Utah to get funds for school testing

A coalition of 31 states, including Utah, was awarded $160 million in federal funding to develop an adaptive testing sytem for use in public schools. Judy Park, associate superintendent for student services and federal programs for the Utah State Office of Education, cochairs the executive committee of the partnership of states known as the SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium. Utah was one of two states that applied for and received federal Race to the Top money to develop an assessment system. The tests the consortium plans to develop will be administered on a computer and given multiple times a year to students in grades 3-6 and 11, and will provide real-time results and a chance to chart student progress thoughout the school year.

For more information, visit www.k12..wa.us/SMARTER/ and www.corestandards.org/

Rick

Feds to send $101M for Utah Schools

Read Joseph M. Dougherty's article in it's entirety at http://www.deseretnews.com/

"The U.S. Department of Education announced Monday that Utah will receive $101 million in stimulus funding geared toward teachers' jobs, despite earlier controversy over whether the state should apply for it and ongoing questions about exactly how much school districts will have to spend."

The money must be used for salary and benefits for educators, classified, and school administrators. It could mean as much as $5.6 million for Weber and $2.1 million for Ogden. The legislator must meet in a special session to accept the money. We are asking all of our teachers to contact their legislators (don't use your school computer or school email) and ask them to allow the money to come to the districts for the correct purpose.

Both OEA's and WEA's mediation meetings have been on hold until we know more about the money.

Rick

Deadlines for UEA Awards approaching

Go to the UEA Website at www.utea.org to nominate your colleagues for the Excellence in Teaching Award (deadline Sept. 17). The Honor Roll Award (deadline Sept. 24) is given to community members, legislators etc who are friends of education and the Charles Bennett Award (deadline Sept. 24) is for community members who do work for Human and Civil Rights. All three are given at the UEA Convention.

Rick

USA Today Editorial: Education

Thursday, Sept. 9, USA Editorial page had a debate over "value added" teacher evaluations being made public. Go to www.usatoday.com to read both opinions.

Rick

Some Districts already counting on federal cash

Read Lisa Schencker's article at http://www.sltrib.com/

"Governor Herbert sent the state's application for the $101 million to the feds on Tuesday. The money is part of a federal $10 billion Education Jobs program meant to help save teaching jobs this school year."

Because the state legislature needs to have a special session (we are hoping for October) to approve the money, you need to contact your legislator and tell them to let the money flow to the districts to help bridge the gaps in the budget. You can find your legislator by going to the UEA website (Under the Dome) at http://www.utea.org/ or go to the UniServ website http://www.ogdenweber.org/ and click on "Political Action".

Thanks Rick

Businesses are banking on education

Lisa Schencker has a good article on how businesses in Salt Lake are offering ideas to support education. Some of their ideas include:

• State-funded optional preschool for at-risk kids
• Statewide optional all-day kindergarten
• Giving the ACT to all students
• Setting goals of 90% of sixth-graders and ninth-graders reading and doing math at grade level

Read the entire article at www.sltrib.com

Rick

UEA President Urges State Leaders to Use Federal Education Money ASAP

"The children of a recession deserve the same educational opportunities as the children of prosperity," said UEA President Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh. "Each day we delay getting this money into our classrooms is a day lost in a child's education."

"The reality is we need this money now...for our students and our economy. I am disappointed to hear some state leaders suggest we delay getting this money to the schools where is is so desparately needed. This funding will go to urban and rural school districts and help stimulate Utah's economy."

Ogden could see as much as $2.1 million and Weber would receive as much as $5.6 million that could used for employee benefits and salary.

Rick