Sacramento Head Start Alumni Association

Educational Partnerships and Family Involvement July 9, 2003

Jul 16, 2003

Educational Partnerships and Family Involvement
July 9, 2003



NEWS


WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES. On Tuesday, July 29, the White House and the Departments of Justice, Agriculture, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Education and the Agency for International Development will host a Conference in Minneapolis, MN, to help faith-based and community organizations learn more about President Bush's Faith-Based and Community Initiative. The Conference is free, but pre-registration is required. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Visit www.fbci.gov to register online.



PRESIDENT BUSH, SECRETARY PAIGE TOUT SCHOOL CHOICE IN NATION?’S CAPITAL.

President Bush and Secretary Paige focus on expanding options for parents, highlight new $15 million program for children in the District of Columbia. The president?’s complete remarks are available online at: www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/07/20030701-3.html.



WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE ON HBCUs HOLDS FIRST ANNUAL NATIONAL BUSINESS SUMMIT. Representatives from major business and government agencies concluded a four-day summit at which they discussed strategies and opportunities for strengthening business programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/06-2003/06242003a.html





WHAT WORKS



COLLEGE AND CAREER TRANSITIONS INITIATIVES NAMES 15 SITE PARTNERSHIPS. The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) and the League for Innovation in the Community College announced the first 15 partnerships for the College and Career Transitions Initiative, a program designed to ease student transitions between high schools and postsecondary education and to improve academic performance at both levels. http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/06-2003/06132003.html



STEERING COMMITTEE FORMED TO EXPLORE NEW DIRECTIONS FOR DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION RESEARCH. The U.S. Education Department announced the appointment of a steering committee to assist the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) in developing a plan for disability and rehabilitation research for the next five years. http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/06-2003/06122003.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


OFFICE OF SAFE AND DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS?—FOUNDATIONS FOR LEARNING GRANTS; NOTICE INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR NEW AWARDS FOR FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2003. This program supports projects to help eligible children become ready for school. To find out more, visit http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2003-2/062603b.html



HELPING YOUR CHILD WITH TEST-TAKING
You can be a great help to your child if you will observe these do's and don'ts about tests and testing:

?· Do talk to your child about testing. It's helpful for children to understand why schools give tests and to know the different kinds of tests they will take.

?· Tell your child that occasionally, he will take "standardized" tests. Explain that these tests use the same standards to measure student performance across the state or even across the country. Every student takes the same test according to the same rules. This makes it possible to measure each student's performance against that of others.

?· Do encourage your child. Praise her for the things that she does well. If your child feels good about herself, she will do her best on a test. Children who are afraid of failing are more likely to become anxious when taking tests and more likely to make mistakes.

?· Do meet with your child's teacher as often as possible to discuss his progress. Ask the teacher to suggest activities for you and your child to do at home to help prepare for tests and to improve your child's understanding of schoolwork.

?· Do make sure that your child attends school regularly. Remember, tests reflect children's overall achievement. The more effort and energy your child puts into learning, the more likely it is that he will do well on tests.

?· Do provide a quiet, comfortable place for studying at home and make sure that your child is well rested on school days and especially on the day of a test. Children who are tired are less able to pay attention in class or to handle the demands of a test.

?· Do provide books and magazines for your child to read at home. By reading new materials, a child will learn new words that might appear on a test. Ask your child's teacher for lists of books for outside reading or get suggestions from your local library.

?· Don't get upset because of a single test score. Many things can influence how your child does on a test. She might not have felt well on test day or she might have been too nervous to concentrate. She might have had an argument with a friend before the test or she might have been late to school because the school bus got caught in traffic. Remember, one test is simply one test.

* Taken from Helping Your Child Succeed in School. For the full document, visit http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Succeed/part9.html. To view all of the booklets in the Helping Your Child series, please visit http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/hyc.html. For 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.