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Can our fourth-graders name two rights of U.S. citizens? Can our eighth-graders make sense of a graph on voting patterns? And can our high school seniors relate the “melting pot” to U.S. history?

New 2010 data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress paints a mixed picture of school achievement in civics. The good news: Among fourth-graders, scores climbed overall. Since 1998, achievement gaps between blacks and whites, and between Hispanics and whites narrowed slightly.

Much of the nation’s debate about education reform has focused on accountability and standards, with an emphasis on improving student competency in math and reading. Critics fault this emphasis for squeezing out studies in other subjects such as civics. Yet without reading, kids don’t have a chance at mastering content. At the same time, exposure to a rich array of subject matter, including civics, strengthens students’ reading comprehension and vocabulary skills. That interplay could very well explain the civics gains seen among fourth-graders. 

Problems linger, though, as fourth-graders of color and those from low-income families were far more likely to score “below basic” and far less likely to score “proficient” or “advanced” than their white and higher income peers. 

On a positive note, scores for Hispanic eighth-graders rose, even as eighth-grade results remained flat overall. Apart from some increases among Hispanics, however, scores for twelfth-graders dipped since 2006, a troubling sign since many of high school seniors are eligible to vote.

If young people don’t grasp how a democracy works, they will have difficulty playing a part in it. Despite the progress made in teaching civics, the nation’s schools still fall disturbingly short in preparing our children for the role of citizens, especially in communities that have been historically marginalized.

TCEA Annual Convention and Exposition

The five-day TCEA Annual Convention & Exposition is one of the largest educational technology conventions in the nation and the largest in Texas. Every year, thousands of educators from across Texas and the United States converge in Austin, Texas for quality professional development, a superior exhibit hall, and networking with their peers. From nationally-known speakers and hundreds of hands-on workshops and concurrent sessions to special events and a 900-booth exhibit hall, attendees experience educational technology at its best.

Attendees learn about the latest and most up-to-date technology solutions, best practices to incorporate into their teaching and learning, while networking with like-minded individuals and having a good time. Every year, thousands of educators, administrators, and exhibitors attend the TCEA annual convention. TCEA hosts principals, superintendents, teachers, and technology and curriculum specialists.

Many workshops and concurrent sessions qualify as continuing professional education.

The annual exposition features more than 450 engaging educational technology exhibits with products and services catered to technology education. The exhibit hall, which spans the size of four football fields, is your go-to-source to learn more about products and services available for your educational technology needs.

TCEA 2011 Summer Conference – Tots and Technology

Tots for Technology is lined up for June 13-14, 2011 in Galveston, Texas at the San Luis Resort and Conference Center. Pre-K through 5th grade educators from across the state are invited to attend two days of high quality, exciting, content-specific professional development from a leader in innovative educational technology. For all the details, click here.

TCEA 2011 Conference Materials

Click here to access conference materials from TCEA 2011.

Coolest way to have the best of both contexts of both information consumption and production?

similar anti-carrier plan to msft and skype and nokia…at last…a good war to have

Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT), which has been quiet on the deal front for several years now, is reportedly set to change that in a big way, picking up Skype for $7 billion. The Wall Street Journal (NSDQ: NWS) cites sources who say a deal could be announced tomorrow. It would be Microsoft’s largest acquisition in its history, topping the company’s $6.3 billion purchase of aQuantive in mid-2007, which has arguably not paid off.

More to come.

#wow slash wow.com!

US high speed rail planned for 2050. Invest.

The small village of Moneygall, in Ireland, is awaiting the visit of President Barack Obama later this month.

The President is paying a visit to the ancestral home of his great great great grandfather before he emigrated to the USA.

A ‘welcome home’ in the rural village is organised where distant relatives, such as his eighth cousin Henry Healy, can still be found.

Mark Simpson reports.

’bout time he admitted this!