What’s churning:
Thinking ahead to the holiday weekend, you probably missed The Condition of Education Report for 2012, released late last week by the National Center for Education Statistics.
Compiling comparable data from across the nation unavoidably means the report’s data is a little old – 2010 – but the study takes a long view that gives a good look at educational change over time. The data includes 49 indicators on virtually all aspects of education, from early childhood to postsecondary.
Some of the highlights of the last two decades include:
- Improving high school graduation rates, and an increase in the percent of high schoolers taking math and science classes
- Rising enrollments in charter schools and in distance learning
- Significant enrollment growth in the West and South
See this page on the center’s website for links to the full report, a news release and a summary, a video introduction and much more.
The head of Louisiana State University has been named chancellor of the Colorado State University System.
Mike Martin, 65 and LSU chancellor since 2008, will start his Colorado job in August. The system’s board of governors announced Martin’s selection late last week. He will receive $375,000 base salary, $75,000 in deferred compensation and option for up to $50,000 in incentive payments, according to a news release.
Martin, an economist, previously served as president of New Mexico State University and as a senior administrator at the universities of Florida and Minnesota.
Joe Blake, former head of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, was chancellor from 2009 until the end of last year. A major part of the chancellor’s role is being the external face of CSU, working with the legislature, business, potential donors and other outside groups. Blake was highly regarded for how he filled that role. The previous chancellor, Larry Penley, also was president of the Fort Collins campus. He resigned in 2008 amid controversy about administrative spending.
The CU-Boulder administration and student government spent a total of $278,797.52 on the effort to snuff out the annual 4/20 marijuana smoke-in on campus. Restricting the campus of students and staff, closing Norlin Quad and a heavy police presence were all part the strategy, which did keep the number of participating smokers way down.
CU spent $124,561.34, more than $87,000 for police officers and security guards. The bulk of the students spending went to staging a concert by hip-hop musician Wyclef Jean, intended to divert student attention. More information
What’s on tap:
TODAY
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is the featured speaker for the ACE Scholarships annual luncheon at Denver Hyatt Convention Center. Check EdNews later for coverage of his talk.
DPS will hold a Far Northeast Community meeting on the Montbello campus, 5000 Crown Blvd. The event starts with a light dinner at 5:30 p.m. Agenda items include discussion of possible school locations and new schools in the area.
The Poudre school board will hold a special 5:30 p.m. meeting to discuss the process for naming an interim superintendent. The session is in the board room at district headquarter, 2407 LaPorte Ave. in Fort Collins.
The Westminster schools have scheduled a community budget meeting for 6 p.m. in the lecture hall at Westminster High School. Read the budget proposal
WEDNESDAY
DPS will hold a Northwest Community meeting
at CEC Middle College of Denver, 2650 Eliot St., starting at 5:30 p.m.
THURSDAY
The Denver school board has a special meeting scheduled for noon at the district offices, 900 Grant St.
Good reads from elsewhere:
Reserves may balance budget: Like several Colorado school districts, St. Vrain Valley is leaning toward using reserves to balance its 202-13 budget, according to this story in the Longmont Times-Call.
Reverse transfers: More and more states are setting up systems to enable adults to combine past college credits to earn degrees InsideHigherEd.com reports in this story. The 2012 Colorado legislative session passed a law to make it easier for students to combine community college and four-year credits and qualify for associate degrees.
The EdNews’ Churn is a roundup of briefs, notes and meetings in the world of Colorado education, published during the summer as news warrants. To submit an item for consideration in this listing, please email us at EdNews@EdNewsColorado.org.