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<td class="aolmail_TOCHeadingText aolmail_TOCHeading" style="color:#76b5be;font-style:italic;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;padding:7px 25px 18px 25px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" valign="top" align="left">
<div>June 09, 2015 - In This Issue:</div>
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<td class="aolmail_TOCLink aolmail_TOCContent" style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-decoration:none;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;padding:0px 25px 0px 25px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" valign="top" align="left">
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<tbody><tr><td class="aolmail_TOCLink aolmail_TOCLinkBorderColor aolmail_TOCLinkSingle" 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" valign="top" align="left">
<div><a class="aolmail_TOCLink" 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/38947-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27801291&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK17">Ed tech's Law of Amplification</a></div>
</td></tr><tr><td class="aolmail_TOCLink aolmail_TOCLinkBorderColor aolmail_TOCLinkSingle" 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" valign="top" align="left">
<div><a class="aolmail_TOCLink" 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/38947-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27801291&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK72">The Silicon Valley approach</a></div>
</td></tr><tr><td class="aolmail_TOCLink aolmail_TOCLinkBorderColor aolmail_TOCLinkSingle" 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" valign="top" align="left">
<div><a class="aolmail_TOCLink" 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/38947-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27801291&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK71">An unsurprising completion gap</a></div>
</td></tr><tr><td class="aolmail_TOCLink aolmail_TOCLinkBorderColor aolmail_TOCLinkSingle" 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" valign="top" align="left">
<div><a class="aolmail_TOCLink" 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/38947-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27801291&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK45">'The ultimate in school choice'</a></div>
</td></tr><tr><td class="aolmail_TOCLink aolmail_TOCLinkBorderColor aolmail_TOCLinkSingle" 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" valign="top" align="left">
<div><a class="aolmail_TOCLink" 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/38947-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27801291&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK44">What it's triggering now</a></div>
</td></tr><tr><td class="aolmail_TOCLink aolmail_TOCLinkBorderColor aolmail_TOCLinkSingle" 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" valign="top" align="left">
<div><a class="aolmail_TOCLink" 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/38947-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27801291&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK43">Common Core's next problem</a></div>
</td></tr><tr><td class="aolmail_TOCLink aolmail_TOCLinkBorderColor aolmail_TOCLinkSingle" 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" valign="top" align="left">
<div><a class="aolmail_TOCLink" 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/38947-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27801291&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK42">SPED data and accessibility</a></div>
</td></tr><tr><td class="aolmail_TOCLink aolmail_TOCLinkBorderColor aolmail_TOCLinkSingle" 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" valign="top" align="left">
<div><a class="aolmail_TOCLink" 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/38947-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27801291&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK68">BRIEFLY NOTED CALIFORNIA</a></div>
</td></tr><tr><td class="aolmail_TOCLink aolmail_TOCLinkBorderColor aolmail_TOCLinkSingle" 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" valign="top" align="left">
<div><a class="aolmail_TOCLink" 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/38947-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27801291&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK56">BRIEFLY NOTED</a></div>
</td></tr><tr><td class="aolmail_TOCLink aolmail_TOCLinkBorderColor aolmail_TOCLinkSingle" 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" valign="top" align="left">
<div><a class="aolmail_TOCLink" 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/38947-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27801291&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.BLOCK17"></a><table style="display: table;" id="aolmail_content_LETTER.BLOCK17" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="aolmail_MainText aolmail_Content" style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;padding:8px 25px 9px 25px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" valign="top" align="left">
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600; font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span>Ed tech's</span> Law of Amplification</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Across all
education-technology projects, a single, simple pattern holds true,
writes Kentaro Toyama for The Atlantic. The "Law of Amplification"
dictates that since technology's primary effect is to amplify human
activity, in education, technologies amplify whatever pedagogical
capacity already exists. Technology is merely a tool that augments human
power, an obvious fact with profound consequences when overlooked.
Amplification explains why large-scale roll outs of educational
technology rarely succeed. In any representative set of schools, some
are achieving, others failing. Computers may benefit some (the ones
highlighted in pilot studies), but distract weaker schools from their
core mission: Knowledge around their use isn't already in place, or
easily harnessed to existing strengths. Administrators rarely allocate
sufficient resources to adapt curricula or train teachers. Outside of
school, technology amplifies a child's propensities to both learn or
distract herself. Propensities vary from child to child, but usually
distraction wins out where adult guidance is absent. In terms of
educational inequality, what ails American education can be attributed
to many things; none of these are a lack of computers. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY8tTwwsmEboWWUYwyEOuav4UL9RKnbi9M35Nkzeg502Fnt-7JGzKcmwXj-1G8D9WxDfksUrjB7I8-253jrc6xAH9K23TzyUwj-YGtmaJY8phfAdG6uxcdDd2Ko2yLT0IM2FRHkvmyJ0cSyq46yOSogp_F0u6PFxTYsW7yjTIMQVWz4aK5zdM5TdWpm1XZc1Pa3Ce5XBewfU4EXYEVthd8ErbgmRUrI1Xdivr52vXtniR&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" alt="http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/06/why-technology-alone-wont-fix-schools/394727/">More</a></div>
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<a name="aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK72"></a><table id="aolmail_content_LETTER.BLOCK72" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="aolmail_MainText aolmail_Content" style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;padding:8px 25px 9px 25px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" valign="top" align="left">
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-size: 14pt; color: #ff6600;"><strong>The Silicon Valley approach</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Through his nonprofit,
Marc Zuckerberg has just invested $100 million in AltSchool, writes
Issie Lapowsky for Wired. AltSchool is a private Bay Area experiment
with a student-centered approach, deploying the latest technology and
staffed with forward-thinking teachers who custom-teach each student.
The result, founders say, is superior education. AltSchools serve
students from pre-K to 8th grade, and have no administrators, no
gymnasiums, no cafeterias, no hallways, no report cards, and no bells.
Instead, they are single-room schoolhouses in storefronts on city
streets, currently four, next year eight, including an outpost in
Brooklyn (where else). Students get personal iPads or Chromebooks
depending on age, with their own weekly queues of individual and group
activities tailored to their strengths and weaknesses. AltSchool's
proprietary technology tracks student progress, placing AltSchool in the
position of not just building apps or schools, but both. AltSchools
function as mini-research and development labs, where teachers and
engineers are developing a formula for 21st-century education they hope
to apply universally. "Schools aren't good at making changes or
measuring the effects of those changes," says AltSchool founder Max
Ventilla, formerly of Google. "They're not good at correcting when those
changes aren't positive, and they're not good at propagating changes
that are good so you get the maximum benefit." Silicon Valley startups,
on the other hand, excel at this. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY8tTwwsmEboWCuZaFxc_0-vF_ngXizhmN1BNqqJe9DkL3B2-zgpv2OJ-ROaKqwqVhtuBS3gUDze_-_kDsfnPVgk9HVblTvSOCF4hVHK2_QO43jGem6StbEOr0ND97foJ1yePMcdE5zGSO3pz_V1HsGE=&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" shape="rect" alt="http://www.wired.com/2015/05/altschool/">More</a></div>
</td></tr></tbody></table><a name="aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK71"></a><table id="aolmail_content_LETTER.BLOCK71" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="aolmail_MainText aolmail_Content" style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;padding:8px 25px 9px 25px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" valign="top" align="left">
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>An unsurprising completion gap</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">New data show rich and
poor students complete college at starkly different rates, reports Susan
Dynarski for The New York Times. Starting in 2002, the National Center
for Education Statistics tracked 15,000 high school sophomores in a
longitudinal study, recording academic achievement, college entry, work
history, and now, degree attainment. The study divided students into
four groups based on parental education, income, and occupation.
Students in the lowest quartile had parents with less income and
education. Students in the highest quartile had parents with the
greatest income and most education. In both groups, teens aspired to
college; overall, 70 percent of sophomores planned to earn a bachelor's
degree. In the top quartile, 87 percent expected to earn at least a
bachelor's, with 24 percent intending an advanced degree. In the bottom
quartile, 58 percent of students expected to earn at least a bachelor's,
and 12 percent to attend graduate school. Thirteen years later, just 14
percent of students in the lowest quartile had earned a bachelor's
degree -- one out of four who had hoped to. Sixty percent in the top
quartile had earned a bachelor's, two-thirds. Based on initial
screenings, high school achievement and aptitude did not explain the
disparity. Poor teenagers with top screening scores and rich teenagers
with mediocre scores were equally likely to graduate college. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY8tTwwsmEboWI1fXg6qTcYD0JGfPxPBH6iY6C98OmqzBo3hR33YB7V54FDfEhnPfRA0DVvcU0m24vcsXWJQYQpooT1zWhSAXg-NAsnxZhP8Fg2h-spN_HmJUp40tz7FkF5AYc5SbCk8o8oPagmbK23QcE7Q8122KnVMIkRrQgB4Lv7VJDI8ARVjCOleRxFFdHqa6LP1uU-POPMIu7Z2PRS5IbE5__zdilU03hrvrwWhb3r1QNn-1g0SxFro5-rhhlslhWe5HWmrYYz8BaWJSIoZTKVPM6IDqy-4iQ5PlksmU&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" alt="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/02/upshot/for-the-poor-the-graduation-gap-is-even-wider-than-the-enrollment-gap.html?abt=0002&abg=1&_r=1">More</a></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-size: 14pt; color: #ff6600;"><strong>'The ultimate in school choice'</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Next year, any parent in
Nevada can pull his child from a public school and receive state
dollars to pay for private school or home schooling, reports Lyndsey
Layton for The Washington Post. The law is a conservative breakthrough;
Georgia, Iowa, and Rhode Island considered similar legislation this
year. The law is singular in that all the state's 450,000 public school
children -- regardless of household income -- are eligible. Supporters
argue the state's public system, regularly at the bottom in comparisons
with other states on academic achievement, left no alternative. As the
country's most expansive voucher plan, it could exacerbate the gap
between the state's rich and poor, subsidizing affluent families that
choose elite private schools <span>inaccessible to</span> struggling
students or those who can't afford tuition even with a voucher, says
Eskelsen García of the National Education Association. Since 2006, 27
states have opted for school choice, ranging from vouchers for students
from low- and middle-income families or disabled students; to tax
credits for donations to private school scholarships; to education
savings accounts that allow families to use public funds for private
tuition, tutoring, online education, and other services. Nevada's
low-income families and students with disabilities can receive $5,700,
the state's annual expenditure per public school student; middle- and
upper-income families can receive $5,100. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY8tTwwsmEboWM6b5yaeWrORIbdOLr175QNZj5s3tKvx0jNpoAFfBLC1Z6PSb1INi3m1lE9pjcZD53JhCyhwKHuBXbx9yefmxIYDngJqvPP8lC2s8yt9QDKTyoXsdIosIKxE86ureW6_jTBu7etEhA0PytRW4DeNHD1CdlyDhaoE0XE54hQcfKaOm19MLnlaXskT1zqI9Bv8nYEbQw6gD9opM-jKThCY0zoY--AEMr-O9oHkKiZW5lENvrx227B_gHo1SRA3yiYJBES1jOtsIQZ7HVnPuJP8EFVcPbuB-ykMCo7xtKQ0Eu6vntqvFuJzQ02sOo3pPAREb23bMC3zj417zkan-lJosfxaZoGrPcL7Kg4BJsNvDvmc=&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" alt="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/in-nevada-school-choice-on-steroids-and-a-breakthrough-for-conservatives/2015/06/03/3cdd2300-09ff-11e5-95fd-d580f1c5d44e_story.html?wprss=rss_education">More</a></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-size: 14pt; color: #ff6600;"><span><strong><span>What it's triggering now</span></strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">In Los Angeles, the
parent trigger, once considered a mechanism to charterize schools, has
instead become a leverage point in dealings between parents and the
LAUSD, reports Brenda Iasevoli for The Hechinger Report. The 2010 law
permits 51 percent or more of parents at an underperforming public
school to petition for an overhaul, such as replacing a principal,
hiring a charter operator, or shuttering a campus completely. An
alliance between 20th Street Elementary School parents and the LAUSD is
the latest instance where the district retained a school's traditional
status through negotiations with invested parents. At West Athens
Elementary in South Los Angeles, parents invoked the trigger to get
teacher training, computers, fresh paint, and $300,000 for additional
staff. LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines has shown willingness to work
with parent groups backed by Parent Revolution, unsurprising given
sharply declining district enrollment due to charters. "The district is
learning it just can't shut people down," says L.A. School Board member
Monica Garcia: The recession forced the district to go door-to-door,
explaining budget cuts and asking people to support Prop 30, a ballot
measure to temporarily increase taxes to raise money for schools. This,
according to Garcia, taught the district about better communication and
building trust. The new challenge is mending rifts between parent groups
working with Parent Revolution and those who are not. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY8tTwwsmEboWHQ1gEkdS-zobwYKYn900LdcBh-8pfZhKifWAOD7TpmVINODy21PNcMDnLLE9gnxhDfir1vmu342FstL_UNNKWrbUl-GRYGeQ2Yzd5t6lJ0QrE7OBZ0OVXjppGsBIzXeFyWvjTuC_5rBiCQ3A213uiSkC6MAwhaEFphllzg-K1q4=&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" alt="http://hechingerreport.org/testing-the-power-of-the-parent-trigger-law/">More</a></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-size: 14pt; color: #ff6600;"><span><strong>Common Core's next problem</strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">As California districts
finish administering new Smarter Balanced online Common Core
assessments, educators face the next hurdle: sharing data with millions
of parents about how their children fared, writes Sarah Tully for
EdSource. It's anticipated that fewer students will meet proficiency
standards compared to the earlier California Standards Tests in 2013 and
<span>before</span>. New scores break down into four
categories: "standard exceeded," "standard met," "standard nearly met,"
and "standard not met." If large numbers of students score lower than
"standard met," opposition to the Common Core may mount in a state where
it has been relatively muted. The timing of the release of scores is
also important, since a major selling point of Common Core assessments
was that they were taken online and therefore would be available more
quickly and could better inform instruction. This year, parents and
students will get results the same time as previously, mid-summer. To
manage expectations, some districts are holding sessions with principals
on explaining reports, with parent meetings planned when school
resumes. The California Parent Teacher Association helped state
officials prepare the report's format so parents could better understand
it, and is urging school chapters to discuss Smarter Balanced results
during back-to-school meetings. Next year's report will include
comparisons to the prior year's scores so parents can track student
progress. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY8tTwwsmEboW5Nzaxk30rYpEy-OayjAcOfan9b0Buq4XDhleGhEDkC_qAHlEHWCewj9m_6_jkM3pZoeOPovi4f6TgjUxrcbt2HlSmFtzDIG03SLy0fMUJCjgWgQk-A-BTgooYRoL9EjSoPCbfl4MUTh_qpteLVwvLi1vEXEjwyVsQktRBRtY_1nAQFSr0wfykbXdlqcb4u1olx7z8qd7kVtqnSxVw_5eMGZyvg4AVRk29lIuBriam-qloigTHM46vA==&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" shape="rect" alt="http://edsource.org/2015/schools-face-challenge-of-explaining-common-core-test-results-to-parents/80735#.VXRtkOdf_vZ">More</a></div>
</td></tr></tbody></table><a name="aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK42"></a><table style="display: table;" id="aolmail_content_LETTER.BLOCK42" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="aolmail_MainText aolmail_Content" style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;padding:8px 25px 9px 25px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" valign="top" align="left">
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-size: 14pt; color: #ff6600;"><strong><span>SPED data and accessibility</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">A new report from the
National Center for Educational Outcomes analyzes whether states
publicly report data for students with disabilities with the same
frequency, and in the same detail, as it reports on the assessment of
nondisabled children, as required by the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act. It also assesses reporting of performance gaps across
years, and ease of access to public reporting of participation and
performance for ELLs with disabilities. In 2012-13, 48 regular states
and four (Bureau of Indian Education, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico,
and U.S. Virgin Islands) of 11 unique states reported participation and
performance of students with disabilities for all general assessments
and alternate assessments used for Title I accountability. Fifty-two of
61 states reported participation and performance for all general
assessments; 52 reported similar data for alternates. Of the 16 states
with general assessments not used for Title I, only six reported
participation and performance, three fewer than in 2011-12. The report
recommends states be required to publish participation and performance
results of students with disabilities for each assessment, content area,
and grade level, clearly labeling preliminary and final data with dates
posted. They should also report accommodations, and participation
percentages disaggregated by grade. Data must be publicly accessible
through user-friendly formats, easily found, with clear language, rather
than solely through technical tracts. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY8tTwwsmEboW30AhPtqq9IwEn7g_3UnbrkkDwmIGpUTQSkgq5eyT2afkRU2UlD2507YkPr9AcEFzcT5Nz3i1iAhMotEOCgJ_PfISgEaRnFSD8tEFK7joRO8iwLW3PyYf1Mjv9tnoZ2oz7q00AkydCLh_IsZ7e1xD2Q==&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" alt="http://www.cehd.umn.edu/nceo/OnlinePubs/recent.html">More</a></div>
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<div><span color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>BRIEFLY NOTED CALIFORNIA</strong></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 10pt;"><span color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong><br>
</strong></span></div>
</td></tr><tr><td class="aolmail_FeatureText aolmail_FeatureContent" style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;padding:8px 25px 18px 25px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" valign="top" align="left">
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Low point</strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">State support for
building new schools is nearing historic lows, after California Senate
Republicans nixed a plan to seek voter approval for a bond measure for
school construction and modernization costs. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY8tTwwsmEboW4dzAnLU8DRsnPfJbXnphyWY6N_VibOZbn_c5g-I5BQ3HEQe15mxaGQUk5AwNQG-Pk2Yan28fPhDh4Qen6MLGS8jigXis4UPNW7B01RHB2Kqh829JbSkqO7fezvp9CT4HqH5j6EAxe_YjctD8BsVETDlRPP7nw0tGGoRzs4llXQ9F6klkTkNulnKyQBwDf3yLu3L9fhE1iKY=&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" alt="https://www.cabinetreport.com/facilities/ed-chairs-facility-bond-fails-passage-in-senate">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Can't hurt</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">An expansion of a
federal arts education program will pump additional resources into some
of California's struggling schools, with a focus on teaching the arts to
the state's youngest students. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY8tTwwsmEboWjgM-nvuvfi8bD9dfHRrmfGRECihsPkGotyBIqVTH2x_ZdFq8tpl1tHCnFgls40pSxDMccbet5GUsOJ8mXt9R_EZG9YUw32r3ZCFQIN-9P3Evs4SVymUqIQElhcgK2xV7_5uQKhJ9ODA8u1WZklo0gkpeXG-yvwg6j6s4GM5dRzd4fo4FpvcsEsAJdQSqQajuZXwE8f2LePGgcJ1j4CkufQ==&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" alt="http://www.scpr.org/news/2015/06/04/52178/preschools-to-receive-arts-education-boost-under-f/">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Gray water is good water</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Amid California's record
drought, students at Los Angeles River School in Glassell Park are
learning about water conservation through landscaping with recycled
water. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY8tTwwsmEboWrdcIQmv-ktlv3-o_oSd7biuBIcQ5UqRYGYgvDsvB_k4clikRwOz7HweZ8cvuRPDwn05lq30G6lqTdRneBFY5egH6KfFC5SlQDbG05pb7JgniiSO710rHZJuLph3T4pdGLWiFZX9erivQlJQaxxwxoOgFesLHCHBMQej6cxqzbGnpw4NBmnUtUzgzimSd0PTLb7uMbH1crYKVgX4ILlsewReadLC_5lTm&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" alt="http://abc7.com/education/los-angeles-river-school-teaches-water-conservation-through-gardening/763105/">More</a></div>
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<div><span color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>BRIEFLY NOTED </strong></span></div>
</td></tr><tr><td class="aolmail_FeatureText aolmail_FeatureContent" style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;padding:8px 25px 18px 25px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" valign="top" align="left">
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 10pt;"><br>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Breaking news</strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Federal census data show a growing gap in education spending by the nation's poorest and most affluent districts. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY8tTwwsmEboWDJR5djrcwpsTYLTmiKnUWkJrF1Y9N7jRPZy1CGhiF1ZL7ze8fpgoKZ7dT0dl8EVS2jB2zlUa9d7SZyWCQp143x_zASxRL8hrjU5M14Iv1kUlDA3BhD9JNu00fSnsH6aiNLFDNzOk_DJ2iOpg36K-VHYbQTaEV85LRWlUzJaW9McL8aHh9kT4qOf1iKaT3jWRVOHxXwzThqXqliZ5FF6pMz2Rd_aMryjA3O63bY8rsyrMLB1Ekis-HL2qHO6EpX13LuC1ykRlC_CfiT-SCdLAGWuhtbZx3Tc2&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" shape="rect" alt="http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2015/06/02/the-states-that-spend-the-most-and-the-least-on-education-in-one-map/?tid=pm_local_pop_b">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Imbalance</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Teachers in high-poverty
districts were twice as likely to be in training as those working in
the wealthiest districts in 2011-12, according to a congressionally
mandated report just released by the U.S. Department of Education.<span> <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY8tTwwsmEboWCb-NWX2XRUwq6v9vonNhqcRiVrKkRFVjdpXbhP0xA2-PkdZe57-mrAxg6kGXIy3XbrmfQRS4z00Qw14nkiCJE25VdQvgEcd_jglg0MYwVB8n82mso-CmVNvnkMgCjVwGvIoMclfH-hhLHXB0WXvp5mZOiseK-AJLp18dxvuSN1-SqUpohvxePsb9c5emR6XSV8iXbJs8VKD2cNB9o29rWCB9MLoZc5wX&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" shape="rect" alt="http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/teacherbeat/2015/06/poorest_districts_have_more_trainee_teachers.html">More</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Relentless tide</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">More than half of the
nation's preschool teachers say they have tablet computers in the
classroom -- nearly double what was reported two years earlier.<span> <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY8tTwwsmEboWoUlvTWzVWOfLWn9E-bcqvPuvOWPk1eko8vsxP7dBQkD7aUdw6t0pIFyDRWCdw6MQtI-UndOFFqwCh7SSBa7tYX6lfJ-0im5Mwy0OCC84w0cKCJky7IJtXuWfpa80lbcB6pfglZjF9G7ESqEKnFkZwMEPl-KIfZkmaNs7opTwHYbQZXAVBi-GNthRhSrmH0qme36NeYgj0O79NZlbWIYeVQ==&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" shape="rect" alt="http://hechingerreport.org/an-enormous-increase-in-classroom-technology-for-the-littlest-learners/">More</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Making the grades</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The Texas
legislature has approved a bill to give A-F grades to public schools,
which now heads to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature.<span> <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY8tTwwsmEboWw09WHL_nFfFKqZjE0Vvpj4Uvpz9pabOKuVl2gw0647WHfygaf-kvpgSKPPcB3fjTq2trOmpNGeB6uvUWyEERa4d-adHVEuYwlJT0AT83ZWJvyEnM5_MdAMdRcEu1A05aCpfXrZPFKfASX5XmLFzk92ZICBl_c72tcBWMpc8xKq-3AnW-ja1D4msWLbe0tjh6rP-8mDSP2uZOj3KFXCtM-6nHiRPhAdIzm0hRU_sUsQHGjBfkJXzflD14Kq3L60lX&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" shape="rect" alt="http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/state_edwatch/2015/06/in_nod_to_florida_texas_lawmakers_approve_a-f_grades_for_schools.html">More</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>So much for that</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Missouri public school
children spent untold hours this spring prepping for a new
computer-based standardized test that has now been banned by the state
legislature.<span> <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY8tTwwsmEboWoiKOzlo384N1d3QMxOD-5iuAD65nGlpCQbleok2enP--QxX0E3ex7TB1eMA93_PkX1ojARv2r5dwnE72p84ORMsctX8msnbMIKbxoD6wCuA16DyiXMUtCJEhtNUDg6qG3ggyD0B2UfDkzROCknnTZAc3Q_fTDPnbDwG4ViUNcIwzkR1D6G2BqzPiCCb8kD4S-BZW6t-K3LsXttexY32SB9E2p5M0dYx7Y1LxP0c554oM7O4x3433gmOe8o4dOQw-h7FlI-rDwFaV-XJFhu-l47r9gRWpaKwSKzQx7qKdCpE=&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" shape="rect" alt="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/missouri-legislature-throws-common-core-test-out-the-window/article_09441f40-b77a-5f0d-ae9f-7678a30d551a.html">More</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Eyes on New York</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">A veteran Great Neck
elementary teacher, Sheri Lederman, has won the first round of her legal
challenge to New York state's teacher-evaluation system, which she
contends is unfair because of statistical flaws.<span> <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY8tTwwsmEboWULPbbW067Q3-Og_Wq29tRm5__4ggrJEOydKkWTsMPucrpaxPYN7sJaAsT0nlZEQgDjT7hlzez13H1A2WXHDeL1gTzG-lzzZ2ATAy-lNv3t7vkFyEbRI1xvt7ZKIKaTasueKy-tUrqit91hiS9I4uxL1ROqok_HKoaBecyIrp2zBtr_b7S0adcbaYteBnvw-VUYfazR_BY7AHemTHObRdou1WG2bRbT-C7AnKp0hCAWfav8qRCyT5vuX0ExiAfZSgd6SeNUXWtCrVwcIW0aHKMA==&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" shape="rect" alt="http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/sheri-lederman-great-neck-teacher-wins-right-to-challenge-rating-tied-to-student-test-scores-1.10500780">More</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Breakfast for all</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Maryland's Hunger-Free
Schools Act will make it possible for entire schools and districts to
provide free meals to students, regardless of household income.<span> <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY8tTwwsmEboWe00RbIuAf3QYak6Wetc5qU1Jh6dzaQgqfIf96BR6w6J9E027QJwKzK8WpZ6vE4HUeQfpm1r3eMIG3U7tTULegnvHTOagWbND3Iwgi-QsPfvLGylRphFdDtJI5OgH3QLA2YZLP4hcUFtmLJHBwQmOo9yUJyWH0JQ0S06N3G-7YxfT3vg49bmrQCaq8t732lhHDxSDbc55vwp7tuyDUHXQqkjb3-xWPhZ1xORkOI8yFEQ=&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" shape="rect" alt="http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2015/0602/Eligible-Maryland-schools-to-provide-free-meals-to-all-students">More</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>E-Z access</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Through the site NYC
Schools, city parents can access their children's attendance records,
student profiles, and contact information on file; when math and English
language arts scores are released in August, those will also be
available.<span> <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY8tTwwsmEboWG195XDncBQklw3qJcUJFG8_Z7bH0qlMmpzR0xR3UYbXTZ0f8i07llURa5bePOw8TitAYi3Wi70UhrUezv1pOkhqYISFjZX-0Y_oYRKvdJjxfxkkNOb3u-C8X4z7wrgaZtYAPSZ1pZwYXbZcSnSdtfIIBuCRzTH9kAI0X-Pm1XYIK4PWxKeKbKk4CWjlyyivY4N-03wMRpNMrhF9i9_Tt5A==&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" shape="rect" alt="http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/District_Dossier/2015/06/new_york_city_to_launch_new_to.html">More</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>A promising step</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Mississippi will open
its first early-college program at Golden Triangle Early College High
School on the campus of East Mississippi Community College with 62
students.<span> <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY8tTwwsmEboWH8yphxD5464fOEUxV6rvw64ii3FXHwG_ahUwj-Y7mYmeAPxRw1crNSP9pp1aFebiWBYGJ8qyjv-BSL_GDZtvrqJa4mgcEeupxwUb1Cz6k1c7KCRli29SN2Tpi8wHV9R_8L-X4M0uCsSGBQar_-9Zt_l3FzeOVnK4eRfi6cV25cI57vKyMpDoPLpNQq9ez4cIjpy3Qn25XBNinWbbscwk6nGk8kOUuXW5PQO2VL1MbgY=&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" shape="rect" alt="http://hechingerreport.org/mississippi-to-open-first-early-college-program-styled-after-schools-in-north-carolina/">More</a></span></div>
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</span>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; color: #ee5624;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #ff6600;" color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>GRANTS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES</strong></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong> </strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>NASSP/MetLife: Breakthrough Schools</strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The National Association
of Secondary School Principals and the MetLife Foundation Breakthrough
Schools program highlights high-achieving middle or high schools, or
schools that are making dramatic improvements in student achievement,
whose best practices and outstanding results can inform other schools as
they further their own improvement efforts. Maximum award: $5,000, plus
<span>being featured in the association's monthly magazine, </span>Principal Leadership<span>;
principals of Breakthrough Schools participate in dissemination
activities at the NASSP National Conference and other venues throughout
the year.</span> Eligibility: high-achieving K-12 schools with 40
percent or more students eligible for free and reduced-priced meals.
Deadline: June 30, 2015. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY-UmZvDBOhqsFsHcTdCOZFrrx4_Wh3eJe1U13LEXh2NlMJJCTw0NGU-GpyhUPl4oJJtvYyliXKctcvPDJsQ-mFOBt972g6cq9EGOh6zt_EUv9bD18VFVUYPay380ealnYiGanwhN5jBb68UXrbT8zmqMyijSlS1SSg0fyBeymRkdsTcyAZyH7ioOuGFrp6KP0hZkhwQC6yl_7q1H51z-nek=&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" alt="http://www.nassp.org/AwardsandRecognition/MetLifeFoundationNASSPBreakthroughSchools.aspx">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>ESA: President's Prizes for Outstanding Achievement in Primary and Secondary Education</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The Entomological
Society of America's President's Prizes for Outstanding Achievement in
Primary and Secondary Education recognize educators who have gone beyond
the traditional teaching methods by using insects as educational tools.
Maximum award: $400 to the winner's school to purchase teaching
materials required to expand the use of insects in the teaching
curriculum; $400 to the winner for expenses associated with travel
required to present a paper or poster on the use of insects in primary
or secondary educational programs at a peer professional venue of their
choosing; gratis registration to attend ESA's annual meeting; and an
$800 award to the winner for expenses associated with travel, hotel
arrangements, and all other costs associated with attending the annual
meeting. Eligibility: primary teachers (grades K-6) and secondary
teachers (grades 7-12). Deadline: July 1, 2015.<span> <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY-UmZvDBOhqs1j8zOjKzyq6YIBJ9gauq8XL7AFZJNNdlX57pxXqvcd8KPaIP6Q1b56GJl30KXaTCJWqgcf9tCm29UKteCdT-fzhCuKRCie8Aw-c6pK26cNhS4f-8CNC8vmNT5vSn3pDGIykOmu_X_osXl7K2yq6tKg==&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" alt="http://www.entsoc.org/awards/professional/educational">More</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Dow Jones Fund: National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The National High School
Journalism Teacher of the Year award identifies outstanding high school
journalism teachers who have done exemplary work in the previous
academic year. Maximum award: laptop computer, travel and lodging
expenses to national conference, per diem for substitute teacher fees,
and a quarterly column for the Fund's newspaper; the winner also attends
a seminar at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg,
Fla., and a senior student at the winning teacher's school will receive
$1,000 to study journalism, based on performance in a writing contest
held at his or her school. Eligibility: high school teachers with at
least three years' experience. Deadline: July 9, 2015.<span> <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxYy0U7oUkPu715d6aiZXbca5F11ul_mv6gikIHMaGtfuxlafLem46joWgmEwV_gU3-PNJb92Mqs3I1wXBoJH-REB088KuzWmmIuLGKWWHQCiO8zkfiQiR1shWnlKSA_IASfCPxoXYifZX_xmEF2OKQeHNe71-TKlH7jWWjVcxoUXIwvC4muXaW1vQdt4G5aexrptzc21-uYVn&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" alt="https://www.newsfund.org/PageText/Prg_HomePages.aspx?Page_ID=Prg_TeacherOfTheYear">More</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ff6600;"><strong>Dollar General/ALA/AASL/NEA: School Library Disaster Relief</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Dollar General, in
collaboration with the American Library Association (ALA), the American
Association of School Librarians (AASL), and the National Education
Association (NEA) is sponsoring a school library disaster relief fund
for public school libraries in states served by Dollar General. The fund
will provide grants to public schools whose school library program has
been affected by a disaster. Grants replace or supplement books, media
and/or library equipment in the library setting. Maximum award: $20,000
to replace or supplement books, media, and/or library equipment.
Eligibility: public school libraries preK-12 within 20 miles of a Dollar
General store, distribution center, or corporate office, which have
lost their building or incurred substantial damage or hardship due to a
natural disaster (tornado, earthquake, hurricane, flood, avalanche,
mudslide), fire, or an act recognized by the federal government as
terrorism; or have absorbed a significant number (more than 10 percent
enrollment) of displaced/evacuee students. Deadline: none.<span> <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxYy0U7oUkPu71toBHRWKXGMMQHw6hAWex0KMrddgG-KgTr39RGATL-Na-XzQ7bfQHEU11fpP3tHRGAfOCF5WNQ9mXRVNiQnm7HKADOaNsUn6Y84iP5xEHyYbPWaGqScaDea7FTKdhey-WwBQNn2C52Q5IoDfhXcmmGA==&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" alt="http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/awards/166/apply">More</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div><strong style="color: #ff6600; font-size: 14pt;">Quote of the Week:</strong><span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">"I am absolutely
convinced that education must be at the top of our agenda again, so I am
putting it at the heart of my campaign. ...Every single child should be
able to start learning early at home, in child-care settings, at pre-K,
and then go off to public school with teachers who are going to be able
to support them and who have the respect and dignity that comes with
the teaching profession."<span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong> - Hillary Clinton, in a sit-down with the AFT.</strong></span> <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); text-decoration: underline;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011wGcSwWQuJcexH37KVeAzwQJcmBnRKqFtRC5lVNqRThFcxS6XwGxY8tTwwsmEboWTyOJh1r2oOrNJk94Mx1PoTAKMIOtK37sL5B8YyM7pvb6Vm6zBtutCMMGYep3jCM3OF3306gJZutwbTdzDTII77tlJvX25xJuJ3W66Q9boRdUdTo1IHsf4s0H2tPi051aEOoxBrkglUVv0PoEmPUY4sbWCjJI25KpNL4fnXzwMuwnaCpUpmxScFtVudqnQ2RV0PobAZsRRh8=&c=4d4F_x7LQG2RDjumO1KlvcTBGR6Cfg3yAVLLMyVA7qt_16qsJrDZAw==&ch=7WSFWCWu5jketIRFtgNBRJfIX7-6P3uXXy6jlTbnBCk2UsOHqmAgKA==" alt="http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2015/06/what_did_democratic_presidenti.html">More</a></div>
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