Saturday, May 12, 2012
35 percent of Connecticut eighth grade students reached proficiency in the subject in 2011 — the same percentage that reached proficiency in 2009 — however since then numerous other states have beefed-up their science programs.
As Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy prepares to sign the state's new education reform bill into law, a report from The National Center for Education Statistics shows that the state has dropped in the rankings for science proficiency. According to the report (see attached PDF), 35 percent of Connecticut eight grade students reached proficiency in the subject in 2011 — the same percentage that reached proficiency in 2009 — however since then numerous other states have beefed-up their science programs. As a result seven states have pushed ahead of Connecticut in the national ranking, according to the report. The report notes that although Connecticut has slipped in the rankings, its student proficiency rate in science is higher than the …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
The reform bill now goes to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy for his signature.
The Connecticut House of Representatives unanimously approved the education reform bill Tuesday night, after the state Senate approved the lengthy bill early Tuesday morning. The legislation is viewed as a compromise of sorts and ends months of controversy between Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the Connecticut Education Association, the state's largest teachers union. Malloy has pledged to sign the bill into law. "I can say, with confidence, that this bill will allow us to begin fixing what is broken in our public schools," Malloy said during a hastily assembled press conference late Monday evening at the state Capitol to announce the agreement. The state Senate then huddled in chambers for the better part of the night Monday into Tuesday …
Members of Westport’s Representative Town Meeting (RTM) commended the Board of Education for presenting a budget with a 2.1 percent increase over last year, while upholding an elite school system.
Although a few RTM members brought up ways to potentially save money and generate revenue without compromising Westport’s high standards of education, the legislative body was pleased with the 2012-2013 school budget and the overall state of the Westport school system. The RTM voted unanimously at Town Hall Tuesday night to approved the $100,386,827 school budget recommended by the Board of Finance. Furthermore, the RTM set the overall Westport town budget at $188,201,587 following their 31-1 approval Monday night of the $87 million municipal budget. RTM Finance Committee member Allen S. Bomes said more can be done to generate revenue with eight schools available in town. “We strongly urge that the Board of Education adopt a policy that…
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
The AP exam participation rate at Westport's Staples High School is 57 percent, helping it reach 52.9 on the College Readiness Index.
Westport's Staples High School is the fifth best high school in Connecticut and the 302nd best in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report's 2012 Best High Schools ranking. The annual list ranks schools based on student performance on standardized tests as well as student participation in Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. Since 2009 the list has been expanded from 1,800 to 22,000 high schools in 49 states and the District of Columbia (Nebraska did not report enough data to be included in this year's rankings), U.S. News reports. U.S. News says it partnered with the Washington, D.C.-based American Institutes for Research in developing the ranking methodology. In addition U.S. News awarded more…
Many questions still remained about the education reform agreement that the governor and legislature announced Monday night.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy got an education reform package late Monday, while the Connecticut Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, also appeared to get what it wanted, as the final agreement appears to be somewhat of a compromise between the governor's initial proposal and ones backed by the union. Although details of the agreement were still cloudy late Monday, and any bill making the proposed reforms law must still be approved by the legislature, Malloy hailed the agreement as one that will bring "meaningful education reform" to Connecticut. "I can say, with confidence, that this bill will allow us to begin fixing what is broken in our public schools," Malloy said during a hastily assembled press conference late …
Sunday, May 6, 2012
The graduates, most of whom came from the university’s business school or teaching program, spanned a range of ages, interests, degrees and career goals.
[Editor's Note: This article was originally published on Farmington Patch:] Hundreds of University of Connecticut graduate students were presented with diplomas at the university’s graduate commencement Saturday afternoon at Gampel Pavilion. The graduates, most of whom came from the university’s business school or teaching program, spanned a range of ages, interests, degrees and career goals. While many of the students enrolled in their post-graduate programs right after getting their bachelor's degrees, many, including Edilia Mora, postponed their advanced degrees. “It’s just wonderful,” said Mora, who got her master's degree in business administration. “I actually stopped when I had my baby, so this was a goal for me.” At the ceremony, …
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
The Ceremonies and Celebrations Program that provides assistance in purchasing new clothing to graduating Westport middle and high school students marks its ninth year anniversary.
Human Services Director Barbara Butler said the program, launched in response to requests from school staff, had aided several hundred students since its founding in 2004. “Last year, thanks to the generosity of the Westport community and the schools’ PTAs, 38 Westport students were able to purchase new special event clothing for their graduations from middle and high school,” Butler said. The Human Services Department had received numerous heartfelt notes of thanks and the photographs of the proud young people as they walked across the stage or stood with their relatives on this special day,” she said. The public can help fill the need for this year’s graduating students and lift a bit of the expense burden from their families by …
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Detailing the abuses of classroom aides he says made his disabled son's school life "a living hell," Cherry Hill, NJ, resident Stuart Chaifetz took his case public—with audio he captured secretly.
A Cherry Hill, NJ, father who says his autistic son was tormented for at least six months by public-school special education teachers and support staff has taken his case viral with damning, covertly gathered audio of the classroom in which he says his son was abused. In a 17-minute video, titled "Teacher/Bully: How My Son Was Humiliated and Tormented by his Teacher and Aide," Stuart Chaifetz replays portions of audio he attributes to "Kelly" and "Jodi," whom he says are his son Akian's former special education and resource teachers. The voices in the recording tell 10-year-old Akian that he is "such a bastard," order him to "shut [his] mouth," and antagonize him by telling him "no" when he asks for reassurances that he will see his …
Saturday, April 28, 2012
The Staples High School Class of 2014 has reportedly been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for its 16 sets of twins.
"When I was born the doctor took one look at my face, turned me over and said, 'Look, twins!'" - Rodney Dangerfield The Staples High School Class of 2014 has reportedly been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for its 16 sets of twins. According to a report on ABC News, SHS student Luke Foreman and his twin sister, Meghan, knowing that there was a preponderance of twins in their graduating class, one day decided to count them up. “Right from the beginning I knew we had a lot of twins in our grade, but it didn’t strike me as unusual until I counted all the twins we had," Foreman said in the report. When Foreman discovered — with some help from the school administration — that the Class had a total of 16 sets of twins, he checked …
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
The commission is seeking nominations for the annual James S. Bacharach Service to the Community Award.
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Tuesday, April 17
Human Services Director Barbara Butler has announced that the Westport Youth Commission is seeking nominations for the annual James S. Bacharach Service to the Community Award. “All qualified Westport high school seniors are eligible for this award,” said Butler. “This honor, given to one or more Westport high school seniors, recognizes their significant community service contributions in our town.” Citations have been given annually since 1989 as a tribute to the late James S. Bacharach, founder and past-president of the Youth Adult Council, predecessor of the Westport Youth Commission which Bacharach and other concerned citizens founded in 1974. “Eligible nominations must demonstrate the student’s exemplary leadership ability and high …
vincent Petrecca
3:15 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2012
$ 100,000,000 , for 5,700 students = $ 17,500 per student....... But we do not have ALL OPEB costs in this budget....When those dollars are recognized we will be tops in state... more ›