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The KNOWLEDGE-able Source Knowledge Alliance’s Weekly Washington E-Update For Members Only -- Not for Distribution Visit our website weekly Check out our weekly members’ blog: The Knowledge-able Sourcerer July 14, 2008 Quick Reminders Next PAG call: July 14 at 3pm EDT Next Hill Days: July 23-24 contact Kate at [email protected] for info On the Hill Updated numbers re FY 2009 Appropriations – As we reported last week, the mark up (ie drafting) for the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill was completed in Senate, but the House did not fare so well; partisan politics won the day. Check out our chart about how our Knowledge Alliance priorities are faring. For the complete tables go to the ED’s budget tables, showing FY 2009 House Appropriations Subcommittee and Senate Appropriations Committee action on Labor/HHS/ED appropriations bills. What’s next for approps? Not much for now. Check out the article below from Congress Daily about the serious rift in the House. The Senate won’t move until the House takes action. So as we have been saying for a number of weeks: no forward action until the spring of 2009. From congress Daily “…The regular order for the appropriations process inched closer to oblivion Wednesday as House Appropriations Chairman David Obey shot down the possibility of any movement from his panel….“There aren’t going to be any markups,” he said….The rift stems from the fracas that took place during the House Appropriations Committee markup of the Labor-HHS appropriations bill just prior to the Independence Day break. At the markup, Appropriations ranking member Jerry Lewis tried to offer the Interior appropriations bill as an amendment to the Labor-HHS bill. The move was an effort to try to force a vote on repealing a restriction on offshore oil drilling. Republicans have been eyeing the Interior appropriations bill as a vehicle to advance their energy agenda, including allowing more domestic drilling and production. In response, Obey angrily adjourned the meeting and said the appropriations process was done for the year. Obey reiterated that point Wednesday, when he said there would be no more markups from his panel…” Reading First Future? This past week we along with a Knowledge Alliance board member had a series of meetings with key Congressional staffers regarding the current and future status of Reading First. In a nutshell the outlook is bleak for Reading First. While the underlying concept of a large federal evidence-based reading program still seems to be favored, the RF brand has an almost “toxic” feel in terms of political support. No champions and not much resistence to major criticisms. The Inspector General’s report coupled with the recent interim evaluation study trump all other factors. Staff are not hearing much from the folks at home who are benefitting from the program (and will need to if there is any hope of reviving the program). Without strong champions in the House or Senate, the chances of surviving the FY 2009 process are slim. (But ironically a continuing resolution for FY 2009 approps through next spring has a chance of saving a portion of the funds). Down the road we think there may be new opportunities for a Reading First-type of program but of course with a different name. Check out these recent articles on the RF saga: article in US News and World Report; opinion piece from the Boston Herald; this USA Today Editorial Board opinion (though USA Today also ran an opposing opinion piece), Patrick Riccards’ blog; New America Foundation blog. No action on Reauthorizations – Ditto from the previous several weeks. Department of Education (The ED) Evaluating Online Learning: Challenges and Strategies for Success – ED released this report, which is “… designed to help school leaders gauge the effectiveness of online education … focusing on seven evaluations of online learning programs…” RFAs in special ed – Check’em out: the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation’s notice of “Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year 2008.” The National Center for Special Education Research’s request for applications. Elsewhere “Great Public Schools for Every Student by 2020: Achieving A New Balance In The Federal Role To Transform America's Public Schools” – We mentioned this one last week and we think it is significant enough to repeat. See the National Education Association’s new policy plan on the new federal role in education and check out goal number #5 and the reinvention of education R&D. Battle in the Ed blogosphere -- Bloggers can get a bit carried away in their competition for attention and subscribers. Two of our blogger friends in education --- Andy Rotherham and Alexander Russo --- have been going at each other for a while but now it is getting down right ugly. Check out these ugly entries here and here “The Watch List Top Ed Trends to Keep Your Eye On” Verrrry interesting. See this list and take note of the fifth trend on innovation. We agree. Edison’s demise --- Last week we reported the re-branding and re-orienting of Edison Schools, Chris Whittle’s erstwhile break through school management effort. We found this blog article by Tom Toch at Ed Sector to be on the mark. When Chris Whittle came to our Big Ideas retreat in Aspen two years ago, we were all inspired by his provocative vision for the future…. Hmmm, his vision for the future on which founded Edison in 1992 did not quite work out. “The Forum on Leveraging a Legacy of Leadership in Mathematics and Science Education” Knowledge Alliance Member Edvantia is convening this forum on July 16 to celebrate 10 years of the nation’s Rural Systemic Initiative (RSI) projects, funded by the National Science Foundation. Some of us will definitely be there. register here. “Better Test Scores…Who gets credit for the improvement in D.C. public school test results?” Many interesting transformational things are happening in the DC public schools right now including a surprisingly significant increase in test scores. See this Wash Post editorial about the good news and about who can/should claim credit. “The Impact of High-Stakes Testing on Student Proficiency in Low-Stakes Subjects: Results of Florida’s A+ Accountability Program” See this new study from the Manhattan Institute on Florida’s seemingly positive findings that “there is a strong correlation effect between math and reading gains and science proficiency…” hmmm…is this a stretch? Prez Campaign Campaign education plans -- Check out the campaign web sites for ed plans for McCain here and Obama here (see page 14). Also check out Ed Week’s comparisons. Is Voting Genetic? -- The decision to vote is partly genetic, according to a recently published study. Researchers identified a link between two specific genes and political participation. These are the first results ever to link specific genes to political behavior…. Who’ll be the Vice President nominees? -- The New York Times put together this guide about possible candidates. What do you think? Do you have better candidates in mind? People and Organizations Here is what Roll Call had to say about a legend’s return to the Hill “… Though he didn’t ride in on a white horse, Sen. Edward Kennedy (Mass.) was received as the Democrats’ knight in shining armor Wednesday when he returned to the chamber for the first time since being diagnosed with a brain tumor in order to cast a decisive vote on a stalled Medicare bill…” Virginia Governor Tim Kaine was elected Chair of the Southern Regional Education Board. SREB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with leaders and policy-makers in 16 member states to improve pre-K through postsecondary education. Our colleague, Sarah Friedman, has stepped down as the director of the Appalachia Regional Educational Lab at CNA to take the position of Associate Director for the Health Care Operations and Policy Research Center at CNA. Ellen Mandinach has accepted the position of Acting REL Director. Best wishes to both of them! Margaret Honey, our good friend and colleague formerly of EDC and now formerly of Wireless Generation, tell us that she is taking something of a breather, hanging her shingle and doing some consulting work for a while. Go for it, Margaret! Question of the Week Send to answers to The Sourcerer Links Calendars House 2008 Schedule Senate 2008 Schedule Knowledge Alliance calendar for 2008 Favorite Education Blogs The Knowledge-able Sourcerer Flypaper The Gadfly John Merrow NCLB NCLB Act II NSBA's BoardBuzz Principal's Policy Blog Roy Romer Swift & Change Able This Week in Education Edbizbuzz Eduflak a new blog aggregator for edublogs SchoolNet.com's new portal Eduwonkette Education Wonks ASCD blog NEA NCLB Prez Campaign blogs and web sites Dates conventions Ed Week’s comparisons Campaign K12 Barack Obama Education Platform John McCain Education Platform <!--[if !vml]--> <!--[endif]-->Every Child Matters On the Issues.org Ed in O8 Knowledge Alliance Home page “Putting the Edge Back Knowledge” wiki Past Knowledge-able Source editions (Password protected---see John Waters at [email protected]) Knowledge Alliance Advocacy Tools (Password protected---see John Waters at [email protected]) Department of Ed Home Page Budget President's FY 2009 Budget Justifications for education Institute of Education Science Grants News Elementary & Secondary Ed Staff contact info, telephone# and email Congress Senate home page Senate HELP Committee Senate Appropriations Committee House home page House Education and Labor Committee House Appropriations Committee Congressional Budget Office Thomas---federal legislative info Information about advocacy Congressional Resources for the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 Legislation <http://lobbyingdisclosure.house.gov/110-81.pdf> : Public Law 110-80, Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 Legislation <http://lobbyingdisclosure.house.gov/lda.html> : Public Law 104 - 64, Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 Senate Guidance <http://www.senate.gov/legislative/resources/pdf/S1guidance.pdf> House Guidance <http://lobbyingdisclosure.house.gov/amended_lda_guide.html> : Amended Guide to the Lobbying Disclosure Act Office of the Clerk <http://lobbyingdisclosure.house.gov/amended_lda_guide.html> Article from ASAE: Top Ten Myths about 501(c)(3) Lobbying and Political Activity: http://www.asaecenter.org/PublicationsResources/whitepaperdetail.cfm?ItemN umber=