Newark Trust
Welcome to this week's education news round-up.
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Campaign Central
Interested in who's running for the school board? You may learn more about each candidate on our new “meet the candidates” page. We also prepared a candidate fact sheet on the 5 things to look for in a candidate. Check it out here.
LOCAL
High Lead Levels Found in More Newark Schools
On Thursday, officials reported that an additional 8 public schools showed high levels of lead. The State Department of Environmental Protection has confirmed that it will take months to understand the magnitude of the problem. Read more here and here.
NCLC Launches Report on 2015 Summer Leadership Institute
The Newark City of Learning Collaborative (NCLC) has released its report on the 2015 NCLC Summer Leadership Institute. It includes student stories and an informational video on the critical role summer enrichment opportunities play in student and youth development.
Recently Announced Book by Newark Tech Entrepreneur Anthony Frasier Now Available
Young and aspiring entrepreneurs in Newark have a new resource on how to reach their goals with the release of Anthony Frasier’s new book “Don’t Dumb Down Your Greatness.” A Newark-bred tech entrepreneur, Frasier offers advice from his own experience on how young entrepreneurs from minority communities can navigate the cultural difficulties and financial limitation they face in achieving their goals.
REGIONAL
Democrats Demand Immediate Lead Testing For Water in All NJ Schools
The state Senate’s Democratic leadership are calling for immediate lead testing in all public and private schools in New Jersey. The proposal includes a request for at least $3 million for testing and an additional $20 million from the Clean Energy Fund to install and update filters.
5 Ways PARCC Testing Will Be Different This Year
With 2016 testing to begin on April 4th, this year’s annual state exam will incorporate 5 changes that focus on test administration, test exemption for some students, fewer test sections, and a shorter wait time for results.
Submit a Program for the STEAM Tank Challenge Today!
The New Jersey School Board Association (NJSBA) invites schools to submit entries for a new STEAM (Science, Technology. Engineering, Arts, & Math) competition that engages students in creative-problem-solving. Entries are being accepted online and the deadline is Friday, June 17. The competition is modeled after the popular TV show “Shark Tank.”
Jersey City Educator Named N.J. Charter School Teacher of the Year
John Taylor, a physical education teacher and anti-bullying coordinator in Jersey City, was named the 2016 New Jersey Charter School Association Teacher of the Year.
DOE Wants to Know if Adolescent Students Should Be Allowed to Sleep in
In light of a recent study from the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding the effect of sleep deprivation on student learning and achievement, the Department of Education has issued a new survey, asking schools whether later start times will improve student alertness and academic performance. Read the full study here.
The Absurdity of College Admissions
In the first of a new three part Huffington Post series looking at elite-college admissions, Alia Wong explores the conversations surrounding the push to ‘rethink’ the college admissions process. She explores the history of exclusivity in college acceptances and its impact on students’ relationships.
Whitmire: America’s Best Charter School Doesn’t Look Anything Like Other Top Charters. Is that Bad?
During his second visit to Massachusetts’s Edward Brooke Charter School East Boston campus, education author Richard Whitmire observes how charters can tailor school culture to better serve students. He explores how the charter develops the scholarship of its student population and successfully achieves test scores that match their peers from schools in more affluent communities.
New Education Secretary: Bold Agenda. Just 10 Months To Get It Done
In a feature on NPR, John B. King Jr., the new U.S Secretary of Education outlined his department’s goals and priorities, emphasizing the department’s commitment to improving the quality of education through the Every Student Succeeds Act.