Archive for the ‘K-12’ Category
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I couldn’t “tweet in” last night, but EducationCEO was there. Check out her reflection on her blog. I am fascinated by the power of technology to bring a group of people together and discuss such a critical issue as Black Education. If you missed it or just want to go back to it, check out the transcript below.
And a big thank you goes out to Twitter’s very own @journalproject for organizing the chat.
Finding the Road to College
Posted December 3, 2009
on:My father graduated from the College of Charleston. My mother attended Towson University (then Towson State University), but she didn’t complete her degree. That makes me a second-generation college-goer.
There was no question that my younger sibs and I were going to college. It wasn’t drilled into our heads, but somehow, it was ingrained in us. I don’t remember an explicit focus on “college readiness” (talking about college, college visits, early PSATs/SATs) in my K-8 years at St. Francis of Assisi. But my sibs and I attended uber college prep high schools, and in that kind of environment, college was an expectation.
The one girl from my high school (that I can remember) who didn’t go to college has always stood out in my mind. Unfortunately, for far too many students in our urban and rural public schools, college (or other postsecondary productivity, as I like to call it) is not a part of their psyche.
In my professional life in education research and evaluation, I’ve visited countless high schools across the country in such cities as Houston, Chicago, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Los Angeles, and Worcester, MA. So much time and effort is put into establishing “college-going environments” and supporting and guiding high school students along that path.
There isn’t a consensus on when college readiness activities/efforts should begin. Some say 9th grade, start as soon as they walk through the high school doors. Some say earlier, and even some say 11th grade is a place to start. I realize that college may not be for everyone, although, the more I think about what that means, the more I question why that belief is so widely accepted (especially given the shoddy k-12 education that is not uncommon in our poorest communities, but I digress).
I believe that a focus on college, academic excellence, discipline, perseverance, and continual improvement should be instilled in us from birth. Yes, I realize that we’re all not going to get that. As far as education goes, college should be an expectation from the first day of kindergarten. So, by the time a student reaches upper middle school and high school, he/she won’t be shell-shocked when the counselor starts asking about college. By then, that student has a pretty good sense of how “attainable” college is for him/her, which may be one of the most difficult challenges that counselor will face.
And sadly, minorities and low-income students are far too often deemed (at an early age) not to be college material. And so then does the self-fulfilling prophecy begin/continue.
Let’s remember, as vested members of our communities, to always engage students of all ages, in conversations about college, academic aspirations, and career goals. Talk about your college experience with excitement and encourage young people to see themselves as college material.
- In: K-12 | Media
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The Brookings Institution’s report, “Invisible: 1.4 Percent Coverage for Education is Not Enough” brings to our attention the scant coverage of education in the national news and states that the lack of coverage of the actual work of schools remains a significant problem.
View the full report:
Solutions for Education, Health Care, the Economy and the Environment – WSJ.com
Posted November 28, 2009
on:Vodpod videos no longer available.
The Wall Street Journal asked four policy makers to comment on four critical issues: health care, the economy and finance, energy and the environment, and an educated workforce.
Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius spoke about health care; Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors, Christina Romer, made remarks about the economy and finance; Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, Carol M. Browner, commented about energy and the environment. Finally, Michelle Rhee, DC Public Schools Chancellor, added her take on an educated work force. Rhee spoke about topics such as how to lead, firing employees, finances, spending, and vouchers and charter schools.