Carney's Commentary

StraightA’s (Alliance for Excellent Education)
Vol.5, No.5, March 14, 2005

p.3, House and Senate Ed Committees Approve Reauthorization of Vocational Ed Law.
Sec. Spellings proposes re-organization of the USDE: The Office of Deputy Secretary will focus on K-12, NCLB, and the new High School Initiative, and IDEA. All post secondary programs, student aid, higher ed and adult ed policy will fall under the Under Secretary. Proposal of two new offices would be the Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development and then the Office of Communications and Outreach that would include present program offices under assistant secretaries.

p.4, USDE now accepting applications for GEAR UP grants. www.ed.gov/programs/gearup/applicant.html

p.5, Denver Commission on Secondary School Reform Report has 3 guiding principles emphasize academic rigor, educational relevance, and nurturing relationships. Complete report is at www.dpsk12.org/pdf/secondary_reform.pdf

p.7, Call for presenters re: Literacy Interventions for Continuing Breakfast Series.
Info at: www.all4ed.org/publications/ReadingNext/index.html Apply by Apr. 15

Education Week
March 9, 2005 (Vol.24, No.26)

Texas stands behind own testing rule which places the state in odds with the NCLB policy. Students in 1/3 of the nation’s schools took distance Ed courses in the 2002-03 school year indicating a growing popularity.

Forty-nine states now include economics in their academic standards!