Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/279010
28 Summer 2014 x AEA Advocate NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE to boost student learning and strengthen the quality of teaching. These include peer assistance and review programs, mentoring and other professional development programs, school improvement initiatives to turn around struggling schools and more training programs for members related to ELL students, cultural competence, bullying, more school safety/anti- bullying programs, and technology initiatives to improve classroom instruction and student learning. GPS Grant examples include: • Stadium View School in the Hennepin County detention center in Minnesota was awarded $25,000 to support its project "Restorative practice, social connectedness and resiliency." Stadium View serves students in the 11-21 age-range (the average age is 16) and the majority of the students are two to three years behind in terms of education. Science teacher Tarri Levine works with the students to use creative expression to tap into their passion for learning, build up their self- worth, keep them engaged with their academics and increase the amount of quality time they spend learning. The grant money will be used for self-publishing examples of poetry and music produced by students and the Hennepin County libraries have agreed to house the poetry books. • The Maryland State Education Association's goal is to ensure that educators continue to be leaders in supporting student and teacher success with new Common Core-based curriculum. The $100,00 GPS Grant will serve to create a diverse cadre of 46 leaders from around the state to deliver regional Common Core State Standards professional development programs and activities in a variety of engaging formats to their colleagues, parents, community representatives, and education stakeholders. Local school districts in Maryland have embarked on a full-scale implementation of the CCSS in English/ language arts, literacy, and mathematics in the 2013-14 school year. Building the skills of teachers to successfully implement the CCSS is critical to enhancing student learning and improving student success with the new standards. • The Massachusetts Teachers Association is partnering with Teach Plus on MTA's Common Core Collaborative. They are developing a group of 150 teachers who are creating lessons aligned with the CCSS. The goal of this $150,000 grant is to improve student learning through better instruction aligned with the new standards. The collaborative was launched in September when more than 500 educators took part in a full day of professional development in aligning curricula with the CCSS. In the next phase, three groups of 50 teachers are being trained in the CCSS and are developing lessons aligned with the standards in five three-hour sessions. These lessons will be shared online with other teachers throughout the state. 2 Driving Solutions for Our Nation's Public School, cont. from page 27 For more information about the GPS Fund and apply online, visit www.nea.org/grants/56725.htm Summer.14advo.indd 28 3/14/14 2:58 PM