NASHVILLE, TN -- Un programa piloto en el condado de Knox proporciona dinero en efectivo para cubrir emergencias para estudiantes universitarios en la región, y los expertos en educación dicen que Knox Promise es solo un ejemplo de cómo el estado puede ayudar a más estudiantes de Tennessee a obtener un título y a navegar en un mercado laboral cambiante.
El presidente de sistemas de la Universidad de Tennessee, Randy Boyd, dice que las becas de finalización subrayan la necesidad de una red más amplia de servicios para que los estudiantes sigan asistiendo a clases.
"Estas son becas muy pequenas, micro-subvenciones (podrian ser $100, podrian ser $500) para aquellos estudiantes a los que de pronto puede surgirles algo inesperado y podria hacerles descarrilar", dijo Boyd, "Por ejemplo, un radiador que descompone su automovil; para algunos estudiantes, esto hace una diferencia en la posibilidad de graduarse."
Boyd dice que las universidades han visto un aumento del 43 por ciento en el éxito de los estudiantes al ofrecerles becas de finalización. Según la Comisión de Educación Superior de Tennessee, apenas la mitad de los estudiantes que ingresan a la universidad terminan sus títulos en seis años, y las tasas de finalización son más bajas para los estudiantes negros e hispanos de bajos ingresos.
Boyd señala que los fondos para el programa piloto fueron proporcionados por un donante privado, pero agrega que esperan expandir el programa a todos los estudiantes de Tennessee.
"Entonces, por una cantidad muy pequena de dinero en todo el estado, estimamos alrededor de $ 4.5 millones al ano, podriamos tener un programa de becas de finalizacion en todo el estado", Boyd reconoció, "Esto algo que vamos a defender en el futuro."
Boyd agrega que el estado también podría revisar las reglas para la transferencia de créditos entre universidades. Señala que las barreras para el traslado de un colegio comunitario a una institución de cuatro años afectan particularmente a los estudiantes de color.
"Definitivamente necesitamos observar como obtener las credenciales y como brindar mas opciones a nuestros estudiantes", señala Boyd.
Con base en las tasas de logros más recientes, el estado necesitaría ayudar a otros 60 mil habitantes negros de Tennessee a obtener un título de asociado o licenciatura para cerrar la brecha educativa con los habitantes blancos de Tennessee.
La Fundación Lumina proporcionó apoyo para este informe.
get more stories like this via email
Educators and public school advocates are pushing back on a measure which would consolidate state-funded services that have been an important part of schools in rural Iowa for generations. Some state lawmakers said the funding could be used more efficiently.
Area Education Agencies have been the go-to place for educators in rural Iowa when they need state services at the local level, in all 99 Iowa counties. House Bill 2612 would consolidate the agencies, outsource some of their services and give the state oversight of them.
Mike Owen, deputy director of the group Common Good Iowa, said the agencies have been critical resources for generations.
"The Area Education Agencies have been a very valuable regional system that helps school districts, large and small, with various services that they can't really do on their own," Owen explained. "From special education to media services, to professional development of teachers."
Gov. Kim Reynolds, who signed the measure, said it will provide a more efficient way to spend the state's education dollars. It is scheduled to take effect July 1.
The battle over public school funding has been playing out on a variety of fronts in Iowa, which enjoys a reputation for some of the best-quality public education in the nation. The state recently enacted a private school voucher program, paid for with state dollars.
Owen sees consolidating the Area Education Agencies and outsourcing some of the services they provide as another step in the wrong direction for Iowa's K-12 classrooms.
"It's total disrespect to locally elected decision-makers for schools," Owen contended. "One more example of how education, unfortunately, is being used to pit people against one another, when it is really a unifying value for Iowans."
There are nine Area Education Agencies in Iowa. The State Department of Education will assume oversight of all of them.
get more stories like this via email
The solar eclipse has sparked more interest in science and technology, especially among young people.
But the saying, 'You can't be what you don't see,' is a reality for youth of color considering a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math career.
A 2024 Black Girls and STEM Report indicates this demographic aspires to become astronauts, engineers and more -- but a lack of Black representation can dampen their enthusiasm.
Crystal Morton is the founder and director of the Girls STEM Institute, which offers courses for girls ages 7 to 18.
She said the emphasis is on relevant cultural content and careers for girls who might not otherwise have access to these experiences.
"That might be doing a session on the science of Black hair," said Morton, "looking at different products to understand the science behind how that product is made, and what's in that product or how it may be impacting them. So, we make our own products. You can be able to look at a label and say, 'Hey, I should be able to pronounce what I'm putting on my skin, or in my hair.'"
She said the students quickly get the connections.
The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics says about one-third of STEM workers are women. But Black workers make up only 18% of the 35 million people employed in STEM fields.
Morton said the Institute's Saturday programs are in partnership with the Indiana University, Indianapolis School of Education. And in the summer, volunteers engage with students about careers in aviation and medicine.
As a former math teacher, Morton said she believes early exposure to this information is key, and said kids begin showing their curiosity as early as third grade.
"Understanding how things happen with technology, that they all need to have different mathematical levels of understanding," said Morton. "They need to have computational thinking skills, because that's the way this world is moving. And I believe that they do have it -- if you just sit back and watch them play, you see the problem solving happen."
A report on Indiana's STEM education priorities shows the number of undergraduate degrees is up since 2015, but the number of STEM-related degrees awarded hasn't moved much.
Hispanic and Black students earn between 3% and 5% of those STEM degrees. They make up 6% and 9% of the state's population, respectively.
get more stories like this via email
In the past four years, the way New Mexico children are taught to read has undergone a major shift. Following passage of a state law in 2019, the state's elementary teachers have received training in "structured literacy" and the science of reading.
Research shows kids learn to read when they are able to identify letters or combinations of letters and connect those letters to sounds. But teaching that skill is not always intuitive.
Severo Martinez, Literacy and Humanities director, said there are more than 500 elementary schools in the state, and the two-year training occurs while teachers continue working in the classroom.
"Teachers of any discipline, they're teaching literacy skills, still -- even if they're a math teacher, if they're a science teacher, if it's social studies -- if you can't read, you can't do any of the assignments in any of those classes," Martinez explained.
In addition to boosting the number of students achieving reading proficiency, the program aims to reduce the number of students who require special education services.
This school year, the Public Education Department launched a reading challenge -- encouraging students to become "Superhero Readers" and "level up" their reading scores. Martinez even wrote a book for students focusing on the rich cultural diversity and history of New Mexico. He hopes it will all combine to make them proud adults -- eager to make a positive contribution to the world.
"With the Level Up Reading Challenge, we want to motivate students and supporting them in understanding the 'why' it is so important to learn to read and write - because that's going to open up a world of possibilities for them into the future," Martinez continued.
To catch common disabilities that stall reading proficiency, Martinez says New Mexico now requires that first-grade students receive screenings for dyslexia by the 40th day of the school year. Starting this summer, the Public Education Department will also offer tutoring to make sure all students achieve reading competence.
get more stories like this via email
Contact
