EDU-Education Demands Understanding

EDU-Education Demands Understanding

ducation emands nderstanding

EE D U

PLEASE NOTE For optimal viewing, please read EDU from a computer. If using a hand-held device, please use navigation controls for magnifying content

From PURPOSE Education 01 ISSUE

AN INTRODUCTION- 2 SECRETARY OF EDUCATION WHAT'S IN THE BILL- 3 STIMULUS BILL FUNDING

A CLOSER LOOK- 4 HBUC LOAN FORGIVENESS EXECUTIVE ORDER

COVID 19 VACCINE- 5 FEDERAL FUNDING

NEWS-6 LEAN ON ME LEGEND PASSES AWAY LORI LOUGHLIN RELEASED COLLEGE BOARD CUTTING SAT

FYI- 7 THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX NOW MORE THAN EVER FINDING A WAY HOME SCHOLARSHIP

TEACHER DESERVE- 8 TEACHER PROTESTS

Vo l ume 1 , I s sue 1 202 1

WELCOME TO EDU

by PURPOSE EDUCAt iON

Welcome to EDU- Education Demands Understanding. EDU is a publication created by Purpose Education dedicated to all things education. The goal of EDU is to bring news, ideas, and awareness in the area of education and politics, focusing on K-12 education. As a lifelong educator, it is a personal and professional belief that if more people understand the realities of education, and how public schools affect society, then more change can be made. Education is what has built this country and teachers are the forgotten foundation. My hope is with every issue you read something new that sparks an idea to use in supporting education. My only request is you share EDU and any knowledge gained with the next person in an effort to support educators everywhere. Education Demands Understanding. Enjoy!

FEATURE

In this issue the Stimulus Bill is discussed. If you would like to review the bill in its entirety, as released by Congress, please click below. Click Here

J .M. Cook

The essence of intelligence is extracting meaning from everyday expereinces

EDU

I c e b r e a k e r

MIGUEL CARDONA Secretary of Education

10 Things to know about Miguel Cardona

The Secretary of Education is a federally appointed position by the President of the United States to ensure a quality education for all of the nation's students

For leaders to be held accountable we must first understand their job description.

Elementary Classroom Teacher Became Principal at 28 years of age- Hanover Elementary School Master’s, Doctorate, Superintendent Certification at UConn. Became Assist. Superintendent of Merdian Public Schools in 2013 1st Latino Appointed Educational Commissioner of Connecticut in 2019 Bachelor’s Degree-Central Connecticut State University

It is hard to tell which way Dr. C ardona leans when it comes to standardized testing. A s with other school systems across the nation, C onnecticut used the federal wavier to cancel mandated testing for the 2019-2020 school year. C urrently, according to a memo (below) dated Dec. 7th, C onnecticut schools WILL be conducting testing as planned. Note-Student test scores will not be used in teacher evaluations. Interview with Miguel Cardona published by Connecticut Mirror- Nov. 2020 High Stakes Testing - Where does he stand - Reopening Schools A s the leader of C onnecticut Schools, C ordona has been a proponent of opening schools safely. HOWEVER, he has not made any suggestion to mandate in-person learning. " We all know remote learning will never replace the classroom experience. We also know that the health and safety of our students, staff, and their families must be the primary consideration when making decisions about school operations. The two are not mutually exclusive.”- Charter School Dr. C ardona has not been extremely decisive on C harter Schools. The C onnecticut Dept. of Education has renewed C harter School plans for current charters but has not approved any new ones since Dr. C ardona took office in 2019. " C harter schools provide choice for parents that are seeking choice, so I think it’s a viable option, but [ neighborhood schools ] that’s going to be the core work that not only myself but the people behind me in the agency that I represent will have while I’m commissioner,” - Miguel Cardona from Confirmation Hearings 2019 C lick Here For Memo Click Here

Graduated High School from Wilcox Technical School

First-generation college student

Father is a retired policer officer and brother is a detective

45 Years of Age, Wife and two children

Salary of Secretary of Education $ 219,200

2

What is in the bill ?

Education Highlights Congressional Covid Funding Bill

82 Billion- TOTAL EDUCATION FUNDING

54 Billion- K-12 Education 22 Billion- Higher Education

Most of the K-12 funding will be through TITLE I funds

1.7 Billion specifically for minority- serving institutions

1 Billion for for-profit colleges

4 Billion- Governor's Discretion

Sec t i ons o f t he De p a rtm e nt o f Ed u ca t i on P ort i on o f S t i mulus Bi ll

Pg. 1024-Title III

Education for the Disadvantaged School Improvement Programs Innovation and Improvement Safe Schools and Citizenship Education Career, Technical, and Adult Education

Special Institutions for Persons with Disabilities Department of Management-Program Administration College Housing and Academic Facilities Loans Programs

National Technical Institute for the Deaf HBCU' Capital Financing Program Account

English Language Aquisition Gallaudet University Student Financial Assistance

Rehabilitation Services Student Aid Administration Institute of Education Sciences

Each section received a specific amount of money that can be found in the bill

Special Education Howard University Office of Civil Rights

Indain Education Higher Education

Impact Aid

3

HBCU Construction Debt Forgiven

Good News for Historically Black Colleges and Universities! The Stimulus bill included funding earmarked for HBCU's but it also included forgiveness of 1.3 billion dollars loans that were used for construction on campuses across the country.

The Department of Education will be responsible for paying all federally backed loans, interest, principal and fees.

Pg. 2839 For actual policy within the bill

Loan Forgiveness ‘ Transformative ’ for HBCUs Article from Inside Higher Ed Click Here

Although it was taken out of the stimulus bill, President Trump signed an Executive Order releasing federal funds to be used for "educational learning pods" as well as private schools. This order was made in the name of minority and underprivileged students to push for in-person learning. With a new administration in office, this executive order may possibly be overturned. By Way of Executive Order Expanding Educational Opportunity Through School Choice

Why this matters....

Ed u ca t ional pod s in A t lan t a ? i

Most minority students do not attend private schools

Educational pods are overwhelming used by white, middle to wealthy income families Federal funds should be used on providing PPE for in-person learning, more laptops and extended WIFI for remote learning, increase in substitute pay, increase in nurses and mental health professionals on campuses

Many minority families do not have an understanding on how to apply for these grants with no help being provided

Although funding is there for school choice, school administration must still accept students into their programs and/or pods

4

We ' re up next and some have al ready started! Educators are the next group to receive the COVID - 19 vacc ine. Many educators are al ready making the dec i s ion to leave the profess ion i f they are requi red to take the vacc ine. Opinions of educators, spec i f i cal ly teachers, are the most important and many t imes the least heard. Mandatory or Not? Please take thi s survey to gauge the feel ing of educators on the COVID - 19 vacc ine and school s protect ions. Resul ts wi l l be in the next i ssue.

V A C C I N E

Click Here for survey

Or Scan Code

Is it worth my health?

Is it safe?

Will I take it?

Will it be madatory?

Chart from cdc.gov-Click for full document

When can I get it?

Is it worth my job?

Can I get the vaccine at school?

Does my insurance cover the vaccine?

5

N.E.W.S.

Educational Legend Passes Away at 82

Joe Clark, famed Principal of Eastside High School in New Jersey, died on Wednesday, Dec.30 at his home in Florida surrounded by his family after his long battle with an illness. Joe Clark rose to infamy through his rigorous discipline measures coupled with his heart and love for children, especially the underprivileged. His name and extraordinary work were solidified in the 1989 movie Lean on Me, starring Morgan Freeman.

Some people may of thought Mr. Clark was "Crazy Joe" for carrying his bat around school, but as Mr. Clark himself described... "the bat was not a weapon but a symbol of choice: a student could either strike out or hit a home run." The symbol the represented so much more...

FUN FACT

President Regan offered Joe Clark a policy advisor position in his administration but because of his commitment to his students, he turned downed the offer

Lori Loughlin was released from prison in December after serving 60 days as a result of pleading guilty in the testing scandal that rocked the nation. Numerous wealthy parents were charged in connection with the scandal, many of whom plead guilty. Laughlin, her husband fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli and other parents decided to go to trial as they proclaimed their innocence. Once the pandemic broke the couple did an about-face and plead guilty. They admitted to paying $500,000 to get their daughters into college, which included pretending they were part of the rowing athletic team. Loughlin was sentenced to two months in prison and Giannulli, was sentenced to 6 months in prison. Since Laughlin's release Oliva Jade, one of her daughters at the center of the scandal, broke her silence on Jada Pinkett Smith, Red Table Talk- You can view the episode by clocking on the link Update: As of January 2021 Mossimo Gannulli requested, for a second time, to serve out the rest of his sentence at home. His first request was denied and has a current pending request. Lori Loughlin released from prison; Husband still incarcerated and has requested to serve out remaining sentence at home

OLVIA JADE on Red Table Talk discussing Cheating Scandal Click Here

College and Universities Scrap Standardized Testing

Before the pandemic began, colleges and universities were modifying application requirements to test- optional applications. Standardized testing has been a "hot-button" debated issue for years and the pandemic has only exacerbated the debate. As of early Tuesday, January 19, 2021, the College Board announced it is discontinuing the SAT essay assessment and the SAT subject-based assessment.

According to College Board Officials, the pandemic has “accelerated a process already underway at the College Board to simplify our work and reduce demands on students.” For a list of 2021 Colleges and Universities with test-optional admissions Click Here

6

Now more than ever ...

Texas School System Opens Free Grocery Store for Needy Families Store is based on a point system instead of money Points are given based on family size Thinking outside the Box For the betterment of children and families Funded by a grant awarded to the schools district in conjunction with community partnerships Store provides nonperishable items, fresh produce and hygiene products Store issues cards to customers to use and points are replenished weekly

Substitutes are needed

for schools to function

Georgia school sysems gives substitues rasie

Substitute Pay in Fulton County will increase from 80$ to 100$

Click here for full article

Click here for more information Scholarship

Finding a way home ... Millions of students run away each year greyhound offers rides to runaway children Every time a child runs away from home, it means a student has run away from home. Many times teachers are the first person alerted to students who have run away. It is important that teachers are equipped with as much information as possible to assist students that have run away. Click here for more information Scroll to "Getting a Bus Ticket Home"

Presented by

ZETA PI BETA

up to $125,000 Deadline 2/28/21 Founders' Centennial Scholarship

Click here for more information

7

Teachers deserve

to be understood & supported

heard,

Vin Gupta Pulmonary/Critical Care Physician

Across the nation, educators are protesting in-person learning as COVID-19 numbers keep rising. Teachers, specifically are feeling more underappreciated every day. The reality is teachers understand better than anyone the drawbacks to remote learning; however, teachers deserve to be PROTECTED PROPERLY upon returning to school buildings. As of now, many schools are ill-prepared and ill-equipped to conduct in-person learning. while keeping faculty, staff, and students safe!

8

Until Next time...

Teachers have been tasked with a job that is practically insurmountable. No teacher asked to be a part of teaching during a pandemic or to take a ride on the remote/in-person roller coaster but here we are. Teachers have a job that is unlike any other profession. They are responsible for children of all ages, backgrounds, and intellectual levels. They are to ensure students are safe, fed, emotionally stable all while trying to teach academic material. As teachers return to the classrooms, many are facing a lack of protective equipment to help defend against contracting COVID-19. Teachers should not have to ask for or provide their own equipment, such as appropriate cleaners, masks, and desk shields- but many are made to do so. It is time for teachers to be supported, instead of sacrificed. Most are doing the very best they can with the cards that have been dealt, all while trying to keep themselves safe. Instead of complaining about teachers, try to understand what it is to walk in their shoes. Most teachers would be happy to give a crash course to explain the magnitude of teaching in a pandemic.

THINK

...show love, respect, and gratitude.

EDU