Education Report June 4, 2010

1. Budget and Appropriations
-Before heading home for the Memorial Day holiday several important items were completed on the legislative calendar: a bill to approve the reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act, a Jobs and Tax Extenders bill, as well as an Emergency Supplemental spending bill that covers the cost of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and natural disaster, but little else.
-Round two of the Race to the Top applications was due last week. Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia submitted proposals. Arne Duncan hinted that 15 of these applicants would be announced as winners in September.
-Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics were released last Wednesday in an event in Atlanta.

2. Common Core Standards Initiative Releases Math and ELA Final Drafts
-Wednesday, June 2, 2010 the highly anticipated final drafts of Common Core State Standards for English language arts and mathematics were released by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers.
-Each of the 48 states that participated in the development of these standards no face the decision of whether to adopt them.
-As states move forward they will need to translate standards into classroom teaching that will help all students master these new standards.

For more information visit: http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards [1]

3. In Brief
-ELL Policy Working Groups releases ESEA Recommendations
-Urban Institute examines racial disparity after high school
-Members of Committee on measures of student success announced
-ASU hosts event to discuss improving US education

Be sure to also check out sections #4 (New Publications) and #5 (In the News) for articles of interest.