Link of the Week

Report Chronicles Progress and Challenges of States in Improving Competitiveness of U.S. High Schools

A joint report measuring the progress states have made improving America’s high schools was recently released. The report, “Accelerating the Agenda: Actions to Improve America’s High Schools,” also cites the challenges that remain in ensuring high school students are prepared for college and career success in the global economy.

The report was a joint collaboration by the National Education Summit on High Schools, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center), National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE).

According to the report, “Outdated high schools built for a past era are yielding graduates unprepared for today’s knowledge-driven economy. Our goal is to help state policymakers accelerate the development of a college and career ready agenda. We owe it to our youth and our nation to redesign the American high school and make it a cutting-edge institution once again. The future health of our economy and democracy depends on our answering this call to action.”

“The challenges facing education systems are immense – from recruiting quality teachers to preparing students for the rigors of college and the work force,” said William T. Pound, executive director of NCSL. “This report gauges state progress toward implementing policies that meet this challenge that center on college- and career-readiness to help build our competitiveness for the long term.”

The report represents the four organizations’ shared vision for the changes needed in today’s high schools and offers fresh ideas and new practices that show state leaders how to:

• Restore Value to the High School Diploma by elevating academic standards and high school graduation requirements to a college- and career-ready level;
• Redesign High Schools through alternative delivery mechanisms;
• Ensure Excellent Teachers and Principals by connecting teacher preparation, hiring and evaluation to student outcomes and other factors;
• Improve Accountability by aligning postsecondary expectations to high school expectations; and
• Enhance Education Governance by bridging K-12 and postsecondary expectation gaps through P-16 councils.

Additionally, the report highlights emerging trends, such as greater appreciation for international benchmarking and an increased focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics education that have the capacity to improve student success in the global economy.

Download the entire report.

Source: The National Governors Association Center

On Capitol Hill

Good News: House Releases Description of Its New $825 Billion Economic Stimulus Plan

House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI) released summaries of multiple sections of the new $825 billion House economic stimulus package on January 15.  The House intends to take Committee actions and consider the package, the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act," on the floor by the end of January. The additional funding for education is intended to “enable more children to learn in 21st century classrooms, labs, and libraries to help our kids compete with any worker in the world:

The package provides:

• $41 billion to local school districts through Title I ($13 billion), IDEA ($13 billion), a new School Modernization and Repair Program ($14 billion), and the Education Technology program ($1 billion).
• $79 billion in state fiscal relief to prevent cutbacks to key services, including $39 billion to local school districts and public colleges and universities distributed through existing state and federal formulas, $15 billion to states as bonus grants as a reward for meeting key performance measures, and $25 billion to states for other high priority needs such as public safety and other critical services, which may include education.
• $15.6 billion to increase the Pell grant by $500.
• $6 billion for higher education modernization.

The Senate is developing its own economic stimulus bill which has not been summarized or released yet. After the Senate acts on its bill, Congress will have to conference the two bills and merge them into one final bill to send to the 44th President by mid-February. This is most likely the opportunity of a lifetime to add such huge amounts of federal funding to support education and the economy. There is urgency to move the bills quickly to get the money to where it is sorely needed. Read where the stimulus money is being directed.

Source: Sally Shake, Education Legislative Services & the Committee on Appropriation

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CPSC Compliance Resources

Information about complying with the Consumer Product Safety Information Act can be found on NSSEA’s new resource section on CPSIA. New resources include FAQs on lead, labeling, phthalates, testing and advertising, and a sample letter to send to Congress.

NSSEA Blog

This Week's Topics in The Education Supply Playground:

Why Don't Teachers Buy Software By Rebecca Haden, A Plus Educational Supply
Read the New Year’s predictions for education, and you’ll see just one thing: technology. Predictions include: the importance of technology in the classroom; the likely effects of having a tech-savvy new president; the difference plugged-in students make to teaching; the value of the networked teacher; and the empowering effect of the Internet for teachers and students. Read more and comment.

A "December Dilemma" In the New Year By Tai Oyegunle, NSSEA Editorial Assistant
If you’re a public school teacher, the term December Dilemma may be familiar to you. Many teachers describe it as the period during the December holiday season in schools when they battle over what holiday displays are appropriate, while possibly forgoing those they deem overtly religious. Well, the December Dilemma has trickled over into the New Year. Read more and comment.

Receive NSSEA's Blog in Your Email Inbox: Not exactly sure when to check NSSEA's new blog? Now there's no need to worry. By joining our blog's email subscription list, you will be notified via email whenever NSSEA updates its weekly blog. Sign up today.

Newsbite

Alabama Commission Recommends Redesign of Teaching Profession

The Alabama Governor’s Commission on Quality Teaching presented its second report – Innovations in Teaching:  Creating Professional Pathways for Alabama Teachers – to Governor Riley outlining seven recommended reforms. The Governor created the commission to develop reforms aimed at increasing student achievement through improved teacher effectiveness. 

The report recommendations are:

1. Professional Pathways for Alabama Teachers—The Commission recommends that two systems be selected as “demonstration sites” to begin implementation of the Professional Pathways system. The Commission would raise $75,000 from private sources for a planning grant to work on development with the two systems beginning in the summer of 2009.

2. Improve the Quality of Teacher Preparation—This set of recommendations seeks to structure meaningful partnerships between Colleges of Education and P-12 schools and districts in order to improve both the academic and clinical preparation of prospective teachers. This includes a strong focus on Alabama-specific initiatives, such as the Alabama Reading Initiative and the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative (AMSTI). They also aim to increase the accountability of teacher preparation institutions for the quality of their graduates.

3. Consolidate and Expand Teacher Recruitment Efforts—These recommendations include a centralized and user-friendly teacher recruitment Website, student-produced ads to highlight the opportunities provided by the teaching profession, and a pilot seminar course in teaching for high school students.

4. Improving and Expanding Alternative Certification—These recommendations seek to create new routes that encourage the best and the brightest to enter the teaching profession. They include (a) a partnership with Teach for America to bring talented young people from across the country to teach in high-needs areas in Alabama, (b) improving the quality of our current Alternative Baccalaureate Certification, and (c) creation of an adjunct certification to allow individuals with recognized expertise and experience in high needs disciplines to work part time in public schools.

5. Maintain and expand the Alabama Teacher Mentoring Program—The Commission recommends the continued funding of Alabama’s highly-successful mentoring program for first-year teachers and the addition of a low-cost program for second-year teachers that uses small groups to continue their training and enhance small learning communities in schools..

6. Adopt a new definition for professional development—The Commission recommends that the State Board of Education adopt the National Staff Development Council’s definition of professional development to clarify, enhance, and support the existing Professional Development Standards.

7. Continue the biennial administration of the Take 20 Teaching and Learning Conditions Survey—The Commission feels it is critical that we institutionalize the biennial administration of our teaching and learning conditions survey to all educators so that leaders can continually assess the state of their schools and plan for constant improvement. The Take 20 survey was recommended by the Commission in 2007 and first administered to all Alabama educators in 2008.

Source: The State of Alabama Government

Contribute to NSSEA Publications

Essentials magazine Editors Want To Hear From You
The next issue of Essentials will feature articles on "going green." If your company is using green technology or techniques to design products or preserve energy, we want to hear from you. Send an email to publications@nssea.org.

Ask Retail Gurus Kizer & Bender a Question
Do you have a tough retail question for Rich Kizer and Georganne Bender? If so, send it to publications@nssea.org and it could be in the next issue of Essentials magazine. 

NSSEA New Member Tools

NSSEA Website Redesigned to Improve Member Service
Be sure to check out NSSEA’s newly-redesigned Website. The new site features easy-to-use navigation, new features, and streamlined information. Here are just a few of the many areas to check out:

Ed Expo Registration — Take a moment to register your personnel and take advantage of your NSSEA member discount of over $100 per person!

Ed Expo Video Clips — Check out the new promotional videos produced by fellow Board member Jamey Firnberg and featuring our very own Susan Savoie of Teacher Heaven, Inc. (See box marked “Why Attend.”)

My Planner — This new show feature is an online companion to the Show Program. Use this electronic resource to easily map your show, plan your time, and create a unique show planner for use onsite at both Ed Expo and the School Equipment Show.

CPSIA Updates — NSSEA is committed to providing you with the resources and information you need to interpret and comply with the Consumer Product Safety Information Act of 2008.

NSSEA Network — NSSEA’s social networking site that provides a dynamic one-stop resource for networking. Over the next few weeks activity from the current NSSEA bulletin board will be shifted to this site, so join today and get started connecting with others in the school market.

Leadership Corner — Network with your NSSEA elected leaders or find out how to get involved yourself. Current leaders can also access SharePoint on this page.

My NSSEA — Just as before, you can update your account, change your company profile, renew, order publications on the NSSEA Store, and register for NSSEA shows by logging into your account.

Be sure to give us your feedback on the new Website. We want to hear if we have accomplished our goal of increasing our service to you, our valued member.

Association News

NSSEA Bulletin Board and Listserv Move to the NSSEA Network
Beginning Friday, January 23, NSSEA's Product Listserv and Bulletin Board will be moved to the NSSEA Network. To join the new bulletin board or product listserve, visit http://nsseanetwork.ning.com/forum, post a request in the forum by clicking Add a Discussion. Then click Follow at the bottom of the page to make sure that you receive updates on your search. Join the NSSEA Network.

My Ed Expo Tradeshow Planner Debuts
Ed Expo Attendees: NSSEA is pleased to be offering a new member service to help improve your tradeshow planning and investment. My Ed Expo Planner is a new online tool being offered to help maximize your time on the show floor. This interactive and easy-to-use online resource is a companion to the printed Show Program, allowing you to easily map your show, plan your time, and create a unique show planner for use onsite in Dallas. My Ed Expo Planner allows you to search for exhibitors by company, products, show specials, or category. You will also be able to add the workshops you plan to attend to your schedule along with social and networking events. Once your planner is complete and you have added all the exhibitors you want to see, you can print out a floor plan that will easily direct you to the booths of interest to you and an agenda to manage your time most effectively.

Ed Expo Exhibitors: In order to make this tool as effective as possible for dealers searching for needed products, you must activate their digital booth information. To complete the required activation process, please login and enter a company profile so this information can appear to visitors. NOTE: Your Digital Booth - Company Profile is NOT the same as the show program listing. The Company Profile section consists of a company description that will be used as one of the primary search fields for all dealer visitors. It will appear blank unless you fill in your profile.

To activate and log into your Digital Booth Editor please follow these steps:

1. Logon to www.nssea.org/ExpoCad/ExpocadWeb3WaysToLinks/Start.html.
2. Click on ‘Exhibit Booth Editor’ from the right side menu and select your company from the drop down menu and enter your company ID as the password to login.  Click on ‘Company Profile’ to update this information and SAVE.

Register Today for Ed Expo
NSSEA's Ed Expo provides the ideal mix of networking, exhibits, and workshops — all designed to help your business succeed. All dealers are welcome to enjoy the benefits and fun at Ed Expo 2009 at the Dallas Convention Center, March 5-7.

To register for Ed Expo online, click here.

To reserve your housing for Ed Expo online, click here.

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February 1
Deadline to submit ad materials for the March/April Essentials, which is the "Green" issue.

2009
Ed Expo - March 5-7, Dallas, TX
School Equipment Show - Nov. 18-20, Phoenix, AZ

2010
Ed Expo - March 18-20,Orlando, FL
School Equipment Show - Nov. 17-19, Phoenix, AZ

2011
Ed Expo - April 7-9, 2011 San Antonio, TX
School Equipment Show - Nov. 30-Dec. 2, 2011 San Antonio, TX