Connect for Kids / Child Advocacy 360 / Youth Policy Action Center - Elementary

Extending Learning: Will We Ever Get it Right?

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:10:25 -0500

I had a few hours to read, so I pulled out the folder into which I cram all of the things that catch my eye and might make good material for a column. Here’s what I read recently:

Beating the Odds 2005

Fri, 31 Mar 2006 09:48:35 -0600

According to the Council of the Great City Schools' annual Beating the Odds report, fourth and eighth graders are doing better in reading and math, both on state standardized tests and the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP).

Kidango

Wed, 13 Jul 2005 10:14:55 -0500

Kidango inspires all children and their families by promoting their potential and diversity through quality education and nurturing relationships.

The philosophy of Kidango is based on the belief that each child deserves an opportunity for total development. Each child comes to the program with certain strengths that should be expanded upon and reinforced. These strengths are based on the learning and teaching styles of their home, which are influenced by the structure and cultural background of the child's family. Those responsible for the program are challenged to create a multi-lingual, cross cultural environment, which will foster the physical, mental, emotional, and social development of all children

National Association of Elementary School Principals

Wed, 06 Jul 2005 09:44:11 -0500

The mission of the National Association of Elementary School Principals is to lead in the advocacy and support for elementary and middle level principals and other education leaders in their commitment to all children.

What Every Parent Needs to Know About 1st, 2nd & 3rd Grades

Tue, 21 Jun 2005 10:38:42 -0500

Looking for a resource to help you get more involved in your child's early elementary school education? Laura Weiss reviews What Every Parent Needs to Know About 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Grades: An Essential Guide to Your Child's Education.

Center for Prevention of Learning Difficulties

Tue, 24 May 2005 13:02:22 -0500

The mission of the Center for Prevention of Learning Difficulties is to identify, assess, and remediate learning difficulties for children 4 months to 5 years using parent and teacher participation in developmental testing. For ages 6 and up psychoeducational testing yields an individually designed program, using multimodal approaches, to enhance success, regardless of learning, social, emotional or other neurological difficulties.

Beating the Odds 2005: Urban Schools

Mon, 02 May 2005 12:19:02 -0500

The fifth annual Council of the Great City Schools' annual Beating the Odds report compared 2002, 2003, and 2004 test scores in urban districts from 38 states, and found improvements in both fourth- and eighth-grade reading and math. In fourth-grade reading, 51 percent of urban school students scored at or above proficient level, a 7.9 percentage point increase from 2002. Fourth-graders scoring at or above proficient level in math went from 44.1 percent to 55.3 percent, an 11.2 percent increase from 2002.

Successful Schools Have Teachers Who Believe All Kids Can Learn

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:23:08 -0500

That's the word from a new study of eight high-performing Kentucky elementary schools with large numbers of poor children, conducted by the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence. The review focused on eight elementary schools that had 50 percent or more low-income students, moderately high state test scores that had improved over time, and a slim -- fewer than 15 points -- difference in achievement levels between white and African-American students, and between low- and middle-income students.

Federal Efforts Lacking, Rural Advocates Say

Mon, 07 Feb 2005 13:31:19 -0600

Where in the world is the U.S. Department of Education's rural education task force? Announced by then-Secretary of Education Rod Paige with some fanfare in 2003, the task force has accomplished little in the eyes of rural education policy advocates. EdWeek has the scoop.

A Space Camp in Utah

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:39:17 -0500

At age 13, Becca Robison dreams of becoming an astronaut. In the meantime, she's sharing her dream with hundreds of young girls in Utah. Connect for Kids intern Abigail Holt explains.

Full-Day Kindergarten Database

Wed, 01 Dec 2004 19:53:02 -0600

Student enrollment in full-day kindergartens has increased from 25 percent in 1979 to 60 percent of age-eligible children in 2000. In the past three years, more than 20 states have introduced legislation to increase access and financing for full-day kindergarten. The Education Commission of the States is launching a 50-state interactive database of state policies, releasing a new survey of school districts, and offering in-depth coverage of state events.

New Mexico's Full-Day Kindergarten: A Case Study

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:20:36 -0500

In 2000, after a long campaign, New Mexico passed legislation to phase in voluntary full-day kindergarten classes for all 5-year-olds. This October 2002 case study looks at the complex processes and f

St. Joseph College Study: Low-income Children Learning Skills

Sat, 15 Jan 2005 08:58:32 -0600

A new study by St. Joseph College has found that low-income children attending preschool alongside more affluent peers learned vocabulary and language skills six times faster than those schooled exclusively with other low-income children.

Forum for Youth Investment Policy Brief: Out-of-School Research

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:57:51 -0500

The brief warns that focusing prematurely on inappropriate outcomes or short-term results may be counterproductive, giving a skewed picture of what works and what doesn't and leading to false conclusi

The Kindergarten Year

Mon, 15 Nov 2004 19:25:42 -0600

Overall, most kindergarten kids are improving their reading and math skills by a significant amount regardless of race, income, mother's educational attainment or other demographic measures. But, according to The Kindergarten Year, that doesn't mean that all kids are learning the same things at the same rate.