Sunday, December 20, 2009

Culinary Courses Help Schools Meet School Meal Recommendations

The National Food Service Management Institute (NFSMI) is developing a series of six free online courses designed to help child nutrition teams prepare healthier school meals that appeal to students' tastes. The Culinary Techniques for Healthy School Meals courses help school food service staff initiate food production and culinary techniques that incorporate principles of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans into the planning and preparation of school meals.

Illinois school food service staff members that complete all six courses are eligible to receive a stipend reimbursement of $75 and a set of dietary guidelines posters for their cafeteria while funding lasts. The stipends were made available by a USDA Team Nutrition Training grant.

For more information, click here.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Success at Every Step: How 23 Programs Support Youth on the Path to College and Beyond

This publication is designed to help policymakers and practitioners learn about effective programs supporting college- and career-readiness. These programs help diverse youth to improve their academic performance, identify career aspirations, build employer-desired skills, plan for postsecondary education, and develop the personal resources necessary to achieve their goals. Twenty-three program
evaluations are briefly summarized to give policymakers and practitioners an understanding of the research findings on effective programs along with a description of why the programs work. The 23 initiatives summarized in this publication clearly do not represent the universe of programs that are successful in helping youth progress along the pathway to postsecondary success; rather, they are the ones that had recent, high-quality evaluations. This review was limited to programs that serve older youth, primarily in middle school, high school, and postsecondary education.

For more information, click here.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Spice up STEM with SciGirls: Become a SciGirls Museum Affiliate!

Webinar on Thursday, December 17, 2009
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific

Let SciGirls help you spark girls' interest in STEM! Learn about the benefits, goals, and application procedure for the pilot SciGirls Museum Affiliate Program, an outreach opportunity from Twin Cities Public Television. SciGirls Affiliates will receive professional development training and multimedia educational resources based on the new PBS television series, SciGirls, funded by the National Science Foundation.

For more information, click here.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

White House Pushes Science and Math Education

To improve science and mathematics education for American children, the White House is recruiting Elmo and Big Bird, video game programmers and thousands of scientists. President Obama announced a campaign to enlist companies and nonprofit groups to spend money, time and volunteer effort to encourage students, especially in middle and high school, to pursue STEM.

For more information click follow this link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/23/education/23educ.html?_r=2&ref=education

Monday, December 7, 2009

Obama launches new STEM initiatives

President Barack Obama on Nov. 23 announced the launch of several nationwide programs to help motivate and inspire students to excel in science and math, including a grassroots effort called "National Lab Day" and a White House science fair.


http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=61958

Friday, October 30, 2009

New AAUW Report: A Woman's Nation Changes Everything

Career planning and careers with equal pay for both genders becomes even more important as we learn from a new report titled A Woman's Nation Changes Everything that women are half of all U.S. workers and mothers are the primary breadwinners or co-breadwinners in nearly two-thirds of American families. Read this ground-breaking report or the Executive Summary; both are available at http://awomansnation.com/


Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Women Executives Excell in Math and Science

Women executives with science degrees are now leading some of the world's largest companies.This year three women were awarded Nobel Prizes in science and one in the economic sciences, bringing the number of women who have been awarded the honor in the sciences to 16. the women who sit at the apex of corporate America armed with math and science degrees, to the four 2009 laureates--Elinor Ostrom (the first woman to win the prize for economic science), Ada E. Yonath in chemistry, and Elizabeth H. Blackburn and Carol W. Greider in physiology/medicine (the first time two women shared a single Nobel science prize)--the message is clear: Women excel at science and math.A new article on forbes.com provides role models in pictures and brief summaries of female executives who came from science and math backgrounds.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Getting Girls Interested in Engineering Webinar

Project Lead The Way® (PLTW®) is joining forces with Engineer Your Life (EYL), to increase the participation of girls in Gateway To Technology® (GTT®) and HS engineering courses by offering a free webinar.

WEBINAR DETAILS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
WHEN: Thursday, October 22, 4:00 pm EST, 1:00 pm PST
WHERE: To register, go to:
https://wgbh.webex.com/wgbh/onstage/g.php?d=666235096&t=a
EVENT PASSWORD (case sensitive): Engineer2009
HOSTED BY: PLTW and WGBH

EYL is a national campaign to showcase engineering as an exciting and rewarding career choice for high school girls. Seventy-nine percent (79%) of girls who are familiar with the EYL web site report engineering as their number 1 job choice. Join us for this one-hour webinar and you will receive the tools you need to increase your participation of girls in your program. If you can’t attend this webinar live, register and you will receive the links for the achieved webinar and free resources.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Nontraditional and STEM Careers by Career Cluster


Wondering how nontraditional and STEM Careers fit into Career Clusters and Pathways? Three handy and attractive Guides crosswalk nontraditional and STEM Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) codes across Cluster and Pathway. One Guide is for female nontraditional careers, one for male nontraditional careers, and one for STEM careers. These guides are based on the December 2008 Version of Table 3: CIP-Nontrad-Cluster-Pathway and developed by the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity. That table is one source for these crosswalks. The STEM-Related Career Cluster document created by the STEM Equity Pipeline Project, a National Science Foundation initiative, was the source for the STEM Nontraditional Careers by Career Cluster Guide. All three Guides were created by Lisa Matejka of Illinois Center for Specialized Professional Support.

Monday, September 14, 2009

AAUW Reacts to New Census Data that Shows the Wage Gap is Stubbornly in Place

Lisa Maatz, AAUW's top policy adviser, issued the following statement in light of the income data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

"The government's new report on income, poverty, and health insurance coverage shows that the wage gap between men and women working full time remains stubbornly in place. In 2007, the average woman made almost 78 cents for each dollar earned by her male counterpart. According to newly released 2008 figures, that number now stands at just over 77 cents for each dollar earned by a man. To learn more about AAUW's position on pay equity, visit: http://www.aauw.org/advocacy/issue_advocacy/actionpages/payequity.cfm

Thursday, September 3, 2009

NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing

The National Center for Women in Information Technology announces the opening of awards for young women with outstanding achievements and aspirations in computing and technology. Each qualified National winner receives:

  • $500 in cash
  • a laptop computer, provided by Bank of America
  • a trip to attend the Bank of America Technology Showcase and Awards Ceremony, held in Charlotte, North Carolina in March of 2010

  • an engraved award for both the student and the student’s school
A generous grant from Motorola provides the support for Affiliate Awards in Illinois, Texas and Florida. High school girls should apply at www.ncwit.org/award.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

New report addresses keeping Latinas in school and preparing them for college.

According to a new report issued by the National Women’s Law Center and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, forty-one percent of Latina students do not graduate with their class in four years—if they graduate at all. Listening to Latinas: Barriers to High School Graduation, explores the causes of the dropout crisis for Latinas and identifies the actions needed to improve their graduation rates and get them ready for college.

Both the full report and the executive summary are available on the National Women’s Law Center’s Listening to Latinas webpage. Other resources available on the page include resources and information on Latina drop-out prevention for schools, and for local, state and federal policymakers.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

New Look Project Funding Application Deadline Extended; Specialized Applicant Resources Available

In an effort to be responsive to the Field, the Illinois Center for Specialized Professional Support (ICSPS) and the Illinois Community College Board announce an extension of the deadline for the applications for funding through the FY10 New Look Project. Applications are now due to icsps@ilstu.edu no later than Thursday, September 18th, 2009.

Additionally, ICSPS is proud to announce the launch of the New Look Project Website, www.icsps.ilstu.edu/newlook. The new site offers applicants and participants a wide variety of tools and information in an easy-to-navigate resource.

The Applicant Resource section of the New Look website provides potential and current applicants assistance with an application walk-through, an application rubric, and other helpful documents, as well as personalized technical assistance through phone (309) 454-4944 or e-mail.

The New Look Project is a technical assistance program which provides financial, programmatic, and resource support, and professional development to assist in the implementation of research-based program improvement efforts for CTE special populations learners. Applicants and participants are guided through the 6-step New Look Program Improvement Process, leading educational entities to better programmatic and instructional offerings for Perkins special populations learners. This guidance emphasizes examination of local data, research into root causes and effective strategies, measureable goal-setting, and deliberate feedback to impact local decision-making.

The FY10 application for funding is available. Applications must be received no later than Thursday, September 18th, 2009. Financial awards ranging from $500 to $3500 will be awarded this fall to eligible Illinois postsecondary institutions.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

New OECD Report on Global Gender Gap in Academic Achievement

Despite educators' best efforts to create an even playing field for girls and boys, gender gaps appear to be growing around the world, says a report out this week titled Equally Prepared For Life? How 15-year-old Boys and Girls Perform In School. For the full text click here.

Monday, June 29, 2009

New Look View Volume 4, Issue 6 is Available

Check it out here: Volume 4, Issue 6 (pdf)

Highlights:
Apply today for a New Look Award
Featured Site: SWIC-CESS – Southwestern Illinois College
Resources

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

New Look View Volume 4, Issue 5 is available

Check it out here: Volume 4, Issue 5 (pdf)

Highlights:
New Look Showcase
New Look Resources

Monday, June 1, 2009

FY10 New Look Technical Assistance Grant Application Available

The New Look Project is a technical assistance project which provides fiscal, programmatic, and resource support to implement research-based program improvement efforts for special populations learners. The purpose of New Look is to assist career and technical educators in identifying, developing, and strengthening aspects of their programming for special populations CTE learners. For FY10, only Illinois postsecondary educational entities receiving Perkins funds are eligible applicants. All accepted applicants must be present at both the New Look Launch, Oct. 29, 2009, and the New Look Showcase Symposium, May 6, 2010.

The opening of the FY10 applications marks the start of the 8th year of the award-winning innovation-inducing New Look Project (originally named the NTO Look Project). Once again this year, the New Look model supports career and technical education programs with two levels of investment: the Innovation Award and Research Action Award. The Innovation Award allows applicants to apply for a level of financial support ranging from $500 to $1,500 depending on need and intent of project. The Research Action Award allows applicants to apply for a level of financial support from $1,500 to $3,500, depending on need and intent of project. Research Action Awards require an intensive self-assessment and thorough research to support the project activities. Due to the nature of this grant, a limited number will be awarded. Special consideration will be given to projects at either level with a secondary partnership.

Applications must be submitted via e-mail no later than September 9, 2009.

To download the application click here.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

ICSPS Professional Development

ICSPS provides professional development for a variety of groups and conferences across Illinois and throughout the nation. After each presentation, the resources shared are posted to the Professional Development page on our website for reference and referral by workshop attendees and as a resource for those who were unable to attend.

The presentation resources added to our website in the last month include:
- STEM Equity Pipeline Workshop
- New Look Showcase
- IL STEM Education Presentation on Equity in STEM

(Click on the workshop title to peruse materials from the presentations. )

ICSPS will be sharing resources and training in June at the following venues:
CSI Retreat - Rend Lake, IL
June 1-2, 2009

Programs of Study in Nontraditional Career Pathways SWIC - Belleville, IL
June 4, 2009

IACTE - Tinley Park, IL
June 16-17, 2009
- A New Look at English Language Learners
- Taking the Road Less Travelled: Nontraditional (for Gender) Careers (training on an NTO educational resource free to all EFE’s in Illinois)

WEPAN Conference - Austin, TX
June 17-19, 2009

If you are unable to attend any of these presentations, please feel free to check our website after the workshops/conferences to reference any materials available from the professional development opportunity.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

CTE Postsecondary Funding - Update

We now have more recent and accurate information from Pam Weber, the ICTA Legislative Liaison. The situation is not as bad as it appeared earlier yesterday. Here is Pam's latest message.

“Neither the House or the Senate has passed a budget. There have been bits and pieces passed by the House to capture stimulus money, but a full budget HAS NOT been passed.” This will not happen until they act on the Income Tax Increase. Our legislators need to know that if they pass the income tax increase we will still support them in the polls.

The reason there was misinformation that the CTE line item was zeroed out was that “there have been bits and pieces passed by the House to capture stimulus money, but a full budget HAS NOT been passed. Yesterday the Senate Appropriation Committees passed out "vehicle and shell" bills that will be available for budget amendments.......no budget amendments were in place, and no line items were zeroed out. At this time, there are over 200 bills of this type that are ready and available for the 2010 budget......lots to keep track of!”

Pam says, “The next 48 hours are imperative. Don’t hesitate to make a phone call in support of the CTE line item in the State Board budget.” And, I would add the CTE line item in the ICCB budget and the Ag Ed line item in the ISBE budget.

Remind them again of the $40 Million in Federal Match that our state stands to lose, if CTE is not fully funded.


******************** Post from 5/27/09 Below ***************************

Recently, the House passed an Appropriations Bill that eliminates state funding for Postsecondary Career and Technical Education. The elimination totals the entire allocation for Postsecondary education in the amount of 12 million dollars. Due to Federal Maintenance of Effort requirements, the elimination of these funds would cost the state 48.8 million dollars in Federal CTE funding. The impact of this reduction would be devastating to both community colleges and secondary education. This will have a significant impact on all of us, but especially the 329,000 CTE secondary students and the 260,000 CTE postsecondary students.

Linked is a two page write up on the issue. Please feel free to share this information with anyone you might think is interested, particularly your local legislators. It is imperative that you move quickly as the General Assembly’s session and its budgetary considerations are drawing to a close.

Summary Document

Thursday, April 23, 2009

New Look View Volume 4, Issue 4 is available

Check it out here: Volume 4, Issue 4 (pdf)

Highlights:
  • New Look Showcase
  • ICSPS at Connections Conference
  • Featured Site: Black Hawk College
  • New Look Resources

Thursday, April 9, 2009

TeraGrid09 Student Participation

TG09 is open for submissions for both Student Participants and Student Volunteers (high school, undergrad, and grad.) This year there is funding to pay all expenses to TG09 for about 75 students!

For more information and to apply, go to: http://www.teragrid.org/tg09/index.phpoption=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=54

Monday, April 6, 2009

ILAVESNP Scholarships awarded

ILAVESNP has awarded 4 scholarships to area high school students. For more information go to http://www.ilavesnp.net/scholarship.htm

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

New Look View Volume 4, Issue 3 is available

Check it out here: Volume 4, Issue 3 (pdf)

Highlights:

  • Careers, Candle Light and College: DACC's New Look at Recruitment
  • ICSPS at Connections Conference
  • ILAVESNP Above and Beyond Award
  • Resources: Autism Spectrum Institute, The Autisim Program of Illinois, Vocational Alliance Autism Project

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

ILAVESNP Scholarships available

$500.00 ILAVESNP Scholarship

ILAVESNP scholarships will be awarded to students pursuing post-secondary education for a career in a vocational/technical area. High school graduates and current post-secondary students may be nominated. To qualify, a student must meet the criteria listed on the Verification Form.

For more information go to the ILAVESNP website.

MWGCP Kick-Off Conference

Register now for the Midwest Girls Collaborative Project (MWGCP) Kick-Off Conference!

Date: Friday, April 17, 2009

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Place: Northern Illinois University Conference Center
1120 E. Diehl Rd., Naperville, IL 60563

What: This workshop will assist you in finding resources and funding to create STEM activities for young women. Learn about the National Girls Collaborative Project, a partnership between the Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology (PSCTLT), the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Supporting STEM: Nanotechnology

Register now for Supporting STEM: Nanotechnology


Presented by: Joe Muskin, Educational Coordinator for Nanotechnology Programs at the University of Illinois

When: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Where: Crowne Plaza, Springfield - Plaza I a pre-session to the Connections Conference

What: A hands-on workshop to supply teachers with exciting projects to introduce students to the latest advances in the emerging field of nanotechnology, and spark their interest in CTE careers

Upcoming seminar on Dyslexia!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Double Tree Hotel & Conference Center
10 Brickyard Drive
Bloomington, IL 61701
(309) 664-6446

At the end of this seminar the participant will be able to:
• List and describe five areas of the brain where learning problems may hide
• List the types of dyslexia and their effect on an individual’s learning performance
• List the characteristics of dyslexia and other hidden learning problems
• Describe methods for identifying the three most common types of dyslexia
• Discuss and define various research-based interventions for the clinical and classroom environments
• Develop and implement strategies and accommodations to help an individual with dyslexia learn

See flyer for more information.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Career Skills Said to Get Short Shrift

In education and workforce-training circles, there’s a sentiment one hears so often that it’s become something of a mantra: Students must graduate from high school prepared for both college and work. But amid the clarion calls for “college for all” and the clamor for more-rigorous academics, the “work” part of that imperative tends to get drowned out, business and industry groups say, to the point that high-wage jobs not requiring a bachelor’s degree often go unfilled.
To read the full EdWeek article click here.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Welcome to the new ICSPS Newsroom!

We are happy to announce a new Newsroom at ICSPS.

Features to look forward to:
  • RSS feed
  • email subscription
  • content updated weekly
  • links to top resources