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AAE Federal Update October 25, 2010
posted by: Alix | October 25, 2010, 05:00 AM   

DoEd Addresses Bullying Epidemic

In the wake of two recent suicides in connection to bullying, school systems across the country are reevaluating their policies relating to school discipline and harassment.

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan made a statement last week in response to the tragedies. "This is a moment where every one of us - parents, teachers, students, elected officials, and all people of conscience - needs to stand up and speak out against intolerance in all its forms...it is time we as a country said enough. No more. This must stop."

School officials claim that educating parents about bullying and cyberbulling is as important as educating students. Federal programs, including those found on www.bullyinginfo.org, can be used as tools to address bully prevention for all stakeholders - parents, teachers, and community members.

Educators and administrators need to know the facts to be able to prevent harassment in a technology-driven society.

Click here for AAE's recent blogs on bullying.

TEACH Campaign Launches New Media Initiatives

Last month the DoEd announced the creation of a new program to attract promising students to a career in education called TEACH. The initiative promises to become a network of resources that allows for potential teachers to search for job opportunties and paths to certification.

At the Education Stakeholders Forum on October 22, Secretary Duncan highlighted the use of social media as a crucial component of the campaign and reaching out to Millennials. Marketing teaching as a meaningful and fulfilling career has become front and center of the overall mission of the campaign according to DoEd Senior Program Advisor Brad Jupp.

One video encouraging minority and male students to explore a career in teaching can be found at the campaign's YouTube channel.

Alternative Assessments

Last week the DoEd announced that after awarding Race to the Top Assessment program grants for general state assessments, the department has awarded grants to two groups of states to develop a new system of evaluation for students with significant cognitive disabilities.

These new assessments will be designed for students with a wide variety of disabilities and will be aligned with the common set of college and career ready standards developed by governors and chief state school officers that have been adopted by 35 states and the District of Columbia. The assessments will include math and English tests through grades 3-8 and one in high school.

Grants have been awarded to:

  • The National Center and State Collaborative Partnership (a consortium of 18 states, the District of Columbia, and several territories led by the University of Minnesota). Awarded $45 million.
  • The Dynamic Learning Maps Alternate Assessment System Consortium (a consortium of 11 states led by the University of Kansas). Awarded $22 million.
These alternative assessments are slated for completion and implementation by the 2014-2015 school year.

AAE Participates in Education Stakeholders Meeting at the Department of Education

Last week AAE participated in the Education Stakeholders Forum at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. Secretary Duncan briefed attendees about the department's progress of various campaigns including Race to the Top, the TEACH campaign and bullying concerns. AAE will continue to monitor and weigh in on federal education policy developments that affect AAE state partners and AAE members. Interested parties can get frequent updates on education news by visiting AAE's blog.



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