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P.O. Box 1398 THE POSTAGE AND FEES PAID

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OFFICIAL BUSINESS
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ACHIEVER EDUCATION
Permit NO. G-17

April 15, 2003 • Vol. 2, No. 7 FIRST CLASS

“When it comes to
the education of our
children . . . failure is
not an option.”
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH

N E W R E L E A S E !Booklet
Helping Your Child
ies is a publica-
let Helping Your Child ser
ust added to the 12-book good character

J
tion that looks at the value
and citizenship. Helping
Citizen suggests activities
s and skills that make up
Your Child Become a Re
that parents and the ir
se values to work in their
sch
da
sponsible
ool-aged
ily lives and
children can do to put tho to ensure that
tip s for wo rki ng with teachers and schools
pro vid es s that children
me mb ers act tog eth er to promote the basic value
family ensive list of
the booklet provides an ext
can learn and use. Finally, me s that can be
s with character-related the
books and other resource cter and citizen-
d an d dis cu sse d wi th ch ildren to encourage chara
rea
ship development. ation necessary to help the
ir chil-
ts wi th the too ls an d inform
ies aims to provide paren lp both school-aged
The Helping Your Child ser wh ich fea tur e pra ctical lessons and activities to he
d life. These booklet s, anish.
dren succeed in school an y to ach iev e, are ava ila ble in both English and Sp blications
velop the skills necessar partment of Education’s pu
and preschool children de hy c.h tm l or call the De
w.ed.gov/pubs/parents/ place an advance order.
For an online copy, visit ww fication number EK0540B to
PU BS with identi
center at 1-877-4ED-
 THE

ACHIEVER www.NoChildLeftBehind.gov • April 15, 2003 • Vol. 2, No. 7

New Web Resource Designed for School Emergencies

In addition to unveiling the Web site, Paige announced

I
n an effort to provide school leaders with more information
about emergency preparedness, U.S. Secretary of Education
Rod Paige and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom
Ridge on March 7 unveiled a new section on the U.S.
Department of Education’s Web site—www.ed.gov/
emergencyplan—designed to be a simple resource to help
school officials plan for any emergency, including natural
disasters, violent incidents and terrorist acts.
“The midst of a crisis is not the time to start figuring out
who ought to do what. At that moment, everyone involved—
from top to bottom—should know the drill and know each
other,” Secretary Paige said.
l
Spreading the “Gospe
of Achievement”
ent
ational Urban League’s Presid
that $30 million is available in FY 2003 to help school dis-
tricts improve and strengthen emergency response and crisis
management plans. Funds may be used to train school per-
sonnel, parents and students in crisis response; coordinate
with local emergency responders, including fire and police
department staff; purchase equipment; and coordinate with
groups and organizations responsible for recovery issues, such
as health and mental health agencies. An additional $30 mil-
lion is included in the proposed FY 2004 budget.
Applications for this program will be available in early
spring 2003. Funding decisions will be made in the summer.
The Education Department has been working with the
Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies
on school preparedness. In addition, the Department along
with experts from around the country has developed a model
emergency response and crisis management plan, which is
available at the new Web site.

N Hugh Price and Vice Presid

of Education Velma Cobb las
month spoke with ED’s Be th An
ige,
n
abo
ent

Br
t
yan
ut
,
“The tide of events since September 11, 2001, demands that
schools be better prepared. We’re here to help to provide more
information and resources and to highlight programs we know
work,” said Paige, pictured with U.S. Secretary of Homeland
senior adviser to Secretary Pa Security Tom Ridge at an event announcing the school
’s pla ns for reach-
the Urban League emergency Web site.
the key role
ing out to families on
ach iev e-
Hugh Price reading plays in a child’s
l Urban League rec ed eiv
ment in school. The Nationa
er to develop Reading
a $500,000 grant last Octob
ide in the Urban League
Information Centers nationw
uston, Texas; Miami, Fl.;
cities of Cleveland, Ohio; Ho
this campaign, the Urban
and Washington, D.C. For
ce guide in partnership
League has published a resour
d Read and Rise.
with Scholastic, Inc., entitle
League doing as a result of
Bryan: What is the Urban
No Child Left Behind? ,
our affiliates about the law
Cobb: We’ve been training em en t. We wa nt
parent engag
especially the provision on in the ir com -
of workshops
them to hold similar kinds to
e tha t parents know how to talk
munities to make sur
ool.
the people in their child’s sch
continued on page 2

Photography by Leslie Williams

 continued from page
1 Price: There are three basic compo- in their children’s learning and that our
nents of the Campaign for African- children must be able to read in order to
American Achievement. First, to spread achieve. The centers will be a great com-
U.S. Department of Education the gospel of achievement in the munity resource for information about
African American community. Second, reading and will help families to help
The Achiever is published by the Office of to create materials and venues where their children improve their reading and
Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs, parents can get specific information language skills. The centers also will
U.S. Department of Education (ED). about how to help their children help community-based organizations
become good readers; that’s where the that offer after-school programs, such as
Secretary of Education Read and Rise guide comes in. Third, churches and non-profits, to design
Rod Paige
to interface with schools. A number of activities that will improve and enhance
Assistant Secretary
our affiliates are getting into that area. children’s reading skills.
Laurie M. Rich Bryan: How did the Bryan: When will the centers open?
idea come about for Cobb: The centers are scheduled to
Senior Director Read and Rise? open toward the end of March. They
John McGrath
Cobb: In 1997, will be staffed 20 hours a week. Parents
Executive Editor
when we started the will be able to borrow books and other
Susan Aspey Campaign for information from the centers. The cen-
African-American ters also will offer children story hours
Editor Beth Ann Bryan
Achievement, we set and training for caregivers on how to
Nicole Ashby out to support the aca- incorporate reading into their care sites.
demic and social development of stu- We want people to see the Urban
Designer dents of color. And as we looked across League as a clearinghouse for informa-
Jason Salas Design the country at our affiliate networks, tion on reading and literacy.
results in those cities were comparable to
Questions and comments Bryan: Are you seeing a change in the
the results of the NAEP tests: many
communities where you work?
Editor African American children were reading
The Achiever Price: Definitely. Our campaign and
below basic level. What started out as a
U.S. Department of Education No Child Left Behind, as well as many
one-pager on what parents could do to
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W. other measures, have helped to create
improve their child’s language and pre-
Room 5E217 what I call a “grassroots academic
Washington, DC 20202 reading skills grew into a full-fledged
achievement movement.” There was a
Fax: 202-205-0676 parents’ guide to reading development
perception that our children weren’t
NoChildLeftBehind@ed.gov from zero to nine years of age.
into academic achievement, that their
Bryan: Can anyone order one of these parents weren’t aware of the issues. But
Subscriptions and address
Read and Rise booklets? I think we’re seeing that turn around.
changes
Cobb: Absolutely, they’re free. We have Many parents are overcoming their
ED Pubs
already disseminated 700,000 copies. own instinct that this is the school’s
P.O. Box 1398
Jessup, MD 20794
They are available online at www.nul.org. business, not their business. We’ve had
1-877-4ED-PUBS (433-7827) You can also call 212-558-5471 or drop a consistent message that achievement
edpubs@inet.ed.gov by your local Urban League. is everybody’s business.
Bryan: Tell us more about the Reading
Information on ED programs,
Information Centers in Cleveland, The Reading Information Centers, which the
resources and events National Urban League opened across the
Information Resource Center Houston, Miami and Washington?
Cobb: The Reading Information country last month, will host children story
U.S. Department of Education
hours and provide training for caregivers.
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W. Centers are a key part of our grass-
Below, Price chats with Cobb.
Washington, DC 20202 roots campaign to drive home the
1-800-USA-LEARN (872-5327) message that par-
usa_learn@ed.gov ents and care-
www.ed.gov/offices/OIIA/IRC
givers must
The Achiever contains news and information
be active
about public and private organizations for participants
the reader’s information. Inclusion does not
constitute an endorsement by the U.S.
Department of Education of any products or
services offered or views expressed.

2 Photography by Jean Paul Vellotti

 research’ appears

!!!!!
en tific ally b as ed
“The phrase ‘sci Act. It is there
111 times in the N
o C hi
te
ld
ac h
Le
er
ft
s,
Be
sc
hind
hools and states ar
e Tips for
o n. If
with good reas
going to be h el d ac co u n table for raising st
udent Educators
ey nee d th e too ls that will allow
achievement, th effective practices
and
d u tiliz e
an
I
f you don’t have a school crisis plan in part-
them to id en tify g
n ly trie d -a n d -tru e tool for generatin nership with public safety agencies, develop

programs. The o ice is

one. Or if you do, review it. Ensure that your

owledge and pract

plan addresses issues related to terrorism, such
ad va n ce s in kn as biological, radiological and chemical attacks,
cumulative and includes the following four major areas:
od.”
the scientific meth ctor of the Inst
itute of Prevention/Mitigation:
Whitehurst, dire n Department, in a
Grover J. (Russ) io • Ensure a process is in place for controlling
es at the Educat
Education Scienc the House Subcommittee on
access and egress to the school. Require all
re persons who do not have authority to be
statement befo ions.
Educ ation Appropriat in the school to sign in.
Labor/HHS/
Preparedness:

p: No Child
• Have site plans for each school facility

-U
readily available and ensure they are
shared with first responders and agencies
Close

Left Behind
responsible for emergency preparedness.
• Make sure every student has a secondary
contact person and contact information
Troops to Teachers readily available. Remember that during a
crisis many parents and guardians may not
be able to get to the school to pick up

I
n her role as first lady, Laura Bush has cham- their child.
pioned the Troops to Teachers program as a
Response:
part of her Ready to Read, Ready to Learn • Develop a command structure for respond-
education initiative and in her visits to military bases ing to a crisis. The roles and responsibilities
in the United States and abroad. The Troops to Teachers program encourages for- for educators, law enforcement and fire
officials, and other first responders in
mer military personnel to become classroom teachers. The program recruits eligi- responding to different types of crisis need
ble participants and provides them with referral and placement services as well as to be developed, reviewed and approved.
financial assistance for teaching in high-need schools. The purpose of this pro-
gram is to help relieve teacher shortages, especially in high-need areas such as Recovery:
• Identify and approve a team of creden-
math, science and special education; provide positive role models for public tialed mental health workers to provide
school students; and assist former military personnel in making the transition to mental health services to faculty and stu-
teaching as a second career. To date, more than 4,300 teachers have been hired dents after a crisis. Understand that recov-
ery takes place over time and that the serv-
through the program, in every state and in more than 2,000 school districts. ices of this team may be needed over an
Troops to Teachers is funded through the U.S. Department of Education, extended time period.
which transfers the funds to the Department of Defense through the Defense
For the full text of guidelines,
Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) office. Troops–to- visit www.ed.gov/emergencyplan.
Teachers itself does not provide participants with preservice training to become
certified teachers; rather, the program provides guidance on how to obtain certifi-
cation, maintains a nationwide teacher referral system, has placement offices in
40 states and provides participants with lists of district vacancies. Participants U.S. Eighth-Graders
100
may receive a stipend of up to $5,000 to pay for certification costs or a bonus of Less Likely to Have
$10,000 if they teach full time in a high-need school as an elementary, secondary, Math-Major Teachers
80
vocational or technical teacher for at least three years.
According to a Troops to Teachers survey conducted in 1998, the program 60
71%
has successfully recruited significant numbers of men and minorities to teaching.
For example, 90 percent of Troops-to-Teachers participants are male and 29 per- 40
cent are minorities, compared to 26 percent and 13 percent, respectively, among 41%
all teachers. 20
State education agencies may operate Troops to Teachers recruitment offices,
identify and coordinate activities with high-need school districts. 0
For more information, visit www.proudtoserveagain.com or call U.S. International
Average Average
1-800-231-6242.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Third
International Mathematics and Science Study–Repeat, 1999.
3