Early Education According Senate Dems - Senate Democrats unveiled their education budget Thursday, Like the budget unveiled by House Democrats this week, Senate Democrats are focusing on education for Minnesota's youngest students.

Much of the Senate budget's $356 million in new spending would fund free all-day kindergarten statewide. About two-thirds of the state's school districts currently offer all-day kindergarten, but many of them charge for it. The Senate budget also boosts early learning scholarships for 3- and 4-year-olds, from $3 million a year to almost $50 million.

"We will have students prepared for kindergarten and much more likely to succeed in life," said Sen. Chuck Wiger, DFL-Maplewood.

Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton also voiced his support for early education in his own budget proposal.

The budget bill passed through the Senate education finance committee on a voice vote, its first stop as both chambers work to nail down financing the state's education for the next two years.

The Senate's bill doesn't address the roughly $850 million that the state owes schools from previous borrowing to balance deficits. House Democrats plan to pay off the entire school shift in the next two years. Legislative leaders have been split on that issue from the start of session.

Wiger said school officials have told him they support the Senate's plan to pay back that shift over time.

The Senate budget adds $52 per pupil to the state's bedrock funding formula, which would bring it to $5,276 per student. The House plan aims to add $209 to that formula.

Another $9 million increase in the Senate bill would go to special education, which the House didn't address.

Senate Democrats are also looking to increase the age at which a Minnesota student can drop out of school — from 16 to 17 — to boost graduation rates.

They also want to retool testing practices to "move the state in a direction of teaching the subject matter, not teaching for the test," said Sen. Patricia Torres Ray, DFL-Minneapolis. By moving college entrance exam preparation up to as early as eighth grade, Torres Ray and other Democrats say schools can help those who need an extra hand and better prepare all students for college. (see HERE)

Republican Sen. Sean Nienow criticized the newer approach, saying that students would graduate regardless of whether they understood the material or earned a passing grade.

Echoing House Republicans, Nienow said he supported several measures of the Senate budget but would rather take money allocated for specific purposes — like all-day kindergarten — and add it to the state's general funding formula.

"That doesn't help schools with their funding concern. Local control is better than a state mandate," Nienow said.

Part of the Senate's budget also buys out old local property tax levies. Sen. Leroy Stumpf, DFL-Plummer, said that property owners statewide will see a decrease on their bills, though the structure of those levies makes it hard to guess how big, or small, the relief may be.

But Stumpf said it will also ease school districts' reliance on local property tax increases. School districts in cities and counties where education taxes haven't passed have suffered, leading to a funding gap in which some schools get far more funding per pupil than others.
a $15.6 billion package that would add to the state's basic per-pupil funding formula, increase Minnesota's school dropout age eliminate some local property tax levies. (see HERE)

Source : www.nujournal.com

» Read More...

Detail Overview Miami HEAT Scholarships 2013 -The Miami HEAT is offering $10,000.00 in scholarship funds to high school seniors attending Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach schools. Scholarship applications are available each school year and recipients are awarded in May. This year’s application deadline is April 6th, 2013.

 

This will be the seventeenth year that the Miami HEAT has offered scholarships (click HERE). Scholarships are awarded based on academic performance and outstanding community service. Scholarships include the following:

•     Two (2) $2,500.00 HEAT Scholarships
•     One (1) $2,500.00 Dr. Jack Ramsay Scholarship
•     One (1) $2,500.00 Alec Kessler Student-Athlete Scholarship

 Click Here for Scholarship Application

Source : http://www.nba.com/heat/community/community_education_scholarships.html

» Read More...

Civil Rights Issue Saving Public Schools - The fight against public school closings has become the new
civil rights battle in this country — and rightfully so. Faced with a $1 billion budget deficit, Chicago's public school system is the most recent urban district to announce a massive closure of schools. The city intends to shutter 61 elementary school buildings, nearly all of them in black and Hispanic neighborhoods. Like other cities, Chicago claims that budget deficits and declining student enrollments have forced it to turn out the lights in these inner city schools.

That's a penny-wise-and-pound-foolish decision that condemns the neighborhoods surrounding these soon-to-be-boarded-up schools to further decline.

Over the next decade, school officials predict that these closings will save the school system $560 million. But first the city will have to spend $233 million to move students from the schools that will be closed into classrooms elsewhere.

Even if the school closings actually produce the projected savings, the damage they will produce to the neighborhoods left without readily accessible public schools will be catastrophic (see HERE).

Who wants to raise children in a community with no neighborhood schools? While poverty and crime have decimated the population of many inner city neighborhoods, shutting down schools in those troubled areas will depopulate them even faster. The result will be a growing expanse of urban wastelands that could well deepen the budget deficits of the cities that are closing public schools.

Politicians and school officials must be challenged to justify their school closing decision beyond the dealmaking of Chicago's City Council. The U.S. Department of Education's civil rights division is investigating complaints that claim the school closing decisions of several urban school districts amount to a civil rights violation (see HERE).

If the school closings don't violate the law, they sure seem to trample upon its spirit. Those who push for massive school closings are taking a meat cleaver approach to deficit reduction — one that treats poor and inner city neighborhoods with the disdain of Jim Crow-era lawmakers. They should be forced to come up with ways to bring school budgets into balance that strengthen these communities.

In recent months, school systems in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Detroit and Newark have announced plans to close public schools, and in every case blacks and Hispanics will bear the biggest burden of these cost-cutting measures. These decisions signal an indifference to the damage such policy decisions will have on the neighborhoods.

"If we don't make these changes, we haven't lived up to our responsibility as adults to the children of the city of Chicago," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said, according to the Associated Press.

That's a pretty shortsighted analysis of a problem that, if not addressed properly, will render large swaths of Chicago's black and Hispanic neighborhoods uninhabitable education wastelands.

DeWayne Wickham writes on Tuesdays for USA Today.

» Read More...

Brevard Schools Drawing Interest - Richard Webb, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Paradise in Indialantic, told FLORIDA TODAY a sale could be worth millions.

“We’ve got a great opportunity to solve a problem here,” said Webb, who declined to identify his client for competitive reasons. A sale could help alleviate a financial crisis that’s causing Brevard Public Schools to eliminate teaching jobs and institute various student fees.

Another possible solution to keeping the schools open also is gaining steam. Clearlake Middle in Cocoa, Gardendale Elementary on Merritt Island and South Lake Elementary in Titusville are slotted to close at the end of this school year.


Late last week, Canaveral Port Authority Commissioner Bruce Deardoff said he plans on asking the port board to give enough money to Brevard Public Schools to keep the three schools open for two more academic years. Port commissioners could vote Wednesday morning on the $5 million proposal.

Webb is representing a company that has charter schools in Florida and other states, and is seeking to enter the Brevard market. Charter schools are publically funded but are privately-run schools.

When asked about a potential sale, Brevard School Board Chair Barbara Murray said the board is “open-minded,” but is interested in the district staff’s proposal to re-purpose the schools for internal use. Doing so is expected to save the district money because leased space will no longer be needed.

“We’re going to entertain and look at all of our options,” Murray said.

Consolidating adult education and alternative learning centers, for example, is expected to save up to $550,000 a year. It’s part of the prioritized list of $30 million in savings that was approved earlier this month.

School district leaders are planning to convert Clearlake to one such center. Other district offices, such as technology repair and virtual schools, also will move to the school.

Source: floridatoday.com

» Read More...

Slew of Awards and Recognitions For York High School - A number of York High School students have earned recognition for high academic achievement. And the school itself has earned a couple of recognitions, too.

National Merit Finalists

Six York High School students are among 16,000 semifinalists who have met the requirements to advance to finalist standing in the National Merit Corporation scholarship competition.

Named National Merit Finalists are Karen Altergott, Caroline Dierksheide, Evan Fabry, Emma Fisher, Ushasi Naha and Matthew Wilbur.

A Certificate of Merit was presented to them at a recognition breakfast earlier this month. Finalists will be considered for National Merit Scholarships to be offered in 2013. Scholarship winners will be announced in four groups:

•     Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship winners – April
•     National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners – May
•     College-sponsored Merit Scholarship winners – July

About 1.5 million students entered the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program; about 16,000 were named semifinalists. They were designated in proportion to each state’s percentage of the national total of high school graduating seniors. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must submit a detailed scholarship application and present a record of very high academic performance. (see HERE)

These students are competing for "a significant amount of scholarship money," District 205 Superintendent David Pruneau said at Tuesday's School Board meeting.

"It's exceptional to have six finalists from one high school," he said. "They are proudly representing Elmhurst."

Skills USA State Qualifiers

York students also qualified for state competition in SkillsUSA and will compete in Springfield April 11-13. SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry with the goal of creating world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. The following students were recognized:

• Adobe Photoshop Design: Hannah Kopach, Anna Hovorka, Elizabeth Gordon
• Automotive Service Technology: Chris Taylor, Cody Schau
• Collision Repair Technology: Chase Peterson, Christian Craig, David Byrne
• Power Equipment Technology: Steven Knopf
• Principles of Technology: Nicole Juarez
• Screen Printing Technology: Emma Baubly, Breanna Stubbs
• Technical Drafting CAD: Anthony Cano, Jake Pulver, Alec Hein, Garret Campbell, Kacia   Cortopassi, Nick Cosentino, Alex Frantzis, Ben Norgle, Tim Stotz

IDEA State Qualifiers

Congratulations also go to the following students for placing in the Top 3 and qualifying for the State Illinois Drafting Educators Association competition.

•     Introductory CAD: Alex Tase, first place, Stephanie Cui, third place
•     Assembly Modeling: Kyle Stevens, first place, and Jake Pulver, second place
•     Machine CAD: Alec Hein, first place
•     Solid Modeling: Nick Cosentino, first place

Science Olympiad

The York High School Science Olympiad team took fifth place at the March 9 College of DuPage regional competition, which included more than 30 teams.

The following varsity team members were recognized:

•     Anna O'Donnell and Colleen Lehrer, second place in Fermi Questions
•     Drew Douglas and Meg Grasse, second place in Forensics
•     Mary Margaret Koch and Jaqueline Nugent, second place in Water Quality
•     Drew Douglas and Matt Niewiara, third place in Gravity Vehicle
•     Ushasi Naha and Matt Niewiara, fourth place in Anatomy/Physiology
•     Anthony Cano and Connor McDermott, fourth place in Robot Arm
•     Chris Watson and Drew Douglas, fourth place in Technical Problem Solving

The following junior varsity team members were recognized:

•     Evan Fabry and Jonathan Senese, first place in Circuit Lab
•     Evan Fabry and Miranda Deane, second place in Boomilever
•     Sarah Eaton and Eric Cummings, second place in Dynamic Planet
•     Miranda Deane and Evan Fabry, second place in Elastic Launch Glider
•     Stephanie Cui and Eric Cummings, second place in Forestry
•     Dona Wilston and Sharon Mathai, third place in Anatomy/Physiology
•     Cameron Brown and Jonathan Senese, fourth place in Materials Science

The York Science Olympiad Team is led by Coach Jeff Drach.

Stock Market Game

The Stock Market Game is an online program that helps teach math, social studies, business, economics and language skills while focusing on the importance of long-term savings and investment. Students in Jim Borel's business class managed "investment portfolios" for three months with an initial virtual investment of $100,000.

The team of Jakob Gratzianna, Eric Hoff, Zaccaria Miller, Niki Passaris and Jack Polte finished the game by earning more than $22,000 on their initial $100,000 investment, outperforming the S&P 500 by 24 percent over the three months. The group came in second place among 541 teams in the state.

The students were recognized by the District 205 School Board Tuesday.

"To outperform the S&P by 24 percent in a three-month period is, by any standard, extremely impressive," School Board President Jim Collins said.

The Stock Market Game is sponsored by the Illinois Council for Economic Education.

York is a Grammy Signature Schools Semifinalist

York High School is in the running for grants for music excellence as a semifinalist in the Grammy Signature Schools program. York is among 129 semifinalist schools across the nation.

The program recognizes public high schools making an outstanding commitment to music education.

Finalists will receive a grant ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to benefit their music programs.

After the applications are scored, finalists are identified and asked to submit additional documentation, such as recordings of school concerts, sample concert programs and repertoire, which is then reviewed by an independent blue-ribbon committee of top music educators and professionals to determine the schools that merit Grammy Signature School status.

Bright Red Apple Award

Elmhurst District 205 also was awarded the Bright Red Apple Award by School Search. The designation is based on five criteria:

•     academic performance
•     ratio of teachers to students
•     expense per student
•     education level of teachers
•     teacher salary

Out of 866 districts in Illinois, 78 earned the Bright Red Apple. This is the 13th consecutive year District 205 has earned the recognition.

"I think that speaks volumes about the quality of Elmhurst schools," Superintendent David Pruneau said at Tuesday's School Board meeting.

School Search helps relocating families evaluate the quality of various school districts. (see HERE)
Source : http://elmhurst.patch.com/

» Read More...

Subject To Learn Elementary Education 2013 - Elementary education teachers need to be qualified with many subjects. They need experience in English, mathematics, language, history and management. When you are determined to increase your qualification in English then you to give much time of learning English language. You need to learn grammar, linguistics and English literature. I recommend you to be an English teacher in elementary education school if only you have a strong passion for English.

Elementary education degree - Science and special education

Bachelor in science and special education designs for those who are determined to be special education teacher. You need to learn how to deal with students who are disabled and have behavioral problems. Students with disabilities need extra care from special education teacher. You need to keep patience dealing with disabled children.
Bachelor degree in elementary education emphasis with math design for those who have passion to be math teacher in elementary education school. If you are passion enough for math then you take bachelor degree in elementary education specialized with math. As math teacher you need cover theory, probability, function, data analysis, descriptive statistics, geometry and problem solving.
After bachelor degree you are able to apply teaching post in elementary education school. But master in elementary education is important. You get extra value to be head of elementary education school. After retirement you will get benefit of getting a job in various administrative institutions.

Elementary education degree - License

You need license of applying for elementary education teacher. If you fail of getting license you will not be able to apply the teaching post. The qualification for getting license differs state to state in the USA.
If you are teaching one state as elementary education teacher you are not able teach other state without getting license of state you have recently gone.
Elementary education degree is the best option of building good career. There are lots of options before taking decision. Some students want to be doctors, engineer, artist, professional photographer. Elementary education teaching definitely opens many options. These options change way of life. Career of elementary education teaching increases dignity in society.
Taking degree: there are two ways of taking degree. One is going to university physically. Another one is taking a degree through online. Online teaching has become very popular nowadays. Students take online degree from anywhere in world. One most important thing is to select accredited institutions. Accredited institutions provide quality degree. Non-accredited schools provide degree but degree does not help you by getting a job. Employers do not give you importance when applying for a job post.

» Read More...

Is superintendent Vitti ignoring student accountability? - Let me first say I have been impressed so far with Superintendent Vitti. He has tackled testing, the learning schedule and bullies masquerading as principals and district staff. And where those issues are far from resolved he does have us after years of heading in the wrong direction, now heading in the right direction.

There however is one serious issue that he has yet to address, at least publically anyways and that is student accountability or specifically the lack thereof.

Students are still allowed to take grade recovery, formerly reserved for the truly deserving, for any reason.

Don’t come, make an effort or act up when you do? Hey it doesn’t matter because we will give you another bite of the apple through grade recovery. Superintendent Vitti should end grade recovery except for the truly deserving, kids who came to class and tried but just need a little more or kids who have verifiable and excused absences.

Even worse is teachers are still being told to watch their Ds and Fs. If teachers are cajoled into passing kids that don’t deserve it then what we have taught them a work ethic doesn’t matter. Well friends if they don’t learn this lesson at school many will never learn it and quite frankly that may be the most lesson many need the most. Superintendent Vitti should say no longer will teachers be told what grades to give and instead students should get the grades they deserve.

Finally discipline. Too many teachers still report the inmates are running the asylum as there are far too few consequences and remember for a consequence to be effective it has to be meaningful, for students who choose to act up. Like a work ethic many kids need to learn discipline at school because they don’t receive anything approaching it at home. Superintendent Vitti should immediately hold meetings with staff to develop meaningful consequences for maladaptive behavior and then implement those measures.

How can we in good conscious expect teachers to be accountable when we don’t hold far too many students accountable for their school work and behavior? If we truly want to reach our potential as a district then student accountability must be addressed and done so quickly.

He should do all those things if he wants to take us to the next level because doing less won’t do it.

» Read More...

Detail Overview California Institute of Technology 2013 - California Institute of Technology is a private institution that was founded in 1891. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 978, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 124 acres. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar. California Institute of Technology's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 10. Its tuition and fees are $39,588 (2012-13).

Caltech, which focuses on science and engineering, is located in Pasadena, Calif., approximately 11 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Social and academic life at Caltech centers on the eight student houses, which the school describes as "self-governing living groups." Student houses incorporate an admired Caltech tradition: dinners served by student waiters. Only
freshmen are required to live on campus, but around 80 percent of students remain in their house for all four years. The Caltech Beavers have a number of NCAA Division III teams that compete in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Integral to student life is the Honor Code, which dictates that "No member of the Caltech community shall take unfair advantage of any other member of the Caltech community."

In addition to its undergraduate studies, Caltech offers top graduate programs in engineering, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth sciences, mathematics, and physics. Caltech participates in a significant amount of research, receiving grants from institutions such as NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Health and Human Services, among others. Caltech maintains a strong tradition of pranking with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, another top-ranked science and technology university. Companies such as Intel, Compaq, and Hotmail were founded by Caltech alumni. Famous film director Frank Capra also graduated from Caltech.

» Read More...

Detail Overview Princeton University 2013 - Chartered in 1746 as the College of New Jersey — the name by which it was known for 150 years — Princeton University was British North America’s fourth college. Located in Elizabeth for one year and then in Newark for nine, the College of New Jersey moved to Princeton in 1756. It was housed in Nassau Hall, which was newly built on land donated by Nathaniel FitzRandolph (see A Princeton Timeline). Nassau Hall contained the entire College for nearly half a century. In 1896, when expanded program offerings brought the College university status, the College of New Jersey was officially renamed Princeton University in honor of its host community of Princeton. Four years later, in 1900, the Graduate School was established.

Fully coeducational since 1969, Princeton for the past academic year (2011-12) enrolled 7,757 students — 5,173 undergraduates (730 of whom are New Jersey residents, representing almost every county in the state) and 2,584 graduate students (degree candidates only). The ratio of undergraduate students to faculty members (in full-time equivalents) is 6 to 1.

The University provides its students with academic, extracurricular and other resources — in a residential community committed to diversity in its student body, faculty and staff — that prepare them for positions of leadership and lives of service in many fields of human endeavor.

Living up to its unofficial motto, “In the Nation’s Service and in the Service of All Nations,” Princeton University has educated thousands of individuals who have dedicated their lives to public service, including two U.S. presidents (Woodrow Wilson and James Madison); hundreds of U.S. and state legislators (the House of Representatives, for example, has housed a Princeton alumnus every year since it first met in 1789); and 44 governors, including 11 New Jersey governors.

Each year, more than 2,500 members of the student body, faculty, staff and local alumni volunteer in community service projects throughout the region. Reflecting this public service spirit, the University as an institution supports many service initiatives (see Service and Outreach). Princeton’s Office of Sustainability helps ensure progress in areas where the University has been a leader, such as energy conservation (see Sustainability).

As a research university, Princeton seeks to achieve the highest levels of distinction in the discovery and transmission of knowledge and understanding. At the same time, Princeton is distinctive among research universities in its commitment to undergraduate teaching. Interdisciplinary work is vital to Princeton and is reflected in a full spectrum of academic programs, including such initiatives as the Lewis Center for the Arts, the Center for African American Studies and the Princeton Neuroscience Institute.

Princeton’s main campus in Princeton Borough and Princeton Township consists of approximately 9 million square feet of space in more than 180 buildings on 500 acres. Including Springdale Golf Course, Lake Carnegie and roads for which the University owns the right-of-way, Princeton owns 759 acres in the township and has 214 acres in the borough.

The University, with approximately 5,974 benefits-eligible employees, is one of the region’s largest private employers. It plays a major role in the educational, cultural and economic life of the area by bringing 784,000 visitors and approximately $2 billion in economic activity to the region.

Source : http://www.princeton.edu

» Read More...

Detail Overview University of Chicago 2013 - The University of Chicago is one of the best research universities in the United States, consistently ranked among the world's top institutions in a number of international league tables.

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 business schools in the country.

The University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Detail Overview University of Chicago 2013 :

• Ranked 9th nationally in the US News National Universities Rankings 2011.
• University of Chicago is ranked 8th in the QS World University Rankings 2010. It is also placed in the world top 10 for: Social Sciences (7th), and Arts & Humanities (9th).
•  University of Chicago is ranked 9th globally and 8th in North & Latin America (Academic Ranking of World Universities 2010).
• Ranked 13th in the Washington Monthly's 2009 national university college rankings.
• Ranked 43rd internationally in the Webometrics ranking of world universities, July 2010.
• The University of Chicago is ranked as the top graduate school for Economics in the nation by US News and World Report. It shares this ranking with MIT, Harvard and Princeton (2009).
• The Princeton Review ranked the University of Chicago as offering the best overall academic undergraduate experience in the 2007 ''Best 361 Colleges'' rankings.

» Read More...

Detail Overview Harvard University 2013 - Harvard University is devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and research, and to developing leaders in many disciplines who make a difference globally. Harvard faculty are engaged with teaching and research to push the boundaries of human knowledge. For students who are excited to investigate the biggest issues of the 21st century, Harvard offers an unparalleled student experience and a generous financial aid program, with over $160 million awarded to more than 60% of our undergraduate students. The University has twelve degree-granting Schools in addition to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, offering a truly global education.
Established in 1636, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States. The University, which is based in Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts, has an enrollment of over 20,000
degree candidates, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Harvard has more than 360,000 alumni around the world.

Harvard Schools

Harvard University has 12 degree-granting schools in addition to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. The University has grown from nine students with a single master to an enrollment of more than 20,000 degree candidates including undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.

• Harvard Business School
• Division of Continuing Education
• Faculty of Arts & Sciences
• Graduate School of Design
• Harvard Graduate School of Education
• Harvard Kennedy School
• Harvard Law School
• Harvard School of Public Health
• Harvard College
• Harvard School of Dental Medicine
• Harvard Divinity School
• School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
• Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
• Harvard Medical School
• Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study

» Read More...

Review Stanford University - The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is an American private research university located in Stanford, California on an 8,180-acre (3,310 ha) campus near Palo Alto.

Since 1952, quite fifty four Stanford school, staff, and alumni have won the laurels, as well as nineteen current school members, and Stanford has the most important variety of Alan Turing award winners (dubbed the "Nobel Prize of pc Science") for one establishment.

Stanford is that the school of thirty living billionaires,
seventeenastronauts, and one amongst the leading producers of members of the us Congress. school and alumni have basedseveral distinguished corporations as well as Google, Hewlett-Packard, Nike, Sun Microsystems, and Yahoo!, and corporations based by Stanford alumni generate quite $2.7 trillion in annual revenue, like the tenth largest economy within the world. Stanford is additionally home to the initial papers of theologiser King Jnr.

The university is organized into seven faculties, as well as educational faculties of Humanities and Sciences and Earth Sciences yet as skilled faculties of Business, Education, Engineering, Law, and drugs. Stanford features as student body of roughly seven,000 college boy and eight,900 graduate students. Stanford could be a initiation member of the Association of yankee Universities.

» Read More...

Accredited Online Education Programs - Cater to the needs of thousands of students. As a rule one should always look for accredited online educational programs. Unaccredited degrees might be fraudulent.  They also imply that the school does not have the required quality standards in terms of faculty and curriculum. These not only reflect badly on your resume but can also lead to complex problems in future. Having accredited degree ensures that it will be recognized by future employers. You will also be able to avoid the risk of being rejected while applying for admission to some other school.
 Beginners, hoping to create a career in education can start by opting for the following programs.

Alternative Certificates/ Post-Baccalaureate Program
Designed primarily for those who want to join the teaching industry but have an undergraduate degree in a
field other than education. They are basically of short duration and are intense in nature. Many universities have included these in their program offerings, although they can also be acquired through local school boards as well. They focus more on the practical rather than theoretical aspects of education. Through this program they study the undergraduate level courses of education but get a Masters degree instead of a certificate. Currently the above two programs are being used interchangeably.
For those aspiring to have an advanced degree, options include the following:

Bachelors in Education
Normally take four years to complete and offer students the choice of selecting a major of their interest like curriculum development, child education, learning psychology etc. It opens up entry level positions at schools.

Masters in Education
It is pursued after completing the undergraduate degree. This program focuses on building up the intellectual and leadership potential of the students.

Educational Specialist Programs
This one year program is designed specifically for those who have completed their Masters degree in education and want to go on to pursue a doctoral degree.  It can help smooth their transition into doctoral studies. On its own this program can help secure staff and administrative positions at public and private colleges.

Doctoral Programs in Education
These are quite time consuming and are suitable for candidates wishing to pursue a career in policy development and research.

Online programs, so long as these are accredited, guarantee a cost efficient, effective and convenient educational experience, no matter which program or school is picked.

» Read More...

Earn your masters in nursing degree online  - If you are a nurse who wants to earn a master's degree, but find that you do not have time to go back to school, the next best thing is to earn your degree online through a nursing program approved. Many nursing schools offer reputable distance learning programs for getting a graduate degree in nursing. Top universities have embraced online education courses and offer half the price of those offered in the classroom. For professional nurses who need to work and do not have time to go back to school, learning online is convenient and beneficial. In this way, you will not have to miss a day of work and studying your subjects depending on the pace most comfortable for you.
Many people are still reluctant to get a degree online, not sure about its success rate and credibility. Some also cannot imagine how we will be able to complete a graduate degree entirely online, wondering how clinical rotations will be made. Typically, in an online program, most university courses required to obtain a graduate degree online is a schedule that is best for students.

All necessary clinical experience is coordinated with a local hospital or facility affiliated with the school.
Besides the convenience and flexibility, another major advantage of distance learning is to have access to and be able to interact with instructors and advisors by e-mail, message boards, live chat rooms virtual classrooms, and phone calls. These technologies provide students with online support unlimited and unparalleled teachers and school counselors.
Most nursing students will also have an online school counselor who will work with them online on a one on one basis. As opposed to traditional classroom learning, the curriculum of the student can be customized and planned according to the specific needs of the student and objectives. Online students will be assisted in the application process, scholarships, study plans, and even career planning.
Besides the fact that an online degree is more affordable than going to a traditional school, everything you need to complete most of your course is just at your fingertips, a computer and an Internet connection. Most online universities provide an overview of additional requirements such as books and laboratory equipment. Normally, your program online will cost 30-50% less than a traditional curriculum. Of course, the cost can vary from one school to another with most prestigious schools charge less known. However, going to a well-known school is much safer and reliable. You always want to get your degree from a reputable school wear over your name.
Different schools offer different specializations and advanced degrees, but most online schools offer RN, MSN, and training programs for nurse practitioners. Some masters of nursing programs offered online offer a specialization in science education or combine management or administration of health care. Depending on what you want in the end, you can choose a school that offers the program you want to take. Make sure the school is accredited and certified online by a nationally recognized nursing license and official.

» Read More...

Student Loan Defermest - Deferring payment on student loans is necessary when circumstances prevent a borrower from staying current on payments. There are many types of deferments available depending on the kind of student loan and the situation. For instance, deferments on private loans are completely discretionary to the lender. If a private lender wants to grant or deny a deferment they can, without consequences. Ironically, they may also charge a borrower requesting a deferment because they're unable to pay. Sallie Mae often charges $150 for a three month deferment.

For deferments of federal loans there are rules to be followed and made available to borrowers. The most common deferment on a federal student loan is the "in school" deferment. In other words, if a borrower is

in school for at least half-time, payments on the federal loans will be deferred. For Stafford loans there are also deferments available when a borrower is unemployed, in a rehabilitation training program, in a graduate fellowship, in the military service or following active duty, temporarily totally disabled or caring for a disabled spouse or dependent. Deferments are also available for economic hardship.

Economic hardship deferment applications must be in writing and can be issued in one year increments for a maximum of three years. To qualify for an economic  hardship deferment a borrower must show that they are receiving federal or state public assistance, are a Peace Corps volunteer, have an economic hardship deferment on another loan or is working full time but still at 150% of poverty. An unemployed borrower seeking a deferment must be registered with an employment agency and must show proof of eligibility for unemployment benefits. To obtain an economic hardship deferment on a Parent PLUS loan, all cosigners to the loan have to be unemployed.

In addition to deferments, borrowers can verbally request a discretionary forbearance for causes such as poor health or other personal problems. While a forbearance may be needed for a short term crisis it's important to remember that when a forbearance ends, all interest is capitalized, creating a long term significant increase in the amount of the student loan debt.

» Read More...

Participation or Efficiency? - Oscar Wilde supposedly once claimed that he would have been a socialist, but he liked to keep his evenings free.  All that civic participation would have crimped his style. I was reminded of that this week in discussion with some faculty who were balking at the time commitment involved in serving on search committees.  They all believe in heavy faculty involvement in searches, but all that participation really adds up.

They’re certainly right that search committees are major time commitments.  We have some pretty sophisticated protocols for staffing them, trying to balance veterans and newbies, faculty and staff, men and women, subject matter experts and fresh eyes.  Unlike many private sector companies, we don’t let HR do the first round of screening; the search committee culls through the

entire set of applications before deciding on who it would like to invite for first-round interviews.  Depending on the position, the applications can run well into three digits.

Just scheduling committee meetings is a major endeavor.  Faculty have different teaching schedules from each other, and staff members’ calendars are different still.  Each committee has to be “charged,” to get its affirmative action training, and to have its “what are we looking for?” conversations.  Then it decides who to invite for first round interviews and has to arrange the internal logistics for 8-10 of those.  Finally, it has to decide on 3-4 finalists to send forward. 

It’s a lot of work.  We have a rule that anyone on a search committee is excused from all other college service for that semester, in recognition of the time it takes.  (College service refers to other sorts of committees, but not to teaching.)  Even with that, some people find the task too onerous.

But there’s no appetite for streamlining, either. 

It wouldn’t be all that hard to streamline.  Let HR decide who to invite for first-round interviews, and bring the committee into play for the first time at that point.  Done and done.

Culturally, though, that’s just not an option.  The committees don’t want to give up control, and control requires work.  The process can be participatory, or it can be low-impact, but it can’t be both.  Participation takes time.

In a context in which most people are teaching four or five classes per semester, that’s not just carping.  Time is at a premium.  That’s even more true as the semester progresses, and just fitting in all the interviews before the deadline becomes a challenge.  And course releases for search committee members are neither economically sustainable -- you’d be surprised how quickly the cost adds up -- nor practical, given that hires tend to come in areas where we’re short-staffed already.  When a department is already running thin, adding several course releases makes it even thinner.

Wise and worldly readers, has your college or company found a relatively practical and sustainable way to balance participation and efficiency in hiring?

» Read More...

Straight out of Scarsdale - A law professor forwarded me links to a couple of law school-produced podcasts/youtube videos flogging the "versatility" of what one of them actually refers to as the "magical" JD degree.

The first is from Cal Western --  a school whose 2011 graduates had average law school loan balances of around $175,000 when their first payments came due in November of that year, and whose employment statistics are morbidly fascinating in a car crash sort of way: 104 of 285 graduates purportedly got legal jobs, broadly defined, not counting solos, while 76 were either completely unemployed or simply untraceable.

I got about halfway through the 27 minutes of it, but that's more than enough.  Steve Smith, the dean of the school, talks at length about the purported versatility of law degrees, citing "being a CEO" or a "politician" as potential alternative non-legal careers (he discusses Barack Obama's career as an example of what you can do with a law degree other than practice law, in what appears to be a completely sincere and non-ironic way, although who can tell any more in this crazy mixed up pomo world of ours?).

The really disturbing part of the thing involves an African American professor, who talks about growing up in south central Los Angeles, and overcoming adversity to become a lawyer.  Although I have no basis for judging the sincerity of his particular mental state, one of the most deplorable things law schools are now doing as institutions is to cynically exploit the hopes and dreams of people from marginalized ethnic groups and modest socio-economic backgrounds. (In some cases ignorance rather than cynicism may be the formal cause of this exploitative behavior, and while this is the more charitable interpretation, we're reaching a point where ignorance is no longer distinguishable from the sort of willful blindness that is in some ways morally worse than conscious exploitation).

As difficult as law has become as a career path in general, it's even more difficult and potentially catastrophic for people who don't have the sorts of family financial backing, cultural capital, and social connections that are proving ever-more crucial to success in a particularly hierarchical and status-obsessed profession.  (It should be unnecessary to add that many of these vulnerable people are white.  Nevertheless, I believe we law school faculty and administrators from ethnic minority backgrounds have a special obligation to do what we can to make sure our institutions are not exploiting vulnerable members of our communities, given that "ensuring access to justice" is such a politically convenient translation of "getting people to take out loans they won't be able to pay back.").

The other paen to the versatility of law degrees is this short Youtube video from Chicago-Kent, featuring Dean Harold Krent, who was last glimpsed at ITLSS arguing that getting a law degree was a good entree into the worlds of journalism, counseling, and investing. (Key words and phrases in the video: "network," "sports agent," "help other people," "intellectual firepower.")  It's a semi-slick production -- although the sound quality of the dean's contribution is sketchy -- and it would be interesting to know if this kind of thing is worth the money the school is spending on it.

Something that would be even more interesting to know is the extent to which arguments that a JD is or at least was "versatile" have any basis in reality, since as even Smith acknowledges there's simply no longitudinal data on this  issue.  This of course doesn't stop either him or Krent from arguing that it is, which tells you all you need to know about the extent to which intellectual integrity plays a role in these particular corners of legal academia.

Source : insidethelawschoolscam.blogspot.com

» Read More...

Best Degrees By Subject 2013 - Here some of the best degrees by subject for this year, check this out!

Art and Design Degrees

Art & design programs are aimed at those talented individuals who would like to enhance their skills in drawing, shading and implementing design projects in different mediums. The emphasis in art & design programs is in being able to develop a concept and implement it. There is a growing need in industry for
individuals who can design products that are not only practical but also attractive. Art & design programs have thus been developed to train people for such roles.

 What will I study in art & design programs ?
Art & design programs have enough flexibility to satisfy those with different career interests. But all those in art & design programs are required to take some core courses to build their foundations.
Core courses in art & design programs involve an introduction to visual thinking. You are encouraged to develop quick and effective sketches of new concepts and product ideas to begin the process of converting ideas into something practical.

You will also be exposed to the processes of rendering and painting. Art & design programs will teach you how to design for perspective while taking into account lighting and shadows.

Since you will often be a part of design projects working in teams on a fixed schedule, art & design programs will expose you to the fundamentals of project management. This course will teach you how to plan and distribute work between a team and identify risks in advance of completion.

Elective courses in art & design programs allow you to delve deeper into different mediums. You may learn how to use pastel, water colors or charcoal. You may also be exposed to different mediums of expression like murals, collages and still life.

Art & design programs are increasingly taking advantage of technology. They thus teach you to use basic software like Photoshop and Illustrator that allow you to develop animation and attractive brochures. These skills are among the highest in demand in industry.

Can I complete art & design programs online?
Indeed online art & design programs are very popular. These online programs allow you to stream video lectures and watch them at your leisure. Videos tend to be instructional in nature and guide you through the best practices of art & design.

While online programs may only be able to provide limited practical experience, some of them collaborate with physical campuses to provide you additional opportunities to complete project work in teams.

If you are seriously interested in breaking into the art & design industry you may be best served by completing an online bachelor’s program. An online master’s program will provide you additional depth and prepare you for management.

Those who are just interested in dabbling in the field as a hobby may find that certificate programs are best able to satisfy them.

What are my job prospects after art & design programs?
After completing art & design programs, you will find that you are in demand to design everything from consumer products to children’s toys to website interfaces. Employers are particularly interested in applicants who have a record of delivering quality projects on a tight timeline.

Business Degrees

A business degree remains a popular choice for those looking to pursue practical job skills through higher education. By some estimates over a fifth of all undergraduate degrees awarded in the United States are business degrees. Business degrees encompass a diverse set of technical and soft skills and many employers are keen to see an aptitude for business and management in their employees.

What does a business degree involve?
Business degrees do not follow a rigid curriculum. Most universities will offer a set of core courses to train you in the rudiments of finance, accounting, controls, marketing, budgeting and human resource management. Business degrees also include electives in many diverse fields such as operations management, sales, business development and ethics. The most extensive business curriculums will include several courses on soft skills such as negotiation, leadership and teamwork. Schools will also focus on offering language classes and courses in psychology, sociology and computers to ensure that business students are equipped with a diverse set of skills. Associate degrees in business tend to focus on the fundamentals without offering too many electives. Business skills can also be learned through pursuing certificates in specific areas of study like consumer marketing and financial trading. Business degrees also emphasize work experience and practical skills and try to promote network by providing many resources for students to interact with each other and potential employers.

Why pursue an online business degree?
Many of you may already have a full time job that requires a fair amount of business acumen. You may still be interested in honing your skills and signaling to your employers that you are ready to take the next step in your career. An online business degree is an economical and convenient way to expand your repertoire of skills without having to leave your present job. In fact, the combination of classroom studies and practical experience will allow you to really appreciate the business degree.

Career prospects with business degrees Business degrees are among the most versatile options for those looking for new career opportunities. Business skills are required in all major industries, financial institutions and the government sector. People in all walks of life can benefit from additional exposure on managing people and resources. A business degree will thus allow you to keep your options open and prepare you for roles requiring responsibility and leadership. The best thing about business degrees is that they are designed to be practical and tailored to the current requirements of the market. Schools that offer business degrees often collaborate with local employers to design the curriculum. This ensures that curriculum does not grow obsolete and graduates are well prepared for the nuances of the job market. In fact the linkage between employers and business schools is so strong that it is extremely common for these same employers to recruit the business graduates. Business degrees are thus a safe and lucrative investment of your time and resources.

» Read More...

Where are Best Schools for Veterans? - Sadly, there is no school that's exclusively for veterans only. A school for veterans just doesn't exist. I'm currently in class now as well as in my class you will find about 29 of us. three of us are veterans. Immediately I felt some kind of bond or connection with them considering that they have seasoned the army the same as I have.

Even in undergrad after i was acquiring my Bachelor's diploma, discovering someone that was a veteran was far and couple of in between. Simply since no one just went around on a loud speaker saying "I AM A VETERAN"!

Which means you never know who's a veteran going for walks around campus till you discuss with them they usually say items which can be distinct in your navy department.

As an illustration, I had been in the U.S. Navy, therefore if I commence a discussion with an individual plus they say terms like "shipmate" and "head", I know that they are clean out of the Navy. In fact that would be awesome if there was a school for veterans! It will be just like currently being while in the navy together with the whole camaraderie and all.

Although not getting a school for veterans is considerably an excellent point. I am going into a community university and i obtain the likelihood to fulfill so many folks!

Similar to while in the armed forces.

Despite the fact that a school for veterans does not exist, a veteran can head to any university that may settle for the GI Invoice.

And have faith in me, which is nearly every single university simply because meaning they're obtaining your tuition Assured through the armed forces.

No person, and that i indicate No one is going to move up guaranteed money, not even educational institutions! Opposite to popular belief, faculties are in enterprise to make cash.

Since I think over it, if somebody commenced a school for veterans, they might make money each and every semester.......assured! Any person need to think of doing that......

But don't allow not have a university particularly for veterans deter you from heading to highschool. I am going and that i get E-5 BAH each and every month which i go! And that's on top of them paying out my tuition and giving me a e-book stipend.

Now they will not spend you on holidays, or throughout breaks, like spring break or fall breaks. Mostly any split among courses you will not receives a commission.

Which sucks since I had been receiving accustomed to obtaining E-5 BAH just for likely to school right up until I spotted I had been heading to have significantly less than 50 percent of that in the months of December and January.

Less than 50 % I explain to ya!

I have a family to feed and my partner and that i each go to school entire time and acquire GI rewards. So most of us endure financially throughout these breaks.........which compelled me to discover a dietary supplement similar to this website.

Do not depend entirely on the government. If you're one you can make it. But when you do have a household, search for locating a dietary supplement to your income for the duration of those breaks like I have with different streams of cash flow similar to this site.

It is possible to supplement your earnings using a website way too, if you would like, to be able to get required revenue flowing into your own home.

So let's wrap this up........ A school for veterans does not exist, but definitely go to faculty to obtain that diploma and have that money!

Acquiring paid out to visit faculty! You cannot defeat that by using a stick!

And whilst you are at it, health supplement that income in the course of those dry months by obtaining an extra stream of income........like blogging!

That is what I did!
By Shun Smith

» Read More...

49 million American students still denied school choice - Heidi and Frank Green used to worry about their daughters while they were at school.  The Clarksville, Indiana couple was concerned about bullying, cursing, large class sizes, a revolving teaching staff, and a general lack of attention for students.

Thankfully, the Greens say their lives have changed for the better as daughters Gillian and Emma are now eager to attend school. Today they are getting quality instruction at their new Catholic school thanks to a voucher program adopted in Indiana two years ago.

“School choice should be everywhere,” said Mrs. Green. “Parents should be able to decide what’s best for their kids.


Gillian and Emma are among the 255,000 students nationwide who attend a private school of their family’s choice using vouchers or tax-credit scholarships. Another 2.3 million students utilize public charter schools as their preferred option.

But there are still almost 49 million public school students throughout the country who do not have such freedom. They must attend their neighborhood public school regardless of its safety, quality, class sizes, teaching staff, or other issues outside their parents’ control.  But such restriction doesn’t have to be the case.

Sunday kicked off the third annual National School Choice Week, which runs through Saturday. There will be 3,000 events across 50 states including rallies and forums where parents will ask lawmakers for more choices for their kids.

National School Choice Week highlights the private, charter, online and home school education options available to families and those stuck with a school assigned to them by their address. Parents can choose public or private colleges for their children using many federal and state aid programs. They should be able to do the same with K-12 schools.

After major school choice victories last fall in which Washington voters agreed to allow charter schools to open in the state and Georgia voters agreed to an easier path to create more charters, a host of other states will consider additional school choice measures in 2013. Among the highlights:

 *  Tennessee’s governor will include a school voucher program in his legislative package.

 *  The Texas legislature will consider a program in which taxpayers would receive tax credits for donations they make to nonprofits that provide private school scholarships for low-income students.

 *  Mississippi’s governor proposed a private school choice program for students in underperforming public schools.

 *  North Carolina’s lawmakers will review proposals for opportunity scholarships and quite possibly education savings accounts, a new type of private school choice available only in Arizona.

 *  Alaska lawmakers will vote on a school voucher plan for all students statewide regardless of their family income.

 *  Indiana’s new governor has proposed expanding its voucher program to increase scholarship amounts and student eligibility.

 *  Maine lawmakers will hear a proposal from their governor to give children school vouchers.

Nobel laureate economist Milton Friedman, the father of the school choice concept, believed that offering parents education options other than their neighborhood school would not only be good for children but would improve education. Studies show school choice is helping children in their new schools and those who don’t participate – something vitally important when so many children don’t get a quality education.

The Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University found that high school dropouts are more dependent on government assistance such as food stamps, housing assistance, and Medicaid. They are also more likely to be in jail or prison, another cost to federal, state, and local taxpayers. And unemployment rates are highest among dropouts, according to the study.

If our society is to address its burgeoning debt problem and give young people a chance to become successful, offering parents an opportunity to access high-quality schools is a path to prosperity for themselves, their children, and society.

In several states, policymakers are ensuring more students have access to the schools, public or private, that work best for them. National School Choice Week is the time to shine a spotlight on those leaders and anyone else working to make sure every family is free to choose in education.

Source : http://www.foxnews.com/

» Read More...