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First Ring Leadership Academy and the Institute for Educational Leadership are both dedicated to providing quality programs and services. Achieving that goal with the National Invitation Forum also involved attracting attendees who themselves would bring their experiences and expertise to the table. We are postponing the National Innovation Forum to 2007 so that we can make sure this event lives up to our and your expectations. To be kept informed about plans for the next forum, please visit the Academy's Web site at www.csuohio.edu/theacademy or contact Sarah Reynolds at First Ring at 216-875-9908 if you have any questions. IEL added three new board members at its April 2006 meeting, held in Washington, DC: Piedad F. Robertson, President of the Education Commission of the States (ECS), Ericka M. Miller, Vice President and Director of Isaacson, Miller, and Joseph A. Aguerrebere, Jr., President and CEO of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Click here to see the press release. Robert D. Muller, Ed.D. has joined IEL as a Senior Fellow, and, as observed by IEL President Betty Hale, “Rob’s expertise and experience providing leadership and counsel in a variety of organizational settings will help anchor and expand IEL’s school reform efforts.” Click here or here to read the full press release. Michael D. Usdan, IEL Senior Fellow and Former President, presented the 6th annual Jacqueline P. Danzberger Memorial Lecture, at the National School Boards Association's national conference, in Chicago, on April 10, 2006. Usdan, who was a long-time colleague and friend of Jackie's, joins the illustrious ranks of former U.S. Department of Education Secretary(s) Richard Riley and Rod Paige, Melinda French Gates, Eli Broad, and former Governors Roy Barnes and Jim Geringer, who have helped to remember Jackie's contributions to education by using this platform to challenge and encourage board members to focus on achievement for all children. Click here for a copy of the 2006 excerpted lecture. Past lectures are available at http://www.iel.org/pubs/dls.html. Read the second and third briefs in a series that summarizes findings from the School Leadership Learning Community (SLLC) network. The issue-specific briefs are intended to capture knowledge and insights, as well as identify promising practices, from network members. Brief #2, "Preparing and Supporting Diverse, Culturally Competent Leaders: Practice and Policy Considerations," and Brief #3, "Preparing and Supporting School Leaders: The Importance of Assessment and Evaluation," follow the prior release of "Preparing Leaders for Rural Schools: Practice and Policy Considerations." SLLC represents the first 24 grantees across the country, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, to support an array of training opportunities for principals, assistant principals, and aspiring principals. The Laboratory for Student Success’ (LSS) engaged IEL to help build and nurture the network. Copies of the briefs are available for free either by download from IEL's site or written request for a hard copy of any of the briefs c/o iel@iel.org. The Spring 2005 issue of the Laboratory for Student Success’ (LSS) “Field Notes” documents findings from the network established among the first 24 grantees across the country, funded by the Department of Education, to support an array of training opportunities for principals, assistant principals, and aspiring principals. IEL was engaged by LSS to help build this communication and consultation network, the School Leadership Learning Community (SLLC). This Field Notes issue, “PREPARING AND SUPPORTING SCHOOL PRINCIPALS: Early Insights and Impressions from the School Leadership Learning Community,” describes what the grantees’ network reveals about research, practice, and recommended improvements for preparing and sustaining principals and those in the pipeline. To read this eight-page summary, visit http://www.temple.edu/lss/pdf/fieldnotes/FieldNotesSLLC.pdf. The Governance Divide: A Report on a Four-State Study on Improving College Readiness and Success, by Andrea Venezia, Patrick M. Callan, Joni E. Finney, Michael W. Kirst, and Michael D. Usdan (IEL senior fellow and past president). This report is based on findings from Partnerships for Student Success (PSS), a four-state study that analyzed K-16 educational governance and policies at the state level. It identifies and examines four policy levers available to states that are interested in creating sustained K–16 reform: finance, assessments and curricula, accountability, and data systems. In addition, the report examines the importance of other factors—such as leadership and state history and culture—in initiating and sustaining K–16 reform. To read the executive summary or download a full copy visit http://www.highereducation.org/reports/governance_divide/index.shtml. It is a collaborative publication of IEL, the National Center for Public Policy & Higher Education, and The Stanford Institute for Higher Education Research, and part of an on-going series of reports from NCPPHE and IEL examining the connections between higher ed and public schools.
A new report, "From Whole School to Whole System Reform" Policy Recommendations for Furthering Comprehensive School Reform at the Federal, State and Local Levels" (Oct. 2004) spotlights the various accomplishments comprehensive school reform (CSR) can claim in improvements to school environment and student performance. Yet, CSR has revealed some important lessons about system capacity for change and methods for advancing school reform over the past years. Highlighting these lessons and expanding on them, the National Clearinghouse for Comprehensive School Reform, in conjunction with the Annenberg Institute for School Reform, the Consortium for Policy Research in Education, and New American Schools has created a multi-tiered set of policy recommendations for the future of the whole school reform movement. These guidelines provide for using whole school reform as an effective means for improving student achievement while supporting states and districts to meet adequate yearly progress goals. Drawing on the strengths and contributions of various stakeholders, this report goes beyond simply advocating continued federal support for comprehensive school reform. Rather, it provides a set of policy recommendations that can provide a supportive infrastructure at the school level. It recognizes that whole or comprehensive school reform by itself is an incomplete theory of action and that whole district reform is needed as well to create the environment for improving learning of all students — the central aim of policymakers at all levels. Read the Septeber/October issue of the IELeadership Connections, with a commentary on the issue of unity. There are several new (or revised) resources and tools that are spotlighted in our standard "News from the Field" and "Things to Watch" sections. You can also review past issues of the newsletter, and still respond to past surveys. Your input is always welcomed. Plus, there is a bonus link to a special page we've assembled over the past year regarding Brown v Board of Education and equity concerns, containing articles, discussions, classroom resources, personal experiences, and more, in observation of the BvB 50th anniversary. Students from a range of socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds are disengaging from and/or dropping out of high school each day. A new report from the National High School Alliance, Crisis or Possibility? Conversations About the American High School, looks at how leaders are beginning to transform America's traditional, comprehensive high school in ways that make it responsive to the needs of all students. Based on proceedings from a series of conferences in the fall of 2003, the report identifies seven "key levers for change," and exposes the gaps and challenges that remain. Click here to read the press release or to download a copy of the full report (56 pages). For more information, contact Naomi Housman, Coordinator, HS Alliance, (202) 822-8405 ext. 131, or housmann@iel.org. Click here to read the speech given by Melinda French Gates, co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, on Monday, March 29, 2004, in Orlando (FL) at the National School Boards Association's (NSBA) annual conference. (Click here for a link to the video clip.) The occasion was the 4th Annual Jacqueline P. Danzberger Memorial Lecture, co-sponsored by NSBA and IEL, which was established to honor the contributions to education leadership and governance of the late Jackie Danzberger, who worked at IEL for 17 years. It is made possible in large part by donations from the many colleagues, friends, and family of Jackie. Past lectures have been given by Richard Riley, Rod Paige, and Eli Broad, respectively. Send a note to Denise Slaughter if you would like to receive a notice about the 2005 lecture, and see our Publications list to read the previous lecturers. A new product, The Catalog of Research on Secondary School Reform (CoRSSR) is available on line through the National High School Alliance (staffed by and housed at IEL). It is an excellent tool for researchers and policymakers who want to know what type of research is currently in progress or has been recently completed but not yet published. This research focuses on questions of implementation, effectiveness, and/or policy, that specifically addresses one or more of the key attributes of effective schools: common focus, high expectations, personalization, climate of respect and responsibility, time for teacher collaboration, performance-based assessment, and the use of technology. Submissions will be accepted on an on-going basis for inclusion in CoRSSR. Researchers interested in having their work considered should contact Dr. Monica Martinez (martinezm@iel.org ) or Nina Frant, the Program Assistant for CoRSSR (frantn@iel.org ). During 2004, as part of IEL's on-going celebration of its 40-year history, we will be hosting or collaborating on a variety of events and other activities. Read about the Pennsylvania EPFP/IEL awards dinner. Upcoming activities include, but are not limited to, on-going award ceremonies at other EPFP sites around the country, occasional education policy forum luncheons conducted in collaboration with AERA, and a discussion grounded in the 50 years since the Brown v. Board of Education decision and beyond. If you would like to be notified of events that may be scheduled in your community, please send a note to Denise Slaughter, Communications, IEL. In 2002, IEL's
Center for Workforce Development and the American Youth Policy Forum
(AYPF) organized two roundtable meetings on aspects of high school
reform critical to helping students develop the range of skills
needed to be successful and that take into account the varied learning
styles, preferences, and needs of youth today. The summaries of
the roundtables, the background papers, and recommendations from
the roundtables are now available in the publication Essentials
of High School Reform. The topics for the roundtables were new
forms of assessments (May 9, 2002) and contextual teaching and learning
(July 23, 2002). The papers were developed on each of the roundtable's
topic: To view or order this publication, visit the AYPF Web site at http://www.aypf.org/pubs.htm. READ the Coalition for Community Schools' new publication, Making the Difference: Research and Practice in Community Schools. The report was discussed at a forum in Washington, DC on May 13, that included guest panelists Arne Duncan, Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools and David Cicilline, Mayor of Providence, RI, who provided the leadership perspective, along with principals, a teacher, community coordinator, and parent who gave a view from the frontlines. All agreed that community schools are just plain common sense and go a long way in providing the foundations and support systems that are necessary to help students not only achieve academically but also as citizens. The report was also the subject of a page 1 Education Week article by reporter Linda Jacobson in the May 14 issue, "'Community Schools' Earn Plaudits, But Face Perils." [http://www.edweek.org/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=36community.h22]. This report presents
evaluation findings from 20 community school initiatives across
America and makes the case that community schools are a better way
to meet the challenges faced by today's public schools. It offers
recommendations to all stakeholders involved with students, schools,
families, and communities for creating and sustaining community
schools. Click here
to download the report. To order a hard copy of the report for $12
(plus shipping & handling), contact Meagan Lindsay at lindsaym@iel.org
or call 202-822-8405 x156. The 2003 Jacqueline P. Danzberger Memorial Lecture, co-sponsored by IEL and NSBA (National School Boards Association), is now available in pdf. Eli Broad, Chairman of SunAmerica Inc. & Founder, The Broad Foundation, was this year's speaker. He made a passionate appeal and challenge to board members around the country to resist micromanagement and to put the interests of ALL children first. He outlined specific suggestions for helping school board members help their districts to advance student achievement and improved outcomes. Past lecturers
have included former and current U.S. Secretary of Education Richard
Riley and Rod Paige, respectively. We are pleased to announce that
the 2004 lecturer will be Melinda Gates, of the Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation, at the NSBA's annual conference in Orlando, FL,
Monday, March 29, 2004. For more information, contact Denise Slaughter
at slaughterd@iel.org. American Youth Policy Forum has launched a new fellowship in memory of Harold “Doc” Howe, IEL's first Board Chairman. He left a rich legacy as a seminal leader in the development of the federal role in education. As a school superintendent, principal and teacher, he championed the cause of gender and racial equality and encouraged expanded opportunity, especially for those ill-served by impoverished schools and dysfunctional communities. Read more about Howe and details of the fellowship -- APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MARCH 1, 2003 -- from the AYPF Web site: http://www.aypf.org/publicatons/fellowship_brochure.pdf IELeadership Connections, Vol. 1, No. 3, January/February 2003. The edition of the IEL e-newsletter released on January 15, 2003. "School Boards: Holding the Power & Bearing the Responsibility for Educational Leadership" is the titled publication of the second annual Jacqueline P. Danzberger Memorial Lecture. It was given by the current U.S. Secretary of Education, Rod Paige, at the National School Boards Association's (NSBA) 2002 Annual Conference. Secretary Paige (a past school board member himself) encouraged school board members to uphold their major responsibility: to provide quality education to all of the nation's children and youth. He highlighted the opportunities as well as the challenges imbedded in the No Child Left Behind Act and invited school board members to join him in working to create schools worthy of the next generation of Americans. This tribute to longtime IEL staff member, "Jackie" Danzberger, is made possible by contributions from colleagues, friends, and family to honor Jackie's life, career, and contributions to education leadership and policy. Copies of the speech (12 pp) are free of charge. We are honored to announce that Mr. Eli Broad, Chairman, SunAmerica, Inc., has agreed to deliver the 2003 Lecture (scheduled for Sunday morning, April 6th in San Francisco, 8:30-10:00 a.m.). "How is School Reform Tied to Increasing College Access for Low-Income and Minority Youth?" examines the relationship between high school reform efforts and college access for low-income and minority youth. Written by IEL staff Monica Martinez and Shayna Klopott, and published by the Pathways to College Network Clearinghouse, the report specifically evaluates a number of high school reform models and efforts in relationship to how well they address the predictors of college-going behavior (which are also described). The paper looks at reform efforts that primarily address three main categories: * the academic rigor of the curriculum; * the academic and social structure of the school; * the alignment of curriculum between various educational levels. It finds that, while few reform models and efforts directly address college access, many are comprised of one or more promising practices---e.g., having access to a rigorous academic curriculum, personalized learning environments, and alignment of curriculum between grade levels. The paper concludes with a series of recommendations for high schools, school systems, and policy makers regarding the improvement of college access for low-income and minority youth. The National High School Alliance (HS Alliance), housed at and staffed by IEL, was the recent recipient of three-year funding totaling $501,383 from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. With this new support, the HS Alliance will advance its mission to foster high achievement, close the achievement gap, and promote civic and personal growth among high school-aged youth. Click here for the report's press release. Read the first issue of "IELeadership Connections", IEL's e-newsletter, developed to provide a forum for important educational issues and discussions, the exchange of ideas, and the examination of what worked and what didn't. These issues will be viewed from inside and outside a variety of frames, and useful insights will be offered for people leading at the national, state, and local levels. Read the newly released report, "All Over The Map: A Look At State Policy to Improve The American Public High School" (44 pages, June 2002), co-authored by Monica Martinez, IEL Senior Associate, and Judy Bray, Education Policy Analyst. The report is being issued by the recently formed National High School Alliance (HS Alliance) and examines trends, policy assumptions, and tensions that key state education statutes and board requirements hold for high schools. The state policies considered are divided into three categories: policies specific to high schools; policies that detail opportunities to learn; and policies that are new and in rapid flux. Click here for the report's press release. Copies of All Over the Map: State Policies to Improve The American High School are available for free by download from the HS Alliance Web site, or in hard copy from the Institute for Educational Leadership. Orders must be requested in writing by either fax (202) 822-8405 or e-mail: hsalliance@iel.org, or posted mail to the attention of: Publications, IEL, 4455 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 310, Washington, DC 20008. IEL is a member of the HS Alliance, and for more information about its mission and other partners, please visit the Web site, http://www.hsalliance.org/. Read a commentary on "Community Schools" in the April 17, 2002 edition of Education Week. The commentary, co-authored by IEL's Marty Blank, Director of the Coalition for Community Schools, and Ira Harkavy, Associate Vice President of the University of Pennsylvania and the Director of its Center for Community Partnerships, examine aspects of the "No Child Left Behind" Act of 2001 that serve to emphasize and support the role of the community in improving schools and outcomes for children and youth. For more information on community schools, click here. Find out more about Education week. See the article in YOUTH TODAY, including comments from IEL's Marty Blank, Director of the Coalition for Community Schools, regarding the expanded role afforded community-based organizations (CBOs) in the reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Click here to read article from the February 2002 issue. Read the latest publication from the 21st Century School Leadership Initiative, Leadership for Student Learning: Urban School Leadership - Different In Kind and Degree (September 2001). In this "politically incorrect" essay on big city schools, author Larry Cuban spotlights the importance and singularity of urban leaders in Pursuing school reform. In addition to debunking three "obvious fictions" about large urban school districts, the paper makes some decidedly political challenges. A glimpse of the tough tasks ahead is provided through a list of five suggestions for improving both cities and schools. IEL has recently published a series of toolkits focused on topics of concern identified through work with the Systems Improvement Training and Technical Assistance Project (SITTAP) sites. The toolkits were developed to strengthen and sustain the capacity of Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) sites served by SITTAP to achieve and sustain their systems reform goals and effectively address the related challenges. The current toolkits address topics such as:
They include practical tools that will support continued planning and implementation in the sites. These resources are also designed to educate and inform other communities and the field about how they can more effectively pursue community-based systems reform. Copies of
the toolkits are $10 each with an additional $2 for shipping
and handling for the first copy. Additional copies have a shipping
and handling cost of $1. The entire set of toolkits is available
for purchase at a total cost of $25 (not including $4 shipping).
[The full set will include the toolkit on Family-Centered, Culturally
Competent Partnerships upon availability.] All orders must be
received in writing by fax, e-mail, or mail. School-Community Partnerships in Support of Student Learning: Taking a Second Look at the Governance of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program (published July 2001). This report documents IEL's second look at the governance of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Program and was funded by a grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The report is drawn from visits by IEL staff teams to four 21st CCLC program sites in the spring of 2000 - Denver (CO); Humphreys County (MS); Plainfield (NJ); and St. Louis (MO) - and includes a profile of each site. The visits allowed IEL to shed some light on the processes of establishing, maintaining, and repairing school-community partnerships. The report makes it clear that there is a powerful connection between governance arrangements and results/accomplishments. A final section of the report is designed to help interested school districts capitalize on the opportunity that is presented by the 21st CCLC initiative to create community schools. Cost: $5. Click here to order a copy Click here for more information about the report. Education and Community Building: Connecting Two Worlds This report focuses on ways for educators and community builders to forge common ground and engage each other in new ways to help improve student learning. It will help community school advocates understand how to work more effectively with school and community leaders. A discounted rate of $7.00 postage paid is available. Bulk rates are also available. Call 202-822-8405 ext. 45 for further information. Please send your check to Melyssa Sheeran at Institute for Educational Leadership, 4455 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 310, Washington, DC 20008. For more information, see the press release. IEL President Michael D. Usdan to Retire June 30. Elizabeth L. Hale Named as Successor March 2001 |
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Institute for Educational Leadership 4455 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 310, Washington, DC 20008 Tel: (202) 822-8405, Fax: (202) 872-4050, E-mail: iel@iel.org |
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