April 19, 2005

Study Finds Shortcoming in New Law on Education  (The New York Times, April 13) (free registration required)
A national research project recently released by the Northwest Evaluation Association indicates that student achievement has improved since NCLB was implemented, but student growth has declined slightly. The findings diverge from those of other recent studies, including a survey last month by the Center on Education Policy, a research group. 
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/13/national/13child.html

Read the report "The Impact of the No Child Left Behind Act on Student Achievement and Growth: 2005 Edition" at
http://www.nwea.org/research/nclbstudy.asp

High School Newspaper Follows Different Path  (The Seattle Times, April 13)
For the past year and a half, the alternative student paper at Edmonds-Woodway High School, The Prophet, has provided critical commentary on student elections, pep assemblies, college applications, and disaster drills. Mark Goodman, Executive Director of the Student Press Law Center and winner of the 2002 NCTE/SLATE Intellectual Freedom National Award, is quoted.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/
2002239283_underground13n.html

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Imagine: A Day Without Technology  (eSchool News, April 15)

On April 20, participating schools will take part in a first-ever Imagine a Technology Blackout Day, an exercise meant to underscore technology's value by way of contrast: Participants are being asked -- for one day -- to avoid all the technologies that keep the world running. 

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStory.cfm?ArticleID=5622

Schools' Gender Gap Shrinks, but Not for World's Poorest  (The Guardian, April 18)
The gap between the number of boys and girls going to school around the world is narrowing, but it would still take a "quantum leap" to reach an internationally agreed target to get every primary-aged child into school by 2015, according to a Unicef report today. 
http://education.guardian.co.uk/schoolsworldwide/story/0,14062,1462496,00.html

Read the report "Progress for Children" at
http://www.unicef.org/media/files/pfc2.pdf

State, Feds Still at Odds Over School Testing  (The Boston Globe, April 18)
Connecticut education officials made little headway Monday in their dispute with the federal government over annual school testing, leaving them on course to file the first legal challenge against the new requirements.
http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2005/04/18/
state_feds_still_at_odds_over_school_testing/

R.I. Downplays Tests as Route to Diplomas  (Education Week, April 13) (free registration required)
Under state rules adopted two years ago, Rhode Island districts have had to design new graduation policies that use measures other than tests to assess students' abilities. The regulations take effect for the class of 2008, but some districts -- like the 3,500-student North Providence school system -- are ahead of the game. 
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2005/04/13/31ri.h24.html

For resources on student journalism, see information on the NCTE Assembly for Advisers of Student Publications/Journalism Education Association (AASP/JEA) at

http://www.ncte.org/groups/assm/list/119423.htm and visit the JEA Web site at http://www.jea.org

It's National Volunteer Week:  NCTE Salutes Its Volunteers
NCTE celebrates the volunteers who contribute their time to the Council and to the English language arts profession! To learn more about National Volunteer Week, to read profiles of devoted and energetic volunteers, and to learn how you can make a difference through volunteering, visit

http://www.ncte.org/about/over/vol/announce/120238.htm

As part of National Volunteer Week, NCTE President Randy Bomer offers a heartwarming message to the countless individuals who selflessly "volunteer" their time to the profession.

http://www.ncte.org/about/over/vol/announce/120418.htm

Portrait of a Volunteer -- Jamal Cooks
Jamal Cooks, an assistant professor at San Francisco State University, shares his views on volunteerism and on his roles as a Middle Level Section Steering Committee member, as a Cosponsored Speaker, and as a Cultivating New Voices Fellow.
http://www.ncte.org/about/over/vol/recog/117476.htm

Submit Your Manuscript for a Special Issue of Talking Points 
The editors of Talking Points are calling for your submissions for a special issue celebrating the profound impact of Louise Rosenblatt's work on whole language theory and practice. We invite articles that take us into classrooms to listen in on discussions or observe learning based on transactional theory and/or other aspects of Rosenblatt's work toward critical, democratic literacy education. This issue will be published in October 2005; deadline for submissions is June 1, 2005. For more information, see
http://www.ncte.org/pubs/journals/tp/write/120299.htm

Preview the Literacies for All Summer Institute
The Literacies for All Summer Institute in San Diego, California, July 14-17, 2005, features speakers such as Janet S. Wong and Peter H. Johnston. Check out the Institute Preview to read more about the exciting activities and events that are planned. Visit
http://www.ncte.org/library/files/Related_Groups/WLU/05WLUPreview.pdf

Submit Your Proposal Today for the 2006 CCCC Convention
The deadline is approaching for submitting your proposal for the 2006 Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) Convention in Chicago, Illinois, March 22-25, 2006. The deadline for mailed proposals is April 25, 2005 (postmarked). The deadline for online submissions is May 2, 2005 (midnight, central time). For more information, visit

http://www.ncte.org/profdev/conv/cccc/120070.htm

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Copyright 2005 National Council of Teachers of English
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