Archived News
Read-Aloud Option Boosts Achievement on National Assessment, Study Finds
By Christina A. Samuels, EdWeek - March 26, 2014
Having teachers read aloud a reading-comprehension test to students with disabilities and English-language learners offers a boost in scores without altering what the test is trying to measure, according to a study of about 2,000 California 4th and 8th graders who were given the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, in 2013. Professor Jamal Abedi is the lead author of the research report.
Abedi, who also serves as an advisor on English-learners to the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, one of the two groups, said the findings suggest that read-aloud accommodations on reading-comprehension tests could be useful for students with disabilities and for English-language learners, and feasible to implement. Read the full article here.
Danny C. Martinez Honored for Research on Black and Latino Youth’s Language and Literacy Practices
In recognition of his scholarship on the use of language among Black and Latino youth in urban English Language Arts classrooms, the National Council of Teachers of English Assembly for Research (NCTEAR) has honored Danny C. Martinez, assistant professor of education, with an award for his continued work to increase diverse perspectives into how we examine language and literacy in multicultural and multilingual communities.
Jamal Abedi Recognized by Peers for Distinguished Public Service
March 2014
Professor Jamal Abedi has received a 2014 Distinguished Scholarly Public Service Award from the UC Davis Academic Senate. The award recognizes significant contributions to the world, nation, state and/or local community through distinguished public service. Up to four (4) awards are made annually.
Alumna Nancy Chinn Honored for Research and Leadership on Concussion Management
Posted - Feb 2014
The concussion management program at Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, Calif. was named as the 2014 Grand Silver winner of the NASPA Excellence Awards. The effort is led by Dr. Nancy Chinn (EdD 2010), chair of the Disability Resource Management Department.
Heidi Ballard Receives Two Grants to Study Citizen Science
February 2014
Associate Professor Heidi Ballard, an expert in environmental science education, is embarking on two newly funded research projects to study the efficacy of employing citizen science as a learning tool and a sustainable model for rigorous research. One project will focus on adults and the other on children.
Michal Kurlaender Named Among Most Influential Education Researchers
Associate Professor of Education Michal Kurlaender has been named among the 200 most influential education researchers in the country.
Education Staff Member Receives Prestigious Chancellor’s STAR Award
MaryAnn Mellor, the UC Davis School of Education’s director of business operations and financial services, is one of the first recipients of the Chancellor’s Staff Appreciation and Recognition (STAR) Award.
This annual award recognizes outstanding contributions to the UC Davis campus and community. Recipients are individuals whose achievement and conduct go “above and beyond” in support of our campus’ core values:
- Demonstrating respect and integrity
- Responding courteously to the communities we serve
- Taking pride in your work as well as in our campus and campus community
- Promoting a community
Alumni Updates Fall 2013
Marlene Bell (BA ‘68, Credential ‘71) received the 2013 Education Award from the Mexican American Concilio of Yolo County at their 29th Annual Concilio Recognition Dinner/ Dance & Scholarship Fundraiser on October 19, 2013. The Concilio provides support and assistance to low-income people of Yolo County, as well as college scholarships and other assistance to promising low- and moderate-income students, specifically students with Latino heritage.
Study Compliments and Questions Brown’s Funding Formula
John Fenserwald - EdSource- February 2013
Heather Rose, associate professor in the UC Davis School of Education and Margaret Weston, a PhD student in the School and a PPIC research fellow, wrote an analysis of Gov. Jerry Brown’s recently announced plan for school finance reform. The analysis was done under the auspices of the Public Policy Institute of California.
Professor to Lead Project to Improve Agriculture in Vietnam and Cambodia
Cary Trexler, associate professor in the School of Education and the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, received a three-year $500,000 grant from the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Horticulture Collaborative Research and Support Program to enhance vegetable production by small farmers in Cambodia and Vietnam.
Jamal Abedi Named to Distinguished Expert Committee
Professor Jamal Abedi and UCLA’s CRESST Director Joan Herman have been named to the SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium Technical Advisory Committee. The Consortium includes more than 30 states working collaboratively to prepare all students for college and careers by creating a comprehensive assessment system in mathematics and language arts. Read more here.
$3.2 Million Grant to Study Formative Assessment in Mathematics
August 2010
Professors Jamal Abedi, principal investigator, and Paul Heckman, co-investigator, received a five-year $3.2 million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation. Work on “Formative Assessment in Mathematics: Current Status and Guidelines for Future Developments” starts on September 1, 2010.
Heidi Ballard selected UC Davis Hellman Fellow
Award recognizes promising assistant professors
Heidi Ballard, an assistant professor in the School of Education, has been selected to be a 2010-2011 UC Davis Hellman Fellow and will receive an award of $20,409 to be used in support of her research activities.
Dean’s Message Fall 2014
What Distinguishes Us?
I had the opportunity recently to make a presentation about the School of Education to my colleagues on the Council of Deans and Vice Chancellors, the senior leadership group for UC Davis. While I reported on our various academic programs and other initiatives—particularly our strong commitment to the worlds of policy and practice—and talked about our extraordinary growth, I put a particular focus on what distinguishes us.
Teachers as Students: Preparing the Next Generation – Q & A with the Dean
March 2014
Dean Harold G. Levine shared his thoughts on preparing teachers for 21st century classrooms in the March/April issue of Leadership, a publication of the Association of California School Administrators. Read the full Q & A here.
New Book About Fiddyment Family Traces History of California Pioneers
David Fiddyment, a major donor to the School of Education and an innovative leader in California agriculture, and co-author Christina Richter have released Walk with me, I want to tell you something – The Story of the Roseville Fiddyment Family.
For 150 years the Fiddyment family owned and operated ranches in some of the most picturesque countryside in northern California. Their history has links to the Donner Party and the Gold Rush. It includes the struggles and triumphs of being one of the most successful long-term ranching families in the state. Seven generations of this family have called Roseville, California their home. This is their story. David, along with his wife Dolly, established the School’s first endowed chair the Dolly and David Fiddyment Chair in Teacher Education.
Michal Kurlaender Named Chancellor’s Fellow
November 19, 2013
Michal Kurlaender, associate professor of education, has joined an elite group of UC Davis faculty members named 2013-14 Chancellor’s Fellows. The honor recognizes outstanding records of achievement among early career faculty. Each fellow receives a $25,000 prize to support his or her research, teaching and service activities. Kurlaender retains the title of Chancellor’s Fellow until July 1, 2018. The Davis Chancellor’s Club and the university’s Annual Fund support the program.
Jamal Abedi Receives $1.6 Millon Grant
Professor will develop computer assessment and accommodation system
November 2013 – Jamal Abedi, professor of education, received a four-year $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop a computer assessment and accommodation system aligned with a new generation of assessments based on the Common Core State Standards. This project will focus on the needs of English learners (EL) and will advance our knowledge and capability to appropriately assess EL students in important content areas such as mathematics.
Leveraging Funding for Expanded Learning
Article by Renee Newton, Frank Pisi, and Joanne Bookmyer
In an article in the November/December 2013 Leadership magazine, a publication of the Association of California School Administrators(ACSA), the UC Davis School of Education’s Renee Newton, Frank Pisi and Joanne Bookmyer make the case for California school districts with expanded learning programs to use a portion of the extra Common Core funding they are slated to receive to ensure children in out-of-school-time programs are well prepared to tackle the new standards. Read the full article at ACSA’s site.
Newton is the director of the Center for Community School Partnerships in the School’s CRESS Center, Pisi is director of the California Afterschool Network, and Bookmyer is director of collaborative projects.
Heidi Ballard on Citizen Science at Commonwealth Club
Podcast of presentation on August 26, 2013
Backyards, Beaches, Birds and Bees: Citizen Science
Listen to the podcast in iTunes here. Choose #4: Backyards, Beaches, Birds (posted on 9/2/13).
