[NIFL-WORKPLACE] Fwd: JFF Newswire #33, February 3, 2005Donna Brian djgbrian at utk.eduThu Feb 3 13:57:56 EST 2005
fyi >Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2005 10:31:53 -0800 (PST) >From: JFF NewsWire <newswire at jff.org> >Subject: JFF Newswire #33, February 3, 2005 > >~~~~~~~~~~ >JOBS FOR THE FUTURE >Creating Strategies for Educational and Economic Opportunity > >NEWSWIRE #33, February 3, 2005 >http://www.jff.org/jff/newsroom/newswire/2005/NW_2_2005.html > >WELCOME TO NEWSWIRE, an electronic newsletter for policymakers, >practitioners, the media, and the public about JFF and its efforts to: > ~ Create successful transitions for youth; and > ~ Build economic opportunity for adults. > >~~~~~ >IN ISSUE #33, February 3, 2005 > >1. Fast Track to College: > Increasing Postsecondary Success for All Students > >2. Building Skills, Increasing Economic Vitality: > A Handbook of Innovative State Policies > >3. Big Buildings, Small Schools: > Using a Small Schools Strategy for High School Reform > >4. Foundations Target Dropout Crisis: > Five Cities Receive Grants for Innovative Partnerships > >5. Investing in Workforce Intermediaries: > Grants Support Demonstrations to Build Capacity > >6. Toward a Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund: > Legislation Filed in Massachusetts > >7. Making a Difference in Our Community: > JFF Hosts Breakfast Forum > >8. Closing the Race Achievement Gap: > A Forum and Discussion > >9. News of Early College High Schools > ~~ Integrating Grades 9 Through 14: > State Policies to Support and Sustain ECHSs > ~~ Investments Expand and Strengthen ECHS National Network > ~~ The Early College High School Initiative "At a Glance" > >10. From Our Friends: > ~~ Honors for Year Up > ~~ New Data on Dropouts > ~~ State Policies for School Restructuring > ~~ Literacy Coaches: An Evolving Role > ~~ The Expectations Gap: > A 50-State Review of High School Graduation Requirements > ~~ State Policies to Assist Working-Poor Families > ~~ Vertex: The Online Journal for Adult And Workforce Education >~~~~~~~~~~ > >~~~~~~~~~~ >1. Fast Track to College: > Increasing Postsecondary Success for All Students >~~~~~~~~~~ >JFF co-founder Hilary Pennington proposes the development of three "fast >track to college" alternatives to the traditional high school senior year, >each of which would enable students to get a head start toward the goal >of education for all through grade 14: an "Academic Head Start on College" >to give academically motivated students the option of accelerating their >progress through high school and college; an "Accelerated Career/ >Technical College" to give career/technical students a head start on >earning transferable college credits at the same time as they prepare for >entry-level jobs; and "College in the Community" to give students a >deliberately structured "gap year" of community service and work >experience in place of, rather than after, the traditional senior year. > >FAST TRACK TO COLLEGE, prepared for the Center for American >Progress, is one of a series of Double the Numbers publications that Jobs >for the Future will prepare in the coming year. Double the Numbers, an >initiative of JFF, is designed to deepen support for policies that can >dramatically increase the number of low-income young people who enter >and complete postsecondary education. The initiative is supported by the >Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Ford Foundation. > >To download FAST TRACK TO COLLEGE, go to: >www.jff.org/kc/library/0243 >~~~~~~~~~~ > >~~~~~~~~~~ >2. Building Skills, Increasing Economic Vitality: > A Handbook of Innovative State Policies >~~~~~~~~~~ >Across the country, creative, entrepreneurial state policymakers and >officials are considering new ways to build the skills of low-wage >workers and increase the vitality of state economies. BUILDING SKILLS, >INCREASING ECONOMIC VITALITY, by Radha Roy Biswas, Jack Mills, and >Heath Prince of JFF, highlights some of the most promising developments >in state workforce and skill development policy, focusing on four areas: >redesigning financing for workforce development; strengthening >workforce development/economic development linkages; building the >capacity of workforce intermediaries; and expanding community college >capacity. > >BUILDING SKILLS, INCREASING ECONOMIC VITALITY highlights state >policies that respond to the complexities of the global economy. And these >policies have been designed and implemented about despite tough fiscal >conditions, restrictive federal regulations, and states' own institutional >silos and roadblocks. This handbook will help states learn quickly from the >best efforts of their peers, accelerating the trend toward coherent state >policies that build skills and promote economic vitality over the long run. > >To download BUILDING SKILLS, INCREASING ECONOMIC VITALITY, go to: >www.jff.org/jff/kc/library/0244 >~~~~~~~~~~ > >~~~~~~~~~~ >3. Big Buildings, Small Schools: > Using a Small Schools Strategy for High School Reform >~~~~~~~~~~ >How can large, under-performing urban high schools become learning >environments characterized by academic rigor, curricular relevance, and >mutually supportive relationships? One strategy, being tried in a growing >number of school districts, is to transform their large high schools into >complexes of smaller ones. > >BIG BUILDINGS, SMALL SCHOOLS explores how these communities are >using small school development as a central strategy for improving large >high schools and overhauling the way school districts do business. As >authors Lili Allen and Adria Steinberg write, "For school districts, the >process of converting schools from large to small offers a potentially >powerful opportunity to create a 'defining moment' of change at the school >site--an opportunity to provide the most fertile conditions for excellent >teaching and learning." BIG BUILDINGS, SMALL SCHOOLS explores the >implementation and policy issues that arise in this process, describing key >decision points and trade-offs faced by school reform leaders. > >BIG BUILDINGS, SMALL SCHOOLS is a joint publication of JFF and The >Education Alliance at Brown University, with support from Carnegie >Corporation of New York. Print copies are available by contacting >info at jff.org. > >To download BIG BUILDINGS, SMALL SCHOOLS, go to: >http://www.jff.org/jff/kc/library/0237 >~~~~~~~~~~ > >~~~~~~~~~~ >4. Foundations Target Dropout Crisis: > Five Cities Receive Grants for Innovative Partnerships >~~~~~~~~~~ >Three foundations are putting a total of $2 million into an initiative to >support local efforts to combat the silent crisis of too many students >dropping out of high school. Nationally, more than 30% of students do not >complete high school in a timely way. In some inner-city neighborhoods, >the odds of high school graduation are only fifty-fifty. > >In response to this alarming trend, several funders have come together to >support efforts in selected cities to improve educational options and >outcomes for the growing numbers of struggling and out-of-school youth. >The Youth Transition Funders Group, a group of local, regional, and >national philanthropies, has announced grants to enable five cities to >strengthen their strategies for reducing the numbers of young people who >drop out and reconnecting those who have left school. Three members of >the Youth Transition Funders Group--the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, >Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the Charles Stewart Mott >Foundation--have provided funding for the new grant program. > >Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Portland (OR), and San Jose (CA) will >receive grants of $275,000 each from the Initiative to Support Struggling >Students and Out-of-School Youth. The grants will fund broad-based >partnerships that include educational advocacy groups, public school >districts, public care agencies, service providers, parents, youth, and >other stakeholders. The initiative will also support extensive technical >assistance and cross-site learning activities. JFF is staffing this >initiative >and providing strategic consultation to the city partnerships. > >For more information on THE INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT STRUGGLING >STUDENTS AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH, go to: >http://www.jff.org/jff/newsroom/PR/2005/PR_1_12_2005.html >~~~~~~~~~~ > >~~~~~~~~~~ >5. Investing in Workforce Intermediaries: > Grants Support Demonstrations to Build Capacity >~~~~~~~~~~ >America's prosperity depends on the strength of its workforce, yet over a >third of the U.S. workforce lacks the skills needed to succeed in today's >labor market. In cities across the nation, a variety of organizations play >the >role of workforce intermediary, organizing the key stakeholders and local >resources to help workers to gain the skills they need and businesses to >access the skilled labor they need. INVESTING IN WORKFORCE >INTERMEDIARIES, a project of the Annie E. Casey, Rockefeller, and Ford >foundations, seeks to build the capacity of these workforce intermediaries >by: building local/regional workforce intermediary capacity in metropolitan >areas and states; and building national support for workforce intermediary >capacity. Investing in and supporting workforce intermediaries in key >metropolitan areas and states will provide important lessons about how >workforce systems can better upgrade the skills and incomes of the poor. > >In January, the funders announced the first investments with grants to >citywide efforts in Boston, Austin, San Francisco, and New York City, >plus a statewide grant for Pennsylvania. To begin their work, project >leaders from each of these sites, as well as foundation representatives, >came together in December 2004 at a meeting organized by Jobs for the >Future as part of its work helping to staff the national project. The meeting >gave the sites an opportunity to begin shaping a common purpose and >direction for their work. It also began a process for each of the various >projects to learn from the others' approaches to building the capacity of >workforce intermediaries and promoting change in the broader workforce >development system. > >For more information on INVESTING IN WORKFORCE INTERMEDIARIES, go >to: http://www.jff.org/jff/kc/library/0246 >~~~~~~~~~~ >~~~~~~~~~~ >6. Toward a Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund: > Legislation Filed in Massachusetts >~~~~~~~~~~ >In December 2004, legislation was filed to create a Workforce >Competitiveness Trust Fund in Massachusetts. The proposed "Workforce >Solutions Act of 2005" would make, the legislation states, "investments in >employer and community-based workforce development activities in order >to maintain and increase economic vitality in Massachusetts and to >promote business competitiveness, worker self-sufficiency, and economic >progress." > >The legislation was prepared by the Workforce Solutions Group, the public >policy advocacy partnership funded by SkillWorks: Partners for a >Productive Workforce to work on workforce development systems reform >in the state. SkillWorks is the single largest public/private investment in >workforce development in Boston's history. The initiative seeks to change >the way employers hire and promote entry-level workers from Boston's >neighborhoods. Jobs for the Future plans and manages the overall >initiative and its Public Policy Advocacy component. > >For more information on SKILLWORKS and to download the proposed >legislation, go to: >http://www.skill-works.org/resources.html >~~~~~~~~~~ > >~~~~~~~~~~ >7. Making a Difference in Our Community: > JFF Hosts Breakfast Forum >~~~~~~~~~~ >In conjunction with Martin Luther King's birthday, JFF invited leaders from >Boston-area CBOs, foundations, and government to a community >breakfast to learn about two innovative initiatives that are improving the >lives of Boston residents and to explore the challenges and opportunities >of new ways to make an impact in our community. Both Boston's High >School Renewal Initiative and SkillWorks: Partners for a Productive >Workforce bring together community-based organizations, employers, >schools, and other institutions to make a powerful difference. > >This annual breakfast forum is part of JFF's efforts to initiate an ongoing >dialogue direct service communities in the Boston area and to give new >exposure and networking opportunities. It provides participants with an >opportunity to learn about JFF, what we are doing in our project work, and >how that work might offer new avenues or solutions for their >constituencies or members. > >SKILLWORKS: This ambitious effort on the part of philanthropy, >government, community organizations, unions, and employers seeks to >create a workforce development system that helps low-skill, low-income >residents move to family-sustaining jobs and helps employers find and >retain skilled employees. For more information, go to: >www.skill-works.org > >SMALL SCHOOLS INITIATIVE: Spearheaded by the Boston Public Schools' >Office of High School Renewal, Boston is using a range of innovative >strategies to create new small schools. Boston's goal is to fundamentally >redesign the high school system to provide an excellent education to >every student. For more information, go to: >http://www.jff.org/jff/approaches/youthtrans/showcase/BostonHSRenewal.html >~~~~~~~~~~ > >~~~~~~~~~~ >8. Closing the Race Achievement Gap: > A Forum and Discussion >~~~~~~~~~~ >In December, the Harvard Graduate School of Education hosted Richard >Rothstein, former education columnist of the "New York Times," in a >discussion of factors contributing to the race achievement gap. While >policymakers attempt to narrow the achievement gap by implementing >school reform efforts targeting accountability, leadership, and teacher >quality, Rothstein says that approach has neglected other critical social >reforms. > >Panelist Donna Rodrigues, program director at JFF and founder of the >University Park Campus School in Worcester, MA, drew on her 35 years >of experience in public education to comment on Rothstein's presentation. >She noted that, while it would be "naive and wrong to think that educators >alone can change the picture for what is now the new majority of >students entering school," she reaffirmed her belief "that the molding or >demise of a new generation of the holders of knowledge happens in >schools." Also on the panel were Ronald Ferguson, lecturer in public >policy at the Kennedy School of Government, and Dan Koretz, professor >of education at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Robert Schwartz, >lecturer on education, moderated. > >To read Rodrigues' comments, go to: >http://www.jff.org/jff/newsroom/IOW/2004/IOW_DR_12_04.html > >The complete forum transcript will be available soon at: >http://forum.wgbh.org/wgbh/forum.php?category=Education >~~~~~~~~~~ > >~~~~~~~~~~ >9. News of Early College High Schools >~~~~~~~~~~ > ~~ INTEGRATING GRADES 9 THROUGH 14: STATE POLICIES TO >SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOLS. Nancy >Hoffman and Joel Vargas of JFF identify the policy challenges >encountered in implementing early college high schools, which, because >they blend secondary and postsecondary education, require two >incompatible systems to work collaboratively. Early college high schools >are designed to help students currently underrepresented in higher >education to achieve a high school diploma and an Associate's degree or >two years of transferable college credit within four to five years. Through >the Early College High School Initiative, which JFF coordinates, over 180 of >these schools will open nationally over the next four years. >http://www.jff.org/jff/kc/library/0245 > > ~~ INVESTMENTS EXPAND AND STRENGTHEN ECHS NATIONAL >NETWORK. In December, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced >$29.6 million in grants to eight organizations to expand the early college >high school network to more than 25 states. More than $22 million will >support the creation of 42 new schools throughout the country through >investments in Antioch University Seattle, the Middle College National >Consortium, Portland Community College's Gateway to College, the >Rochester Area Community Foundation, the Georgia Department of >Education and the University System of Georgia, KnowledgeWorks >Foundation, and the National Council of La Raza. A $7 million investment in >JFF, which leads the implementation of the network, will expand the >technical assistance available for the network and help establish a system >to monitor the progress of young people enrolled in these schools. >http://www.earlycolleges.org/PC120704.html > >~~ THE EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL INITIATIVE "AT A GLANCE." This >two-page fact sheet provides an up-to-date profile of the initiative, with a >map of schools, data on the number of schools and students, and other >key information. >http://www.earlycolleges.org/Library.html#ataglance >~~~~~~~~~~ > >~~~~~~~~~~ >10. From Our Friends >~~~~~~~~~~ >~~ HONORS FOR YEAR UP: Fast Company, along with the Monitor Group, >selected Year Up as one of twenty-five national non-profit organizations >to receive their Social Capitalist Award. Year Up is a one-year, intensive >training program that provides urban young adults aged 18-24 with a >unique combination of technical and professional skills, college credits, >and a paid corporate internship. JFF is helping Year Up to develop a >financially and politically viable growth strategy and to implement a >measurement system that supports it programmatic goals. >http://www.yearup.org/aboutus_news.htm > >Year Up was also the subject of a feature in the "Christian Science >Monitor." >http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1221/p11s01-legn.htm > >~~ NEW DATA ON DROPOUTS: This report, the latest in a series from >National Center for Education Statistics, presents estimates of dropout >rates in 2001 and includes data on high school dropout and completion >rates for 1972 through 2001. It also examines the characteristics of high >school dropouts and high school graduates. While progress was made >during the 1970s and 1980s, high school dropout rates and high school >completion rates have since stagnated. >http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2005/dropout2001/ > >~~STATE POLICIES FOR SCHOOL RESTRUCTURING: New from the >Education Commission of the States, this report takes a detailed look at >state policies for school restructuring, as defined by the No Child Left >Behind Act. It pays particular attention to the option of closing low- >performing schools and reopening them as charter schools. Included are >summaries of the state policies that are in place in these areas. >http://www.ecs.org/html/Document.asp?chouseid=5702 > >~~LITERACY COACHES: AN EVOLVING ROLE: The concept of literacy >coaches dates back to the 1920s, but they are increasingly in demand in >21st century schools. Writing in "Carnegie Reporter," Barbara Hall looks at >this growing development in the field of American education and its role in >school reform in Boston and other cities across the country. >http://www.carnegie.org/reporter/09/literacy/index.html > >~~ THE EXPECTATIONS GAP: A 50-STATE REVIEW OF HIGH SCHOOL >GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: According to Achieve, Inc., there is an >"'expectations gap' between high school course requirements and real- >world demands of college and the workplace. No state currently requires >every high school student to take a college- and work-preparatory >curriculum to earn a diploma. >http://www.achieve.org/achieve.nsf/ADP-CloseGap?openform > >~~ STATE POLICIES TO ASSIST WORKING-POOR FAMILIES. For a large >and growing number of Americans, having a job is not enough to lift them >out of poverty. This report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities >presents a menu of practical policy options that states can adopt to help >working-poor families meet their basic needs and improve their lives. > http://www.cbpp.org/12-10-04sfp.htm > >~~ VERTEX:THE ONLINE JOURNAL FOR ADULT AND WORKFORCE >EDUCATION: The goal of this new journal is to be a comprehensive source >promoting practice, research, and theory in adult basic education, ESL, >and human resource development. Submissions invited. >http://vawin.jmu.edu/vertex/ > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >How can NEWSWIRE serve you? We welcome your thoughts. > >Contact: Carmon Cunningham, V.P. for Technology and Communications, >ccunningham at jff.org. > >For more information, consult our Web site: >http://www.jff.org > >Please forward NEWSWIRE to your colleagues. To add your name to the >subscription list, send a message to newswire at jff.org with subject >"subscribe". > >Jobs for the Future believes that all young people should have a quality >high school and postsecondary education and that all adults should have >the skills needed to hold jobs that pay enough to support a family. As a >non-profit research, consulting, and advocacy organization, JFF works to >strengthen our society by creating educational and economic opportunity >for those who need it most. > >Jobs for the Future >88 Broad Street >Boston, MA 02110 >617.728.4446 >http://www.jff.org >~~~~ > > >---------------------------------------- >You are subscribed to this list as djgbrian at utk.edu. To unsubscribe, send >email to >unsubscribe.22834.19854013.878645521017008783-djgbrian_utk.edu at en.groundspring.org. > >Our postal address is >88 Broad St >8th Floor >Boston, Massachusetts 02110 >United States
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