News
Public school classified staff receive awards
Thirty-six people from across the state honored
The Classified Employee Excellence Awards, held for the first time this year, recognizes classified staff members who have made a positive difference in their profession and in their schools. The awards were proposed by the Public School Employees of Washington, a union representing classified employees, and were approved by the 2007 Legislature. Read More>>
Three organizations join forces; commit to improve early learning for children statewide
Leaders of the Washington State Department of Early Learning (DEL), Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and Thrive by Five Washington today affirmed their partnership in improving early learning opportunities for all Washington children, and helping them find success in school and in life. Read More>>
Special education reforms would likely include classes taught in pairs
As a task force begins this spring to revamp Seattle Public Schools' approach to special education, it is likely that more classes will be taught by a pair of teachers. Marni Campbell, who was principal at Eckstein when its inclusion program began, said special-education students could fall behind without extra help. Offering classes co-taught by a special-education teacher and another teacher ensures kids get that help, she said. Often there is also an instructional assistant in the room. Read More>>
Washington Awarded $3 Million for School Health Programs
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are awarding a grant of more than $3 million to Washington to support school programs about healthy living and learning. The grant will provide $649,000 a year for five years to continue the statewide Coordinated School Health Program. Read More>>
State to Pay For Free College of Low Income Middle-School Students
A new scholarship for low-income middle school students comes with a promise that if grades are kept up through high school - at least 2.0 - the state will pay for college. Read More>>
April is National Poetry Month
Inaugurated by the Academy in April 1996, National Poetry Month (NPM) brings together publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, schools, and poets around the country to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Thousands of businesses and non-profit organizations participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events. Read More>>
2007-2009 Alternative Route Programs for Teacher Certification
The Professional Educators Standards Board has selected the 2007-2008 Alternative Route Programs for Teacher Certification. Read More>>
UW study Aims to Reverse Childhood Autism
SEATTLE - Is it possible to prevent autism or reverse it in children? That question is behind a groundbreaking study at the University of Washington, where a little boy named Ashton Faller is raising hopes. Read More >>
Exercise Seen as Priming Pump for Students’ Academic Strides
Case grows stronger for physical activity's link to improved brain function. Read More >>
Washington State Parks is offering “NO CHILD LEFT INSIDE” Grants
"No Child Left Inside" is a grant program administered by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. The program has $1.5 million available to Washington state outdoor education and recreation youth programs to help get our children back outside to learn about and enjoy nature. Grant information and applications are available on the Washington State Parks Website.
OLYMPIA
Washington earned a C grade overall in Education Week magazine’s annual report card of state-level education, which based grades on a wide variety of factors, including achievement, teaching and financing. Read More > >
Big WASL changes on way?
Big changes may be ahead for the WASL, the state's high-stakes, high-profile exam.
Read More > >
Autism
Early intervention and inclusion mean more students with autism are interacting with their peers. Read More > >
Finding their own way: Mothers pioneer path for children with autism
One mother explains the transition that she went through in her attitude towards her daughter's paraeducator. Read More >>
Young People Seen As Losing the Love of Reading
A new report from the National Endowment for the Arts blames increasing use of electronic media for a decline in pleasure reading among young people. Read More >>
State unveiling draft of math transformation, seeks public input
When the public gets its first peek at Washington's proposed new grade-by-grade math learning requirements, what they'll find most surprising is how easy they are to understand, the consultant managing the revision effort has promised. Read More >>
Dana Center chosen to help lead changes to Washington's K-12 mathematics learning standards
. Work to begin immediately
Over the next four months, the Charles A. Dana Center for Mathematics and Science Education, affiliated with the University of Texas at Austin, will lead the revision of Washington State’s mathematics learning standards for students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade.
Read More >>
National Paraeducator Survey
From the National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals: Your opinion matters to us! Are you a paraeducator who works in a classroom where students with disabilities are educated alongside of their peers without disabilities? What you do and how you work with the children and the teachers is the subject of a study underway and hosted at three major universities in Arizona, California, and Florida! Take the Survey >>
National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals 2008 Conference
United We Educate, PATHS to the Future
The 2008 27th Annual National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals Conference will be held on April 16th-19th (registration and State Leadership Conference on the 16th) in Hartford, Connecticut at the Hartford Hilton Hotel. Read more >>
Tough Transitions
By Laura Meade Kirk
Everyone’s anxious about the first day of school — especially parents who are sending their kids off to a new school for the first time, whether it’s preschool or high school. Read More.
States Hard-Pressed to Set Aside Title I Aid for NCLB Help, Group Says
A report recommends that Congress significantly boost funding for the program. Read More
2007 Legislative Updates
During their 2007 legislative
session, Washington state lawmakers increased school funding and passed
legislation to change the WASL high school graduation requirement. Read
an overview of the session and view
all bills put before the governor for action.
The following are key
items from the session:
- WASL Graduation Requirement: Learn more about the changes
made to the WASL graduation requirement and what it now takes to
earn a high school diploma. Click
here.
- Full-day
Kindergarten: Learn more about full-day
Kindergarten legislation, funding and eligibility by reading Full-day Kindergarten
Questions and Answers 2007-2008 School Year. To view the eligibility
list, please (click
here). (The list is under “2007 Budget Analyses and Worksheets.”)
- New Professional
Development Funding for Math and Science Improvement: The
state Legislature approved about $39 million to help schools statewide
improve math and science teaching. Learn more about the Professional
Development for teachers at all grade levels (PD
Matrix) and view the allocation
model.
Good Circulation: Internet Helps Libraries
Library directors remember the talk, not long ago, of technology rendering libraries obsolete. Statistics show the opposite has occurred. Over the past decade, library circulation has climbed, driven partly by the demand for audiovisual materials and enabled by the Internet, which has allowed patrons to request interlibrary loans with a few mouse clicks. LEARN MORE
Research Sheds Light on Benefits of Book Reading for Children
A University of Kansas researcher has shown that reading with a child is associated with the child’s use of language and gives new details about how the variety of books and context of joint reading impacts linguistic development. LEARN MORE
Web Sites Introduce Preteens to Social Networking
An explosion of social-networking websites aimed at kids as young as 6 or 7 is forcing parents and educators to teach children important lessons about internet safety and online etiquette at a much earlier age. LEARN MORE
Readers Celebrate 50 years of ‘The Cat in the Hat’
At least three generations of Americans have fond memories of the famous rhyme – and this year marks the 50th anniversary of the book’s publication. In honor of the 50th anniversary, publisher Random House has teamed up with Dr. Seuss Enterprises and First Book to create Project 236, a literacy initiative. LEARN MORE
Ed. Dept. Releases Final Rules on Tests for Special Education Students.
The U.S. Department of Education released final regulations to guide the creation of tests for students in special education who are capable of learning grade-level content, but not as quickly as their peers. Read More.
Schools Banning iPods to Beat Cheaters.
The Associated Press reports that schools across the nation are banning iPods and other media players because they may potentially be used for cheating. Read More.
‘Little House’ Resonates After 75 years.
April marks the 75th anniversary of the first publication in 1932 of “Little House in the Big Woods”. The story of Laura’s early life in a cabin in 1860s Wisconsin launched a nine-book series that made Wilder a household name, helped by the hit award-winning television series. Read More.
Latest Data Security Risk: Copiers.
In the campaign to secure sensitive school information, experts warn that digital copiers and scanners are an often-overlooked front. Most newer digital copiers store the data being copied on a disk drive – and if the data on these disks aren’t protected or overwritten, they could fall into the wrong hands. Read More.
Reading Free-For-All.
Once a month, mailboxes around the Yakima Valley are deluged with children’s literature—brightly colored picture books, early readers and baby-board books. The monthly book delivery is under the auspices of Circle of Success, a program that encourages early learning in the Yakima Valley. Read More.
“No Child Left Behind “ Goal of 100% Proficiency Debated as Congress Weighs Renewal.
No Child Left Behind, the landmark federal education law, sets a lofty standard: That all students tested in reading and math will reach grade level by 2014. Now, lawmakers and education officials are confronting the reality of the approaching deadline and the difficult political choice between sticking with the vision of universal proficiency of backing away from it. Read More.
2007 Educators’ Calendar.
Did you know that October 5th is World Teacher’s Day, or that the second week in February is Random Acts of Kindness Week? Enjoy your FREE 2007 Educators’ Calendar, full of interesting holidays, significant dates in history, and month- and week-long celebrations. It’s sure to present teachable moments all year long! Read More.
The American Library Association Announces Literacy Award Winners.
The ALA announced the top books and videos for children and young adults, including Caldecott, King, Newbery and Printz awards. These highly anticipated awards honor the best materials for youth, and are selected by judging committees of librarians and other children’s literature experts. Go to Winners.
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