FROM THE OEP New OEPoints No. 1: Charter School Facilities Funding: These new one-page summaries of current issues in Arkansas education provide stakeholders with a quick source for key points and resources. The first in our series of Overall Education Points is on Charter School Facilities Funding. New Blog Post: New OEP Resources OEP introduces two new resources this year, Overall Education Points and News From The Capitol. In addition to the one-page OEPoints, OEP will be attending House and Senate Education Committee sessions and blogging about the activities. Get the information you need by signing up for the OEP blog at Office for Education Policy. Scroll to the bottom left of the page, enter your email address and click Sign Me Up. News from Around the Natural State Northwest Arkansas educators discuss plans for computer science requirement State education officials anticipate all high schools will need to offer a computer science course this fall, based on a promise Governor Asa Hutchinson made during his campaign. One of his first major initiatives will be the passage of a computer science bill, said Debbie Jones, assistant commissioner of learning services for the Arkansas Department of Education, while speaking to a group of Benton and Washington county school administrators Thursday. In anticipation of legislation the governor will introduce, the department assembled a team of educators and business representatives who will meet next week to develop standards for a new computer coding course for high school students, Jones said. The standards will go to the state Board of Education in February. Will improve, LR board tells state Little Rock School Board met last night to discuss and prepare a response to Arkansas Board of Education. Today is the deadline to submit documents to the ADE for review in preparation of the special meeting next week to determine the fate of the Little Rock School District. The letter promises to improve the administration of the school district and acknowledges the appearance of discord among the board members. Little Rock School Board members and Superintendent Suggs were very civil with each other throughout Tuesdays meeting despite some sharply divided opinions, and pointed and passionate comments. News from Around the Nation Expanding Opportunity for Every American: Education and the State of the Union President Obama delivered his sixth State of the Union address last night. The Presidents speech reflected his strong belief that education is a vital investment in Americas economic competitiveness, in its communities, and in its people. The President discussed Americas economic recovery, noting that since 2010, our nation has put more of its citizens back to work than Europe, Japan, and all advanced economies combined. At a time when millions of Americans now work in jobs that didnt exist even 10 or 20 years ago, education-particularly higher education-is more important than ever before in the effort to equip our young people with the skills theyll need to succeed in the well-paying jobs of the 21st century knowledge economy. In his speech, the President noted the significant educational progress that our nations schools, teachers, and students have made - including young students earning math and reading scores at record levels, a high school graduation rate at an all-time high, and more Americans finishing college than ever before. New Milestone: Majority of Public School Students Now Considered Low-Income In 2013, 51 percent of public school students qualified for free and reduced-price meals, a common indicator of poverty in education, according to the most recent data from The National Center for Education Statistics. Arkansas stands at 61 percent free and reduced-price lunch eligible, 10 percentage points above the national average. Schools have, of course, been confronted by the challenges of poverty for years, but crossing the majority threshold certainly creates a powerful conversation point in debates on the local, state, and federal levels about issues ranging from equity and accountability to student supports. Mark Your Calendar Wednesday, January 21: * Senate Education Committee, 10:00 a.m., Agenda Wednesday, January 22: * House Education Committee, 10:00 a.m., Agenda Wednesday, January 28: * State Board of Education Meeting - Special Meeting on Academic Distress, Little Rock, 10:00 a.m., Agenda Thursday, February 12: * State Board of Education Meeting, 10:00 a.m., Agenda Friday, February 13: * State Board of Education Meeting, 9:00 a.m., Agenda Dont forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [cid:[email protected]]facebook/OfficeForEducationPolicy [cid:[email protected]]twitter/Office4EdPolicy The Office for Education Policy University of Arkansas Faculty Director: Gary Ritter, Ph.D. Executive Director: Sarah McKenzie, Ph.D. Managing Director: Jennifer Ash Research Staff: Kaitlin Anderson Denice Pugh Charlene Reid Evan Rhinesmith
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 19:49:10 +0000
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