Carol’s Summary:

There has been a lot of focus on educational policy recently due to the Race to the Top program rewarding states that support charter schools, cities like L.A. ranking 6,000 teachers in the Times, and the box office success of “Waiting for ‘Superman.'”

Even though there are a variety of sources debating educational policy, it’s agreed across the board that improving the effectiveness of teachers is where reform begins. This article argues that there is no “war on teachers”. The focus for educational reform should start with replacing the bottom 5-10% of poorly performing teachers with average teachers. This small improvement in the quality of teachers could have the power to boost U.S. standing closer to the top. In order for there to be reform, teacher unions must stop protecting the low-performing teachers. There isn’t a war on teachers, but rather a war on teachers unions. Unions should exist to represent effective teachers not help ineffective teachers keep their positions that may harm a student’s future.

LifeBound provides coaching training for parents, teachers, students and community organizations that support after school programs.

Article: There Is No ‘War on Teachers’

No longer is education reform an issue of liberals vs. conservatives. In Washington, the Obama administration’s Race to the Top program rewarded states for making significant policy changes such as supporting charter schools. In Los Angeles, the Times published the effectiveness rankings—and names—of 6,000 teachers. And nationwide, the documentary “Waiting for ‘Superman,'” which strongly criticizes the public education system, continues to succeed at the box office.

Read the full article at: wsj.com

Carol’s Summary:

A recent boom in students receiving help outside the classroom has made tutoring a multi-billion dollar industry. Most studies being conducted today on tutoring are done with an agenda by tutoring or testing companies who want the industry to grow from a business point-of-view. Sandra Stotsky, professor of education reform, questions the lack of independent studies being conducted on the rising numbers of tutors as she believes it might be telling of what students or parents are demanding for an education that the school system is failing to provide.

It is believed the boom in tutoring has happened for two reasons. The first: colleges are more selective – more students are fighting for the same number of openings – and tutoring can boost a student’s scores so they stand out above the rest. The second: parents are not satisfied with the education their children are receiving and are choosing to have subjects, mostly math, taught to them outside of school.

Article: Why More Students Rely on Tutors

At first, the apparent lack of independent studies on why parents choose to have their high school children tutored is surprising. By independent, I mean studies by researchers unconnected to tutoring or testing companies — and with no axe to grind or interest in promoting the services or products of these companies.

Read the full article at: nytimes.com

Carol’s Summary:

A common belief, even in conflicting studies, agrees the most critical elements of effective mentoring are that the relationship be stable and that it lasts for at least one year. Some benefits a student can gain from effective mentoring are improved attendance, stronger relationships with adults, closer bonds with the school, and a decrease in disciplinary problems and at-risk behavior.

Schools that look to improve student achievement have been moved to implement mentoring programs to increase student success. But, most school-based programs arrange for mentors to meet with their student for only a semester or an academic year while only attending activities taking place on campus. A recent study, published in the latest Social Policy Report, found children who had a mentor for under six months had lower self-esteem and engaged in riskier behavior than those who had never had a mentor.

There are programs, like Big Brothers Big Sisters, that offer “school plus” mentoring programs which allows tutors to be involved in the students life at school and in the community, no matter the time of year. At Thurgood Marshall Academy, the school partners with law firms to provide 70 percent of 10th graders with a mentor who they see every Saturday. They usually meet for lunch in the afternoon and to study in the evenings. “The more positive adults that are engaged and interested and willing to be involved with our students,” Principal Jessica Sher said,” the more successful [the students] will be.”

Article: Time and Stability Seen as Key to Effective Mentoring

Conflicting studies on school-based mentoring programs for students tend to agree on at least one thing: The most critical element of effective mentoring—a stable relationship of at least a year—has also proved to be among the most difficult to align with school-based programs.

Read the full article at: www.edweek.org

Carol’s Summary:

A recent study found, by the age of 40, children who did not attend preschool were twice as likely to be arrested for a violent crime as those who did attend preschool. The study also found children who did not attend preschool were more likely to be enrolled in special education programs in K-12. Last year, the Bay area spent $1.5 billion on special education programs compared to $117 million spent on preschool programs. Investing in early childhood education pays and the more toddlers are learning in school and out, the better off they are for school, career and life success.

In California, local police chiefs and legislators are taking a preventative stance by pushing for state funds to be directed into preschool programs instead of paying for incarcerated juveniles and adults later down the line. The problem Contra Costa County faces now is there are 3,500 low-income children on the preschool waiting list for a center that serves 231 low-income children. Adjusting out expectations for children under five could make a difference not only in their lives, but in our future economy and society.

Article: Well-funded preschool programs reduce crime, report says

CONCORD — One dollar spent on preschool today could save $16 in special education and crime-related expenses over the long term, according to a report released Tuesday.

Read full article at: contracostatimes.com

50 years ago, professor E. Paul Torrance tested a group of nearly 400 Minneapolis children on creativity, which has since evolved into his colleague tracking the grown kids to see if the documented levels of creativity were any indication of their adult accomplishments. Time has shown those who came up with more creative ideas on Torrance’s tests grew up to be entrepreneurs, inventors, college presidents, authors, doctors, diplomats, and software developers. It’s no wonder 1,500 CEOs said creativity was the number one leadership skill of the future.

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