Triangle Coalition Electronic Bulletin

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APRIL IS MATHEMATICS AWARENESS MONTH!

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The American Mathematical Society, the American Statistical Association, the Mathematical Association of America, and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics have announced that the theme of Mathematics Awareness Month 2011 is "Unraveling Complex Systems." This year's theme was developed to explore the mathematics behind such complex systems as living cells, insect colonies, and whole ecosystems to man-made inventions like power grids, transportation networks, and the World Wide Web. The theme will examine how mathematics can help unravel well-structured networks and discernible patterns in natural and artificial structures. Understanding these complex systems can not only help us manage and improve the reliability of such critical infrastructures of everyday life, but can also allow us to interpret, enhance, and better interact with natural systems. Mathematical models can delineate interactions among components of these systems, analyze their spontaneous and emergent behaviors, and thus help prevent undesirable developments while enhancing desirable traits during their adaptation and evolution.

Mathematics Awareness Month, held each year in April, was created to increase public understanding of and appreciation for mathematics. Activities for Mathematics Awareness Month generally are organized on local, state, and regional levels by college and university departments, institutional public information offices, student groups, and related associations and interest groups. More details and related educational resources are at www.mathaware.org.    

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JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY HONORS TOP

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY

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An audience of almost 625 attended the "Grand Ceremony" in late March at the Johns Hopkins University campus in Baltomore, MD, to honor 200 of the most academically gifted students based on their work while in seventh and eighth grade. Among the middle school students invited, all earned exceptionally high scores on at least one section of the college SAT or ACT, and 140 achieved a perfect score on the reading or math section of the SAT or ACT -- while in middle school. These exceptional children earned their opportunity for recognition by participating in the annual Talent Search organized by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth. Since 1979, CTY has sought the most academically able elementary and middle school students each year and encouraged their enrollment in CTY's annual Talent Search. In 2009-2010, over 57,000 students from 50 states and the District of Columbia participated in the Talent Searches offered through CTY. Students enrolled in the search test through the fall and spring.

The students honored at CTY's Grand Ceremony are a select group. From over 20,000 seventh and eighth grade testers across the country, they have scored the highest on either the SAT or ACT -- the same tests taken by college-bound juniors and seniors. Above-grade-level tests, taken independently from the pressures of mandated assessment, can provide useful information to students, their families, and schools, particularly when a student has "hit the ceiling" of what their grade-level tests can discern. Above-grade-level testing gives a clearer picture of their academic capabilities. "CTY is honored to give them a stage on which to recognize their achievements, as might be done for excellence in athletics or the performing arts," said Dr. Lea Ybarra, executive director of CTY. "Today is really their day in the limelight." Ybarra credits parents and educators for sharing in the honored students' accomplishments. "Parents who make academics a first priority for their children, and teachers who inspire their students to achieve their best, create engaged young people who are well-prepared to lead and shape tomorrow's world."       

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DO LOW-INCOME STUDENTS HAVE EQUAL ACCESS

TO THE HIGHEST-PERFORMING TEACHERS?

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A new evaluation brief published by the National Center for Education Statistics analyses data from ten selected districts to describe the prevalence of teachers ranked in the top 20 percent (highest-performing teachers). According to "Do Low-Income Students have Equal Access to the Highest-Performing Teachers," the overall patterns indicate that low-income students have unequal access, on average, to the districts' highest-performing teachers at the middle school level but not at the elementary level. Within the ten districts studied, some have an under-representation of the highest-performing teachers in high-poverty elementary and middle schools. However, other districts have such under-representation only at the middle school level, and one district has a disproportionate share of the district's highest-performing teachers in its high-poverty elementary schools.

These analyses were conducted as part of the implementation of an impact evaluation (Impact Evaluation Of Moving High-Performing Teachers to Low-Performing Schools) carried out by Mathematica Policy Research for the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance within the Institute of Education Sciences. The analyses are in support of NCEE's work to advance our understanding of teacher quality and strategies to improve it. The districts that are the subject of this evaluation brief include eight of the ten districts currently participating in the impact evaluation and two additional districts. The impact evaluation is looking at using monetary incentives to attract higher-performing teachers into low-achieving schools. For both this evaluation brief and the impact study, the highest-performing teachers in the tested grades and subjects within school districts are identified by conducting value-added analyses using student test scores. In the impact study, teachers are offered a series of bonus payments totaling up to $20,000 over two years for transferring into and remaining in targeted low-achieving schools within their district. A report from the first year of data collection from the impact evaluation is expected in 2012. The evaluation brief is available online.     

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ALASKA EDUCATOR RECEIVES TOP AWARD FROM NSTA

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Triangle Coalition member, the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), has announced the recipients of its 2011 Teacher Awards. NSTA presented its most prestigious award, the Robert H. Carleton Award sponsored by the Dow Chemical Company, to former NSTA President Dr. Emma Walton, a science education consultant for NASA Aerospace Education and Avante-Garde Learning Foundation in Anchorage, AK. Walton has spent much of her career helping to improve the quality of science education for educators and students nationwide. Her commitment and dedication to the education field spans more than four decades. "Science teachers are the direct conduit to our nation's next generation of scientists," said Tommy Faucheux, STEM education program manager at the Dow Chemical Company, and presenter of this year's Carleton award. "Dow is proud to sponsor this prestigious award because it aligns with Dow's commitment to STEM education and the mission of the International Year of Chemistry, while rewarding educators like Dr. Walton, who go above and beyond to showcase why the sciences matter."

The Robert H. Carleton Award recognizes one individual who has made outstanding contributions to and provided leadership in science education at the national level and to NSTA in particular. NSTA is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA's current membership includes approximately 60,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education. More details and educational resources are at www.nsta.org.  

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UNITED WAY WORLDWIDE ANNOUNCES MAJOR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION

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The United Way has released, "Voices for the Common Good: America Speaks Out on Education," a new report that shares the aspirations and concerns of everyday people across America about their communities and what it will take for all children to succeed in life. It's based on a series of community conversations local United Ways hosted across the country last fall, as well as some focus groups and a national poll. Sponsorship for the report was provided by the Walmart Foundation, Deloitte, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and Microsoft Corporation. Key findings of the report, which is available online, include:

* 29 percent of Americans polled are concerned that their children will drop out of school.

* Americans don't feel the problems of young people and education start or stop at the doorsteps of public schools.

* People believe that when you improve schools, you improve communities.

* People feel disconnected from schools.

* Americans want to do something that helps make a difference, but they don't know how.

In response to the report findings, United Way also announce a commitment to recruit one million volunteer readers, tutors, and mentors for education. A website has been developed to partner interested volunteers with tutoring and mentoring opportunities. To volunteer, sign up at www.liveunited.org.

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CONNECT A MILLION MINDS WEEK FOCUSES ON WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY

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The curriculum "Cracking the Codes in the Wireless World" is the focus for Time Warner Cable's second annual Connect a Million Minds (CAMM) Week (April 4-8). Geared toward middle school students, this year's CAMM Week curriculum gives young people the opportunity to explore and experience the technologies behind the wireless products they encounter every day. During CAMM Week students in California, New York, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Idaho, Maine, Arizona, and Wisconsin are visiting Time Warner Cable facilities and unlocking the mysteries behind wireless communications. Activities are organized into three areas -- Create, Transmit, and Connect. In Create, students explore different types of digital content, and the codes that keep it protected. In Transmit, participants model a home wireless network, and strategize how to send information more efficiently over the network. In Connect, students experience how multiple wireless technologies communicate, and build a backhaul network to see how wireless depends on wired technologies.

Last year, more than 3,000 students and Time Warner Cable employee volunteers participated in inaugural CAMM week which saw the launch of Time Warner Cable's Cracking the Codes in the Digital World curriculum and included the support of 24 proclamations in 8 states. Time Warner Cable's (TWC) Connect a Million Minds (CAMM) is a five-year, $100 million philanthropic initiative to address America's declining proficiency in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), which puts our children at risk of not competing successfully in a global economy. Using its media assets, TWC creates awareness of the issue and inspires students to develop the STEM skills they need to become the problem solvers of tomorrow. Program highlights include: original PSAs that challenge public perceptions of STEM; a website, www.connectamillionminds.com, where parents and community members can pledge to connect young people with the wonders of science; grants to support non-profit organizations that bring stimulating, high-quality, and affordable after-school STEM learning to students; and other programs and resources.

This issue of the TCEB is made possible by a grant from:

3M 

3M is a diversified technology company committed to providing practical and ingenious solutions to help customers succeed.

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To find out how your organization can sponsor the TCEB or support the Triangle Coalition in other ways, visit www.trianglecoalition.org/support.htm

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The TCEB is a newsletter provided to members of the Triangle Coalition. Triangle Coalition members may forward individual articles or the issue in its entirety to internal member lists, providing that credit is given to the Triangle Coalition, and contact information is included in any republication.
Member organizations that choose to redistribute the TCEB internally must provide an electronic method for these additional recipients to be removed from the member organization's mailing list.

For TCEB subscription or membership information, contact:
Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education
1840 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 201
Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: 800-582-0115
Fax: 703-516-5969
E-mail: tricoal@triangle-coalition.org
URL: www.trianglecoalition.org
To submit information for possible inclusion in TCEB, contact tcebeditor@aol.com

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