News of district-wide interest

NCLB: US Dept of Education Secretary Margaret Spellings announced a more workable, “common sense” approach to implementing the No Child Left Behind Act. Visit http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2005/04 for “A New Path for NCLB” and other documents.

Preschools not prisons: Find “Seven things Connecticut needs to know about early childhood” at the website for the state-wide “Ready, Set, Grow … CT Kids” campaign at http://www.readysetgrowctkids.org. Increased investment in preschool education would reduce costs of juvenile and adult incarceration by closing the "preparation gap" among children in demographic groups that traditionally enter kindergarten at significant developmental disadvantage, never catch up to their more literate peers, ultimately lose hope of escaping poverty by any other means, and turn to crime. High quality programs in early child care and education return an annual rate of return of 16% over a period of twenty years or more (by reducing crime, welfare, and public school special education costs); yet 30% of Connecticut's children currently enter school unready to succeed and unlikely to catch up. The National Institute of Health defines lack of reading skills as a major public health issue. Why? Intervention must happen early to help young children who are not able to read to catch up to their peers; yet, like an undiagnosed health problem, the difficulty with this quiet problem persists and worsens. Find recommendations about the Economic Impact of Child Care and Early Education at http://www.familyinitiative.org. Governor Rell is one of nineteen governors who proposed increased investment in pre-K this year. Send your message of appreciation to 800-406-1527 or Governor.Rell@po.state.ct.us.

School budget: Prevent additional cuts to the Board of Education-requested budget by asking municipal representatives for their support. Attend the May 9 Board of Representatives budget meeting, wearing clothes that show school spirit. Find contact information at http://www.cityofstamford.org/BoardOfRepresentatives (or send an information request to GEMS at GWHenderson@msn.com).

Teacher Appreciation Day / Week: The National Education Association and National Parent-Teacher Association identify the first full week in May as National Teacher Appreciation Week and Tuesday of that week as National Teacher Appreciation Day. Please remember to “Thank a Teacher” on May 3. Visit http://www.pta.org/parentinvolvement and http://www.nea.org/teacherday for suggestions of ways to celebrate teachers; visit http://www.teacherscount.org for inspirational stories. Stamford Education Association recognizes the district’s outstanding teachers at “Spotlight on Teachers” on May 4; contact SEA at324-2602; visit http://www.seastamford.org.

Events coming up

Reading success forum: Support state efforts to narrow the achievement gap by attending a forum with policy leaders and national expert Dr. Reid Lyon in Hartford on May 5 (Thur) at 10am-12:30pm. Contact the CT Commission on Children at 860-240-0290; visit their website at http://www.cga.ct.gov/coc.

Meet superintendent-elect Joshua Starr at a “Tee Up for Education” reception June 9 (Thu) at 5pm at Darien County Club; $50. Contact SPEF Executive Director Cathy Guinta at 965-7733 or cathyguinta@aol.com. Stamford Public Education Foundation promotes excellence in public education through strengthened community collaboration.

Why aren’t women better represented in math & science? Hear responses from four successful local women on May 12 (Thu) at 7-9pm at Unitarian Universalist Society (20 Forest Street). Request a flyer from Priya Mohan at 348-0708 or priya.mohan@uusis.org.

GEMS description

Grassroots Education Movement of Stamford builds awareness and inspires action to improve Stamford Public Schools. We encourage parents to become aware of the school budgeting process, to attend municipal meetings where decisions affecting schools are made, to make themselves and their children’s academic accomplishments and needs well known to elected representatives, and to find ways to help municipal decision makers become personally acquainted with actual teachers and students in Stamford Public Schools. Information sources include the weekly Board of Education calendar and municipal/school websites. Meeting logistics are provided as a public service; verify accuracy by contacting board/school repre- sentatives. Send opinions, potential announcements, and subscription change requests to newsletter editor Carol Henderson at GWHenderson@msn.com or (203) 324-0073. Subscription lists are not shared.