Friday, September 3^rd

Survey: Gang Presence Increasing in Public Schools

Nearly a third of students aged 12 to 17 in public schools say their schools are "infected" with both gangs and drugs, according to a survey by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA).

According to the report, 66 percent of high school students said their schools were drug-infected, a steep increase from last year when 51 percent said their schools had drugs. In the newest survey, one in three middle-schoolers say drugs are used, kept, or sold at their school. Last year, 23 percent of children in middle school said they had drugs in their school.

Joseph Califano, founder and chairman of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, said it's not clear what's behind those steep increases, except that "wherever there are gangs, there are drugs, it's pretty safe to say." Read More

New Common Core Tests to Shelve "Modified Achievement Standards"

I've been pecking away at an article about the push toward common academic standards and students with disabilities for a little while now, but this tidbit is too interesting to hold on to: Today, Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced the winners of a competition to design tests that will accompany these state standards. In his remarks, he made several direct references to what these new tests may mean for students with learning differences:

This new generation of mathematics and English language arts assessments will cover all students in grades 3 through 8 and be used at least once in high school in every state that chooses to use them. In addition, the [Parternship for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers] consortium will develop optional performance tasks to assess literacy and mathematics knowledge and skills in kindergarten through 2nd grade. Read More

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Book Review: School Security

A Physical Security Handbook for School Security Managers, Local law enforcement & Emergency response officials.

Our schools are generally safe places but when disaster strikes it makes media headlines around the country. In the last ten years 105 students and staff have been shot to death in the nation's schools and universities. Tens of thousands more have been injured a result of man-made or natural disasters.

Whatever the reason, incidents such as these at a school resonate because it's our children who are at risk. That is why it is so important to have a comprehensive emergency response plan in place and to regularly practice it and revise it.Read More

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Mentoring Critical to Academic, Social, and Personal Development of Area Youth, According to Findings from First Niagara Bank Survey

Significant improvements in academic grades and school attendance are among the many benefits of mentoring, according to a survey conducted last month by First Niagara Bank of past Mentoring Matters(SM) grant recipients.

The survey also found that mentoring was effective in elevating young adults' self-esteem, communication skills, learning to relate well to others, setting career goals and adopting new, positive behaviors.

Recently kicking off its fourth year, First Niagara's Mentoring Matters program provides critical funding and volunteer support for mentoring efforts conducted by non-profit organizations in Upstate New York. The program will top the $2 million total grant mark in 2010, positively impacting more than 13,000 youth through more than 150 organized mentoring programs throughout Upstate New York. Read More

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Task Force Cites High Dropout Rates for African American, Latino Students

Calling the high school dropout rate for city students one of the most serious problems facing Philadelphia, Mayor Nutter said Thursday his administration would work with the School District to address it.

"There is nothing less at stake here than the future of this city," Nutter told an audience at the district's administration building following release of a blueprint for stemming the dropout rates for African American and Latino males.

After studying the dropout problems of African American and Latino males in Philadelphia for 10 months, a task force called for the district to reexamine its zero-tolerance policy toward violence, consider offering single-sex classes, add music and arts programs to help engage students' interest, and raise academic standards. Read More

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