Ah the sweet sounds of spring, birds chirping, lawns being mowed, draft picks being called out in the NFL draft. All is well with the universe.
I hear someone was married this week – lots of horses and gowns and I’m sure Elton John was involved.
While we’re on news of the weird (sorry royal wedding enthusiasts, but that was just weird), the POTUS does an impromptu presser to show off the long form of his birth certificate? Two and a half years into his presidency and about a month after announcing his re-election campaign, this is NEWS? Where is the birth certificate for Donald Trump’s hair? Anybody got a call into the Hair Club for Men looking for indispitutable truth and light on that little chestnut? (Three wars, a recession, untold natural disasters, reeling impact of the oil spills in the Gulf just coming to light and we’re looking over the President’s birth certificate…. Good grief.)
Isn’t that Special? The first week of Washington’s “special legislative session” was not much to write home about. Some compromises were sent back and forth, the Senate took action on a few things, but really, not much ground got covered. Looks like some may be taking the 30 day limit seriously. There’s no hard news on the way forward, but there is growing concern that the budget may be balanced on the backs of school districts and kids. The Senate budget proposal includes an across the board 3% cut –which could result in days being eliminated from districts’ school years, reduction in the teaching force, elimination of some programs and a lot of churn for districts to work through. Superintendent Dorn and Governor Gregoire have both opposed the Senate proposal, but at this point, they are still negotiation fodder.
This week, the Governor did sign a few education bills, including HB1521 put forward by Representative Marcie Maxwell, which recognizes innovative schools, and Representative Tina Orwell’s HB 1524, which recognizes the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme as it would the traditional high school requirements, provided all state assessments were passed. There are 16 high schools in Washington that offer this program.
Good News Washington: First and foremost, please go vote, and quickly, for Bridgeport high to win the POTUS Commencement Challenge. I’ve written about this twice previously, and our website has posted it, and now, the Seattle Times gets into the act. Go VOTE!
The Aspen Institute ranked its top 120 Community Colleges and four Washington CC’s made the list! Congratulations to Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom, Spokane Falls Community College, Spokane Community College and Walla Wall Community College! All four are eligible to compete for one million dollars in prizes through The Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. These schools were chosen for high standards for learning, college completion without delay, and community colleges as training grounds for jobs that pay competitive wages. Best of luck to Washington’s finest.
Higher Ed/Hire Ed: We all know that the this economy is taking a serious toll on the higher education budgets nationwide, which translates into higher tuition. What I didn’t know is that the student loans surpassed credit cards as the nation’s single largest source of debt. Increases to tuition since 1978 are 650 points over inflation, while housing prices increased only 50 points over. Some think we have a higher education bubble beyond that bursting point.
Meanwhile in Massachusetts, the Umass system is doing its part to reduce student debt, sweetening the pot for transfer students. This fall, Community College students with a 2.5 and above will given preference for courses and housing as well as other perks. Students carrying a 3.0 have tuition waived. The incentives are intended to increase the number of four year college graduates from the state system as well as improve graduation rates at UMass Amherst.
Unfortunately, the Feds are NOT doing their part to support college completion for the nation’s low income college goers. Current budget proposals would cut the program by 62%. One might say “gut” the program at that rate. LEV will be sending more information about this dangerous budget play next week. Stay tuned.
There is no Ed.
Here, There, Everywhere: Maria Goodloe Johnson, most recently Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools is a finalist for a similar job in Newark. Online learning isn’t for everyone and can catch some students by surprise in its rigor. But can be very good for students moving at a pace different than that of their seat mate and those who learn best through technology. For a round up of state legislative happenings, check out the PIE Network’s blog here.
Enjoy your weekend and crumpets and ale and the rest of the NFL Draft. See you next week.
