Stacy Andell is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Stacy has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For more on Pittsburgh schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Pennsylvania/Pittsburgh/index.html
Pittsburgh Schools Create High School Reform Task Force
This summer Pittsburgh Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt announced the creation of the Pittsburgh Schools High School Reform Task Force. The Pittsburgh Schools High School Reform Task Force will be comprised of education professionals, private foundations, business professionals, parents, and community members. The Task Force will investigate the current practices in the Pittsburgh Schools and determine what the best approach to high school reform should be. Pittsburgh Schools High School Reform Task Force will be responsible for evaluating and ultimately redesigning Pittsburgh Schools' high schools as part of Pittsburgh Schools' "Excellence for All" reform plan. The "Excellence for All" plan aims to improve the academic performance and increase graduation rates in all Pittsburgh Schools.
The most important goal of the "Excellence for All" reform plan is to increase the graduation rate by 10 percent by the end of the 2008-2009 school year. Pittsburgh Schools High School Reform Task Force will spearhead reform so that high school students will have the opportunities to succeed after high school. The main tenet of the "Excellence for All" reform plan is that all students no matter what their age, experience or background can achieve quality education. The Pittsburgh Schools High School Reform Task Force will evaluate education in high schools based on six main principles. These principles will be used to guide the changes in the high schools: personalized learning environment; academic engagement of all students; empowered educators; accountable leaders; engaged communities and youth and an integrated system of curriculum, instruction, and assessment supports.
Pittsburgh Schools High School Reform Task Force Members and Funding
The Pittsburgh Schools High School Reform Task Force will be led jointly by Jan Ripper, Principal on Special Assignment for high school reform and Dr. Lynn Spampinato, Deputy Superintendent of Instruction, Assessment, and Accountability. Pittsburgh Schools High School Reform Task Force will visit and observe techniques used in nationally recognized high schools in urban centers around the US to determine which techniques would be beneficial to Pittsburgh Schools. Pittsburgh Schools High School Reform Task Force will be funded mainly through a grant of $255,000 from the
Fund in Excellence in the Pittsburgh Schools. The Fund in Excellence in the Pittsburgh Schools is a recently created by a local foundation. The inaugural event for the Pittsburgh Schools High School Reform Task Force will be a meeting with renowned educator Dr. Willard R. Daggett, President of the International Center for Leadership in Education.
The current members of the Task Force are: Dara Ware Allen - Executive Director, YouthWorks, Inc.; Seppy Basili - Senior Vice President, Kaplan K12 Learning Services; Dr. Charles Blocksidge - Vice President of Organizational Development/Frieda G. Shapira Center for Learning, Community College of Allegheny County; Susan Brownlee - Executive Director, The Grable Foundation; Honorable Kevin E. Cooper - Pittsburgh District Judge; Joseph Dominic - Director, Education Program, The Heinz Endowments; George Gensure - Executive Board Member and Staff Member, Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers; Dr. Cecilia Griffin Golden - Chief Executive Officer, YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh; Ruth Howze - PPS Parent Representative; Rufus Jordan - Executive Board Member and Staff Member, Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers; Jeffrey Laurenson - PPS High School Teacher, Brashear High School; Dr. Alan Lesgold - Dean, School of Education, University of Pittsburgh; David J. Malone - President and CEO, Gateway Financial; Chairman of PA Workforce Investment Board; Dr. Indira Nair - Vice Provost for Education, Carnegie Mellon University; Ronald D. Painter - Chief Executive Officer, Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board; Jeanne Pearlman - Senior Program Officer for Education and the Arts, The Pittsburgh Foundation; Gregory K. Peaslee - Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Construction and Property Management, UPMC; Douglas Silinski - PPS Parent Representative; Linda Serody - PPS Parent Representative; Gregory R. Spencer - President and CEO, Randall Enterprises, LLC; Former Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Equitable Resources, Inc. ; Michael T. Thorson - Former Principal of Creative And Performing Arts (CAPA) High School; Doris Carson Williams - President, African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania; and Yolanda C. Wilkins - PPS Arlington Academy (ALA) Teacher; Former PPS High School Teacher
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- Pittsburgh Schools Use the Summer to Prepare for the Future
- Students and Teachers in Pittsburgh Schools Receive Year End Honors and Awards
- Pittsburgh Schools Deal With Discipline
- Will Grading Principal Improve Pittsburgh Schools?
- Are Pittsburgh Schools in Trouble?
- Assaults on Teachers on Rise in Allegheny County … Pittsburgh Schools Still Fairing Well With Plans to Do Even Better
- Assaults On Teachers On Rise In Allegheny County ... Pittsburgh Schools Still Fairing Well With Plans To Do Even Better
- Pittsburgh Schools Offer Affordable College Education
70-664 study materials
By: fangyinb | 06/01/2010Testinside has a variety of Microsoft 70-664 Practice Exam and other exam preparation materials giving you consolidation in the ways of your interest and ease.
70-646 practice tests
By: fangyinb | 06/01/2010The Microsoft 70-646 practice tests that we can provide are based on the extensive research and real-world experiences from our online trainers, with over 10 years of IT and certification experience.
RH302 practice exam
By: fangyinb | 06/01/2010Testinside RH302 practice exam covers all the practice test objectives to pass RH302 exam.
Forming an Academic private school in Singapore by Company Registration Agent
By: Paul Media | 06/01/2010If you plan to start a school that has ten or more children, you will need to register as a business first with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore (ACRA). You must register as a sole proprietorship, partnership or a private limited company. Once you have establish a business entity with ACRA, you will then register the school with Ministry of Education of Singapore (MOE).
University Of South Dakota Scholarships - Register Today for $10,000 Scholarship Opportunity
By: Michelle Perkins | 06/01/2010There are a lot of University Of South Dakota Scholarships that you can apply for to help with your educational expenses. We've found some University Of South Dakota Scholarships you can look into to finance your college education. After looking at these scholarships, remember to also do your own research for more chances of winning scholarships to help you with your tuition and other costs.
Free Military Scholarships - Secure Your Future With a Ten Thousand Dollars Scholarship
By: howard Snyder | 05/01/2010We are in a time where jobs and ways to earn a living have become extremely competitive and all those in the workplace need to have a competitive edge in order to secure their jobs and their financial security. One of the best ways to go about this is by getting a college degree, a masters degree or simply, to take a course on a specialized subject or area of expertise. The point is that you need to really spend time and money on your education ...
The 3 Myths About Learning a Foreign Language: Learn German the Best Way
By: Ethan Parker | 05/01/2010What are the 3 most common myths preventing YOU from learning German the right way? Find out what's right and what's wrong, and the most effective way to learn German, inside.
Washington D.c. Teacher Recognized for Excellence By Congress
By: Stacy Andell | 11/10/2006 | K-12 EducationWashington, DC- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced a congressional resolution recognizing Kim Burke-Ables, a science teacher at Washington D.C. schools ‘ Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, on her selection as the District of Columbia Teacher of the Year for 2006, and "congratulating her for her exceptional dedication to the students and her excellence as a teacher."
New Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2008
By: Stacy Andell | 11/10/2006 | K-12 EducationThis year, the state's new graduation requirements become "real" as students in Seattle schools in the class of 2008 receive the results of their first attempt at the 10th-grade Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). Passing the 10th-grade WASL will be the avenue most students take to earn the Certificate of Academic Achievement, one of the four new statewide graduation requirements.
San Jose Schools Celebrate Beethoven With Essay Contest
By: Stacy Andell | 11/10/2006 | K-12 EducationSan Jose State University's Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies and the San Jose Jewish Film Festival have teamed up with the San Jose Schools in an event to celebrate the San Jose State University's Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies twenty first year. The celebration event also includes the premiere of the film "Beethoven's Hair" at the San Jose Jewish Film Festival. This will be an event for the whole community held in downtown San Jose in October.
San Francisco Gets Serious About Arts Education
By: Stacy Andell | 11/10/2006 | K-12 EducationSeptember 28 was the beginning of a new era for arts education in San Francisco schools. The San Francisco Unified School district and the City are partnering on a historic effort to bring back the arts for all students.
San Antonio Independent School District Welcome New Additions
By: Stacy Andell | 11/10/2006 | K-12 EducationCurrent and former students, community members and staff from the San Antonio Schools staff gathered in the historic auditorium of Douglass Academy on Sept. 26 for a homecoming celebration and dedication ceremony to mark the completion of a major construction and renovation project at the school.
Pittsburg Schools' Magnet Schools Programs
By: Stacy Andell | 11/10/2006 | K-12 EducationThe Pittsburg Schools is holding an Information Fair aimed at providing parents with the information they need to provide their children with the best opportunities. The Pittsburg Schools' Magnet Information Fair will be held on October 7th at the Frick International Studies Academy.
Orlando Schools Receive Awards and Funding From the Community
By: Stacy Andell | 11/10/2006 | K-12 EducationFive Orlando public schools will be recognized for outstanding prevention efforts in the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs at the Statewide Prevention Conference in Orlando held at the Caribe Royale Resort. Only 10 schools in the state are being honored during the event to be held on September 20, 2006.
Orange County Schools' Special Education Alliance
By: Stacy Andell | 11/10/2006 | K-12 EducationThe Orange County Schools ' Special Education Alliance was created by the 28 districts in Orange County in 2003. The primary goal of the Orange County Schools' Special Education Alliance is to meet the need for a countywide system that can focus on special education.