PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 10/ 2/ 17 (link source)
Innovation Partnership Zones (IPZs) connect research, private sector, workforce partners to spur development in target clusters
OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today designated a new Innovation Partnership Zone (IPZ) and reauthorized two other IPZs to help spur regional economic growth through key sectors such as manufacturing, global health and technology.
“Innovation Partnership Zones is an important tool that helps communities determine for themselves their economic future. It strengthens communities by facilitating a thoughtful and strategic planning process that ultimately converts into opportunities for new and targeted job growth. I congratulate the newest member of our vibrant IPZ community, the North Central Washington Technology Zone, and the ongoing successes of those in Vancouver and Skagit Valley,” said Brian Bonlender, state Commerce director.
New IPZ Designation:
North Central Washington Technology Zone, North Central Workforce Development Council
Re-Designations:
IPZs are designated for four-year terms. The following IPZs were designated in 2013 and retained their status:
Applied Digital Technology IPZ, Vancouver/Camas, City of Vancouver
Skagit Valley Value Added Agriculture IPZ, Skagit, Economic Development Association Skagit County
“The IPZ designation for the North Central Washington Technology Zone is great news! The collaborative effort of this partnership is building a strong platform that connects local business and industry, expands cutting-edge research and propels technology and innovation to new heights. This confluence is timely and will only continue to strengthen our local economy, grow jobs and create new opportunities for North Central businesses and our citizens,” said Dave Petersen, executive director, North Central Workforce Development Council.
“On behalf of all our IPZ partners including the Port of Skagit, WSU Research and the Bread Lab, Skagit Valley College, Skagit County, the city of Mount Vernon, the farmers of Skagit, Skagit Valley Malting, Northwest Agriculture Business Center, Nothwest Innovation Resource Center, and others, we are delighted that the Skagit Value-Added Agriculture IPZ has been re-designated by the Department of Commerce,” said John Sternlicht, CEO of the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County, the IPZ’s administrator. “Our primary goals are to promote innovation in agriculture and find new and sustainable sources of revenue from agriculture here, including new products and markets, new venues, new activities and new technologies.”
Teresa Brum, City of Vancouver, Economic Development Division manager, said, “We are very pleased with the renewal of the Innovation Partnership Zone designation. The City of Vancouver looks forward to working with our partners to implement the next phase of the IPZ!”
Created 10 years ago, the goal of Innovation Partnership Zones is to stimulate growth of industry clusters and build strong regional economies. IPZs empower regions to form partnerships among research entities, private-sector partners, and workforce training to collaborate and develop commercially viable technologies. To learn more about Innovation Partnership Zones and choosing Washington state as your place to do business, visit www.choosewashington.com.
BACK TO SCHOOL 2017
Education Secretary DeVos Announces 2017-18 School Ambassador FellowsPRESS RELEASE ISSUED 9/ 29/ 17 (link source)
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today announced the U.S. Department of Education's 2017 cohort of School Ambassador Fellows. This year's cohort includes four teachers, one principal and one counselor.
"This year, we are thrilled to announce we are expanding the scope of the Teaching and Principal Ambassador Fellowship into the School Ambassador Fellowship. This expanded program will allow all school-based staff members—not just teachers and principals—the opportunity to participate in this important program and provide valuable contributions to the national education dialogue," said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. "The Fellowship program is designed to improve education for all students by involving practitioners in the development and implementation of national education policy. The Fellows also work directly with Department staff members to inform our understanding of how policies and programs are implemented and experienced by students, educators and families at the local level."
The six new Fellows were at the Department this week for a three-day summit to become more familiar with federal education policy and Department staff, as well as to begin exchanging ideas for enhancing communication between teachers, stakeholders and education policy leaders.
This year's full-time Washington, D.C., Fellow is:
Melody Arabo, a third-grade teacher in a hybrid role at Keith Elementary School and the 2015 Michigan Teacher of the Year from West Bloomfield, Michigan.
This year's part-time Fellows are:
Elmer Harris, a 5th Grade Teacher at Christa McAuliffe Elementary School from Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Matthew Scott Crisp, principal at Jackson Hole High School from Jackson, Wyoming.
Patrick O'Connor, an Assistant Dean of College Counseling at Cranbrook Schools, from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Megan Power, an Elementary Teacher at Design39Campus from San Diego, California.
Jennifer Ramsey, a Science Teacher, KIPP DC Heights Academy from Washington, D.C.
The 2017 Fellows build on the work of the previous cohorts, who have now collectively reached and connected with more than 110,000 educators through more than 153 discussions and events with stakeholders from all 50 states, D.C., four territories and two foreign
U.S. Department of Education Awards $253 Million in Grants to Expand Charter Schools
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 9/ 28/ 17 (link source)
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced that The Expanding Opportunity through Quality Charter Schools Program (Charter Schools Program or CSP) has awarded new grants this week to fund the creation and expansion of public charter schools across the nation, totaling approximately $253 million.
"These grants will help supplement state-based efforts to give students access to more options for their education," said Secretary DeVos. "What started as a handful of schools in Minnesota has blossomed into nearly 7,000 charter schools across the country. Charter schools are now part of the fabric of American education, and I look forward to seeing how we can continue to work with states to help ensure more students can learn in an environment that works for them."
The following grants slates were awarded:
The State Entities program awarded approximately $144.7 million in new grants to nine states.
The Replication and Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools program awarded approximately $52.4 million in new grants to 17 non-profit charter management organizations.
The Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities program awarded approximately $56.25 million in new grants to six non-profit organizations and two state agencies.
These grants are awarded to state educational agencies and other state entities, charter management organizations (CMOs) and other non-profit organizations and represent the first cohort of new awards under the program's new authorizing statute, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
National Blue Ribbon Honors Announced for 342 Schools
US EDUCATION DEPT. PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 9/ 28/ 17 ( link source)
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today recognized 342 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2017. The recognition is based on a school's overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.
"National Blue Ribbon Schools are active demonstrations of preparing every child for a bright future," said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to the honorees. "You are visionaries, innovators and leaders. You have much to teach us: some of you personalize student learning, others engage parents and communities in the work and life of your local schools and still others develop strong and forward-thinking leaders from among your teaching staff."
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap.
This coveted award affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content.
Now in its 35th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed recognition on more than 8,500 schools. On Nov. 6-7, the Secretary and the Department of Education will celebrate with these honorees at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.
All schools are honored in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:
Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state's highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state's highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school's subgroups and all students over the past five years.
Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by The Council for American Private Education (CAPE).
FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO DC.
Sens. Murray, Cantwell Secure Funding for South Seattle College Program Serving Low-Income and First Generation Students
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 9/ 29/ 17 (link source)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that funding has been restored for South Seattle College’s TRIO Educational Opportunity Center program. The college was notified in August that its TRIO funding would be revoked due to low participation, information that turned out to be inaccurate.
The South Seattle College TRIO program currently serves 1,032 low-income and first generation adults and has provided critical educational services to these populations for over 25 years. Senators Murray and Cantwell stepped in to help the program and its students, urging Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in a letter to reinstate the funding.
”We write to convey our strong support for the TRIO Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) program at South Seattle College,” Sens. Murray and Cantwell wrote. “The TRIO program at South Seattle College provides critical education services to low-income and first generation adults in Washington state, with a focus on veterans, military families and immigrant populations.”
Sens. Murray and Cantwell have consistently championed expanded educational opportunities as the pathway to personal prosperity and gaining the skills needed for the 21st century economy.
South Seattle College serves a diverse student population participating in vocational, and apprenticeship programs. Over half of SSC students area the first in their family to attend college and 40% of students come from homes in which the family language was not English.
The Federal TRIO Programs (TRIO) are federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs.
WORLD AND NATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS FROM REUTERS...
Russia threatens retaliation over U.S. 'break-in' at San Francisco consulateMOSCOW (Reuters) - U.S. officials broke into residences at Russia’s consulate in San Francisco, the foreign ministry in Moscow said, threatening retaliation over what it called a hostile and illegal act.
Tens of thousands of Catalans take to streets to protest police action
BARCELONA (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Catalonia on Tuesday to protest against Sunday’s violent crackdown by Spanish police on an outlawed independence referendum for the region.
Defense Secretary Mattis suggests sticking with Iran nuclear deal
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Tuesday the United States should consider staying in the Iran nuclear deal unless it were proven Tehran that was not abiding by the agreement or that it was not in the U.S. national interest to do so.
NATION
The press, branded the 'enemy' by Trump, increasingly trusted by the public: Reuters/Ipsos poll
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Americans are increasingly confident in the news media and less so in President Donald Trump’s administration after a tumultuous year in U.S. politics that tested the public’s trust in both institutions, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Tuesday.
House Republicans seek $1 billion in Medicaid funds for Puerto Rico
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Puerto Rico, struggling to recover from hurricane damage, could receive $1 billion in additional funding for the Medicaid health insurance program for the poor under a proposal from a U.S. House of Representatives panel, a congressional aide said on Tuesday.
Mattis plays down split between Trump, Tillerson on North Korea
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Tuesday played down an apparent split between the U.S. president and his top diplomat over outreach to North Korea, saying America’s focus was still on finding a diplomatic solution to the dispute with Pyongyang.
Daily Bible Verse: [ A Heavenly Inheritance ] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 1:3 NKJV
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