Americans Greatly Support Online Tests for Common Core While They Remain Shaky About Common Core Itself, New Exclusive Poll Finds

Lincoln Park Strategies-Social Driver Poll® Conducted as Majority of U.S. Students Begin School Year under New Standards

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Oct. 14, 2014—While some communities find education news is dominated about opposition to the new Common Core State Standards, a little known aspect of the initiative receives support from the U.S. public.

A new Lincoln Park Strategies-Social Driver Poll finds that 61 percent of Americans strongly or somewhat support “the greater use of online technology for testing students.”

Common Core is a set of clear college- and career-ready standards for kindergarten through 12th grade in English language arts/literacy and mathematics. Today, 43 states have voluntarily adopted and are working to implement them.

The two leading assessment consortiums, Smarter Balanced and PARCC, are proposing “computer adaptive technology,” much of which they hope to conduct online, although only 37 percent of the respondents know anything about this online testing. Full implementation of Common Core, including assessments, is to occur this school year, but not all computer-based exams will be operational right away, according to reports. Some states already conduct online testing of students.

The Lincoln Park Strategies-Social Driver Poll reveals support for online student testing tied to Common Core actually rates better than Common Core itself. The survey finds 42 percent of Americans strongly or somewhat support the initiative, roughly 20 percent less than back the online assessments that will be used to measure their effectiveness.

The PDK-Gallup poll, released in September, also found only 33 percent “favor” Common Core.

“The poll results are surprising because we see a situation where people are lukewarm about Common Core, yet a clear majority are completely comfortable with using technology when asked about it in connection with Common Core. My advice to Common Core supporters is to embrace the technology aspect of this effort as a gateway to helping Americans accept other parts of the initiative,” says Stefan Hankin, CEO, Lincoln Park Strategies.

“I think this survey shows that Americans really understand the 21st century belongs to the generation that adopts technology with full force. We may disagree about the need for and design of Common Core, but we understand that filling out bubble tests isn’t getting with the future,” says Anthony Shop, co-founder and chief strategy officer, Social Driver.

The poll of 1,000 Americans took place Sept. 20–Oct. 2, 2014.

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Lincoln Park Strategies is a full-service public opinion research firm that provides a complete range of market research and messaging services for political, nonprofit, corporate and association clients. It has conducted research for a variety of national education clients. www.lpstrategies.com

Social Driver is a digital agency that launches websites and runs social media campaigns. Its designers, developers, and strategists believe technology isn’t changing the world — people are. Education issues are a main focus of its award-winning work. www.socialdriver.com

MEDIA CONTACT:

Adam Shapiro

Adam.Shapiro@adampr.tv

202-427-3603

‘School’ Arrives at Front Door of Hundreds of Families as Education Home Visiting Gains Popularity

Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters Begins New Programs in Four States

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As school bells ring across the country, doorbells will also be ringing as trained home visitors, specializing in reading and math skills, expand their footprint. The national nonprofit Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY USA) is adding new programs this fall in Texas, Nevada, North Carolina and Florida.

HIPPY, an evidence-based initiative, involves home visitors who deliver 30 weeks of high-quality school readiness curriculum activities and books to parents who qualify based on income requirements. The parents then work each day on the lessons with their three-, four- and five-year-old children.

HIPPY currently serves 15,000 families across 22 states and the District of Columbia. The new programs are in San Antonio and Wichita County, Tex,; Raleigh, N.C.; Elko, Nev.; and 10 sites in Florida, including Miami-Dade.

“Our collaboration and partnership with HIPPY USA is a dream come true for our heavily impacted military school district. Now, we have a proven home-based preschool education program that will bridge the communication lines between parents facing socioeconomic barriers and our public schools,” says Danny W. Taylor, superintendent, Burkburnett Independent School District in Wichita County.

The HIPPY expansion in three of the states is supported by federal and state funds. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has stated that HIPPY meets the rigorous criteria set for funding under the federal Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program.

Twenty years of research, conducted in the U.S. and eight other countries, has shown the HIPPY model to be effective in improving school readiness, parent involvement, school attendance, classroom behavior, standardized test scores and academic performance.

Washington State Institute for Public Policy research found that every dollar invested in HIPPY yields $1.80 in benefits.

“I applaud supporters of these new efforts for investing in a program with a track record of delivering results to taxpayers,” says Linda Frank, board chair, HIPPY USA. “America is falling behind in the education race, and experts say it’s a threat to our economy. HIPPY is an important way to help prepare for the future.”

In Florida, HIPPY already operates in 11 communities, and it will add 10. The Florida Department of Education’s Office of Early Learning has allocated $2.5 million for the HIPPY expansion in 2014–15 in addition to $1.4 million for the existing programs.

In Nevada, the Elko HIPPY program will be the second one in the state, joining one in Las Vegas. The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s “Kids Count” report recently ranked Nevada as last in the country based on education metrics for children. HIPPY aims to do its part to improve this situation.

In Texas, HIPPY already operates 10 programs across the state. In the new program in Wichita County, 15 percent of the families will be from Sheppard Air Force Base. The San Antonio HIPPY program will include six home visitors, serving 90 families, in the Eastside Promise Neighborhood.

The North Carolina program will be the first for the state. It will primarily focus on Southeast Raleigh neighborhoods as well as some other parts of Wake County. The effort will include a unique focus on fathers and the important role they play with their children in early learning.

“My 11-year-old daughter has skipped one grade and always makes the honor roll. … I am convinced it’s because HIPPY gave her the boost she needed,” says Erica Black, a D.C. mother who has participated in the effort. “Being a mom doesn’t come with a pamphlet. … That’s why I really appreciated HIPPY. It was like receiving help from a family member.”

All HIPPY programs share four core components:

• A standard developmentally appropriate school readiness curriculum,
• Role-play as method of instruction,
• Peer home visitors, and
• Home visiting as the service delivery method.

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Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters USA programs (www.hippyusa.org) focus on family literacy, school readiness and parent involvement. HIPPY helps parents prepare their preschool children to succeed in school. Currently, 135 HIPPY programs in 21 states and the District of Columbia serve 15,000 families.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Adam Shapiro

Adam.Shapiro@adampr.tv

202-427-3603

A TRAVELING EXHIBITION, NATIVE VOICES: NATIVE PEOPLES’ CONCEPTS OF HEALTH AND ILLNESS, TO OPEN WITH CHICKASAW NATION IN SULPHUR, OKLAHOMA

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Kathleen Cravedi, Director

Office of Communications and Public Liaison

National Library of Medicine

Office: 301-496-6308

Mobile: 301-379-5612

or

Tony Choate

Media Relations Director

The Chickasaw Nation

Tony.Choate@chickasaw.net

Office: 580-559-0921

Mobile: 580-421-5623

(Sulphur, Oklahoma, August 20, 2014) — A new traveling exhibition, Native Voices: Native Peoples’ Concepts of Health and Illness, which examines concepts of health and medicine among contemporary American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian people, is opening in the Chickasaw Nation ARTesian Gallery & Studios, 100 West Muskogee Street, Sulphur, Oklahoma on Tuesday, August 26, 2014. A special opening ceremony will take place in the Artesian Hotel Banquet Room at 2 p.m., featuring Chickasaw Nation officials, National Library of Medicine (NLM) Director Dr. Donald A.B. Lindberg and a musical performance by Injunuity, made up of citizens and employees of the Chickasaw Nation.

The traveling exhibition, produced by the National Library of Medicine, explores the connection between wellness, illness, and cultural life through a combination of interviews with Native people, artwork, objects, and interactive media. This is the debut of the traveling version in a location in the Lower 48 states. Native Voices will be open to the public in the ARTesian Gallery and Studios immediately following a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3:00 p.m. on August 26, 2014 and continue through October 24, 2014.  ARTesian Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Admission is free.

The National Library of Medicine has a history of working with Native communities as part of the Library’s commitment to make health information resources accessible to people no matter where they live or work. The Native Voices exhibition concept grew out of meetings with Native leaders in Alaska, Hawai`i and the Lower 48.

“This exhibition honors the Native tradition of oral history and establishes a unique collection of information,” said NLM Director Dr. Donald Lindberg. “We hope visitors will find Native Voices both educational and inspirational and we hope Native people will view it with pride.”

Chickasaw Nation Secretary of Health, Dr. Judy Goforth Parker, said that the exhibit offers important insight into indigenous views on health and healing.

“The Chickasaw Nation is honored to host the Native Voices traveling exhibition,” said Dr. Goforth Parker. “We believe it is an eye-opening experience to learn about Native American perspectives on the connections between health, heritage, culture and community included in this exhibit.”

For the media: Please contact Kathy Cravedi (cravedik@mail.nlm.nih.gov and 301-496-6308) at the National Library of Medicine or Tony Choate (Tony.Choate@chickasaw.net and 580-421-5623) of the Chickasaw Nation.

About the traveling exhibition: Native Voices: Native Peoples’ Concepts of Health and Illness examines concepts of health and medicine among contemporary American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. The traveling exhibition features interviews and works from Native people living on reservations, in tribal villages, and in cities. Topics include: Native views of land, food, community, earth/nature, and spirituality as they relate to Native health; the relationship between traditional healing and Western medicine in Native communities; economic and cultural issues that affect the health of Native communities; efforts by Native communities to improve health conditions; and the role of Native Americans in military service and healing support for returning Native veterans.

To make the Native Voices information accessible to people even if they can’t come to the ARTesian Gallery and Studios, there is an online version of the exhibition at: www.nlm.nih.gov/nativevoices.

About the National Library of Medicine (NLM): NLM is the world’s largest library of the health sciences. The Library collects, organizes and makes available biomedical science information to scientists, health professionals and the public. NLM celebrated its 175^th anniversary in 2011. For more information, visit the NLM Web site at http://www.nlm.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the US Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

About the Chickasaw Nation: With more than 50,000 citizens, the Chickasaw Nation is the 12th largest federally-recognized Indian tribe in the United States. The Chickasaw Nation had an economic impact of more than $2.4 billion in Oklahoma in 2011. The tribe is the seventh largest employer in Oklahoma, with almost 13,000 employees. A democratic republic with executive, legislative and judicial departments, the tribe’s jurisdictional territory includes all or part of 13 counties in south central Oklahoma.

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Millennials Splinter on Where to Attend College Based on Demographic Differences, According to New Research

 “DIY”-Enabled Survey Gives Higher Education Insights that Could Affect Future Efforts to Woo High School Seniors

CHICAGO, Aug. 18, 2014—Millennials who grew up as unwitting subjects of niche marketing and narrow-casting are taking the lessons they’ve learned since childhood to the college selection process.

A new national survey of college students presents some surprising results. African-American males were less influenced by financial aid/scholarship awards than white females were. And Hispanic males were much more inclined to pick a school based on where a friend is going than Hispanic females were.

Students of color across the country reported that college fairs and emails from the admissions offices were key information sources. Simultaneously, those sources didn’t even rank for white students.

Surveyed students from the South, who will be sophomores this fall, cared more about “appealing college traditions” than did New England students, who were more focused on “international/global experiences.”

The findings are mined from an online research visualization tool loaded-up with data from Lipman Hearne’s newest study, The Super Investigator
Goes  to College, which captures the responses of more than 2,300 students across the U.S. The results are available without cost, and any user can “order up” their own queries by selecting their own parameters (such as type of institution and college setting) to examine the exact insights they want about these students.

Female students with high SATs and ACTs said nearly all of their top attributes when looking for a college related to academics. Meanwhile, male students with lower SAT scores said “appealing campus traditions” and Division I athletics were attributes they desired.

Lipman Hearne, a leading national marketing and communications firm serving higher education organizations, partnered with college search website Cappex.com to survey its users. Cappex users make up 25 percent of the U.S. college-bound population.

The majority of students had enrolled at their first choice (58 percent). Among these students, reputation and a “sense of community” were more likely to be important factors. For students not enrolling at their top choice, financial aid was more frequently cited as a decision driver.

“In this time of tight budgets and increased pressure on institutions to better understand students, this is a valuable tool,” says John Pyle, Ed.D., vice president for enrollment, marketing and strategic initiatives, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. “The research gives enrollment managers and marketers a launching off point for further exploration as to why groups are influenced.”

“Where a student chooses to attend college is highly personal, and many cultural norms play out in the process. The key for higher ed enrollment management and marketing professionals is to  know how to customize messages about their institution  to specific student segments and choose the best channels for reaching them in a way that appeals to each grouping, while telling a consistent and appealing brand story,” says Tom Abrahamson, chairman, Lipman Hearne.

Because respondents to this survey were college freshmen who had settled into their chosen college, it differs from most studies that examine factors in college choice prior to enrollment.  Thus, it gathered reflections on their overall experience in choosing a college after they crossed the finish line. For example, the study asked these new freshmen how accurate colleges’ assertions were in their marketing communications.

Among the many areas measured in the multivariate model were preference for institution of enrollment, initial awareness and preference (when college search began), number of deposits submitted and distance of enrollment institution from home. In the end, the model was driven, in large part, by initial awareness and preference. Compared to the national statistics, the survey respondents were more likely to enroll at residential-dominated, research and private institutions and less likely to enroll at commuter, associations-granting and public institutions.

Based on the study, among the 84 information sources included in the survey, admissions-generated content (e.g., admissions packet, admissions web page, admissions letter) provided the most persuasive information about a topic of keen interest to the student. Simulated experiences, such as taking an online class, touring the campus and reading a course description, were among second-tier information sources.

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About Lipman Hearne

Lipman Hearne is the nation’s leading marketing and communications firm serving higher education organizations. For nearly 50 years, the firm has worked with more than 450 colleges and universities, conducting extensive market research, developing strategic marketing plans, and providing creative and tactical implementation services to help its clients achieve their aggressive bottom-line goals in enrollment, fundraising, and brand building. Located in Chicago, Lipman Hearne is led by marketing specialists whose executive and agency backgrounds include tenures in higher education and nonprofit marketing, advertising and branding, market research, fundraising, and enrollment marketing. www.lipmanhearne.com

About Cappex.com                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Cappex is dedicated to connecting students and colleges. Since its founding in 2006, Cappex has helped nearly 5 million students achieve their college dreams, and more than 750 higher education clients with recruiting and enrollment business solutions. Cappex is based in Chicago.   www.cappex.com

MEDIA CONTACT:

Adam Shapiro

Adam.Shapiro@adampr.tv

202-427-3603

A TRAVELING EXHIBITION,

NATIVE VOICES: NATIVE PEOPLES’ CONCEPTS OF HEALTH AND ILLNESS

TO OPEN IN HONOLULU, HAWAII

(Honolulu, Hawaii) – A new traveling exhibition, Native Voices: Native Peoples’ Concepts of Health and Illness, which examines concepts of health and medicine among contemporary American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian people is opening in the Queen’s Historical Room at The Queen’s Medical Center (Queen’s) on July 18, 2014. A special opening ceremony hosted by The Queen’s Medical Center takes place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 18, 2014 during Queen’s Heritage Day 2014 celebration commemorating 155 years of the legacy of its Founders.

The traveling exhibition, produced by the National Library of Medicine, explores the connection between wellness, illness, and cultural life through a combination of interviews with Native people, artwork, objects, and interactive media. The opening program will also include the blessing of the exhibition and a  maile untying.  The exhibition will be open to the public in the Queen’s Historical Room from 12:00 noon on July 18 to late-September, 2014.

The National Library of Medicine has a history of working with Native communities as part of the Library’s commitment to make health information resources accessible to people no matter where they live or work. The Native Voices exhibition concept grew out of meetings with Native leaders in Alaska, Hawai`i and the Lower 48.

“This exhibition honors the Native tradition of oral history and establishes a unique collection of information,” says Donald A.B. Lindberg, MD, director of the National Library of Medicine. “We hope visitors will find Native Voices both educational and inspirational and we hope Native people will view it with pride.”

“We are honored to host this exhibition in conjunction with our 155^th Anniversary year,” shared Diane Paloma, PhD, Director of the Native Hawaiian Health Program and Queen’s Historical Room. “ Na Leo ‘Oiwi (Native Voices) reflects on the voices of our Founders: King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma who sought to provide healthcare to all of the people of Hawaii.”

About the traveling exhibition

Native Voices: Native Peoples’ Concepts of Health and Illness examines concepts of health and medicine among contemporary American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. The traveling exhibition features interviews and works from Native people living on reservations, in tribal villages, and in cities. Topics include: Native views of land, food, community, earth/nature, and spirituality as they relate to Native health; the relationship between traditional healing and Western medicine in Native communities; economic and cultural issues that affect the health of Native communities; efforts by Native communities to improve health conditions; and the role of Native Americans in military service and healing support for returning Native veterans.

To make the Native Voices information accessible to people even if they can’t come to The Queen’s Medical Center, there is an online version of the exhibition at www.nlm.nih.gov/nativevoices.

For the media

Please contact Kathy Cravedi (cravedik@mail.nlm.nih.gov and 301-496-6308) at the National Library of Medicine or Cedric Yamanaka (cyamanaka@queens.org and 808-691-4975).

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is the world’s largest library of the health sciences and collects, organizes and makes available biomedical science information to scientists, health professionals and the public. It celebrated its 175^th anniversary in 2011. For more information, visit the website at http://www.nlm.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

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