CEC Policy Insider

Want to be a Fulbright Scholar?

The application process for the Fulbright Scholar Program opened is now open. The program is designed to give participants the opportunity to pursue teaching, research or a combination of the two in one of over 125 countries for the 2013-2014 academic year. In addition to awards designed for university faculty and administrators, there are awards designed for other professions including artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, independent scholars. The awards span 45 academic disciplines as well as 167 general awards open to applicants of all disciplines.

GAO Report Addresses Access to Standardized Testing Accommodations in Higher Education

Standardized tests are often required to gain admission into postsecondary schools or to obtain professional certifications. Federal disability laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), require entities that administer these tests to provide accommodations to students with disabilities - like extended time or changes in test format.  In recent years, however, some have questioned whether administration of these tests is fully compliant with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Call and write your Senators Today! Support the American Jobs Act

Tonight, at 6pm the Senate is set to vote on the American Jobs Act. CEC supports this bill and urges all members to urge their Senators to join us and support S. 1660 - the American Jobs Act – save education jobs. 

If enacted, this proposal will provide $30 billion to save and create jobs for educators in every state and help ensure that children and youth with disabilities and those with gifts and talents have the resources they need to succeed. To learn more, click here.

CEC’s members, like all Americans, have felt the brunt of this economic downturn and have witnessed its direct impact on the children and youth with disabilities and those with gifts and talents whom they serve. Layoffs have meant increased class sizes, fewer resources for technology and professional development, and fewer opportunities to provide students with a free appropriate public education.

CEC is especially pleased that the proposal includes the following in subtitles B and D in Title II:

• $30 billion to save some 280,000 jobs and support state and local efforts to retain, rehire, and hire early childhood, elementary, and secondary educators (including teachers, guidance counselors, classroom assistants, after-school personnel, tutors, and literacy and math coaches) to ensure that students are not shortchanged by education program cutbacks and eliminations and unreasonable class sizes.
• $30 billion proposed for school modernization to improve learning conditions for students in some 35,000 schools and capacity expansion at community colleges.

CEC urges Congress to pass the critical education provisions in the American Jobs Act. Without this investment, we risk letting our nation’s greatest asset – our children – languish in short-staffed, overcrowded, underfunded classrooms.  Now is the time to invest in America’s future, support educators, and provide our children and youth with the resources they need to succeed.

Take action – contact your Senator about this important issue today!

USDOE Announces Overhaul of Teacher Education

Since taking office, the Obama Administration has taken several steps to push for education reform – supporting charter schools, pushing to revamp teacher evaluation and now, it is turning its sights on overhauling teacher education programs.

Last week, the US Department of Education announced a plan to overhaul the information it requires from teacher colleges and a revamping of the programs meant to entice college graduates to enter the teaching profession. In a report titled, “Our Future, Our Teachers: The Obama Administration’s Plan for Teacher Education Reform and Improvement,” the Department of Education announced its intention to work with the teacher preparation community to – streamline current reporting requirements and refocus the community on results. Specifically, the Department will replace many of the existing 440 reporting requirements with new inquires meant to provide information about graduates’ from teacher colleges impact on student performance, job placement and retention rates.

One new and important change in this plan is the Administration’s focus on linking teacher performance to their school of education. Holding up Lousiana and Tennessee as examples, the Administration is clearly focused on holding teacher preparation programs accountable for their graduates performance and impact on student achievement. The only way envisioned for this under this plan currently is through student achievement on standardized test scores.

In addition to the new reporting requirements, the Obama Administration also announced its intent to revise the current TEACH grant program, renaming it the “Presidential Teaching Fellows.”This program will remain a formula grant program and will continue to provide scholarships to final year, high achieving students attending high quality traditional or alternative teacher preparation programs.  It will be slightly revamped to allow states to develop master teacher designations – in consortia with other states and those achieving this level of certification would be eligible for additional leadership opportunities and compensation.

U.S. Department of Ed Releases Grant Specs for Transitioning Students with Intellectual Disabilities into Higher Education

The U.S. Department of Education released application details for a grant program intended to support the successful transition of students with intellectual disabilities into higher education.  The grants, available to high education institutions, must be used to establish a model comprehensive transition and postsecondary program which provides individual  academic /social supports and services; focuses on academic achievement, socialization, independent living skills, and integrated work experiences, among other requirements.  Grants are limited to $500,000 or less and applications are due July 30, 2010. 

More information.