|
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
Education Jobs Bill brings Congress back to Washington
In a bold and rare move, Congress was in session for one day in August to pass a bill that will save hundreds of thousands of jobs. Teachers, police officers, and other public workers' jobs were spared because of the $26 billion bill, which President Obama signed last Tuesday evening. NSBA and many other educational organizations were pushing for the bill to try and stop massive job losses due to struggling economies in many states. Your local press was likely to have covered this in more detail for your city or state, but here are a few links to the nation's high circulation newspapers, along with NSBA's press release on the topic.
Link to Chicago Sun-Times 8/11/10
Link to Washington Post 8/11/10 (free registration)
Link to New York Times 8/11/10 (free registration)
Link to NSBA press release 8/11/10
Charter schools in Ohio come in many shapes
The debate on charter schools in urban districts continues around the country, and with the recent announcement of Race to the Top (round two) finalists, it is likely we will be hearing more about charter schools in the future. Ohio has many urban districts with charter schools, and in Dayton there has been some success with a school that teaches beyond a traditional classroom. The Improved Solutions for Urban Systems (ISUS) school is helping reluctant traditional students as well as some blighted neighborhoods. With 70 percent of its students in the criminal justice system and 90 percent living in poverty, the school has an uphill battle, but it is turning students into tradesmen who are re-building parts of the city using grant money through ISUS. If successful, this model of charter school may spread beyond Ohio's urban districts.
Link to Catalyst Ohio August 2010 edition
Absent students have a new problem in Indy
Many CUBE districts have struggled with absent and truant students and some have come up with innovative programs to get students back to their desks. Indianapolis joins the mix this school year, with a new program to help keep students in school. The school board worked with the superintendent and created a new policy which has new consequences for teachers, parents, and principals, including contacting Child Protective Services, if students are chronically absent. With a strong message from the leadership of the district, all staff members and parents know that this cultural shift in how the district views truancy is serious.
Link to Indianapolis Star 8/9/10
Aurora opens doors
A new campus in CUBE district, Aurora, Colorado, is a groundbreaking in many ways. After a bond measure was passed in 2008, the district is using the funds to create a PK-20 school. By working with local community colleges and universities, the PEAK school will offer unique opportunities for students to follow several different paths as they go through their school career. Superintendent John Barry said, "This is where the vision becomes a reality," Barry told a crowd of students, staff and community leaders who gathered inside the school's gymnasium. "When (students) own that choice, they are more motivated to proceed on that course."
Link to Denver Post article 8/4/10
New Report: Educating Black Boys
At NSBA's Annual Conference in Chicago this spring, CUBE's most popular session was lead by Dr. John Jackson, President and CEO of the Schott Foundation for Public Education, on educating black male students. A report is set to be released tomorrow, August 17 titled, "Yes We Can: The Schott 50 State Report on Public Education and Black Males 2010." It will examine many facets of educating black male students, looking closely at test scores, NAEP scores, and a myriad of other factors to come up with conclusions on how to help young black men succeed in school. More information will be available tomorrow at this link.
Focus on Urban Schools
ASCD, an organization of education leaders, recently published an in-depth look at urban schools. Their newsletter, ASCD Express, focuses on some of the things working well in urban school systems, including some CUBE districts. They also look back at some of the debates that have been occurring for decades within urban districts and how to prepare for the 21st century learner.
Link to ASCD Express 8/5/10
CUBE News
CUBE's Annual Conference is coming to Baltimore, Maryland, September 30- October 2. Registrations are now being accepted and the full brochure can be found below. We have an exciting lineup of speakers, sessions, and the CUBE Annual Award for Urban School Board Excellence, will be awarded to a winning district. The Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award will also be given to a deserving individual. Click here (.pdf file, may take a few moments to download) for more information.
CUBE is on Twitter-Follow CUBE_Edge (CUBE_Edge) for daily updates on what's happening in urban education around the country.
NSBA News
NSBA's Technology Learning Network (TLN) has announced its 2010 Salute Districts who will be showcased at the T+L Conference in Phoenix this fall. Among the three recognized districts, CUBE member district, Jefferson County (Louisville, KY) was selected and will share some of the good things happening in their district regarding executing technology efforts and implementation. More information about the conference can be found below.
Registration and housing are now open for NSBA’s annual T+L Conference, the premier technology and learning conference for school leaders. This year’s event, to be held Oct. 19 to 21 in Phoenix, will focus on change and the tools and programming you need. Go here for more information, or here to register.
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.
|