Week 5 Blog

1- Do prisons use third grade reading scores to predict how many prison beds they'll need?

http://readingpartners.org/blog/do-prisons-use-third-grade-reading-scores-to-predict-the-number-of-prison-beds-theyll-need/

In a district that has more than 75% of it's students that qualify for Free and Reduced lunches there is always a concern that as a district leader you're not doing enough for your kids. I've tasked our district leaders to ensure that every 1st grade student will leave that grade level reading. If not, we want to know every student that does not meet that goal and set them up with the appropriate intervention.

The article basically states there is no scientific research that supports that this is how prisons determine where they are built or how big the prison shall be. There is a scary coincidence that 70 % of prisoners read below grade level and 40-50% were high school dropouts.

I do feel that districts should keep this thought in mind regarding the importance of early literacy and how, if done correctly can significantly reduce the drop out rates and save districts millions in intervention programs that are being used at the intermediate elementary and secondary levels.

2- Linked Learning underway in 26 pathways

http://sdedsynergy.org/category/news/

https://gallery.mailchimp.com/2a7e3239a29e7c616c6c0c2b5/files/LLSD_Pathways_2014_2015_10_20_2014_01.pdf

Although this isn't an article what the Energy Synergy Alliance represents is a non profit organization that focuses on Career Technical Education through a process called Linked Learning (http://linkedlearning.org/about/). It's focus on rigorous academics, real world job applications and career based learning. With schools across the country focusing in on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) it's important to note that Career technical education is a major focus area of the CCSS.