Education News

Matthew Lynch published in Policy & Reform

Do we know where Republicans stand on education?

Forbes.com has an interesting opinion piece posted about the GOP presidential candidates and where they stand on education. Rather, it’s what they should be asked in upcoming debates regarding education.

Because there are so many candidates and so little time to ask them detailed questions about anything during a debate, it might be tough at first to receive detailed information on their stances regarding education without viewing them through their own prisms.

While some of the questions posed in the post are generic, (“How will you support parental choice?“), others are worth exploring.

The author asks “What will you do to support better research on vital education topics?” Sounds legit to me.

“What’s more, as a recent report from TNTP (formerly The New Teacher Project) found, most current teacher training is not effective; we’re wasting teachers’ time and taxpayers’ money. The education industry is filled with training seminars that promise the moon but deliver little in terms of outcomes.”

The subject of teacher training is certainly loaded. How much, if any, money should the federal government invest in training new teachers and re-training older ones? Should it be a state decision?

Another question presented attempts to tackle federal rules surrounding education. If a Republican is elected, that individual will likely present a hands-off approach towards education. At least from a federal perspective.

But as we trudge forward to the 2016 presidential election, surely we’ll hear more about education and where each candidate stands. It’s important to start to delve into these questions now, though.

  • no reactions
0
Share
Matthew Lynch published in Higher Education

Report: Southern states cutting higher ed funding the most

A new report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) shines a spotlight on how far funding for higher education has fallen since the start of the recession. Particularly for states in the south, funding “is down by more than 35 percent since the start of the recession.”

Overall tuition at public four-year colleges is up almost 30 percent since 2007. Even worse for students who attend schools in the south– like Florida, Georgia and Louisiana–the report states that tuition skyrocketed 60 percent.

Considering the government has cut Pell Grants and wage growth has been stagnant, such a steep rise in tuition has likely priced many students out of attending many schools that continue to raise tuition.

In addition to the cut in funding, the CBPP’s report also shows that schools have also been forced to layoff faculty, cease certain courses, shutter library services, and completely close down campuses.

But the report isn’t necessarily full of bad economic news for colleges and universities. Policy makers may restore pre-recession level funding if they simply chose to raise revenue. Of course that means some tax increases, but because many state legislatures are run by conservatives, that suggestion isn’t likely to fly in Republican controlled House and Senate chambers.

Other nuggets included in the report: 48 states have slashed per student funding, spending on higher education is down 20 percent nationwide since the start of the recession, Louisiana is trending towards cutting per student funding by 50 percent, and Kentucky chipped nearly $200 off of per student funding last year.

On the side of good news, some states did increase funding for higher education back to pre-recession levels. Alaska, Wyoming, and North Dakota all were in the blue compared to the rest of the nation.

To balance state budgets and keep the government funding, many lawmakers made the decision to stall funding for higher education. In turn, that made many colleges and universities raise tuition, cut faculty, and make other moves in an effort to save money.

Now we stand at a crossroads due to those decisions. Students are being priced out of attending post-secondary institutions, the quality of higher education has been compromised, and we’re still grappling with how to properly keep many colleges afloat.

This, unfortunately, is the price we pay for bad policy.

  • no reactions
0
Share
Matthew Lynch published in Equity, Higher Education, Parental Involvement

Is early childhood education the key to more American Indians going to college?

The Ké’ Early Childhood Initiative convenes today in Albuquerque and will bring together 45 representatives from four American Indian tribal colleges who will discuss strategies for better early childhood education and family involvement in the community.

The meeting is sponsored by the American Indian College Fund’s Early Childhood Education program which attempts to “strengthen the role of Native families in early learning opportunities, building culturally-responsive programming with families and tribal partners.” Specifically, the representatives will look at ways the American Indian community can better prepare children for long-term academic success, targeting learning opportunities from birth to 8 years of age.

In education circles, we talk a lot about the way black and Latino students struggle in K-12 classrooms through a combination of cultural circumstances and inequality. The reality is that American Indian K-12 students are the most at-risk of any minority group for either dropping out of high school or never making it to college. The American Indian Fund reports that American Indians who earn a bachelor’s degree represent less than 1 percent of all of these degree earners. It is not shocking then to realize that 28 percent of American Indians lived in poverty compared to 15 percent of the general population, according to 2010 U.S. Census figures. A college education opens doors for a higher quality of life.

The path to college starts long before the application process, of course.

Early childhood education has such an enormous impact on how students fare throughout their school careers. It’s the reason why President Obama has called on more states to implement universal preschool programs and has ushered more funding to Head Start and other early childhood education initiatives. There is a reason why an organization with “college” in the title is going back to early childhood to strengthen the potential of future students in the American Indian community. Better quality early childhood education, and families that are on board with supporting kids through the K-12 process, will lead to an uptick of interest in college degrees and a higher percentage of college graduates too.

  • no reactions
0
Share
Matthew Lynch published in EdTech & Innovation

Are massive open online classes still the wave of the future?

With a steady stream of news that the price of college is quickly becoming too high for many Americans to afford, an alternative form of higher education may be how some future students learn. MOOC, or massive open online classes, offer free lectures and web based courses by some of the world’s best universities.

But according to NPR.com, MOOCs popularity never really took off. Because the courses are free and open to anyone with an internet connection, many believed that this type of offering would soon be the death of college.

Not so, or at least not yet.

According to a paper produced by Harvard and MIT for MOOC courses that both institutions offer, more than one million participants entered a HarvardX or MITx course between 2012 and 2014.

While those numbers may seem high, it is important to remember that each course is free, though participants may choose to purchase a certificate of completion at the end.

The paper also found that nearly 40 percent of those surveyed who took one of the MOOC courses had a teaching background.

Overall, the study showed that MOOC is growing at a steady pace but not enough to pose a serious or significant threat to brick and mortar institutions.

That doesn’t mean that these free courses will soon be de-funded or that they will go away, this simply shows that it needs more time to cultivate and to figure out its appeal.

MOOC may still represent a new wave of how students will digest education in the future. Free may be good but quality has to be attached to it. As long as institutions that offer MOOC continue to give valued information through these courses, our future workforce and economy may be better because of it.

Read all of our posts about EdTech and Innovation by clicking here.

  • no reactions
0
Share
Matthew Lynch published in EdTech & Innovation

Is Boston poised to be the ed-tech capital?

With its combination of Ivy League and prestigious tech schools, and some of the best K-12 systems in the country, Massachusetts is poised to be a leader in the much-anticipated educational-tech explosion that is expected in the next few years. An article in the Boston Globe highlights many of the reasons this area of the country is in a position to really make an impact on educational technology and its innovation.

So what will educational technology really look like as it evolves? In the case of Boston, traditional materials providers like Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and McGraw-Hill with a strong presence in the area will need to step up their own technology games if they want to stay in the conversation. The bright minds and innovators at the colleges and universities in the area will need to find ways to blend technological advances with important student privacy issues, without overstepping any legal confines. The technology targeted at children, after all, is much different from that targeted at adults and brings with it a whole host of privacy and legal issues.

Despite the potential pitfalls, I’m happy to see that educational tech is getting so much attention lately and that innovators are stepping up to the plate to improve K-12 and college classroom experiences. I expect great things out of the Boston area — perhaps it will become the Silicon Valley of education tech? — and hope that the strides made there impact the entire industry in the rest of the country.

What ed-tech advances would you like to see in the next 5 years? The next 10?

Read all of our posts about EdTech and Innovation by clicking here. 

  • no reactions
0
Share
Matthew Lynch published in Diversity, Equity, Parental Involvement, Policy & Reform

Cops in Washington believe that preschool leads to crime prevention

According tdn.com, police officers in Cowlitz County in Washington believe that by expanding preschool may help reduce or prevent crime.

Cops were visiting schools in the county to talk to students and to help push state lawmakers to “add 1,000 additional slots to the state-funded Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program.”

“A long-range study of Michigan’s Perry Preschool found that at-risk children who did not participate in a high-quality program were five times more likely to be chronic offenders by the age of 27 than those who did not attend. Another Chicago study found at-risk kids were 70 percent more likely to be arrested for a violent crime by the age of 18 if they missed out on quality preschool.”

If so, and if implemented in Washington, a move of this nature will eventually cut costs as it is much cheaper to educate kids than it is to jail an adult.

Additional statistics from the state show that “[t]here are 235 children enrolled in the state-funded Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, plus an additional 300 clients in the federally funded Early Head Start serves pregnant moms and their kids up to 3 years old.”

That’s a lot of students, and if the program is extended to allow for more kids, it will certainly serve as a life changing event for many of the state’s low-income children.

  • no reactions
0
Share
Matthew Lynch published in Policy & Reform

U.S. graduation rates at record high

The U.S Department of Education announced this week that the high school graduation rate reached another record high of 82 percent in the 2013-14 year, according to the Huffington Post.

The announcement follows October’s release of preliminary data by the Education Department that shows a decreasing gap in graduation rates between black and white and black and Hispanic students. The data shows that graduation rates climbed for the country as a whole.

The past four consecutive years have shown a continual increase in the U.S. high school graduate rate after the states and districts began using a new metric to measure this number in 2010.

The achievement gap in graduation rates between black and white and white and Hispanic students continues to steadily diminish. The 2010-11 school year there was a 17-point percentage gap in graduation rates between black and white students. The number fell to 14.8 by 2013-14.

New data shows that graduation rates have risen for the past few years for subgroups like low-income students, English language learners and students with disabilities.

Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education said, “America’s students have achieved another record milestone by improving gradation rates for a fourth year. The hard work of teachers, administrators, students, and their families has made the gains possible and as a result many more students will have a better chance of going to college, getting a good job, owning their own home, and supporting a family. We can take pride as a nation in knowing that we’re seeing promising gains, including for students of color.”

Click here to read all our posts concerning the Achievement Gap.

  • no reactions
0
Share
Matthew Lynch published in Equity, Policy & Reform

Mississippi faces steep education cuts

K-12 education in Mississippi is under fire as the state faces budget cuts.

According to Clarionledger.com, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant plans to cut the state’s budget by 1.5 percent.

The cuts will result in a loss of $4 million for K-12. The silver lining is that the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, a program that determines the minimum needed for students to thrive based on the demographics of their school, is exempt from the cuts.

To pare it down further, the Schools for the Blind and Deaf stand to lose a total of $167,362 and Vocation and technical education $1,216,965.

That’s not a short loss.

Because it’s still early in the process, it is unclear if layoffs will be a part of the process. Last year when faced with budget issues, the state cut 35 positions.

Education Superintendent Carey Wright is trying to ensure that the reforms that have been put into place, such as literacy programs and the expansion of early childhood options, remain and aren’t slashed.

And Mississippi isn’t exactly climbing the walls of success. The state consistently ranks at the bottom (or dead last) in academic success and outlook for its K-12 students. When it comes to things like AP exams, just “5 percent of Mississippi students scored a 3 or higher on the exams compared to 21.6 nationally.”

It is still a slight wonder why states choose to cut money from education instead of finding relief in other areas. Mississippi in particular has no room for alleviation when it comes to education. Instead of taking money away from an educational system that desperately needs it, Mississippi should be finding ways to increase funding for K-12 schools, and publicly funded higher education. The cycle of poverty in the state won’t ever be broken if money continues to be pulled from where it is desperately needed: education.

  • no reactions
0
Share
Matthew Lynch published in EdTech & Innovation

Is an online education really that cheap?

According to U.S. News and World Report, online higher education options aren’t necessarily cheaper than the traditional brick-and-mortar schools.

The report attempts to “debunk” the myths surrounding the theory that online education may be a cheaper option for some students.

According to usnews.com, tuition costs for online courses, or degrees in some cases, are more expensive due technology and faculty costs.

“Even if tuition for an online program looks appealingly low, students should be sure to look into whether they will be paying any additional fees, says Vickie Cook, director of the Center for Online Learning, Research and Service at the University of Illinois—Springfield.”

Depending on the type of school the student chooses, the cost of attending varies. Selecting a private higher education institution that offers online programs will certainly trend higher than a public university with controlled costs.

It’s also worth mentioning that many for-profit schools offer online programs. The costs associated with these programs and schools will sometimes rival that of some of the country’s best schools.

The important of researching the type of school a student wants to attend and what costs may come with attaining one’s degree will be paramount.

The U.S. News and World Report’s article also suggests that students qualify for student loans and Pell Grants even for an online education; a myth that needs to be busted.

Read all of our posts about EdTech and Innovation by clicking here. 

  • no reactions
0
Share
Matthew Lynch published in Policy & Reform, Secondary Education

Solving the special education teacher deficit

Across the nation schools are trying to locate and hire qualified special education teachers. The open positions are abundant and many teachers are not equipped to handle the challenges this difficult job presents. Schools often settle for inexperienced or under qualified candidates who may not last even a year or two.

The Lee Pesky Learning Center, in conjunction with Boise State University, believes that adequate teacher preparation can make all the difference. This nonprofit organization is working to overcome the teacher shortage by preparing individuals for the unique demands and challenges of working with special needs students.

The Pesky Center in Boise provides one-on-one instruction for special needs students after school hours, studying with an “education specialist.” Students of all ages come to work on anything from multiplication to reading comprehension with a mentor. Attention is placed on instructional components, how the student is responding and if goals are being achieved.

Founded in 1997, The Pesky Center was established to help students with learning disabilities. At the moment, the most pressing issue is locating and developing quality special education instructors. The center is helping to address this teacher shortage with a new training program. Students working toward a master’s in teaching at Boise State can apply to spend one year at the center as an instructor, while taking classes. The training and classes of this Special Education Collaborative program are covered by a scholarship from the founders of the center, Alan and Wendy Pesky.

Over the coming years, the hope is to grow the program and train even more teachers on the intricacies of working with special needs students. Professional development opportunities and training programs such as this will only help to tackle the special education teacher shortage by equipping educators with the skills necessary to be successful in their profession long-term.

  • no reactions
0
Share