K-12 Education
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from public policy organizations influencing the debate on education policy.
Featured Stories
Milwaukee Public Schools Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for GE Innovation Labs
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, Aug. 3 -- The Milwaukee Public Schools have issued the following news release:
Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) and the GE Foundation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the in-person opening of six digital fabrication labs within the district. The ceremony was held Monday morning at Andrew S. Douglas Middle School. These labs are meant to help inspire and prepare MPS students for a STEM-driven and innovative future.
The GE Innovation Labs are a part of the final phase of the GE Foundation's 2011 grant to MPS. These labs will serve as a place for MPS students to learn,
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MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, Aug. 3 -- The Milwaukee Public Schools have issued the following news release:
Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) and the GE Foundation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the in-person opening of six digital fabrication labs within the district. The ceremony was held Monday morning at Andrew S. Douglas Middle School. These labs are meant to help inspire and prepare MPS students for a STEM-driven and innovative future.
The GE Innovation Labs are a part of the final phase of the GE Foundation's 2011 grant to MPS. These labs will serve as a place for MPS students to learn,create, play and invent utilizing problem-solving skills, teamwork, and tools for authentic problems. Local businesses will be invited to share some of their product challenges for students to solve.
"We are proud our partnership with the G.E. Foundation has culminated with this resource to provide our students with real-world STEM experience," MPS Superintendent Dr. Keith P. Posley said. "As we prepare for a full return to in-person learning, these labs will assist our continued commitment to accelerate student achievement and cultivate leadership among our young people."
The GE Innovation Labs have been placed in six MPS middle schools: Andrew S. Douglas, Wedgewood Park International, Audubon Technology and Communication, Hayes Bilingual, George Washington Carver Academy, and Rufus King International Middle School.
"Our goal is to spark interest and excitement in STEM careers, and more importantly, help students become adaptive problem solvers for the jobs of the future," GE Foundation Executive Director David Barash said. "We are proud to work with MPS and to bring GE Innovation Labs as a lasting legacy of our partnership together."
"This commitment by the GE Foundation and Milwaukee Public Schools provides extraordinary opportunities for students across the region to engage with emergent technology while they develop the professional skills, competencies, and technical fluency that are in increasingly high demand across every industry sector," said Michael Stone, founding partner at devX.
The total cost of the $1.8 million labs, including educator training and supplies for each lab, is being funded by the GE Foundation's $20 million grant to the district. Health and safety measures have also been integrated into the labs. Each lab is at least 1,000 square feet and equipped with a laser cutter, vinyl cutter, multiple 3D printers, CNC router, graphic design software, soldering station, multiple types of saws, and sanders.
Montgomery County Public Schools: Board of Education Receives Update on Fall Reopening
ROCKVILLE, Maryland, Aug. 2 -- Montgomery County Public Schools issued the following news release:
The Montgomery County Board of Education (Board) conducted a hybrid (virtual and in-person) business meeting on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. During the meeting, the Board received an update on fall reopening; took action on two charter school applications; made several administrative appointments; and took action on previous new business items. The agenda for the meeting, with links to related materials, can be viewed on the Board of Education website.
Watch the recording of the July 27, 2021, meeting.
Fall
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ROCKVILLE, Maryland, Aug. 2 -- Montgomery County Public Schools issued the following news release:
The Montgomery County Board of Education (Board) conducted a hybrid (virtual and in-person) business meeting on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. During the meeting, the Board received an update on fall reopening; took action on two charter school applications; made several administrative appointments; and took action on previous new business items. The agenda for the meeting, with links to related materials, can be viewed on the Board of Education website.
Watch the recording of the July 27, 2021, meeting.
FallPreview: Opening Schools with Innovative Calendar
The Board received an update and held a discussion on the reopening of schools. All schools will return to their pre-COVID schedules, including bell times, bus schedules, number and length of class periods per day, lunch and recess. All Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) students, staff, and visitors will be required to wear face coverings in school buildings this fall, regardless of vaccination status. This decision aligns with recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as local health officials. COVID-19 cases are on the rise across the nation and in Montgomery County, and students under 12 do not have access to vaccines. Masking requirements will be reviewed regularly and are subject to change as the district reviews guidance from federal, state, and local health officials.
Read the Community Update: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2021-2022/Community-Update-20210728.html
Watch this video for a preview of what to expect for the fall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_VUKuCxV34
View the PowerPoint Presentation: https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/C5CRVR6C9B1A/$file/Fall%20Preview%20Open%20Schls%20Innovative%20Calendar%20210727%20PPT.pdf
Charter School Applications
The Board received an update from MCPS staff and took final action on two applications for charter schools in Montgomery County--the Washington-McLaughlin Charter School for Boys, Inc. and the Washington-McLaughlin Charter School for Girls Inc. and the M.E.C.C.A. Business Learning Institute Charter School.
On June 29, 2021, the Board received a presentation and recommendation regarding the strengths and areas of concern for The Washington-McLaughlin Charter School applications.
Interim Superintendent, Dr. Monifa B. McKnight, did not recommend Board approval of the application for The Washington-McLaughlin Charter School for Boys, Inc. and The Washington-McLaughlin Charter School for Girls Inc., because the charter school application did not demonstrate the following:
* clear understanding of the federal requirements to operate a single-sex school;
* justification for the proposed-single sex structure, including distinct learning strategies for male and female students;
* plan for the preparation of the school site;
* plan for maintenance and operations;
* viable financial plan; and
* viable plan for enrollment or demonstrated community interest.
The Board unanimously voted to deny the application.
Read the Adopted Resolution: https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/C5CUGU7C0AD3/$file/ADOPTED%20Washington-McLaughlin%20Charter%20School%20210727.pdf
On June 29, 2021, the Board of Education discussed the M.E.C.C.A. Business Learning Institute's (MBLI) public charter school application. MBLI seeks to open a public charter school in the 2022-2023 school year. The school would be a business academy for middle and high school students with the vision to prepare students to lead, manage, and competently conduct business in a rapidly-changing society by teaching them essential skills and a respect for core values of integrity, accountability, diversity, courage, respect, and community. At the June 29 Board business meeting, staff presented an overview of MBLI's strengths and weaknesses as identified by the Charter School Application Review Panel.
During the July 27 discussion, Dr. McKnight also did not recommend Board approval of the M.E.C.C.A. charter school application, because it did not demonstrate the following:
* evidence of necessary funding supports;
* a complete transportation plan;
* a clear revenue stream (before- and after-school program) that can generate the needed funds; and
* details of arrangements, including repayment structure, for addressing the shortfall in revenues.
The Board voted unanimously to deny the application.
Read the Adopted Resolution: https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/C5CUGY7C0F8E/$file/ADOPTED%20MECCA%20Charter%20School%20Application%20210727.pdf
Appointments
The Board of Education approved the following administrative appointments:
Natasha D. Bolden, currently principal, Mill Creek Towne Elementary School, as executive director, Office of Teaching, Learning, and Schools (OTLS)
Tracy D. Oliver-Gary, currently content specialist, Pre-K-12 Social Studies, Department of Pre-K-12 Curriculum, Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs, OTLS, as supervisor, Pre-K-12 Social Studies, OTLS
Vincent R. Liburd, currently assistant principal, Montgomery Village Middle School, as principal, Montgomery Village Middle School
Nichola A. Wallen, currently assistant principal, Galway Elementary School, as principal, Wyngate Elementary School
Previous New Business Items
The Board approved new business items resolutions from the July 15, 2021, Board business meeting that were lying on the table pending further action by the full Board. The resolutions approved were as follows:
* The Board adopted a resolution amending its previous Examination of Student Achievement Data for English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Latino Students resolution (Resolution 381-20) to remove the specified project completion date of March 31, 2021, and allow respondents to submit proposed project costs.
* The Board adopted a resolution directing the superintendent of schools to correct the name of Ronald McNair Elementary School by amending the school's name to "Dr. Ronald E. McNair Elementary School" no later than December 2021.
Future Meetings
The Board is scheduled to hold its next business meeting on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. The agenda is subject to change. Please check the Board website and meeting calendar for further information.
State Releases Results for 2021 Florida Standards Assessments and End of Course Exams
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, July 30 -- Broward County Public Schools issued the following news release on July 29, 2021:
The Florida Department of Education released results for the Spring 2021 Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) for English Language Arts (ELA) (grades 4 -10), Mathematics (grades 3 - 8) and Science (grades 5 and 8). In addition, the state released results for End of Course (EOC) exams in Algebra I, Geometry, Biology, U.S. History and Civics.
The results show Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) performance significantly decreased overall as compared to 2018/19, the most recent
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FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, July 30 -- Broward County Public Schools issued the following news release on July 29, 2021:
The Florida Department of Education released results for the Spring 2021 Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) for English Language Arts (ELA) (grades 4 -10), Mathematics (grades 3 - 8) and Science (grades 5 and 8). In addition, the state released results for End of Course (EOC) exams in Algebra I, Geometry, Biology, U.S. History and Civics.
The results show Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) performance significantly decreased overall as compared to 2018/19, the most recentresults to make comparisons due to the cancellation of statewide testing in 2019/20.
* The most dramatic decreases were in mathematics. For grades 3 - 8, FSA Math and EOC Algebra I and Geometry decreased by 18 percentage points compared to 2018/19.
* While overall ELA performance for grades 3 - 10 decreased by six percentage points compared to 2018/19, BCPS scores met or exceeded the statewide average in seven out of eight of these tested grade levels.
Given that many students were attending school remotely last school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and some parents were reluctant to send their children in person to test, participation in the FSA and EOC were lower overall, with 88% of BCPS students being tested in 2020/21, compared to approximately 98% in 2018/19. Additionally, BCPS had significantly higher rates of students remain at home for instruction in comparison to other districts in Florida.
"We're concerned about the achievement results released today," said BCPS Superintendent Robert W. Runcie. "The decrease in performance on the assessments correlates with the very low rate of return by students for in-school, face-to-face instruction last school year. The return of students for brick-and-mortar instruction this coming school year is imperative to ensure students can work with teachers and receive supplemental supports."
These results provide a baseline for addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student achievement. During the spring of 2021, in preparation for supporting students in the coming years, the District developed plans and identified instructional materials to provide extensive resources and interventions to students upon the start of the new school year on Wednesday, August 18. These initiatives will focus on reading development in the primary grades of K - 3, strengthening student writing skills and providing high-intensity tutoring. The District's summer experience for all students in pre-K - 12 concluded on July 29. It provided academic support and enrichment to help students get back on track academically and get ready for the new school year.
Moving forward, District staff, principals and teachers will examine each student's performance and prepare personalized support for his or her learning. A School Board workshop is scheduled for August 24, 2021, to review the FSA and EOC results, the District's analysis and any subsequent reports from the Florida Department of Education.
Des Moines Public Schools Veteran New Head of District Facilities, Construction
DES MOINES, Iowa, July 30 -- Des Moines Public Schools issued the following news release:
A veteran of the Des Moines Public Schools operations department will now oversee the improvements and upkeep of the school district's 69 buildings and 6 million square feet of space. Dave Berger is the new Executive Director of Operations at DMPS. In that position he will oversee construction, facilities management, and custodial services for the school district.
"There are more than 300 dedicated and skilled women and men in the district's Operations Department who every day have the goal of making sure
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DES MOINES, Iowa, July 30 -- Des Moines Public Schools issued the following news release:
A veteran of the Des Moines Public Schools operations department will now oversee the improvements and upkeep of the school district's 69 buildings and 6 million square feet of space. Dave Berger is the new Executive Director of Operations at DMPS. In that position he will oversee construction, facilities management, and custodial services for the school district.
"There are more than 300 dedicated and skilled women and men in the district's Operations Department who every day have the goal of making surethat our students and staff have safe, comfortable, and productive spaces in which to learn and work," said Berger. "I am thrilled to have been granted the privilege to work alongside this team and am excited to have the opportunity to help them do what they do best."
Berger has been with Des Moines Public Schools since 2013 when he joined the Facility Management Department as the district's Energy and Environmental Specialist. In 2016 he became the district's Construction Services specialist, responsible for daily administration of capital improvement projects.
Before joining DMPS, he spent more than 15 years working in the environmental/engineering consulting field providing a wide range of facility-improvement services to both private and public sector clients. Berger is a graduate of the University of Nebraska and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology.
"Providing our students and staff with comfortable and safe environments to learn and work is critical to our success as a school district," added Dr. Thomas Ahart, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools. "From improving and maintaining our existing facilities to overseeing the building of new spaces, Dave brings the experience and dedication to make sure they best serve the needs of our school district."
Broward County School Board Unanimously Approves Contract for Interim Superintendent Dr. Vickie L. Cartwright
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, July 30 -- Broward County Public Schools issued the following news release on July 28, 2021:
The School Board of Broward County unanimously approved the contract for Dr. Vickie L. Cartwright to serve as Broward County Public Schools Interim Superintendent.
Dr. Cartwright has 26 years of experience in education, most recently serving as Superintendent for the Oshkosh Area School District in Wisconsin. She also has extensive experience in Florida through leadership roles for Orange County Public Schools in Orlando.
"The School Board looks forward to working with Dr. Cartwright
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FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, July 30 -- Broward County Public Schools issued the following news release on July 28, 2021:
The School Board of Broward County unanimously approved the contract for Dr. Vickie L. Cartwright to serve as Broward County Public Schools Interim Superintendent.
Dr. Cartwright has 26 years of experience in education, most recently serving as Superintendent for the Oshkosh Area School District in Wisconsin. She also has extensive experience in Florida through leadership roles for Orange County Public Schools in Orlando.
"The School Board looks forward to working with Dr. Cartwrightas we focus on the success of our students and schools," said Dr. Rosalind Osgood, School Board Chair (District 5). "We welcome Dr. Cartwright and look forward to her providing leadership and continuity for our District until a permanent Superintendent is selected."
"I am thankful for the opportunity to serve Broward County Public Schools as its Interim Superintendent," said Dr. Cartwright. "I'm excited about working side by side with District staff, teachers, students and School Board members on the District's mission of educating today's students for tomorrow's world."
Per the approved contract, Dr. Cartwright's first day will be Monday, August 2, 2021, at an annual salary of $275,000.
Watch today's School Board discussion and approval of Dr. Cartwright's employment agreement: https://becon.eduvision.tv/directplayer.aspx?q=3SfVi13wT7Tp4Y8UQqphTnfJBhsJkHGrgMCnhjMlylQ%253d
