14 Aug 2012

Branstad, Reynolds to hold 14 education town hall meetings

By Office of Governor Terry Branstad

(DES MOINES) -  Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced that they will hold 14 education town hall meetings. The governor and lt. governor are holding the upcoming town halls across the state, continuing the discussion and soliciting feedback from Iowans on education reform policies, as part of preparation for the 2013 legislative session.

The following events are open to the public:

 

Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012

10:30 a.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Pocahontas County Education Reform Town Hall @ Pocahontas High School's Vocal Music Room, 205 Second Avenue NW, Pocahontas, IA

5:30 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Kossuth County Education Reform Town Hall @ Algona High School's Theatre, 600 S. Hale, Algona, IA

 

Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012

8:30 a.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Hancock County Education Reform Town Hall @ Garner-Hayfield High School's Auditorium, 605 Lyon St., Garner, IA

10:15 a.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Wright County Education Reform Town Hall @ Belmond-Klemme Junior-Senior High School's Luick Auditorium, 411 10th Avenue NE, Belmond, IA

12:00 Noon Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Humboldt County Education Reform Town Hall @ Humboldt High School's Auditorium, 1500 Wildcat Road. Humboldt, IA

2:00 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Hamilton County Education Reform Town Hall @ City Hall, 400 Second St., Webster City, IA

 

Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012

5:30 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Cedar County Education Reform Town Hall @ Tipton Middle School's Gymnasium, 725 West 7th St., Tipton, IA

 

Friday, Aug. 24, 2012

8 a.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Jones County Education Reform Town Hall @ the Lawrence Community Center, 600 E. Main St., Anamosa, IA

9:30 a.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Jackson County Education Reform Town Hall @ Maquoketa High School's Gymnasium, 600 Washington St., Maquoketa, IA

1:30 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Delaware County Education Reform Town Hall @ the West Delaware High School Auditorium, 605 New St., Manchester, IA

 

Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012

10 a.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Wapello County Education Reform Town Hall @ Ottumwa High School's Auditorium, 501 E. 2nd St, Ottumwa, IA

1 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Muscatine County Education Reform Town Hall @ the Muscatine Community School Administration Center, 2900 Mulberry Ave., Muscatine, IA

5 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Polk County Education Reform Town Hall @ Stilwell Junior High'sAuditorium, 1601 Vine St., West Des Moines, IA

 

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012

4 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Pottawattamie County Education Reform Town Hall @ the Abraham Lincoln High School Auditorium, 1205 Bonham Ave., Council Bluffs, IA

###
13 Aug 2012

Quinn Administration Releases Study Showing Impact of Pension Inaction on Higher Education

By Leslie Wertheimer

Governor Meets with Business Leaders to Discuss Impact of Pension Inaction on Universities, Community Colleges and MAP Grants

CHICAGO - August 13, 2012. In a meeting today with the Executives' Club of Chicago, Governor Pat Quinn shared new data showing that higher education in Illinois is likely to receive more significant funding reductions in the coming years if comprehensive pension reform is not enacted. According to an analysis conducted by the Governor's Office of Management and Budget (OMB), approximately 26,000 students may not have the needed resources to go to college in five years due to projected reductions to MAP grant funding.

The governor discussed the need for pension reform today with business leaders and CEOs who often stress their need for a stable business climate and a strong, well-trained workforce. Governor Quinn is urging legislators to restore fiscal stability to Illinois and pass comprehensive pension reform during special session on August 17.

"A strong higher education system drives economic development and is essential to moving Illinois forward," Governor Quinn said. "We must rise to the occasion, act responsibly and get the job done on pension reform for the people of Illinois."

If comprehensive pension reform is not enacted, funding for state universities, community colleges and college scholarships for needy students with merit could be reduced by more than $280 million by FY 2018. Higher education has seen steady reductions in recent years as fast-rising pension costs continue to squeeze out critical services.

Pension reform that includes a gradual normal cost realignment will alleviate funding pressure for state universities and community colleges, who have also written in support of a phased-in cost realignment. According to the data, universities and community colleges will face reductions that greatly exceed any normal cost expenses they would gradually assume under the governor's pension reform plan.

For example, under the governor's plan, state universities and community colleges are projected to assume $21.3 million in new normal pension costs in FY 2014. If comprehensive pension reform with a normal cost realignment is not enacted, the analysis shows that state universities and community colleges could see more than $60 million in reductions in FY 2014.

Currently, Illinois' pension system faces $83 billion in unfunded liability - the worst in the nation. This deficit is expected to grow to more than $92 billion by the end of FY 2013 unless major reforms are enacted. Governor Quinn has proposed a comprehensive pension reform plan that will eliminate the unfunded liability over the next 30 years.

State universities and community colleges help shape the future of Illinois by fostering innovation and economic growth. Illinois' higher education institutions provide students with more opportunities and prepare them for the workforce, to ensure that businesses have access to strong workforce talent.

The analysis is attached. For more information on the need for pension reform and to contact your legislator, please visit SaveOurState.Illinois.gov.

###
13 Aug 2012

BVU partners with online consortium of Iowa community colleges

By Buena Vista University

STORM LAKE, IA (08/13/2012)(readMedia)-- Buena Vista University (BVU) recently signed a cooperative agreement with the Iowa Community College Online Consortium (ICCOC) as a way to enhance degree completion opportunities for undergraduate students.

The ICCOC (www.iowacconline.org) is an online platform comprising seven Iowa community colleges that provide online educational opportunities and courses for students looking to earn associate's degrees. The community colleges include Eastern Iowa, Iowa Lakes, Iowa Western, Northwest Iowa, Southeastern, Southwestern and Western Iowa Tech.

The agreement between BVU and the ICCOC gives community college students the opportunity to transfer to BVU and pursue a bachelor's degree entirely online or through a BVU Graduate & Professional Studies (GPS) location.

As part of the consortium agreement, the ICCOC will post BVU transfer information and program offerings on its Web site. BVU will reciprocate by providing information on its Web site about the ICCOC.

Stacy Gibbs, the south regional director for BVU's GPS program, played an instrumental role in finalizing the agreement between BVU and ICCOC. Gibbs also worked closely with other BVU staff including Laura Newhouse, director of online programs, and Sibyl McIntire, GPS admissions counselor/recruiter, to cement the partnership.

"This is a marketing and growth opportunity for both BVU's online and GPS programs," says Gibbs. "The main advantage to the partnership is that the ICCOC will function as a gateway for students who are looking to advance their degrees. These students will be able to access our information and seamlessly transfer and obtain their bachelor's degree through BVU."

"I'm very excited about this partnership," says Dr. Suzi Kalsow, associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of GPS at BVU. "It is a natural progression for students who have earned their associate's degree to go on and pursue a bachelor's degree. Having a connection with the ICCOC and being easily accessible through the consortium is the perfect next step for BVU's online and GPS programs."

10 Aug 2012

GOVERNOR'S STEM ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING

By Rick Martin

The Office of Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced a meeting of the full Governor's STEM Advisory Council Meeting on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Originating from the campus of the University of Iowa, the meeting will cover the Regional STEM Network, the introduction of the Regional STEM Hub Managers, Governor's STEM Advisory Council Action Plan updates and an overview of IMSEP and its operations.

The meeting is open to the public and media.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

9:30  a.m. Governor's STEM Advisory Council Executive Committee Meeting

University of Iowa - Carver Hawkeye Arena, Feller Club Room

205 Carver Hawkeye Arena

Iowa City, IA

3 p.m. Meeting Adjourns

About IMSEP:

The Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership (IMSEP) is the operations arm of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council, dedicated to building a strong STEM education foundation for all Iowans. For more information about IMSEP or the Governor's STEM Advisory Council, go to www.IowaSTEM.gov.

- - 30- -
10 Aug 2012

Mercy College of Health Sciences Graduates Named

By TheLink

Sara Lynn Brimeyer of Davenport, Iowa, was conferred an Associates of Science, Nursing degree during the Spring commencement ceremony by Mercy College of Health Sciences, 928 6th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa at HyVee Hall on April 27, 2012.

To learn more about the programs offered at Mercy College visit our website at www.mchs.edu. Mercy College is the only Catholic college in Central Iowa and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

10 Aug 2012

University of Iowa named a 'Best Buy' for eighth year

By Rick Martin

For the eighth straight year, the University of Iowa has been designated a "Best Buy" in the Fiske Guide to Colleges.

The UI is one of only 20 public universities from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada on the list and one of three Big Ten schools included along with Indiana University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The creation of a former New York Times education editor, the Fiske Guide has been a respected college search tool used by parents, college-bound students, and their guidance counselors for more than 25 years.

DID YOU KNOW?

To receive a "Best Buy" designation, schools had to have high academic rankings, an inexpensive or moderate price, and a high quality of student life on campus. In all, 41 schools received the "Best Buy" designation, including 21 private institutions.

FYI
For more information about applying to the UI, visit admissions.uiowa.edu.

10 Aug 2012

Brown Mackie College to hold Graduation Ceremony

By Steve Dobbins

Brown Mackie College – Quad Cities announces that the college will hold its Graduation Ceremony on Sunday, August 19, from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the i wireless Center located at 1201 River Drive in Moline, Illinois. Graduates of the college will be awarded associate degrees and diplomas.

The event's speaker is the Honorable Bob Gallagher, Jr., Mayor of Bettendorf, Iowa.

Brown Mackie College – Quad Cities is one of over 25 school locations of the Brown Mackie College system of schools (www.brownmackie.edu), which is dedicated to providing educational programs that prepare students for entry-level positions or to enhance their current professions in a competitive, rapidly-changing workplace. See bmcprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees, and other costs, median debt, federal salary data, alumni success, and other important info.

10 Aug 2012

Governor Quinn Signs Law to Boost Bilingual Education

By Nafia Khan

New Law to Pave the Way for "Parent Academies" in Illinois

CHICAGO - August 9, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today signed a new law designed to strengthen bilingual education in Illinois. The law authorizes the Illinois Advisory Council on Bilingual Education to study and make recommendations on the state of bilingual education in Illinois, as well as the role of parents of students whose first language is not English. Today's action at the Inter-American Magnet School paves the way for the possible implementation of "parent academies" and is the governor's latest to further improve education in Illinois.

"School is challenging enough for students and parents alike without having to struggle with a new language," Governor Quinn said. "This new law will keep Illinois on the cutting edge of bilingual education programs to ensure that every student is ready for the workforce."

Sponsored by Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) and Sen. Iris Martinez (D-Chicago), House Bill 3819 requires the Advisory Council to evaluate the success rate of bilingual programs, examine innovative initiatives such as "parent academies" and "cultural competency programs", and submit a report to the State Superintendent of Education, Governor and General Assembly by Jan. 1, 2013.

According to an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) study, there were 183,000 Illinois students in 2010 for whom English was not a first language, nearly 10 percent of the entire student population. Spanish-speakers comprise 80 percent of those enrolled in English language programs; rounding out the top ten are Polish, Urdu, Arabic, Tagalog, Korean, Cantonese/Mandarin, Gujarati, Vietnamese and Russian. While most live in Chicago, there are growing numbers of non-English speaking students in Elgin, Cicero, Aurora and Waukegan.

The Advisory Council on Bilingual Education, which was created in 1992 to propose recommendations to ISBE, will examine the feasibility of "parent academies" through which parents learn about standardized testing, homework completion strategies and student-teacher relationships. Some states offer free two-hour workshops for parents that cover "conditions for learning", such as school safety, home supportiveness and nutrition. In urban areas, the "parent academy" approach has successfully addressed the specific needs of single parents and immigrant families.

"Parents of non-English speaking students want - and need - to feel a greater stake in navigating their child's education. This new law opens the door to such innovations as 'parent academies' to accomplish that," said Rep. Chapa LaVia, who Chairs the Illinois House Elementary and Secondary Education Appropriations Committee.

"We are always looking for ways to help all students maximize their academic potential. This new law will help," said Sen. Martinez.

The bill was supported by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), and passed unanimously in both chambers. The new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2013.

###
08 Aug 2012

Cheating scandals make a mockery of school reform efforts

By Steve Gunn
Public school employees who falsify student data are making a mockery of reform efforts
By Steve Gunn
EAGnews.org
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Across the nation, lawmakers and school boards are demanding better results from public education.

They want to set the bar higher for American students by adopting a tough new set of national standards and demanding passing grades and solid attendance. They want to set the bar higher for teachers and administrators by demanding more accountability for student learning.
They've tried to put some teeth in these new policies by adopting penalties for those who do not meet standards. Failing teachers can now lose tenure protection in many states. Schools and programs that don't meet benchmarks can lose government funding or risk state takeovers.

All of this is necessary to get America's education system back on the track of excellence.

The problem is that lawmakers and policymakers have limited reach. They can establish laws and standards, but it's up to local educators to implement them, and often measure their own degree of success in meeting them.

But sometimes those educators cheat to get themselves or their schools off the hook, or to maintain a steady flow of state dollars. It's a breach of faith on the part of school employees that cannot be tolerated, and must be met with harsh and decisive disciplinary action.
Cheating accusations spreading across Ohio
The latest controversy comes from several school districts in Ohio, where officials have been accused of "scrubbing" student academic scores and attendance records to avoid penalties.
In the Columbus school district, officials are accused of withdrawing many sub-par students that are still enrolled, then re-enrolling them on the district roster. That allows them to "break a student's streak of continuous enrollment," according a story published by Cincinnati.com.

Why would they do this? Only the test-scores of students who've been enrolled without interruption are counted in the school's overall state testing data.

Tina Abdella, former internal auditor for the Columbus district, told the media that she tried to investigate anonymous tips about scrubbed attendance records, but was diverted by the superintendent and later fired by the school board.

In the Lockland, Ohio school district, officials have been accused of falsely eliminating 36 low-scoring students from its rolls in an effort to improve its state report card. An email from Superintendent Donna Hubbard appears to suggest that school officials actively "scrubbed" state testing data.

"Have we done everything we can do on the scrubbing?" according to an email, attributed to Hubbard, which was recently published by the Cincinnati Enquirer. "We are just 2.3 P.I. index points away from receiving an effective report card for the district ... If you can contact someone to find out how to recode these students so that their scores won't count against us, we may be able to pull this off."

Reports of similar activities have been reported in the Toledo school district. 

Ohio State Auditor Dave Yost is investigating the allegations in Columbus, Lockland and Toledo, and has expanded the probe to include all school districts in the state. He believes "it's likely" more school districts have been cheating in similar ways.

This story could turn much uglier very soon.
Scandals here, there and everywhere
The national focus on school employees cheating to avoid increased accountability goes back to last year's Atlanta scandal.

A total of 110 teachers in 44 Atlanta schools were accused of helping students cheat on standardized tests. All have been on administrative leave with pay, costing the district about $1 million a month in compensation for teachers who aren't teaching.
As far as we can tell, 11 of the teachers have been targeted for termination, one was actually fired and four more resigned. The district superintendent recently raised eyebrows by calling back 12 of the accused teachers to work, based on "insufficient evidence" against them.

In El Paso, Texas, Superintendent Lorenzo Garcia was fired earlier this year, and pleaded guilty to several counts of criminal charges, for "scheming with six district employees to game the federal accountability system by forcing some students to drop out of school, keeping other students from enrolling, stripping some foreign students of their credits and sending false data back to state and federal education agencies," according to the El Paso Times.

The idea was to artificially inflate the district's standardized test scores -- and the flow of government money that's tied to those results, according to media reports. Four former building principals from the district have since complained they were fired after refusing orders to participate in the cheating.

In Oklahoma City, a teacher at a district high school recently told EAGnews.org that he and others were instructed by a principal to falsify enrollment and attendance records so they appeared to satisfy federal grant requirements.

Ironically, the Oklahoma City district had already been investigating similar accusations at a different high school.
A nationwide epidemic?
To top it all off, reporters from the Atlanta Journal Constitution, which broke the cheating scandal in that city, have indicated that suspicious test scores from roughly 200 school districts across the nation resembled the false scores recorded in Atlanta.

As the newspaper noted, the analysis of scores from other districts is not direct evidence of cheating. "But it reveals that test scores in hundreds of cities followed a pattern that, in Atlanta, indicated cheating in multiple schools," the Journal Constitution wrote.

In nine of those districts, scores varied so unpredictably that the odds of the shifts occurring without some form of intervention (or cheating) were worse than one in 10 billion, according to the Journal Constitution.

In 196 of the nation's 3,125 largest school districts, there were enough suspect tests to make the odds of the scores happening by chance more than one in 1,000, the newspaper said. 

"In Houston, for instance, test results for entire grades of students jumped two, three or more times the amount expected in one year," the newspaper reported. "When children moved to a new grade the next year, their scores plummeted - a finding that suggested the gains were not due to learning."

At the Patrick Henry Downtown Academy in St. Louis, about 42 percent of fourth-graders passed the state math test in 2010. The following year, as state investigators prowled the halls looking into allegations of cheating, only four percent of the same students passed the state math test.

As the Journal Constitution put it, "Experts say student learning doesn't typically jump backwards."
Cheating can never be excused
In several districts where cheating scandals have erupted, teachers, administrators and their apologists have suggested that higher student achievement standards and the focus on high-stakes standardized testing has driven otherwise honest school employees to cheating.

Damany Lewis, the first teacher fired as part of the Atlanta scandal, said the following to the special commission that determined his fate:

"We were told failure was not an option. Teaching and learning was the primary focus of the teachers. Results were the primary focus of this district and our administration."

So the goal should have been to prepare the students to provide the best test results possible, instead of cheating on test scores to make the results look better than they were. Cheating is never an excuse.

What sort of message does this send to students? Instead of setting an example of good citizenship by living under existing rules while trying to change them, teachers simply cheated to get around the rules.

Some students in Atlanta and other districts were probably aware of this wink-and-nod system before it was exposed, and certainly knew about it afterward. Too many of them likely came away with the idea that cheating is okay in an unfair world, particularly since teachers do it.

The Journal-Constitution also noted that test scores help schools identify problem areas for individual students. "Falsified test results deny struggling students access to extra help to which they are entitled," the newspaper said.

The crucial goal of increased accountability in education is to find out if schools are getting the job done for their students, and demanding improvements if they are not. We owe that much to the taxpayers who fund the schools and the students who are depending on a quality education to prepare for the life ahead of them.

Those who lie and cheat to save their own skins are making a mockery of school reform efforts. A student with an artificially enlarged test score is not being properly served.

The only people served are the teachers and administrators who have something to gain by turning in false data. They should be tossed out on their butts as an example to others who may be tempted to doctor the documents just a bit.
08 Aug 2012

Governor Quinn Signs New Laws to Make Schoolchildren Safer and Healthier

By Leslie Wertheimer
CHICAGO - August 8, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today signed three new laws designed to make Illinois schoolchildren healthier and safer through immunizations, anti-bullying measures and alternative education programs. Today's action at Pershing West Magnet School is the latest by Governor Quinn to further strengthen education in Illinois.

"We are working every day to strengthen education in Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "As millions of students prepare to go back to school later this month, these new laws will put vital public health data in the hands of parents, protect our children from bullying and improve their health."

House Bill 5013, sponsored by Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) and Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) is designed to boost vaccination rates. The new law requires public and registered nonpublic schools to make immunization and health exam statistics publicly available. While such data is now posted on the State Board of Education (ISBE) website, this reform will make it easier for parents to see just how many of their children's classmates are not vaccinated. August is National Immunization Awareness Month.

The State of Illinois requires vaccinations to protect children from a range of diseases. Failure to be properly immunized can lead to high absenteeism, heart problems or even brain damage. According to ISBE, more than 60,000 students (about three percent) were not in compliance with immunization or health exam mandates during the 2010-11 school year. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers and is supported by public health advocates, the Chicago Teachers Union and the March of Dimes. The law is effective Jan. 1.

Governor Quinn also signed House Bill 1473, sponsored by Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) and Sen. William Delgado (D-Chicago), which allows the Chicago Board of Education to implement a program to break down barriers between students of different backgrounds. The law is inspired by the successful "Challenge Day", which employs a carefully-designed, day-long series of trust-building exercises to foster new levels of empathy and respect. The law is effective immediately.

In addition, Governor Quinn signed Senate Bill 3259, sponsored by Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) and Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora), which creates the Commission for High School Graduation Achievement and Success to help boost high school graduation rates. The Commission will examine alternative education programs in Illinois and other states, as well as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Learning Exchanges, the Illinois Pathways Initiative and other tools for keeping at-risk teens in school. The Commission's report is due to the governor and General Assembly by November 1, 2012 in advance of veto session. The law is effective immediately.

Governor Quinn continued to emphasize the need for public pension reform to ensure adequate resources for education in Illinois. Unless comprehensive pension reform is enacted, a new analysis prepared by the Governor's Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) shows that Illinois is on track to spend more on pensions than education by Fiscal Year 2016. Governor Quinn has proposed a comprehensive plan that will eliminate the unfunded liability over 30 years. The governor recently called a special session dedicated to pension reform on August 17.

###

Pages

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?) 

Subscribe!

* indicates required

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.