FAYETTE, IA (07/15/2014)(readMedia)-- Upper Iowa University is pleased to announce the names of its May 2014 graduates, followed by the degree earned and respective honors.

Nicole Belz of Davenport, IA, Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business Admin in May.

Amanda Smith of Moline, IL, with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training in May.

Dustin Snow of Bettendorf, IA, with a Associate of Arts in General Business in May.

Samantha Thrapp of Davenport, IA, with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in May.

James Yackley of Davenport, IA, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Admin in May.

Allan Jackson of Davenport, IA, with a Bachelor of Science in Financial Management in May.

About Upper Iowa University Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs and leadership development opportunities to more than 6,200 students-nationally and internationally-at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and self-paced degree program. For more information, visit www.uiu.edu.

Symposium is open to the public, Registration available online at EducationLeadership.Iowa.gov. 

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today provided Iowans with an update on the second Iowa Teacher and Principal Leadership Symposium, scheduled to be held at the Des Moines Area Community College's (DMACC) FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny, Iowa, on August 4, 2014.

REGISTER NOW FOR THE TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM

"We're holding the symposium because 39 school districts, with a third of Iowa students, are about to launch the first year of Iowa's new statewide Teacher Leadership and Compensation System," said Branstad. "This marks a turning point. Iowans recognize that giving our children a world-class education requires this type of transformational change. Iowa's new Teacher Leadership and Compensation System will revolutionize the teaching profession by better utilizing teacher expertise to improve instruction and raise student achievement."

The Teacher Leadership and Compensation System is the centerpiece of the Branstad-Reynolds landmark transformational education reform package of 2013. In addition to raising student achievement, the reforms aim to make the teaching profession more attractive by increasing career advancement opportunities for Iowa educators.

Branstad and Reynolds highlighted statistics demonstrating the need for Iowa to take action to build on our state's proud education tradition:

• Nearly 25 percent of third-graders and about one-third of eighth-graders read below proficiency on state tests.
• Iowa used to be a leader on national reading and math tests, but today ranks in the middle of the pack.
• Just 32 percent of Iowa's Class of 2013 who took the ACT exam met all four college-ready benchmarks.

"Transforming our schools so we can give Iowa students the world-class education they deserve has begun," said Reynolds. "Sustaining this work will depend on the commitments of Iowans, on continuing broad, bipartisan support in the Legislature, and most of all on Iowa's dedicated teachers and principals. We appreciate the wonderful work of teachers and principals and look forward to continuing our conversation at the symposium."

Featured speakers at the symposium include :

• Iowa's 2014 Teacher of the Year Jane Schmidt
• Iowa's 2014 Secondary Principal of the Year Aiddy Phomvisay
• Vivien Stewart from the Asia Society
• Ee-Ling Low from the National Institute of Education in Singapore
• Barnett Berry from the Center for Teaching Quality.

Also featured are Iowa's first 39 school districts to launch teacher leadership systems in 2014-15 as part of Iowa's landmark 2013 education reform package, two Iowa school districts - Central Decatur and Saydel - that started teacher leadership systems in 2013-14 with the help of a federal grant, and a student panel discussing the difference great teaching makes.

Registration is available through July 21, 2014, and registration is open to the public. Iowans may register online at https://educationleadership.iowa.gov/. Registration costs $30.

Aims to Boost Awareness of the Reading Challenges Faced by Many Across Illinois

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation to improve educational opportunities for students with dyslexia in Illinois. The law identifies dyslexia as a learning disability and establishes an advisory board to develop teacher and school administrator training for teaching students with dyslexia. Today's action is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to give every child the opportunity for a high quality education.

"Many people throughout history have achieved greatness in spite of the challenges they faced with dyslexia," Governor Quinn said. "Everyone learns in a different way, and we want to make sure that every child has an opportunity for success and receives the quality education they deserve. This law will help students across the state get what they need in order to succeed in the classroom."

House Bill 3700, sponsored by State Representative JoAnn Osmond (R-Antioch) and State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake), recognizes the international definition of dyslexia as a learning disability and includes those with dyslexia among students who are entitled to special education services.

The law also establishes a reading instruction advisory group to train professional educators on how to recognize and effectively teach children with dyslexia. The advisory group will operate for one year, but its recommendations and developments will continue thereafter. The law is in response to concerns that local school districts were not able to recognize or instruct dyslexic children. The legislation is effective immediately.  

"Dyslexic students can quickly fall behind because teachers cannot identify their disability or do not have learning materials adapted to their needs," Senator Bush said. "It is important that we implement the same level of awareness and services for this group of learning disabled students as we do for all other groups."

Governor Quinn has long been a supporter of equal educational opportunities in Illinois. He signed a law that lowers the compulsory age for school attendance from seven years old to six years of age to ensure that Illinois' children are getting a jump start on learning and a lifetime of success. Illinois is the first state in the country to support academic success for all students by requiring bilingual education programs for English Language Learners, beginning in preschool.

Illinois won nearly $54 million in the federal Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge to raise the quality of all early childhood programs and to ensure that children have access to high quality early learning experiences.  As part of the award, the state launched ExceleRate Illinois, a comprehensive early care and education quality rating and improvement system, which helps families to identify early childhood programs that best meet the needs of their children. The Governor also signed legislation in 2013 to help student athletes with disabilities by allowing school districts to excuse athletes with disabilities from physical education classes.

KUTZTOWN, PA (07/11/2014)(readMedia)-- Michael James Lawrenson of Davenport has been awarded the following degree from Kutztown University:  Bachelor of Science Biology/Pre-Medical and Health Careers Magna Cum Laude

KU has confirmed the awarding of 1,293 degrees. Commencement exercises were held May 10; however, some students completed graduations requirements after that date.

Founded in 1866, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is a proud member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education located on 289 acres nestled in the beautiful East Penn Valley in Berks County, between Reading and Allentown, Pennsylvania. KU is just two hours from New York City; 90 minutes from Philadelphia. As the region's center for excellence in academics, culture and public engagement, KU's programs and reputation for quality offer students the opportunity to discover lifelong avenues of learning and discovery. KU students select from more than 100 areas of study within four colleges in a diverse liberal arts academic environment. To complement their studies, KU's NCAA Division II athletics program with 21 varsity sports joins the more than 160 student clubs and organizations providing students with a variety of activities for learning and discovery. For more information, please visit us at www.kutztown.edu.