ADVISORY/Experts Available To Discuss Changes to No Child Left Behind Requirements.

Business Editors

ADVISORY...

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

TOPIC: The Bush administration is giving teachers in rural areas an extra year to meet requirements of the No Child Left Behind law that states they are "highly qualified" to teach their subjects, according to

an article by USA TODAY. If student test scores do not improve over the course of several years, then teachers and administrators may be replaced. Another change allows states to deem a teacher "highly qualified" if that teacher has years of experience teaching a subject, is accumulating continuing education credits or has high student test scores. The law states all teachers must be considered qualified by 2006.

EXPERTS: ExpertSource can offer several highly qualified experts to comment on this story:

Jon Bower has over 20 years of experience in the education and high-tech communities. As president and CEO of Lexia Learning Systems, Inc., he works with approximately 10,000 schools across the United States. Jon is also the chairman of the Massachusetts Partnership for Achievement in Reading (PAR), which provides professional development for K-3 educators and aims to improve children's early reading skills - this is the type of early intervention critical to countering illiteracy. In addition, Jon is a member of the Board of Trustees of Mass Bay Community College. Jon is the author of "Achieving Educational Quality," which explores the relationship between the 1978 manufacturing and 2002 education systems. Jon demonstrates that if educational quality assurance is to be implemented, educators must first be provided with the necessary tools and training to measure the learning status of each student in the class and the specific skills they still need to move to the next level. Then, each teacher should use processes - curriculum materials and teaching methods - that have been proven to produce the specific learning needed by that type of student. PR Contact: Jessica Edreich 617-227-0012 ext. 229 jedreich@thecastlegrp.com

Kathy Daly is an expert trainer and educator in the Step Up To Writing Curriculum designed to help teachers to effectively teach writing in the classroom. As a 20-year educator, Daly's company is in the business of showing teachers and administrators how to effectively change the mindset about teaching writing skills so that all teachers incorporate strategies to teach writing -- and not just the english teacher. The training is perfect for public school districts, and homeschoolers. The program addresses all goals on the Florida Improvement program for the FCAT and the No Child Left Behind Law. Being used and implemented around the country, school districts show incredible improvements when teachers use these strategies. PR Contact: Amelia Woodbridge 321-724-1688 awoodbridge@spacecoastmarketing.com

Professor Anthony G. Rud is the interim head of the Department of Educational Studies at Purdue University. He is an experienced educator in both K-12 schools and higher education. His research and practice includes issues in: school reform and change; educational administration and school leadership; school/university partnerships; the moral dimensions of school leadership, teaching, and learning; and international education. 765-494-9170 765-494-4600 (University PR Phone)

ExpertSource cannot guarantee the immediate availability of these experts or their familiarity with this specific issue.

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