Getting more students to graduate from high school is great! That's the goal of educators, businesses and educational researchers trying to stem the dropout crisis. But we need to do more to help workers continue their educations to meet the growing demands of the workplace. That's the conclusion of a just-released report by the National Commission on Adult Literacy being touted by the Southern Regional Education Board.
Can you spot anything out of the ordinary about this Tarrant County College faculty member? Armando Villarreal III looks pretty much like you'd expect a TCC history instructor to look, doesn't he? But he's different in one major way: He's a convicted felon who has made the most of his second chance. Read his story, and learn about area colleges' policies on hiring ex-convicts, here.
From the San Antonio Express-News:
About 60 percent of Hispanic college students start out at a public community college, where tuition is cheap and they can stick close to home. But it may not be the best strategy for earning a bachelor's degree, according to statistics from the U.S. Education Department.
About 6 percent of Hispanic students who start at a public community college earn a bachelor's degree within six years, compared with 40 percent who start at a public university and 56 percent who start at a private university.
Hector Montengro liked the chicken fettuccine alfredo pizza at Birraporetti's, one of Arlington's best lunch spots. Enough to take home the leftovers. He's also pretty excited about the southwest Arlington home his family has finally found (it has a media room).
A couple of us caught up with the new Arlington school district chief today over lunch and learned that he's big on getting principals to understand how their school's stack up against each other and that they're members of "Team Arlington" vs. just running their single campus. (He's posted his own recap on the district's Web site under the heading "Failure is NOT an option.") He says Ferguson and Hutcheson Junior High schools, among others, have some bragging to do for big gains on recent reading scores among eighth-graders.
Another tantalizing tip: the new superintendent has been talking with UTA President James Spaniolo and Tarrant County College Southeast President Judith Carrier about more cooperation among Arlington's major educational institutions. One goal is prepping all Arlington seniors to apply to college somewhere. Another possibility, an engineering-math-science magnet-type school in the Arlington district.
From the Austin American-Statesman:
Austin Community College's renewable energy training program targets an industry that is moving from powering homes and businesses through traditional means to one that is using alternative energy sources.
The nonprofit College Board is trying to ensure that the nation's 1,200 community colleges and their 11.6 million students don't get forgotten. A new report that it commissioned calls for more public funding and says just letting students in the door is no longer enough. Community college leaders want more resources for making sure students are getting the education they need. The Associated Press reports.
