Campaign for Educational Equity @ Teachers College, Columbia University Newshttp://www.equitycampaign.orghttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/images/tclogo.gifTeachers College, Columbia Universityhttp://www.tc.eduCampaign for Educational Equity @ Teachers College, Columbia University News us-enThis week at the Campaign us-enCopyright 2006 TeachersCollege.edu. webmaster@tc.columbia.edu acquaro@exchange.tc.columbia.edu Healthier Students Are Better Learners: A Missing Link in Efforts to Close the Achievement Gaphttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=7381

The Campaign for Educational Equity releases today the latest report in its Equity Matters series,"Healthier Students Are Better Learners." The report focuses on "educationally relevant health disparities" in seven areas -- vision; asthma; teen pregnancy; aggression and violence; physical activity; breakfast; and inattention and hyperactivity -- that disproportionately affect the educational opportunities and outcomes of urban minority youth.

TC's Rebell Says Governor's School Budget Cuts are Unconstitutionalhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=7333New York Governor Paterson announced on Tuesday five-percent cuts to state allocations to public schools. Michael Rebell, Executive Director of the Campaign for Educational Equity at TC, says the cuts would violate New York State's constitution. Updated Chart: Equity Campaign Analysis: Federal Stimulus Funding for Education: Are States Meeting the Goals?http://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=7123The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) has now approved the applications for initial federal stimulus funding under the American Recovery and Renewal Act of 2009 (ARRA) for 49 of the 50 states; Pennsylvania, which has been involved in a protracted dispute with federal officials over funding for state-related universities, is the only state whose application is still pending approval. The information the states have submitted raises serious questions about whether the stated purposes of the Act -- stabilizing education funding, facilitating the continuation of equity and adequacy formula adjustments and promoting education reforms to boost student achievement -- are being met. Substantial Yet Not Sufficient: Kentucky's Effort to Build Proficiency for Each and Every Childhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=7298

You can now read the second report in the Equity Campaign's Education, Equity, and the Law series, "Substantial and Yet Not Sufficient: Kentucky's Effort to Build Proficiency for Each and Every Child." Written by Susan Perkins Weston, independent consultant working on Kentucky education issues, and Robert F. Sexton, executive director of the Prichard Committee, the report provides an analytic overview of the origins, impact and implications of Kentucky's landmark educational adequacy litigation, Rose v. Council for Better Education . It provides important new material and insights regarding the political mobilization for school reform, legislative action, statewide implementation, and recent fiscal difficulties that have occurred over the past 20 years since the case was decided. The authors make their case that Kentucky's 1989 court ruling and 1990 legislation unquestionably led to substantive improvement for all students in the state. Based on their experience, they also share a set of thoughts about what counts as successful work to build school systems that serve all students well.
Reframing Family Involvement in Education: Supporting Families to Support Educational Equity http://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=7282

The Equity Campaign releases the latest paper in its Equity Matters series in which authors lay out a reframed approach to family involvement as a key component of comprehensive learning. The authors present a detailed review of the research and evaluation literature through this lens and tackle questions such as: How do families support academic development, and what kinds of supports are demonstrably related to academic development and school success?andnbsp; Is there evidence that family involvement interventions in fact pay off in better outcomes? What are the implications of the research and intervention literature for developing more strongly evidence-based approaches to family involvement?andnbsp;

New Jersey's Decades-Long School Finance Case: So, What's the Payoff?http://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=7241In its pathbreaking Abbott v. Burke decision in 1990, the New Jersey Supreme Court laid the groundwork for providing extra state resources for 32 poor, urban school districts, dubbed the Abbott districts. On November 11 at a forum at Teachers College, four legal and education specialists assessed how successful the Abbott districts have been in providing equitable educational opportunities, and what the future holds for them as they lose their special-funding status. CEE Director Speaks before the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rightshttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=7205Michael Rebell, director of the Campaign for Educational Equity, was a featured speaker in Geneva this week at an expert seminar for the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The two-day meeting aims to inform the Committee on issues related to its future role in the implementation of the "Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights." New Book Acclaims Adequacy Litigationshttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=7189Countering the recent slew of books by Eric Hanushek, Al Lindseth, Paul Peterson and other critics of education adequacy and sound basic education litigations, a new book by Michael A. Rebell argues that successful outcomes in these cases, which have been initiated in dozens of states, is essential if the United States is to achieve its stated policy goals of eliminating achievement gaps and providing equal educational opportunity to all children. New Report: Can After-School Programs Help Level the Playing Field for Disadvantaged Youth?http://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=7180The Campaign for Educational Equity releases today the latest report in its Equity Matters series, "Can After-School Programs Help Level the Playing Field for Disadvantaged Youth?" (Research Review No. 4). The report was written by researchers Margo Gardner and Jodie L. Roth of the National Center for Children and Families (NCCF), and Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, the Virginia and Leonard Marx Professor of Child Development and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and co-director of NCCF. Campaign for Educational Equity Announces "Stimulating Equity?" Projecthttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=7113The Campaign for Educational Equity at Teachers College, Columbia University recently launched an in-depth research effort to evaluate the impact of the ARRA on state education systems around the country. The ARRA has created a unique opportunity for nation-wide education reform, as it infuses billions of new dollars into state education funds and includes specific language in support of adequacy and equity. The Campaign seeks to evaluate States' efforts to advance reform in four key areas outlined in the act... Has NCLB Improved Teacher Quality?http://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6990At a forum hosted by TC's Campaign for Educational Equity, a former Bush Administration education official argues that the "highly qualified teacher" provision of Bush's signature No Child Left Behind law has had no demonstrable impact. Stimulus Bill Promotes Stable, Adequate Fundinghttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6918The $789 billion federal stimulus bill recently passed by Congress allocates roughly $100 billion for educational purposes. This figure is almost double the U.S. Department of Education's $59.2 billion discretionary budget---and gives promise to education advocates that the Obama administration will live up to its commitment to reform and improve education in the United States. Rebell Op-Ed: Slashing the city schools budget is illegal, unfair and unwise http://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6789Michael Rebell has written an opinion article in response to New York State's move to cut education funding to address the state's looming fiscal deficit. In it, Rebell asserts budget cuts for New York City's schools is in violation of the compliance order in the state's school funding suit. He presents a solution with national implications, linking school funding shortfalls with a national agenda to stimulate the economy. Obama and Comprehensive Educational Equityhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6786While on the campaign trail, President-elect Barack Obama pledged to revise and improve the quality of education in the United States. In July 2007, he announced a plan to address simultaneously the problems of poverty and education by creating twenty "promise neighborhoods" based on the model of the Harlem Children's Zone. This announcement was a significant step in advancing the concept of comprehensive educational equity, i.e. the notion that to overcome the achievement gap, the broad needs of children from poverty backgrounds in areas like the health, nutrition, and early childhood education must be met. Thinking Big About How to Close the Gaphttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6766At TC's Fourth Annual Symposium on Educational Equity, a star-studded cast of researchers, educators and policymakers argued for nothing less than a full-scale attempt to combat poverty and its attendant ills. Michael A. Rebell, Executive Director of TC's Campaign for Educational Equity, which organized and hosted the symposium, argued that access for children and families to what he calls "comprehensive educational equity" -- in essence, a full range of services -- should be viewed as a moral, statutory and constitutional right. Researchers Target Poverty as Key Barrier to Closing U.S. Education Gaphttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6754To overcome its education achievement gap, America must institute a comprehensive program of educational and social services to address the broad effects of poverty on millions of the nation's schoolchildren. Such a program could be delivered to 1 million students from families whose incomes fall within 75 percent to 125 percent of the federal poverty line at an approximate cost of $15,000 per student. These and other findings will be presented at TC on November 17th and 18th at the College's fourth annual Symposium on Educational Equity. Rebell: "No Child" Being Left Behind in the Presidential Racehttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6672For the next president, one of the first domestic challenges will be to reshape the No Child Left Behind law, hailed six years ago as a bipartisan solution to America's education troubles. But in their race for the White House, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) are distancing themselves from what has become a tainted brand. PRAISE FOR "MOVING EVERY CHILD AHEAD"http://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6662
Moving Every Child Ahead: From NCLB Hype to Meaningful Educational Opportunity by the Equity Campaign's Michael Rebell and Jessica Wolff is being called a "rare" contribution that "advances an intellectual and legal framework for how the federal role might actually be re-shaped."
 In the News on September 5, 2008http://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6649McCain offers position statements on educational accountability and school choice at GOP National Convention * KY's Prichard Committee launches initiative to propel state into the top 20 states in the nation in education by 2020 * CA state educators report that the number of schools making "adequate yearly progress" dropped Student Conference Highlights Equity Issues Faced by Students at TC and in Public Schoolshttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6631What is the difference between barely passing and barely failing an exam? Technically, just mere points, but for students taking high school exit exams, it can mean the difference between graduating and dropping out, even when there are opportunities to retake the test. Such were the findings of a study presented at the 1st annual Student Research Conference on Educational Equity at Teachers College in April. Rebell Op-Ed: NYC Breaks Faith with Schoolshttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6616NYC's schools are looking at drastic budget cuts for the 2008-2009 school year - $428 million total. Yet, the irony is that after years of litigation against the state to provide additional funding and a historic $5.2 billion settlement, it's now the city that plans to shortchange its own schools. Student Research Conference on Educational Equityhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6528On April 24, the Campaign for Educational Equity held its first Student Research Conference on Educational Equity. This conference was designed to showcase ongoing student work on equity issues in all departments and to increase discussion among students and faculty across disciplines. Smaller Classes: They Can Help, But They're No Silver Bullethttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6577Ask the average parent or teacher what change they'd most like to see in their school, and there's a good chance the answer will be "smaller classes." Now a new review of major research on the subject finds that reduced class size is far from a universal panacea... Tough Questions, Provocative Answers, Lively Debatehttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6576TC's Equity Forum Are Packing in the Crowds-'"and Outlining the Future of Education Research Assessing Achievement Gaps Comprehensivelyhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6557The problem with a "what-gets-measured-gets-done" approach is that "what doesn't get measured doesn't get done," says Richard Rothstein, Research Associate at the Economic Policy Institute and Senior Researcher at the Campaign for Educational Equity. NCLB Should Ease Universal Proficiency Targets, New Book Argues; Focus Instead on Greater Educational Opportunityhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6519
On March 5th, Michael Rebell will make recommendations for reforming NCLB. Moderated by Arlene Ackerman, incoming Superintendent of the Philadelphia Public Schools, the event will feature Jack Jennings of Center on Education Policy and Thomas Rogers from the NYS Council of State Superintendents as respondents.
Ed Week: Researchers Want NAEP to Measure More Than Academicshttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6517On February 21, the Equity Campaign hosted the Equity in Education Forum, "Reassessing the Achievement Gap" in which Richard Rothstein presented a report commissioned by the Campaign for Education Equity that details his ideas for reforming the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The following article on Rothstein's report appears in Education Week. EdFunding Matters Blog: New Hampshire's Imprudent Attempt to Tamper with Constitutional Principleshttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6472The New Hampshire legislature is currently considering a proposal by Governor John Lynch to adopt a ludicrous constitutional amendment that would repeal the two-centuries-old provision that imposes a duty on the state to provide a constitutionally adequate education to every child and to guarantee adequate funding. Read More... Recommended Readingshttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6474
Since 2005, Equity Campaign has hosted an annual symposium to advance the conversation on how we can close the achievement gap and have real equal opportunity for all. The following are recently published books that have stemmed from these conversations that we recommend to anyone interested in educational equity issues.
 Pursuing equal educational opportunity in a post-Brown worldhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6444TC's Equity Symposium asks: Can the state finance suits fill the gap as the Supreme Court retreats on integration? Rebell: 'Adequacy' Movement Is Alive and Thrivinghttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6391Contrary to the assertions of Alfred A. Lindseth, the education-adequacy-litigation movement is alive, well, and achieving extraordinary successes. Book Reviews: School Funding Warshttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6377"Courting Failure: How School Finance Lawsuits Exploit Judges' Good Intentions and Harm Our Children" edited by Eric A. Hanushek
"School Money Trials: the Legal Pursuit of Educational Adequacy," edited by Martin R. West and Paul E. Peterson Educational Equity and the U.S. Constitutionhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6366On September 17, Michael Rebell of the Campaign for Educational Equity will host a Constitution Day forum to discuss how the U.S. Constitution has shaped the opportunity for educational equity in our nation's schools. Reauthorizing NCLB: New Recommendations from the Leaders of The Campaign for Educational Equity http://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6376Michael A. Rebell and Jessica R. Wolff have released a summary of a far-reaching set of recommendations for changing the federal No Child Left Behind Act, which is up for Congressional reauthorization this year. Making the CFE Money Matter in NYC Schoolshttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6313Unhappy with New York City's efforts to lay out a sound plan for how they will spend the hard-fought CFE funds this year, Michael Rebell went on the record to criticize the NYC Department of Education's Contract for Excellence (C4E). Amy Stuart Wells on Reviving Idea of Blending Students from City with Suburbshttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6290Attacking NYC Schools Chancellor's position that racial integration policies are no longer necessary for city schools, a group of civil rights advocates disagree and point to a "metropolitan solution." Rebell on the City's Education Funding Planshttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6289Supporters of the lawsuit that resulted in increased funding for the city's public schools, among them CEE's Michael Rebell, are disappointed with NYC's plan for how to spend its new money. One source said there has even been talk of another lawsuit if the city does not relent. The Equity Campaign Denounces Supreme Court Ruling Limiting the Use of Race in Public School Voluntary Integration Efforts http://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6266Hope seen in Kennedy's swing decision allowing districts to address racial isolation in schools, yet the ruling complicates the task of school officials seeking racial balance TC's Equity Research a Presence at AERAhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6228Teachers College made a significant contribution to the body of research on educational equity at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) annual meeting this April. Education Trust Releases Recommendations for Revamping NCLBhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6152In preparation for this year's reauthorization of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the Education Trust released its recommendations to Congress last week. Among their suggestions are that Congress alter how NCLB holds states accountable for meeting Annual Yearly Progress targets and direct more federal funds to high poverty schools. Rebell Op-Ed: Rush to slash class size will hurt our schoolshttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6115After 14 years of litigation, New York State is about to make history by sending over $7 billion in extra funding to schools statewide over the next four years. Equally significant is an accompanying accountability system, geared to ensure that this money will be well-spent. TC's Equity Campaign Teams with the Harlem Children's Zonehttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6079TC's Campaign for Educational Equity is partnering with the Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ) to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of HCZ's system of early and progressive interventions aimed at improving health and educational opportunities for preschool-aged children. ETS Study Warns of Growing Inequality in Income, Skillshttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6055The next generation of Americans will have lower literacy and math skills, on average, and experience greater income inequality than the current working-age population, a new report warns. Rebell Criticizes Mayor's New Funding Formula in Daily Newshttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6053Michael Rebell's Op-Ed was featured in the New York Daily News on January 25, 2007. Read the article here... NYC Schools Would Get $5.4 Billion Boost Over 4 Yearshttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6052Spitzer proposed $3.2 billion in increased funding for city schools over four years, and the Mayor Michael Bloomberg has proposed an additional $2.2 billion coming from the city, The funding boosts, coupled with additional state accountability and a city shift toward personal responsibility for principals, mean that New York City schools stand to undergo significant changes in the coming year, with focused attention from both the mayor and the governor's offices. Read more... Education Will Narrow Income Gaphttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6051"Policies that boost our national investment in education and training can help reduce inequality while expanding economic opportunity," says Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. AP Tests Are Leaving Some Behindhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6050Minority students are missing out on taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Only 7% of African-American students participated in AP courses and testing, says College Board. New Study on Achievement Gap Highlights Differences in Student Achievement and Growthhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6033NWEA researchers have released a new study on the achievement gap. The study revealed that for every group at every grade, students from poor schools grew less than students from wealthy schools and minority students exhibited less growth than their non-minority peers. The Campaign Launches Major Equity Research Initiativehttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6032Based on its commitment to a comprehensive approach to addressing educational inequalities, the Campaign for Educational Equity has launched a major Research Initiative, under the direction of Professor Amy Stuart Wells, Deputy Director for Research. Read More... Rebell Criticizes Mayor's New Funding Formulahttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6030Campaign Executive Director criticizes Mayor Bloomberg's proposed funding formula in today's Daily News. "The plan unveiled last week by Mayor Bloomberg for further restructuring of the New York City school system has many good points, but the proposal to alter the city's school financing system is not one of them," said Rebell. Bloomberg Proposes Bold Changes for City Schoolshttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6016A rigorous tenure review process, elimination of the regional administrative structure, empowered principals, and a new system for allocating funds among the city schools are four major education reforms that were proposed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in his "State of the City" address yesterday. Read More... NCLB Turns Five Todayhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6007NCLB faces a tough future as Congress prepares to reauthorize it -" a group of 100 education, religion and civil rights leaders today announces an effort calling for "major changes." Governor Spitzer Makes Education a Top Priorityhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6004Promising a transparent funding formula, increased state funding, and more accountability, Governor Eliot Spitzer proposed education reform as a means to revitalize the state's economy in his first State of the State address from Albany on Wednesday. Workforce Commission Declares Need for Radical Changes in U.S. Education Systemhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6003The U.S. no longer has the best educated workforce in the world, according to a new report released last month by The New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce. The Commission found that over the past thirty years, America has proportionately produced fewer high school and college graduates than other developed countries. Paying Attention Earlier Onhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6002High-quality early education can help mitigate disparities in school readiness that exist between children of different socioeconomic backgrounds. Breaking the Cycle of Povertyhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6001Reducing the disparities in children's achievement will require programs aimed at alleviating the effects of poverty Bush to Seek Renewal of Education Lawhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=6000President Bush plans to meet with lawmakers next week to boost efforts to renew the No Child Left Behind education law. Coalition of 100 organizations proposes changes to NCLBhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=5999One hundred national civil rights, education, disability advocacy, and religious groups have signed on to a "Joint Organizational Statement" calling for major changes in federal education legislation. The Goals of Educationhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=5964In the NCLB era, accountability has focused almost exclusively on basic academic skills. It is time, Mr. Rothstein and Ms. Jacobsen believe, to ask if the accountability system we have is producing the kind of graduates we want. The Goals of Educationhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=5964In the NCLB era, accountability has focused almost exclusively on basic academic skills. It is time, Mr. Rothstein and Ms. Jacobsen believe, to ask if the accountability system we have is producing the kind of graduates we want. Rebell to Debate Hanushek on Fiscal Equity and the Future of NYC Public Educationhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=5960"The Campaign for Fiscal Equity Case and the Future of NYC Public Education" will be the topic for panelists Michael A. Rebell, Executive Director of the Campaign for Educational Equity at TC; Eric Hanushek, Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution; Randi Weingarten, President, United Federation of Teachers; and Sol Stern, Contributing Editor City Journal on Tuesday, December 12, 2006. Only the Bathwater -- Or the Baby, Too?http://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=5952If there was a central question at issue during the College's recent two-day symposium on the federal No Child Left Behind Act, it was if the country should set its sights on more realistic achievement targets than NCLB presently endorses. The Gaps Don't Seem to Be Closinghttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=5955Teachers College President Susan Fuhrman set the stage for a two-day marathon in which researchers presented new data about NCLB and debated whether and how to fix the law, which was first enacted in 2002. Booker's Bottom Line: It's a Question of Desirehttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=5956Not long after he became Mayor of Newark this past spring, Cory Booker took two young men to dinner who had spray-painted death threats to him on the wall of their school. The dinner went well -- "they were good kids," Booker told his listeners at the close of TC's second annual Symposium on Educational Equity -- but at one point, the Mayor realized that his guests couldn't decipher their choice of entrees. Amy Stuart Wells to Head Equity Campaign Research Initiativehttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=5918Dr. Amy Stuart Wells, an internationally known expert on school desegregation and school choice, has been named to lead a wide-ranging research initiative for the Campaign for Educational Equity. Rebell Article in TC Record on Education Adequacy Studieshttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=5905While the validity and the reliability of the current education adequacy study methodologies can be improved, these methodologies are vast improvements over the ad-hoc political deal-making processes of the past. Rebell Receives Partner in Social Justice Awardhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=5739This June, Michael A. Rebell, executive director of The Campaign for Educational Equity was honored by AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps. and was presented with the Partner in Social Justice Award. Teachers College National Access Network Convenes National Conference http://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=5722The sixth annual national Quality Education conference, Schools for Our Future: Ensuring Quality Education for All Children, was held in Washington D.C. on June 5th and 6th. The conference convened education policy makers, attorneys and advocates who are working for educational equity and adequate funding in their states. Rebell Addresses Incoming TC Peace Corps Fellowshttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=5678Rebell told the group that the talk gave him "a nostalgic opportunity to reflect back on his own Peace Corps experience when he served in Sierra Leone, West Africa doing rural community development work." Rebell impressed upon the new Fellows how his own "deep-routed Peace Corps experience gave me the motivation and persistence to continue to work on educational equity issues all these years." "I challenged them to do the same," he said. NEA Conference Explores Value of Public Educationhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=5671An opening session covered "Investment Returns from Reducing Inadequate Education," a topic presented by Henry Levin that is based on the results of the Levin's symposium at the Campaign for Educational Equity, Teachers College, Columbia University. Molly Hunter, National Access Network Director, led a discussion about the school funding lawsuits across the country and how litigation can be a mechanism to secure better education resources and improved opportunity. No single state to have a highly qualified teacher in every core class this year as required by NCLBhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=5655Not a single state will have a highly qualified teacher in every core class this current school year as promised under the federal No Child Left Behind law. Education: The Path Out of Povertyhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=5650The annual "The State of America's Children," from the Children's Defense Fund takes a close look at 37 million people living in America who are poor (including 13 million children) and the growing numbers of families struggling to survive. Gap in Teacher Quality Falls Along Income Lineshttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=5631Public school teachers in the nation's wealthiest communities continue to be more qualified than those in the poorest despite a federal law designed to provide all children equal educational opportunity. Welcome to The Campaign for Educational Equity at Teachers College, Columbia Universityhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=5601The Campaign for Educational Equity is an exciting new undertaking for Teachers College. Read how we envision working together to promote equal educational opportunity and make an impact in the city and the entire nation.