Archive for December, 2010
School Improvement in Action – Lessons in Sustainability
Each of the six schools, received $25,000 to carry out a two-year research-guided intervention, to improve literacy or numeracy levels of students. Programs were developed in consultation with all school partners, and involved 50% or more of the students and staff in each school. Activities to improve student outcomes resulted in professional development, new teaching materials and resources, planning and collaboration time, articulated assessment and diagnostic processes, and innovative forms of data analysis and management.
In order to document the efforts and outcomes of the schools, SAEE contracted Dr. Cynthia Lewis to visit each school, assist in the development of a research-based intervention, monitor progress and write the final report. There were 3,800 students and 100 educators involved overall.
Lewis’ report School Improvement in Action: Lessons in Sustainability weaves together the findings from each of the six case studies, identifies successes and challenges, indicates strategies, and provides recommendations. Following the release of the report in November of 2006, principals and teacher leaders from each of the six schools gathered to share the results of their two-year projects in a SAEE sponsored knowledge exchange forum at the Delta School District resource centre.
Scholarships May Help Women Complete Campus-Based Or Online Degree Programs
As increasingly more women are attending classroom-based and online universities, many organizations and institutions have launched financial aid initiatives to help them reach their educational goals.
A recent study from Northeastern University’s Center for Labor Market Studies suggests more women than men are enrolling in two- and four-year degree programs. Researchers found that females who graduated from high school in 2007 were 1.5 times more likely to attend a community college than their male counterparts and nearly two times more likely to pursue a bachelors degree.
Consequently, many schools and organizations are offering scholarship opportunities for female college students. The Jackson, Michigan, branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) has opened the application process for two scholarships, the Jackson Citizen Patriot reports.
Female students who have completed at least two years of college-level study are eligible to apply for the awards. Applicants must be pursuing a four-year degree and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. To apply, qualified individuals can send two letters of recommendation from faculty members at their school or employers. The letters should address the candidate’s academic achievement and character.
A Scholarship Committee will select the winners and give special considerations to entrants who have demonstrable financial need. Applicants must submit their applications by February 15 of next year. Recipients of the $1,000 awards will be notified by April 15 at the latest.
Tags: american association of university women, bachelors degree, female college students, jackson citizen patriot, male counterparts, michigan branch, online degree programs, pilot program, scholarship committee, scholarship opportunities