The National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching for the 21st Century released its report to the nation last week. Among the recommendations in "Before It's Too Late," the Commission urges us, as a nation, to...

• Offer comprehensive professional development for all math and science teachers (1.7 million) within 5 years, based on their needs. It must be planned and sustained, and it must provide teachers with leadership, resources, and time.
• Increase the supply of qualified science and math teachers to meet the demand, improve the quality of teacher preparation programs, and provide incentives to attract qualified candidates into teaching.
• Improve the working environment and make the teaching profession more attractive for K-12 math and science teachers.

The executive summary and full report, as well as commissioned papers and presentations from the commission's 5 meetings, are at http://ed.gov/americacounts/glenn/toc.html You are invited to participate in an online discussion about the report at http://www.ed.gov/teacherstalk

The national student loan default rate is at its lowest point ever -- 6.9% for FY 1998 -- and 2/3 less than it was at its 22.4% peak 8 years ago, President Clinton announced this week. At the same time, loan volume has tripled and the number of loans doubled during the same period. "The decline in defaults, increased collections, and savings from the direct student loan program have saved taxpayers $18 billion," Secretary Riley said. He credited a robust economy, strong Department management, tougher enforcement tools authorized by Congress, and stepped-up efforts by colleges, lenders, guaranty agencies, and other participants in the federal loan programs. The Secretary noted that the Administration's goal to make college education more affordable has included a number of incentives to lower the cost of student loans and help students prevent defaults.
http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/10-2000/100200.html
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/defaultmanagement/cdr.html
http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/WhiteHouse.html

In his weekly radio address on September 30, the President called on Congress to pass his school modernization plan, which includes $25 billion in school modernization bonds and a $1.3 billion initiative for urgent school renovation. He also urged Congress to invest in other education priorities, including smaller class sizes, more afterschool learning opportunities, accountability for fixing failing schools, and making sure there is a qualified teacher in every classroom.

Secretary Riley named 4 schools and 3 school districts as winners of the Department's National Awards Program for Model Professional Development last month. The program recognizes comprehensive efforts that improve teacher effectiveness and student achievement. These awardees and winners of past awards program can serve as models for schools and districts. http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/09-2000/0918.html

Secretary Riley announced last week 8 grants to improve teacher education programs, train teachers for high-need schools, and reduce teacher turnover. The grants support partnerships involving one or more college or university teacher preparation programs, the school of arts and sciences at the school, and a high-need school district. Grantees are expected to produce teachers with strong content knowledge in the subjects they teach, immerse student teachers in extensive clinical experiences, establish mentoring and support for beginning teachers, and integrate technology into the training program. http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/09-2000/0921a.html

The Department and the National Association of Elementary School Principals named 66 outstanding elementary and middle school principals National Distinguished Principals last month. "Today's principals face an endless list of challenges," Secretary Riley said. "Between the dual responsibilities of leading teachers in instruction and managing the school building and staff -- a principal's work is truly never done. As communities raise standards for student learning and schools struggle to find enough talented and qualified teachers, the principal's job becomes even more demanding." http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/09-2000/0921c.html

Carole Kennedy, the Department's Principal in Residence, invites principals and others to participate in a conversation about school leadership. Read what others say and share your own views on questions that include...

How do you define instructional leadership? What does it look like? What should the principalship look like in 10 years? How can we move it there? What is the greatest barrier to instructional leadership? What support is necessary for creating instructional leadership in every school?

November 13-17 has been designated as International Education Week. Secretary Riley has invited all ambassadors serving in the U.S. to visit a school or college, and the State Department is asking U.S. ambassadors abroad to visit educational institutions in their areas. "I strongly believe that the growth of democracy, economic prosperity, and social stability throughout the world is linked to the advance of international cooperation and education," he said. He noted that in 1997-1998, only 114,000 Americans studied at universities abroad -- and only half of that number for a semester or more. He said there should be more opportunities for students at all levels to learn about other countries and cultures and a greater emphasis on teaching children a second language in the early grades. He highlighted the dual-language model, in which children learn English and gain or retain literacy in a second language. http://exchanges.state.gov/iep/

Secretary Riley announced last month the America Connects Consortium, which will guide efforts to create, improve, and sustain community technology centers (CTCs). Under a one- year, $2 million contract, the Consortium will help CTCs use technologies to serve a range of clients, learn about "what works" from research, ensure that their resources are accessible to users with disabilities, develop organizational strategies to plan and evaluate their work, and more. CTCs offer a range of services, including workforce development and employment information, preschool and family programs, afterschool activities, and adult education.
http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/09-2000/0921.html
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OVAE/AdultEd/CTC/

Fifty-eight school districts in 30 states received awards to establish or expand elementary school counseling programs, Secretary Riley announced last month. The new initiative will help school districts hire and train elementary school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers; expand access to counselors; and help share innovative and successful strategies for providing elementary school counseling. http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/09-2000/0915.html

Parents and students can now review crime statistics for more than 600 U.S. colleges, universities, and career schools at a new Department website. Data for 6,000 additional postsecondary education institutions will be posted as they are received. The website is at http://ope.ed.gov/security It links to College Opportunities Online, which provides information about the types of programs and aid offered by postsecondary institutions, tuition, and more. http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool

Fewer students are being expelled for bringing firearms to school -- 3,523 students during the 1998- 99 school year, compared to 3,658 in the year before, Secretary Riley announced this week. This represents the third year that expulsions have decreased. The findings are published in the "Report of State Implementation of the Gun- Free Schools Act -- School Year 1998-99: Final Report 2000." The press release and report, which includes state-by-state data, are at
http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/10-2000/100300.html
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/SDFS/news.html

Last month the President announced a website that offers one-stop access to online federal resources. Visitors can browse or search a wealth of information -- from researching at the Library of Congress to tracking a NASA mission. Visitors can also conduct business online, such as applying for a student loan or tracking Social Security benefits. http://www.firstgov.gov

The fiscal year 2001 "grants forecast," posted last month on the web, tells about programs and competitions under which the Secretary has invited, or expects to invite, applications for new awards for FY 2001. The forecast is advisory only and not an official application notice. It will be updated monthly, starting in the first week of November 2000 (through the first week of May 2001). http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCFO/grants/forecast.html

"Educating the New Economy: What Customers Say About the School-to-Work" presents results from discussions with school- to-work (STW) customers, primarily at the state and local levels. The STW initiative has resulted in partnerships between 50,000 schools and 250,000 employers across the country working to provide educational opportunities for more than 2 million youth. http://www.publicforuminstitute.com/stw/

"College Quality and the Earnings of Recent College Graduates" examines the association between factors such as selectivity and other institutional characteristics, and the earnings of recent college graduates 5 years after graduation. http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2000043

Technology Leadership is in the spotlight this month at the Knowledge Loom. Research-based practices, research findings, and success stories about technology leadership are featured in this issue, sponsored by the Appalachia Educational Laboratory (AEL) and the LAB at Brown. You are invited to participate in online discussion with 4 technology experts and classroom practitioners who will post their positions and respond each week to a new question. http://knowledgeloom.org

ED Initiatives is made possible by many contributors, including Stephanie Babyak, Grace Brown, Terry Dozier, Lenore Garcia, Jane Glickman, Daniel Goldenberg, Sharon Horn, Marty Jacobs, Peter Kickbush, Melinda Kitchell Malico, Jerry Malitz, Mary Anne Mather, Loretta Riggans, Linda Rosen, Tracy Sisser, Bob Stonehill, Melinda Ulloa, Keith Stubbs, George Wagner, and others.

Have a comment or suggestion on ED Initiatives? Please send it to Kirk Winters in the Office of the Under Secretary at kirk.winters@ed.gov.