A weekly report on education news & commentary from the nation's leading voice on education innovation and opportunity
JUSTICE FOR ALL – A MESSAGE FROM CER’S DIRECTORS.
Since 1993, the Center for Education Reform (CER) has worked to advance a bold agenda to help our nation’s children achieve the education they deserve.
We fight hard and relentlessly for education opportunity because we know that education not only paves the way for everyone to participate in the future, but it’s a critical antidote to ignorance, to racism, to hatred. Education of the mind encompasses history, education of the soul encompasses the virtues of compassion and courage.
As tragic national and international events swirl around us, we believe the most important role CER can play is to address the shortcomings of education in this nation, for all learners, at all levels. There is inequity in our educational system, and no matter what solution you believe works best, it is the cause of many of our biggest challenges.
The entire education reform movement was born out of this knowledge – that education is the key to helping our young people achieve civilized, productive lives in which they can live peacefully and freely, pursuing their own ambitions, and that we must do whatever it takes, with urgency to get them the schools that will help them achieve exactly that.
As we watch our most precious resources go back to school, we recommit ourselves to excellence, equity and justice for all.
OF ANNUAL POLLS. OF ANNUAL POLLS. Lots of news about what Americans think. First, Education Next released is annual poll on education issues, which you can find here, and which we reflected on here: “The EdNext Poll: The Case for a Moral Imperative”
Then the Gallup Organization released another poll with many questions they’ve asked before on education (read our statement here). Among them was whether or not Americans are satisfied with the quality of education our students receive. A majority remain dissatisfied with education in general but not their own. They also believe private and charter schools work better for kids than public schools (though it would have helped to distinguish between charters and traditional public schools since charters are public… but we digress…). The poll is chock full of interesting tidbits but the bottom line is data is more important than opinion and the data still shows us lagging dramatically. More on that and polls, coming soon.
VERY COOL FOR SCHOOL. Friends of Choice in Urban Schools (FOCUS) has introduced an updated dashboard tool that includes 2017 results on the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness in College and Careers (PARCC) Assessment. The tool is not just a number-cruncher’s dream, it’s an incredibly useful resource for the non-data-philes among us since it allows one to filter results by sector, school, year, grade, and subgroup and actually understand the meaning behind the numbers.
DC SCHOOLS DO BETTER. Ten years after Michelle Rhee took DC by storm and united with civic and community leaders to add performance to the DC union contract, DC schools are showing progress on the same assessments. Much more needs to be done, of course, but giving credit where credit is due, the moral of the story so far is that systems can improve their lot for all kids if they challenge the status quo.
CER & RANDI IN THE NEWS - AGAIN. AFT’s Randi Weingarten just won’t give up. Rather than apologize for her racist rant at this summer’s AFT convention earlier this summer she continues to promote her alternative version of history. It is clear that she is making a calculated effort to twist the debate over educational opportunities in ways that are not only dishonest and distasteful, but destructive. When Weingarten first delivered her remarks in July, CER called her out, and called for her resignation. Last week we took her to task again in The Wall Street Journal, under the headline “Randi Weingarten’s Racial Demagoguery.”
Founded in 1993, the Center for Education Reform aims to expand educational opportunities that lead to improved economic outcomes for all Americans — particularly our youth — ensuring that conditions are ripe for innovation, freedom and flexibility throughout U.S. education.
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RELEASE NEW SONG TITLED
"STRANGERS ON THE TRAIN"
STREAM THE NEW SONG
ON SPOTIFY HERE
OR ON YOUTUBE HERE
August 22nd, 2017 -After announcing their hiatus earlier this year, Somos are back with a new track titled "Strangers On The Train". Fans can now pick up the song on iTunes or stream it on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube here: smarturl.it/SOTTStaticVideo
With excited towards the release of their new song, Somos lead singer Michael explains, "'Strangers on the Train' is about alienation under capitalism and how many people are working extremely hard to simply obtain the basic necessities of life. The song came together very naturally for us and we're proud to share."
Formed in 2012 in Boston, MA, Somos consists of Michael Fiorentino (vocals/bass), Phil Haggerty (guitar), Justin Hahn (guitar), and Mike Benoit (drums). Since the release of their debut album Temple of Plenty in 2014, the east coast band has been featured with Pitchfork, Noisey, The Boston Globe, and more.
For more information:
Keep Updated on Somos:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/somosMA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Somosbandma
Tumblr: http://somosma.tumblr.com
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, USA, August 22, 2017 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Intermountain Healthcare's president and CEO, Marc Harrison, MD, has been named among Modern Healthcare magazine's “100 Most Influential People in Healthcare.” Dr. Harrison is listed nationally at No. 26 and is the only person from Utah named to the rankings.
Earlier this year, Modern Healthcare also published its list of the “50 Most Influential Physician Executives,” and Dr. Harrison was on that national list at No. 10.
According to the magazine, the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare awards and recognition program honors individuals in healthcare who are deemed to be the most influential individuals in the industry, in terms of leadership and impact. The ranking began with nominations, which were narrowed to a final ballot of 300 leaders from the healthcare industry, high-level government administrators and executives, elected officials, academics, and thought leaders.
The final 100 honorees were chosen by readers and the senior editors of Modern Healthcare for their leadership in the varied sectors of the industry, whether provider organizations, government agencies, associations, insurers or supplier companies.
The entire top 100 list can be viewed here: http://www.modernhealthcare.com/community/100-most-influential/2017/
Dr. Harrison began serving as president and CEO of Intermountain in October 2016. A specialist in pediatric critical care, Harrison held leadership positions at the Cleveland Clinic before joining Intermountain, most recently serving as chief of international business development, overseeing planning and implementing strategy for overseas facilities and joint ventures. He also was CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, where he oversaw the establishment of 12 institutes, five centers of excellence and more than 30 medical and surgical specialties.
Intermountain Healthcare is a Utah-based, not-for-profit system of 22 hospitals, 180 clinics, a Medical Group with some 1,500 employed physicians, a health plans division called SelectHealth, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare through high quality and sustainable costs. For more information about Intermountain, visit intermountainhealthcare.org.
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Please note that the following event has been postponed. USDA will re-advise when this event is rescheduled.
POSTPONED: Secretary Perdue Tours the National Detector Dog Training Center
To mark the 51st anniversary of the Animal Welfare Act, USDA honors our 4-legged friends
(Washington, D.C., August 22, 2017) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will mark the week of the 51st anniversary of the Animal Welfare Act by visiting the National Detector Dog Training Center in Newnan, Georgia on Thursday, August 24th. Secretary Perdue will tour the facility and observe Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) canines and handlers demonstrate how they locate and eradicate invasive or diseased foreign plants that have crossed America’s borders – the canines at this facility are shelter dogs. Also this week, on Tuesday, August 22nd, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host its very first Bring Your Dog to Work Day.
*NOTE: The following event is open to the press. Media must RSVP to press@oc.usda.gov by Wednesday, August 23rd at 5:00 p.m. ET.
National Detector Dog Training Center
What: Secretary Perdue tours the National Detector Dog Training Center and observes demonstrations at the facility.
When: Thursday, August 24th from 4:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET
Where: 360 International Park, Newnan, GA 30265
