News Links | June 11, 2015

SYSTEM NEWS | OPINIONS

What’s the best way to learn math? Readers share their ideas, experiences From arithmetic to algebra, there is plenty of disagreement over how best to teach math. Some parents and educators argue that students need to understand the concepts behind the problems they complete, while others advocate for more practice and a highly structured teaching approach. Across Washington’s community colleges, a program known as I-BEST makes math relevant to students by teaching it in the context of a profession like machinery or anesthesiology. The Seattle Times, June 11, 2015 Clark College looks to attract new Penguins An ounce of defiance and a play off the old saying "when pigs fly" are among the tools Clark College officials are looking at to deal with a $3.6 million budget shortfall that threatens the existence of some academic programs. Tim Cook, the college's vice president of instruction, and Bob Williamson, vice president of administration, both pointed to a drop in enrollment over the past five years as a major contributor to the budget shortfall. The Columbian, June 11, 2015 Bridge to College offers alternative for Federal Way seniors Next year, Federal Way Public Schools will offer math and English Language Arts classes for high school seniors who need to ramp up their skills in order to get into and succeed in college. Bridge to College” courses will be offered for seniors at Todd Beamer High School, Decatur High School and Truman High School next fall, thanks to a grant from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. Federal Way Mirror, June 10, 2015 YVCC graduate securing career opportunities Working security for a local organization is not in Benjamin Prather’s long-term plans. He graduates today from Yakima Valley Community College with two associate degrees — and has his eye on a new bachelor’s degree the college will begin offering in the fall. Yakima Herald, June 10, 2015 Skagit Valley College students leave their mark on Mount Vernon with painted murals Skagit Valley College students stood on scaffolding Tuesday behind Mount Vernon store Gretchen’s Kitchen with paintbrushes at the ready. In the hot sun, they painted bright green leaves onto the back wall of the building, working on what will eventually be a 15-foot by 30-foot mural. Skagit Valley Herald, June 10, 2015 Working on Clallam’s unemployment problem Hundreds of jobs are available, yet the unemployment rate of Clallam County hovers among the top in the state at 8 percent. ... WorkSource serves a broad demographic from highly and/or over-qualified to those lacking skills for employment, but few in between. “The middle tier are working,” Gibson said. Thus, positions for highly qualified job seekers and the educational opportunities to provide those in need of more job training need to be available. WorkSource officials are collaborating with Peninsula College to identify ways the college may be able to help in providing educational opportunities. Sequim Gazette, June 10, 2015 Teen with Asperger’s goes from special ed to valedictorian For Chance Mair, sometimes emotions are hard to express. And it was certainly an emotional night at Marysville Arts and Technology High School’s graduation Monday, where the students filed into the auditorium in black gowns and royal-blue stoles. Not only was Mair graduating with the 50 seniors in his class, he was the class valedictorian. And he would be giving the valedictorian address, a momentous occasion for a student who was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at an early age. ... He took half his courses in a public middle school and the rest at Washington Virtual Academy online. Once in high school, he was so advanced in math he ended up taking courses at Everett Community College. The Seattle Times, June 10, 2015 Most profitable degree in Washington doesn't come from university The most profitable degree in the state of Washington might not come from where you expect. According to a state-run website for prospective college students, Bellevue College tops the list when it comes to how much students make after graduation. Students graduating from Bellevue College can make a median wage of $48,000 a year. KIRO TV, June 10, 2015 Bates: Culinary arts students head to U.S. Open for experience of a lifetime If you’re lucky enough to hold tickets to next week’s U.S. Open at Chambers Bay, you may run into Bates Technical College’s Culinary Arts students and a handful of the program’s graduates. About 50 students and Certified Culinarians® will help provide food service in more than 40 tents, most sponsored by major companies like American Express and Lexus. Many students will log up to 12-hour days working as station attendants, kitchen assistants, servers, operation helpers, or in washing stations. Culinary Arts Instructor Chef Roger Knapp says the group will receive the opportunity of a lifetime working at the biggest sporting event the Northwest has ever seen. The Suburban Times, June 9, 2015 CPTC: Hands-on history lesson The Aviation Maintenance Technician Program at Clover Park Technical College includes hands-on training with several aircraft housed at the South Hill Campus. But earlier this spring, a group of then second- and fourth-quarter students had the rare opportunity to learn on the job with a historic project outside the classroom The Suburban Times, June 9, 2015 Pierce College instructors recognized at international conference Pierce College is proud to announce the recipients of the annual NISOD Excellence Awards. The 2015 honorees include Professors Corrina Wycoff, Sharon Camner and Duncan McClinton. Award recipients were honored during the organization’s International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence in Austin in late May. The Suburban Times, June 5, 2015 Pierce College awards honorary degree to local businessman Pierce College is proud to recognize Jerry Korum as the recipient of the college’s first-ever Honorary Associate of Arts degree. In recognition of his educational service, community involvement and personal and professional accomplishments, the college will award the degree during the 2015 Commencement ceremony. The Suburban Times, June 5, 2015

TRENDS| HORIZONS | EDUCATION

Remediation for job seekers In recent years a wide range of companies have sprung up to help fix the so-called skills gap — the gulf between what employers need and what college graduates can do. These upstarts include coding academies and job-training boot camps, where job seekers, many of whom already hold degrees, spend 10 weeks or so and a few thousand dollars learning the skills necessary to get a gig with a technology start-up. Likewise, massive open course providers have moved in this direction, getting less massive and less open by offering microcredentials aimed at specific workforce needs. Traditional colleges are in the space, too, particularly a growing number of two-year colleges that are partnering directly with employers to create course content aimed at the skills those companies say they need. Inside Higher Ed, June 11, 2015 Where free college isn't a cure-all In Norway, where universities don’t charge tuition, the children of parents who lack college degrees typically don’t pursue a higher education, either. The Atlantic, June 10, 2015 10 reasons to attend a community college The traditional four-year college​ experience isn't for everyone. Some students aren't sure what they want to study, while others are looking for a more affordable education. Community colleges​ can be good options for students in these situations. If you're considering community college, or are just curious about the benefits, check out the following reasons why attending ​one might be a good decision​. US News & World Report, June 10, 2015 Opinion: Are remedial courses actually hurting community college students? Four years ago, I stumbled across startling research that remedial courses in community colleges — a backbone of American higher education — often do no good, and that colleges do not adequately inform students about the true consequences of the placement tests that put students in those remedial courses. The Washington Post, June 10, 2015 High school graduation rates: The good, the bad and the ambiguous Officially, the U.S. has a high school graduation rate of 81 percent — a historic high. But our months-long investigation, in partnership with reporters at 14 member stations, reveals that this number should be taken with a big grain of salt. We found states, cities and districts pursuing a range of strategies to improve the grad rate. KUOW, June 9, 2015

POLITICS | LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL

A path to debt-free Seeking to put some policy heft behind the progressive vision of debt-free college that is gaining steam on the campaign trail, Senator Elizabeth Warren on Wednesday outlined a sweeping college affordability agenda to “dramatically reform” higher education. Inside Higher Ed, June 11, 2015 Last gaps: Washington lawmakers close in on budget Ross Reynolds talks with KUOW's Olympia correspondent, Austin Jenkins, about the battle between Republicans and Democrats over the last details of a new state budget. KUOW, June 8, 2015