Sacramento Head Start Alumni Association

Educational Partnerships and Family Involvement July 23, 2003

Jul 27, 2003

NEWS


DISTANCE EDUCATION CONTINUES APACE AT POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS. Enrollment in distance education courses has nearly doubled since 1995, with more than half of the nation's two- and four-year degree-granting institutions offering distance education courses in the 2000-2001 academic year, according to a new report from ED's National Center for Education Statistics. www.ed.gov/PressReleases/07-2003/07182003.html


NEW INITIATIVES TO CELEBRATE TEACHERS. Secretary Paige announced a national commitment to celebrate teachers and the teaching profession with a series of initiatives designed to assist states and educators in meeting the highly qualified teacher requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. www.ed.gov/PressReleases/07-2003/07152003.html


PAIGE MARKS 18-MONTH ANNIVERSARY OF NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT WITH UPDATE TO CONGRESS. Secretary Paige gave Congress an 18-month update on the implementation of the historic No Child Left Behind Act. www.ed.gov/PressReleases/07-2003/07082003a.html



WHAT WORKS

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AWARDS $1.8 MILLION IN GRANTS TO MILKEN FAMILY FOUNDATION?’S TEACHER ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM. Deputy Under Secretary of Education for Innovation and Improvement Nina S. Rees presented a $1.8 million grant to the Milken Family Foundation to expand its Teacher Advancement Program. www.ed.gov/PressReleases/07-2003/07172003.html



HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT FOR HISPANIC AMERICANS.

The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans and leading Hispanic organizations, corporate leaders, and private entities have formed a partnership to improve education for Hispanics in the U.S. www.ed.gov/PressReleases/07-2003/07092003.html



?“THE ACHIEVER?” NEWSLETTER. Read the latest on No Child Left Behind in The Achiever newsletter, published by the Office of Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs. www.nochildleftbehind.gov/Newsletter/index.html


FUNDING


$2.4 MILLION GRANT COMPETITION ANNOUNCED FOR EXPANDED SPECIAL EDUCATION REGIONAL PARENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTERS. ED announced plans to expand from four to six the number of special education regional parent technical assistance centers. The aim is to enhance the flow of information to parents of students with disabilities and to forge stronger relationships between parents and professionals. www.ed.gov/PressReleases/07-2003/07092003a.html



GRANTS TO COLLEGES TO REDUCE HIGH-RISK DRINKING AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOR.

Secretary Paige announced the award of 13 grants totaling nearly $2 million to help colleges and universities prevent high-risk (binge) drinking and violent behavior among college students. http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/07-2003/07072003.html





TIPS FOR PARENTS: TEN FACTS EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW ABOUT NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND

?· No Child Left Behind gives schools more money. In fact, President Bush is spending more money than ever before on the education of America?’s children.

?· No Child Left Behind holds schools accountable for results. President Bush believes in the bright potential of your child, and schools are responsible for making sure your child is learning.

?· No Child Left Behind gives states and cities more control and more flexibility to use resources where they are needed most. Principals and administrators will spend less time filling out forms and more time helping your child learn.

?· No Child Left Behind gives parents report cards so they can see which schools are succeeding and why. With this information, parents, community leaders, teachers, principals and elected leaders can improve schools.

?· No Child Left Behind focuses on teaching methods that have been proven to work. There will be no more experimenting on children with educational fads.

?· No Child Left Behind provides funding to help teachers learn to be better teachers.

?· No Child Left Behind provides more than $1 billion to help children learn to read. For information on how you can help your child learn to read, call 1-877-433-7827 toll-free to order a free copy of Reading Tips for Parents.

?· No Child Left Behind may let you transfer your child to a better public school if the state says the school your child attends needs to improve. Contact your local school district for more information.

?· No Child Left Behind may provide your child with free tutoring if the state says his or her school needs to improve and your child is eligible. Contact your local school district for more information.

?· No Child Left Behind requires states to test your child every year in grades three through eight in reading and math. Your child will also be tested at least once in high school. The tests will help you, your child and your child?’s teachers know how well your child is learning and when he or she needs extra help.



*Taken from Ten Facts Every Parent Should Know About the No Child Left Behind Act. To view other publications for parents and caregivers, visit www.ed.gov/offices/OIIA/pfie.



FOR MORE INFORMATION


To contact the Educational Partnerships and Family Involvement Unit, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, call (202) 401-0056. To be added or removed from the distribution list, visit www.ed.gov/offices/OIIA/partner_listserv.html or mail to Linda.Cuffey@ed.gov.