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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.
Recent Reports
Executives Give U.S. Education System a "C"
America's CEO's are concerned with STEM, and a growing number believe that the candidates for president need to make education a top priority. The Fortune 1000 companies spoke with a common voice about the critical issue of high quality science education. The executives seemed most concerned about starting students off young with a love of science and math, and their fear is without change, America will lose its spot as a global leader in science and technology.
Link to eschoolnews 9/25/08
KIPP in the Spotlight
KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) was studied by SRI, a California based research firm and concluded some surprising, and not so surprising conclusions. Strong academic gains in the San Francisco area were seen, especially in 5th and 6th grades, but a high level of attrition was also found in some schools. Teacher turnover was also an issue that was raised by the study. With 19 states and the District of Columbia using KIPP schools, the study is worth reading if your district is considering KIPP.
Link to EdWeek 9/22/08
News from CUBE Districts
Hampton Guides New Teachers
In many CUBE districts, retaining good teachers is a difficult task. Hampton, Virginia, has had great success since 2001 when it instituted a program to enhance student achievement while improving teacher quality. With a 96% retention rate for schools identified as "hard-to-staff," looking at Hampton's program could help your district.
Link to Public School Insights 9/08
Urban Superintendents - "Toughest Job in America"
The Associated Press released an article this weekend that discusses many of the key elements to CUBE--student achievement, accountability, and board governance are among the topics discussed as well as how these topics impact how a district functions, especially at the top. With many urban districts having high turnover at the superintendent position, it is critical to see good examples of governance in school districts.
Link to MSNBC 9/28/08
Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award
CUBE honored Dr. Ulysses Van Spiva, from Virginia Beach, Virginia for his dedication and perseverance in serving his community. For forty years, his involvement in education, from school board member to professor, serves as inspiration for all.
CUBE Annual Award for School Board Excellence
Brownsville Independent School District in Brownsville, Texas has been named the 2008 Award for School Board Excellence. The three finalist districts are spotlighted in the award edition of the Urban Advocate.
Meetings Minute
The CUBE Annual Conference in Las Vegas was a great success and we will be posting all available content on CUBE's Conferences and Meetings web page shortly. All of CUBE's prior meeting materials are also available on line, in case you were not able to attend or need to cite something you read or heard at our meetings.
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. |