Education Digest: Alliance updates state data cards

The Alliance for Excellent Education recently updated its New Mexico State Card. The card gives a statistical snapshot of the status of high schools in the state, according to an Alliance press release.

The cards were developed to provide data for policymakers, government officials and concerned citizens, and are distributed to each state’s governor, according to the release.

More than 11,000 students didn’t graduate from New Mexico’s high schools in 2004, costing the state almost $3 billion in lost wages, taxes and productivity over their lifetimes, according to the Alliance New Mexico State Card.

More information from the card is available at http://www.all4ed.org/map_states.html.

Fort Sumner student named delegate

Fort Sumner high school student Alaina Schade has been selected as a delegate to the 45th Anniversary United States Youth Program for aspiring leaders.

The program sends two students from each state to Washington, D.C., to study government for a week. Students are selected by state superintendents based on academic performance, public service and leadership abilities.

Art Chacon of Manzano High School in Albuquerque also was chosen for the program.

Online university offers military rate

A regionally accredited online university has expanded its military tuition benefits to include veterans and spouses, according to a press release.

Under a revised program, Ellis College of New York Institute of Technology is offering retired military personnel and their spouses 15 percent off Ellis’ standard tuition rates. The school will continue to offer active service personnel and their spouses 20 percent off tuition rates.

For more information, visit http://www.ellis.nyit.edu.

ACT registration ends soon

College-bound students should register by March 9 for the next national ACT test. The test will be administered nationwide on Saturday, April 14. Students who miss the March deadline must register with an additional late fee.The ACT is used by college and universities as an admissions criterion.

For registration and other information, go to http://www.act.student.org.

Marshall holds spelling bee

The Marshall Junior High School Spelling Bee was held Feb. 18 and the results were:

• First place: Shannon Spurgeon, seventh grade

• Second place: Joshua Lansford, eighth grade

• Third place: Michael Owen, seventh grade

Teachers receive national certification

Four Clovis Municipal Schools teachers achieved National Board Certification in 2007.

This is the highest credential any professional teacher can obtain. The teachers had to demonstrate proficiency in 12 instruction areas, including passion for teaching and problem solving. They also passed a core subject exam.

The following teachers achieved National Board Certification in 2007:

• Alexa Pickel

• Lisa Jo McCasland

• Cynthia Hulett

• Connie Cox

Calendar

Tuesday: Yucca Junior High School Choirs Spring Concert will be held at 7 p.m. in the Marshall Junior High School auditorium.

Education Digest is compiled from local and wire reports by CNJ staff writer Marlena Hartz. She may be contacted at 763-6991, or by e-mail:

[email protected]