SUPERINTENDENT LUNA SUPPORTS FIRST STEP TOWARD CAREER LADDER

The House Education Committee on Monday passed House Bill 504, a bill that works to implement the first portion of the Career Ladder Compensation Model recommended by the Task Force for Improving Education.

Specifically, this legislation would provide $15.9 million in funding that Idaho’s school districts can use to pay leadership awards to Idaho teachers serving in leadership capacities. This is just one portion of the Career Ladder that the Task Force recommended to change the way Idaho’s teachers are compensated.

“Today, the House Education Committee took an important first step toward improving compensation for all Idaho’s teachers,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna said. “The Task Force for Improving Education developed a framework for implementing a Career Ladder Compensation Model to create fiscal stability and help recruit and retain the best and the brightest in the teaching profession. By approving the leadership awards portion of the Career Ladder this year, the Legislature will take an important first step this year that allows us as a state to take the critical second step next year and implement the full Career Ladder.”

Superintendent Luna supports the $15.9 million in funding for leadership awards along with a 1 percent increase in funding for base salaries for Idaho’s teachers in fiscal year 2015 until the Career Ladder can be fully implemented in fiscal year 2016.

House Bill 504 will now head to the full House for approval.

DEPARTMENT PUBLISHES SCHOOL SAFETY, SECURITY ASSESSMENT

As part of Idaho’s effort to improve school safety and security, the Idaho State Department of Education has published the results of a comprehensive school safety assessment, administered among a representative sample 74 schools last year.

“While this report identifies several challenges in the area of school safety, it also recognizes many successes in Idaho’s schools that we can build upon going forward,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna said. “Based on this assessment, we now have baseline information that we as a state will use to support schools as they improve safety and security for every child. This is essential because we know no child will be free to learn until they are truly free from intimidation and fear.”

In December 2012, as a result of the tragic school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, Superintendent Luna called on the state to take a renewed look at school safety and security. He established the Safe and Secure Schools Task Force, made up of educators and first responders as well as a liaison with the Governor’s office. Among its recommendations, the Task Force decided to conduct a comprehensive assessment to collect an objective, statewide snapshot of how prepared schools are to prevent and respond to crisis situations and to build local capacity to implement school safety improvements.

This comprehensive assessment provides important data to guide the state’s work going forward. Here are a few highlights from the report:

• In 68 of the 74 schools, they have published and/or promote statements regarding anti-bullying, anti-harassment, or anti-violence.
• In 68 of the 74 schools, they have alternatives to suspension and/or expulsion, which are effective disciplinary measures that continue to engage students rather than excluding them from the school setting entirely.
• In 60 of the 74 schools, they have a policy to lock classroom doors at the end of the day.
• In 71 of 74 schools, unauthorized entrance to the school was achieved through some way other than the designated main entrance.

Specifically, these results will inform future professional development opportunities, technical assistance, guidance and resources for Idaho schools. For fiscal year 2015, Superintendent Luna has requested $2.2 million in funding that will flow directly to Idaho’s schools and districts as well as an additional $500,000 to be used at the state level to provide guidance and technical assistance.

The full results of the comprehensive assessment are posted on our website.

Pros And Cons Of Overseas Education

Today, studying abroad for various study program have become a trend among Indian students and. every year thousands of Indian students apply in various Universities abroad. Universities in US and UK receive high numbers of Indian applicants for their various regular and vocational courses. Overseas education is indeed a big breakthrough in someone’s career and promises him/her many wonderful career opportunities ahead. Today, overseas education is not limited among the people of higher status and elite class but many middle class families across India and other countries of the world are also sending their children for overseas education for a bright future and well paid job.

There are various advantages of studying abroad; the first one is concerned with academics. You would find wide spectrum of courses in a foreign university with excellent education system and infrastructure. They use modern technique of teaching applications with highly qualified and proficient faculty.

The safe and sound environment of the university makes you very feel comfortable to get adjusted in a foreign land. You also get incredible chance to meet students of different nationalities and religions. It gives you plenty of exposure and knowledge about various cultures and creed. The exposure you receive from studying abroad would be very helpful in your career building and life. Pursuing education from a prestigious foreign university opens the doors of countless job opportunities for you. You are being offered a high paid job, respectable position and many other perks

Studying in foreign land also makes you proficient in the language of the country. For instance, if you are seeking overseas education from UK, US or New-Zealand where official language is English, you would be able to learn the language and gradually become a Master in English. Studying abroad also gives you wonderful opportunities to travel to other neighboring countries which would give you plenty of exposure and knowledge. You have a global network of social contacts by studying abroad.

Overseas education also gives you opportunity to work at your spare time thus, you get work experience as well and for some companies work experience is also an important requirement before recruiting the candidate. Studying abroad helps students to become more mature, confident and resilient and all such qualities are counted at their workplace.

However, everything has a flipside as well and overseas education also comes with certain demerits. Though overseas education promises you great future and rewarding jobs but it is very expensive for a middle class family to send their children for a higher education in US, UK etc. Most of these families take loans or other financial aids to sponsor the education.

For most of the people who have never been out of their limited circle and region, studying abroad can be a big cultural shock and many of them fail to adjust with the ultra modern lifestyle and open exposure in a foreign university. Another demerit of overseas education would be for those students who have slow grasping and learning power. It is difficult for them to understand course studies, as it is entirely taught in a different language. Students may also have to go through racial abuse and discrimination issues which are humiliating and stressful and sometime fatal. Long time separation from family and loved ones can also take a toll on you gradually.

REGISTER NOW FOR CHARTER START 101 WORKSHOP

The Idaho State Department of Education is hosting a Charter Start 101 workshop for parents, educators and others interested in learning more about what it takes to start a public charter school in Idaho on February 27-28, 2014 in Boise.

Public charters schools are free public schools that are open to all students. A public charter school gives parents the choice of sending their children to a school that uses innovative methods to provide a quality education in a smaller, more responsive learning environment.

Recently, Idaho jumped from 32 to 20 in national rankings of charter-friendly laws across the country after the Legislature improved Idaho’s public charter school law last year. The changes strengthened accountability for charter schools and provided funding for facilities.

Charter Start 101 is a two-day workshop that provides technical assistance for all new charter developers and any individual or group interested in a public school conversion. The workshop is designed to support public charter school developers at all stages – from vision to implementation. 

Workshop attendance is a statutory requirement for all charter developers. This free workshop is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the State Department of Education offices in the Barbara Morgan Conference Room, 650 West State Street, 2nd floor, Boise. Registration starts at 7:45 a.m. All participants will receive a charter start resource guide.

The deadline to register is Thursday, February 20, 2014. No late registrants will be accepted. Space is limited so please go to our website and fill out the registration form today! If you have any questions, please contact School Choice Coordinator Michelle Clement Taylor at mtaylor@sde.idaho.gov.

Idaho Teen GameLab

Is your son or daughter an aspiring “gamer” or computer programmer?  The Idaho Digital Learning Academy and GoGo Labs have teamed up to offer a six-week, online camp called Idaho Teen GameLab.  The camp promotes exploration of the digital game design career path for middle and high school students of all skills levels.

Idaho Teen GameLab engages students in their own realm—a virtual, quest-based platform.  Students will collaborate in virtual worlds to plan and build civilizations, create personalized games, and test and provide feedback on fellow developers’ games.

“Ninety-nine percent of teens play video games,” said Lisa Dawley, GoGo Labs CEO and Founder.  “GoGo Labs is focused on engaging students and inspiring teachers through gamified learning opportunities, and what could be more interesting than designing the games themselves?”

Space is limited to 200 students, so don’t delay!  Registration opens February 5, 2014.  For more information, visit http://idahoteengamelab.org/.