WestEd in the News

California Healthy Kids Survey Data Sparks Civic Conversation

Statistics of Teen Alcohol Use in California
Orinda News—July 2009

In an Orinda News article on teen drinking, Sean Slade, Research Associate at WestEd's California Healthy Kids Survey, noted a marked increase in Acalanes Union High School District student drinking patterns between 9th grade and 11th grade. Slade pointed to data indicating that 43 percent of 11th-graders in the Acalanes district reported drinking alcohol in the last 30 days, compared to the state average of 36 percent. Similarly, 48 percent of Acalanes 11th-graders said they’d been very drunk or sick from drinking in their lifetime, compared to the state average of 40 percent.

WestEd Takes a Look at Independent Study High Schools

Researchers Spot Exotic New School Species in California
Education Week Inside School Research—June 25, 2009

Education Week's Inside School Research blog reported findings from the REL West study Examining Independent Study High Schools in California, noting that nearly 4 percent of the state's 2 million high school students — 84,348 students — were enrolled full-time in independent study. Most of those students attended 231 independent study high schools spread across the state. What's more, the population of students pursuing independent study had grown 44 percent since the 2001-02 school year, rising from 66,000 to 84,348 in 2006-07, the most recent year for which researchers had data. Education Week's High School Connections blog also covered the study.

REL West Study Sheds Light on Fast Growing School Choice Option

Enrollment in Independent Study High Schools Surge
Sacramento Bee Capitol Alert—June 24, 2009

A new WestEd study prepared by Regional Educational Laboratory West researchers, Examining Independent Study High Schools in California, examines California's independent study high schools, alternative schools in which 75 percent or more of students in grades 9–12 are enrolled in full-time independent study. In 2006/07, 4% of California's nearly 2 million high school students were enrolled in full-time independent study, most of them in the state's 231 independent study high schools. Since 2001/02, independent study enrollment in those schools increased by 44% compared to 12% or less in other school types.

WestEd Program Director Celebrates 19 Years on Local Education Foundation Board

Question and Answer with: JAN PHLEGAR
Natick Bulletin and Tab—June 24, 2009

Jan Phlegar, director of WestEd's Learning Innovations Program, was interviewed by the Natick Bulletin and Tab as one of the founders of the Natick Education Foundation in 1990. Phleger is retiring as co-president and board member after 19 years of service. The Natick Education Foundation is an independent nonprofit membership organization that stimulates excellence in the Natick Public Schools by awarding grants for projects and purchases that support the curriculum, by funding scholarships and professional development for educators, and by raising the profile of public education in Natick, Massachusetts.

California Mayors Education Roundtable Special Meeting

WestEd and San Francisco Mayor Host U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan
WestEd and the California Mayors Education Roundtable—May 22, 2009

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, at the invitation of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, recently participated in a special gathering of the California Mayors Education Roundtable. WestEd, which coordinates the Roundtable, assisted with arrangements for the meeting, and several key WestEd staff, including CEO Glen Harvey, participated in sessions with the Secretary.

Duncan encouraged state leaders not to retreat from their responsibilities to prepare all children to graduate from high school with college- and career-ready skills. Roundtable Coordinator Paul Koehler, who directs WestEd's Policy Center, facilitated the event attended by 17 California mayors and their cities' public school superintendents, county superintendents, school board members, and other state education leaders.

A WestEd initiative funded by the James Irvine Foundation, the Roundtable works with California mayors to support their participation in state and local conversations that will shape education policies, resources, and opportunities far into the future. The Roundtable convenes mayors, school superintendents, and their key staff; shares promising data- and evidence-based practices; and develops strategies to address local issues affecting students' education and career success.

WestEd ARRA Webinars Help Districts Prioritize Funding Choices

Large Districts to Use Stimulus for ELL Support
Education Week—May 20, 2009

In an article about using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Education Week noted that WestEd offered a free webinar designed to help districts make wise decisions in using funding to assist English Language Learner (ELL) students. The webinar, moderated by WestEd ELL expert Robert Linquanti and offered through WestEd's SchoolsMovingUp website, is archived and available for free viewing.

WestEd to Evaluate Online Pre-Algebra Tutoring Program

UA Faculty's Math Tutoring System Tested
University of Arizona—May 20, 2009

Steve Schneider, Director of WestEd's Mathematics, Science, and Technology Program will evaluate "AnimalWatch," a program using ecological instruction to aid students in pre-algebra learning. The program includes multimedia, videos, and other resources to help students along as they practice their mathematics. The program, developed by Carol Beal at the University of Arizona and adapted for use of students who are learning to speak English, will be implemented in three urban school districts in California beginning in September 2010 as part of the evaluation.

WestEd's Bonnie Benard Educates Communities About Youth Assets, Risks

Resilience Is Key to Mental Health
Modesto Bee—May 13, 2009

Bonnie Benard, Senior Program Associate in WestEd's Health and Human Development Program, was a keynote speaker at the Prevention and Early Intervention Summit sponsored by the Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services. Benard spoke on the principles outlined in her bestselling book, Resiliency: What We Have Learned, which helps educators create more supportive and asset-rich environments, connect youth to their school communities, engage youth in learning, and reduce youth involvement in substance abuse, violence, and other risk behaviors.

"Learning the Language" Education Week Blog Features New Book

Resource: Guide to Making Math Accessible to ELLs
Education Week—May 8, 2009

In her blog "Learning the Language," Mary Ann Zehr, assistant editor at Education Week, announced the publication of WestEd's latest resource for teaching English learners, Making Mathematics Accessible for English Learners. The guide is designed to help upper elementary, middle, and high school mathematics teachers who have had limited preparation for teaching mathematics to English learners by offering an integrated approach to teaching mathematics content and English language skills, including guidance on best instructional practices from the field, powerful and concrete strategies for teaching mathematics content along with academic language, and sample lesson scenarios that can be implemented immediately in any mathematics class.

WestEd Recognized As a Best Place to Work in the Bay Area

Employee Satisfaction Remains High
San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal—May 7, 2009

WestEd has been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal. This is the 4th time that WestEd has been so designated. The award, based solely on an anonymous survey of over 150,000 Bay Area employees at nearly 400 companies, recognizes that WestEd attracts, retains, and engages high-quality employees through positive working conditions, benefits, and organizational culture. The Best Places to Work survey measured employee satisfaction across nine categories: team effectiveness, alignment of goals, trust in co-workers, individual contribution, manager effectiveness, trust in senior leaders, feeling valued, work engagement, and people practices.