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Tuesday, August 30
Educational Disparity In Iowa
by
Chad Thompson
on Tue 30 Aug 2005 01:24 PM CDT
 Educational Disparity In Iowa
If you
looked at the Des Moines Register today, you have every right to be
confused. Two items concerning education popped up.
On the bad news front: A list of Iowa's schools that need help (according to new federal guidelines) was released.
Iowa
education officials today identified 94 public schools and 14 school
districts in the state that failed to meet federal student achievement
standards.
Those
on the list - up significantly from the 66 schools and nine districts
of a year ago - fell short in reading and math, or attendance and
graduation rates.
A full list, with reasons for citation, is published here.
On the other hand, more students in Iowa are taking - and doing well in - Advanced Placement classes.
An
increasing number of Iowa high school students are taking Advanced
Placement classes, according to data released today by the Iowa
Department of Education.
....
Iowa
students received higher average scores on the AP exams than others
nationwide, according to the report. Last school year, 67 percent of
Iowa students scored a 3 or higher on the test. A score of 3, 4 or 5 is
accepted by most colleges. Nationwide, 60 percent of students scored 3
or higher.
Whether
or not either of these statistics is a good gauge of student progress
is debatable - but what does seem clear is that we are going to have to
take a hard look at educational parity within our state instead of the
usual budget battles that happen year after year.
The experience in Olin
shows what can happen as resources continue to dry up.
Educational quality is something we cannot afford to let slip in
Iowa. On this issue, most of us can probably agree with David Yepsen. (Of course, not on all issues, mind you!)
First DFA/Democracy for Iowa Statewide Meeting September 10
by
Linda Thieman
on Tue 30 Aug 2005 04:00 AM CDT
 First DFA/Democracy for Iowa Statewide Meeting September 10
by Dennis Roseman, Iowa City DFA Organizer
Preliminary Agenda for a Statewide Meeting of Democracy for Iowa
September 10
Iowa Room, Iowa Memorial Union
Iowa City Iowa
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
This will be the first such statewide DFA meeting for Iowa. At this meeting we will:
- Have direct communication between DFIA grassroots and national leaders of DFA
- Provide opportunity for members of local groups to meet each other and share ideas
- Plan specific coordinated actions for the next several months
- Develop communications for sharing practices, coordinating campaigns, and working on issues
- Decide what goals and state-wide structure DFIA will have
There is a $15 registration fee
(includes lunch)
For further information contact Dennis Roseman
roseman@math.uiowa.edu
(319)-337-4925
TOPICS
Focus on actions: Focus on Iowa
In relation to the general goals of DFA, what are the issues, problems and opportunities that we have that are unique to our state? What are the primary goals of DFIA?
What DFIA actions should we take in the next three months beyond those implicit in the general goals of all DFA groups?
What State and local issues might we focus on? How can we use our (probable) first caucus status to promote DFA values?
How do we implement the DFA plans?
Candidate endorsement process, when and how?
Getting referenda on the ballot.
DFA membership expansion.
Media and communications - tools and techniques.
Working with the Democratic party, unions, and other progressive groups.
What state-wide organization/coordination should we have?
Preliminary Agenda
Note: We
hope to get one more Iowa speaker for the Morning Session. If so,
times and lengths of presentations will have to be adjusted. We
should know in a few days.
9:00 - 9:30 Registration and coffee
9:30 - 9:50 Welcome and Introductions of groups and individuals by Dennis Roseman (Iowa City DFA Organizer)
9:50 - 10:35 Keynote Address by Jim Dean, Chair DFA
10:35 - 10:50 Recap of 2005 activities from each local DFA group
10:50 - 11:10 DFA's Field Plan by Chris Warshaw, Field/Political Director DFA
11:10 - 11:20 Break
11:20 -
12:00 Open Discussion and Roundtable with local candidates: David
Loebsack, Candidate for Congress in the 2nd District and others TBD
12:00 -
1:00 Lunch and Keynote Speech by Sarah Swisher, Second Vice-Chair Iowa
Democratic Party, Secretary and Political Director SEIU Local 199,
Chair Johnson County Democrats
Lunch - included with the ($15) registration
1:00 - 1:30 Facilitated Discussion to determine the top 3-4 goals for DFA in Iowa
1:45 - 2:30 Breakout sessions on each goal to determine action plan
2:30 - 3:00 Develop consensus on action plans and next steps
3:00 - 3:30 Overview of Day and Next Steps
Our thanks to Dennis Roseman for putting this event together.
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