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Leading in the NewsObama Administration Launches Campaign To Remove Junk Food From Schools.
The AP
(2/8, Jackson) reported that the Obama administration "will ask Congress to
improve childhood nutrition by ridding school vending machines of sugary snacks
and drinks and giving school lunch and breakfast to more kids. Agriculture
Secretary Tom Vilsack said the administration will seek changes when Congress
overhauls the Childhood Nutrition Act." In a speech planned for delivery on
Monday but cancelled due to snow, Vilsack "outlined changes that include a push
to jettison cookies, cakes, pastries and salty food from school vending machines
and cafeteria
lines."
The St.
Petersburg Times (2/9, Marshall) reports that a proposed federal bill
"is said to include $1 billion in extra money to pay for more of the fruits,
vegetables and whole grains that make teenagers cringe. But Republican support
is far from certain, and the American Beverage Association told the New York
Times it did not support a federal ban" on junk food in
schools.
Op-Ed: Obesity Seen As National Security Threat.
Retired U.S. Army General Johnnie E. Wilson writes in an op-ed for the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution (2/9) that child obesity "has become so serious in
this country that military leaders are viewing the epidemic as a potential
threat to our national security." Wilson adds, "Today, retired admirals and
generals are calling on Congress to support at least $1 billion per year in new
funding that will help to improve nutrition standards for meals served in
school, after school and in child care settings. We are also seeking improved
nutrition standards for all competitive foods and beverages sold on school
grounds."
Leadership and ManagementEducators In Utah District Aiming To Tailor Instruction To Students' Needs.
The Salt Lake Tribune
(2/9, Stewart) reports that "curriculum experts at the newly formed Canyons
School District" in Utah seek to implement a Response to Intervention (RTI)
"data system to track students' achievement and, with input from parents and
teachers, tailor instruction to students' individual needs." According to Mary
Ruth Coleman, "a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,"
RTI can help educators "identify children whose giftedness may have gone unseen
-- English language learners from disadvantaged families and bright kids with
learning disabilities." But, Coleman also noted that "whether it works may
largely depend on the kinds of instructional enrichment Canyons
delivers."
More Than 200 Physical, Verbal Abuse Claims Brought Against DC Teachers Last Year.
The Washington
Post (2/9, Turque) reports that in Washington, DC, "school officials
reported more than 200 allegations of students being choked, shoved, slapped,
kicked or verbally abused by teachers to impose discipline last year, according
to information compiled by D.C. police." DC schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee
has "said that she would like to move the District toward a system that makes it
easier to remove abusive teachers whose conduct doesn't rise to a criminal
standard of proof but is still unacceptable." Abuse by teachers in DC schools
is an issue that "surfaced last month when...Rhee told a business magazine that
an unspecified number of teachers laid off during October budget reductions 'had
hit children,'" the Post points
out.
Curriculum
NBC Launches Website Highlighting Science Of Winter Olympics.
The School
Library Journal (2/9, Staino) reports that NBC Learn, the "educational
arm" of television network NBC, "has launched the Learn the Science of Olympic
Winter Games Web site, which offers a free 16-part series designed to explore
the science behind the speed of a bobsled or an airlift ski jump." Using
"interviews with athletes, coaches, and scientists, the series focuses on the
math and science behind all the amazing athleticism that takes place during the
games." An NBC official said that the use of special high-speed cameras "allows
frame-by-frame illustrations of Newton's Three Laws of Motion, the Law of
Conservation of Angular Momentum, friction, drag, speed, velocity, and other
scientific
concepts."
AssessmentTennessee Officials Developing Evaluations For Teachers Of Subjects Without Standardized Tests.
The Tennessean
(2/9, Sarrio) reports that a new law in Tennessee "requires at least 50 percent
of a teacher's evaluation be based on student test scores, but....in subjects
where students don't take standardized tests," teachers are waiting to see "what
the future has in store for them." Subjects without standardized tests include
"art, band, physical education" and foreign language. The Tennessean adds that
"state officials are working" on "a new evaluation for all teachers" in order to
meet the mandate that was set up as part of the state's Race to the Top
bid.
Legislation and PolicyObama Administration Urged To Fund Programs Aimed At Closing Achievement Gap.
Council for Opportunity in Education President Arnold L. Mitchem writes in an
op-ed for the Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel (2/9), "Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and the president
himself have consistently underscored the economic consequences of failing to
close the achievement gap between the affluent and the less privileged, between
whites and minorities. Nevertheless, many question the administration's reality
base - and their political will to increase real educational opportunities for
poor and minority children." Mitchem adds, "Particularly troubling is the
administration's failure to invest new funds in existing programs such as TRIO
and GEAR UP that are key to providing college opportunity for low-income youth
and
adults."
Georgia Governor Announces Teacher Evaluation, Testing Integrity Legislation.
Maureen Downey wrote in the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution (2/8) Get Schooled blog that on Monday, Georgia
Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) announced that "education legislation has been introduced
that would increase pay for Georgia's top teachers and principals, and increase
the integrity of Georgia's testing system." Under the legislation, the State
Board of Education would have "to adopt a common, statewide evaluation tool that
takes student improvement into account in addition to peer observation of
planning and instruction when assessing teachers and leaders by July 1, 2011."
An Effectiveness Measure would be calculated using the tool, and teachers would
receive pay increases based on the calculation. In addition, HB 1121 also would
"make it unlawful for anyone to knowingly tamper with or facilitate cheating on
tests required by the State Department of
Education."
Families Cope With Beverly Hills District's Decision Not To Renew Permits For Some Out-Of-District Students.
The Los
Angeles Times (2/8, Rivera) reports that as the Beverly Hills, CA,
school district changes "the way it funds schools," Board members decided last
month that it would not "renew permits for the eighth-graders and other
elementary students" who live outside the district to attend Beverly Hills
Public schools. "Board members argued that Beverly Hills taxpayers should not
subsidize education for nonresidents." The school district will provide
"students and their families" with "counseling and other services" to cope with
the decision, officials said. Still, many "Beverly Hills students and their
parents said they have no plans yet for the fall," because they "missed a
deadline to apply for Los Angeles Unified's popular magnet school program" while
waiting for the School Board's decision on the
permits."
Editorial: Report Highlights Need To Overhaul Teaching Standards In Michigan.
The Detroit
News (2/8) editorializes, "Michigan gets a D minus grade -- which means
less than poor -- when it comes to preparing teachers for classroom performance,
according to a new report" by the National Council on Teacher Quality.
According to the Detroit News, "Despite recent improvements, Michigan needs to
do more to produce more excellent teachers. ... The state Legislature needs to
build on its recent Race to the Top legislation and implement new polices to
improve procedures for encouraging good teachers" and firing low-performing
teachers."
Nutrition
Vermont Seen As A Leader On Efforts To Introduce Healthier Food In School Cafeterias.
The AP
(2/8, Rathke) reported that Sharon (VT) Elementary School "is part of the
National Farm to School Network, aimed at getting healthier meals into school
cafeterias, teaching kids about agriculture and nutrition and supporting local
farmers. About 40 states have farm-to-school programs, but Vermont is a leader
in incorporating all three missions into its programs." Also, Vermont "may be a
step ahead of other states because a nonprofit partnership called Vermont FEED
had already been working to get local foods into
schools."
Ohio Districts Will Lose Some School Breakfast Program Matching Funds.
The Mansfield
(OH) News Journal (2/9, Bradley) reports, "Through 2011, [Ohio] school
districts participating in the National School Breakfast Program are losing
reimbursements because more matching funds are going to the National School
Lunch Program." According to "Department of Education Spokesman Scott Blake
said the school breakfast program isn't as widespread as the lunch program, so
schools generally get smaller state and federal breakfast reimbursements."
Still, Mansfield City Schools food services director, Jane Fortman, is concerned
about the decrease in state aid. Said Fortman, "We are $15,000 short of what
our district got in 2008-09. ... Last year, we were supposed to get three
$5,000 payments and only got one $5,000
payment."
Also in the NewsEditorial: Fining Maryland County's Schools Will Penalize Students Unfairly.
The Washington
Post (2/8) editorialized, "Maryland education officials maintain that
Montgomery County didn't give its schools enough money this year. Its solution
-- believe it or not -- is to slap a $23.4 million fine on the very schools that
they say are underfunded." Ultimately, lawmakers "should act so that Montgomery
schools and students aren't
penalized."
Students Collaborate With Non-Profit To Collect Soap For Haiti.
Illinois' Valley
Free Press (2/9, Behrends) reports that "students of the Family and
Consumer Science Club and student council, with the aid of council advisor Amy
Neal, have connected with Clean the World to collect soap for the Haitians
affected by the January earthquake." Clean the World is a non-profit "that
recycles soap, shampoo and lotion discarded by hotels, and distributes the
recycled products worldwide to people who need it to prevent the spread of
disease." Neal said of her students, "They told the rest of the school, even
though we're a small school, we can do something big if everyone would just
bring one bar of soap." The article notes, "On the first day alone, students
donated 150 bars of
soap."
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Before the Bell is a digest of the most important news selected from thousands of sources by the editors of Custom Briefings. The National Association of Elementary School Principals does not receive any revenue from the advertising herein. The presence of such advertising does not endorse, or imply endorsement of, any products or services by the National Association of Elementary School Principals. This complimentary copy of Before the Bell was sent to phines@riasp.org as part of your NAESP membership. View Custom Briefings' privacy policy. Neither Custom Briefings nor NAESP is liable for the use of or reliance on any information contained in this briefing. For information about other member benefits, visit www.naesp.org or contact us at naesp@naesp.org. National Association of Elementary School Principals | 1615 Duke Street | Alexandria, VA 22314 Copyright © 2010 by Custom Briefings | 11190 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 130 | Reston, VA 20191 |
