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Welcome!
What is
Urban Edge?
Urban Edge is a new membership service that provides CUBE with relevant information to help your
district become aware of education issues around the
country. We will glean news sources, blogs, research studies, and NSBA's wide range of expertise for timely information that guides CUBE districts in making sound decisions.
Innovations
The
Benefits of Bi-Lingual Education
The term "global marketplace" and
"our flattened world" are thrown around
often on the news and have become two of the latest
catch-phrases. Students
in Palm Beach County and Broward County are learning
in multiple languages as the trend continues to
reach beyond communities that attract immigrant
families. It has been well known for years
that children pick up languages more quickly than
adults, but in the 21st century, bi-lingual has new
meaning.
Link
to Sun-Sentinel Story 5/27/08
Baltimore's
High School Changes
Many districts struggle with high school
reforms and how to use a new model over
comprehensive high schools that have been common for
decades. Baltimore made changes four years ago
to five high schools and now is graduating its first
classes from these new schools. One school is
sending 88% of the students to college, many of the
students say that college would not have been
possible if they went to their neighborhood
school.
Link
to Baltimore Sun Story 5/21/08
Link to
students thoughts on one of Baltimore's schools
Studies,
News, and Legislation
Study
Finds Public Schools as Good as Private Schools
A new study conducted by the University of Illinois
and soon to be published in Phi Delta Kappan
shows that "public schools are at least as
effective as private schools in boosting student
achievement." The study examined the
longitudinal data of almost 10,000 students in math
at about 1,500 public and private
schools.
Link
to Science Daily Story 5/27/08
Is
Your Permission Slip Signed?
Field trips are often considered a highlight
for students. Regardless of how dynamic a
teacher is, breaking up the day-to-day routine can
be an asset to education and enhance the
curriculum. In California, budget cuts have eliminated
many districts from taking field trips and other
areas around the country are facing the same problem.
Even in Washington, DC, where museums are free, some
districts are finding it hard to find ways to fund
field trips. The story in the Los Angeles
Times gives some suggestions for getting around
these issues so students still get the experience.
Link
to L.A. Times 5/19/08
Legislation
Drafted for Cyber-Bullying
Representative Kenny Hulshof (R-MO) and
Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA) have drafted a
bill that would make it a federal crime to
cyber-bully. The bill stems from the case of a
mother who cyber-bullied thirteen year old Megan
Meier, who later killed herself. The case
brought a tremendous amount of attention on the
internet and news coverage, but the
constitutitionality of this proposal is in question,
not to mention how it may effect school districts.
Link
to Eschool News Story 5/27/08
Blog-Watch
Two
stories from the Learning
First Alliance (LFA) caught our attention
recently. The first discusses a documentary
about teaching in America by Dave Eggers, who wrote
the book A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering
Genius that Eggers "hopes will do for
teaching what An Inconvenient Truth did for
the environment."
Link
to Story
The
second story focuses on Philadelphia, health,
poverty, reducing suspensions, and student
achievement. This isn't a pipe dream, it's a
true story that is just one of the many pieces LFA
publishes and is worthy of sharing.
Link
to Sayre High School Success
End-Note
The
final living plaintiff in the landmark Brown v.
Board of Education of Topeka, died May 20 in
Topeka, Kansas. The New York Times story on
Zelma Henderson's life can be found here.
Disclaimer
Links
on the Urban Edge are subject to change or
become inactive after a period of time. Please
be aware that CUBE has no control over links to
other organizations or entities.
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