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Here is the good news for January 2009. |
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Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe. - H. G. Wells
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American students show steady progress in Math, rank high in international education comparison
source: U.S. Department of Education
American students in grades four and eight showed steady improvements in mathematics since 1995 and generally rank at least in the top one-third compared to other countries, according to an international education comparison released today. In the latest report of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), the ongoing evaluation of 36 to 48 countries revealed that in 2007 the U.S. consistently rated at least in the top one-third and in some cases the top one-fourth of participating nations.
In 2007, the average U.S. fourth-grade math score was higher than those of students in 23 of 35 other countries and among eighth-graders was higher than students in 37 of 47 other countries. According to the study, the eighth-grade gap in mathematics between white and Hispanic U.S. students narrowed by 15 points -- about 20 percent -- since 1995. Similarly, a bigger gap between white and black fourth-graders narrowed by approximately 20 points and between white and black eight-graders by 21 points.
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Schools Given Greater Flexibility to Address Health or Safety Emergencies
Following the tragic April 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech, the U.S. Department of Education published in today's Federal Register final regulations to clarify and give schools greater flexibility in making determinations about disclosures of information from students' education records in order to address threats to the health or safety of students or other individuals. The department published draft regulations March 24.
These changes to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations are in response to the June 2007, "Report to the President on Issues Raised by the Virginia Tech Tragedy," written after U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt and former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez conducted a listening tour across the nation. The report concluded that additional guidance needed to be developed regarding when and how information can be shared in an emergency, especially with regard to the parents of college students. The new regulations provide that guidance and clarify that colleges may share information with students' parents in many circumstances.
read more
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Texas scores higher than national average
source: Education Week
January 8, 2009
Texas educational performance and policies have earned the state a passing grade in the annual Education Week report released today. The state earned a C-plus overall, while the nation as a whole
earned a C.
Education Week, a national education newspaper, and the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center track the public school performance and policy-making of the country and states in an annual report called Quality Counts.
According to the overall performance indicators involving all students, Texas does a good job of advancing students from one grade level to the next (a B, compared with the nation's C) and holding schools to standards, assessments and accountability (a B-plus compared with the nation's B).
Texas was passing in student achievement in kindergarten through 12th grade, with a C; but the nation posted a D-plus in the crucial area.
see details on edweek.org |
"Be Proud" fact #3 - Texas schools among Top 10 in nutrition program
SOURCE: http://www.frac.org/pdf/SBP_2007.pdf
Ninety-nine percent of Texas schools participate in the National School Breakfast Program, making Texas seventh best in the nation, according to a report by the National Food Research and Action Center. The School Breakfast Scorecard 2007 also finds that more than a million low-income Texas children are eating breakfast at school.
Visit our eStore online to order your free posters today! www.fotps.org/store (small shipping charges apply)
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Bumper stickers now available!
At only $1.00 each, why not buy one for every public education graduate you know?
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Test your TAKS readiness The following question is taken from the 11th grade TAKS test.
Compounds with the same chemical composition may have different densities because they -
A. have differences in reactivity
B. are able to bond with oxygen
C. vary in solubility
D. exist in different phases
answer: D |
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Common myths about public education
Source: Debunking Seven Myths About Public Education
By Molly A. Hunter and Matthew Samberg
MYTH: The U.S. Spends More on Education than Other Nations
Among the 30 countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development - a body that comprises the world's most affluent nations - the United States ranks fourth in per pupil spending on K-12 education; this is not an unreasonable position to hold. In addition, about 8 percent of U.S. education spending is for health insurance, while other nations account for these costs in their health systems. Finally, if one instead looks at preprimary-secondary education expenditures as percent of GDP, which some economists think is a better measure of education spending, the United States falls to 14th. |
Our Mission The mission of Friends of Texas Public Schools, the leading voice of optimism and hope for our public school family, is to ensure positive and constructive conversation about public schools by educating Texans through honest communication, productive dialogue, and relentless encouragement.
Please share our optimism for public education, pass us along to others.
Friends of Texas Public Schools
Scott Milder, President & Chief Executive
P.O. Box 3526
Harker Heights, Texas 76548
Phone: 214-497-6411
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Visit www.facebook.com and search Friends of Texas Public Schools to join the Group
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