Nation's high school graduation rate ticks up for second year in a row
The Washington Post
According to federal data released in early February, the U.S. high school graduation rate increased for a second consecutive year. The new data, highlighted in this Washington Post article, indicates that 81 percent of the class of 2013 graduated within four years, up two percentage points from 2011 figures. States began collecting data in a uniform way in 2010.
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Girls edging out boys in STEM course-taking, but not test performance
Education Week
According to 2009 data just released from the National Center for Education Statistics, girls were more likely than boys to have earned credits in advanced science and math by 12th grade. However, this Education Week article highlights results from the National Assessment of Education Progress, which show that girls continue to underperform on assessments in STEM-related technical courses.
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How elementary school teachers' biases can discourage girls from math and science
The New York Times
A study from the National Bureau of Economic Research shows that elementary teachers' unconscious bias toward boys in math and science courses have long-standing impacts on achievement, enrollment in advanced-level high school math and science courses, and eventually occupational choices and earnings for girls, as this article from The New York Times notes.
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Upcoming conference presentations
McREL will present sessions or exhibit at the following conferences in February and March 2015:
American Association of School Administrators National Conference on Education in San Diego, February 26-28. Visit the SearchSoft Solutions exhibit in booth #646 to pick up information on McREL's personnel evaluation systems.
National Science Teachers Association 2015 National Conference in Chicago, March 12-15. Visit us in booth #1284, and attend one of the many sessions led by McREL consultants. Register for our pre-conference, one-day professional development institute on March 11, "Designing Effective STEM Lessons Incorporating NGSS: What Does It Look Like?", with McREL STEM consulting director and former NSTA president, Anne Tweed.
ASCD Annual Conference and Exhibit Show in Houston, March 21-23.Visit us in booth #778, and attend one of the many sessions led by McREL consultants.Register for our pre-conference institute on March 20, "Classroom Instruction That Works with English Language Learners," led by Jane Hill.
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New on the McREL blog
 McREL consultant Laura Arndt explores the GreenSTEM movement, which fuses real-world connections intrinsic to STEM learning with the deeper concept of sustainability in her new blog post, "GreenSTEM: Inspiring and empowering learners to change the world."
McREL President and CEO Bryan Goodwin takes a look at when to use directive leadership versus empowering leadership in his Research Says column for ASCD's February 2015 Educational Leadership, "To Go Fast, Direct. To Go Far, Empower." The choice, he finds, depends on whether your school needs quick results or needs to "break through performance ceilings."
In her blog post, "Civil Discourse on the Common Core," McREL consultant Amitra Schwols explores the origins of vitriolic debate on Common Core, writing, "When we're talking with one another about the CCSS or assessments, we need to be careful that we're really talking about the same issues and not talking past each other in the heat of the moment. Without common definitions and understandings of what 'it' is we're debating, frustration levels on all sides will remain high."
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McREL's Summer of Learning 2015
We've added new workshops to our summer professional development program. Our early bird registration deadline is approaching! Register for your 2015 summer professional development by March 1, 2015, to receive a 10% discount. Held at our headquarters in Denver, Colorado, workshops and institutes combine insightful research with best practices for educators at all levels to help improve students' odds of success. You can also receive a 10% discount for group registration (for three or more people from the same district), which may be combined with the early bird registration discount.
Professional Development for Leaders
Institute: Balanced Leadership for District-Level Leaders
June 24-26, 2015
Learn more and register here.
Facilitator training: Classroom Instruction That Works
July 13-17, 2015
Learn more and register here.
Institute: Balanced Leadership for School-Level Leaders
July 20-25, 2015
Learn more and register here.
Helping All Students Achieve with a Multi-Tiered System of Supports
July 29-30, 2015
Learn more and register here.
Professional Development for Teachers
NEW! GreenSTEM: Inspiring and Empowering Learners to Change the World
June 11-12, 2015
Learn more and register here.
NEW! Designing Effective Science Instruction June 16-17, 2015
Learn more and register here.
The 12 Touchstones of Good Teaching
June 22-23, 2015
Learn more and register here.
Classroom Instruction That Works
July 13-15, 2015
Learn more and register here.
Classroom Instruction That Works with English Language Learners
July 27-28, 2015
Learn more and register here.
Using Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works
July 29-30, 2015
Learn more and register here.
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NEW: White paper on assessment from McREL & Measured Progress
Given today's environment of high-stakes testing and top-down accountability, there is growing concern that the way we teach and assess students is not enough to meet the "deeper learning" demands of the 21st century. This white paper, "Re-Balancing Assessment: Placing Formative Assessment at the Heart of Learning and Accountability," examines the current formula of summative assessments and external pressure and recommends replacing it with a new, more balanced formula centered on formative and performance assessments that are embedded in curriculum.
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McREL is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to improve education through applied research, professional development, and service to teachers and leaders at schools, districts, networks and agencies, and higher education institutions.
Having the right people at McREL is important to our mission. Our employees are passionate about the work they do, not only because they are helping enhance lives, but also because they are surrounded by diverse, enthusiastic, and innovative thinkers.
We are seeking qualified candidates for the following roles:
Executive Director of Research, Evaluation, and Expertise
Denver
Education Consulting Director
Melbourne, Australia
REL Director
Honolulu
Proposal Coordinator/Grant Writer
Denver
Follow our @McRELJobs Twitter feed and never miss an opportunity to join our staff.
Learn more about our work culture and employment listings at our Careers at McREL site.
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