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AASL Transforms Learning with New Mission Statement and Strategic Plan
AASL challenges leaders in all fields to bring about an evolution in student learning with its adoption of a new mission statement and strategic plan. During the 2014 ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas, the AASL Board of Directors unanimously voted to approve the mission statement: The American Association of School Librarians empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.
AASL Releases Position Statement on the Role of the School Librarian in Senior/Capstone Projects
AASL has published a new position statement on the role of the school librarian in Senior/Capstone Projects. Senior/Capstone Projects are research-oriented courses driven by student interest and not curricular mandates. The position statement affirms that school library programs, and specifically school librarians, are crucial to the successful implementation of these projects. The position statement is available for view on the AASL website.
Early Bird Gets Discounted Rate for Fall Forum
 Those interested in attending AASL's upcoming Fall Forum have until September 17 to register to receive the discounted rate. Themed "School Librarians in the Anytime Anywhere Learning Landscape," the Fall Forum is an exciting opportunity for school librarians to learn how to best support their communities while taking a prominent leadership role in navigating a new frontier. It will be held October 17-18 in St. Louis, Missouri, and other sites around the country. To register, visit http://www.ala.org/aasl/conferences/fall-forum/registration.
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Andrea Francisco Named School Library Media Specialist of the Year
 Andrea Francisco, media specialist/librarian at Forest Avenue Elementary School in West Babylon, NY, has been named the 2014 School Library Media Specialist of the Year by Western Suffolk BOCES School Library System during its 16th annual conference. This award is presented to a school library specialist who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to students and staff and a love of reading through creative programming.
Joanne Zienty Nabs “Soon to Be Famous Author” Prize
 Joanne Zienty, a media specialist at the Forest School Library in Des Plaines, IL, was named the winner of the Soon to be Famous Illinois Author Contest for her book, “The Things We Save.” She received the honor as part of National Library Week. Zienty's work was selected to be the focus of a year of book talks, author events, and other promotions in Illinois public libraries. "I get to be the face for this book and the person who gets to go out and promote the project," said Zienty.
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FCC Passes Proposal to Inject $2 Billion into E-Rate for Schools and Libraries
 Last month, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) narrowly passed the “Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” for the Program to Modernize E-Rate. The Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will accomplish three major goals:
- Significantly expand funding for Wi-Fi networks and distribute it fairly to all schools and libraries while recognizing the needs of the nation’s rural and poorest school districts
- Maximize the cost-effectiveness of E-rate spending through greater pricing transparency, encouraging consortia and bulk purchasing, and better enforcement of existing rules
- Streamline and simplify the E-rate application process and overall program administration
The Order maintains E-rate's current budget of $2.4 billion (adjusted by inflation) and makes available an additional $2 billion to support Wi-Fi over the next two years through improved financial management practices that free up excess reserves.
Parents Look to Teachers for Internet Safety Training
A recent survey of educators worldwide shows that 75% believe that parents rely too much on their child's teacher to address Internet safety with students. While 86% of the responding U.S. teachers report using the Internet in the classroom, almost 75% said they have never had formal training on Internet safety. In addition, US schools were least likely to have IT classes (only 60%) and only 40% of teachers set homework that required online resources to complete (compared to 57% globally).
The Future of Net Access
A recent Pew Research survey finds that a majority of respondents say they hope that by 2025 there will not be significant changes for the worse and hindrances to the ways in which people get and share content online today. Respondents said they expect that technology innovation will continue to afford more new opportunities for people to connect. Still, some express wide levels of concern that this yearning for an open Internet will be challenged by trends that could sharply disrupt the way the Internet works for many users today as a source of largely unfettered content flows.
Paper Recommends Colleges Incorporate Common Core State Standards in Admissions
 Colleges and universities need to incorporate Common Core State Standards assessments into their admissions processes to smooth the transition for incoming students, according to a recent report from the New America Foundation. "To address the many policy issues plaguing this transition, officials within and across states must engage to amend inconsistent policies, increase the usefulness of new assessment tools, and overhaul outdated practices," the paper reads.
Few Parents See Reading as a Priority over the Summer
Despite research that indicates the importance of summer reading in preventing children from losing literacy skills, only 17% of parents say reading is a top summer priority, according to a new survey from Reading Is Fundamental and Macy’s. The survey, conducted by Harris Poll, also finds that children spend nearly three times as many hours weekly watching TV or playing video games as they do reading in the summer.
U.S. Education Makes Poor Showing in Innovation Study.
Schools and classrooms in the U.S. received low marks for education innovation in a study of countries by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Denmark, Indonesia, Korea, and the Netherlands ranked highest in the study, which was based on data from 2000 through 2011.
Reading Skills Still Developing in 4th Grade
Brain scans of 96 students in third through fifth grades and college students suggest students are still learning to decode words in fourth grade, a time when many educators believe the process has become more automated, according to a study published in the journal Developmental Science. The lead researcher said the data indicate that the ability to automatically process words likely takes place in an unstudied area somewhere between fifth grade and college.
Strong Early Reading Skills in Children Yields Higher Intelligence Later
New research shows improved reading in child years will lead to development of higher IQ later on in life. "Early remediation of reading problems might aid not only the growth of literacy, but also more general cognitive abilities that are of critical importance across the lifespan," Stuart J. Ritchie, lead author of the study, said in a press release. Ritchie and his colleagues from the University of Edinburgh and King's College London conducted this research, published in the journal Child Development.
Common Genes Link Reading and Mathematical Learning
A U.K. study in the journal Nature Communications found that children's reading skills were influenced by the same genetic variations responsible for their mathematical ability. "Heritability does not imply that anything is set in stone--it just means it may take more effort from parents, schools and teachers to bring the child up to speed," study author Robert Plomin said.
US Students in Middle of the Pack on Financial Know-How
 The U.S. ranked ninth in financial-literacy skills among 15-year-olds in a recent study of 18 countries and economies by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. More than 1 in 6 U.S. students did not reach the baseline level of proficiency in financial literacy. Shanghai, China, topped the list. Other countries posting strong financial literacy skills among students include the Flemish Community of Belgium, Estonia, Australia, New Zealand, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Latvia.
Return on Educational Investment
A report from the Center for American Progress (CAP) examines the productivity of the nation’s school districts. The “project developed a set of relatively simple productivity metrics in order to measure the achievement that a school district produces relative to its spending.” It finds that low educational productivity remains a deeply pressing problem, with billions of dollars lost in low-capacity districts. In addition, some of the nation’s most affluent school systems show a worrying lack of productivity. States also have failed to make fiscal equity a priority, and large funding gaps exist across school districts.
Students from Wealthy Homes Fall behind International Peers
While the focus often is on the achievement of disadvantaged students in the U.S. compared with more affluent peers, an analysis of testing data shows that more affluent students in the U.S. are severely behind international peers in academic achievement. The analysis aims to reveal, among other things, whether students' academic success is based on schools or socioeconomic factors.
Report Suggests Ending Standardized Pay System for Teachers
 To improve the recruitment and retention of high-quality teachers, the U.S. should change the way it pays teachers, according to a recent report by The New Teacher Project. Instead of standardized pay scales, the report calls for performance-based pay and the potential for teachers at struggling schools or in high-needs subjects to earn bonuses.
British Authors Pressure UK Government over School Libraries
Dozens of British authors and others have written an open letter to the UK Department of Education calling for action in the wake of a report from the Libraries All Party Parliamentary Group, titled The Beating Heart of the School, urging that the Department should supervise proper standards of services in school libraries. The letter states: “We – authors and illustrators, teachers, librarians, parents and others – are keen that this recommendation does not just become another piece of wishful thinking, and call on the Department for Education to act immediately on the report’s conclusions to gather data on library provision and instruct Ofsted to include libraries in its remit. This is urgent. Schools lost 280 librarians last year.”
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Resources for School Librarians
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New Tool to Help Gather Data about Library Habits and Attitudes
The Pew Research Center announced the creation of a new tool that helps librarians gather data about the library habits and attitudes of their own community. Librarians, educators, and other groups can now create their own unique “community version” of Pew’s library user quiz, with which they can invite members of their community to participate with a unique URL. Through this tool librarians can compare the library engagement of their library or group with the rest of the country.
Using News Photos to Teach Critical Thinking and Close Reading Skills
News photographs can help students read closely, develop analytical skills and learn to think critically about what images communicate, according to media-literacy consultant Frank Baker. He suggests having students study photographs without captions, and research and write brief descriptions of what they see, such as in one photo of President Barack Obama by The Associated Press.
Drumming up Excitement for Books
"Why don't our students love to read? Well, use your imagination and pretend you're a student. You've only been reading for seven to twelve years -- and most of what you've read has been assigned and tested," writes ASCD EDge community member Ryan Thomas. In a recent blog post, Thomas shares 10 simple ways teachers can get their students excited about reading.
How to Merge Project-Based Learning and Making
 Educator Patrick Waters suggests in this blog post that teachers combine two hot trends in education -- project-based learning and making. Waters offers a step-by-step guide to integrating making in a PBL curriculum, which includes the reminder that "good projects require failure" and teach grit.
Lessons on Infographics Can Deepen Students’ Writing Skills
 Teaching students about infographics helps them develop visual literacy skills and write in a way that moves beyond communicating basic facts in sentence format, English teacher Brett Vogelsinger writes in this blog post. He describes how to help students analyze and develop infographics and includes links to online resources and examples of student projects.
3 Tips to Help Teachers Work Together
Sharing responsibility by delegating some of the workload can improve collaboration between educators, writes former classroom teacher Lily Jones. Other tips include building relationships and creating time in schedules specifically for collaboration.
Teaching Literacy across Content Areas
NCLE’s collection of resources, including video, provides multiple tools and strategies for developing literacy across the content areas. Doug Fisher and colleagues lead a web seminar about building a schoolwide culture focused on literacy across the content areas where multiple instructional strategies are shared. Heather Lattimer writes about developing academic vocabulary in a chapter from her book, "Reading for Learning: Using Discipline-Based Texts to Build Content Knowledge." In a 25-minute video clip, educators from across the disciplines demonstrate strategies they include in their instructional routine as part of an intentional schoolwide vocabulary initiative.
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IMLS 2015 National Medal for Museum and Library Service
 The Institute of Museum and Library Services is seeking applications for the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The National Medal for Museum and Library Service is the nation’s highest honor for exemplary service by museums and libraries. IMLS is now accepting nominations for the 2015 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. Nomination forms are due October 15, 2014.
New Policy Brief on Competency-Based Pathways
 Achieve has released a new policy brief, "The Imperative for State Leadership," to provide guidance on critical areas for states to exercise strong leadership as they advance competency-based pathways to college and career readiness for all students. It highlights the importance of states providing leadership on communications and engagement to pave the way forward for districts and schools; ensuring that graduation requirements, assessments and accountability systems work together to promote determinations of competency that equate to college and career readiness; and addressing risks to equity to make certain that a shift to competency-based pathways promotes greater opportunity and outcomes for students of color, economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities and English language learners.
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National Association of Independent Schools Challenge 20/20
 National Association of Independent Schools Challenge 20/20 Program provides an opportunity for schools to develop globally based, experiential curricula and to build educational partnerships with schools around the world. Challenge 20/20 students form authentic bonds with students from across the globe, and learn first-hand about cross-cultural communication; together, teams tackle real problems. Maximum award: participation in the program. Eligibility: elementary and secondary schools, public or private, located anywhere in the world. Deadline: August 15, 2014.
Open Meadows Foundation Grants for Women and Girls
The Open Meadows Foundation is a grant-making organization for projects that are led by and benefit women and girls. It funds projects that reflect the diversity of the community served by the project in both its leadership and organization; that build community power; that promote racial, social, economic, and environmental justice; and that have limited financial access or have encountered obstacles in their search for funding. Maximum award: $2,000. Eligibility: 501(c)3 organizations with an organizational budget no larger than $150,000. Projects must be designed and implemented by women and girls. Deadline: August 15, 2014.
IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is accepting applications for the 2015 Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program now through September 15. The program supports grants for recruiting and educating library students, continuing education for those already in the profession, research, and new programs that build institutional capacity.
P. Buckley Moss Foundation: Grants for Teachers of Children Who Learn Differently
P. Buckley Moss Foundation Education Grants aid and support teachers who wish to establish an effective learning tool using the arts in teaching children with learning disabilities and other special needs. Maximum award: $1,000. Eligibility: new or evolving programs that integrate the arts into educational programming. Deadline: September 30, 2014.
Siemens/The College Board Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement
Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement fosters intensive research that improves students’ understanding of the value of scientific study and informs their consideration of future careers in these disciplines. Maximum award: $100,000 college scholarship. Eligibility: students must enrolled in high school (grades 9-12) during the 2013-14 school year, individually or as a team. Deadline: September 30, 2014.
Farmers Insurance: Thank a Million Teachers
 Farmers Insurance wants to thank teachers all across the country and have a genuinely positive impact on the lives of teachers and their students. Every educator that has been thanked on ThankAMillionTeachers.com is eligible to apply for a grant. The winners must use the money to purchase school supplies through AdoptAClassroom.org or have the funds applied toward a professional certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Maximum award: a $2,500 grant. Eligibility: current K through 12 teachers in the United States who have submitted a qualified proposal on www.thankamillionteachers.com. Deadline: October 31, 2014.
State Farm Foundation Grants
State Farm is committed to meeting the needs of our communities by focusing our giving in three areas: Safe Neighbors (safety), Strong Neighborhoods (community development), and Education Excellence (education). Maximum award: varies. Eligibility: nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code; Canadian charitable organizations, educational institutions, and governmental entities. Deadline: October 31, 2014.
HASTAC/MacArthur Foundation Trust Challenge: Building Trust in Connected Learning Environments
HASTAC and the MacArthur Foundation announced the Trust Challenge: Building Trust in Connected Learning Environments. The Trust Challenge will award a total of $1.2 million to institutions and organizations that tackle questions about trust in connected learning environments such as "How can learners exercise control over who sees and uses their data?" "What tools do they need to navigate, collaborate, and learn online with confidence?" and "What solutions will foster greater civility and respect in online learning environments?" Awards include $10,000 to $150,000 year-long development grants. Applications will beaccepted September 3 to November 3.
NSTA Wendell G. Mohling Outstanding Aerospace Educator Award
The Wendell G. Mohling Outstanding Aerospace Educator Award recognizes excellence in the field of aerospace education. The recipient of the award will be honored during the Awards Banquet and the Aerospace Educators Luncheon at the annual NSTA Conference. Maximum award: $3,000, and $2,000 in expenses to attend NSTA’s National Conference. Eligibility: educators in informal education settings (e.g., museums, government, science centers). Individuals must be nominated for this award; self-nominations accepted. Deadline: November 30, 2014.
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