A Nation at Risk: Where Are We Now?

This week marks the 30th anniversary of the release of A Nation at Risk by the National Commission on Excellence in Education formed by U.S. Secretary of Education Terrel H. Bell. The landmark report declared that "the educational foundations of our society are presently being eroded by a rising tide of mediocrity that threatens our very future as a nation and a people." Pointing to what it said were flagging test scores, diluted curricula, and weak teacher-preparation programs, among other issues, A Nation at Risk argued that an "incoherent, outdated patchwork quilt" of instruction was creating a culture of passive learning in which students could advance with minimum effort.  Find out more here

E. Wash. teacher captures national honor

An Eastern Washington science teacher who has built a rigorous curriculum at his small high school is the 2013 National Teacher of the Year.

Call for Proposals! Mark your Calendars!

Please consider being a presenter at this exciting regional conference:

2013 NW eLearning Conference - October 10-11, 2013, Spokane WA

Where teaching, learning & tech converge.

Join us in Spokane WA for the 8th annual Northwest eLearning Conference. This year's conference is hosted by Eastern Washington University, and will be held at the Red Lion at the Park in beautiful downtown Spokane.

The call for proposals is now open!  Topic Strands:

• Collaboration of Faculty, Staff and Administration
• Best Practices in eLearning
• Retention/Student Engagement
• Emerging Trends in eLearning

Submit a Proposal Now.  (Due by: May 30, 2013)

NW eLearning Conference is a unique, cost-effective opportunity for faculty, administrators and instructional designers to come together to discuss best practices, collaborations and ideas in integrating technology in learning.

Mark the date and register for NW eLearning 2013 today!

2 Head Start programs to close after losing federal funding

Seattle’s First AME Child Development Center and United Indians of All Tribes Foundation have forfeited their ongoing federal Head Start grants after failing to meet performance benchmarks.  Find out more here

Qualified Math Teachers Elusive for Struggling Students, Studies Find

Struggling students face longest odds

In many schools in the United States, students struggling the most in mathematics at the start of high school have the worst odds of getting a qualified teacher in the subject, new research finds. Find out more here

Obama Budget Would Invest in Pre-K, High School Overhaul

President Barack Obama's budget unveiled today proposes new money for a big expansion of prekindergarten programs, a new competitive-grant program for high school improvement, a new Race to the Top competition focused on higher education—and level funding for the two formula grants school districts depend on most: Title I grants for disadvantaged students and special education. Read more here 

The State's Education Funding Dilema

The Washington Constitution says the state must make "ample provision" for the education of all children, but a recent lawsuit claimed the state has been shirking that duty. The Washington Supreme Court agreed last year, ruling the state must rely less on local levies for K-12 schools and start paying for programs it doesn't fully fund. Finding that extra money is one of the top issues facing lawmakers this legislative session.

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