http://arlingtontx.com/site/index/ Arlington Chamber IT Blog en mtunnecliffe@arlingtontx.com Copyright 2010 2010-04-29T15:42:01-06:00 http://arlingtontx.com/site/arlington_isd_accepting_applications/ http://arlingtontx.com/site/arlington_isd_accepting_applications/#When:14:42:01Z The Arlington ISD Board of Trustees is accepting applications through Monday, May 3 for the Citizens Advisory Committee – Financial Futures Committee. Applications will be considered until all members have been appointed by the Board. Since its inception in 1992, the Financial Futures Committee (previously named the Citizens Budget Review Committee) has provided the AISD Board of Trustees (“Board”) with valuable input from the community through insight into the community’s expectations. The Board believes the function of the Financial Futures Committee (“FFC”) is vital to the Board, AISD administration, and taxpayers. The Citizens Advisory Committee (“CAC”) is currently fulfilling its charge from the Board, and its final report to the Board is scheduled for May 6, 2010, which is the proposed date for the Board to appoint the 2010-2011 FFC. The Board is considering extending the CAC’s service through the Board’s meeting on June 17, 2010 and revising the CAC’s charge to include the responsibilities that the Board would include in its charge to the 2010-2011 FFC. The CAC-FFC will be comprised of a maximum of 31 members to be appointed by the Board. Individuals currently serving on the CAC are asked to continue their service by applying for membership on the CAC-FFC. Employee representatives will be added to the CAC. All applications must be submitted on line with an initial deadline of May 3, 2010. The Board will continue to accept applications until all appointments have been made. The Board will appoint members to the CAC-FFC at its regularly scheduled meeting on May 6, 2010. The Board will also appoint the CAC-FFC Chairperson and Spokesperson. Individuals interested in serving on the CAC-FFC must apply on line. Please contact AISD Trustees , or with any questions you have regarding the CAC-FFC. Blogging 2010-04-29T14:42:01-06:00 http://arlingtontx.com/site/center_supports_stem_education/ http://arlingtontx.com/site/center_supports_stem_education/#When:13:11:09Z The Center for a Competitive Workforce is currently working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Institute for a Competitive Workforce to build awareness of the newly formed Business & Industry STEM Education Coalition. This Coalition is comprised of national industry professional societies, philanthropic and education organizations. The Coalition has three priority areas: Students: Bring proven project‐based, hands‐on STEM experiential student learning activities to a national scale and ensure that they are sustained and aligned with national goals for STEM education. Teachers: Recruit, train and retain effective teachers Employers: Identify early and nurture students with aptitudes for STEM and then attract students to and retain them in STEM career tracks, particularly students from groups that are underrepresented in the STEM workforce. Many coalition members have been involved in exceptional activities within the STEM community that we encourage all of you to consider. They include but are not limited to: National Lab Day (http://www.nationallabday.org/) National Lab Day is more than just a day. It's a nationwide initiative to build local communities of support that will foster ongoing collaborations among volunteers, students and educators. On May 12th, 2010 this collaboration will be celebrated with National Lab Day activities across the country. U.S. Science & Engineering Festival (http://www.usasciencefestival.org/) The Inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival will be the country’s first national science festival and will descend on the Washington, D.C. area in the Fall of 2010. The culmination of the Festival will be a two-day Expo (Oct. 23-24) in the nation’s capital that will give over 500 science & engineering organizations from all over the United States the opportunity to present themselves with a hands-on, fun science activity to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. The Common Core Standards Movement (http://www.corestandards.org/) Governors and state commissioners of education from 48 states, 2 territories and the District of Columbia committed to developing a common core of state standards in English-language arts and mathematics for grades K-12. This is a state-led effort coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Educate to Innovate (http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/educate-innovate) President Obama has launched an “Educate to Innovate” campaign to improve the participation and performance of America’s students in STEM. This campaign will include efforts not only from the Federal Government but also from leading companies, foundations, non-profits, and science and engineering societies to work with young people across America to excel in science and math. Change the Equation (no website yet) This organization was inspired by the Educate to Innovate Campaign. Five leading business and thought leaders (Sally Ride, Craig Barrett, Ursula Burns, Glen Britt, and Antonio Perez) are heading up an effort to increase private and philanthropic involvement in support of STEM teaching and learning. Thanks as always for your support and we hope that you will be engaged in some of the STEM activities. Blogging 2010-04-12T13:11:09-06:00 http://arlingtontx.com/site/new_school_standards_raise_the_education_bar/ http://arlingtontx.com/site/new_school_standards_raise_the_education_bar/#When:14:15:59Z Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy WASHINGTON - The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) today released the first official public draft of the K-12 standards as part of the Common Core State Standards Initiative, a process being led by Governors and state commissioners of education from 48 states, 2 territories and the District of Columbia (Texas and Alaska are not participating). These draft standards, developed together with teachers, school administrators and experts, seek to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare our children for college and the workforce. The NGA Center and CCSSO have received feedback from national organizations representing, but not limited to teachers, postsecondary education (including community colleges), civil rights groups, English language learners, and students with disabilities. The NGA Center and CCSSO encourage those interested in the standards to provide further feedback by Friday, April 2, 2010, at www.corestandards.org. “We are pleased to release the K-12 standards today and to begin reviewing comments from the public,” said Dane Linn, director of the NGA Center’s Education Division. “These standards build upon the goals articulated in the college- and career-readiness standards released last year and will ensure our students are prepared to compete and succeed in a global economy. We look forward to working with educators, leaders and state board members in the states as they consider adopting these standards that will guide their educational programs.” “The feedback and comments states and our additional stakeholders have provided us are solidifying these standards into the better standards our students need,” stated Gene Wilhoit, executive director of CCSSO. “We will continue to work diligently and tirelessly to ensure these standards are where they need to be, and today we are asking the public to help us do just that.” These standards define the knowledge and skills students should have within their K-12 education careers so that they will graduate high school able to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing academic college courses and in workforce training programs. The standards are: Aligned with college and work expectations; Clear, understandable and consistent; Include rigorous content and application of knowledge through high-order skills; Build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards; Informed by other top performing countries, so that all students are prepared to succeed in our global economy and society; and Evidence- and research-based. The draft K-12 standards are now available for public comment. For more information, visit www.corestandards.org. Blogging 2010-03-11T14:15:59-06:00 http://arlingtontx.com/site/president_obama_champions_education_at_the_us_chamber_of_commerce/ http://arlingtontx.com/site/president_obama_champions_education_at_the_us_chamber_of_commerce/#When:15:41:45Z On March 1, 2010, President Barack Obama was joined by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and General Colin Powell and his wife, Alma Powell at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to announce new efforts to help reduce dropout rates and prepare students for college and careers. America’s Promise Alliance has spearheaded a new initiative called GradNation - a 10-year campaign to rejuvenate the nation’s efforts to decrease calamitous dropout rates and ensure our children graduate with the skills they need to succeed in college and beyond. In his speech, President Obama challenged states to identify low-performing schools with graduation rates lower than 60% and to implement drastic measures to improve them. He suggested strategies such as, “transforming schools from top to bottom by bringing in a new principal, and training teachers to use more effective techniques in the classroom.” He also recognized that in certain cases, “closing a school for a time and reopening it under new management, or even shutting it down entirely and sending its students to a better school” could be the best way of addressing a chronically low-performing school. Watch the video of President Obama’s speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on the White House website. The transcript is available as well. Blogging 2010-03-08T15:41:45-06:00 http://arlingtontx.com/site/allan_crawford_selected_to_attend_us_chamber_business_leads_seminar_in_wash/ http://arlingtontx.com/site/allan_crawford_selected_to_attend_us_chamber_business_leads_seminar_in_wash/#When:15:28:19Z Allan Crawford, Director of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce’s Center for a Competitive Workforce, was selected by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for a Competitive Workforce to attend the Business LEADs Institute, a three-day seminar in Washington, DC on February 22-24, 2010.  Selected for his leadership in the community, Mr. Crawford will join 34 other business leaders from around the nation to learn how the business community can utilize its assets to drive positive transformation in communities across America in education and workforce training.  “Educating and training Americans for the jobs of the 21st century is essential to long-term economic growth in this country,” said Arthur J. Rothkopf, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “This program will allow the business community to play an active role in improving student success and the United State’s ability to compete globally.” The seminar, part of a $2.6 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is one of five Business LEADs Institutes which will develop and train a network of business leaders on education issues, network organization, and communications to empower them to be effective advocates for improving America’s education system. “Mr. Crawford has proven to be deeply committed to the success of his community and its citizens,” said Rothkopf.  “The Business LEADs program will provide leaders like Mr. Crawford with the knowledge and resources to help prepare the next generation of young people for a rapidly changing world.” The Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW) is the non profit, non partisan, 501(c)3 affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. ICW promotes the rigorous educational standards and effective job training systems needed to preserve the strength of America’s greatest economic resource, its workforce. The U.S. Chamber is the world’s largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region. Blogging 2010-01-15T15:28:19-06:00 http://arlingtontx.com/site/project_wish_receives_2009_transitional_workforce_award/ http://arlingtontx.com/site/project_wish_receives_2009_transitional_workforce_award/#When:22:23:48Z The Arlington Chamber of Commerce is a proud partner in Project WISH (Workforce Innovative Solutions to Homelessness).  At the 2009 Annual Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Conference, Project WISH received the Texas Transitional Workforce Award.  The award recognizes a private sector employer or employer consortium whose efforts and initiatives had a positive effect on transitional workers, resulting in benefits to employers, other workers, and the community. “Texas employers that use valuable services available from their local workforce development boards have a distinct advantage in the marketplace,” said TWC Commissioner Representing the Public Andres Alcantar. “I’d like to congratulate Project WISH and Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County for their contribution to their region and the state of Texas.” Over the past two years, more than 500 homeless individuals have entered full-time employment and more than 70 percent have been able to retain those jobs as a result of the efforts of the Project WISH Employer Consortium in the Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County area. This group of 20 employers has held job fairs, organized job clubs, and offered job readiness counseling and assistance to more than 1,632 homeless individuals who participated in Project WISH programs. Job fair participants were required to attend a pre-job fair readiness workshop and were given certificates for free interview-appropriate clothing provided by the First Street United Methodist Mission. Project WISH employers set aside certain positions or gave interview preference for program participants. Project WISH provides seven workshops each week at seven different locations to a variety of homeless populations, providing employment services to some of the most challenging job placement candidates. For more information on Project WISH, and other programs offered by Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County in partnership with the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, please visit their their website at www.workforcesolutions.net Blogging 2009-12-09T22:23:48-06:00 http://arlingtontx.com/site/us_chamber_icw_releases_leaders_and_laggards_report_card/ http://arlingtontx.com/site/us_chamber_icw_releases_leaders_and_laggards_report_card/#When:19:01:58Z On Monday, November 9th, the U.S. Chamber's Institute for a Competitive Workforce, the Center for American Progress, and Frederick M. Hess with the American Enterprise Institute released, Leaders and Laggards: A State-by-State Report Card on Educational Innovation. In this new report, they examine how states are creating the systems and opportunities necessary for educators and reformers to deliver schooling equal to the 21st century's challenges and demands. For the purposes of this report, they define innovation as leveraging new tools, talent, and management strategies to craft smart solutions. They evaluated all 50 states and Washington, D.C., in eight areas: School Management (including the strength of charter school laws) Finance (including state financial data accessibility) Staffing: Hiring & Evaluation (including alternative certification for teachers) Staffing: Removing Ineffective Teachers (including the percentage of principals who report barriers to the removal of poor-performing teachers) Data (including such measures as state-collected college student remediation data) Technology (including students per Internet-connected computer) Pipeline to Postsecondary (including the percentage of schools reporting dual-enrollment programs) State Reform Environment (an ungraded category that includes data on the presence of reform groups and participation in international assessments) For more information, please visit the interactive website that accompanies the report at www.uschamber.com/reportcard. Also provided is a list of Frequently Asked Questions and a Detailed Methodology. Blogging 2009-11-23T19:01:58-06:00 http://arlingtontx.com/site/new_facts_from_the_center_for_a_competitive_workforce/ http://arlingtontx.com/site/new_facts_from_the_center_for_a_competitive_workforce/#When:20:57:52Z Did you Know...America’s workforce is facing a current and growing crisis? 90% of the fastest growing jobs will require some form of postsecondary education.  Business is spending billions each year to train new employees and remediate the educational skill gaps of those already in the workforce. The American workforce is aging - 78 million baby boomers are set to retire over the next several decades. The current lack of U.S.-trained scientists and engineers is a direct threat to the leadership of U.S. innovation. Want to do more to support America’s Workforce?  Be a part of creating results through the Arlington Chamber’s Center for a Competitive Workforce.  Contact for more information. Blogging 2009-11-11T20:57:52-06:00 http://arlingtontx.com/site/voters_approve_2009_arlington_isd_bond_package/ http://arlingtontx.com/site/voters_approve_2009_arlington_isd_bond_package/#When:19:13:39Z Voters approved the $197.5 million bond election earlier today. Proceeds of the bond issue will be used by the AISD to purchase buses, fine arts instruments and uniforms, and technology hardware; to construct one new elementary in east Arlington and classroom additions at two east Arlington elementaries and Lamar High School; and to expand the cafeteria at Arlington High School. Bond proceeds will also be used for safety and security upgrades and facilities upgrades throughout the district. Click here for more information. Blogging 2009-11-04T19:13:39-06:00 http://arlingtontx.com/site/secretary_locke_announces_office_of_innovation_and_entrepreneurship/ http://arlingtontx.com/site/secretary_locke_announces_office_of_innovation_and_entrepreneurship/#When:12:36:48Z U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced today his plans to create a new Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship within the Department of Commerce and launch a National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Both substantial new initiatives will help leverage the entire federal government on behalf of promoting entrepreneurship in America. The new office is expected to announce additional initiatives in the coming months. “We're not lacking for groundbreaking ideas in this country; nor are we short on smart entrepreneurs willing to take risks,” Locke said at the Inc. 500/5000 Conference today. “What we need to do is get better at connecting the great ideas to the great company builders. And I think The Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a big step in the right direction.” - Secretary Locke The mission of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship is to unleash and maximize the economic potential of new ideas by removing barriers to entrepreneurship and the development of high-growth and innovation-based businesses. The office will report directly to Locke and focus specifically on identifying issues and programs most important to entrepreneurs. Working closely with the White House and other federal agencies, this new office will drive policies that help entrepreneurs translate new ideas, products and services into economic growth. The office will focus on the following areas: Encouraging Entrepreneurs through Education, Training, and Mentoring Improving Access to Capital Accelerating Technology Commercialization of Federal R&D Strengthening Interagency Collaboration and Coordination Providing Data, Research, and Technical Resources for Entrepreneurs Exploring Policy Incentives to Support Entrepreneurs and Investors For more information, please visit the Department of Commerce's website at www.commerce.gov Blogging 2009-10-29T12:36:48-06:00