No.

88, February 2013

IN THIS ISSUE STATE OF THE UNION

THE STATE OF THE UNION
JFF on the President’s Education and
Workforce Proposals
EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
Blended K-12 Learning
K-12 STANDARDS AND
ACCOUNTABILITY
Five Graduation Rate Questions for
States with NCLB Waivers
Can Accountability Improve Student
Outcomes?
JFF ON THE PRESIDENT’S EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE PROPOSALS
http://www.jff.org/blog/2013/02/19/jffs-response-to-president-obamas-state-of-union
Jobs for the Future applauded President Obama for highlighting P-TECH Early College High
School in Brooklyn, NY, and its corporate partner IBM in his fifth State of the Union address
last week. P-TECH and IBM’s unique grade 9-14 partnership helps its students graduate
within six years with both a high school diploma and an Associate’s degree, equipped with
the skills and knowledge that employers are demanding. P-TECH—like 240 other schools
nationwide—is based on the early college model that enables more than 75,000 students
a year to earn free college credit in high school. Most students are from minority and low-
income families. Read more . . .

Who’s In Charge Here?

EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

WEEK 2013

5th Annual Celebration Happening BLENDED K-12 LEARNING

March 25-30
http://www.jff.org/publications/education/using-educational-technology-help-studen/1505

JFF IN THE NEWS Increasingly, schools and districts are incorporating technology into their instruction to
engage young people who have fallen off track to graduating from high school on time. In
JFF ON THE ROAD a new practice brief, JFF’s Clare Bertrand details three essential processes for integrating
tech-based tools into curricula. For each, she highlights a pioneering school that serves off-
track and out-of-school youth, pointing to what its experience reveals. Read more . . .

K-12 STANDARDS AND ACCOUNTABILITY

FIVE GRADUATION RATE QUESTIONS FOR STATES WITH NCLB WAIVERS
http://www.jff.org/publications/education/nclb-waivers-and-accountability-graduati/1507

States with NCLB waivers are developing new K-12 accountability systems that have the
potential to encourage college and career readiness. However, states must not reduce
the importance of graduation rates within these systems. JFF Education Policy Director
Kathryn Young offers five questions that each state should ask to ensure that grad rates
remain a central indicator of school success. Good news: The states already have the data
they need to answer these questions. Read more . . .

NEWSWIRE No. 88, February 2013

 CAN ACCOUNTABILITY IMPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES?
http://www.sagepub.com/books/Book235068

Increased K-12 accountability can improve student outcomes if it is coupled with the
expansion of innovations proven to accelerate the skills of low-income youth. That’s the
main message of Joel Vargas and Janet Santos’ chapter in Sage Publications’ new book,
Standards and Accountability in Schools. The book, composed of point-counterpoint essays,
is designed to be a primer on education issues. Its editor, Thomas J. Lasley, II, is a former
dean of education at Dayton University and co-founder of Dayton Early College Academy.
Read more . . .

WHO’S IN CHARGE HERE?

http://www.jff.org/blog/2013/01/25/who-is-in-charge-here-bdea-reflection-on-student-ownership

It was time to renew the charter of Boston Day and Evening Academy, a school that uses a
competency-based approach to educate high school-age students for whom the traditional
education model has not worked. The re-charter team asked a group of BDEA students a
pointed question: “Who is in charge here?” After brief discussion, one student proclaimed:
“We are!” The others agreed.

And according to BDEA Director of Instruction Alison Hramiec, they’re right.

Hramiec’s guest JFF blog entry details how BDEA students are encouraged to guide
their own learning and that of their classmates, with teachers serving as guides and
competencies serving as the milestones they reach for. BDEA has over 300 benchmarks
across core subjects, all aligned with the Common Core State Standards. Read more . . .

EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL WEEK 2013

5TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION HAPPENING MARCH 25-30
http://www.facebook.com/ECHSwk2013

JFF and its early college partners nationwide are celebrating 11 successful years on
Monday, March 25 thru Saturday, March 30. During our fifth annual Early College High
School Week, many of the 200+ early colleges nationwide will invite their community
leaders to various events that showcase how effective they are at preparing their
students—mainly from minority and low-income families—for college success. Currently 93
percent of early college students graduate high school, 91 percent of which leave with free
college credit. Like the Week on Facebook to see more great early college stats and find
out what events are happening at a school near you.

JFF IN THE NEWS

Jan. 31: The Denver Post and EdNews Colorado reported that JFF is scaling up Early
College Designs in 10 Denver Public Schools, thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of
Education’s Investing in Innovation (i3) program. JFF received $15 million last December
to spread Early College Designs to Denver and two districts in South Texas.

Jan. 25: In a Huffington Post editorial, Fred Dedrick took note of the 20 million Americans
looking for full-time work as the context for the National Fund for Workforce Solutions,
which has helped tens of thousands connect with valuable training programs and
employers with jobs to fill.

Jan. 15: The Christian Science Monitor quoted Lili Allen on leading ideas to recover
and advance high school dropouts. The article also features South Texas districts that
JFF assists as they identify and implement cost-effective school designs, practices, and
professional development tailored to local needs.
2 NEWSWIRE No. 88, February 2013 JOBS FOR THE FUTURE
 ON THE ROAD
Feb. 21, American Association of School Administrators’ National Conference on
Education, Los Angeles, CA:

• JFF’s LaVonne Sheffield, K-12 reform expert and former school superintendent, will show
how school districts can recover dropouts and prepare them for college success using
Early College Designs and the principle of “acceleration, not remediation.”

Feb. 22, 2013 Achieving the Dream Hawaii Strategy Institute, Honolulu, HI:

• JFF higher education policy expert Lara Couturier will speak about Cornerstones of
Completion, her new report, including 10 recommendations for state policymakers on
how to develop and support structured pathways through college.

Feb. 25, America’s Promise Alliance’s Building a Grad Nation Summit, Washington, DC:

• JFF National Education Policy Director Kathryn Young will highlight federal policies and
resources that can improve education and career outcomes for youth—particularly those
from minority and low-income families. Bob Wise (president of the Alliance for Excellent
Education and former West Virginia governor) will make opening remarks.
(10:15-11:45 a.m., Room: Maryland B-C)

Mar. 9-12, National Association of Workforce Boards’ NAWB Forum, Washington, DC:

• JFF is a Partner Sponsor. Come visit us in the main exhibition hall throughout the Forum
(Booth #315) or at the Partners’ Exchange on March 11 from 8:00-11:00 a.m.

SEE YOU ONLINE!

http://www.twitter.com/jfftweets

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

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Jobs for the Future works with our partners to design and drive adoption of education
and career pathways leading from college readiness to career advancement for those
struggling to succeed in today’s economy.

TEL 617.728.4446 FAX 617.728.4857 info@jff.org

88 Broad Street, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02110

122 C Street, NW, Suite 650, Washington, DC 20001

W W W. J F F.O R G

3 NEWSWIRE No. 88, February 2013 JOBS FOR THE FUTURE