In the News

The National Academy of Sciences recently released an updated national vision for K-12 science education learning goals. The latest version, made public April 9, was developed by a national team with input from thousands of teachers, scientists and other stakeholders, including Philip Bell, director of the University of Washington's Institute for Science and Math Education and the College of Education, and Andrew Shouse, associate director of the institute.

Professor Gail Joseph (David B. Thorud Leadership Award) and undergraduate education major Andrew Vo (President’s Medal) were recently honored for their impact at the University of Washington.
 

The work of Dr. Marge Plecki, Dr. Ana Elfers and graduate research assistant Yugo Nakamura will appear in the November 2012 issue of the Journal of Teacher Education. Their article is entitled Using Evidence for Teacher Education Program Improvement and Accountability: An Illustrative Case of the Role of Value-Added Measures.

The authors consider what can be learned from limited forms of evidence for purposes of accountability and improvement of teacher education programs.  The work includes a review of the existing literature and an illustration of what can be learned from value-added measures as one form of evidence.  The authors discuss the need to shift the focus of accountability from simply responding to external requirements to developing internal practices that generate knowledge for improvement. 

Gift funded by the Bezos Family Foundation, longtime supporters of early education, will support a new professorship and research into high-quality early learning.

Colorado state Sen. Mike Johnston, D-Denver, is proposing legislation to overhaul Colorado’s nearly 20-year-old school funding system that will include a “trigger” so it won’t go into effect unless voters are willing to fund it. This decision comes on the heels of a report from the School Finance Partnership, which includes Marguerite Roza. Roza advocates the use of funding as incentive to spur improvement.  

Two books by College of Education faculty — “Experience Inquiry: 5 Powerful Strategies, 50 Practical Experiences” by Kimberly Mitchell and “Leading for Professional Learning: What Successful Principals do to Support Teaching Practice” by Anneke Markholt, Joanna Michelson and Stephen Fink — are featured.

The College of Education is a partner in the recently-opened Othello-UW Commons, highlighted in a story about new ways that universities are partnering with their communities.

Robert Abbott, emeritus professor of education, is co-author of a new study showing that people who reported better health and socioeconomic status were those whose parents and teachers had received lessons aimed at building stronger bonds with their children decades ago.