Creating a Solid Foundation

Have you heard of Solid Foundation? Solid Foundation is a comprehensive parent engagement program developed by Academic Development Institute. Solid Foundation is a Evidence based program that helps: strengthen family-school connections; engage parents in children's learning; and improve student academic and social learning.

AL PIRC provides the free Path 1 web based process that guides a team through 10 efficient & effective steps to: assess the school community's strengths and areas for improvement; develop a two-year plan; and implement the plan with abundant resources. Over a dozen schools statewide in Alabama have begun using the Solid Foundation model. Great revisions of policies have been created to specifically meet the needs of parents & schools. Effective educational activites have been implemented to increase students performance on tests and report card grades. In addition, schools have established first time or restored true collaborative partnerships with families to help Alabama students compete across the world. To get your school involved or to learn more about this wonderful program please contact William Jones at 334-567-2252. Let's "GET SOLID"!

Happy Holidays from the Alabama PIRC

As the holiday season approaches, this is the time of year when we like to take some time to spend with our own families. Each of the staff members of the Alabama PIRC is a parent (or about to be a parent early next year!)

William has a young son and a new puppy to play with. Marilyn will be spending time with her children and grandchildren. Katrina will be preparing for her first child early next year. I will be spending time with both of my adult children who are taking leave from the military to come home for the holidays. Our office will be closed for the last two weeks in December to give our staff time with their own families and to recharge and prepare for the year to come. As we finish 2009, I wish for all of you good health and good times in the coming year.

Family Friendly Walk Through

Last week, the staff of the Alabama PIRC were trained on how to conduct Family Friendly Walk Throughs. The project, developed originally by the Arizona PIRC has been used successfully to help schools identify ways they can work with families to create a stronger learning environment for students. The research on family engagement has found that schools need to be the first to reach out to families and invite them to participate in their children's education. However, often schools have unintentionally created barriers to effective family engagement. Having a Family Friendly Walk Through helps the school understand how inviting it appears to the local community.

As a part of the walk through, the PIRC staff assess the school: customer service, school environment, school website, community partnerships, documents, and school to home communication. The walk through consists of a physical tour of the campus, surveys of parents and teachers, an interview with the principal, document reviews and website reviews. Once the assessment is complete, PIRC staff convert the data collected to a report, which is provided to the school as a reference tool for the purpose of creating a stronger learning environment. The report contains areas that were identified as either strengths, emerging practices, or areas for improvement along with specific research based recommendations for improvement.

If you are in a Title I school and you are interested in having a Family Friendly Walk Through, contact the Alabama PIRC today!

What is Public School Choice?

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, parents of children attending Title I schools that are not meeting state academic standards and are identified for improvement may be able to move their children to other public schools that are meeting the standards. This option gives parents the chance to ensure that their children are attending a school that is performing well, while, at the same time, allowing school officials to make improvements in their children’s neighborhood schools. Public School Choice is also an option for parents in the event their child is attending a school that is “persistently dangerous,” or the child has been the victim of a violent crime while on school grounds.

How can I find out if my child’s school has been identified as needing improvement? Yearly school report cards distributed through your child’s school contain detailed information on school performance and district academic performance including whether or not a school has been identified for school improvement. School districts are required to notify parents no later than the first day of school that follows the year the school was identified as needing improvement. This notification must also inform parents that their child is eligible to attend another public school, should identify two or more designated schools that parents may choose, and describe the performance and overall quality of those schools.

What can I do if my school or district does not offer school choice, when my child is eligible? Schools and districts receiving Title I funds must provide public school choice for eligible students as described above. If they do not, parents are encouraged to contact the Alabama Department of Education. (www.alsde.edu)

Does public school choice only include schools in the district where my child is enrolled? Usually. However, there may be situations where children in Title I schools have options to transfer outside their own district. For instance, a school district may enter into a cooperative agreement with another district. This may be necessary when all of the schools in a district have been identified as needing improvement.

Is transportation available for my child if we exercise our right to attend another school designated for choice? Yes, transportation services are available. Priority is given to the lowest achieving children from low- income families in schools required to provide choice.

Can I choose to keep my child in a school that is eligible for school choice? Yes. While the district must offer public school choice, this is an option for parents, not a requirement.

What can I do as a parent if I decide to keep my child at a school that has been identified for improvement?

• Help your child at home by setting high goals, reading together, and monitoring homework
• Make sure that your voice is heard at school
• Make sure the school’s improvement plan focuses on areas where the school is not doing well
• Get a copy of your school’s parent involvement policy from the principal, parent liaison or head of your school’s parent group
• Make sure your school has a school-parent compact that was developed with and approved by parents

For more information about Public School Choice or other issues related to your child’s education, please feel free to contact the Alabama Parent Information and Resource Center. The Alabama PIRC is a clearinghouse with training and information for parents, teachers and administrators with lots of information about educational laws and how effective family engagement can be used to raise student achievement. Contact our office at 334-567-2252 or see our website www.alabamaparentcenter.com.

Preparing Teachers to Work With Families

Recently, Secretary Duncan released a call for colleges of education to improve the way they prepare educators to teach students. Secretary Duncan noted that we will need to "hire up to 200,000 first-time teachers annually over the next five years." In his press release, he pointed out that currently colleges of education are not doing an adequate job of preparing teachers for "the realities of the 21st century classroom." Secreatry Duncan calls for the universities preparing our future teachers to "ensure that new teachers master the content of the subjects they’ll teach and they will have well-supported field-based experiences embedded throughout their preparation programs. Their ultimate goal should be to create a generation of teachers who are focused on improving student achievement and ready to deliver on that goal."

I commend Secretary Duncan for taking a bold stand for children by calling out the universities that leave our teachers unprepared. However, I believe he forgot the most important missing link, family engagement. Most colleges of education do not offer future teachers any preparation at all to work with families and engage them in their children's learning. We have more research on family engagement than ever before and the results only confirm what we already know. When families are engaged in their children's education students perform better, have fewer behavior problems, and graduate on time. What we also know is that the most effective type of family engagement is what happens in the home. To truly improve the educational outcomes of our students, Secretary Duncan should call on our colleges of education to better prepare teachers to work with families and give them the help that they need to be more engaged in their children's education.

For more information on Secretary Duncan's remarks, read them at www.ed.gov

A Letter from Michelle Obama

This is a busy time of year in the Obama household. Like so many parents all across this country, I watch with a mixture of pride and anxiety as my daughters stuff their backpacks, kiss me goodbye, and move ahead in another school year without so much as a backwards glance.

My girls are now making new friends, tackling challenging new subjects, and moving closer to becoming the strong, confident women I know they can be. But when I see them come home, bursting with excitement about something they have learned or someone they have met, I can't help but think that some of the most influential people in my daughters' lives won't be the ones they socialize with on the playground or read about in the pages of a book—they will be the people who stand up every day in front of their classrooms.

We all remember the impact a special teacher had on us—a teacher who refused to let us fall through the cracks; who pushed us and believed in us when we doubted ourselves; who sparked in us a lifelong curiosity and passion for learning. Decades later, we remember the way they made us feel and the things they inspired us to do—how they challenged us and changed our lives. So it's not surprising that studies show that the single most important factor affecting students' achievement is the caliber of their teachers. And when we think about the qualities that make an outstanding teacher—boundless energy and endless patience; vision and a sense of purpose; the creativity to help us see the world in a different way; commitment to helping us discover and fulfill our potential—we realize: These are also the qualities of a great leader.

Today, more than ever before, we need precisely this kind of leadership in our classrooms. As the president has frequently said, in a 21st-century global economy where jobs can be shipped to any place with an Internet connection and children here in America will be competing with children around the world for the same jobs, a good education is no longer just one road to opportunity—it is the only road. And good teachers aren't just critical for the success of our students. They are the key to the success of our economy.

But the reality is that with each passing year, we are losing more and more of our most experienced teachers. More than half of our nation's teachers and principals are baby boomers. And in the next four years, as many as one third of America's 3.2 million teachers could retire. The U.S. Department of Education projects that by 2014, just five short years from now, our nation's schools will hire as many as 1 million new teachers. And the challenge to our schools is not just an overall teacher shortage but a shortage of good teachers in the schools where they are most essential: high-need schools that face some of the most daunting obstacles but have students with so much potential. We also have a shortage of teachers in subjects like math and science that we know will be critical to our children's future.

Today, we need a new generation of leaders to take their place in our nation's schools. We need passionate, talented, committed men and women to step up and devote themselves to preparing our students to succeed in this new century.

We need universities to double down on their efforts to prepare teachers and to improve and expand effective alternative routes to certify teachers. We need to encourage more experienced professionals to consider teaching as the next chapter in their careers. And we need to treat teachers like the professionals they are by providing good salaries and high-quality professional development opportunities. We need parents to do their part as well to match that leadership in the classroom with leadership at home. We need to set limits and turn off the TV. We need to put away those video games and make sure that homework gets done. We need to reinforce the example that's being set and the lessons being taught at school and make sure that learning continues at home.

And we need government to support significant efforts to recruit and retain teachers and to reward high-performing teachers. Along those lines, President Obama is already investing more than $3 billion to turn around struggling schools. And he has proposed a nationwide Teacher Recruitment Program to attract more people to the profession, especially in high-need schools. I look forward to being involved with this program and encouraging people across America to put their leadership skills to work in our nation's schools.

Much work lies ahead, and it won't be easy. But I am confident that with a new generation of outstanding leaders in our classrooms, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of our young people and a lasting impact on the life of this nation.

This letter to the Editor was published in US News & World Report on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 http://www.usnews.com/articles/opinion/2009/10/15/michelle-obama-teachers-are-key-to-a-successful-economy.html

Go Outside and Play!

Connecting to Nature Formal Partnership Established Among National, State, and Local Park Organizations Looking for a way to improve your child’s mental and physical health? Look no further than your nearest park or natural area. “Numerous studies conclude that time spent in outdoor settings decreases stress, inspires creativity, promotes social development, and encourages physical fitness,” said National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis. “A new partnership among the National Park Service, the National Association of State Park Directors, and the National Recreation and Park Association was recently formed to develop and promote programs and policies in parks and other areas that connect children with nature.” The partnership’s website, www.nps.gov/ChildrenInNature/BestPractices, contains a searchable database of approximately 450 outdoor activities compiled from hundreds of national, state, and local parks and program offices. “This easy-to-use website contains an extensive list of programs about a wide variety of subjects including archeology, art, prairies, pioneers, critters, and camping,” said Joe Elton, President of the National Association of State Park Directors. “Nature is an amazing classroom, and these creative programs make it fun for children to learn about and connect with the world around them.” “The way children understand and experience their natural world has changed radically over the past several decades,” said Lois Finkelman, chair of the National Recreation and Park Association Board of Trustees. “Our three groups will work together to expand recreational opportunities and natural resource education for children and families. In addition, we hope to engage other federal, state, local, tribal, and non-government partners in the effort.” Leaders of the three conservation organizations signed a partnership declaration which contains an action plan to increase public awareness of local and national natural resources. Contact Information Kathy Kupper | 202-208-6843 *This post is a press release from the National Park Service.

Schools as Community Hubs

October is Parent Visitation Month in Alabama. Parents are encouraged to visit the schools and schools are encouraged to let parents visit. That’s great, but wouldn’t it be nice if every month were Parent Visitation Month.

One of the visions that Education Secretary Arnie Duncan has laid out is the concept of schools acting as community hubs by becoming full service community schools. These schools would be open in the evenings and on weekends and welcome families and community members. The schools would have community computer labs where adult education classes could be taught. They would have social workers and provide access to a full range of social services.

Some communities have already started creating full service community schools and the results they are finding are very positive. For youth, the benefits include improved grades and behavior as well as better attendance. Youth tend to have an increased sense of attachment and responsibility to the community. They have improved personal or family situations with less abuse or neglect and an increase sense of school connectedness with increased access to physical and mental health services.

The school benefits from serving the community as well. The teachers are able to spend more time on class preparation and with students. There is improved teacher attendance and communication between families, schools, and teachers. Schools also receive greater resources due to more community partnerships.

The community benefits from an increased use of school facilities. There is an increase in community pride and citizens and students engage in more school and community service. Communities also see improved adult literacy, improved security and safety surrounding the school and improved outcomes for the basic needs of its citizens.

The benefit to families when schools are full service is also important. Families have an increased confidence in their role as their child’s teacher. They have a stronger sense of responsibility for their children’s education. Finally, when the school is more accessible and provides a full range of services, families have a greater attendance at all school and community functions.

Schools cannot do it alone, but they can become centers for collaboration with an other agencies committed to providing every student with the conditions that support learning. Open year-round and with extended hours, full-service community schools work with community agencies to provide on-site social, physical, mental, vision, and dental health care; after-school activities; service-learning projects; and adult education.

National Disability Employment Month

Did you know that October is National Disability Employment Month? To celebrate the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) is highlighting projects and initiatives funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitative Research (NIDRR) that improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities, including transition-aged youth.

All month, OSERS will feature innovative, employment-based projects and individual success stories on http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/deam-2009/index.html.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month dates to 1945 when Congress passed Public Law 176, designating the first week in October as “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” The name of the month was changed by Congress in 1988.

The Alabama PIRC is proud to be housed in the same agency as the Alabama Network for Children with Disabilities. Our sister project is similar to our PIRC in that it provides training and information to families of children with disabilities. If you have a child with a disability please contact our office if you have any questions or concerns about their education or any other transition issues.

Helping Schools to Go Green!

These days, going green has become more than just a buzzword. As we face growing populations and limited non-renewable resources, its important to think about ways we can conserve. Its also important to help our children understand the importance of conservation. Here are some tips you can use to help your child's school go green!

Getting to school

One of the main areas where you can have an effect is choosing how your child gets to school. Private car travel is a big source of carbon emissions, so finding alternative ways of getting to school will make a difference. Things you could do include:

• try to use greener methods of transport – cycling, walking or public transport
• choose one day a week (or more) as a walk or cycle to school day
• consider helping with a walking bus service for the school (a supervised walk to school plan)
• suggest that your school supplies pupils with secure bike sheds and takes measures to ensure safe routes to school
• if you have to travel by car, see if you can share with a neighbor or friend

Food and drink at school

Producing, transporting and consuming food is responsible for nearly a third of our impact on climate change. Choices about packed lunches and the cafeteria can help the environment - and can often have additional benefits for children's health:

• suggest stocking fresh, locally in season or Fairtrade produce in the tuck shop or canteen
• suggest, or offer to set up, a school fruit and vegetable garden; this could also provide many learning opportunities and links to the curriculum

Reducing waste at school

There are many opportunities to reduce waste at school. For example, you could encourage the school to:

• set up recycling bins in the classroom and encourage pupils to recycle
• reduce the amount of packaged goods in lunchboxes to cut down the amount of waste
• use both sides of paper to reduce waste
• set up a scheme to encourage pupils to pass on or sell old text books to other pupils once they've finished with them
• consider setting up a compost bin at the school to reduce food waste
• help arrange a visit to a local landfill or recycling site so pupils can see what happens to their waste

Saving energy at school

Suggestions for saving energy in a school could include:

encouraging pupils to turn off lights and electronic equipment when they have finished using them

• switching off computer monitors and printers properly instead of leaving them on standby
• considering using energy saving light bulbs at the school, or even alternative energy sources for heating, like wind or solar power

For tips and fun activities on how to reduce energy further, see the Generation Green website.

Tips on recycling at school - RecycleNow

Adapted from: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Schoolslearninganddevelopment/SchoolLife/DG_064441

September 17 is National Constitution Day

Did you know that September 17 is National Constitution Day and Citizenship Day? Its is the one day a year that the Federal government requires educational institutions who receive Federal funds to teach children about the U.S. Constitution.

The U. S. Department of Education maintains a Web site for finding teaching resources across the Federal government. It is called FREE and can be found at:http://free.ed.gov/subjects.cfm?subject_id=19

Constitution Resources
Meet the delegates who gathered in Philadelphia in May 1787 to rewrite the Articles of Confederation. Learn what issues they faced. Discover the sources that inspired them. Read the essays printed in New York City papers urging ratification of the delegates' proposal. Explore a 200-year timeline showing the impact of the Constitution on our history. Search the Constitution, and see explanations of 300 topics.

Teachers looking for additional resources can also visit The National History Education Clearinghouse (NHEC) Web site at www.teachinghistory.org. The NHEC is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The NHEC homepage features special, highlighted information on teaching resources for Constitution Day.

In addition, teachers can go to the National Archives and Records Administration's Web site, www.archives.gov.

Celebrate Constitution Day
Read the Constitution in its original form and in a transcript. View Webcasts of Senator Byrd's remarks and discussions on federalism and checks and balances.

The Constitution of the United States
View high resolution scans of the original, signed Constitution. Obtain a transcript. Read an essay about the Constitutional Convention. Learn dozens of fascinating facts about the Constitution. Learn about each of the signers of the Constitution.

Observing Constitution Day: The Signers of the Constitution
Find out about the delegates who signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787.

Observing Constitution Day: The Constitution Game
Explore, in this simulation, how the members of the Constitutional Convention might have felt as they gathered in Philadelphia's Independence Hall and began the task of writing the Constitution.

Teaching With Documents: The Ratification of the Constitution
Uncover the issues involved in the creation and ratification of the Constitution and the new government it established.

Learning Math Early May Make a Difference

Many adults admit that they find math challenging. In fact, many of us have a hard time doing simple math like calculating miles per gallon. In today's world, math is a critical part of making financial decisions like determining if you can afford that extra car note or how much you can pay on a mortgage. Its more important than ever that our kids learn how to do math well. Parents can play a huge role in helping their kids learn math early, even if they don't think they are good at math themselves!

A recent article by Eleanor Chute of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette provides some strategies for parents working with their kids at home. The most important strategy Chute mentions is to make learning math fun. Parents can start when their children are as young as two years old with learning about shapes and numbers. Parents also need to check their own attitudes at the door. They should avoid telling children that they don't like math or aren't very good at it and instead focus on fun math activities like puzzles and games they can do together. Learning math skills through play at an early age can make a difference in how well kids do math later in life.

For more information read the entire article from Elanor Chute in the August 30, 2009 Pittsburgh Post Gazette at http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09242/994281-298.stm#ixzz0PxkNuETd

Important Information from the US Department of Education

Todays blog is a reprint of a press release from the US Department of Education about their recommendations for dealing with Swine Flu or H1N1.

"Today, Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, District of Columbia Mayor Adrian Fenty and District of Columbia Chancellor of Public Schools Michelle Rhee joined with officials from Google, Apple, Microsoft, Scholastic Inc., Pearson, Curriki, and the International Association for Online Learning to announce new recommendations on the continuity of learning in the event of students absences or school closures due to seasonal or novel H1N1 flu.

The recommendations crafted by the Department of Education are designed to help education stakeholders start planning and acting now for the impact that seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza could have this fall and winter on schools and the learning process.

Government officials are especially concerned about the impact of H1N1 in schools because the virus appears to spread quickly among younger Americans. The Centers for Disease Control’s DC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recently found that younger Americans, specifically children ages 6 months to 24 years, are one of the top priority groups when it comes to the new H1N1 vaccine.

“We can all work to keep ourselves healthy now by practicing prevention, close monitoring and using common sense,” Secretary Duncan said. ”We know that some students may be affected by H1N1. And our top priority is making sure that they have a way to get well, stay well and to keep learning. With these recommendations, we’re providing a menu of strategies for educators to help ensure that the learning process will continue.”

“One important reason we are all here today is the Department of Education’s Continuation of Learning guidance,” said Secretary Sebelius. “Everyone’s goal should be to keep children healthy and in school. But if they get sick -- and some will -- we have to make sure that they don’t fall behind.”

The recommendations suggest that educators prepare take-home assignments in advance for distribution to affected students and use the Internet and telephones to post homework materials, conduct classes, share information and keep teachers, parents and students in close touch.

The department is working Google, Apple, Microsoft, Scholastic Inc., Pearson, Curriki, the International Association for Online Learning and other private sector partners, and service providers to make continuity of learning resources like pre-printed lesson plans, conference call services, webinar support, podcasting, and virtual classrooms more affordable and accessible for educators.

For the complete H1N1 Continuity of Learning Guidance, please visitwww.ed.gov/h1n1flu"

Sandra Day O’Connor Develops Online Civics Game

Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor has helped develop a free online computer game for teens that promotes civics. The “Supreme Decision” is the first of several games that are planned. In this game, students role-play the part of a U.S. Supreme Court Clerk. They help a justice with a tie-breaking vote over a First Amendment case. The game was developed to help middle school students learn more about the Constitution and the role of the courts.

Sandra Day O’Connor is not an avid tech user herself and admits that she doesn’t have a Facebook or Twitter account and doesn’t even text. She does recognize that students today do use technology. O’Connor recognizes that students are more likely to learn if they are taught in ways that they like to use. She claims kids spend “40 hours a week, on average, in front of some type of screen." She is famous for having said that more people can name an American Idol judge than the three branches of government.

O’Connor hopes that as a result of this project, students will learn more about civics and develop the skills they need to analyze problems and develop sound arguments. Another game, called "Do I Have a Right," has also been released. In that game, students play the director of a constitutional law firm. They must decide which amendment resolves a problem posed by a client. Check them out at http://www.ourcourts.org/default.php

Gates Foundation Grant for Alabama Teachers

This was just sent out via the Alabama Department of Education:

Funding for Public School Teachers to Help Students at High-Need or Rural High Schools Prepare For College!

1. What’s available? Gates Foundation has given us a grant to match funding to teachers’ classroom project request(s) to prepare students for college. Last year, 93% of projects that qualified for this Gates match offer were fully funded by donors who visited our site!

2. Who qualifies? If you are a full-time teacher at a high-need or rural public high school, you are eligible for this funding.

3. How do I participate? First, log in to your teacher account on DonorsChoose.org (if you don’t have one, any public school teacher can sign up at www.donorschoose.org/teacher. Once you’re logged in, submit a project requesting materials to help prepare your students for college.

4. Then what happens? A few hours after your project is approved, you should see a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation logo on your project. This means it has qualified for this offer and now has a great chance of being fully funded by the other donors that visit our site.

To see projects recently funded via this offer, visit http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/search.html?historical=true&keywords=college&&&gradeType=4

To get started with submitting your own college prep project, log in to your account at www.donorschoose.org/teacher.

Linking the Dropout Crisis to the Economy in Alabama

Did you know that in Alabama students who are over 16 can legally dropout of high school? Perhaps that is one of the reasons The Southern Education Foundation reports that “Alabama now ranks 42nd in the nation in per capita income and nearly two-thirds of the state’s income gap with the nation is entirely due to the state’s low levels of education primarily fueled by the state’s high school dropout problems.” Last year the SEF published High School Dropouts: Alabama’s Number One Education and Economic Problem. This shocking report found the high school dropout rate in Alabama in 2006-2007 was 39 percent and it links the dropout problem to economic problems over the last thirty years. The report found that the consequences of having an undereducated population are dire indeed.

According to the report, dropouts lose the opportunity to gain the skills they need to earn livable wages. The lack of skilled workers can prevent local communities from generating the revenues needed to provide the public services that citizens require. Also, dropouts are less likely to participate in civic life, reducing the effectiveness of public engagement in democracy. Dropouts are more likely to end up marginalized, living as vagrants, creating communities of concentrated poverty and incarcerated at higher rates. This puts an even bigger burden on the community when potentially productive citizens are locked up at public expense.

I encourage everyone to read the report from the SEF. It explains how Alabama is ranked 42^nd in the nation in per capita income and clearly links that to our education system. It explores the pattern of dropout rates by county and shows that Alabama ranks 45^th in failure to graduate according to the US Department of Education.

To solve the dropout crisis facing our state, the SEF encourages Alabama to address the issues that “define the needs of the entire academic system: academic preparation for achievement, positive school environments, targeting effective programs, successful recovery and prevention measures, and adequate financing.” You can find the report online at http://www.sefatl.org/pdf/HSD%20Report-Final-2007Appendix.pdf

According to the report, “Alabama can attract and grow new industries with good paying jobs in the decades ahead only if it systematically keeps more students in school, provides them with affordable higher education, and helps them graduate from high school and college on time.”

Alabama Has a Decrease in Title I Schools In Improvement Status

Today is the day that the list of schools that did not make adequate yearly progress (AYP) was released. Its also a day that many are breathing a sigh of relief! This year the number of schools in improvment status has gone down. If a school does not meet its AYP goals two years in a row in the same subject area, the school enters improvement status. Once a school is identified as in improvement, it must make AYP two years in a row to come out of improvement status.

According to the Alabama Department of Education, 1,376 public schools, including 866 Title I schools, were measured for the 2009-10 AYP status (based on 2008-09 data). This year in Alabama, 122 schools have been identified for School Improvement. Of those identified, 52 are Title I schools – a 29 percent decrease over last year’s 73 Title I schools. These 52 Title I schools must offer School Choice if a school of choice is available in the same district.

Title I schools identified for School Improvement in Year 2 and beyond must continue the school choice option to all students and provide Supplemental Education Services (SES) to students eligible for free/reduced meals. Non-title I schools may offer the same provisions, but don't have to because of the cost. In 2009, the Alabama Department of Education requested a continuation of the waiver so that schools in their first year of improvement may offer choice instead of SES. Parents can contact their local school system’s central office for more information.

Accountability results, assessment results, a listing of all schools, including their AYP and School Improvement status, and School Choice information can be found on the Alabama Department of Education’s Web site at www.alsde.edu under “Accountability Reporting.”

Preparing for College: Financial Aid Edition

If your child is finishing high school and preparing to go to college, it is never too early to start thinking about how to finance their college education. Most high schools and colleges have counselors who can help you understand what paperwork is due and when, but there are also federal resources available on the Internet.

One place you can go to get information about federal student aid (and many other topics) is ED Pubs. This site was designed to help parents, teachers, and others identify and order free products from the U. S. Department of Education. The site offers more than 6,000 titles that include materials in print, on CD-ROMs, posters, videos, and financial aid products.

ED Pubs can help you order free financial aid publications such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the FAFSA On The Web Worksheet, and Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid. If you work in a college, high school, library or community agency, you may be able to order multiple copies of these and other titles online at www.fsapubs.org. The Ed Pubs site provides a ton of free financial aid publications and applications that will help you and your student understand Federal Student Aid programs.

Summer Learning Workbooks

When schools first opened in America, school calenders varied depending on the community. Some of the rural schools had long summer breaks that began in the spring so children could help on their families farms. Some of the urban schools had breaks as short as 1 or 2 months. By the time most Americans became involved in agriculture and when indoor climate control was limited, a standardized 9 month calender emerged. Today, less than 5% of our families are involved in agriculture and we have air conditioning, but we still have the same old 9 month calender.

There are several problems with today's school calender because of the possible negative impact that long breaks have on student learning. Long breaks interfere with instruction, cause children to forget, and require long periods of review when children return to school. Also, long breaks can have a very bad effect on children with special needs or children who have English as a second language.

Until we reform our school calenders, parents have to help their children retain as much learning as possible over the summer break. There are many strategies you can use. Bookstores have summer learning workbooks that help student practice the skills they learned the year before and prepare for the next year. These workbooks, usually for elementary school grades, can provide a valuable source of enrichment. Children can work on a certain number of pages each day or work for a certain amount of time. You can help by being there for them and talking with them about the work they are doing. Remember, the most effective type of parent engagement that has the biggest impact on student achievement is what takes place in the home.

Fireworks Safety

I was raised in Southern California where fireworks were illegal because of the tremendous fire risks and health hazards. Now that I live in Alabama I see firework stands popping up everywhere in December and July. Many families buy their own fireworks to celebrate special occasions. If you decide to use fireworks with your family, here are some tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. 

If fireworks are legal where you live and you decide to set them off on your own, be sure to follow these important safety tips:

• Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Read and follow all warnings and instructions.
• Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.
• Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves, and flammable materials.
• Never try to relight fireworks that have not fully functioned.
• Keep a bucket of water in case of a malfunction or fire.

Remember, the safest fireworks are the ones lit by professionals! Check your local paper to find shows near you!

Staycation

Times are tough. This year, many families are choosing a "staycation" instead of traveling. Why don't you try one?

When planning your staycation, try to think of fun and educational things you can do as a family. For example, visit a local history museum to learn more about the history of where you live. Many of the local museums are free or inexpensive and offer summer events. Go to the local library and check out books about your town or state to read with your children. Go for a hike in your local community and try to identify different types of plants. 

You don't have to go far to have a good time learning with your kids this summer!

Summer Art Activity

Does anything scream summer more than a hot dry sidewalk and sidewalk chalk? I don’t think so! Consider the arts when you are spending time with your children this summer. One of my favorite summer activities is making sidewalk art. Before you start, consider watching the movie Mary Poppins with your child for inspiration!

While your children are out of school take them to a local museum. Most cities or towns have at least one museum. Some have paintings and sculptures, and others have local historical items. Often the museum has staff that can give you more information about the exhibits. Follow the visit with a bucket of sidewalk chalk and try to recreate the pictures you saw on your trip. You can have art contests to see who has the most colorful pictures or who has the most imaginative pictures. Art is an important part of a well-rounded education, but often it’s the first thing cut when education funding is lost. Spend some time with your child this summer making your own art and the time will be well invested.

Summer Science Anyone?

This summer, plan to talk to your kids about science. Its all around us, literally. This weeks blog activity is stargazing, and I don't mean at the supermarket checkout!

If your kids are young, take a couple of blankets out to the yard and lie down together to look at the stars. Talk about landmarks like the North Star, the Big Dipper, and any other constellations you might know. If your kids are in elementary school, try to go further afield. You could do your stargazing in a local park. Maybe do it in a variety of places and talk about the differences. Take your kids to the library and check out books about the stars and the planets or let them use the web to look up interesting facts. 

The important part is spending time with your kids. Sparking their interest in astronomy is just a fun by-product!

Summer Vacations

Is your family taking a trip this year for your summer vacation? Have you thought of ways you can turn your trip into learning experiences for your children? If you haven't yet, its not too late!

the age of technology is upon us and that means our kids have to know and be able to do more than we probably did. In fact, kids in Alabama have to demonstrate that they know the standards by passing the Graduation Exam before they can receive a diploma. One thing that hasn't changed is the time off that all kids look forward to each summer. However, each year during the summer break, kids lose a little of the knowledge they gained the year before. You can help them to keep that knowledge and maybe even gain a little more! Research shows that what parents do at home is their best way of improving the educational outcome for their children.

This summer when you plan your family vacation, try to make it a Theme Vacation! For example, if you plan on taking your children to visit Washington DC, rent Mr. Smith Goes to Washington ahead of time and watch it with them. Talk to them on the way about our nation's history and then take them to one of the many free museums at the Smithsonian. If you plan your trip well in advance, you can even contact your congressmen and get tickets to see the capital building or the White House. If you are going to a beach, spend a little time with your kids researching the local marine life. Talk to them about beach erosion and how to protect our coastlines. If you are going to visit family in a different state, have your kids research the history and culture of the area. A visit to Selma could be an opportunity for you to talk to your kids about the civil rights history and you could take them on a tour of civil rights landmarks like the Pettis Bridge. the most important part of a Theme vacation is the time you spend talking about it with your kids!

Summer Begins!

Summer has arrived and most schools are closing for the year if they haven't already. Many parents have mixed emotions about summer vacation. Its a great time of year for the entire family to plan a trip or just stay home and enjoy the weather. But its also a time when kids seem to lose some of what they learned the year before. In fact, teaches can tell you that much of the beginning of the next school year will be dedicated to relearning what was taught the year before. 

What can we do at home to make a difference in our kid's learning. Actually, quite a bit. The research tells us that what parents do at home is the type of parent involvement that has the biggest impact on student achievement. So, this summer there are a couple of things you can do and we will highlight a new idea for you each week. This week we will focus on literacy by highlighting Family Book Clubs.

To start your own Family Book Club, select a book that will interest you and your child and is on your child's reading level. Your local library has lots of good books you can borrow and the librarian can help you decide if the reading levels are right. Then decide how many pages or chapters you and your child will read each night. The next morning set aside some time to talk to each other about what you read. Be sure to talk about things like the plot, the main characters,  and the setting. 

This activity can help you to raise your child's vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. But the best part is the time you get to spend together!