Michigan Legislators Support Alternatives to Algebra II for High School Curriculum

From the Red Tape Blog: Items of potential interest to government documents librarians or government information managers in Michigan. For more information contact Jon Harrison

image from: ed.gov

Michigan Legislators Support Alternatives to Algebra II for High School Curriculum

Michigan legislators made it clear today that math-related career and technical education courses could fulfill the Algebra II graduation requirement for high school students.

The bill was passed unanimously today by the state Senate; the House Education Committee also soon will take up a vote on similar legislation.

While Algebra II is still a graduation requirement, students can earn credit toward the requirement by taking CTE courses with math components like electronics, machining, construction, welding, engineering or renewable energy.

The legislation is supported by the Michigan Department of Education, Spokeswoman Jan Ellis said.

"MDE supports this legislation because it clarifies to CTE instructors, educators, parents and students that CTE courses can fulfill the Algebra II, and even other graduation requirements," Ellis said. "Students don't all learn the same way, and many would greatly benefit from learning these key subjects in CTE courses where there's hands-on examples and real work applications."

Ellis said it always has been possible to gain credit for graduation by taking CTE courses. However, it was unclear, and Ellis said this legislation explains the credit.

"We support legislation that clarifies what the department's intent has always been," she said. "Our goal is to make sure students can learn in many venues, including online courses, for example, and get credit for the graduation requirements."

Sen. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland, agreed the legislation will help clear up any misconceptions.

"We recognize that some students learn best behind a desk and other students learn best using their hands," said Kuipers, chairman of the senate education committee, who introduced the legislation. "We wanted to make clear that was an acceptable method of instruction, provided that they still hit on the same benchmarks and standards that are laid out in the high school curriculum.

"It's the right thing to do."

For the full article, see Christina Stolarz, "Legislators: Career, technical courses may fulfill Algebra II requirement", Detroit News, August 19, 2009.

For another article, see Lori Higgins, "Program gets panel's nod to fulfill math requirements", Detroit Free Press, August 19, 2009.

For another, see David Eggert, "High schoolers closer to skipping algebra II class; House panel votes in favor of financial literacy", Lansing State Journal, August 20, 2009.

This clarification of the requirement does not require a Personal Curriculum. For students with disabilities, a Personal Curriculum is a way to alter the requirements for a diploma.

More clarification to be added to this post...

IEP video online

I was working on solving an unrelated problem, and happened across this item on the Reading Rockets website. If you are interested in seeing what might be covered in an IEP (Individualized Educational Planning meeting), this video gives you a start. You can even download podcasts from iTunes for later, offline viewing. I love the Meet the Authors section, and have a story to tell about Avi, from my last days of teaching young adolescents in a middle school language arts resource room.

to be continued...

Library Services Threatened

I went online to reserve some books and other materials at my local library branch and discovered this announcement on the home page of the Ann Arbor District Library (my letter to my representatives in the Michigan Senate and House follow):

AADL: Pittsfield Branch (my branch), Source: AADL.org

AADL Library Services Threatened by Governor's Executive Order
to Abolish State Library

On July 13, Governor Granholm issued an Executive Order abolishing the Department of History, Arts and Libraries, as part of her effort to reach a balanced budget for the next state fiscal year. It is understood and accepted that hard decisions must be made, and that all departments of state government should be expecting to find savings and efficiencies.

It is not clear how abolishing the department dedicated to promoting Michigan history and the arts, and supporting all libraries in Michigan will result in significant savings; the Governor has indicated that there is an unfunded plan to move the collections to repurpose the State Library building. Library services, when separated or isolated from a larger system, and placed in a bureaucratic environment, will wither.

Governor Granholm Source: Michigan.gov

How will this proposed plan affect you? The State Library administers the services of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. AADL is a sub-regional service provider and has been since February of this year. The plan as proposed moves the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped from the Library of Michigan to the Commission for the Blind. It is not clear if any funding will follow the move, and the Commission is facing the same cuts as all other state departments and agencies. If services from the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped statewide are to remain stable and funded, the Governor, and our legislators, should be made aware that the proposed move is a threat to its existence.

The Library of Michigan also administers the group purchasing of databases that are made available to all libraries statewide for reduced costs. Any library cardholder or Michigan citizen with a valid driver’s license can access those databases from anywhere in the world. If the resources of the Library of Michigan are dispersed or eliminated, and if the State Aid to Libraries allocation is reduced, then access to these databases will disappear. Only the larger, most affluent communities will be able to consider locally funding these resources. Even at AADL, continuance of the currently available set of resources will not be possible.

Source: Michigan Electronic Library

The very popular statewide interlibrary loan program via MeLCat is also administered through the Library of Michigan, and paid for through a match of State Aid allocation with Federal funds. Each $1.00 of state funding for this service is matched with $.50 of Federal funding, and the total to fund this statewide delivery service is in the millions of dollars. This service is also threatened if the Library of Michigan is abolished, and State Aid is reduced.

It is an irony that in a time when all are calling for efficiency, resource-sharing, consolidation of services, and collaborations to save and find money, a state institution that has led statewide programs that work for the benefit of all Michigan citizens, and which help to provide the critical tools needed for our workforce to reinvent itself, is threatened because someone has the very uncool and uninformed notion that libraries are obsolete (sic).

The Ann Arbor District Library opposes Executive Order #2009-36, and supports funding of State Aid to Libraries at the current level of $10M.

Josie Parker, Director

Josie Parker Source: aadl.org

Here's my letter to State Senators and Representatives, and my hope is that you will also write.

September 3, 2009

I am the current President of the Learning Disabilities Association of Michigan, and an ardent supporter of the resources from the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. While there are many new technologies that have made print text increasingly accessible to the blind and dyslexic, we also need to maintain some of the "lower tech" resources for people who lose their vision later in life, or, through injury, become unable to process print visually. For these reasons, I believe that we need to continue funding the services of the Michigan Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and its local outreach services at the AADL.

In the field of education, teachers are under a great deal of pressure to provide "scientifically proven, research-based" instruction to ensure that all children are successfully learning. The MeL has significantly improved access to education journals that enable teachers to continue to update their practices without incurring the prohibitive costs of either subscribing to these journals or joining multiple organizations in order to access these journals. In Michigan, especially, if we are to realize the visions espoused by our leaders to bring 21st Century Learning to all of our children (and adults), the loss of access would be tragic.

Finally, the HAL has been a marvelous resource for teachers in Michigan as they help their students discover Michigan's multi-faceted past (part of the required curriculum in Michigan), and connect it to our much-hoped-for bright future.

Efficiency and consolidation of resources is one thing. Elimination of resources is another. I hope that the Governor understands the value of the resources under HAL, and keeps access open, even if rearranged.

Kathleen Kosobud

President, LDA of Michigan

www.LDAofMichigan.org

The Governor has proclaimed November Learning Disabilities Awareness Month. Please support accessible text for all kinds of readers, and accessible education for all kinds of learners.

Austin's Movie Wins a Telly!

Note: Tim Nagae is one of the supervisors at our local community cable station. He is entirely too modest about his own gifts in creating such a compelling short documentary.



Dear Friend:

"Austin's Movie" won another national video and film award from the "Telly Awards" - 2009 30th Annual Telly Awards - Bronze (Finalist) TV Documentary.

The "Telly Award" is one of the most exclusive awards most known as an award for TV commercials, but it is also for non-broadcast/broadcast TV programs. It is not easy to win this award; in fact, my previous production, "Haley and Madonna," which won an EMMY, did not win it. So it is quite an honor to be awarded.

The Telly Awards' website is http://www.tellyawards.com/ (The winners for the 2009 awards are not yet listed.) And there's an article about the Telly Awards on the Wikipedia site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telly_Awards

I was lucky enough to produce "Austin's Movie," which has been very well received and won the "Accolade" and "Telly." I really appreciate the fact that CTN, the public access TV station, gave me this opportunity to produce this movie, and that WFUM Flint broadcast it. Without them, it wouldn't have reached this much accomplishment. However, this acknowledgment really comes from Austin and his family, who touched so many people's hearts. I was just a lucky guy who made this movie about him and his family, and this project made me a better person than I used to be. Thank you.

Tim

Fundraising Ideas from National and Local Groups

I've been going through the old LDA (national) Statelines, trying to find all the items that I missed and would have liked to have seen shared on this blog. Here's a good one for all presidents, executive directors and membership chairs.--KK

Source: www.istockphoto.com

Letter written October 15, 2008:
Dear Affiliate Leaders,

I hope by now you have had the opportunity to view the recent materials sent to you from the Membership Committee for your use. The Membership Committee has been very active and attempting to provide you with usable materials in our efforts to increase our membership base. I wanted to share with you that at a recent LDA of Illinois board meeting, we tried one of the suggested activities. Our state board members were notified ahead of time to bring names and addresses of friends, colleagues, and relatives with them to the board meeting. At the meeting we filled out the letters and addressed envelopes and the membership invitations were then mailed out from the state office. A few days later my principal walked into my room and indicated she had received my letter and membership information. She said the membership fee was very reasonable and she was joining. That night my mother called and said she was joining also. It had never crossed my mind to ask either one of them! I was very encouraged that this small effort on my part resulted in two new memberships. I encourage all of you to review the membership materials and put them to use. Contact your state president and have membership items put on the agenda for your next state board meeting. Only through our active efforts will our membership increase. Please feel free to call or email Sharon Tanner or myself for any further information or clarification. Thank you for all your hard work and efforts on behalf of LDA!

Sincerely,
Ernie Florence
Membership Chair

Our county chapter does this with fund-raising. We have a database of all the past contributors to the chapter, and print address labels for our annual appeal. We print out an appeal letter with a tear-off at the bottom of the appeal letter. Return envelopes are pre-addressed with our treasurer's address label. Each board member gets a stack of envelopes and selects the labels for people whom they know. They write a short personal note at the bottom of the appeal letter, stick the address label on the envelope, and fold the letter, and return envelope into the mailing envelope. We have one board member who seals the envelopes and stamps them. Finally one member takes the batch to the post office, pre-sorted and bundled.

Source: artofmakingmoney.info

This chapter has a pretty good return on their letters. Some contributors designate their gifts to a reading tutoring scholarship in the name of a founding member. Others designate their gifts to a community college fund we set up in the name of another founding member. The remaining money goes into a general fund for other projects of the chapter. It's a lot of fun for us, because we get together for the mailing and a potluck, and it's a good return on our investment of time, postage and printing costs.

Kathleen

Other Ways of Staying Connected

Byron and I were chatting at the meeting on Saturday about using a wikispace for our board as another way to stay connected with our strategic planning efforts. I would be willing to set this up if that is amenable to everyone else....

odiogo

We frequently talk about finding ways to make text more accessible to our members. I know that we have odiogo on this site. How does this work and where can we find more information? Would this be something to add to our website somehow and post our newsletter or parts of it to address this possible need?