through-F grade for
each school. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3_AhMbottkH8oiqhLlgeG5F81pSLhdt85_29b7twy2Q8yGYk_2IWbdSnVyERdUSLJ3cO28WyEsdYY9fEb9huM_9vJkUH8YCTnbWWCdjhU6Co7i4nWTQ8jgUnlat_zFN50vb89ExP3XjaPbXh6NmWm8ZKQcOG7RZBu5evmeSHxTP49xhn-YO0kDRbCF4an091peGK8NwyThqSpyKzevqHHDags3iY9lKkQEcWLUQW6YG8=&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>In search of Schools of Opportunity</strong></span><br>
</div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The Schools of
Opportunity project is now seeking applications from public high schools
in Colorado and New York, and next year will expand to include schools
nationwide, recognizing schools that use research-based practices to
close the opportunity gaps that result in unequal opportunities to
learn, in school and beyond school. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3hkGNGKvK1D7gWa49ovVpq1HtDuijmog8D0mQGeWhFEjKHRfte7RHuh1NmrcNoKjbkDq3S2UDn__6F7xtnalxNp3O5GPjhOTdxvU5Jk9W_UAfGkIxvTBlsw==&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==">More</a></div>
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<div><br>
<div style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;"><span style="color: #ff6600;"><b>GRANTS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES</b></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>NSTA: Shell Science Teaching Award</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The Shell Science
Teaching Award recognizes one outstanding classroom science teacher
(K-12) who has had a positive impact on his or her students, school, and
community through exemplary classroom science teaching. Maximum award:
$10,000. Eligibility: K-12 classroom science teachers. Deadline: October
17, 2014. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsdy9fFBKqV2An5UWuxe9ArMwPthOd879ZkhJ151Ck38VroRUETBhutE3xWGTHuW0FL59QDp2psEUf2mJfv2V4T4c48T0028MHjlCCizCi-DIAsMpNRWIhC4XtxuBnyD3Ub8KNixQbqsxl1YXomKw4_X6lSm6la-wUR89X6MPgXFZ&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>IRA: Regie Routman Teacher Recognition Award</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The International
Reading Association Regie Routman Teacher Recognition Award honors an
outstanding elementary teacher of reading and language arts dedicated to
improving teaching and learning through reflective writing about his or
her teaching and learning process. Maximum award: $1,000. Eligibility:
regular classroom elementary teachers of reading and language arts
grades K-6 at schools where at least 60 percent of students are eligible
for free or reduced-price lunch; must be IRA members. Deadline:
November 15, 2014. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsfEZtPccOh36iwVALTN7zUq1Pi4BdnGo4uKUYT7BA6IXiwM17dYa77uKkRRKznT3x9vK6eKJkPd1LuaJk9KvTLxsliCtGiUFYDtpZWT5tmaNNKJY5EjE36zHGN3Yvly1-VZpyaeg5dnhoSf9ZGQWDVluVfDk5O5f6qLS8w-4OUl__snp07dSYS3iyTZ34bb3mg==&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==">More</a></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-size: 12pt; color: #ff6600;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Quote of the Week:</strong></span></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">"Don't be mad because
there are changes. Figure out why the changes are important, and then
find out how you make it work for you." <span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>- First Lady Michelle Obama, in response to student grumbling over newer,</strong></span> healthier school lunches. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001n4rJ631S_x7E3dD3nIgYSaOTBqg_ee4ifXnndVrgWanDMqKpejpVsRcGR3e_w5m3l12qJTjIX91_B-P7ZgShLT_8Qv8OJvakqLgXS0ikpuhBBpetbQNcUZ81EFrXvjUZOxBvxyil8chX8XvFM2Iz5vDhPaTaJEIUqccmLDwZuL3b1xi33peocAa-IF72dUfNn8xAF0WXPadcdlKglfBAtUowUJ48tksNxaCAIymrdXGOoo9FZ27FF-iR5SjhDNQ_L7Z2aDyl6Tji3EUx2ne2NwJ6_c94TnJ1DmEex1ke6I0=&c=p9bmoVVeOmFoNfdu6Yw-w8bBKO4PmQ4OPn9Dv9zQryMPyOM8XVJ2xQ==&ch=HuNax6Y-FbLWpzLo7g7H3FSWW12a-Qw0ol10gEwG4TZQxrmr_svwrQ==">More</a></div>
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