A survey commissioned by the IowaReadingResearchCenter (IRRC) and conducted by Iowa's regent universities shows inconsistencies in literacy instructional practices in Iowa schools, which may be contributing to stagnant reading trends reported among Iowa's students for the past several years.

The survey revealed inconsistencies in the following areas among Iowa's schools:

Classroom Literacy Instruction

There is a wide array of teaching approaches, uneven interventions for students who are struggling and disparate time allotments for literacy instruction.

Professional Development

A majority of educators reported professional development participation related to the Iowa Core English Language Arts, but with a varying range of time allotted for implementation, and a low percentage of professional development focus in reading interventions for targeted students.

Resources

The survey results indicate an uneven perception of the availability of resources, including technology resources and materials covering the Iowa Core standards, but results also showed some agreement among administrators and teachers that the time available to dedicate toward Iowa Core standards is insufficient.

Summer Reading Programs

Just more than half of Iowa's schools responding to the survey indicate they currently offer a summer reading program. Among those school programs, both the duration and the daily time allotment for literacy instruction vary widely.

The IRRC is tasked with the identification of teaching strategies and interventions; student assessments; professional development for educators; a statewide student data reporting system; and to develop the criteria and guidelines for a summer literacy program with the goal of literacy proficiency for all of Iowa's students.

The IRRC is in a unique position to advocate and coordinate best practices because the center is not committed to any one entity. The mission is to mine the existing research and disseminate proven interventions and strategies. Our goal is to be the cohesive, comprehensive resource for vetted, evidence-based practices so that teachers and parents do not have to spend their valuable time trying to identify best practices. We can instead do that for them.

The IRRC website is a growing content source of highly vetted, evidence-based resources for teachers, parents and all stakeholders interested in advancing students' literacy and reading proficiency.

Michelle Hosp, the director of the Iowa Reading Research Center, may be reached at  MHosp@IowaReadingResearch.org.

DEKALB, IL (02/06/2014)(readMedia)-- Northern Illinois University announced the awarding of graduate and undergraduate degrees at the conclusion of its Fall 2013 session.

Jacob Ngo of Moline  is a recent graduate of Northern Illinois University (NIU). Ngo graduated with a B.S. degree from the College of Business.

Joel Oney of Port Byron  is a recent graduate of Northern Illinois University (NIU). Oney graduated with a B.S. degree from the College of Business.

Jonathan Gonzalez of Moline is a recent graduate of Northern Illinois University (NIU). Gonzalez graduated with a B.S. degree from the College of Business.

NIU announced the awarding of graduate and undergraduate degrees at the conclusion of its fall semester, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013 and Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013 respectively.

Chartered in 1895, NIU is a comprehensive teaching and research institution with a diverse and international student body of about 21,000. Located near a vibrant research and development corridor, NIU's main DeKalb campus is 65 miles west of Chicago and 45 miles southeast of Rockford. NIU provides more than 60 undergraduate majors and 100 graduate- and doctoral- level programs in seven colleges (Business, Education, Engineering and Engineering Technology, Health and Human Sciences, Law, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Visual and Performing Arts). The university also operates education centers in Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Oregon and Rockford, where working professionals can access NIU programs at convenient times and locations. The 16 NIU Huskies athletic teams compete in the Mid-American Conference at the highest NCAA Division I level.

PLATTEVILLE, WI (02/05/2014)(readMedia)-- University of Wisconsin-Platteville announced its 2013 fall semester Dean's List. Students receive this academic honor in the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture and the College of Liberal Arts and Education must achieve a 3.75 grade point average and students in the College of Engineering, Math and Science must earn a 3.5 grade point average.

Among those who made the Dean's List were,

Mitchel Christensen from Calamus, IA,

Stacy Clark from Riverdale, IA,

Mary DePauw from Port Byron, IL,

Joseph Fisher from Port Byron, IL,

Cassandra Heusinkveld from Morrison, IL,

Joseph Kluever from Bettendorf, IA,

Dakota LaMaack from Moscow, IA,

Hannah McManus from Reynolds, IL,

Amy Meyer from Eldridge, IA,

Karen Newlon from Hampton, IL,

Meredith Oostenryk from Morrison, IL,

James Weinert from East Moline, IL,

Andrew Wright from Hampton, IL,

UW-Platteville, founded in 1846, is located in the southwestern corner of Wisconsin, near the Iowa and Illinois borders. The University, the fastest-growing four-year school in the 13-college University of Wisconsin System, enrolls more than 8,000 undergraduate students.

Senators Introduce Resolution Denouncing Obama Administration's Coercion of States with Common Core

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) will introduce a resolution strongly denouncing the Obama Administration's coercion of states into adopting Common Core State Standards by conferring preferences in federal grants and flexibility waivers.

The resolution is co-sponsored by Senators Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), and Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming).

"The Obama Administration has effectively bribed and coerced states into adopting Common Core," said Graham.  "Blanket education standards should not be a prerequisite for federal funding.  In order to have a competitive application for some federal grants and flexibility waivers, states have to adopt Common Core.  This is simply not the way the Obama Administration should be handling education policy. Our resolution affirms that education belongs in the hands of our parents, local officials and states."

"It is crucial that the money being spent on education in Oklahoma be controlled by Oklahomans who are familiar with the needs of our schools and students," said Inhofe. "This is why I am proud to join Senator Graham in introducing a resolution that enforces vital education practices of leaving the decisions of children's educational needs to the state and the parents.

"Educational decisions are best made by parents and teachers - not bureaucrats in Washington," said Scott.  "While Common Core started out as a state-led initiative, the federal government unfortunately decided to use carrots and sticks to coerce states into adopting national standards and assessments. That is simply the wrong choice for our kids."

"Common Core is another example of Washington trying to control all aspects of Americans' lives, including the education of our children," said Cruz.  "We should not allow the federal government to dictate what our children learn; rather, parents, through their teachers, local schools and state systems, should be able to direct the education of their children."

"Common Core has become polluted with Federal guidelines and mandates that interfere with the ability of parents, teachers and principals to deliver the education our children deserve," said Lee.  "Rather than increasing coercion, we should be demanding that further interference by the U.S. Department of Education with respect to state decisions on academic content standards be eliminated."

"Decisions about what content students should be taught have enormous consequences for children and so should be made as close as possible to the affected parents and students," said Grassley.  "Federal interference in this area disrupts the direct line of accountability between parents and those making decisions about their children's education.  It also takes away needed flexibility from state education leaders to make changes as they learn more about what works and what does not."

"This Administration favors a national school board approach to education and likes to ignore individual states' decisions," said Enzi. "It uses 'free' money as the carrot to dangle in front of the states. In effect it is trying to force states into accepting a one-size-fits-all approach. This coercion with Common Core is another example of the federal government trampling on states' rights and is the wrong approach to fixing our education system in this country."

The major provisions of the resolution affirm:

·         Education belongs in the hands of parents, local education officials, and states.

·         The federal government should not coerce states into adopting common education standards.

·         No future application process for any federal grant funds or waivers should award additional points, or provide any preference, for the adoption of Common Core.

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FACT SHEET

Purpose of the Resolution:

• Strongly denounces President Obama's coercion of states into adopting Common Core by conferring preferences in federal grants and flexibility waivers.
• Strongly supports the restoration and protection of state authority and flexibility in establishing and defining challenging student academic standards and assessments.

What the Resolution States:

• Education belongs in the hands of parents, local education officials, and states.
• The federal government should not coerce states into adopting common education standards.
• No application process for any federal grant funds or waivers should award additional points, or provide any preference, for the adoption of Common Core.
• The link between adoption of common education standards and federal funds will result in increased federal control over education.
• The resolution does not retract any federal funds or waivers already issued to states.
• The resolution does not evaluate the content of the Common Core standards already developed and adopted by states.

SUPPORTER STATEMENTS:

·         "HSLDA strongly opposes the Common Core, in large measure due to the federal government's use of tax dollars to coerce states into adopting the Common Core. HSLDA applauds Senator Graham for this powerful resolution pushing back against the notion that Washington, DC should use taxpayer dollars to pressure states into adopting specific education policy. Parents, teachers, and local school districts, not education bureaucrats in Washington, DC, should be in charge of the critical decisions of what, when, and how children learn. The success of homeschooling shows that greater freedom and less top-down control helps lead to academic success."

-- J. Michael Smith, Esq., President, Home School Legal Defense Association

·         "We appreciate Senator Graham's leadership in pushing back against Common Core.  For four years, the federal administration has flouted the rule of law and imposed tens of billions of dollars in mandates on states and localities.  These actions have earned opposition from across the political spectrum and across the country.  This Senate resolution marks the first important step taken in Congress to hold the Administration accountable and to preserve innovation in our states and localities."

-          Jim Stergios, Executive Director, Pioneer Institute

·         "Yet again, we see another attempt to weaken the power of the states by a federal power grab.  Look to the experts, those who actually teach and know our nations' kids; three-hundred prominent educators and policy-makers warn about Common Core discouraging innovation."

-- Penny Nance, CEO & President of Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee

·         "Common Core is doing for education what ObamaCare is doing for health care."

-- Director of Beverly LaHaye Institute (BLI), Dr. Janice Shaw Crouse

ADDITIONAL SUPPORTERS:

American Association of Christian Schools

Family Research Council

Eagle Forum