Monday Morning Monitor - November 30, 2009

Your weekly update from the National Council for Agricultural Education

November 30, 2009

The Council

Vision

To be the collective leadership voice for Agricultural Education in the United States.

Mission

To transform agricultural education for a changing world.

The Council will:

Create a sustainable revenue stream for The National Council for Agricultural Education operations,
Establish an effective brand communication strategy for Agricultural Education,
Promote seamless educational pathways leading to current and emerging careers in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources,
Implement a strategy that makes Agricultural Education more relevant, and
Define a process for surfacing critical issues and offering ideas and solutions, generating input, setting direction, and sharing with the profession.

Website

http://www.teamaged.org/council

Upcoming Events

2010

January 25
FFA Foundation Board of Trustees Meeting
Alexandria, VA

January 26-27
National FFA Board of Directors Meeting
Alexandria, VA

March 5-7
The Council Board Meeting
Alexandria, VA

MMM Past Issues

November 23
October 26
October 19
October 5
September 28
September 21
September 14

Quote for the Week

"It is never too late to give up your prejudices."
--Henry David Thoreau

MMM Submissions

To have information from your ag ed organization included in the Monday Morning Monitor, email Pam Holbert at pholbert@ffa.org.

Agricultural Education prepares students for successful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in the global agriculture, food, fiber, and natural resources systems.

From The Council President

Race to the Top Grants will go to States initiating Educational Reform...Consider the CASE Program as a part of your state’s plan for reform…

“The Race to the Top Program is a competitive grant program to encourage and reward States that are implementing significant reforms in the four education areas described in the ARRA: enhancing standards and assessments, improving the collection and use of data, increasing teacher effectiveness and achieving equity in teacher distribution, and turning around struggling schools.” http://www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html

The CASE program objectives http://www.case4learning.org match the above areas and will help transform agricultural education. CASE was initiated using STEM concepts. Race to the Top applications must address STEM.

Check out the Race to the Top website for workshops, application deadlines and details. Get the CASE program on your state’s agenda to help reform education by investing in a program that will assess student learning, increase teachers’ professional development, and increase the use of science, math and technology concepts in agriculture classrooms.

Nancy J. Trivette
Council President
nancy.trivette@ag.state.nj.us

From FFA

Sustainability Through Biotechnology Video Contest
Submit a video (approximately two to three minutes in length) that shows the world how modern agricultural techniques are helping our planet. It’s a great way to work on Ag Communications skills and learn more about the innovation happening today.

Winning chapters will receive:

$500 to purchase new audio/video equipment for your chapter
A visit from one of the judges – all leaders in modern agriculture today
Your video featured on SchoolTube and ffa.org.

Just three quick hints for a winning video: Keep it clean, fun and informative. The rest is up to you! Grab as many of your fellow FFA members as you want, check out the full rules and... Get Creative!

Get everything you need in the Sustainability Through Biotechnology Video Contest packet which includes

Official Rules
Entry Form
Instructions for uploading your video
Plenty of resources to help get you started

All videos are due by December 31, 2009.
Winners will be announced during FFA Week 2010!

From NAAE

SPECA Grant Applications Due January 15
SPECA seeks to enhance curricula in agricultural education, increase faculty teaching competencies, and interest young people in pursuing higher education in order to prepare for scientific and professional careers in the food and agricultural sciences. SPECA promotes the incorporation of agriscience and agribusiness subject matter into the general instructional program, particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) classes, in order for society to gain a better understanding of food, health and environmental issues.

Projects that facilitate joint initiatives with the grant recipient and other secondary schools, institutions of higher education (associate's and bachelor's degrees), or nonprofit organizations supporting agriscience and agribusiness education, are also encouraged.

For more information, visit the SPECA website, or contact
P. Gregory Smith
National Education Program Leader
Higher Education Programs
Cooperative State Research, Education & Extension Service
202-720-2067

From ACTE

Research Information for Reporters
ACTE has developed a CTE Research Fact Sheet that contains the latest statistical information related to the importance of CTE in a variety of areas, including student academic achievement, earnings, dropout rates and occupational outlooks. To understand how CTE is implemented in your state, view ACTE’s CTE State Profiles project.

From USDE

U.S. Secretary of Education Duncan to Deliver Opening Remarks at the 2009 Federal Student Aid Conference
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will deliver opening remarks at the 2009 Federal Student Aid Conference at 11:15 a.m. CST, Tuesday, Dec. 1, at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center, Nashville, Tenn. Secretary Duncan will discuss the Obama administration’s higher education agenda, including plans for improving college completion.

The conference offers financial aid industry participants with critical program and policy information necessary to participate in the federal student aid programs. This year an estimated 6,000 participants are expected to attend.
http://www.ed.gov/news/events/advisory.html#113009