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APRIL 2011 - RECAP
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APRIL 2011 - RECAP
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“We have enough people who tell it like it is – now we could use a few who tell it like it can be.” –Robert Orben
Dear friend of ABEC,
Innovation, change, create, and recreate – no matter how you frame it or how you say it, the need to recreate how we do our work is upon us. I’d like to think it’s not simply the message of “do more with less” but a genuine call to all of us – educators, business partners, parents and community members – to focus on student achievement and work together to find and implement strategies to help all children be successful.
This message of “innovation” was the very heart of the Education Innovation Summit recently held at ASU’s SkySong – which brought together venture capital, charter schools, and creators of new technology. By special request from the U.S. Department of Education, ABEC convened a special meeting for Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement, Jim Shelton, who spoke with ABEC members and friends on behalf of the White House Business Council. We want you to hear more about and be part of the discussion on rethinking how we do our work. If you’ve not already registered for our annual conference, do it now. And see below for some great pre-reading to get you ready to envision a new future.
Also, congratulations to Mark Masterson who heads up the IT department at the Department of Education! ABEC has been monitoring the development of the SAIS system, IDEAL and the capacity to do longitudinal data collection and analysis since the early days of ABEC. Mark came on board in January to reorganize the work of the Department. We had been working with the IT Department and ACT in a data sharing agreement before he came on the scene and we all had concerns about being able to complete the work. In fact, ACT reports that Mark’s team was able to turn around the data match in record time – faster than any other state with which they’d worked. Not only that, his team accomplished the 100-day count earlier than usual, getting that important information to the districts upon which to build their budgets. Thanks to Mark, his team and Superintendent Huppenthal!
IMPORTANT: HB2002 was signed into law by the Governor. This bill prohibits a school district from spending monies for membership in an association that attempts to influence the outcome of an election. The law will become effective on July 19, 2011. This does NOT prohibit school districts from being members of ABEC. ABEC never is involved with endorsing candidates – and rarely got involved with ballot propositions. We will continue discussing difficult issues in education, seeking common ground out of those discussions, and sharing that common message and insights with others – without participation in ballot propositions at this time. We will, however, examine the new law and ABEC’s operation with public policy.
Did I mention you should register for the ABEC Annual Conference?
Sincerely,
Susan Carlson
ABEC executive director
“Change is here to stay, and the rate of change is accelerating. It’s time to throw away those five-year plans. Those who survive and prosper will be those who endlessly innovate and adapt.” – Don Ward
 We asked two ABEC members to respond to the following question:
"How is the Yuma area demonstrating connections between economic development and education?"
THE EDUCATION VIEWPOINT - Tom Tyree, Yuma County Superintendent of Schools
It has been said that an effective school system does not support students in isolation of family and community. While I believe that the education community has long recognized the importance of family in supporting the education of our children, it has been more recently that we have begun to understand how important our business community is in our efforts. Education needs the input, support and partnership of the business community and a strong educational system is essential to the development of a robust business base in Yuma County.
Yuma County has become a model for how that partnership should work. While we certainly do not have sole proprietorship of the model, I truly believe that there is a genuine appreciation of how important we are to each other and why we have a strong mutual interest to work together.
If, there was ever a good example of this, it would be in our current efforts to establish a Joint Technical Education District (JTED) in our county. Through discussions with our business community a need was determined to exist to provide a better trained and educated work force in Yuma County. A JTED was the solution. Once that happened, our community went into action. Our Southwest Arizona Future Forums Committee facilitated a plenary session to present the idea to a receptive and diverse audience. A steering committee comprised of business and education leaders was created to put the pieces together. Our Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation and Chamber provided forums to discuss our need and why a JTED was a solution. Our efforts continue and we hope that it will lead to a successful outcome in the election that will be necessary to accomplish our goal of creating a JTED.
My point in describing this effort is that this partnership did not come together because of our efforts to create a JTED, but rather our partnership was already in place and ready to support something that was educationally in our children’s best interest and the interests of our community. This does not happen by accident. It happens through a culture of collaboration, communication and recognizing how vital we are to each other.
THE BUSINESS VIEWPOINT - Julie Engel, President/CEO, Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation
Yuma has developed several venues that incorporate Economic Development/Business Retention and Education. In 2006 our local manufacturers participated in a Business Retention survey. Their number one concern was the lack of technical skills in the existing labor force. Greater Yuma EDC partnered with the manufacturers, Arizona Western College and Yuma Private Industry Council to form a specialized training curriculum that was actually co-authored by industry leaders and Arizona Western Professors. The results of this endeavor have exceeded everyone’s expectations and an evolutionary process ensued. The program is now a nationally accredited program through the NCCER (The National Center for Construction Education and Research). Over 180 adults have graduated this course.
A similar program called the AWC Manufacturing Technology Program was integrated into one of the local high schools in 2009/10. The program was put together with funds from Yuma Private Industry Council and the curriculum was developed by the Yuma Manufacturers Association and the Arizona Western College Tech Program. Thirty students graduated from the program in 2010. The program is ongoing and this year another 30 high school students will be graduating from the program.
General Motors Corporation of Yuma partnered with 25 local high school students to build a robot and compete in the Arizona Regional FIRST Robotic Competition. These students along with their Five GM mentors and Rakesh Pangasa of Arizona Western College designed, built and programmed their robot in six weeks. Another key trait that was heavily focused upon during this program was Gracious Professionalism. Competition is fierce but respect and kindness are paramount. They are developing our future industry leaders.
The various industries in the region continue to participate in the Lessons2Life (formerly PASS) program every summer. Teachers are invited to tour local industries to garner relevance that can be integrated into their daily curriculum tied to industry needs. The program continues to attract 30 plus businesses every year. Industries involved are health care, military, manufacturing, culinary, hospitality, retail and agriculture.
EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY - TOOLS FOR INNOVATION  ASU recently hosted two education technology conferences, Microcomputers in Education Conference 2011 (MEC2011) and the Education Innovation Summit 2011.
The MEC2011 Conference offered insights, connections, and resources, which included:
The Education Innovation Summit 2011 keynote speakers included: Joel Klein, executive vice president of the News Corporation and former chancellor of the New York City School System; Adrian Fenty, former mayor of Washington, D.C.; and Dr. Michael Crow, president of ASU. [NOTE: Click on name to watch a video of their talk]. A summary of the high points of the Summit as well as the “Best in Class" venture companies that were recognized can be found at http://edinnovation.asu.edu/events/2011-summit-recap/. Congratulations, ASU, on hosting two such exciting learning opportunities!
Thomas W. Greaves
The Technology Factor: Transform Schools and Cut Costs
Paul H. Koehler
Lessons Learned from School Reform: Let's Not Keep Making the Same Mistakes REGISTER TODAY for the conference at http://www.azbec.org/conference2011.cfm.
EDUCATION NEWS & SPECIAL REPORTS
 EDUCATION NEWS
Ethnic studies supporters overtake TUSD meeting – Arizona Daily Star, 4/27/11
The TUSD Governing Board was forced to cancel its meeting Tuesday night after ethnic studies supporters stormed the meeting room and chained themselves to chairs. MORE>
High school to higher ed – Arizona Daily Wildcat, 4/21/11
The UA will expand its programs that introduce students to college-level science and engineering while still in high school for next year. MORE>
ASU launches school for gifted middle-school students – ASU News, 4/20/11
Members of the first class of a new school designed to meet the unique educational, social and emotional needs of gifted middle-school students gathered April 15 at ASU’s West campus. They were joined by parents, community members and ASU officials to launch the Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy, which will open in August. MORE>
A Four-Day School Week for Globe? – Copper Country News, 4/20/11
Globe Schools are considering a four-day academic week. A public meeting is scheduled for tonight, Wednesday, April 20, at 5:30 p.m. MORE>
Schools concerned about state funding – Eastern Arizona Courier, 4/20/11
Local school districts are not only looking at future years with worry, the administrations are becoming concerned about how to pay teachers and staff this and next year. The Thatcher School District’s cash account could be depleted within a year if the state’s school funding remains at the current level. MORE>
Arizona schools allowed flex in spending – azcentral.com, 4/20/11
Instead of a field trip to the Phoenix Zoo, Arizona schools will soon be able to buy textbooks, whiteboard markers and other supplies with taxpayer donations. Under a law passed Tuesday and signed by Gov. Jan Brewer, any remaining tax-credit donations from last year and previous years may be used to backfill cuts made by state lawmakers to classroom budgets. MORE>
As enrollments drop across Arizona, schools disappear – azcentral.com, 4/17/11
McKemy Middle School, south of Arizona State University, is a cherished fixture not only in those families' lives, but also in the neighborhood. The school has been around for more than 50 years. MORE>
Scottsdale schools whittle away at $8.7 million shortfall – azcentral.com, 4/16/11
The Scottsdale Unified School District will eliminate 9.4 administrative positions from the district office to help make up an $8.7 million budget shortfall. MORE>
Higley schools slash 24 positions, cut substitute pay – azcentral.com, 4/15/11
The Higley Unified School District governing board Thursday unanimously approved a list of 24 administrators, teachers and staff members whose positions will be cut to close an estimated $4.49 million shortfall in its 2011-12 budget. MORE>
Mesa Public Schools see enrollment decline during decade – azcentral.com, 4/15/11
Mesa Public Schools school-age population declined by more than 9,000 from 2000 to 2010, according to 2010 census figures recently compiled by The Arizona Republic, which may force the district into more drastic budget decisions. MORE>
Full-day kindergarten will return to all TUSD schools – The Arizona Daily Star, 4/15/11
The Tucson Unified School District has decided to move forward with funding full-day kindergarten at every school beginning this fall. MORE>
Fountain Hills wants to fine teachers who quit $1,500 – azcentral.com, 4/14/11
The Fountain Hills Unified School District governing board voted Wednesday to add language to next year's teacher contract that would allow it to fine a teacher $1,500 for quitting without board approval. MORE>
Arizona Science and Engineering Fair in the spotlight – azcentral.com, 4/13/11
Tucson High senior Kelsey Waite spent about 500 hours since June experimenting with canine kidney cells for the science project she entered into the fifth annual Arizona Science and Engineering Fair. MORE>
Watching Flowing Wells kids succeed puts school budget in perspective – The Arizona Daily Star, 4/13/11
By Nick Clement, Superintendent, Flowing Wells Unified School District There are days that I believe I have the best job in the world and last Friday was definitely one of those days. Actually, the day started with a lot less enthusiasm and a larger Starbucks than normal because I knew the budget was sitting on my desk waiting to be sliced and diced. MORE> SPECIAL REPORTS
Census Data: Educational Attainment in the United States
Parents’ Guide to Student Success
The Case for Being Bold: A New Agenda for Business in Improving STEM Education – Institute for a Competitive Workforce, 4/13/11
Double Jeopardy: How Third-Grade Reading Skills and Poverty Influence High School Graduation – Annie E. Casey Foundation (2011)
What the U.S. can learn from the world’s most successful education reform efforts – McGraw-Hill Research Foundation (pdf)
Can the U.S. learn how to improve its education outcomes by looking to the example of high-performing PISA nations like China, Finland, Japan, The Netherlands, Canada and South Korea? MORE> |
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The Arizona Business & Education Coalition (ABEC) is a 501(c)3 organization providing a balanced forum for business and education leaders to collaborate and improve K-12 education policy, with linkages to pre-kindergarten and postsecondary education. Guiding principles include: increasing public awareness about the relationship between Arizona’s future workforce and the quality of the K-12 system; actively and effectively influencing education policy; and sharing responsibility for the growth of student achievement in Arizona. For more information, visit www.azbec.org. You are receiving this e-mail because you are a member of ABEC, have signed up to receive our eNewsletter, attended an ABEC or ABEC-related event, or have made direct contact with ABEC.
Copyright 2011. Arizona Business & Education Coalition. All Rights Reserved.
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