IEA Newsletter for Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Welcome to the Institute for Education and the Arts' newsletter for Wednesday, April 30, 2008. The newsletter is published each Wednesday to the IEA listserv and archived here on the IEA blog.


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REPORTS
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A NATION AT RISK: 25 YEARS LATER
Education Week series, 2008
The pragmatic report A Nation at Risk was released 25 years ago this month. Education Week is running a series of articles focused on the impact of that report on education over the years and today.
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PISA 2006: SCIENCE COMPETENCIES FOR TOMORROW’S WORLD
Programme for International Student Assessment
”Presents the results from the most recent PISA survey, which focused on science and also assessed mathematics and reading … Analysis gives the most comprehensive international picture of science learning today, exploring not only how well students perform, but also their interests in science and their awareness of the opportunities that scientific competencies bring as well as the environment that schools offer for science learning. It places the performance of students, schools and countries in the context of their social background and identifies important educational policies and practices that are associated with educational success. By showing that some countries succeed in providing both high quality education and equitable learning outcomes, PISA sets ambitious goals for others.” High-performing countries include Finland, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand.
Learn more>>

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LOSING A SENSE OF PLAY
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CHILDHOOD’S END: GROWING UP TOO FAST
SOMETHING IS LOST WHEN LITTLE RED WAGONS AND MUD PIES MAKE WAY FOR WORKSHEETS AND TESTS
M. Jones, Edutopia, 3/18/08
”She waltzes into my room on winged feet -- all 3 feet and a bit of her, with a pixie cut and huge brown eyes. She is Katy (not her real name), and she is in the first grade. As everyone else settles down, Katy twirls in a dizzying display of excess energy. She is wearing her favorite outfit -- a rainbow poncho and a tiara with pink feathers. The rest of the class sits on the rug, crisscross applesauce. They stare up at me expectantly. Katy is trying to lie across my lap and peer up into my face. She slithers down, bounces up again, and moves to her desk to see what treasures might be in her backpack. Her bottom has never touched her chair. I invite her back to the group and sit her right next to me -- her favorite place in the room. A little young, I tell myself on the first day. Not ready for first grade and the rigors of state standards … When I check her file in the office, I am dumbfounded by an inch-thick IEP folder … An Individualized Education Program usually signals some serious area of concern. The plan spells out goals for the student and how the teacher will monitor and assess the accomplishment of those goals. Benchmarks are set. Meetings are held. I've never had a first grader with an IEP. Most students come equipped with a slim folder holding their vaccination records and birth certificate. What could possibly be wrong with this girl that warrants this level of scrutiny? The answer: nothing. She has an older brother with a learning disability and anxious parents who want to make sure Katy doesn't ‘fall through the cracks.’”
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ARTS AND THE ECONOMY
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ARTS INSTITUTIONS FEELING IMPACT OF AILING ECONOMY
Karen Matthews, Associated Press, 4/21/08
”When the J. Paul Getty Trust in Los Angeles was seeking to finance the purchase of art works, it did what cultural institutions often do to raise money: It issued bonds. But rising interest rates brought on by turmoil in the financial markets boosted payments, and the organization got socked for an additional $650,000 in fees earlier this year for which it had not budgeted. Like homeowners and stockholders, museums, concert halls, dance companies and other arts organizations are feeling the pinch from the faltering economy. Museums and symphony halls that financed renovations with seemingly safe municipal bonds saw interest rates spike in recent weeks; other arts institutions are suffering from low returns on investments; and some arts executives are worried that recession fears could take a bite out of donations and ticket sales.”
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GRANTS AND AWARDS
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PARTNERS IN EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM
National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts/MetLife Partners in Arts Education
Deadline: 5/23/08 ***coming soon***
Grant Award: Up to $20,000
“The goal of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts/MetLife Foundation Partners in Arts Education Grant Program is to enhance arts learning in K­–12 Public Schools (PS) by supporting exemplary Community School of the Arts (CSA)/PS partnerships which serve large numbers of public school students during the school day or extended day, exemplify best practices in creating and sustaining effective partnerships, provide pedagogically-sound arts education experiences, prioritize student learning and achievement in the arts, and address national, state, and/or local arts education standards.” See Web site for list of eligible communities.
Learn more>>

CVS COMMUNITY GRANTS
Deadline: October 2008
“Community Grants target effective and innovative programs that align with our philanthropic values and criteria. To ensure that we make a positive impact, the 2008 Community Grants Program will focus on these two key areas: healthcare services for uninsured people and programs targeting children under 18 with disabilities [such as] health and rehabilitation services, public schools promoting inclusion, or creating opportunities or facilities which give greater access to physical movement and play.”
Learn more>>

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