Achievement Gaps Hurt US Economy, Report Says. The New York Times (4/23, A22, Hernandez) reports, “The lagging performance of American schoolchildren…has had a negative economic impact on the country that exceeds that of the current recession, according to a report released on Wednesday” by McKinsey & Company, a management consulting firm. The report, The Economic Impact of the Achievement Gap in America’s Schools, focused on achievement gaps “between black and Hispanic children and white children…poor and wealthy students,” Americans and students in other countries, and “students of similar backgrounds educated in different parts of the country.” It concluded “that if those…gaps were closed, the yearly gross domestic product of the United States would be trillions of dollars higher, or $3 billion to $5 billion more per day.”

The report also notes that “by comparison, in the current deep recession, the US economy is falling about $1 trillion short of its output potential,” the Christian Science Monitor (4/23, Khadaroo) adds. Although the report does not offer any solutions to closing the achievement gaps, “it does suggest some areas to be explored.” For example, “the level of achievement gaps varies widely between states, districts, and schools — even those with similar demographics.” And, “Texas’s students have average national test scores significantly higher than California’s, even though Texas spends less per pupil.” Furthermore, “Latinos in Ohio outperform white students in 13 states on eighth-grade reading.”

Education Week (4/22, Klein) noted that “at least one researcher questioned the study’s methodology and conclusions, even while praising its focus on improving outcomes for minorities and children from low-income families.” Henry Levin, a professor of education and economics at Teachers College, Columbia University, said that “standardized tests generally ignore noncognitive factors that can be an equally good, if not better, predictor of future income, such as work ethic and the ability to cooperate with others.” He also pointed out that “the McKinsey report’s estimates on GDP leave out any expenditures the United States would have to make to improve educational outcomes.”

Connection Between Education Gap, GDP Seen As Difficult To Measure.

The New York Times (4/17, A16, Carey) reports, “Some seventh graders who were struggling in class did significantly better after performing a series of brief confidence-building writing exercises, and the improvements continued through eighth grade, researchers reported Thursday.” For the study, “led by Geoffrey L. Cohen, a social psychologist at the University of Colorado… seventh graders in suburban Connecticut schools” worked on the writing assignment “three to five times” throughout the school year. “It asked them to choose from a list values that were most important to them — including athletic ability, sense of humor, creativity and being smart — and to write why those values were so important.” Results showed that “students who benefited most were blacks who were doing poorly.” However, “the exercises made no difference for white students, or for black ones who were already doing well.”

According to the research, published “in the April 17 issue of Science,” after receiving the intervention, “the rate of remediation or grade repetition dropped from 18 percent to five percent for” low-performing black students, HealthDay (4/16) added. “One of the ways this type of intervention helps children, according to Cohen, is by reducing stress.” Cohen said that when students take time out to reflect on their values “during an important performance situation… the stressful performance situation becomes less stressful,” and they view themselves “capable and good.” For minority students, “this type of change in thinking might be especially important…because they may feel that they’ll be judged in a stereotypical way,” he added. WebMD (4/16, Wilbert) and Reuters (4/17, Steenhuysen) also covered the story.

In an effort to try and make the Asbury Park Education Association website that much more accessible we have signed up AsburyParkEA on Twitter. For the time being “tweets” will be sent out whenever the webpage is updated, typically once or twice a week, maybe we will expand if needed. So if you are already on Twitter, follow us! If not, now is the perfect time to join.

Follow the link above or use the APEA On Twitter box on the right side of the page to find our feed and follow us! With contract negotiations, budget & staffing issues this is a good time to be in touch 24/7 via the web, email and text messaging. Twitter manages to do all of this.

If this proves popular maybe we could move into some Facebook integration.

April 7, 2009

Dear Editor,

I had to respond to your editorial on “Asbury board flunks exam” in Tuesday’s Asbury Park Press. Once again, like your roving reporter, Nancy Shields, your comments are way off base and are “your” opinions only. As Ms. Shields misquoted me in her article (“wishing suspended Superintendent Antonio Lewis was back”), this opinion also has distorted facts. You and Ms. Shields skewed this to make Mr. Cowell look like the “Messiah” himself. For the record, I stated that we are no better off now than when we had Dr. Lewis here. At least he would have saved jobs.
The fact of the matter is that over the past 4 years, my membership in the local Association has dropped from an all time high of nearly 650 members, down to 568 as of last week. Through attrition, the district has managed to cut almost 100 Asbury Park Education Association (APEA) positions. Have you questioned anyone in the Central Office to see how many supervisor positions have been added since this time? If you have a chance, I implore you to go over to 603 Mattison Ave. and see how it looks like a small factory. Once again, they add at the top and layoff people in the trenches.
With these pending layoffs, most of the affected people that I represent not only spent many years working here, but also live in Asbury Park, spend their money in Asbury Park, and send or sent their children to these schools.

Florida Districts Target Nontenured Teachers For Layoffs. The St. Petersburg Times (4/9, Matus) reports, “Given historic cuts to education funding in Florida, teachers everywhere are anxious. But those without tenure have bigger targets on their backs because when it comes to layoffs, union contracts force districts to put a premium on seniority.” Throughout the state, districts are “are culling nontenured teachers — most of them young and new to teaching.” In Hernando County last week, “district officials told 115 nontenured teachers…that their annual contracts will not be renewed for next year.” Hernando superintendent Wayne Alexander admitted that “some up-and-coming stars” would “have to be let go,” adding “You’re really hamstrung by the contractual agreements. That’s not just in Florida. That’s across the country.” Teacher tenure protections have come “under fire nationally from both liberal and conservative education reformers,” who say that such protections make it difficult for districts “to fire bad teachers. But with school budgets fraying, critics also point to the role that tenure plays in pushing out young teachers.”

In the Classroom
Educators Should Make Lessons Relevant To Boys, Therapist Says. USA Today (4/9, Jayson) reports that according to Michael Gurian, a family therapist and author of The Purpose of Boys, “many boys “don’t understand what their social roles should be,” because they lack proper role models and mentors.

On behalf of the APEA, I would like to wish all our brothers and sisters that celebrate Passover and Easter, as well as anyone who tunes into our website to have a very blessed and happy holiday. I would also like to say to each and everyone to have a safe and happy spring break. This is a much needed rest for everyone.

With that being said, there will be no updates to our site for approximately 1 week, as we will be on vacation. We will keep everyone abreast of all the issues that affect our Union once we return from Spring Break. I ask that every member stay tuned as we need to stay mobilized for the job cuts that are going to affect our school district. We are having a very important meeting with the Ministerial Alliance and the Parent Listening Project over the break. Together, we are going to combat the Board with these cuts.

US Preschool Education Threatened By Economic Downturn, Researchers Say. The AP (4/8) reports that “preschool enrollment is up and spending on state pre-K programs is up, too — but the economic downturn could spell trouble for the nation’s youngest schoolchildren,” according to “a report being released Wednesday” by the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University. The report shows that “currently, more than 80 percent of all four-year-olds attend some kind of preschool program,” and “about half of those go to a public program.” But “at least nine states…are likely to make cuts to pre-kindergarten programs,” researchers say. As such, “the institute is urging the federal government to match state spending with up to $2,500 for every additional child enrolled in state pre-K programs, as a way to grow preschool so that all of the nation’s four-year-olds can have access by 2020.”

In the Classroom
Elementary School’s Building Understanding Zone Teaches Scientific Method Of Inquiry. The Minneapolis Star Tribune (4/8, Lavrusik) reports on the BUZ (Building Understanding Zone) at Cedar Park Elementary School in Apple Valley, MN, which is “aimed at bringing the scientific method of inquiry to the forefront of the” school. The BUZ contains “live tarantulas, cockroaches, tadpoles and other animals,” and is meant to “be an extension of classroom teaching,” according to cedar Park Principal John Garcia. Teachers “will decide how to incorporate the room into the curriculum for” their own classes.

To: All the APEA Membership

From: APEA Executive Committee

Re: Board of Education Meeting

Date: April 6, 2009

In an effort to silence your voice on Mr. Cowell and Ms. Lowell’s 2009/2010 school budget, with a minimum of 62 staff cuts, please be advised of the following:

They have scheduled a Board meeting for this Wednesday. Conferences for all elementary schools are that evening. Wednesday evening is the first night of Passover. This is “Holy Week” in many religions.
In light of these circumstances, and the fact that the majority of the staff and many parents have conferences scheduled for that evening, our esteemed State Monitor and Business Administrator have made it virtually impossible for their budget to be questioned.

Therefore, I am asking that each and every member of the APEA, any parent, and any community member email them at:
lowellc@asburypark.k12.nj.us or mark.cowell@doe.state.nj.us
and call them at extensions 2411 and 2424 and demand that this meeting be changed until after the holidays. Let them know that they CAN NOT silence your voice.

The Association has already been in contact with the Ministerial Alliance, as well as parent groups within the district to spread the word and do the same. We will keep you informed.

Michigan Students Continue To Make Progress On Math Tests. The AP (4/3, Martin) reports that scores from the 2008 Michigan Educational Assessment Program tests show that public elementary and middle school students “have improved their math scores on standardized tests for the fourth straight year.” Test results show that “At least 75 percent of the students tested in” the third through eighth grades “scored proficient or above in math. … Scores improved at every grade level, with the greatest improvement coming among seventh-graders.” Third grade was the group with the most students “scoring proficient or above” — 91 percent. “Results in other subject areas,” meanwhile, “were more mixed, but in general scores tended to be better at most grade levels in 2008 than they were in 2007.”

Reading results, meanwhile, “were mixed, with minimal increases and decreases,” the Detroit News (4/3, Stolarz, Wilkinson) reports. “The greatest increase came from seventh-graders, where 79 percent of students scored proficient or above compared with 72 percent last year.” Yet, “in writing…not a single child throughout Michigan received a score of ‘advanced’ in grades 3 through 7,” the Grand Rapids Press (4/3) adds. “The state is downplaying those results,” but some “educators…are questioning the validity of the test.” The Lansing State Journal (4/3, Lavey, Prater) also covers the story.

In the Classroom
Elementary School In Maryland Turns Off Lights For A Day To Practice Energy Conservation. Maryland’s Howard County Times (4/3, Roshan) reports, “Thunder Hill Elementary School was enveloped in darkness last Friday” as students practiced energy conservation.

To: All Asbury Park Education Association Members

From: John Napolitani, President

Date: April 2, 2009

Re: March 31, 2009, Board Meeting Update

On Tuesday night, our Board of Education voted down the proposed 09/10 school budget. This action, I assume, was based on the concerns of the various levels of community members, parents, and staff that went to the microphone to demonstrate why this action was not in the best interests of this district which they are vital stakeholders in.
Unfortunately, the Association leadership believes this was not received well by our district administration that seems resolute on this budget which includes the removal of 62 plus staff personnel from all levels.
The leadership of the APEA, in conjunction with NJEA, has already reviewed specific aspects on funding from both state and federal sources and seriously question the projected numbers put forth by the administration. In addition, their conclusion is that the aid funds are, in short, under funded by the district.
This issue of budget and cuts will inevitably affect everyone, including the students and parents of this district and we ask all members to become involved in this matter.

And finally, for the record, as I stated, Mr. Cowell overturned this decision early yesterday afternoon. I have already informed NJEA, who will be seeking legal recourse on our behalf. We will keep you advised.