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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. Mr.
Obama comes to Washington
Urban
leaders arrive in D.C.
As we prepare this edition of the Urban Edge,
many of President-Elect Obama's cabinet members and
other key figures are in the process of getting
confirmed. At the center of education news is
Arne Duncan, who has been the superintendent of
Chicago's public schools for the last seven years
and will likely be confirmed as the new Education
Secretary. Mr. Duncan is well known to CUBE
and below we assembled some of the media pieces
highlighting his career.
Link to Associated Press article on Duncan's plans
as Ed. Sec. 1/14/09
Link to Federal Times article on Duncan's Senate
hearing 1/13/09
Link to Associated Press article on Duncan's
background 1/13/09
Chicago
as a National Model-Washington Post 12/30/08
(free registration)
Another urban superintendent is on his way to
Washington, but as a Senator for Colorado.
When President Elect Obama named Ken Salazar to a
cabinet position, it freed up a Senate spot for
Colorado. Governor Bill Ritter decided to pick
someone from "outside" traditional
politicians, going with Denver superintendent
Michael Bennett. Although this is a surprise
pick to Washington insiders, it brings another urban
school leader to D.C. to hopefully help shape
national education policy. Bennett's career
has been spent mostly outside of education, but has
focused on urban issues in Denver for over five
years. The New Yorker magazine covered
him in an article which outlines his
accomplishments.
Link to New Yorker 1/2/09
Around
the nation
California
creates African American Advisory Committee
The California state school board unanimously
decided to create an advisory committee to examine
why so many black students in California "lag
so far behind their peers." To some the
move was confusing, but the board's intention is to
look closely at why African American students score
below other students. "We haven't solved
it [achievement gap]. That's very clear.
Everyone knows there's a problem. We have to
figure out a way to fix it," UCLA's
chairwoman on African American studies, Brenda
Stevenson, said.
Link
to San Francisco Chronicle 1/9/09
Maybe money does solve problems
In Maryland, the results of an increase in state
spending starting in 2002 has proven to be
successful for schools, a new report says. The
gains in reading and math were good overall, and
twice as good for middle school students as they
were for elementary school students. The news
came on the heels of Education Week naming
Maryland's schools as the best in the nation.
With all of this positive attention, Maryland
districts are expected to be looked at as national
models.
Link to Baltimore Sun 1/8/09
News
from CUBE district
Broward
keeps up with the times
As students' thumbs around the country move
faster than lightening while text messaging their
friends, Broward County (FL), has decided to use
texting as a way to keep informed with what's
happening in schools. A security number has
been set up so that a student can anonymously text a
problem to school security officials.
"I've always operated under the notion that
kids know more than we do," Broward's executive
director of the district's special investigative
unit said.
Link
to Sun Sentinel 1/13/09
From
the blogosphere
KIPP
and the American Federation of Teachers make a deal
In our continued attempt to keep you aware of the
world of education blogs, we found this entry
yesterday about a strange, yet important,
agreement. In New York, the Knowledge is Power
Program (KIPP) and the AFT have agreed to come to a
consensus. It is the first time the union and
the charter program have worked together and many
see it as a step toward a collaboration that may be
mirrored in other charter schools around the
country. If you are unaware of the education
blogs, the link below provides information about
this story, as well as links to Eduwonk, Flypaper,
Teacherbeat, and Edspresso, to name a few.
Link
to the Core Knowledge Blog
1/14/09
Meetings
Minute
Federal
Relations Network (FRN) Last Chance!
This year's FRN will occur
January 31-February 3, 2009 in Washington, DC.
CUBE districts are invited to attend, and are
encouraged to talk with their respective state
association to ensure a unified NSBA voice to bring
to Capitol Hill. On Saturday, January 31, the
special early-bird issues forum will focus on
education equity and the federal role, featuring a
discussion about public education as a civil right.
If you plan to attend FRN, be sure you
come to the CUBE Congressional Luncheon on Tuesday,
February 3 from noon to 2pm. More details will
be coming out soon.
CUBE is invited to attend the Council of
School Attorneys (COSA) opening session at NSBA
Annual. The session is titled "What
are the financial and political implications for
schools in educating undocumented students?"
CUBE does not have a session at the same time and
CUBE attendees are permitted to participate without
any additional fees.
NSBA
Annual is coming to San Diego--housing opened October
16th!
Click here
to make housing reservations in the CUBE block at
the Manchester Grand Hyatt online. This link will
only allow you to make reservations in the CUBE
block at the Manchester Grand Hyatt AFTER
you register for the conference and receive your
housing ID number. If you wish to stay at a
different hotel for the conference, you must go
through the regular housing link found on the NSBA
Annual Conference website located at www.nsba.org./conference.
For a glimpse at what CUBE will be programming at
NSBA Annual, 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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