Articles in the NSBA Opinions and Analysis category

Now Hiring

Sure, it’s a welcome sign to see posted around America as we recover from the Great Recession.  In Massachusetts, a new relationship is being introduced that will marry the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary and local school districts in order to hire teachers in areas that need high quality teachers.  35 schools have been identified within the state and unlike previous incentives that involved money, this time the funding will come in part from turnaround grants.  Using websites, foundation dollars, Twitter, and Facebook, the strategy is to help improve achievement levels in those schools that are most in need in the state.

Many edu-minded readers may remember previous attempts at getting teachers to move schools and/or states by offering large signing bonuses.  With a very different economic situation facing us now, the attempt by Massachusetts is based more on pride and the hopes that many districts will encourage teachers who want to make the biggest impact possible on their students.  The question we’re wondering at BoardBuzz today is–will this work?  Will other states and local districts follow their lead?  Or are teachers looking for more than just a change in scenery?  We’ll be waiting to see the results, and hope urban students in Massachusetts districts reap the benefits.

Kevin Scott|May 11th, 2010|Categories: Governance, NSBA Opinions and Analysis, Teachers|

Learning from Catholic schools

We all know the stories.  Whether you experienced it yourself or you’ve heard it through friends or family members, most Americans have a perception of Catholic schools and how tough they can be.  While entertaining at times, is there something to be learned from the experiences of Catholic schools  for urban school leaders?  An article in the religion section of The New York Times raises some good ideas, and got us thinking about what could be replicated for America’s urban schools.

Citing Diane Ravitch’s popular new book, “The Death and Life of a  Great American School System,” the article discusses the success that minority students have had in urban Catholic schools, while in public schools educating this population of students seems to be one of the biggest challenges.  There are several theories on why minority students in Catholic schools seem to do better than their peers in urban public schools, and it’s not just on tests.  Yes, Catholic schools can be selective on who they take in, and perhaps that’s the biggest difference because they are not charged with teaching ALL students, just those that get in.  But there is something to say for the fact that Catholic school teachers and leaders aren’t chasing every educational trend, and changing educational philosophy with presidential administrations or an expert’s new books.  Perhaps the Catholic school’s basics are just very simple, tried, and tested techniques that work (and do not involve a ruler to the knuckles).  Dedicated teachers.  More parental connections.  Structured classrooms and high expectations. 

Is there anyone in America who would disagree with these simple ideology for all schools?  Maybe we should all be paying a little more attention to help our public schools succeed in urban communities.

Kevin Scott|May 3rd, 2010|Categories: Governance, NSBA Opinions and Analysis, Student Achievement, Teachers|

Illinois sexting bill aims to educate, not criminalize

As BoardBuzz has mentioned before, “Sexting” became a household term last year after four Pennsylvania teens were charged with disseminating and possessing child pornography after officials learned they had exchanged nude photos of themselves via cell phone. Moreover, lawmakers have been rethinking the issue, and most seem to want to decriminalize sexting among teens.

The Illinois legislature passed a bill back in March that would limit penalties for minors that share nude or sexually explicit photos via cell phone or computer. The bill, which has moved to Governor Pat Quinn’s desk for signature, aims to take a realistic approach to teens making stupid decisions. It would both educate and punish teenagers for sexting, but not treat them as sex offenders. Sexting teens would likely receive counseling and perform community service.

Ars Technica notes:

Under the Illinois proposal, teens who send racy images to just each other would not be punished—only those who decide to widely distribute those images (usually as part of an attempt to blackmail or embarrass the sender). Those found guilty of sending the texts would be subject to juvenile court supervision, but wouldn’t get labeled a sex offender for possessing an image of a minor, as would be appropriate under current Illinois law.

“As the Internet explodes and people are taking advantage of it, these images hang around forever,” said State Senator Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago). “Once they’re disseminated, they can ruin somebody’s career.”  Silverstein left open the option of crafting more severe penalties for sexting. “If it continues, we might have to take harsher steps,” he said.

Quinn’s spokesman Bob Reed said the governor intends to review the bill before committing to sign it. What do you think? Does the Illinois bill strike the right balance between punishment and education?

Andrew Paulson|April 30th, 2010|Categories: Educational Technology, NSBA Opinions and Analysis, Student Achievement|Tags: |

Celebrate School Building Week

BoardBuzz wants to remind its readers of an important event taking place this week: School Building Week.  Our nation’s children spend the majority of their waking hours in a school.  School Building Week provides a great opportunity to draw national attention to the importance of well planned, healthy, high-performing, safe and sustainable schools in order to enhance student learning and community life. 

School Building Week is an annual program supported by the Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI) and the CEFPI Foundation & Charitable Trust in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Association of REALTORS®, American Institute of Architects, and more than 35 other organizations. This year’s event features a  weeklong celebration of school facilities, including the School of the Future design competition; an historic look at schools through children’s eyes; a focus on excellent schools that serve as centers of community; and a variety of community, state and national events. 

In addition, yesterday, National Healthy Schools Day was celebrated to remind everyone of the importance of promoting healthy and green school environments for all children through the use of the EPA’s Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)Tools for Schools Program.  Research shows, for instance, that 25% of chemicals in the cleaning products used in schools are toxic and contribute to poor indoor air quality, smog, cancer, asthma, and other problems.  And asthma is one of the leading causes of school absenteeism!

According to the CEFPI , School Building Week is a time when schools and school districts may engage in activities and celebrations that channel various partners – students, parents, policymakers, legislators and others – to consider the role the school building plays in the educational process and in the current and future vitality of communities. BoardBuzz knows that through this event, there is an opportunity to create effective learning environments that reflect a given locality’s unique assets and needs, and that strengthen neighborhood life as a resource of education, health and human services for students and community members alike.

Daniela Espinosa|April 27th, 2010|Categories: NSBA Opinions and Analysis, Wellness|

Charlotte-Mecklenburg leads the way

While much of the attention in North Carolina centered around the visit by President Barack Obama over the weekend, another story about North Carolina caught our attention from The New York Times.

In an editorial, The New York Times recommends that urban districts around the country look closely at Charlotte-Mecklenburg as a model.  One of NSBA’s CUBE (Council of Urban Boards of Education) districts and a perennial presenter at our conferences, we’ve known about their innovative ways for quite some time.  But to have The New York Times call attention to some of their improvements, and encourage districts nationwide and the U.S. Department of Education to take note, is worth a special mention.  The editorial points out:

  • The district puts the best principals in the schools with the biggest challenges.
  • Principals are given bonuses when the school make academic gains and are able to recruit their new leadership teams.
  • Principals are allowed to remove up to five teachers who are considered “hostile to reform.”

Schools have already seen improvement in the short time the plan has been in place, and the district’s principals are wearing the opportunity to serve in difficult schools as a badge of honor.  In fact, the district was also recently named as one of five finalists for the Broad Prize for Urban Education.  As many urban districts search for ways to improve student achievement, take a close look at Charlotte-Mecklenburg for an urban success story.

Kevin Scott|April 26th, 2010|Categories: Federal Programs, NSBA Opinions and Analysis, Student Achievement, Teachers|

What really works to increase student achievement

In this age of education reform, schools are constantly pressured to improve test scores and increase other measures of student achievement.  In theory, these goals are considered very important, because the more the child knows, the better he or she will be able to succeed in life.  However, sometimes what schools do to address these goals produce an opposite outcome.

What does BoardBuzz mean by that?  Case in point:  Many schools have cut physical education and recess in hopes of having more “classroom time” so that kids can learn more.  That seems logical, doesn’t it?  In order to increase academic achievement, you need to have more time with students in the classroom, teaching the subjects they will be tested for, right?

As a matter of fact, it is not that simple.  Some school leaders have found that such approaches are ineffective and counter-productive.  They have learned that youth need recess and physical activity in order to be more attentive and productive in class, and to be healthier to take on the challenge of doing well in school.  And now there is clear data supporting this conclusion.

BoardBuzz took a look at a new document released by the CDC on April 14, 2010 that compiles a thorough review of the research on the association between school-based physical activity and academic performance.  The review includes indicators of cognitive skills and attitudes such as attention/concentration, memory and mood; academic behaviors such as on-task behavior and attendance; and academic achievement such as grades and test scores.

The document shows that there is substantial evidence that physical activity can help improve academic achievement and have an impact on cognitive skills, attitudes and academic behavior.  Given these findings, the document recommends that schools increase the amount of time spent in physical education and/or increase the quality of their physical education program.  In addition, schools should have recess, classroom-based physical activity, as well as extracurricular physical activities.

Go figure, sometimes what seems illogical is, in fact, logical.  So BoardBuzz is happy that a lot more people are starting to see that increasing and not cutting physical activity is essential for student success – even the first lady!

Daniela Espinosa|April 16th, 2010|Categories: NSBA Opinions and Analysis, Student Achievement, Wellness|

National Robotics Week

NRWlogoRGBwebFriday is already upon us, and BoardBuzz would like to remind everyone that this is National Robotics Week, which occurs annually on the second full week of April. The event recognizes the transformative role of robotics technology, the ability of robotics to inspire and educate, and the need to underscore technology education at all levels.

Why Robotics?

Robotics provides an exciting, hands-on way for students to learn science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts and inspires students to choose STEM-related careers. BoardBuzz thinks inspiring students is important. Despite this projected growth, the US faces a critical shortage of engineers and technical workers: Of the approximately 2.5 million students who graduate from high school each year, only 3.5% enter college and declare a science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) major.

The National Robotics Week website also provides a list of resources to help you take part in the event, including:

  • Robots 101- In celebration of National Robotics Week, iRobot SPARK has contributed this two-page introductory handout on “What is a robot?”
  • Books on Bots – List of robot-related books, both fiction and nonfiction, for readers K-12.
  • iRobot WebQuest- This WebQuest was designed by iRobot to help students learn what a robot is and what the basic requirements of a robot are.

Interested? Join enthusiastic people all across the country and participate in events that provide some hands on exposure to this exciting field. The website makes it easy to find an event near you.

How can school board members support National Robotics Week?

  • Adopt initiatives to promote the use of robotics in k-12 classrooms and after-school programs.
  • Share jobs data with your communities that demonstrate the employment opportunities in robotics technology.
Andrew Paulson|April 16th, 2010|Categories: Educational Technology, NSBA Opinions and Analysis, STEM Education, Student Achievement|

Don’t Be Fooled

Recently, the American College of Pediatricians, a pediatric society, distributed a letter to school superintendents across the country to express its support for a new campaign titled FactsAboutYouth.com, which provides “approaches to students experiencing sexual orientation and gender identity confusion.” However, this campaign does not acknowledge the scientific evidence regarding gender identity, sexual health, sexual orientation, or effective health education, which in fact is recognized in policy by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

BoardBuzz finds it interesting that the American College of Pediatricians has a very similar name to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the nation’s preeminent organization of pediatricians, pediatric subspecialists, and pediatric surgical specialists, representing over 60,000 members. The confusion has resulted in numerous communications to notify superintendents and others to what many believe is an intentional action to mislead school educators.

Prior to the development of the American College of Pediatricians ‘s FactsAboutYouth.com, the American Academy of Pediatrics endorsed the American Psychological Association resource titled “Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation and Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators, and School Personnel.” Other majoreducational and school health organizations also endorsed this report, including the American Association of School Administrators, American Counseling Association, American Federation of Teachers, American School Counselor Association, and American School Health Association.

Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatrics has conducted extensive public education on the issues of sexual orientation of adolescents, and has published a clinical report titled “Sexual Orientation of Adolescents,” much of which is diametrically opposed to what has been put forth by the American College of Pediatricians. Additional guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics for parents and educators on issues of gender identity and sexual orientation is available from www.healthychildren.org.

NSBA’s School Health Programs has developed a “Sexual Orientation for Schools 101” guide.   And just last Monday at the NSBA 2010 Annual Conference, a session on gender identity and sexual orientation issues was presented, which underscored the need for school policymakers and educators to have accurate information about these issues if all students are to feel safe and supported at school. And BoardBuzz thinks that’s what it’s all about!

Alexis Rice|April 16th, 2010|Categories: Educational Research, NSBA Opinions and Analysis, Wellness|

Chasing the college acceptance letter

It’s that time of year. High school seniors around the country anxiously head to their mailboxes after school in hopes of seeing a thick envelope from their dream college. For the thousands of seniors who applied to colleges like Harvard, MIT, and Stanford, the odds are low.

Over at The Washington Post’s Campus Overload blog, Jenna Johnson reports the acceptance rates for some of our country’s most selective colleges. Of the 30,000 applicants to apply, Harvard accepted just 6.9 percent of applicants, slightly lower than the 7 percent they reported last year. Stanford University wasn’t much easier to get into either, with its 7.2 pecent acceptance rate. With rates like these, seniors around the country have to be wondering if they’ll ever get into college.

Jenna’s colleague Valerie Strausstakes issue with the implication that the lower acceptance rates shows it is getting more difficult to get into college. Valerie cites a ground-breaking study– the one from the Center for Public Education, of course– that shows it is no more difficult to get into college now than a decade ago, even for the the best students trying to get into the most selective colleges, like those cited by Jenna and the New York Times,which is keeping an admissions tally.

The fact is, seniors shouldn’t be scared off by these miniscule acceptance rates. Harvard and Stanford are two of the most prestigious colleges in world, so of course they are going to be extremely difficult to get into. But there are a lot of other great colleges out there good students can get into and prepare them well for life in the real world. As the Center’s Chasing the College Acceptance Letter found, there is a good school out there for students who took rigorous courses in high school and earned decent grade.  Furthermore, despite the falling acceptance rates of our top colleges, it is no more difficult for a good student to get into a good college now than it was a decade ago. Don’t believe me? Then check out the report for yourself.

Rebecca St. Andrie|April 9th, 2010|Categories: Governance, NSBA Opinions and Analysis|

Asthma: the leading health cause of absenteeism

Did you know that asthma is the leading health cause of school absenteeism, and that it might negatively affect learning if not well-managed? Or that nearly 10% of children – three students in a classroom of 30 – have asthma?

If you are a school leader who is looking for ways to decrease asthma-related absences in your schools; gain information on what should be communicated to parents and staff about asthma; learn about creating policies that protect your students from an asthma emergency; or seek other asthma management tools, then check out NSBA’s School Health Programs recently launched “Asthma & Schools” webpage!

The new webpage provides school leaders easy access to information on how best to manage asthma in schools.  The webpage, as well as several resources available through the webpage, were developed in partnership with the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) under a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to guide, support, and implement effective policy and practices to improve asthma management in schools.

Resources available through the webpage include a communication kit, policy development assistance, asthma management success stories from across the country, and information about the collaborative work that five state school boards associations (Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, and Wisconsin) have undertaken to reduce the burden of asthma in school districts within their states.

Daniela Espinosa|April 9th, 2010|Categories: NSBA Opinions and Analysis, Wellness|
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