Apple Unveiling Smaller iPad, Seeking Solid Grip On Education Sector

Noting that California's San Diego Unified School District has purchased over 25,000 iPad tablets for classroom use, Bloomberg News (10/23, Satariano) reports that many districts nationwide may be drawn to the price point of the "new, smaller version of the iPad that Apple will unveil tomorrow at an event in San Jose, California. Apple has long been a leader in education, and schools began embracing the iPad soon after its 2010 debut. Yet as fiscal budget shortfalls crimp spending all the more, schools in growing numbers are warming to the handheld devices as an alternative to more expensive laptops." This version, according to Balclays Plc, could cost $249, as compared with the $499 to $829 price tag for currently marketed versions.

Columnist: High-Stakes Testing Benefits Lower-Income Students

In a New York Post (10/22) column, Naomi Schaefer Riley writes that affluent parents in New York City are protesting "this week's 40-minute field tests in math and English" and other high-stakes testing, "which they see as a distraction from the real education their children could be receiving. They actually have a point - but then, the testing isn't really about their kids. High-stakes testing has been shown to offer clear benefits - particularly to lower-income students."

California Parents Consider Suing District Over Free Yoga Classes

The AP (10/23) reports that a group of parents in Encinitas, California, are considering suing the local school district over its free yoga classes, "fearing they are indoctrinating youngsters in eastern religion." The AP quotes attorney Dean Broyles saying, "There's a deep concern that the Encinitas Union School District is using taxpayer resources to promote Ashtanga yoga and Hinduism, a religion system of beliefs and practices."

 

The North County (CA) Times (10/23) reports that Broyles, in a letter to Superintendent Tim Baird, "called the program unconstitutional and warned that he may initiate 'a legal course of action' if the district doesn't end it. Broyles declined last week to discuss what the group has in mind, but said it's considering all legal options. ... District officials say that they have stripped any semblance of religion from the classes, but some parents are worried that that may not be true."

Racially Distinct Florida Achievement Targets Spark Controversy

Racially Distinct Florida Achievement Targets Spark Controversy.

The Orlando (FL) Sentinel (10/20, Postal) reports that since the Florida Board of Education voted to adopt "reading and math goals for students that varied by race, among other categories," the state "has been embroiled in a debate about the message sent by its new race-based academic targets, which are lower for black and Hispanic students than for other children. ... The goals are meant to a be a midpoint on a path to getting all kids mastering key academics, and they would require a faster pace of improvement for struggling students to help them catch up. But that intent was likely lost in the 'resounding negative perception,' said Orange Superintendent Barbara Jenkins in an email."

 

Paper Praises Governor For Seeking Equal Standards.An editorial in the Daytona Beach (FL) News-Journal (10/20) praises Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) for saying last week that "he will not tolerate any excuse for an achievement gap at public schools. Not race, not gender, not income level. Scott wants no such excuses from the State Board of Education." The piece explains that Scott's comments come in response to the State Board of Education's plan to implement different achievement targets for different racial and socio-economic groups under the state's NCLB flexibility.

 

More Commentary.In commentary for The Root (10/22, Toldson) , Dr. Ivory A. Toldson of Howard University writes about the "controversial and misguided proposals" in Florida and Virginia to "close the 'achievement gap' by setting different performance standards for black and white students. These demonstrate a dreadfully shortsighted assessment of race and achievement in the United States."

Iowa Zoo Uses Skype To Reach Rural Students

Iowa Zoo Uses Skype To Reach Rural Students.

The Des Moines (IA) Register (10/19, Santana) reports on a program at which Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa, recently used online communication app Skype to "present to students sitting in a classroom more than 100 miles away" in rural parts of the state. The Register notes that the zoo's manager of education, Daniela Graham, "said the zoo would consider following up last Tuesday's virtual field trip with other schools."

Pennsylvania Superintendents Urge State Legislature To Drop Charter Bill

The Delaware County (PA) Daily Times (10/18, Puglionesi) reports that a group of fifteen district superintendents in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, have written to the state legislature "requesting changes to proposed charter school legislation in Senate Bill 1115, under consideration by Pennsylvania legislators this week. ... The letter of Oct. 12 states that as proposed, SB115 'reinforces a blatant disregard for the equitable treatment of constituent school districts.' A bullet-point list of grievances primarily concern local control and representation, transparency and funding issues the legislation potentially creates."

Florida Officials Defend Racial Differences In Post-Waiver Assessments.

The New York Times (10/18, Alvarez, Subscription Publication) reports on the lingering controversy surrounding Florida education officials' decision to "set different goals for student achievement in reading and math by race and ethnicity" under the state's NCLB waiver, noting that the "move was widely criticized as discriminatory and harmful to blacks and Hispanics. But the state, which has been required to categorize achievement by racial, ethnic and other groups to the federal government for more than 10 years, intends to stand by its new strategic plan. Education officials say the targets, set for 2018, have been largely misunderstood." The Times explains that Florida officials say that the goal of the policy is to reduce the achievement gap.

Most States Vary Benchmarks By Race.

CNN (10/18, Martin, Valencia) reports on its "Schools of Thought" blog that "civil rights groups and some parents are concerned that new proficiency targets in several states are selling African-American students short." The piece notes that Florida is among the "majority of US states and the District of Columbia" which "have set up different benchmarks for different groups, including racial and ethnic student populations." CNN adds that though it may seem like this is a case of less being expected of some classes of students, they are a reaction to the implausibility of NCLB's 100% proficiency mandate. "But the new benchmarks have been met with outrage from parents and civil rights groups, particularly in Florida, Virginia and DC."

Amazon Announces Initiative To Compete With iPad In Schools

Reuters (10/18, Barr) reports that Amazon has announced a push to enter into the classroom technology market with its Kindle e-readers and tablets, competing in a realm that has heretofore been dominated by Apple's iPad. Amazon unveiled a device content management service called Whispercast this week, Reuters reports, noting that the move is part of Amazon's push to sell devices at cost to profit from subsequent content sales.

Group Raising Funds To Invest In Blended Learning Research

KQED San Francisco (10/18, Schwartz) reports that Silicon Solutions, a new non-profit organization, is looking to raise $25 million to invest in research into blended learning. "With partial grants from the Bay Area's Fisher family (owners of Gap), and the advice of board members Michael Horn from the Innosight Institute and Salman Khan of the Khan Academy, the nonprofit, which has raised $12 million so far, aims to fund new and innovative approaches in existing blended learning programs with grants to each school. ... The movement is in its infancy. There is no blended-learning canon that can be taught to teachers - they are the ones who need to write the playbook."

Mathews Considers Common Core's Increased Emphasis On Informational Text

In his Washington Post (10/18) column, Jay Mathews writes that the Common Core Standards are intended to improve stagnant literacy rates among US students, and notes that they focus more on nonfiction text than do most prior curricula. However, "many English teachers don't think it will do any good. Even if it were a good idea, they say, those who have to make the change have not had enough training to succeed - an old story in school reform." Mathews focuses on the controversy surrounding the shift.

Parenting Program Aims to Help Latinos Close Early-Learning Gaps

By Lesli A. Maxwell on October 16, 2012 8:00 AM

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Albuquerque, N.M.

Recent studies are finding that immigrant Latino families provide some of the best starts for young children, even when those families face disadvantages because of poverty.

They are more often than not two-parent households, more likely to have mothers who don't experience mental health issues, and tend to provide a strong foundation for social-emotional learning in their young children, which is a well-documented set of skills necessary for success in school.

But there are still significant gaps in readiness between Latino children and their white and Asian-American peers before they enter school, especially when it comes to literacy. A 5-year-old program is taking aim at eliminating those gaps by focusing on parenting practices for children from birth to age 5.

Called "Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors," the program, while still relatively new, is showing improved outcomes for the parents around the country who have participated. A new research brief from a team at the University of California, Berkeley, shows that the program raises Latino parents' knowledge about early-literacy skills, social-emotional development, and health.

NOTE – This is from an EDUCATION WEEK blog, click here to read the story in its entirety.

New Hampshire District Moving Toward Allowing Ads To Offset Budget Constraints.

The New Hampshire Union Leader (10/17, Alden) reports on the growing trend of cash-strapped school districts allowing "commercial messages" in schools to generate revenue nationwide, noting that "a preliminary proposal to allow limited advertising in Manchester public schools may still have a way to go before getting final approval from the full school board. Finding potential advertisers may be much easier than agreeing on what qualifies as appropriate. The Manchester school board Coordination Committee signed off last week on a draft policy that would allow some ads on school property such as sports venues and cafeterias, provided the product or organization behind the marketing meets district approval."

Analysis Compares State Per-Student Spending With Academic Outcomes.

A National Journal (10/17, Nhan, Subscription Publication) analysis of data from the 2012 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation explores the causal relationship between state per-student education spending and academic outcomes, noting that in general, "states that spend more on their students tend to rank higher, and states that spend less rank lower. But if the answer were that simple, education reform would be a breeze. So like every complex story, outliers and exceptions to the rule exist." The article explores a number of other factors that can impact academic outcomes.

Hutchison, Mikulsky Criticize Efforts To End Single-Gender Education.

In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal (10/17, Subscription Publication) , Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) and Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulsky (D) criticize recent attempts to eliminate single-gender classroom options in a number of states. The Senators cite research pointing to positive outcomes for some students, and recount their bipartisan work to overturn former Federal policies prohibiting such classes. The Senators note that a 2008 ED study found that "both principals and teachers believed that the main benefits of single-sex schooling are decreasing distractions to learning and improving student achievement."

Common Core

Districts Uncertain How To Prepare For Common Core Technology Needs.

Education Week (10/17, Davis) reports, "School districts are raising concerns about their ability to be technologically ready to give Common Core State Standards assessments to students online in two years. Administrators say they remain uncertain about the types of devices to buy, the bandwidth they need, and the funding available for technology improvements." The piece notes that observations indicate that districts are facing confusion and "anxiety" over how to prepare for the Common Core from a technological standpoint.

Experts Offer Advice On Common Core Technology Security Issues.

Education Week (10/17, Bock) reports on concerns about the security of digital tests associated with the Common Core Standards, and presents a number of solutions to various technology issues presented by "educational technology experts." Issues include bandwidth limits, out-of-date software, security risks associates with hackers, and software that can detect student cheating.

New York Officials Express Need For Funds To Implement Common Core.

Gotham Schools (10/17, Cromidas, Cramer) reports that New York City Deputy Chancellor Shael Polakow-Suransky has said in a written statement that "the city and other school districts desperately need additional funding if they are to raise academic standards," and that "even though the city has done more to integrate new learning standards known as the Common Core than other districts and states, it cannot adequately train staff or buy the materials it needs with the resources it currently has." Polakow-Suransky issued his call to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's education reform commission, the article reports.

From Kenneth Beare

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