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Last updated on 1/21/10 News to Use NowCalifornia Legislative Event to Open Dialogue Between Ed. Publishers and LegislatorsWhat’s Really What in Sacramento? Digital textbooks, suspended adoptions, and a broadening definition of instructional materials. During the past year, these and other bellwether actions by the California legislature have shaken the status quo. Do these changes mean upheaval or opportunity for supplemental materials? AEP is holding its first state legislative event in Sacramento that includes a two-part program. The event will take place March 10-11. More information...
States Start Naming Partners and Preferred Providers for Stimulus Grant MoneyFebruary 2, 2010—Applications for the first round of Race to the Top (RTT) funding have been submitted, and states are currently working on their School Improvement Grant (SIG) proposals. In many of the RTT applications, states named partners to help them reach their goals. For example, California discusses the state's support of the Common Core Standards Initiative, and the Parent Institute for Quality Education is named as key partner. In addition, states are also putting out RFPs for preferred providers to help with SIG. At the recent AEP government relations committee meeting, participants asked several questions about what opportunities they still have to work with schools on the stimulus grants.
Anyone interested in participating on the AEP Government Relations Committee should contact Stacey Pusey. The AEP California Legislative Event, sponsored by Teacher Created Materials, will take place March 10-11 and will give publishers the opportunity to open a dialogue with key education committee officials about the value of supplemental materials. Read more details and register online. More Information "Colorado
Department Of Education Announces Initial List Of Approved Educational
Service Providers To Assist with School Transformation And Turnaround" Race
to the Top Fund
Race to the Top Lives Beyond the Stimulus PackageJanuary 21, 2010—As noted in the comments on the final priorities for the Race to the Top competition, "The [Department of Education] has fully aligned the school intervention requirements and definitions across Race to the Top, the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, and the forthcoming Title I School Improvement Grants final notice...to make it easier for States to develop consistent and coherent plans across these three programs." Many education analysts have taken this as a sign that these programs are a precursor to what the Dept. of Ed. and President Obama would like to see in the ESEA reauthorization. Now, President Obama has announced his plans to expand the Race to the Top funding beyond the amount provided in the stimulus bill and to include it in his 2011 budget request--a further sign that the Obama Administration believes that ideas used in these competitions are keys to success for America's schools. The $1.35 billion for FY 2011 would "support further incentives for states to revise, strengthen and implement their plans for education reform in order to qualify for an award under the program. This plan will also invigorate district-level reform by expanding the Race to the Top beyond just states but to school districts ready to embark on system-wide improvement of their education policies and practices." There are three important points for publishers to note in this expansion. First, while previously the industry has discussed how to talk to schools about spending this one-time influx, companies can now start discussing more long-term sales strategies with their customer. Second, President Obama is purposefully opening the competition to school districts that want to apply for the money even if the state, such as Texas, is opposed to the funds, which creates potential new markets for our industry. Finally, in order to even apply for the grants, schools must meet several requirements. Reviewing and understanding these criteria will help publishers understand the current and future needs of these schools. "We'll open up opportunity--evenly and equitably--across our education system," stated President Obama. "We'll develop a culture of innovation and excellence in our public schools. And we'll reward success, and replicate it across the country. These are some of the principles that drive Race to the Top. These are some of the principles that will drive my forthcoming budget." More Information Final Race to the Top priorities President Obama to Announce Plans for "Race to the Top" Expansion Remarks by the President on Race to the Top at Graham Road Elementary School "In
Race for U.S. School Grants Is a Fear of Winning" "Gov.
Perry: Texas won't seek 'Race to the Top' education funding"
Jobs Act Contains $23 Billion for EducationDec, 18, 2009—On December 16 the House passed HR 2847, known as the Jobs for Main Street Act of 2010, which includes money for education. The bill's purpose is to invest $75 billion to create or save jobs here at home with targeted investments. According to Speaker Pelosi's web site, these investments are fully paid for by redirecting TARP funds from Wall Street to Main Street.
“Our nation’s economy has made significant progress since earlier this year when more than 600,000 Americans were losing their jobs every month. While we may have stemmed the tide of steep job losses and the Recovery Act is making an undeniable impact, millions of Americans are still looking for a job,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and one of the lead authors of the bill. “The Jobs for Main Street Act is the right thing to do to continue rebuilding our economy and the just thing to do for the millions of families who urgently need work.” More information "House
Approves Bill to Create Jobs" Fact Sheet on the Jobs for Main Street Act Jobs for Main Street (bill text)
Education Appropriations Included in Year-End Consolidated BillDec. 17, 2009—The House and Senate have passed and President Obama signed the FY 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R.3288). This bill includes Labor, Health, and Education. Here are some of the key appropriations relevant to publishers.
Here are excerpts from the statement of David Obey (D-WI), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. On the education front, the funding in this bill will help make educational opportunity a reality. Unlike the budget request, the bill does not finance education reforms by cuts to Title I. The bill maintains $14.5 billion for Title I grants to provide educational services to 20 million low-income children. It supports working families by investing $35 million more than last year to expand after school tutoring and academic enrichment for nearly 50,000 more students. And, it includes funding for several of Secretary Duncan's key education reform priorities, including:
Final Title I School Improvement Grants Requirements ReleasedDec. 11, 2009—The Department of Education has released the final regulations and the application for the Title I School Improvement Grants. These grants will focus on turning around the lowest performing schools. States must identify three tiers of schools:
Districts must then choose from one of four models to improve the school: Turnaround, Model, School Closure, and Transformational. AEP submitted comments asking the Dept. of Ed. to define "comprehensive instructional reform" to mean "improved instructional programs of one or more locally determined and coordinated interventions and resources as needed to provide enrichment for students." Although AEP's comment was not addressed directly, the final requirements note, "The Secretary agrees that there are any number of important activities that would be appropriate to address in a transformation model. As described in this notice, the transformation model, by necessity, focuses on several broad strategies. However, nothing precludes local school leaders from expanding the model as necessary to address other factors needed to respond to the specific needs of students in the school." In other words, it appears that the Dept. of Education is giving schools latitude in selecting what reforms are necessary. Moreover, several times in the revised guidelines, the Dept. refused to list all permissible activities, noting that those lists could not be exhaustive. For example, one commenter asked the Dept. to name technology-based solutions to the list of permissible activities. While the Dept. was willing to add the phrase "technology-based solutions," it declined to mention every permutation of those solutions. The revised requirements state, "Although online instructional programs might be part of a school's system of technology-based supports, we decline to mention it specifically…We cannot mention in this notice, however, each and every type of instructional program." Finally, as with Race to the Top, one commenter asked the Dept. to use the term "evidence-based" instead of "research-based." The Dept. declined to make that change, again stating, "We do not believe a change is necessary, however, because we do not use the term 'scientifically based research' and, therefore, do not invoke the stringent requirements in section 9101(37) of the ESEA." Read the Final Notice and Application. |
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