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NCAI Education Newsletter
May 30, 2012
Edition 18
Table of Contents
Applications for the Tribal-State Education Partnership (STEP) Pilot Program Now Open
The Department of Education is currently soliciting applications for the State-Tribal Education Partnership (STEP) pilot. Under the pilot, the Department will award $1.97 million in competitive grants to Tribal Education Agencies (TEAs) to increase their role in the education of American Indian and Alaska Native students. Funding for the pilot program comes from the fiscal year 2012 appropriation, under the Indian Education National Activities authority.
Specifically, the purposes of these grants are to:
a) Promote increased collaboration between TEAs and state educational agencies (SEAs) in the administration of certain state-administered formula grant programs; and
b) Build the capacity of TEAs to conduct certain state-level administrative functions under those programs for eligible schools located on reservations.
The pilot will fund the implementation of collaborative agreements between TEAs and state educational agencies (SEAs). Under these agreements, SEAs will transfer to TEAs some state-level functions related to the administration of certain Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) programs for eligible schools located on reservations. The Department of Education will not grant formula funds to TEAs as a part of this pilot program.
Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: June 12, 2012
Dates of Pre-Application Meetings: June 1, 2012, and June 5, 2012
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 13, 2012
For more detailed information and how to apply, please see the following resources:
Department of Education Contact:
Joyce Silverthorne, Director, Office of Indian Education
(202) 401-0767 or joyce.silverthorne@ed.gov
Department of Education Announces 2012 Race to the Top, District Level Competition
Last week, the Department of Education released its proposed criteria for the 2012 Race to the Top District (RTT-D) competition. The $400 million competition invites school districts to create plans for individualized classroom instruction aimed at closing achievement gaps and preparing each student for college and careers. The focus is to move beyond one-size-fits-all models of schooling and to personalize instruction to meet students' individual needs and interests. Districts can apply on their own or in consortia, and together they must serve at least 2,500 students, with 40 percent or more qualifying for free or reduced price lunch.
Though the Department of Education has waived rulemaking for this new program, it is gathering input via an online form:http://www.ed.gov/comment/reply/12250#comment-form. Comments are due by next Friday, June 8, 2012, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.
Please see detailed information about the competition here (http://www.ed.gov/race-top/district-competition) and here (http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/rttd-executive-summary.pdf).
NCAI is still reviewing the proposed criteria, but at this point we have two major concerns. First, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is not eligible for the competition; and second, districts are not required to consult with tribes when drafting their applications. We will distribute our comments outlining these concerns via this newsletter before the deadline so others can draw from them for their own comments.
Eight More States Receive No Child Left Behind Waivers
Yesterday, the Department of Education announced that it has approved No Child Left Behind (NCLB) waivers for eight additional states. This round of waiver approvals brings the total number of states with waivers to 19. Eighteen additional applications are still under review.
Newly Announced Waivers: Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Rhode Island.
States Previously Granted Waivers: Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
For more information, see the Department of Education’s press release here and waiver applications and related documents here.
Let's Move! in Indian Country Anniversary Celebration To Be Webcast (June 1)
Over the past year, Let’s Move! in Indian Country has worked with stakeholders across the country to help connect communities, schools, and tribal leader to resources, funding, trainings and programs that will help improve the health of the Indian Country’s next generation
In order to recognize this progress and the great work of leaders across Indian Country, the White House will host a panel discussion with individuals whose work has helped build a healthier future for American Indian and Alaska Native youth.
On Friday, June 1, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. EDT, several of these leaders will share their stories on how they have inspired youth in their own communities to live healthier lifestyles and how they have left a lasting footprint on the road to towards building a healthier future for all Native people. The panel discussion will include athletes, tribal leaders, program directors, healthcare professionals and others who will share their stories and provide insight on how their efforts can be expanded to communities across Indian Country. The discussion will be streamed online at www.WhiteHouse.gov/live.
Webinar: Improving Educational Outcomes for American Indian Children (June 13)
The Investing in Innovation Fund (i3) project, "Improving Educational Outcomes for American Indian Children," provides services to American Indian children, ages prenatal to 3 years, and their families. Its goal is to improve educational outcomes for children from birth through 3 years and is supported by evidence from prior evaluations with various populations. This free webinar on Wednesday, June 13, at 2:00 p.m. EDT will describe the project and its impact on American Indian children.
Opening Remarks:
· Robert Mahaffey, Communications Director, Rural School and Community Trust
· Arthur Mallory, Parents as Teachers Board Member and former Missouri Commissioner of Education
Presenters:
· Marsha Gebhardt, Parents as Teachers, BabyFACE Project Director
· Judy Pfannenstiel, Senior Research Associate, Research and Training Associates, Inc.
To register, please visit: http://www.ruraledu.org/articles.php?id=2885
Other News and Commentary
· Mitt Romney Releases Education Agenda: Presidential candidate Mitt Romney recently released his education agenda. School choice and charter schools are among his top priorities.
· New Mexico Translates Special Education Rights Into Navajo: Last week, the New Mexico state education department released a Navajo translation of a notice of rights for special education students.
· Secretary Duncan at Navajo Technical College: Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visited Navajo Technical College in Crownpoint, New Mexico, to deliver a commencement address to 2012 graduates.
Trends, Data, and Reports
· The Condition of Education 2012 (National Center for Education Statistics): The Condition of Education 2012 summarizes important developments and trends in education using the latest available data. The report presents 49 indicators on the status and condition of education, in addition to a closer look at high schools in the United States over the past twenty years. The indicators represent a consensus of professional judgment on the most significant national measures of the condition and progress of education for which accurate data are available. The 2012 print edition includes indicators in three main areas: (1) participation in education; (2) elementary and secondary education and outcomes; and (3) postsecondary education and outcomes.
· 2010 Census Coverage Measurement (US Census Bureau): The Census Bureau has released the results of its Census Coverage Measurement (CCM), which measures the quality of the decennial census. There appears to be a rise in the undercount on reservations from 2000 (4.88 percent undercount, statistically significantly different than zero). There was a 12.22 net undercount for American Indians and Alaska Natives on reservations in 1990. However, the CCM estimates an overcount for American Indians and Alaska Natives off reservations.
· The Importance of Being in School: A Report on Absenteeism in the Nation's Public Schools (Everyone Graduates Center at John Hopkins University): Chronic absenteeism in American schools is a largely unnoticed and unmeasured problem affecting the educational outcomes of millions of students and undermining critical school improvement efforts, according to this new report. The report found only a handful of states measure and report on chronic absenteeism, which the report defines as missing at least 10 percent of school days in a given year, or about 18 days. It estimates that 10 to 15 percent of students nationwide are chronically absent. That adds up to 5 million to 7.5 million students who miss enough school to be at severe risk of dropping out or failing to graduate from high school.
· Resource Document on Restraint and Seclusion (Department of Education): This document outlines principles for educators, parents, and stakeholders to consider when developing or refining policies and procedures to support positive behavioral interventions and avoid the use of restraint and seclusion. The goal of this resource document is to help ensure that schools are safe and healthy environments where all students can learn, develop, and participate in instructional programs that promote high levels of academic achievement.
· Raising the Bar from Ready by 21 to Credentialed by 26: Highlights from Community and State Efforts (The Forum for Youth Investment): The brief from the Forum for Youth Investment looks at two initiatives focused on increasing postsecondary success by aligning the work of stakeholders and helping different sectors work together. One, the Credentialed by 26 Community Challenge, helped leaders in four selected communities jump-start local conversations and identify strategies to improve postsecondary success. The second initiative, the Credential by 26 Policy Roundtables, consisted of policy surveys and structured discussions to help leaders in three states identify low-cost policy solutions for increasing supports for low-income college students. The brief includes summaries of the discussions and a sample of policy changes that can improve success.
· What Teacher Preparation Programs Teach About K-12 Assessment (National Council on Teacher Quality): This report provides information on the preparation provided to teacher candidates from teacher training programs so that they can fully use assessment data to improve classroom instruction. The purpose of the report is to encourage teacher preparation programs, along with the federal and state agencies supporting and overseeing these programs, to focus more on the importance of future teachers' knowledge and skills in the increasingly critical area of assessment.