Visit our new blog site at http://www.educationvoters.org/category/blog/

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If you have any comments our suggestions about our blog or website, feel free to e-mail us at info@educationvoters.org.

Thanks,

The LEV team

Dear avid readers:

Thanks for making our blog part of your daily/weekly routine.  We’ve been excited and thrilled with the growing number of readers on our blog. 

We’ve decided to incorporate our blog onto our newly re-designed website.  Unfortunately, the address of the blog has changed to http://www.educationvoters.org/category/blog/, so please update your address books.

You can also subscribe via our new RSS feed: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/levblog

If you have any comments our suggestions about our blog or website, feel free to e-mail us at info@educationvoters.org.

Thanks,

The LEV team

Brake time? Schools chief wants delay in math, science graduation requirements

Confusion sets in: State’s graduation requirements in flux

Equity equation: Federal Way schools and state face off over funding

Tracking progress: Data-driven schools see rising scores

The Seattle City Council wants your advice and ideas on key issues, including education,  facing the city.

You can voice your opinion at upcoming Town Hall Meetings on major city issues. Topics for the meetings include:

• How can we best address the challenge of youth violence?
• What can the City do to help ensure that Seattle’s public schools work?
• What can we do to protect and increase trees and the urban forest?

Monday, June 15, 6:30-9 p.m.
Eckstein Middle School
3003 NE 75th Street

Thursday, June 25, 6:30-9 p.m.
The Hall at Fauntleroy
9131 California Avenue SW

Bye bye WASL, hello High School Proficiency Exams: Wash. ed officials to offer info about new tests

“Discovering” math books promise to help Seattle students discover math: New math books will help all students succeed

What do Washington, Alabama, and Mississippi have in common?: State’s High School Graduation Rate Drops

How many teachers does $600,000 buy?: Bainbridge Schools Foundation’s Goal: Raise $600,000, Save Jobs

Rock climbing and bicycle riding in P.E. class: Investing in their future health

Learning a valuable trade: Planning panel hears support for skills center

The real lessons of happiness: Advice for High School Graduates

Nationwide standards: Push is on for a ‘common’ education standard for US schoolchildren

Our future as a state and nation depends on our children receiving the education and job training they need to succeed in life. With only 17 out of 100 9th graders earning a college diploma, all of us have a responsibility to help every child.

Now, it could be as easy as FORWARDING this information on to friends, family, colleagues, and students you know TODAY!

Children from low-income families in 7th, 8th, or 9th grades could attend college for FREE thanks to the College Bound Scholarship offered by Washington State. It’s a four-year scholarship that will cover the cost of college tuition, fees, and books.

The deadline for 8th and 9th graders to apply is JUNE 30, 2009. Click here for more information.

Or, students can apply online via this application form.

Students can apply for the scholarship if they meet one of the following:

• Are eligible to receive free and reduced-price lunch;
• Receive TANF benefits;
• Are a foster youth; or
• Meet the income standards.

Bob Craves, chairman and CEO of the College Success Foundation, wrote this op-ed about the College Bound Scholarship.

Given Kelly’s post earlier this week, the release of this report by the Carnegie Corporation of New Yorkis quite fortuitous. In it, Carnegie exams math and science education in the United States, finds it underwhelming and recommends a “mobilization plan.”

The plan:

• Higher levels of math and science for all American students.
• Common standards in math and science that are fewer, clearer and higher, coupled with aligned assessments.
• Improved teaching and professional learning, supported by better school and system management.
• New designs for schools and systems to deliver math and science learning more effectively.

 Give it a read.

The Feds are hard at work and our Washington delegation is showing serious leadership for children.

Earlier this week  Chairman Jim McDermott, joined by Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) and Rep. Todd Platts (R-PA), today introduced the Early Support for Families Act. This act will implement the home visitation initiative proposed by President Obama as part of his FY2010 budget request. It will establish and expand quality programs providing voluntary home visiting to assist families with young children and families expecting children, especially in high-need communities.

Now, The Early Support for Families Act is in the Senate Finance committee, which is expected to take action this week. Washington’s Senator Cantwell is on the Finance Committee and has a key opportunity to include home visitation in the health care reform legislation.  Unless you’ve been on a remote African safari, you know that the health care train is leaving the station SOON (before the August  recess).

Here is an action alert our friends at Fight Crime, Invest in Kids sent out this week. Don’t forget to thank Sen. Cantwell for all of her previous work supporting children and families – especially SCHIP expansion (State Children’s Health Insurance Program).

Please call Senator Cantwell Today :

Include  Home Visiting in Health Care Reform

Senator Cantwell and other members of the Finance Committee are expected to outline their plan for Health Care Reform this week.  The President’s proposed home visiting initiative is a proven crime-fighting approach that should be included in the health care reform legislation.  There is strong support from the Administration and members of both parties in Congress to see home visiting included in health care reform. These funds would support investments in kids that reduce crime and prevent child abuse and neglect. For this to happen, Senator Cantwell needs to hear from you!

Please call Senator Cantwell today at 202-224-3441. 

Your Message:

Ø  “Please include in health care reform the President’s proposed mandatory funding initiative for the establishment and expansion of evidence-based home visitation programs in states.”

Ø  “High-quality home visiting programs cut child abuse and neglect in half, and help parents and kids get off to a good start.”

Ø  “These investments cut later delinquency by 60%, lower criminal justice system and other expenditures down the road, and strengthen families.  Health reform must include this initiative.”

Please let me know if you have any questions and what response you receive from Senator Cantwell or her staff.  And feel free to forward this message to others!

Thanks!

Laura Wells

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Washington
3706 NE 42nd Street, Suite 200
Seattle, WA  98105

Standardization vs. Monster Lit, who will win?: Seattle sacrifices Monster Lit

Students learn values through the internet: Changes to education coming rapidly

Paying for a free, public education: Port Angeles School District adds back full-day kindergarten — this time for a fee

Bond fails by 48 votes: Bainbridge Island school bond votes won’t be recounted

School’s out for summer… on July 1?: Kids reap benefits of long school year

Students helping students: LCC students promote math, science in local schools with Isaac Newton presentation

Port Angeles hires new superintendent: New schools chief gets 50 cents more annually than predecessor

An emotional farewell: About to retire: Schools chief Barbara Grohe looks back at her time in Kent

Creating a new lessonplan: Nontraditional path leads to success in Denver