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THE NEWS
ACADEMIC PREPARATION
D.C. schools chancellor plans to expand use of standardized tests
By Bill Turque, The Washington Post
D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee plans to significantly expand the use of standardized tests so that, eventually, every D.C. student from kindergarten through high school is regularly assessed to measure academic progress and the effectiveness of teachers. The plan, to be phased in beginning in the spring, is certain to reignite debate about what some D.C. parents and teachers already regard as a test-happy culture.
Panel moves toward ‘Next Generation’ science standards
By Erik Robelen, Education Week
As part of a national effort to produce “next generation” science standards for K-12 education, a panel of experts convened by the National Research Council yesterday issued a draft of a conceptual framework designed to guide the standards and “move science education toward a more coherent vision.” One key goal of the effort is to focus science instruction on a more limited number of core ideas that students can learn in greater depth. “The growing national consensus around the need for ‘fewer, higher, clearer’ [standards] is central to this effort,” the draft framework declares. “There is widespread recognition that too often standards are long lists of detailed and disconnected facts, reinforcing the criticism that the U.S. science curriculum tends to be ‘a mile wide and an inch deep.’”
O’Malley wants to waive test fees for students
By Liz Bowie, The Baltimore Sun
Gov. Martin O'Malley wants to remove the financial hurdles that he says prevent more students from taking the Advanced Placement and PSAT tests by having the state pay for them. "Our proposal represents a unique opportunity to remove the barriers to students who want to work hard and achieve," O'Malley said Tuesday. Since the AP test fee is already waived for poor students, the proposal would only benefit middle-class and wealthy families who pay $86 for each test. High school students can earn college credit if they score high enough on the exam, so the initiative could save families on the cost of college. Baltimore City and Prince George's County already pay the cost for all students in their systems who take the test.
POSTSECONDARY ACCESS & SUCCESS
A marriage made in Indiana
By Doug Lederman, InsideHigherEd
Just about everywhere you turn, state leaders are searching for a way to use online education to expand the reach of their public higher education systems at a time of diminished resources. Like its peers, Indiana's leaders have increasingly recognized that the state cannot thrive economically if it does not bolster college completion, particularly among adults (aged 29-49) who have historically been underrepresented in the state's seven public four-year universities. But they recognize that doing so at a time of (temporarily, if not permanently) diminished resources isn't easy -- and that online education is no panacea because, done right, it isn't cheap.
U. of Florida’s support for first-generation students: helpful, but pricey
By Beckie Supiano, The Chronicle of Higher Education
Although he was a good student, Brandon T. White didn't really think about his college options until his senior year of high school. Even then, despite diligently applying for scholarships, he wasn't sure how he could afford to attend a four-year college. But that spring, four years ago, Mr. White got some surprising news—the University of Florida would meet all of his financial need with grants. Mr. White was part of the first group of students in the Florida Opportunity Scholars program, which the university created in 2006 to support first-generation, low-income students. The university was hoping to increase not only socioeconomic, but also racial, diversity.
USA Funds to award $2million to promote college success
By PR Newswire, Indiana’s Triangle Business Journal
To commemorate its 50th anniversary of service to higher education, USA Funds® will award grants totaling up to $2 million to nonprofit organizations to bolster student success in postsecondary education. The Indianapolis-based nonprofit today announced the USA Funds Trustees' National Award for College Success, an award of up to $1 million to a nonprofit organization outside the state of Indiana to promote student success in postsecondary education. USA Funds will award a second grant of up to $1 million to an Indiana-based nonprofit organization to promote student success in postsecondary education in the state of Indiana.
Foreign-student enrollments in U.S. rise despite global recession
By Karin Fischer, The Chronicle of Higher Education
The enrollment of foreign students at American colleges climbed in the most recent academic year, according to new visa data, confounding expectations that international-student numbers would drop because of the worldwide financial crisis. The analysis of visa figures from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, in a report out on Thursday by the National Science Foundation, shows foreign enrollments in American colleges increased by 3 percent in the fall of 2009, to 586,000. The NSF report provides the most up-to-date picture of international-student trends.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Academic outcomes of study abroad
By Elizabeth Redden, InsideHigherEd
In 2000, researchers began an ambitious effort to document the academic outcomes of study abroad across the 35-institution University System of Georgia. Ten years later, they’ve found that students who study abroad have improved academic performance upon returning to their home campus, higher graduation rates, and improved knowledge of cultural practices and context compared to students in control groups. They’ve also found that studying abroad helps, rather than hinders, academic performance of at-risk students.
Social sciences: 2010 World report observes growth in emerging countries
By UNESCO Media Services
According to the study, North America and Europe still publish 75% of social science journals worldwide, with 85% of them partially or totally in English. A quarter of them are published in the United States. The disciplines that are the subject of greatest number of publications in the world are economics and psychology. Two-thirds of social science journals in the world are published in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Germany. The UNESCO and ISSC report highlights contrasting developments in the different regions of the world. Social sciences are developing in countries such as China, India and Brazil.
Skills shortage a danger
By Guy Healy, The Australian
Skills shortages in key professions and vocations have escalated so that they now present a "high to extreme" risk of impeding business operations this year. This is the finding of a survey of 400 companies by the Australian Industry Group. AIG chief executive Heather Ridout said business was "hugely frustrated" that half the respondents cited a lack of both the specialised and underpinning skills and experience in applicants as causing the shortages. Presented with the considerable graduate numbers this week, the AIG said it stood by its claims, saying a qualification did not necessarily equate to a job.
REPORTS WORTH READING
Exploring the Landscape: What Institutional Websites Reveal About Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Activities
Despite persistent calls for colleges and universities to post student learning outcomes assessment information to their websites, the assessment information that can be found online falls considerably short of the activities reported by chief academic officers. The study from the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment finds that institutions are often not taking full advantage of their website to increase transparency regarding student learning outcomes assessment. The researchers share their findings and offer recommendations for institutions.
Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements Through 2018
The publication released by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce denotes that between 1973 and 2018 jobs available for workers with postsecondary education are projected to increase from 28% to 63% for all occupations. Furthermore, the report indicates that the U.S. will need 22 million new college degrees by 2018 to fulfill the demands of the workforce but will fall short of that figure by at least 3 million postsecondary degrees (Associate degrees or higher). Additionally, 4.7 million new workers with postsecondary certificates will also be needed. Postsecondary institutions will play a vital role in helping U.S. citizens meet the workforce demands. According to the report, postsecondary institutions will have to increase their degree production by 10% annually to keep pace.
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