“Science and technology are at the heart of nation’s ability to compete in a global economy and to solve our most pressing challenges. “Our future hinges on the next generation of scientists and engineers. I look forward to continuing to work with Innovate-Educate New Mexico.”
Race to the Top Phase I Finalists to be Announced Today
U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced that Race to the Top (RttT) Phase I finalists will be announced today (Thursday, March 4).
Each state will receive notification via email around 11:30 a.m. EST of the selected finalists. This email will be sent to the State Chief, the Governor and the RTTT contact listed on the state application. A press release will go out to national press at 12:00 p.m. EST.
Forty states and Washington, D.C. applied to the Race to the Top fund, the largest pool of federal discretionary education money in U.S. history. The grants, to be announced today, reward school systems for finding ways to strengthen academic standards, recruit better teachers, collect data on student performance and turn around failing schools that can be replicated across the country.
According to wire reports, most states won’t get any money today because their proposals aren’t tough enough, Grover J. Whitehurst, who served in the Education Department under former President George W. Bush, said in an interview with the Associated Press on Wednesday. Florida, Louisiana and Tennessee may prevail because of their use of technology to track student achievement over time, he added.
“Underlying the Obama administration’s specific proposals is an agenda for dramatic change of the public schools,” said Whitehurst, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, which analyzes U.S. public policy. “The reviewers will have been asking: ‘Is the state willing and able to change the status quo?’”
There will be “a lot more losers than winners,” Duncan said in testimony yesterday before the House Education and Labor Committee.
We will monitor this announcement throughout the day and post the “winning” states when they become available.
Race to the Top: What does it all mean?
As of this writing, there are approximately 50,800,000 results that appear on Google for the Race to the Top Program. This $4.35 billion stimulus package announced last spring created the largest “buzz” in history for education. Now, the race is on as 40 States and the District of Columbia have submitted Race to the Top applications to the Department of Education, all competing for the funds that can help with the dismal education budgets that states are facing across the country in 2010 and beyond.
The Details
The U.S. Department of Education trained 53 reviewers in D.C. at an all-day training session on Jan. 23. There are 20 different components of the award system, which totals 500 points. In many cases, there is little discretion involved in deciding how many points to award for a particular component. For example, reviewers award two points for each of 12 required elements in a statewide data system for a total of 24 points. However, some components require a more critical eye. For example, the 35 points associated with turning around schools requires an expert reviewer to assess strategies and plans and determine their potential impact on these schools. Reviewers decide how many of the 35 points that a particular applicant’s turnaround plans merit. Upon leaving the training, each reviewer left with five applications in hand (of course, they weren’t allowed to review their own state). Top contenders will be invited back to D.C. in mid-March for presentations for final selections to be announced in April.
All proposals are posted here on the U.S. Department of Education website. I believe that all states are “winners” for spending the December holiday season behind closed doors working fervently and feverishly to address the critical situations we face in education across our country. It took hundreds of hours of work and partnerships for states to get the proposals submitted, bringing together industry, education and government to help look at the necessary steps for their states’ futures in education, and in turn, economic development.
In New Mexico, we believe we have a plan that can address the critical situation we face in educational attainment: dropouts and success of the teacher/student. It was like piecing together a giant jigsaw puzzle as teams of teachers and leaders from across the state worked together to address the application and its requirements.
We now hold our breath along with the other 39 contenders. For the future of our state, our students, our economic development and all teachers across the state, winning Race to the Top could be a game-changer.
Years from now it will be fascinating to see what the Race to the Top and the controversial stimulus dollars have done for the states. But for now, I know that this application made states think long and hard on what must happen to address drop-outs, failing schools, STEM education and partnerships for the long-haul. The Race to the Top process – win or lose – created a blueprint for states to move forward with a vision for education reform.
Innovate-Educate Announce Education Grants
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Dec. 21, 2009) – Innovate-Educate New Mexico (IENM), a statewide catalyst in 21st century education and incubator state to national education leader Innovate-Educate, announced today on behalf of Qwest Communications and New Mexico’s Affiliate Chapter of the International Society for Technology in Education (NMSTE) have awarded five grants totaling $25,000 to qualifying education projects in New Mexico.
The qualification process opened in the fall with several applicants. Through the selection process, three projects each were funded at $5,000 along with one at $4,000 and another at $3,000. The remaining $3,000 will be used towards travel and expenses for grant recipients at this spring’s statewide teacher conference in Albuquerque.
“Innovate-Educate applauds Qwest for their partnership in advancing innovations in teaching and learning and recognizing the tremendous needs for funding and resources for their projects,” said Jamai Blivin, Executive Director of Innovate-Educate and Innovate-Educate New Mexico. “We commend New Mexico teachers for their vision and passion for technology and STEM education.”
“Improving education in the communities where our customers live and work is a priority for the Qwest Foundation,” said Loretta A. Armenta, Qwest’s president for New Mexico. “At its heart, the Qwest Teachers and Technology grant program is designed to better prepare New Mexican students to compete and succeed in our technology-driven world by helping teachers get technology into their classrooms to introduce and reinforce key concepts.”
“NMSTE was thrilled to see so many high-quality applications from teachers across the state of New Mexico,” added Jill Brown, NMSTE President. “We want to thank Qwest and Innovate-Educate for this wonderful professional development opportunity. We also want to thank the winning teachers and fellow professionals who will use this to continue to help prepare productive citizens for New Mexico in the 21st Century.”
Receiving a $5,000 grant was Sierra Media Magnet for their Las Cruces Heroes Film Project at Sierra Middle School. No other middle school in the southern part of the entire state offers this amount of intensified curricula – featuring magnets for media, dance, science, theater, and piano just to name a few.
Math for a New Generation at Peñasco Middle School received $5,000 towards increasing the ratio of computers to students in math to 1:1 while exploring real-world issues and the use mathematic and technologic tools to engage in issue-related discussions; and familiarize students with technology-driven learning environments.
The third $5,000 grant was awarded for the 21st Century Guide to Roadside Geology at Vista Grande High School. Dubbed the “Best Virtual Fieldtrip on the Internet,” the junior and senior classes will be leading an expedition into the roadside geology of New Mexico; from which they will share their knowledge through a digital recreation of the Halka Chronic book, “A Roadside Guide to Geology of New Mexico.”
Online Advanced Placement Computer Science and Supercomputing Challenge received $4,000 for their ongoing commitment to offering Advanced Placement Computer Science (APCS) to schools throughout New Mexico. The overarching goal is to give all students throughout New Mexico, both rural and urban, an opportunity to prepare for post-secondary academic programs that require a fundamental background in computing principles.
Picacho Middle School will receive $3,000 to create Media Public Service Announcements. The team-teachers will facilitate student experiences in creating announcements to be played on closed circuit television and low-powered AM radio. Students will create video and audio about important topics that affect middle school students and the community at large.
Innovate-Educate also is pleased to announce the dates to the NMSTE/IENM Innovations in Leadership & Learning Conference on Thursday, April 22 and Friday, April 23, at the Marriott Pyramid in Albuquerque. This annual event brings together state and national leaders in industry, education, and government to coordinate existing efforts and collaborate on new ideas that engage students in the science and engineering fields to prepare a competitive workforce in the U.S. Last year, nearly 700 attended this event.
Qwest Supports IENM 2009 Conference
Innovate-Educate New Mexico Announces Speakers for Inaugural Event
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (March 26, 2009) – Qwest Communications has joined other visionary companies across the U.S. today in support of Innovate-Educate New Mexico’s (IENM) first national conference to advance STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and ICT (information, communication and technology) digital education on April 30, May 1 and May 2 at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
“Qwest is proud to partner with Innovate-Educate New Mexico to positively impact students in the areas of engineering and science education,” said Loretta A. Armenta, Qwest president for New Mexico. “This relationship continues and expands our commitment to education, educators and students in New Mexico in order to better equip students for the future.”
The goal of IENM 2009 Conference is to initiate collaboration between industry, education and government to advance 21st century technologies in the classroom, engage students in areas that will peak their interest in science and technology fields, and keep them engaged so they remain enrolled in the school system and pursue a higher education degree. Participants will have the opportunity to network and visit exhibits displaying innovative programs, engaging education platforms, and state-of-the-art technologies being used in 21st century classrooms across the U.S.
Some of the conference’s confirmed speakers from across the U.S. include:
Bill Valdez, Director, Office of Workforce Development, U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Office of Science; Judith D’Amico, Director, U.S. Relations, Project Lead the Way; Jan Morrison, Executive Director TIES and Senior STEM Consultant for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Merrilea J. Mayo, Director of Future Learning Initiatives, Kauffman Foundation; Michael Belcher, Education Solution Director, HP; Senator Eric Reeves (N.C.), Schooldude; Jessie Woolley-Wilson, President, K-12 at Blackboard Inc.; Andy Bell, Robotics U.S. Education Director, LEGO Education North America; Michael Schmedlen, Global Education Director at Lenovo; Pete Cevenini, Cisco Systems, U.S. Lead, (Internet Business Solutions Group); Dr. William Graves, Sungard Higher Ed, Senior VP, Academic Strategies; Kim Adams, Vice President of Human Resources, Lockheed Martin, Washington, D.C.; Dr. Norm Hollyn, USC School of Cinematic Arts; Celeste Alleyne and Dr. Carla Faini, Microsoft Corporation; Colleen Jenkins, SAS, U.S. P-20 Industry-Education Strategist; and Bill Bowman, Regional VP, Apple, Inc.
CLICK HERE to view our full speaker line-up and biographies.
This will be an eye-opening event with a dynamic agenda to engage K-12, higher education, non-profit education, industry and government participants. Focus areas include higher education, K-12 educators and leadership, industry, technology leaders and government officials, economic development leaders and state/national legislators. The last day features the 8th Annual RoboRAVE Robotics Competition where more than 350 middle and high school students will compete for cash, awards, trophies, banners and prizes with line-following robots.
Innovate-Educate Works to Advance STEM Education
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Feb. 26, 2009) – Innovate-Educate New Mexico (IENM) will host its first national conference to advance engineering and science education on April 30, May 1 and May 2 at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
This annual event will bring together state and national leaders in industry, education, and government to coordinate existing efforts and collaborate on new ideas that engage students in the science and engineering fields to prepare a competitive workforce in the U.S.
“Today, we are faced with a national challenge that hits the core of our economy: we are failing to graduate engineering and science students to meet the demands of a competitive world driven by productive and innovative markets,” says Jami Grindatto, Intel’s New Mexico Corporate and Government Affairs Director. “Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are the innovators’ basic tools to solve the world’s most pressing issues, create products and deliver services that improve our lives. New Mexico and the United States must increase the number of graduates in engineering and sciences. This is Innovate-Educate New Mexico’s main objective to secure long-term economic health.”
The goal of the Innovate-Educate New Mexico 2009 Conference is to initiate such efforts and create new opportunities for education professionals to advance and improve engineering and science education. It is IENM’s goal that these efforts serve as a national model by delivering substantive improvements in engineering and science education by applying best practices in a coordinated and methodical way. IENM’s leadership believes that all stakeholders have to engage to achieve success.
Mark your calendars for the IENM’s 2009 Conference on April 30, May 1 and May 2.
Registration and Sponsorship
For sponsorship, contact Jamai Blivin at jamai@innovate-educatenm.org. For event information, contact Shawna Arroyo at Shawna@innovate-educatenm.org or 575-646-4401. You can register for this event online at https://www.regonline.com/k12edtechandinnovate.
About Innovate Educate New Mexico www.innovate-educatenm.org
Innovate-Educate New Mexico is an industry-led partnership with education and government leaders to develop and coordinate new, innovative efforts to inspire and engage education professionals and students in the engineering and science fields, resulting in a competitive workforce for the U.S.
Science, Mathematics Program Receives National Recognition
The Southern New Mexico Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy (SNM SEMAA) recently received several national awards for program innovation.
The national SEMAA office named SNM SEMAA as the Most Innovative Program for making the program effective for all students. The program also received the Group Achievement Award from NASA for being the most innovative and effective program for students in the NASA community.
Within the last year, SNM SEMAA was recognized by the U.S. Congressional Record for having one of the most innovative and effective programs in the nation for students in kindergarten through 12th grade in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The program also was recognized by Harvard University as a finalist for the Innovations in American Government Awards.
SNM SEMAA is a collaboration between the New Mexico State University Colleges of Education and Engineering, NASA, the Gadsden Independent School District and Las Cruces Public Schools.
“The purpose of the program is to use the unique resources of our community to engage historically underrepresented youth, such as Hispanics, Native Americans and young women, in activities in the fields of science, engineering, mathematics and technology,” said Susan Brown, director of STEM Outreach for the Institute for Excellence in Math and Science Education in the College of Education.
Students in the program participate in eight-week sessions of curriculum emphasizing science, engineering and mathematics with an overarching theme of aerospace education. Two of the sessions are held at NMSU’s Aerospace Education Laboratory.
“The program is making a difference in the lives of students, educators and families. Quantitative data shows that SEMAA students in the GISD and LCPS are scoring higher on the science portion of standardized tests. Students are becoming comfortable in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields,” Brown said.
SNM SEMAA serves more than 3,000 students a year. It receives funding through state, federal, foundation and NASA grants.