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It's School Days, the monthly video journal of the U.S. Department of Education.
In our March 2012 edition, we'll look at just-released data revealing that students at our nation's
lowest-performing schools are making significant academic progress, thanks in part to ED's
School Improvement Grants; we'll also examine new survey results showing troubling educational
equities in schools across the nation; and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's visit
to the South by Southwest Festival in Texas. And there's much more.
In our top story, Arne attended the "Grad Nation" summit and announced new data on the
first year of state and local efforts to turn around the nation's lowest-performing schools.
The results, while preliminary, were encouraging -- a significant share of persistently low-performing
schools are seeing substantial gains in student learning in just the first year of ED's groundbreaking
School Improvement Grants or "SIG" program.
We all know that none of these schools are yet where they need to be, or where they will
be, but progress and the sense of momentum and the sense of hope is real.
The second annual International Summit on the Teaching Profession brought together education
leaders from high-performing, rapidly improving countries to share ideas and best practices
for preparing teachers and developing school leaders. Held in New York City, the event
featured education ministers, union leaders and education experts from 24 countries.
At the South by Southwest Education Conference in Austin, Texas, Arne addressed hundreds
of educators and high-tech entrepreneurs. His message: in today's schools, technology
is essential to learning, not optional. I really believe that technology is a game
changer in the field of education. While in Texas, Arne met with students and
parents in Austin to talk about the ways the Department of Education is helping to expand
financial aid and make college more affordable.
And I think what happens here in San Antonio doesn't just have implications for this city,
this community, it has national implications.
And he traveled to San Antonio host a town hall with members of the Hispanic community.
That's an important step in the right direction, but again we at the national level have to
step up here.
Arne released new data showing that minority students face harsher discipline, have less
access to rigorous high school curricula, and are more often taught by lower-paid and
less experienced teachers. The data derives from a national survey of more than 72,000
schools serving 85 percent of the nation's students and it covers a range of issues,
including college and career readiness, discipline, school finance, and student retention.
Most of the jobs created in this country from now on are going to require training beyond
high school, and retraining in addition to that. The community college is better set
to do that.
The Vice President's wife, Dr. Jill Biden and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis took a
bus tour through Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia, stopping at community college
campuses along the way to highlight examples of the private sector partnering with higher
education to build the workforce of the future.
I would like to say that if I had one word to describe that last few days, it would be
inspired.
And, speaking of college, the Department of Education launched a new tool that will help
high school guidance counselors and school officials to make sure their students complete
and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or "FAFSA" form. The tool gives
real-time, high school specific data that can help schools to better assist students
and their families in applying for college aid. The FAFSA is the one form that students
attending four-year colleges or universities, community colleges, or career schools need
to complete in order to receive federal student aid.
The White House convened the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Conference on Safe
Schools and Communities at the University of Texas at Arlington, and senior staff from
the U.S. Department of Education held workshops on bullying prevention, legal protections
for LGBT students, and other topics. Leaders of grassroots organizations, community organizers,
and students took part in the two-day event. Arne delivered remarks by video.
And one thing we all know, is that if students don't feel secure, they can't begin to reach
their academic and social potential. Their academic achievement, their social development,
and their ability to be active contributors to their schools and communities -- all of
those things suffer when they don't feel safe in school.
I like to say that this is the economic issue of our time, the civil rights issue of our
time, and the democracy issue of our time, when you look at the issue of education, particularly
in our urban schools.
The mayors and school superintendents from New York, Chicago and Los Angeles -- whose
cities include the nation's three largest school districts - joined Arne in a forum
entitled "Education Now: Cities at the Forefront of Reform." Held at American University in
Washington, D.C., and streamed live on the Web, the discussion ranged over a number of
issues, including accountability, school management, and strengthening the teaching profession.
At the Atlantic's second annual town hall on education and economic opportunity, Arne
was the featured guest. Judy Woodruff, senior correspondent and co-anchor of the PBS NewsHour
interviewed Arne, and he talked about the urgent need for education reform in order
to educate and prepare students to compete in the 21st-century global economy.
But I also think we just need more great schools. Whether it's a good charter or a good traditional
school that's part of the solution, a bad charter or a bad traditional school is part
of the problem. We need to create great options for children, and families, and communities
who have been desperately underserved for decades.
Is the Department ready to work in a meaningful way with parental involvement and other sources.
That's a great question.
Arne stopped by the National Parent Teacher Association Legislative Conference, where
he had the opportunity to talk with PTA leaders about how parents can get involved in improving
education at the federal, state and school-house levels.
Marking the two-month anniversary of Delaware's selection in the Race to the Top grant competition,
Arne traveled to the state to hold a roundtable conversation about the progress of their plan.
This is a very, very hard and important transition. How do we get teachers to teach to a much
higher level? How do we get principals engaged, how do school boards think about this differently?
Delaware received $119 million for a four-year grant to implement comprehensive school reforms
to improve student outcomes. State leaders, superintendents, school board presidents,
teacher union leaders, community and business leaders, and others joined the discussion.
Arne spent a day in South Carolina with Congressman James E. Clyburn, making a number of stops
in an effort to highlight local education reforms and to emphasize the importance of
making college more affordable. Their day started at a North Charleston elementary school,
where they joined Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley and Superintendent Nancy McGinley, as
well as local business leaders and teachers for a conversation about school improvement.
If we remove the Pell grants, we remove access.
From there, they traveled to the town of Summerton, in a rural, high-poverty area of the state.
Arne, Congressman Clyburn and former Secretary of Education *** Riley paid a visit to students
at Scott's Branch High School,
It takes education out of the school into a practical world.
A Department of Education "Investing in Innovation" grant, along with support from KnowledgeWorks
and the Riley Institute, is helping to create a "New Tech High School" model that aims to
increase college and career readiness.
Talent matters tremendously.
The last stop was Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina, where Arne and the Congressman
held a town hall with students and community leaders, and where the discussion focused
on Obama administration efforts to keep college within reach for the middle class.
That's all for now. For updates, check out the blog on ED.gov.
And see you next month on School Days. (Children singing.)