Saturday, September 25, 2010

Why grade-skipping should be back in fashion

CLASS STRUGGLE
by Jay Mathews
Washington Post

As the second month of school nears, some parents wonder if their children are getting all that they need. The lessons seem too simple. Their kids are bored. If they have been designated gifted, there may be occasional pull-out lessons to enrich what they are learning, but that may not be enough.

I have seen no data to confirm this, but it seems to me that schools rarely consider skipping those students ahead anymore. I have talked to Washington area administrators about this. They are uncomfortable with the approach. They think students who are above grade level learn better--with some extras thrown in--if they stick with kids their age.

A generation or two ago the attitude was different. I run into far more people my age who skipped a grade than I meet friends of my children who did the same thing. My wife skipped second grade in the early 1950s. Her parents had nothing to do with it. Six weeks into the school year in California, after attending a hard-charging school in Kansas, her teacher said, “You can already do this stuff. This is a waste.” She was suddenly a third grader.

Read more HERE

Posted by Jennifer Abell at 5:00 AM 0 comments

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Friday, September 24, 2010

Schools' cell phone policy might relax

Group considering some constructive uses of devices
Friday, Sept. 24, 2010
By GRETCHEN PHILLIPS
Staff writer

Charles County Public Schools officials are looking at the positive side of having cell phones in schools before revisiting the system's cell phone policy.

Tuesday, during a regularly scheduled Charles County Board of Education meeting, Deputy Superintendent Ronald G. Cunningham told board members that a group of employees at the school system's central office has been asked to review the current cell phone and portable communications device policy, which was written in 2003 and revised in recent years.

Read more HERE

Posted by Jennifer Abell at 2:39 PM 0 comments

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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Teacher bonuses not linked to better student performance, study finds

By Nick Anderson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 21, 2010; 9:46 PM

Offering teachers incentives of up to $15,000 to improve student test scores produced no discernible difference in academic performance, according to a study released Tuesday, a result likely to reshape the debate about merit pay programs sprouting in D.C. schools and many others nationwide.

The study, which the authors and other experts described as the first scientifically rigorous review of merit pay in the United States, measured the effect of financial incentives on teachers in Nashville public schools and found that better pay alone was not enough to inspire gains.

Read more HERE

Posted by Jennifer Abell at 3:42 PM 0 comments

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Md. school board to vote on environmental ed

Posted: 5:53 pm Mon, September 20, 2010
By Associated Press

Environmental education would be required for Maryland high school students under a proposal before the state school board.

Assistant State Superintendent of Education Mary Gable says the proposal is scheduled to be voted upon by the school board Tuesday. Gable says school systems in each county would decide how to teach the material and students would not have to pass an additional test to graduate. If the proposal is approved, environmental education would begin for incoming ninth grade students next September.

Gable says the department received 187 comments during the public comment period with 180 supporting the proposal.

Posted by Jennifer Abell at 2:00 AM 0 comments

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Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Notes from the Board of Education Meeting, 9/21/10

The Board Meeting on Tuesday, September 21st will be re-broadcast on Comcast Channel 96, Verizon FIOS Channel 12 and is available via webstream at http://www.ccboe.com/ . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.

The below notes are my personal notes and are not intended to be all-inclusive or official minutes for the Board of Education meetings and are provided as a request from my supporters and the general public in a personal effort to be more transparent. Although I have diligently tried to make these notes as unbiased and accurate as possible, I am only human and do make mistakes.

Executive session 12 p.m.

Call to order 1 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance North Point High School's JROTC unit

Superintendent's update to the board

  • Read report
  • Pedersen - date for students to use telepresence; Richmond - in progress
Correspondence/board member updates

  • Pedersen - thank staff for all the back to school events
  • Bailey - in communicating with the youth on school grounds, they were unfamiliar with the election process
  • Wade - thank you to the board for your involvement with MABE
Education Association of Charles County update

  • Read report
Student board member's update
  • Read report
Update on fall sports
  • See reports
  • Still requiring nutrition and hydration emphasis
  • CPR and sports injury certfication required
  • J. Johnson is on a state committee regarding concussion awareness. She has also initiated a concussion awareness program and requires all coaches to be certified. Consulted with school nurses as well.
  • Athletic trainers - OSPT did not renew their contract. Sent out in RFP and awarded to Rehabilitation Center of Southern Maryland at the same cost. 3-FT & 2-PT
  • Wise - Concerned with inelgibility
  • Pedersen - when does re-eligibility happen; Johnson - interim
  • Pedersen - certification expenses paid for by CCBOE except for the basic coaching certification
  • Cook - minorities are the greater athletic population; overall grade point averages of athlete is high
  • Cook -concussion...26 for Charles County last year...how does that compare
  • Abell - clarification on inelgibility for first quarter
Use of tasers Sheriff Rex Coffey

  • Postponed until October Board meeting
Review of the cell phone policy
  • Number of suspensions increasing - added another level of suspension at the school level; committee was convened last year to review policy and uses; review how it can possibly used as an educational teaching tool.
  • Wade & Wise - move cautiously
  • Abell - Thank you for embracing the technology and being pro-active in the positive uses; I look forward to hearing more from the committee
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) update
  • See report
FY 2011 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan
  • See report
Bridge to Excellence update
  • See report
Diversity training in the work place
  • See report
  • Wise - possibly a future in offering to the students
Food services report
  • See report
Oral update on staffing

  • 4,000 employees; largest employer in Charles County; currently hired 190 new certificated employees to this date, lower than previous years.
  • Teacher evaluations will be changing this year; piloting in January; collaborative effort
Board chairman election bylaw
  • See document; discussion and minor revisions.  Action item next meeting
Unfinished business
  • None
New business
  • Requested a student ran candidate forum
  • Abell - violates our own policy.  further discussion curtails idea.
Future agenda items
  • Wants to add an update on the Performance Audit Report in October
Public Forum 6 p.m. (please forgive name spelling)
  • Martine Stevens - on 9/11 at Westlake she was denied entrance to the JV game.  Was stopped by an officer who said entry to the game was cut-off at the end of second quarter.  She felt like she was treated as a child.  Other parents tried and encountered the same response.
  • Robert Harlan - had a wonderful time getting involved in the political fray.  Attended several forums.  Feels the school system major support comes from african american community and organizations. 
Action items

  • Minutes
Cook - motion to accept the minutes
Wade - second
Vote - UNANIMOUS
  • Personnel
Carrington - motion to accept personnel
Pedersen - second
Vote - UNANIMOUS
  • State CIP 2012
Pedersen - motion to accept State CIP
Cook - second
Vote - UNANIMOUS
  • Recurring resolutions - Health Careers Month; American Education Week; American Freedom Week; African American History Month; Career and Technical Education Month; National School Counseling Week; Read Across America; Women's History Month; Fine and Performing Arts Month; Month of the Young Child; National Student Leadership Week; Teacher Appreciation Week; Administrative Professionals' Week; Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week; National Physical Education and Sport Week; Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leader; Charles County Teacher of the Year; Employees' Retirement; Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award
Bailey motion to recognize individual days incorporated in American Freedom Week
Carrington - second
Bailey withdrew motion after discussion; Richmond stated it is already being done

Wade - motion to accept recurring resolutions to include Bailey corrections
Carrington- second
YES - Bailey, Carrington, Cook, Pedersen, Wade, Wise
ABSTAIN - Abell
Adjournment

Posted by Jennifer Abell at 6:19 PM 0 comments

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School system plans annual College Fair - TOMORROW

Charles County Public Schools will host more than 135 colleges at its 13th annual Charles County College Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 22, at North Point High School. Hours are 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.

High school juniors and seniors attend the event during the school day as part of the system's career readiness goal in the five-year plan. Students are transported from school by bus and are able to speak with representatives and gather information from participating colleges. Students wishing to attend the fair during the school day must submit a signed permission slip to their school's college and career advisor.

The public is invited to attend the evening session of the fair and parents are encouraged to bring their children. Two financial aid workshops will be held, one at 6:15 p.m. and one at 7:15 p.m., for parents and students to learn about the financial aid application process.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call your child's school or 301-934-7314.

A list of local scholarships, as well as a link to Maryland colleges and universities is also available on the school system Web site at http://www2.ccboe.com/students/scholarships.cfm.

Posted by Jennifer Abell at 2:50 PM 0 comments

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New parent communication Web sites launch Sept. 20

Charles County Public Schools is launching a new parent communication system on Monday, Sept. 20, along with new school Web sites. The system is a secure, Internet-based system parents and students can use to keep up-to-date with their child's records and classes. The school system's main Web site, www.ccboe.com, will not be moved to the new system.

To access the system, parents will need to obtain an account activation code from their child's school. If you have an activation code for Edline, you can begin signing on to your account on Monday, Sept. 20. Middle and high school parents will be able to check their child's most recent grades. Elementary grades will not be posted, but parents can access teacher pages and other important school information on the new site.

If you have not secured an activation code, call your child's school office and find out the best time to come in and obtain one. You must present photo identification and be the parent or legal guardian of a student to receive a code. Staff is available on Monday to answer questions and e-mails regarding this new service. If you have any questions, call 301-934-7488 or e-mail dataprocessing@ccboe.com.

The following is a list of new web addresses for all schools:

Elementary schools:

Middle schools:

High schools:

Centers:

All new school sites are also accessible from the Charles County Public Schools Web site, www.ccboe.com. To access the sites from the school system Web site, select the schools and centers tab located on the left-side navigation bar on the home page.

Posted by Jennifer Abell at 7:15 AM 0 comments

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Sunday, September 19, 2010

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, 9/21/10

The Board of Education's next monthly meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 21, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building on Radio Station Road in La Plata. The public portion of the August meeting begins at 11 a.m. The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12, and is rebroadcast throughout the week. Board meetings are also streamed live on the school system Web site at www.ccboe.com.

Executive session 12 p.m.

Call to order 1 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance North Point High School's JROTC unit

Superintendent's update to the board

Reports of officers/boards/committees

Correspondence/board member updates

Education Association of Charles County update

Student board member's update

Update on fall sports

Use of tasers Sheriff Rex Coffey

Review of the cell phone policy

Capital Improvement Program (CIP) update

FY 2011 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan

Bridge to Excellence update

Diversity training in the work place

Food services report

Oral update on staffing

Board chairman election bylaw

Unfinished business


New business

Future agenda items

Public Forum 6 p.m.

Action items

  • Minutes
  • Personnel
  • State CIP 2012
  • Recurring resolutions:Health Careers Month; American Education Week; American Freedom Week; African American History Month; Career and Technical Education Month; National School Counseling Week; Read Across America; Women's History Month; Fine and Performing Arts Month; Month of the Young Child; National Student Leadership Week; Teacher Appreciation Week; Administrative Professionals' Week; Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week; National Physical Education and Sport Week; Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leader; Charles County Teacher of the Year; Employees' Retirement; Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award

Adjournment

Posted by Jennifer Abell at 7:23 PM 1 comments

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Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Maryland Students Boost SAT Scores

Graduating seniors post gains in both reading and math, according to results released Monday

By Childs Walker, The Baltimore Sun
5:52 p.m. EDT, September 13, 2010

Maryland seniors performed slightly better on both the math and critical reading sections of the SAT in 2010, according to results released Monday by the College Board.

Graduating seniors increased their average math scores over last year from 502 to 506 and their average reading scores from 500 to 501. Average writing scores remained the same at 495. The highest possible score on each section is 800.

"Our state's students continue to improve across the board, with some of the biggest gains coming from minority students often underrepresented on national tests," said state schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick. "Maryland's students, teachers, administrators and parents deserve another round of applause for this remarkable achievement. Big improvement can be found in schools throughout our state."

Maryland students matched the national average in reading and bettered it by 3 points in writing but fell 10 points below the national average in math.

Read more HERE

Posted by Jennifer Abell at 9:17 AM 0 comments

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Monday, September 06, 2010

School's race rule prompts mom to pull kids out

August 27, 2010
By HOLBROOK MOHR
Associated Press Writer

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A policy intended to achieve racial equality at a north Mississippi school has long meant that only white kids can run for some class offices one year, black kids the next. But Brandy Springer, a mother of four mixed race children, was stunned when she moved to the area from Florida and learned her 12-year-old daughter couldn't run for class reporter because she wasn't the right race.

The rules sparked an outcry on blogs and other websites after Springer contacted an advocacy group for mixed-race families. The NAACP called for a Justice Department investigation _ not surprising in a state with a history of racial tension dating to the Jim Crow era.

By Friday afternoon, the Nettleton School District announced on its website that it would no longer use race in school elections.

Superintendent Russell Taylor posted a statement saying the practice had been in place for 30 years, dating back to a time when school districts across Mississippi came under close scrutiny from the U.S. Justice Department over desegregation.

"It is the belief of the current administration that these procedures were implemented to help ensure minority representation and involvement in the student body," the statement said. "It is our hope and desire that these practices and procedures are no longer needed."

Springer, who moved to Lee County from Florida in April, said her daughter was told the office of sixth-grade class reporter at Nettleton Middle School was available only to black students this year.

Her anger grew when she saw school election guidelines that allowed only whites to run for class president this year. In alternating years, the positions would be reversed so blacks could run for president and whites could hold other positions, district officials said.

Even if the rule is an attempt to ensure black and white participation, Springer said diversity is no longer a black and white issue, with a growing number of mixed-race children, Hispanics and other ethnicities attending school together.

Read more HERE

Posted by Jennifer Abell at 7:46 AM 0 comments

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Thursday, September 02, 2010

Formula to Grade Teachers’ Skill Gains Acceptance, and Critics

By SAM DILLON
Published: August 31, 2010

How good is one teacher compared with another?

A growing number of school districts have adopted a system called value-added modeling to answer that question, provoking battles from Washington to Los Angeles — with some saying it is an effective method for increasing teacher accountability, and others arguing that it can give an inaccurate picture of teachers’ work.

The system calculates the value teachers add to their students’ achievement, based on changes in test scores from year to year and how the students perform compared with others in their grade.

People who analyze the data, making a few statistical assumptions, can produce a list ranking teachers from best to worst.

Read more HERE

Posted by Jennifer Abell at 8:04 AM 4 comments

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