Advocacy
Greetings!

Last month, Chalk Talk invited readers to provide feedback on the way we communicate with you.  We were very encouraged by the responses - all of which were helpful.  Thanks to everyone who participated.  In the coming months we look to address the issues you care about.

This month, Chalkboard is going through a strategic planning process.  Our organization was founded upon the notion that hearing from Oregonians is paramount when making significant changes in our schools. 

That's why we are asking for your input regarding Chalkboard's strategic direction.  Please take a few minutes to answer 5 questions about Chalkboard's future and the future of education in Oregon.
Chalkboard Welcomes Back
President Sue Hildick
CBL
Sue Hildick, Chalkboard's President, is back in the office.  After spending 5 months on maternity leave, Sue is looking forward to resuming day-to-day leadership of the Chalkboard Project.  We are all glad to have her back in the office!

Chalkboard's Board of Directors and staff would like to extend great thanks to Kate Dickson for the wonderful work she did as Chalkboard's Interim President.  Chalkboard has accomplished a great amount under her leadership.  Kate has returned to her role as Vice President for Education Policy.
 
Changes on Chalkboard's
Communications Team

April 10th will mark Liesl Wendt's last day as Chalkboard's Vice President for External Relations.  Liesl is becoming the interim-Executive Director for 211 Info, a health and human services hot-line.  Liesl helped start the organization and formerly served as Board Chair for Oregon 211.  Chalkboard wishes her all the best in this exciting new chapter.  Her leadership and expertise will be missed.

Her replacement, Merry Ann Moore, is a Chalkboard Citizens' Corps member from Central Oregon with a passion for education.  She has extensive experience is media and public relations. Ms. Moore can be reached at [email protected].
Obama's Education Vision and CLASS 
"From the moment students enter a school, the most important factor in their success is not the color of their skin or the income of their parents, it's the person standing at the front of the classroom," stated President Obama at a speech to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on March 10, 2009.

The Obama Administration's emphasis on teaching quality and rethinking compensation models has opened a door for Chalkboard's CLASS project to take the national stage.  The work being done through CLASS aligns with the President's vision for the future of teaching in the United States.

Recently, Chalkboard Board Member Charlie Walker and President Sue Hildick wrote an opinion piece in The Oregonian outlining this connection.

Read "Rethinking the Path to Accountability" now.
Free Tutors Await Eastern Oregon Students CBL
In September 2008, the Chalkboard Project provided a grant to the Libraries of Eastern Oregon (LEO) for a free online tutoring service available from any location. Administered by Tutor.com, Live Homework Help connects students to expert tutors in math, science, social studies and English.

As students head back to the classroom after spring break Chalkboard and LEO are reminding parents and students that this wonderful resource is readily available.  Users can simply visit 51 local eastern Oregon libraries, a library's Web site, or LEO's Web site (www.librariesofeasternoregon.org) to get on-demand, free help from
qualified tutors. All that's needed is a library card. The service is available seven days a week from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Read the press release about Free Live Homework Help now.
 
Tag, you're it... CBL
This month Tag features Kelly Cousineau.  Kelly is a Junior from Sam Barlow High School in Gresham,OR.  She is involved in honors and Advanced Placement classes, is page editor for the Bruin Banner newspaper, is a member of the National Honors Society, Key Club, has been on Freshmen Class
Council, ASB Site Council, Junior Class Council, and LINK Crew. Chalk Talk met up with Kelly at the recent statewide Oregon Diploma Summit.

In your opinion what are the benefits of the new high school diploma requirements?
The new diploma holds higher expectations for students than they often hold for themselves. They are required to care more about their education in order to obtain their diploma and when they walk off that [graduation] stage, it will actually mean something to them.

What can Chalkboard do to inspire young people to advocate for making Oregon schools better?
Now, more than ever, it is necessary to have people willing to stand
up for education and demand higher expectations. I think that advocating support for lower/middle class families and higher education are worthy goals that will benefit future generations of Oregon.

I also think it's extremely important to get students involved in the planning process of education. Students should know
how much goes into the requirements set for them. If we want to create change we have to represent all levels of education, including the people most affected, students themselves. I'm currently working on creating a student-led program for middle/lower class income students that will offer financial aid, peer mentoring, peer academic advisement, career planning, and parent involvement, among other things.
April 2009
Advocacy
In This Issue
Chalkboard Welcomes Back President Sue Hildick
Changes on Chalkboard's Communications Team
Obama's Education Vision and CLASS
Free Tutors Await Eastern Oregon Students
Education Funding in Oregon
Education Funding in Oregon
Respondents to last month's communications survey were loud and clear. You want to know more about how education is funded in the state and what role the federal stimulus package will have in filling budget shortfalls.

Transparency and accountability in school finance is one of Chalkboard's major focuses. That is why we created the Open Books Project. By visiting OpenBooksProject.org you can find out how your money is being spent and the results those investments are generating.

In addition, the Oregon Department of Education has created a web page that details how federal stimulus dollars will be allocated. Visit the ODE page here.

For those in the Portland area, Stand for Children is hosting two informational events on this topic:

Legislative Education Forum
Wednesday, April 15, 6:30 p.m.
Westminster Presbyterian Church
1624 NE Hancock Street
RSVP to Greg Wallinger at [email protected]

Moving Schools Forward in Tough Economic Times: Yes We Can Generate Needed Revenue!
Saturday, April 18
10 a.m. - 12 noon
Kennedy School Community Room
5736 NE 33rd Avenue, Portland
RSVP to Mike Rosen at [email protected]
 
What's Next for Chalkboard...

April 9
CLASS Advisory Council Meeting

April 17-18

Oregon PTA Conference

April 21
Chalkboard Board Meeting

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