Show I a Nation I 1 The Herald Journal Logan Utah Wednesday October 22 2003 — A5 If t Ysaetars ‘foMally quossiD DtPoSG0 WASHINGTON (AP) — Teachers in many of Alaska’s rural districts teach several subjects Under new federal standards to claim “highly ‘ ' qualified teacher” credentials they would have to hold bachelor’s degrees in each subject ' they teach or pass tests that show full knowledge of all the ' topics Only 16 percent of Alaska’s classes are taught by highly qualified instructors the low-- nation’s best' has reached near perfection States are reporting widely varying starting points as they make public the percentage of classe&taught by “highly qualified teachers’’ those who have bachelor’s degrees state certification and demonstrated mastery of every subject they teach All states must use that framework which means the figures — released to a Freedom of Information request from The Associated Ptess— present the first benchmark of die country’s teaching corps under the 2002 law StiU national comparisons are imperfect because states set their own standards for licensing and subject mastery by veteran teachers Besides Alaska two other states reported that fewer than half their classes made the mark: Alabama at 35 percent and California at 48 percent Wisconsin reported almost 99 percent of cusses had top teachers and Idaho Arkansas Connecticut Minnesota Indi est percentage in the country By the end of the 2005-0- 6 school year every teacher of every core class in die country must be highly qualified ? Federal Education Depart-'- 1 ment officials promising to work with the states have encouraged states such as Alaska to come up with creative ways to qualify teachers “We’re doing everything wc can” said Cynthia Curran' Alaska’s administrator for teacher education and certification “But creativity only takes you so far’’ Other states need less creativity: Wisconsin the hard-press- ed odd States scoring in 95th percentile ' yttalh) IMalto® : it’s no surprise her state The reporting will put a spotlight on the states and the reports having a highly qualiareas within states that need fied teacher in almost every class' A mix of factors — high the most improvement said standards set for teaching cer- Celia Sims who coordinates federal applications for the tification strong schools of Education Department The education active professional department will provide help teaching groups — have long boosted teacher quality she and the public will get more said involved Sims said “In die past parents have Overall the figures should l be viewed with a never had this type of inforskeptical mation" Sims said “It’s kind 'eye said Ross Wiener policy director for the Education of been that dirty little secret over the years mid what we’re Trust a nonprofit advocacy beginning to do is uncover group for minority and studehts that’’ For example he said some Several states indicated states may have presented problems in coming up with the figures in the way the rosy reports based on the standards they chose for veteran department wanted: percent-classes teachers which required no of highby taught age federal approval ly qualified teachers not this “They’re telling the public percentage of top teachers ‘We don’t have a problem”’ themselves The distinction is meant to Wiener said “The purpose of the teacher-qualit-y expose situations in which provision is to allow stake holders to teachers qualified in one subidentify unmet needs And die ject are assigned to teach ' states that have honestly preclasses outside the field they I1 know sented the challenge they face The top education official in are going to have an easier Wisconsin state superintentime getting traction in dent Elizabeth Burmaster said meeting those challenges” ' ’ The percentage of classes taught by highly qualified teachers 2002-0- 3 the 2001-0- 2 rates of graduation with diplomas and the 2001-0- 2 dropout rates as reported by the states There are some variations in the way the states computed their figures (AH numbers are percentages) In ' - low-inco- p'jWi i' j L : V Source: Education Department w Y ‘ ‘ least eight in 10 teachers already were highly qualified The 11 states that did not ' report information were send it in or to required receive no federal money this month ' ana Massachusetts Utah Michigan Pennsylvania Kentucky and Wyoming reputed totals of at blast 95 percent Overall 39 states and the District of Columbia reported data and most said that at - 'I ! V In brief ‘ S'-- victim cross-examin- es Only call Restauranteur Gay bishop-elect- : from God would deter him testifies men saw a flash of light The win-- 7 dow broke I heard shots I was V-- f being shot I said 1 wasn’t going to die I said ’I’m not dying in ' this parking lot”’ 7:? : iNEWyORK(AP)---Th- e tire first to about beam priest " back who LaRuffa choked j openly gay Episcopal bishop said Tuesday that several Anglican tears during part of his testimo- - S V leaders have appealed to him to step down but the only tiling V' ny said he could not identify the i that could sway him would be if he felt a personal call jrom & ' : who He shot him: man realized 1: J God to stand $£? afterward that was he shortly Y of the Diocese of : (AP) —In a dramatic cnwwntw 7 The Rev V Gene Robinson bishop-elebleeding from both the chest that anil be edioed throughout sy 7 New Hampshire said in an interview with TheAssociated Press and the back One bullet frag- tiiat he’s been praying for years about becoming a bishop He V his trial John Allen Muhammad U ment lodged next to hjs spinal feels strongly tiiat God wants him to go through with his consen t a restaurant cord After court LaRuffa cration on Nov'2 'v j'Y owner Tuesday who was v'Y?7: described the wounded and robbed in a shoot-yC“God and I have been about this for quite a while how and I W : with Muhammad as surreal would be really surprised if God woe to want me to stop now” ' ing linked to last year’s sniper -5! ) : s It’s from the zonfc" twilight said fft j ' spree telling him “I understand v4 i heLeaders Defendants aren’t supixised to r l- called how you fed when your life is of the global Anglican Communion ’ and that’s what fo question you mates — held an emergency meeting on homosexuality in Lon- - T- ontfie line” Y' 'v happened” he said Paul LaRuffa’s doa last week and smd Robinson’s consecration puts their J v testimony In other testimony Tuesday a pX international association of churches in jeopardy: Around the 'came a day after Muhammad i' policeman said he spoke to T was allowed to represent him-world 77 million people are members of Anglican denomina- Muhammad near the scene of idsted 01 ®unlw photo shooting for which he is on' f : Robinson acknowledged that his consecration would cause a - to the killing of Dean Harold : fbut him mrathe offior Joseph LaRiiffa the owner of MargeflinaRestaurant in Clinton'" - church crisis but said good could come from itri Meyers outside a Virginia gas v Md wipes his eyes as he describee being shot on Sept 5 2002 dealt with nanirlfi anver$iy: “Ifindeed this is the work of God then it’sacrisis thatcallS? station on OcL9 2002V: outside his restaurantLaruffa was testifying at sniper suspect John : LaRuffa testified about the" Allen Muhammad's trial at the Virginia Beach Circuit Court in Virginia ' for the church to be its very best self and not worry about risk-oq sjven a month earlier in Beach Va on Tuesday ' ing itself for the right thing” Robinson said “Sometimes time shooting testified that Muhammad Bailey which he was wounded in the ' : was are tilings worth risking your life for It was Jesus who said if LaRuffa which Millette Muhammad told LaRuffa “very polite and very cour-and arm and robbed of chest lose life have to to want save it” : you your you teous” when they spoke as deemed the before V gratuitous questioning about $3600 and a laptop comMuhammad drove his Chevrolet Muhammad asked a few During questioning from " puter that was found with LaRuffa said about that whether Caprice out of a restaurant park- quick questions prosecutors Muhammad when he was -l“: ‘L“ " ' after closing his restaurant in EVERETT Wash (AP) — Striking Marysville teachers voted arrested Prosecutors told the V LaRuffa had seen the persoR Clinton Md and getting in his who shot him Circuit Judge Monday night to obey a judge’s order and head to their jury during opening statements admonMillette F Jr bar “I saw a figure to n left I rooms on Wednesday ending the longest teachers’ strike in state that the sniper suspects robbed 1 LeRoy i the ished Muhammad at proseLaRuffa to help finance die history" cution’s request for his I1 v The vote was 420 to begin teaching 181 to stay on strike r spree ANNUAL MAT SALES introductory comments to said Rich Wood a Washington Education Association Muhammad was courteous when questioning LaRuffa who OFF spokesman Wednesday’s classes will be the first of this school yeiar for initially looked away from the THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE the Marysville School District's 11000 students sniper suspect but proceeded to “It is time for all the adults to grow up and start looking at answer his questions politely Protect Your Floors Get Relief From: HouaohoM a commercial mats “I’m not asking these questheir obligations to these children” Snohomish County Superior Low Bock Piio ' tions to be disrespectful I Court Judge Linda C Krese said earlier Monday peeved that : Neck & Shoulder Tenuou AntHUguo mnta 8atoty matBng understand how you feel when four days of court-orderSciatica Anxiety negotiations failed to yield a contract UHLlNXIlillt 7524459 your life is on the line” agreement -- hjm tO y fi hflnPP QnrPP ct 3 cross-examin- ed on ' ' prir t ''the Teachers vote to return to class fe kt H f ' - ’ 20 40 - iwm ed : hemical juiiaum la Lewiston State Bank Hometown Banking Since 1905 24 Hour Banking Service Lewiston State Bank of Idaho 1HC Budge Clinic Pubtti Influenza Vaccinations Ojrffcopedica AfedhtiOfSccjorti Boor) tXOH ord SCO E&duJMsLiU zA Ctetoberl? 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