Common Core: Sinking Ship or Rescue Vessel?

Lea Ann Atherton, a 2013-2014 Hope Street Group Fellow who teaches writing at Lone Oak Middle School in Paducah's McCracken County discusses the implementation of the common core in her classroom.

http://bit.ly/1h9YKQW

Engaging Teachers in Policy Development

Hope Street Group, a national nonpartisan, nonprofit organization known for working with teachers to impact education policy, recently released a new report, "Engaging Teachers in Policy Development."

http://bit.ly/1iV3VrP

An ebb in higher education enrollment

FiveThirtyEight is spotlighting a decline in the percent of high school graduates going directly on to higher education, from 70% in 2009 to 66% for 2013, leading me to wonder about the Kentucky pattern.  As far as I can tell, the Bureau of Labor Statistics isn't publishing state-level reports like the one used by FiveThirtyEight, but I did find Council on Postsecondary Education data on a related issue: total undergraduate enrollment.  As graphed above, our in-state pattern includes:

• A 4% increase in public university undergraduate enrollment since 2010
• A 15% decline in Kentucky Community and Technical College System enrollment over those years
• A 5% decline in total undergraduate enrollment combining the four-year and two-year schools

Both 538 and CPE reason that the peak years of the recession saw a peak in students choosing college and the economic recovery is likely to mean that some high school graduates choose to focus on employment immediately after graduation.

How About Life Ready Students?

David N. Cook, Director of Innovation and Partner Engagement at the Kentucky Department of Education says students need to be "Life Ready."

http://bit.ly/1fpfWBk

How to Invest Education Dollars

Liza Holland,Secretary of the Kentucky PTA, discusses the input received from citizens about how to best invest our education dollars.

http://bit.ly/1nsjQ1q

Seat Time or Results?

Dr. Terry I. Brooks who is the Executive Director of Kentucky Youth Advocates talks about the need to revisit seat time versus results.

http://bit.ly/1m6j1v6

It's About Time

Lauren Hill, who teaches English at Western Hills High School in Frankfort, Kentucky discusses how to best utilize time for teachers.

http://bit.ly/1jr6AJj

Get On Board for Academic Excellence

Julia Link Roberts, Mahurin Professor of Gifted Studies at Western Kentucky University says it is time to get the conversation going about achieving excellence, in all academic areas, in all schools across the United States. http://bit.ly/1lDUaB7

Education advocates praise Kentucky budget that raises teacher salaries, restores funding

Prichard Committee @prichardcom Education advocates praise Kentucky budget that raises teacher salaries, restores funding kentucky.com/2014/04/01/317… @stusilbermanfc #kyga14 12:07 PM - 02 Apr 14

We Must Change Accountability First

David N. Cook, Director of Innovation and Partner Engagement at the Kentucky Department of Education discusses the need to change the types of accountability systems used in education.

blogs.edweek.org/edweek/engagem… 

Early Childhood Education Begins with Parents: By Pam Darnall

Pam Darnall, CEO of Family & Children's Place says providing support for positive parent-child interaction and connecting families to a broader network of support resources are all essential to a child's success.

blogs.edweek.org/edweek/engagem… 

Funding is Critical to Improved Learning

Lindsey Childers, a 2013-14 Hope Street Group Fellow from Christian County, Kentucky talks about funding as it relates to improved student learning.

http://bit.ly/1jyIzmE

Educating All Kids: Funding Matters

Lea Ann Atherton, a 2013-14 Hope Street Group Fellow who teaches writing at Lone Oak Middle School in Paducah's McCracken County says funding matters.

http://bit.ly/1gCWmGH

Funding for Technology is Essential

Tabetha Cooksey, a 2013-14 Hope Street Group Fellow and a Middle School Science teacher at Cumberland County Middle School discusses the need to adequately fund technology in our schools.

http://bit.ly/1iYq8VQ

Inspire Math Students

Natalie McCutchen, a 2013-14 Hope Street Group Fellow who teaches 7th grade Math discusses the need for adequate funding to make math fun.

http://bit.ly/1lgX92d

Elevating the Teaching Profession

Ellen Sherratt, a Research and Policy Associate at American Institutes for Research discusses trends to elevate the teaching profession.

http://bit.ly/1ml0GwG

Realities of Budget Cuts

Christine Holajter, a 2013-14 Hope Street Group Fellow and music teacher talks about the realities of budget cuts.

http://bit.ly/1peMoLc

Time for a Change in Ky's School Funding

Andrew Brennen: Time for change in Ky.'s school funding kentucky.com/2014/03/06/312… @stusilbermanfc 10:23 AM - 06 Mar 14 Andrew Brennen @aebrennen Debater, Prichard Committee Student Voice Initiative member, and Senior at Paul Laurence Dunbar #Pride #StuVoice #FLYMCA

Lack of Funding for Interventions

Erin Brummett, a 2013-14 Hope Street Group Fellow discusses the need for adequate funding so teachers can help struggling students.

http://bit.ly/1ddpcNy

Legislators: Adequate Funding Needed

Kim Delaney, a 2013-14 Hope Street Group Fellow discusses the need to invest in education for our future.

http://bit.ly/1d9QHaH