Tech Directions - September 2007 - (Page 5)

direct from washington Anne C. Lewis anneclewis@earthlink.net New High School Reform Proposal Whether it is an end run around attempts to expand the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) consequences to high schools or a recognition of the need to meet diverse student needs, Congress is now considering high school reforms that make room for technical and career education. This is the GRADUATES proposal, with a title that stretches the acronym a bit—the Getting Retention and Diplomas Up Among Today’s Enrolled Students. Majority Leader Harry Reid and others have introduced it in the Senate. Its purpose is to provide “the appropriate federal role in the creation of innovative secondary school models.” Instead of the punitive sanctions in NCLB’s accountability structure, this proposal would authorize $500 million for competitive grants that stress partnerships and innovations. The grants would be used for a variety of strategies, including multiple pathways to graduation, personalization, early college and dual enrollment, career academies, improved transitions and alignment, expanded learning time, postsecondary and work-based learning opportunities, increased autonomy and flexibility at the school level, improved learning opportunities in rural schools, and increasing rigor at all levels of secondary education aligned with postsecondary education and the workforce. The partnerships applying for the grants are to be wide ranging. Either state or local education agencies would enlist higher education institutions, community-based organizations, nonprofits, business, or school development organizations to create the innovative models. The models would have to produce evidence-based, systemic and replicable strategies, and federal funding would continue only for those programs that have improved student achievement. The proposal was endorsed by a number of national organizations, including those in the career education field, ACT, the Alliance for Excellent Education, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Within a few days of the proposal’s introduction, a new Education Trust study of state high school graduation improvement mandates revealed how lax and varied the standards are across the country. Nevada, for example, sets a goal of graduating 50 percent of its high school students, while Iowa’s goal is 95 percent. Noting that a high school diploma is the Anne Lewis, one of the country’s most respected writers on education policy, works in the Washington, DC, area. www.techdirections.com WASHINGTON 5 http://www.graymarkint.com http://www.graymarkint.com http://www.techdirections.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Tech Directions - September 2007

Technically Speaking Contents Direct from Washington The News Report Technology’s Past Technology Today Mastering Computers Dome, Sweet Dome—Geodesic Structures Teach Math, Science, and Technology Principles Help Students Become Wise Energy Consumers How Does FERPA Affect You? Camera Operator and Videographer e-gallery Product Central Free for the Asking More than Fun

Tech Directions - September 2007

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.