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Allen Kay

Allen Kay, marketing consultant to TeachersCount
Allen is CEO of Korey Kay & Partners advertising and one of the most awarded Creative Directors in advertising. The agency gained its reputation by putting companies on the map. Virgin Atlantic Airways, Comedy Central and Celebrity Cruises are among them. Allen is a Graduate Board Member of the AdCouncil and AAAA (American Association of Advertising Agencies), where, when Chairman of their New York Board of Governors, he created the annual "Unthinkable Ideas" new media conference. Allen was a founding member of America's Promise—Colin Powell's alliance for youth, spent eleven years on the steering committee of ABNY (Association for a Better New York), is a Director of YES, Inc. (Youth Education through Sports), and is a member of the Advisory Board of PENCIL, an organization that works to improve New York City's public schools. Allen also served for many years as a consultant to the Marketing Board of the New York Philharmonic. The "Write Your Own Ticket" program was one of his many contributions.

Education News: May 29, 2010

Following are some of the top headlines from the world of education for the week ending May 29, 2010.

Duncan Lobbies for School Funding
(Washington Post, May 27th) In an effort to avoid widespread teacher layoffs, Education Secretary Arne Duncan continues to lobby for federal funding. 100,000 to 300,000 education jobs are at risk estimates Duncan, as the Obama administration pursues a $23 billion school bailout. While skeptics argue that the teaching force has grown faster than the student enrollment rate, Duncan continues to urge congress for aid amidst an education “emergency.”

Report: California ELL Students Struggle
(Education Week, May 27th) A study that tracked long-term ELL students in California found that 59% have not reached sufficient fluency after six years of training. The report argues that such statistics reflect the lack of ELL focused curricula in the state. With the largest ELL population in the country, the report urges California to revaluate the structure of its ELL program.

New York Charter Advocates Pursue Funding Bill
(New York Times, May 25th) As charter school advocates push to pass a bill that could front $2 billion to expand New York’s charter system, critics continue to scrutinize the current charter system for oversight weaknesses. Because charters are publicly financed but privately run, financial oversight has become skeptics’ top concern. By searching for oversight blunders, critics hope that the state will revaluate the charter system before providing additional funding. But as the June deadline for the Race to the Top grants approaches, advocates have increased their efforts hoping that charter school expansion will increase New York’s eligibility for the competitive grants.

Colorado Teacher Accountability Law Carries National Implications
(Los Angeles Times, May 23rd) A Colorado teacher accountability law could spark a national teacher evaluation overhaul, education officials say. The law, passed last week, tracks student test scores using their progress for 50% of teachers’ evaluations. The Obama administration praised the bill, as they encourage states to adopt stronger teacher evaluation policies.

Louisiana to Increase Teacher Accountability
(Education Week, May 27th) On Wednesday, the Louisiana Senate passed a controversial teacher accountability proposal. Pushed for by Governor Bobby Jindal, the proposal could allow public schools to use student test scores as part of teachers’ evaluations. While the House has already backed the measure, the new evaluation method is not expected to be implemented until the 2012-2013 academic year.

Report Exposes Oregon’s Low Graduation Rate
(Education Week, May 26th) A report that tracked Oregon’s graduation rate in 2009 showed that only two thirds of public school students graduated on time. The numbers offer a slight improvement to previous years, however are far below the state’s goal of obtaining a 90% graduation rate by 2020. The state’s largest district, Portland, showed only a 53% graduation rate.

Oakland Could Face Teachers’ Strike
(San Francisco Gate, May 26th) The Oakland, California, school district could face a long-term teachers’ strike, as teacher pay negotiations move slowly. The most recent negotiations began after a one day teacher walkout on April 29th. While a strike is not expected before summer break, officials are concerned that the union may call for a strike at the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year. Facing a $100 million short fall next year, the district has been hesitant to increase teacher pay.