Cast Your Vote to Help Georgia's Tyrone Elementary Win $10,000 in National Competition

Connie Redd in the car line spreading the word about Progresso Soup joining the Box Tops for Education Program. 

“SOUPer” news for Tyrone Elementary; the school has been selected as one of 10 finalists nationwide in the Progresso Soup Box Tops for Education Contest.

The school entered the competition last month by submitting a photo and short description of how they would creatively spread the word about Progresso Soup joining the Box Tops for Education program. Parent Connie Redd, the school’s campaign leader, wore a “Box Tops for Education” label and carried an oversized Progresso Soup can while parading through the school’s car line. She says she made sure everyone in their cars knew that the soups now have the box tops and each are worth a dime.

Her campaign and the photo of Redd wearing the costume landed the school in the finals for the competition. Now, it is up to voters to select the grand prize winning school that will receive 100,000 box tops worth approximately $10,000. If Tyrone wins, the funds will be used to repair playground equipment, purchase technology programs and instructional supplies.

Here’s how you can help Tyrone Elementary get the most votes and win the $10,000 grand prize. Log on to www.boxtops4education.com and click on the “Box Top” link at the top of the page. Enter the school’s zip code (30290) and select Tyrone Elementary from the dropdown menu. Follow the directions for registering and return to the BTFE home page, click on the contest link, find the school’s photo, and vote. Persons can vote once daily through December 13. The winner will be notified on December 17.

The Box Tops for Education program gives schools 10 cents for every Box Tops logo they send back. So far this year, Tyrone Elementary has earned $1,520 by participating in the program.

Of course, the school would like to add $10,000 to its overall total, so don’t forget to vote daily and help Tyrone Elementary become the national winner in the Progresso Soup Box Tops for Education Contest.

Editor's Note:  Come on Georgia!  Let's all help Tyrone Elementary in Fayette County win this competition!

Photo Source:  Fayette County Board of Education


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Survey: Americans Demand Choice When Making Educational Investment Decisions

/PRNewswire/ -- A new study conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of the Career College Association (CCA) shows that the American people overwhelmingly believe that the government should not interfere with their educational investment choices. Specifically, 63% think that the decision of how much debt one can take out to pay for education should be left up to students, regardless of debt-to-earnings ratios.

In anticipation of new Department of Education "gainful employment" regulations obstructing students' access to federal aid, this poll demonstrates the need to pull the emergency brake and reevaluate the proposals.

"It's no surprise that aspiring students do not want the government meddling in their educational decisions. No one should ever be told that higher education is not attainable on the count of financial limitations. Federal regulators are attempting to mandate arbitrary and widespread rules limiting educational opportunities to thousands, and the public is having none of it," said Harris N. Miller, president of the Career College Association.

Additionally, at a time when a large majority (80 percent) wants to either increase or maintain current levels of Pell Grant funding, the federal government now may be cutting access to hundreds of thousands of potential students. These students simply want to make their own decisions where to attend school, and 76% of those polled agree that students who receive Pell Grants should have that freedom of choice.

Other findings in the poll include:
-- Only 26% of those who agree that debt should be tied to earnings
believe a debt-earnings ratio should be based on salary through the
first three years immediately following graduation; 74% said a
debt-earnings ratio should, at a minimum, encompass the first seven
years of earnings;
-- 74% of U.S. adults believe placement rate for an institution is an
important indicator of the quality of a higher education institution;
only 44% believe default rates on student loans are an important
quality indicator;
-- 87% said that the Pell Grant program should be funded to allow the
same number, or more, low income students to attend a college or
university;
-- 80% of those who agree that debt should be tied to earnings said that
if a debt-earnings ratio were to be established, such a ratio should
be applied to both career-focused and academic-focused fields and
programs.

Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted online within the United States between September 1-3, 2010 among 2,258 adults (aged 18 and over) by Harris Interactive on behalf of CCA via its Quick Query omnibus product. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. For complete survey methodology, click here.

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Sallie Mae Announces New Market-Leading Savings Account Interest Rates

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Whether you are saving money for college or other important goals, Sallie Mae now helps you achieve your goals with increased savings account interest rates among the highest nationwide. Saving for college is increasingly a priority for parents with 59 percent currently saving for college through a combination of savings, CDs and money market accounts according to national research from Sallie Mae and Gallup. Of these parents, 38 percent manually deposit funds when budget allows and 31 percent are habitual savers.

“The account was no trouble to open and the high rate combined with Upromise benefits will help us build our savings.”

“The Sallie Mae savings account earns more interest and helps our family save for college, for us it was a no brainer,” said Julie M., a mother of four from Cincinnati. “The account was no trouble to open and the high rate combined with Upromise benefits will help us build our savings.”

The High-Yield Savings Account by Sallie Mae is now offering a 1.4% Annual Percentage Yield (APY), among the best interest rates in the nation. There are no minimum balance requirements, no monthly fees, accounts are FDIC insured and starting an account takes just a few minutes online. Customers can save even more with a 10 percent annual match of their Upromise rewards earnings. Sallie Mae’s Upromise rewards program is free, and members earn rewards through everyday spending at online retailers, restaurants, gas stations and grocery stores.

High-Yield Savings Accounts are just one of the ways you can save with Sallie Mae. The company also offers Certificates of Deposit accounts and college savings plans. Certificate of Deposit accounts have no minimum balance, no monthly fees and terms of 12 months at an increased rate of 1.55% APY, 36 months increased to 2.40% APY or 60 months at 3.0% APY. Tax-advantaged 529 savings plans are available from Sallie Mae’s Upromise Investments. The High-Yield Savings Account and Certificates of Deposit by Sallie Mae are products of Sallie Mae Bank, member FDIC.

Sallie Mae recommends students follow a “1-2-3 approach” to paying for college: first, use free money by filling out the FAFSA to access need-based grants and research and apply for scholarships, supplemented with current income and savings, such as the High-Yield Savings Account, Certificates of Deposit and 529 plans by Sallie Mae. Second, explore federal loans. Third, fill any gap by using a pay-interest-as-you-go private education loan. For example, Sallie Mae’s Smart Option Student Loan helps reduce the total finance charges paid over the life of the loan and helps you pay off sooner.

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Georgia Charter Schools Commission Ruled Constitutional

/PRNewswire/ -- Arguments advocated by McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP (MLA) were supported in a quick decision May 7 by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Wendy L. Shoob, who ruled from the bench that the law creating the Georgia Charter Schools Commission is constitutional.

Judge Shoob ruled that, contrary to the claims of seven school districts, the state of Georgia has the authority to approve charter schools and, consistent with the Georgia Constitution, commission charter schools are allocated only state and federal funds, not local school tax or bonded indebtedness revenue. The plaintiff school districts were Bulloch, Candler, Coweta, DeKalb, Griffin-Spalding and Henry counties, and the City of Atlanta.

The districts had sued the Georgia Charter Schools Commission, the Georgia Department of Education, the Georgia Board of Education, and three schools that had been approved by the commission: Ivy Preparatory Charter Academy in Norcross, the Charter Conservatory for Liberal Arts and Technology in Statesboro and Heron Bay, which will open in fall 2011 in Henry County.

The suit alleged that the commission was an independent school system in violation of the state constitution. Shoob ruled that the commission charter schools were created pursuant to a special schools provision in the constitution. She said commission charter schools are not required to be under the control of a local school district, and that the funding of the schools is constitutional.

Judge Shoob ruled that, contrary to the districts' claim, the law that created the commission, HB881, was constitutional.

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Middle school students get a feel for the brain

On a sunny spring day at Zoo Atlanta, 13-year-old Tamecia Burson literally got hands-on with the human brain.

With the encouragement of Michael Black, a post-doctoral researcher in GSU’s Neuroscience Institute, the seventh grader cautiously reached out to touch the brain’s gyri and sulci, or folds and grooves, before she quickly pulled away.

“I really don’t like touching stuff like that,” she said, “but I’m glad I did it anyway.”

Burson was one of 180 students of Decatur’s Renfroe Middle School who took part in the April 30 Brain Expo, sponsored by the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience.

The center, headquartered at Georgia State, is a consortium of seven Atlanta-area universities, dedicated to furthering research into neuroscience, as well as educating students from elementary school through college about a field that explores the mysteries of the mind. The expo has been produced since 2003.

“My students get an opportunity to experience firsthand the things we we’ve talked about in class,” said Susan Brooks, a seventh-grade science teacher at Renfroe whose class attended the event. “The expo is wonderful because I don’t always have the resources to put on an activity like that.”

Students made their way around teaching exhibits, ranging from the opportunity to touch a human brain, to learning about the phantom limb phenomenon — where the brain can still feel a limb even though it might be amputated. They also learned about sleep, memory, and the effects of alcohol on the brain by trying to dunk a basketball through a hoop while wearing visual distortion goggles.

“I really liked the optical illusion [station] and the ‘too drunk to dunk’ one,” said Mirina Garoufalidis, 12. “The opportunity to touch the brain was interesting, and I also liked learning about sleep.”

The expo was also more than an opportunity for middle school students to learn. Undergraduate and graduate students, as well as high school students from Central Gwinnett High School all took responsibility to operate and create the exhibits, learning more about teaching through the process.

Teaching, as the students of GSU’s Biology 4916/6916 course learned through preparation for the expo, is no small task.

For starters, after you’ve learned so much about neuroscience at advanced levels, figuring out how to explain concepts in a simple fashion and to make them accessible to 12 and 13-year-olds isn’t easy.

“It’s hard to explain these concepts to middle school students, and it takes a lot of effort to create exhibits that will help them understand,” said Mahin Shahbazi, a doctoral student at GSU.

In the end, though, all of that hard work pays off when you’ve sparked a student’s interest in science.

“Not only are we helping to develop new knowledge among both populations of students, the visiting middle schoolers and the university students, but we’re also generating a new enthusiasm for science,” said Kyle Frantz, associate professor of neuroscience and Director of the Expo.

The experiences learned through the process will help Ashley Belflower, a graduating senior at Georgia State, pursue her dream of teaching elementary school pupils. She designed and worked a station that demonstrated the importance of learning and physical activity in order to keep the brain active and its connections alive — something that’s important throughout the lifespan.

“The students have to figure out solutions to problems we present, learning which brain parts might be most active during the process,” she said. “I hope that they would like to pursue neuroscience one day, and I hope that they learn that science is important. I want them to realize that it’s fun, not something that’s boring.”

The Center for Behavioral Neuroscience includes Georgia State, Emory University, Georgia Tech, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, the Morehouse School of Medicine and Spelman College.

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GaDOE and GPB Partnership Wins National Award

The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), in partnership with Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB), received a My Source Education Innovation Award recently from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes the use of pioneering methods and emerging digital technologies to serve the educational needs of communities. The $3,000 grant award was presented to State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox and GPB President Teya Ryan at the Council of Chief State School Officers/Public Media Executive Summit.

The GaDOE and GPB received the award for incorporating digital media to illustrate learning objectives for Project ExPreSS (Exam Preparation for Science and Social Studies). The ExPreSS program was offered last summer throughout the state to any high school students that were interested in receiving remediation for the science and social studies sections of the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT). Students in the program had an overall retest pass rate of 68 percent; more than double the previous year’s pass rate on GHSGT retests in science and social studies.

“The partnership we have with GPB truly helped make Project ExPreSS a tremendous success,” said Superintendent Cox. “The digital resources they provided us helped bring the performance standards to life for all of the students and teachers involved in the program.”

“Project ExPreSS is a great example of how GPB is using its resources to help improve student achievement in Georgia,” said Ryan. “We’re proud to partner with the GaDOE and look forward to finding more ways to enrich the classroom learning environment through the development of high-quality digital resources.”

The success with the summer ExPreSS program showed that there was a greater need to offer it again and make an online version available to reach even more students.

FreeOnline ExPreSS creates an online opportunity designed to help students prepare for the science and social studies GHSGT. Science and social studies are the two sections of the GHSGT that Georgia students fail most often. The program offers self-paced units based on the instructional plans created for the summer Project ExPreSS.

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Piedmont Financial, LLC, MassMutual Announce Scholarship Program For Local Multicultural College Students

/PRNewswire/ -- Local multicultural college students from the metro area of Atlanta will have a chance to win scholarships and internship opportunities in the financial services field as part of a newly-expanded scholarship program sponsored by Piedmont Financial, LLC, a general agency of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual).

Students of African-American/Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, or Hispanic descent who reside in the state of Georgia can apply for one of three $5,000 college scholarships. Applicants must meet certain academic criteria, such as having concentrations in the fields of business, economics, finance, financial planning, management, marketing or sales.

Nationally, MassMutual is making $135,000 in scholarships available in nine metropolitan areas as part of the program.

"We've always been committed to attracting talented professionals to the field of financial services, and in particular to supporting people of diverse backgrounds, both as agents and as clients," said William Brill, General Agent of Piedmont Financial. "These scholarships and internship opportunities will, ultimately, help us better serve Georgia's increasingly diverse community."

This marks the second consecutive year that MassMutual Piedmont Financial has participated in the scholarship program with MassMutual. This year, MassMutual is expanding the scholarship program, which began in 2009 with four metropolitan areas, to nine.

"Our scholarship program is a very important part of our commitment to diversity and education, and because of it and our other efforts, we're already making a big difference in the lives of the communities we serve," said Nick Fyntrilakis, assistant vice president of Community Responsibility for MassMutual.

The scholarship program's application deadline is May 30, and winners will be notified in late summer.

To be eligible, applicants must:
-- Be of African American/Black, Asian/Pacific Islander or Hispanic
decent.
-- Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident with a permanent
resident card or passport stamped I-551 (not expired).
-- Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0
scale.
-- Have plans to attend FULL-TIME, a degree-seeking program at a U.S.
accredited institution in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
or Guam during the 2010-2011 academic year.
-- Be entering their sophomore, junior, senior or 5th year senior year at
a four-year university or be a community college student.
-- Reside or plan to attend an institution in one of the following
metropolitan areas: Atlanta, GA; Denver, CO; Houston, TX; Los Angeles,
CA; San Francisco, CA; Central New Jersey; Chicago, IL; Miami, FL; or
San Antonio, TX.
-- Be majoring in business, economics, finance, financial planning,
management, marketing or sales.
-- Demonstrate leadership and extra curricular activities.
-- Must apply for federal financial aid by completing the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)


For more information on how to apply or to obtain an application, visit www.hsf.net/massmutual.aspx.

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Seeking Nominations for Nation's First Online K-12 Teacher of Year Award

/PRNewswire/ -- The International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) and the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) are seeking nominations for the first Online K-12 Teacher of the Year Award. The National Online Teacher of the Year Award is a new program that will recognize an outstanding online teacher for exceptional dedication and contributions to online K-12 education. A superintendent, principal, program director/manager, department chair, or any other supervisor of the teacher may nominate an online educator in any public school or state virtual school for the honor.

"Teachers are the real unsung heroes in online learning. Online teachers provide the gold standard in enabling 21st century models of student learning. Students spend more time online learning, writing, creating, playing, researching and working - and teachers are connecting and interacting with students in online courses to provide high-quality instruction, personalized learning and unprecedented access to world-class educational opportunities," said Susan Patrick, the President and CEO of iNACOL.

One top winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the Virtual School Symposium (VSS) hosted by iNACOL, November 14-16, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. VSS will bring together more than 1,600 participants from national, state, district, private and other virtual school programs to explore trends and best practices in e-learning. Considered the nation's leading event in online education, experts in K-12 virtual education have robust networking opportunities, learn about the latest trends, challenges and opportunities in e-learning; interact in session presentations; and gain access to the latest research and best practices reports. The winner will be recognized at the iNACOL Annual Meeting on November 14 in Glendale and will be featured on the SREB and iNACOL websites.

Nominations for the Award must be submitted to SREB by April 16, 2010. Forms and complete rules are online at http://www.inacol.org/events/awards.php.

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GREENGUARD Environmental Institute Awards $2,000 Grant to "Green" Start-Up Company Founded by Georgia Tech Students

/PRNewswire/ -- The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) is proud to award $2,000 in prize money to "Waste to Watts (W2W): Solution-Based Recycling," an Atlanta-based start-up company with a mission to end energy poverty in third-world countries and reduce environmentally hazardous electronic waste.

GEI awarded the prize as part of the 2010 Georgia Tech Business Plan Competition, which promotes entrepreneurship among Georgia Tech students and alumni by encouraging them to launch cutting-edge, high-value businesses. GEI has proudly sponsored the GREENGUARD Sustainability Award for the past three years.

"We are thrilled to support to the Waste to Watts team in their efforts to tackle this very important health and environmental crisis," said Dr. Marilyn Black, founder of GEI. "These talented young entrepreneurs are trailblazers in both the green space and the health space, and we wish them the best of luck as they continue developing their prototype technology."

Founded by two Georgia Tech seniors, a Duke University sophomore, and a Duke University alumnus, W2W aims to repurpose electronic waste--like computer equipment and discarded lead acid batteries--to create an inexpensive, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for developing nations. This is important because in developing nations, frequent power surges, daily blackouts, and other electricity failures damage the computers and medical equipment used in hospitals, which results in poor and unreliable health care. Moreover, dead lead acid batteries--which contain hazardous heavy metals--are often disposed of improperly and contribute significantly to environmental pollution.

"Through the generosity of the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute, we are able to recognize student entrepreneurs who apply creative engineering and business solutions to address critical environmental problems," said Alan Flury, director of BPC. "I can easily envision a day when every student venture competing in the BPC will be environmentally sustainable. When that occurs, it will be largely attributable to our partnership with the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute."

W2W's founders say they plan to use their prize money to help pay for a new Web site and the continued development of their prototype.

About GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI)

The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute is an industry-independent, third-party, not-for-profit organization that aims to improve human health through programs that reduce people's exposure to chemicals and other pollutants. The GREENGUARD Certification Programs certify products for low chemical emissions and provide consumers with a resource for choosing healthier products and materials for indoor environments. All certified products must meet stringent standards for low chemical emissions based on established criteria from key public health agencies. GREENGUARD Certification is broadly recognized and accepted by sustainable building programs and building codes worldwide. For more information and a complete listing of certified products, visit www.greenguard.org.

About Georgia Tech Business Plan Competition (BPC)

The Georgia Tech BPC strives to create an integrated learning experience that promotes academic excellence in the development of entrepreneurial concepts and business plans; to encourage the founding of high-value, leading-edge enterprises and support student teams who choose to move forward with the startup of their businesses; and to inspire students to consider entrepreneurship as a career choice. Since its inception in 2001, BPC has awarded over $500,000 in prizes to over 550 students and alumni. Participants compete to win best business plan, most fundable business plan, most innovative intellectual property, and most environmentally sustainable business plan, among others. Panels of topical experts and entrepreneurs participate as judges and determine the winner in each category. For more information, visit http://mgt.gatech.edu/.

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Georgia Superintendent: Schools Need New Carpet Maintenance Program

/PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to improve the cleanliness of local school districts and stretch public funds, Georgia Schools Superintendent Kathy Cox has recommended implementing the Carpet and Rug Institute's Seal of Approval testing program for carpet cleaning products.

The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), the trade association that represents carpet manufacturers, launched the independent Seal of Approval (SOA) testing and certification program in 2004 as a way to identify the most effective carpet cleaning products.

The SOA program certifies effective and environmentally responsible carpet cleaning solutions, vacuums, extractors, and cleaning systems. Consumer and commercial products are independently tested and lists of qualifying products are posted on the CRI Web site, carpet-rug.org. In addition, carpet cleaning professionals certified as Seal of Approval Service Providers are listed on the Web site by zip code and geographic area.

In a letter to Georgia's 190 district superintendents, Ms. Cox noted that the Carpet and Rug Institute's Seal of Approval testing and certification program could help districts maximize cleaning and maintenance budgets by guiding them to the most effective products. This, in turn, would save money by reducing labor costs and extending the useful life of carpet.

"In an era when school budgets are especially tight, it is my sense that using CRI Seal of Approval-certified products and equipment will save school districts money," Cox said. "CRI does not make, distribute or sell any of these products; it simply tests for performance to assure that the best products are being used to maintain carpet," she added.

Dalton Public Schools, located in the northwest corner of the state, has put in place the Seal of Approval program. At one time, carpets were maintained by school personnel. But as the school system grew, the district hired a local Seal of Approval-certified Service Provider and invested in SOA-approved vacuums. Onsite "spotting teams" respond to spills and stains immediately, using SOA-approved spot cleaning solutions. "Clean, safe schools enhance teaching and learning," says Belinda Parrish, the Dalton Public Schools maintenance chief. "A clean environment is as important to a student's success as a good breakfast."

For more information about the SOA program or carpet maintenance plans for schools, visit www.carpet-rug.org.

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Georgia a Leader in College - and Career - Readiness

Georgia is one of just three states in the nation to have adopted four or more college- and career-ready policies necessary to adequately prepare students for college and 21st century jobs, according to a national report released earlier this week. Achieve, Inc., a bipartisan, nonprofit organization created by governors and business leaders, released the fifth annual “Closing the Expectations Gap” report that shows Georgia is in a select group of states having almost all of the recommended college- and career-ready policies.

"Since 2003 we have said that all Georgia students should receive a quality education that prepares them to succeed in postsecondary education and 21st century careers," said State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. "Our students are competing with students from all over the world so we must continue to have rigorous requirements that give them the best chance of being successful when they leave high school."

“It is imperative that Georgia students are prepared to compete not only nationally, but internationally,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “The work we have done in raising standards and improving data and accountability is helping us deliver a world-class education to our students.”

The “Closing the Expectations Gap” report has been conducted annually by Achieve since 2005 when it launched the American Diploma Project (ADP) Network to challenge states to work together on a college- and career-readiness agenda. Georgia has been an ADP member since 2005. The 50-state survey measures the same five areas of reform each year, as listed below, and reveals the current status of each state:

• Standards: Align high school standards with the expectations of college and careers. Georgia is one of 31 states that have developed and adopted high school academic standards in English and mathematics that are aligned with college- and career-ready expectations.
• Graduation Requirements: Align high school graduation requirements with college- and career-ready expectations. Georgia is one of 20 states and the District of Columbia that require all students to complete a college- and career-ready curriculum to earn a high school diploma.
• P–20 Data Systems: Develop P–20 longitudinal data systems that link states’ student-level K–12 data with similar data from their postsecondary systems. Georgia is one of 16 states matching data annually.
• Assessments: Develop college- and career-ready high school assessments. Georgia is one of 14 states to have these kind of exams.
• Accountability: Develop a comprehensive reporting and accountability system that promotes college and career readiness. Georgia is one of 22 states that have now incorporated at least one of four accountability indicators that Achieve has identified as critical to promoting college and career readiness.

Through the Alliance of Education Agency Heads, all seven of the state's education agencies, the Governor's Office, Governor's Office of Workforce Development, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce have been working collaboratively on aligning policies and initiatives that prepare all students in Georgia for 21st century careers and college. The number one goal of the Alliance is to increase the high school graduation rate, decrease high school drop-out rate, and increase post-secondary enrollment rate.

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Ashworth College Launches Early Childhood Education Bachelor's Degree Program

/PRNewswire/ -- Ashworth College announced today the addition of a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education to its roster of online degree programs. The new bachelor's curriculum is nationally accredited and designed to provide students with in-depth instruction in the principles and procedures of supervising and educating children from newborn to age eight.

With 64% of U.S. mothers with children between the ages of 1 and 6 years working outside the home, it's not surprising to see a renewed emphasis on kindergarten and first-grade readiness. As a result, employment in child care is expected to grow by 38% over the next decade, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

"For those interested in becoming a public or private elementary school teacher, a bachelor's degree is typically a prerequisite," stated Dr. Milton Miller, Vice President of Education at Ashworth College. "And with increased employment opportunities in non-traditional teaching roles, including pre-school, special education, after-school programs, tutoring services, youth recreation programs and camps, we believe the time is right to introduce this new bachelor's degree program."

The program will cater to undergraduate students with little or no previous college credits as well as those with an associate degree and planning to take their education and career to the next level. Ashworth also offers an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education.

In addition to laying the foundation for a broad base of knowledge through general education courses, Ashworth's eight semester distance education program offers specialty courses such as child development, early childhood literacy, curriculum development, cultural diversity, and exceptional children. Each focuses on preparing students for careers in the field of early childhood education.

"With an Ashworth College Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education, students will graduate with skills that can be immediately applied in an early childhood environment," said Deepa Chadha, Degree Program Director at Ashworth. "Ashworth's instructors are experienced, working professionals who give our students the added benefit of practical, real-world knowledge."

Ashworth's Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education program is comprised of forty comprehensive courses which include learning objectives, lecture notes, review questions, multiple-choice exams and written assignments. Courses include:

Achieving Academic Excellence
Art & Creative Development
Child Development
Children's Literature
Creating Learning Environments
Creative Expression & Play
Cultural Diversity
Curriculum Development
Early Childhood Literacy
Early Childhood Math & Science
Exceptional Children
Guidance & Discipline
Health, Safety & Nutrition
Home, School & Community
Introduction to Early Childhood Education
Movement & Music


Because Ashworth is a distance education institution, students can start the program at any time, study at their own pace, and take exams online. The program is extremely conducive to the working professional's schedule.

"Like all of our degree programs, the Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education is self paced," commented Dr. Miller. "Many of our students work full-time jobs and have families. We want this to be as flexible as possible so that they can incorporate their studies into their work and family schedules. It helps that they can complete their online courses at home and not travel to a classroom."

About Ashworth College

Ashworth College, a leader in distance education, offers students worldwide more than 100 career-focused online high school and career diploma programs; undergraduate and graduate online certificate programs; and online Associate degree, Bachelor's degree and Master's degree programs that are affordable and fit the busy schedules of working adults. Ashworth also offers specialized programs to corporate partners, active duty military personnel, military spouses, and homeschoolers.

Headquartered in Norcross, GA, Ashworth is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Ashworth High School is further accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). For more information visit AshworthCollege.edu.

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NASA and Texas Instruments Use Human Spaceflight to Bring Math and Science Topics Into High School Classrooms

/PRNewswire/ -- NASA and Texas Instruments are using the theme of human space exploration to develop digital libraries of math and science problems for high school students. The goal is to bring real-world topics in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, into classrooms to spark students' excitement and interest in these critical career fields.

The collaboration will produce two digital libraries. One, called Exploring Space Through Math: Applications in High School Mathematics, will provide problems based on NASA data that are set in the context of space exploration. The project material will cover almost the entire high school math curriculum, with applications in Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and Pre-Calculus.

The other digital library, named Science at Work: Exploring Space with NASA-AP, will contain questions for Advanced Placement classes. This program seeks to develop and test problems in calculus, statistics, physics, chemistry and biology.

"As students solve real problems NASA faces in space exploration, they will practice during high school and college the skills necessary to pursue a career in a STEM field," said Charles Lloyd, NASA's lead for the effort and program manager for Human Research Program Education and Outreach at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "NASA and Texas Instruments are passionate about motivating the next generation's interest in science and math subjects and equipping these students to take us farther into space and improve our lives here on Earth."

The libraries of questions will use NASA applications and data while incorporating Texas Instruments' math learning technology. Each problem includes student and teacher editions to help the teacher link content to higher concepts.

"Our goal is to make STEM subjects more fun and interactive," said Werner Garciano, director of Professional Development for Texas Instruments' Education Technology. "Working with NASA is a great opportunity to bring exciting, real-world math experiences into the classroom. Our collaboration will expand the digital content and professional development that Texas Instruments provides teachers, and will help engage students more deeply in math. Together, we believe these activities will break through to students who have never considered a STEM career path."

Both projects will be available in the fall of 2010 on NASA's Web site. With this program, NASA continues its investment in engaging and retaining students in STEM disciplines critical to the agency's future engineering, scientific, and technical missions. For more information about NASA's education programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/education

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Obama's stimulus bill includes huge student aid investments

(ARA) - The Obama administration has set forth an extensive bill designed to get the economy out of the recession and moving again. This $70 billion bill has a large portion directed towards students and investing in their education.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. David Obey (D-Wisc.) said, "Our short-term task is to try to prevent the loss of millions of jobs and get our economy moving. The long-term task is to make the needed investments that restore the ability of average middle income families to increase their income and build a decent future for their children." The financing for continuing education will help people get the skills and knowledge they need to get jobs in the future, thus boosting the economy.

According to the summary of the bill released by the House Appropriations Committee, the bill would provide the following additional funding for student aid.

* Pell Grants: $15.6 billion to increase the maximum Pell Grant by $500, from $4,850 to $5,350 for the 2009-2010 academic year.

* Federal Work-Study: $490 million to support undergraduate and graduate students who work.

* Student Loan Limit Increase: Increased limits on unsubsidized Stafford loans by $2,000.

* Student Aid Administration: $50 million to help the Department of Education administer surging student aid programs while navigating the changing student loan environment.

The bill also provides funding that will benefit higher education institutions, including:

* $20 billion for school renovation and modernization, including technology upgrades and energy efficiency improvements: $14 billion for K-12 and $6 billion for higher education.

* $1 billion for 21st century classrooms, including computer and science labs and teacher technology training.

* $79 billion in state fiscal relief to prevent cutbacks to key services, including $39 billion to local school districts and public colleges and universities distributed through existing state and federal formulas, $15 billion to states as bonus grants as a reward for meeting key performance measures, and $25 billion to states for other high-priority needs such as public safety and other critical services, which may include education.

"These kinds of incentives from the government don't come along very often," says Janet Hill, financial aid and education counselor at ClassesAndCareers.com, a free online education service. "If people have been thinking of going back to school, now would be the time to do it. If they are hurting financially, they can easily get the money they need to get a degree." These benefits are set to expire after the 2010-2011 school year and are available for campus and online colleges.

Thanks to a growing number of online education options, degree-seekers can take advantage of President Obama's stimulus bill without leaving their jobs. Sites like ClassesAndCareers.com have helped nearly 500,000 degree-seekers get their stimulus money and enroll in online universities.

"We help people learn how to take advantage of this bill," says Hill. "All they have to do is visit our form and fill it out. We guide them through the rest."

Anyone interested in going back to school can visit www.OnlineSchools247.com to see if they qualify. They simply fill out the form and an education advisor will help them get their share of the stimulus money and find the best degree program for them. Or, call directly at (888) 361-6349.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Upcoming Events at Clayton State University

Clayton State University has re-opened for 2010, although classes for the spring semester (not that it feels much like spring) won’t start until Monday, Jan. 11.

Clayton State Schedules Welcome Back Week for Students, Jan. 11-14

The Clayton State University Department of Campus Life is ready for the new year. Specifically, Campus Life has the schedule for its traditional “Welcome Back Week” for students in place.

Welcome Back Week will start with the first day of spring semester classes, Monday, Jan. 11, when Campus Life and the Clayton State Customer Service Team will hold another Clayton State tradition, the Ask Me! program. Ask Me! volunteers in bright orange T-Shirts will welcome new and returning students back to campus, assist with campus navigation, and distribute information about upcoming events. Ask Me! will run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Jan. 11 and Jan. 12.

Also on Tuesday, Jan. 12, the Campus Events Council will be making free Las Vegas Name Tags from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Main Street in 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The Las Vegas theme will carry on to Wednesday, Jan. 13 with a fun-filled night in Las Vegas in the Student Activity Center ballroom. It’ll be a night of games, prizes and refreshments from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

On Thursday, Jan. 14, Campus Life will hold its Student Involvement Fair from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Student Activity Center ballroom.

Clayton State Graduate Studies Open House, Jan. 12

The Clayton State University School of Graduate Studies will celebrate the new year on Tuesday, Jan. 12 by holding its first informational open house of 2010.

The open house will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in room 101 of the University’s Harry S. Downs Center on the main campus in Morrow.

The Graduate Studies open houses are now providing information on the new Master of Archival Studies program. In addition, prospective graduate students will have a chance to learn more about the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, Master of Arts in Teaching English, Master of Arts in Teaching Mathematics, Master of Business Administration, Master of Health Administration, and Master of Science in Nursing. The Clayton State School of Graduate Studies holds open houses on the second Tuesday evening of each month.

LEAD the Way Seminar and Service Learning Project for MLK Day of Service, Jan. 14

The Department of Campus Life will sponsor its first monthly LEAD the Way Seminar for the Spring Semester on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010 at 6 p.m. in the Student Activities Center Ballroom C.

Eddie Yongue with Keep Clayton Beautiful will be the featured speaker to discuss the leadership needed in the community to preserve our natural habitats and vegetation and how these efforts impact community economic development.

Then students will have an opportunity to make the MLK holiday weekend a “Day On, and Not A Day Off” by volunteering with Trees Atlanta to plant trees and upkeep gardens in the city of Atlanta on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010.

Lianna Williams to Sing at Naturalization Ceremony, Jan. 15

The regional Department of Homeland Security Immigration Office was so impressed with Clayton State senior Voice Performance major Lianna Wimberly Williams’ performance at their recent naturalization ceremony at the National Archives at Atlanta that they’ve requested that she perform for their next mass naturalization ceremony, Jan. 15, 2010, at the Martin Luther King Center in Atlanta.

Mezzo-soprano Williams, a Jonesboro resident, is one of the Clayton State music program’s most accomplished singers; performing in the Clayton State Opera and as a soloist in campus events and in concerts with the Clayton State Chorale, singing at the People’s Inaugural Gala Weekend and Ball in Washington, D.C., and being chosen by competitive audition for the fall 2007 Georgia National Association of Teachers of Singing master class.

Bernice King and Alejandro Mayorkas, the national director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service from Washington, DC, will be the speakers at the Jan. 15 ceremony at the MLK Center. Clayton State Staff Accompanist Alexander Benford will accompany Williams on the keyboard.

Clayton State’s 10th Annual Martin Luther King Commemorative Event, Jan. 21

Clayton State University’s 10th Annual Martin Luther King Commemorative Event will run from Monday, Jan. 18, 2010 to Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010 as will be highlighted by a showcase of talent and reflections on this year’s theme; “Dr. King’s Legacy: Where are we now? Where are we going?”

This year’s keystone event will take place on Thursday, Jan. 21 and will feature the Second Annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Rally and March and the Showcase. The March (sponsored by the Tau Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, and the Clayton State Department of Campus Life) will take the campus community along a historical journey and will reflect upon pivotal points during the Civil Rights movement. It will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the James M. Baker University Center Quad and will proceed to Spivey Hall where the Showcase will be held starting at 7 p.m.

Clayton State Homecoming, Jan. 30

The 2009/10 academic year is a special one for Clayton State University, as the University is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and the celebration will continue into January with a special Anniversary Homecoming.

Clayton State will have its Homecoming on Saturday, Jan. 30, as the Laker basketball teams will square off against Flagler College in Peach Belt Conference action at the Athletics & Fitness Center. The women’s game will tip-off at 1:30 p.m., followed by the men’s game at 3:30 p.m.

Black History Month, Feb. 1

The annual Black History Celebration at Clayton State University will begin on Monday, Feb. 1, 2010. The Department of Campus Life is currently in the process of organizing the calendar of events for this celebration.

Visiting Writers Reading Series Returns, Feb. 2

On Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 6:30 p.m., the spring 2010 Visiting Writers Reading Series will open with novelist Patti Callahan Henry reading in room B10 of the Lecture Hall.

Henry is a New York Times bestselling novelist. She has six novels with Penguin/NAL ("Losing the Moon," "Where the River Runs," "When Light Breaks," "Between the Tides," "The Art of Keeping Secrets," and "Driftwood Summer").

Hailed as a fresh new voice in southern fiction, she has been short-listed for the Townsend Prize for Fiction and has been nominated for the Southeastern Independent Booksellers Fiction Novel of the Year. She is a frequent speaker at luncheons, book clubs and women’s groups where she discusses the importance of storytelling and anything else they want to talk about.

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.
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West Georgia Awarded Safety Grant

The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Collaborative Safety Initiatives awarded Health Services a $12,500 grant to fund its Georgia Young Adult programs. It is the sixth consecutive GOHS grant awarded to UWG. UWG will use the grant to educate the campus community on alcohol abuse, underage drinking and impaired driving.

The Georgia Young Adult Program is designed for colleges and universities and focuses on peer education to promote and raise awareness of highway safety issues. In addition to education on alcohol abuse, the program includes education on the use of safety belts, dangers of speeding and reducing risks on the road.

Grant funding is also utilized by the health educators to bring nationally recognized speakers and trainers to campus. During Health and Safety Week, which is the week before spring break, educators highlight behaviors that may put students at risk while on vacation.

The long-term goal of the program is to create a safer, healthier campus environment. For more information, call 678-839-0641.

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New fellowship program draws STEM majors to teaching in public schools

Ten recent graduates or professionals in mathematics and science have returned to classes at the University of Georgia this fall to become future math and science teachers in Georgia’s public schools, thanks to a new scholarship program in the UGA College of Education, funded by nearly $1 million in federal grants.

The Noyce Fellows program provides scholarships and stipends for science, technology, engineering and mathematics majors and professionals to attain a teaching certificate or a graduate education degree in exchange for a two-year commitment to teach in a high-needs public school in Georgia.

The program, based in the college’s department of mathematics and science education, was originally funded by a four-year, $750,000 National Science Foundation grant which will support three cohorts of 10 fellows each to complete teacher certification and a Masters of Arts in Teaching degree.

Now, the NSF has awarded the department an additional $150,000 to support four more scholars per cohort, thanks to funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Those four fellows will be added in January to the original 10 who began the program this fall. A second cohort will start in summer or fall 2010 and a third will begin in summer or fall 2011.

“The program is helping us attract highly qualified individuals to teacher careers in science and mathematics to overcome the teaching shortage in these critical fields,” said Denise Mewborn, principal investigator and head of the department of mathematics and science education. “Many of these individuals are giving up lucrative jobs to change careers, so the support the fellowship provides is essential.”

The fellows, who range from recent college graduates to those with years in the workplace, have found themselves drawn to the world of teaching.

Courtney Boehlke, a fellow in this year’s cohort, worked for nine years as a research technician and coordinator for a large lab in UGA’s cell biology department.

“I recently took a good look at what I felt was the most rewarding part of my job,” said Boehlke, who earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from UGA. “I enjoyed my role as a teacher most. I find my greatest fulfillment in sharing my knowledge with others and seeing their faces when they understand a difficult concept. It is my hope that my career change will allow me to move out of the lab and to pass on my passion for science and learning to future generations of scientists.”

After tutoring college students in mathematics for five years, Priscilla Alexander, a recent graduate of Paine College in Augusta, changed her career plans because she recognized a need for more qualified math teachers in high school classrooms.

“I earned my undergraduate degree in mathematics and planned to pursue a Ph.D. in mathematics, but I decided that mathematics education would be more conducive to my career goals,” said Alexander. “Most of all, I want to make a change when it comes to educating future mathematicians.”

Jamie York began to question her career goals after three years as an engineer. She took a strategic approach by researching potential careers and talking with more than 30 people in the teaching field.

“My desire is for a career that has a lasting impact, not simply a bottom line,” said York, who has a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Georgia Tech. “I also have a growing desire to work with youth, specifically those at risk. Having spent time volunteering with tutoring programs, at-risk youth mentoring programs, and high school discipleship groups, this desire has only continued to grow over the years. Finding a career path that integrated both my passion and my skill set was exactly what I was looking for.”

The fellowship provides financial support, including tuition, fees and a stipend of $4,000 to cover living expenses and books, for gaining certification to teach secondary mathematics or science as well as a graduate degree in those fields.The fellows will proceed through a carefully structured four-semester (summer-fall-spring-summer) program designed to help them develop subject matter knowledge for teaching and implement that knowledge in diverse school settings.

The Robert Noyce Scholarship program has funded four similar fellowship programs in Georgia at Clark Atlanta, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, and Kennesaw State universities.There are about 250 of these programs across the nation, ranging from $60,000 to $1.8 million.

For more information on the Noyce Fellowship Program at UGA, see www.coe.uga.edu/mse/nsf_info.html.

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Math Junkies, a Free Math Tutorial Website for Students of all Ages and Abilities to Help Improve America’s Math Skills

Graduate Student Launches Math Junkies, a Free Math Tutorial Website for Students of all Ages and Abilities to Help Improve America’s Competitive Advantage in a Global Economy

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The recently launched MathJunkies.com is a new tutorial website to help students better understand mathematics and its purpose. Created by FIU graduate student and math fanatic Rayan Russell, otherwise known as Rocky, Math Junkies was developed in response to the mathematical needs of today’s technologically dependent generation of students. A beta version of the site has launched and each week will add new exciting functionality such as lessons, videos, formulas, and real-life examples.

A recent study revealed that U.S. students perform consistently below most of their peers from other industrialized nations which proves to be a competitive disadvantage for a global economy. In addition, more and more parents and students are pinching pennies as a result of the recession, even when it comes to education. Math Junkies is a solution for those who would like access to free mathematical resources without paying for tutors or additional classes online. Students of all ages and abilities are able to obtain the help they need to prepare for state and standardized tests, or to sharpen their skills in any subject of mathematics including Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Calculus.

“It is becoming more and more obvious that during tough economic times, education is imperative in the 21st century,” said Rocky. “In today’s hyper-competitive global economy, kids in Boston are competing with kids in Bangalore for jobs, and math skills are increasingly an important function of most skilled jobs in the US from advertising to web design and almost everything in between depends on some level of advanced math skills. Considering this reality, Math Junkies was created to help students get ahead in a fun and innovative way, especially those who can’t afford the extra help outside of the classroom.”

Math tools including lessons, formulas, definitions, and answers to all types of questions are provided on MathJunkies.com. For easy access, especially for those preparing for the SAT and GMAT exams, math strategies and concept reviews are available via text and video formats. Math Junkies will also feature “Math Tips of the Week” for Algebra I and II, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Calculus. The website is extremely user-friendly with a purpose to give students a wealth of information on subjects that many people tend to have difficulty with.

In addition to being a math fanatic, Rocky is an entrepreneur. He has earned a four-year degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Miami and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Mathematics education. Rocky has dedicated the last 10 years to learning and teaching mathematics in addition to developing ways for people to use technology as a means of better understanding the subject. His hope is that, in addition to helping students, Math Junkies will give math a “cool vibe and energy.”

“It’s time for a mathematical revolution,” Rocky said. “Math is a gorgeous language that we use daily and should embrace. Follow the revolution on our website and twitter.”

Please visit Math Junkies online:

Website: http://www.mathjunkies.com

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National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Hails Appropriations Conference Agreement

/PRNewswire/ -- National Alliance for Public Charter Schools President and CEO Nelson Smith issued the following statement on the Senate-House Conference agreement approved last night that will fund the U.S. Department of Education and the federal charter school programs for Fiscal Year 2010:

"The Conference Report agreed upon last night includes a $40 million increase over the current fiscal year funding for the federal charter school programs and marks a significant down-payment on President Obama's promise to double federal charter support during his term. It also includes significant innovations sought by the Administration and the Alliance that will speed the deployment of our highest-performing models to communities that need them the most.

"For the first time the Secretary of Education will now be able to reserve a portion of Charter School Program (CSP) funding for direct grants that support the replication and expansion of successful charter school models. This authority will give new hope to students in need of better options by putting high-achieving new schools in their communities. At the same time, the appropriations will continue to support the creation of innovative new schools by providing ample start-up and implementation funding to be distributed through state education agencies.

"We applaud Congress and the Administration for insisting that states use these new funds not just to start more charter schools, but to create high-quality schools that have the freedom to operate and are held accountable for results. This is the approach strongly advocated by the National Alliance and charter leaders in the states. Chairman Obey, Chairman Inouye, Chairman Miller, Chairman Harkin, and the Administration have worked to include these quality assurances in the bill, and we appreciate their efforts. They have put the needs of students above all else in this appropriations process."

This year's Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies bill includes $256 million for the federal charter school programs, the highest amount ever appropriated and a $40 million increase over FY2009. The total includes $50 million that can be directly competed by the U.S. Department of Education to support the replication and expansion of successful charter models; over $23 million to support the Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities Program and the State Facilities Incentive Grants; and up to $10 million dollars to support National Activities grants to further develop a sound infrastructure of support for high quality charter schools.

Additionally, $10 million dollars was included in the U.S. Department of Education FY2010 appropriation to support planning grants for the Administration's Promise Neighborhoods Initiative, a new program (in collaboration with the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Choice Neighborhoods Initiative) inspired by the Harlem Children's Zone. The Conference agreement also includes $400 million dollars for the Teacher Incentive Fund, a $303 million increase from FY2009, providing strong new support for performance-based teacher compensation programs.

Congress must now approve this package and send it to the President for his signature before the current Continuing Resolution funding the U.S. Department of Education and other federal departments and agencies expires on December 18th.

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Georgia Baptist College of Nursing to Introduce Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree in 2010

Mercer University’s Georgia Baptist College of Nursing will add a Doctor of Nursing Practice to its graduate degree offerings in 2010. The College, based on Mercer’s Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus in Atlanta, began offering a Ph.D. in Nursing Education this fall.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program will support advanced practice nurses in the areas of informatics, organizational analysis, and practice-focused research. The DNP degree acknowledges the importance of clinical expertise at the doctoral level. Students will design clinical projects that improve both the delivery of patient care as well as patient outcomes.

The Georgia Baptist College of Nursing’s DNP program offers a post-master’s, five-semester, online course of study that includes 43 semester hours and over 500 clinical hours. The College utilizes both in-person and online learning techniques to effectively and dynamically transform the online classroom into a platform that reaches the highest possible level for learning.

“Graduates of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program will be prepared to meet the changing demands of this nation's complex healthcare environment, which requires the highest level of scientific knowledge and practice expertise to assure quality patient outcomes,” said Dr. Linda A. Streit, interim dean of the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing.

For more information on the DNP program, call (678) 547-6700 or visit www.mercer.edu/nursing.


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