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Welcome!
What is Urban Edge?
Urban Edge is a service that provides CUBE districts with relevant information to help your awareness 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.
Around the nation
Five keys to urban success
Education leaders on all levels constantly seek ways to improve. That's why school board members and superintendents join CUBE, attend professional development workshops, and look for ways to raise student achievement in their communities. But even though there are no silver bullets to solve all of the problems in urban education, a 20 year study conducted by the University of Chicago looks carefully and comprehensively at what creates a successful urban school. These five "ingredients" are key components to high student achievement, and support CUBE's efforts over recent years to focus on the importance of urban school climate. In addition, many of the points raised in the study and the book counter the Department of Education's current proposals on policy changes and school reform.
Link to Education Week 1/27/10
Link to Organizing Schools for Improvement: Lessons From Chicago published January 2010
Changes on the horizon for NCLB
After last week's State of the Union Address, President Obama is expected to release his budget today and many expect big proposals for the No Child Left Behind Law. Some education insiders are hoping that education can become a centrist issue that bonds the two parties for the benefit of students and schools nationwide. The Obama administration is committed to making some changes to the law, but the details are not being released yet. As Race to the Top applications are being examined and statements in speeches include topics like merit pay for teachers, narrowing the achievement gaps, and eliminating the requirement that all students are "proficient" by 2014, NSBA will be paying close attention to what happens next.
Link to New York Times 1/31/10 (free registration)
Can charter schools and unions work together?
In the most recent Harvard Education Letter, author Alexander Russo tries to untangle a confusing, and often contentious, relationship between charter schools and teachers' unions, two topics that many urban districts know a lot about. Situations vary around the nation, with some cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Boston working with teachers' unions recently, while some states require charters to be part of the district's union contract. At the same time, the bulk of the charter schools in the U.S. do not have teachers' unions to worry about and the lack of restrictions is what makes charters appealing to many reformers. Big donors like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, and the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation are also seeking ways to work with unions and raise teacher quality. The issue is certainly going to be debated in 2010 as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is likely to be renewed.
Link to Harvard Education Letter January/February 2010
Chula Vista's Response to Intervention (RTI) gets noticed
In 2008 CUBE recognized Chula Vista, California as an award finalist for its work with English Language Learners and improving student achievement in their district. An article in a recent EdWeek talks in more detail about the improvement over the last five years since RTI has been introduced. With the program, test scores have improved in both reading and math, the number of students identified for special education has dropped, and shift in focus by the teachers has changed the way students perform. According to the article, "RTI addresses how to change teachers’ thinking from "I taught it and it’s their fault if they got it or not" to "I need to keep teaching it and supporting students."
Link to Education Week 1/27/10
Baltimore City wants to give middle schoolers more choices
As many CUBE districts around the nation look to improve schools in their districts, many attempts to improve schools sometimes create ongoing problems. Over the last two years, Baltimore City Schools has closed many poor performing schools and a new approach would give middle school students and parents the choice to go to a variety of schools within the district. Superintendent Alonso says he doesn't believe in just one approach to turning schools around and Baltimore City uses Johns Hopkins University and other outside groups to help run the schools.
Link to Baltimore Sun 1/26/10
CUBE News
CUBE is on Twitter-Follow CUBE_Edge (CUBE_Edge) for daily updates on what's happening in urban education around the country.
NSBA News
NASA and USA Today announced a new contest for students titled "No Boundaries," to help 7-12th graders explore STEM careers. This cross-curricular free project includes cash awards up to $2,000 and a NASA VIP experience for students. For more information, check their web site. Deadline for applications is April 15, 2010.
Need help with ways to improve student learning? Subscribe to the NSBA School Health Programs’ e-newsletter Health Link. The e-newsletter is published bi-monthly and provides timely and relevant school health information to school leaders striving to keep students healthy and ready to learn. Health Link will help you stay abreast of health issues that affect students and schools such as H1N1 flu and obesity and give you tools to better provide effective school health policies and practices that contribute to the well-being and success of our nation’s children. To subscribe, email schoolhealth@nsba.org.
Meetings Minute
NSBA's Federal Relations Network (FRN) Conference is taking place now, January 31 through February 2, 2010. As sessions and news progressed over the weekend, School Board News was there to cover it. If you were unable to attend but want to hear more about NSBA's advocacy efforts, updates are available on NSBA's School Board News site and the NEW mobile site. Agendas to FRN are also available on CUBE's web site.
NSBA's Annual Conference is coming to Chicago April 9-12 and registrations are now being accepted. An email was sent to all board contacts last week outlining the process, including how to request a room in the Palmer House Hotel, where CUBE's pre-conference programming takes place. Details can be found on NSBA's Annual Conference web site. Be sure to check off CUBE programming when you register. Housing Deadline - March 12.
Program Note
Did you know that all previous editions of the Urban Edge are available on CUBE's web site? If you missed an issue, wanted to go back to find a link to a research study we referenced, or need some information about what other districts are doing, click 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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