WORKFORCE FUNDING COLLABORATIVES

#NFWS2013: FOLLOW THE NATIONAL FUND’S 3RD ANNUAL MEETING

The National Fund for Workforce Solutions is hosting its third annual (and first public) meeting this week in Atlanta. More than 380 funders, employers, educators, public officials, and workforce professionals are expected to attend—and you can also follow along online! Search #nfws2013 on Twitter for best practices in creating and sustaining workforce collaboratives and highlights from high-profile speakers, including Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, who chairs the National Governors Association’s Committee on Workforce and Education.

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HIGHER ED REFORM

4 STEPS TO SCALING INNOVATION STATEWIDE

Evidence-based innovations developed locally can only have a powerful and broad impact if they can be scaled statewide. Moving Forward, a new JFF policy brief, outlines a four-step process for expanding student success programs statewide—filling the leadership role; mapping critical allies; building momentum; and sustaining continuous improvement. Plus it demonstrates how North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia use that process to support and build on the efforts of their colleges to accelerate change. Read more . . .

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K-12 REFORM

EARLY COLLEGE CONFERENCE: “EARLY BIRD” SIGN-UP ENDS JUNE 30

Register for the first national Early College Conference by June 30 and pay just $199 (or $525 for a team of three). Learn about the latest proven classroom strategies, emerging technology for student-centered learning, and college-employer partnerships that help youth save time and money toward earning a college credential—particularly minority and low-income youth. Also, there’s still time to send us your presentation proposal!

NEW BOOK ON STUDENT-CENTERED LEARNING

Student-centered learning is increasingly popular among educators. A new book published by Harvard Education Press shares the latest research on student-centered learning and shows how classroom teachers use it to help all their students develop new skills. Anytime, Anywhere: Student-Centered Learning for Schools and Teachers shows how teachers and their students can benefit from findings about such topics as how each human brain responds it environment and how digital tools are giving students powerful new ways to express what they learn.

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FEDERAL POLICY UPDATES

ESEA MARKUP

Both the U.S. House and Senate plan to mark up Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization bills in committee later this month. JFF has been informing Congress of best practices in early college high schools, dropout recovery and reengagement pathways through college, school turnaround, accountability, and career-related pathways through postsecondary for youth.

WHY CORPORATIONS PARTNER WITH EARLY COLLEGES

In May, Carroll McGillin, education business development manager at Cisco Systems, spoke at a Senate briefing about how corporate partners can help school districts implement Early College Designs and other dual and concurrent enrollment programs. McGillin said these programs can help produce the college- and career-ready graduates that local businesses need. That’s how Cisco became involved with early college efforts. It partners with an early college high school in Chicago, as do Verizon Wireless, Motorola Solutions, Microsoft, and IBM. The briefing was part of the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships Washington Policy Seminar.

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JFF IN THE NEWS

Jun. 5: Education Week’s annual Diplomas Count report focuses on dropout recovery programs. JFF's Lili Allen is quoted saying that success should be measured by how many former dropouts become prepared for college and careers, not just how many finish high school. (Follow reporter @SarahDSparks.)

May 31: JFF’s Lili Allen tells Education Week “she has seen an ‘explosion of interest’ in awarding credits based on mastering content rather than time in class.” So far, she says 4 states award credits for mastery, and another 22 are piloting programs or studying the issue. (Follow reporter @SarahDSparks.)

May 31: Education Week features JFF’s Back on Track model, designed to recover K-12 dropouts and motivate them to succeed through competency-based curricula and college-level instruction. The model also helps students succeed in college by providing mentors and other first-year supports. (Follow reporter @CaraleeAdams.)

...AND ON THE ROAD

Jun. 18, U.S. News & World Report’s STEM Solutions 2013 Conference, Austin, TX:

• Amy Loyd joins a panel discussion on new and emerging ways to prepare all high school students for college and careers, including: career-themed “academies” within schools, off-site apprenticeship programs, and curricula infused with elements of specific industry occupations. (4:15–5:15 p.m., Room 4).

SEE YOU ONLINE!

Talk to us and see what’s new in #edreform, #highered, and workforce development (#wkdev) on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Also, check out our blog.

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