Notes from
Trish's Desk
February 11, 2010
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Greetings!
In preparation for the 9th Annual Leadership Breakfast, we're going to talk about the first part of TAF's formula for student success: Higher Expectations.
Higher Expectations + Greater Access
+ More Investment
= Unlimited Student Success
Early in TAF's history, we learned that students responded when we held them to high expectations. Show up for class. Don't be late. Do the work. Push yourself. Apply for internships. Apply to college. Never stop learning.
With our public education system in turmoil, it's time we held ourselves to the similarly high standards. Here are some examples for you to consider:
- Why are fewer students passing Advanced Placement (AP) tests? We all know that AP classes are essential for any college-bound student, but one recent summary suggests that course content may not be living up to AP standards. It's not enough to label a class "AP." The work students do has to be college-level, too. At TAF Academy, we strive every day to create environments and coursework that simulate the college experience.
- Alice is a 3D programming environment used at colleges to teach introductory computer science courses. Rather than opt for the middle school/high school version, TAF is using the college version with our 3rd-6th grade TechStart classes. This spring, they are doing animations about environmental issues.
- The Washington State legislature took a step in the right direction by approving Core 24. However, they did so knowing there was no money to implement the proposal. So we are left with a good idea on paper, and we are no closer to funding basic education, mandated by the state constitution as a "paramount duty." (see Article IX, Section 1)
- We must also expect more from our local school districts, as evidenced by last week's court case involving the Seattle School Board. When curriculum goals are set at the state level (like the principles of Core 24), how do we hold individual school districts accountable for choosing course content (like text books) that meet both the state's requirements and needs of our underserved populations?
I hope you are getting the idea that higher expectations are just part of the solution to our public education problem. At TAF, we think we have found one formula for student success, but ours is not the only way.
We are less than one month away from the Leadership Breakfast and there is still time to join us. I invite you to bring your ideas to the table. (Click here to register today!)
Thanks for listening,
Trish Millines Dziko
Executive Director
Technology Access Foundation |
