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September 2007 |
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 FOTPS
Founders Receive Key Communicators Award
"Schools Falling Further Behind"
DALLAS,
TX -
Headlines like the one above - and countless
others like it misleading readers about
Texas public schools -- motivated Scott and
Leslie Milder to begin a campaign to set the
record straight. Now, three years after
founding Friends of Texas Public
Schools, the couple is making headlines
as recipients of a statewide award for
significant contributions to the field of
school communications.
Through the non-profit, grassroots
organization they created, Scott and Leslie
have put together a powerful volunteer team
of professional communicators to help change
the conversation about Texas public schools,
and their efforts are turning heads. The
2007 Key Communicator Award, which is the
state's highest honor for effective
communications practices in education, is
validation of their work.
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Texas Schools are meeting NCLB
requirements!
AUSTIN - Eighty-six percent of Texas school
districts and 79 percent of the schools met
2007 Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)
standards, despite a substantial increase in
the performance targets by which they are
judged in this federal evaluation system.
This year to earn a label called "Meets
AYP," the schools and districts had to test
at least 95 percent of their students and at
least 60 percent of the students had to pass
the reading/English Language Arts test and
at least 50 percent had to pass the
mathematics exam. This represented a
seven-percentage point increase in the
reading performance target and an
eight-percentage point increase in the math
target. Schools and districts can also meet
AYP by showing significant performance
improvement.
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AP Test Takers Up 49%
AUSTIN - Minority students represented 52
percent of all Advanced Placement (AP) test
takers in Texas in 2007, the Texas Education
Agency announced Thursday.
High school students who make high scores
on AP exams can earn college credit for
courses, saving their families thousands of
dollars in tuition costs and giving students
a head start on a college education.
Figures just released from the College
Board, which oversees the AP program, show
that 135,130 Texas students took Advanced
Placement exams, an increase of 10 percent
from 2006 and a 49 percent increase in the
last five years. Of that total, 125,526 were
public school students.
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2007 Friend of the Year Award
Ceremony and Reception
Tom Frost, Senior Chairman of Frost Bank,
has demonstrated a legacy of support for
public education in Texas and Friends of
Texas Public Schools
is proudly honoring him for that commitment
as its 3rd Annual Texas Public
Schools Friend of the Year.
Frost enthusiastically accepted the honor
and invitation to attend a reception that
will celebrate his many contributions to
public education, as well as the collective
achievements of Texas public school
educators and students. The reception is
scheduled for Thursday, November 1st, 5:30
p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Pearl Brewery
Stables in San Antonio. For more details,
table sponsorship information or ticket
sales please contact Brandie Cleaver at
brandie@fotps.org.
detailed information |
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This month's featured sponsor
Charlie Fern Ink, LLC, announces new
office, new look, and new ideas to help
clients communicate in color
AUSTIN, TX - Everyone's talking about the
new fall line. Wouldn't
it be great if it was a line you delivered?
Former White House speechwriter and
communications consultant Charlie Fern is
rarely at a loss for words when her clients
need inspiration.
"People remember bold ideas and colorful
lines," said Ms. Fern. "We help people
produce and deliver them.
A strong communications consultant
has the right mix of ideas and tools to get
people talking and keep audiences
listening."
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Please welcome our newest Advisory
Board Members
Mary Latham
Mary Latham is a
veteran educator, recently retired after
investing 33 years in the teaching
profession. In addition to teaching, Mary
spent time as a consultant working closely
with new teachers struggling to adapt to the
classroom environment. She is married to
Thomas Latham, State Representative for
District 101, which serves Mesquite,
Sunnyvale and Balch Springs on the east side
of Dallas County.
Breanda Jean Patrick
Brenda Jean Patrick has been providing
educational opportunities for over 15
years. She serves the school districts
of Texas through the region 10 Education
Service Center while, independently
presenting quality training for many
distinguished businesses. Her cutting
edge approach contributes the needed
assistance to establish effective
improvement and pursue excellence.
Visit her on the web at
www.brendajeanpatrick.com.
Howard Blevins
Howard Blevins is a brand
management expert with the
Richards Group, one of the
most established and
reputable brand management
firms in the United States.
Their purpose is to build
thier clients' brands and
sphere of influence.
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Myth of the month
Source: "Debunking Seven Myths About
Public Education" byMolly A. Hunter and
Matthew Samberg
Myth
#2: NAEP Scores are Flat
Over the past 35 years, black and Hispanic
students have both achieved double-digit
increases in all grades in both reading and
math on NAEP* tests, and achievement gaps
have narrowed. How, then, can critics claim
that NAEP scores have been flat over those
same 35 years? Simpson's Paradox. Simpson's
paradox occurs when population shifts hide
rising scores. Scores for all subgroups are
rising, but the overall average NAEP scores
have moved only modestly upward because the
lower scoring groups - students of color and
students of low-income families - are now a
much larger proportion of those being
tested. On fourth grade reading tests, for
example, black students have improved by 30
points, Hispanic students by 20 points, and
white students by 15 points. The "average"
increase was only 11 points!
*
National Assessment of Educational Progress
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Test your TAKS readiness
The following question is
taken from the 11th grade TAKS test.
Last Friday a
used-car dealer had cars for sale for
$600, $690, $695, $710, $725, $850,
$995, $995 and $1495. Select the most
effective measure to use to convince
potential customers that the dealer's
prices are very low.
A. Mean
B. Median
C. Mode
D. Range
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Remember to
forward to coworkers, friends and
family!
Friends of Texas Public Schools
Scott Milder, President & Chief Executive
4000 McEwen Road North
Dallas, Texas 75244-5083
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