14 minute read
Youth Competencies
IDB Lab Will Strengthen Jamaican Youth Competencies
Some 1,200 unemployed and underemployed youth between the ages of 17 and 34, are set to benefit from a special IDB Lab program aimed at strengthening economic opportunities and enhancement of their digital, business, and interpersonal skills. Youth will also access job opportunities through highly practical project-based learning and employability skills enabling them to function as independent workers and social entrepreneurs. “Jamaica has a plethora of talent which needs to be channeled into productive activities. Strengthening the digital and interpersonal skills of unemployed and underemployed youth with low incomes, as well as aligning them with job opportunities and entrepreneurship, will go a far way in easing the frustration which they are currently experiencing,” said Therese Turner-Jones, IDB Jamaica Country Representative and General Manager for the Caribbean Country Department. Jamaica, which has made great progress and economic reforms in recent years after a long period of instability, has seen the pandemic undermine much of its economic activity and foreign exchange, mainly from tourism. The impact on companies, together with rapid technological advancements have made it challenging for some companies to keep pace and provide the requisite training to their workforce. This has aggravated the socioeconomic risk of young people, exacerbated inequalities, and contributed to higher unemployment. The program will be funded with IDB investment of US $800,000 through a non-refundable technical cooperation. It will be executed by the non-profit entity, The Trust for the Americas, which, in association with Microsoft, Citi and NCB Foundations, will invest more than US $1,000,000 in financial and in-kind resources. “We are specially targeting vulnerable communities. Women are undergoing severe challenges and hardship in the wake of the pandemic. We are working to have at least 50 % young women become beneficiaries under the program,” explained Turner-Jones. The program aims to increase the productivity of SMEs and the sectors that present the greatest challenges and opportunities for innovation. These include tourism, manufacturing, and food processing. The program will also assist youth with career guidance and preparation services for interviews, self-employment as well as entrepreneurship support such as mentorship. Job placement services will connect beneficiaries with small and medium-sized enterprises. It is expected that the project will be replicated in other Caribbean countries. l
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IDB Lab is the innovation laboratory of the IDB Group, the leading source of development finance and know-how for improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).Since 1993, IDB Lab has approved over US$2 billion in projects across 26 countries in LAC.
The Trust for the Americas is non-profit organization, affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS), established in 1997 to promote publicprivate partnerships. The Trust has implemented projects in 24 countries and has worked with more than 1,000 organizations in the region. Our initiatives seek to promote educational and economic opportunities, as well as government accountability, and transparency.
NY Cancels Most Regents Exams in Response to Biden Administration Refusal to Scrap 2021 Standardized Tests
BY REEMA AMIN CHALKBEAT
New York is cancelling most spring and summer high school Regents exams. State education officials approved the move on Monday along with removing the high school exit tests from this year’s graduation requirements, citing the myriad challenges students have faced during the pandemic. Only Regents exams in Algebra I, English, living environment, and earth science — which are required under federal rules — will be administered this June. New York and several other states asked the U.S. Department of Education to waive the Regents and other tests for the second year in a row, as students continue to learn through a mix of in-person and virtual learning, with varied access to the internet and devices. But the Biden administration decided to keep standardized exams in place across different grades this year. In response, New York officials quickly announced plans to cancel Regents exams that are not federally required. Additionally, students won’t have to pass any Regents exams this school year to earn their diplomas. Instead, students must pass their Regents-based course by the end of this summer to earn credit. “These changes aim to minimize distress of students, parents, teachers, administrators, in what we know has been an extraordinary year,” said Commissioner Betty Rosa during Monday’s monthly board meeting. The rules are similar to last year, when all state tests were canceled last spring at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Close to 14% of last year’s seniors who passed a particular course received a Regents waiver in lieu of taking the exam. (Students take Regents starting in eighth grade, so many graduating seniors already had credits from previous courses.) Not Reflective of What’s Being
Learned
The news is a victory for advocates who have been pushing to cancel the exams and unlink them from graduation requirements. It may also be a comfort to many New York City high schoolers who don’t feel prepared to take the tests this year. Most of the city’s public school children have been learning remotely fulltime this year, but even high school students who opted for some in-person classes were forced to learn from home full-time for the past four months after November’s systemwide school building shutdown. While elementary and middle schools have been back in session, high schools won’t be open until March 22. Changes to this year’s exams were “a relief” for Danielle Johnson, a senior at the prestigious High School of American Studies in the Bronx, who would have needed the English Regents exam to earn her diploma. Johnson opted for full-time remote learning this year because both she and her mother have health conditions that make them more susceptible to the coronavirus. But spotty internet, feelings of isolation at home as any only child, and her struggle to maintain a consistent schedule has made remote learning tough. “In relation to what I learned at school, the Regents are not really reflective of what I’m learning consistently,” Johnson said. While students might welcome the cancellation of exams, some education organizations might find the move be worrisome. Some organizations and federal lawmakers hoped the exams would provide a clearer picture of how students have been learning throughout the pandemic, and are looking for measures to determine whether students are meeting state standards. Dia Bryant, the interim executive director of Education Trust-New York, an education policy advocacy group, said the state education department’s move meets basic federal requirements, but “it misses the mark for students who have worked hard in their coursework to earn a diploma that truly demonstrates they are prepared for their postsecondary ambitions.” Cancelling exams last year, she said, meant that high-needs school districts disproportionately relied on exemptions to graduate students, “which raises broader concerns around whether or not our education system is preparing all students for their desired future, whether that be college or the workplace.” Ed Trust-New York’s former executive director, Ian Rosenblum, is now deputy assistant secretary for K-12 policy and programs for the U.S. Department of Education, and penned the letter to districts about the federal decision to keep tests on this year. The results from this year’s standardized exams, however, may not be reliable or provide useful data points for comparison because many parents may opt their children out, experts warn.
‘People Are Still Dying’
The department is still advocating for a wholesale cancellation of tests this year, Rosa said. Federal officials have 120 days to respond to New York’s exam waiver request from when it was sent last month. Nan Mead, a Regent who represents New York City, urged federal officials to respond quickly. She pointed to recent conversations with families who feel uncertain about what to expect and are still struggling with the rippling effects of the coronavirus, including one child who is currently out of school because she and her mother are infected with COVID-19. “For anyone at the federal level who’s listening, people are still getting sick, people are still dying in this pandemic, and it’s really unfortunate that we are still uncertain about the status of this waiver request,” Mead said. Grades 3-8 math and English assessments will still be required this year under federal rules. Schools will have broad flexibility t in how they administer the exams and will not be held accountable for test results. It remains unclear how exams for grades 3-8 will be administered. No child will be forced to go into school buildings in order to take a test, Rosa said. In New York City, roughly 70% of students are learning from home. If federal officials deny the state’s waiver request, New York plans to only offer one of the two testing sessions of the grades 3-8 English exam and one for the math exams, state education officials said Monday. They also would offer only the written portion of the grades 4-8 science tests. Districts will be receiving some more guidance about testing on Tuesday, Rosa said.l
Correction: This article originally stated students in seventh grade can take Regents exams. Seventh graders can take courses that culminate in Regents exams but are not eligible to earn diploma credit until eighth grade.
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat, a nonprofit news organization covering public education. Article published on The CITY on March 17, 2021.
Prepare Your Young Learner with 3-K and Pre-K for All
BY MEISHA ROSS PORTER NYC SCHOOLS CHANCELLOR
As educators, our job is to prepare our students for a successful, productive life, empowered with the skills they need to chase their dreams—and early childhood programs are where it all begins. That’s why Mayor de Blasio and I are so excited to announce the expansion of 3-K for All to every school district by September, providing 40,000 three-year-olds with free, full-day, high-quality, early childhood education citywide. These programs are a child’s first step to success throughout the rest of their education and beyond, and I encourage families to explore the 3-K and Pre-K for All options available in their communities and apply. Applications for the 2021–22 school year are open! As parents and guardians, you know just how quickly our youngest children learn—from birth to age five is a critical period of growth and 90 percent of brain development happens during this time. Our 3-K and Pre-K for All classrooms are full of joy and discovery, and they offer the perfect environment for children to learn to problem-solve, ask questions, and explore the world around them as they grow. In addition, our programs are free or low cost, saving families an average of $10,000 a year on childcare costs. I remember when the South Bronx’s District 7 was one of the first few districts to offer 3-K for All in 2018 and what it meant for so many families in need to have access to free, full-day, high-quality early childhood education for their children. I want every family to have that kind of support, and we’ve made so much progress expanding early childhood education in every borough over the last three years. Today, all NYC school districts offer pre-K programs, and there is a free, full-day pre-K seat for every fouryear-old child citywide. That means any New York City family with a child born in 2017 can apply to pre-K for the upcoming school year by the new April 19 deadline. In addition, we are excited to now offer 3-K programs in every school district citywide. All New York City families with children born in 2018 can apply to 3-K for the upcoming school year by the May 28 deadline. There is a 3-K seat for every three-year-old in school districts 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 19, 23, 27, 31, and 32; and we will offer 3-K seats to as many families as possible in the new districts. Families across the city can still apply to programs in any district, and your child has priority to attend 3-K for All programs in your home district. You can find out your school district by calling 311 or visiting schools.nyc.gov/Find-a-School. Programs in the new districts will be added to the application throughout April and May. In all school districts, in addition to the free 3-K and Pre-K programs in their communities, families who qualify based on their income and needs also have the opportunity to apply to free or low-cost extended school day and year programs, including Head Start. Families can apply to 3-K or Pre-K for All for the 2021–22 school year online at MySchools.nyc or over the phone at 718935-2009. The online application is available in ten languages (English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Arabic, Korean, Haitian Creole, Bengali, Urdu, and French), and families can submit an application over the phone in over 200 languages. Visit nyc.gov/3k and nyc.gov/prek for more information. If you are seeking care for your child right now, we encourage you to reach out so we can connect you with a program in your community. Families seeking an open 3-K or pre-K seat for this current school year can call 718-935-2009 or email ES_Enrollment@schools.nyc.gov to learn more. Children who attend 3-K and Pre-K for All programs get a strong start in school and life, and as incoming Schools Chancellor these are the kinds of opportunities I want to build on and create for our students so they can dare to dream and learn. No matter the circumstances, we are here to provide children across New York City with a safe, nurturing learning community each and every day.l
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12 Did You Know: Single Women Are Buying Homes Faster Than Single Men
BY CHRIS TOBIAS
With low interest rates and uncertainty as to where the real estate market will be in the next six months, many people are opting into ownership and investing in a home. Interestingly, according to the National Association of Realtors, approximately 17 percent of homebuyers in the United States last year were women, which is a much higher percentage than the 7 percent of single men who invested in a home. While the statistics may be interesting enough on their own, here are some of the reasons why women may be opting in.
Single Parent Security
The numbers don't lie, and it's a fact that there are a much higher number of single mothers in the United States than fathers, which makes home ownership that much more of a benefit. With low interest rates, it's common sense that many single mothers will be flocking towards the housing market to find stable housing for their family in a market that may fluctuate in the coming months.
Making a Lifestyle Choice
The days are long gone of women having to invest in a home when they get married, and for many women being single is a very popular lifestyle choice. This means that many single women are choosing to invest on their own terms and at their own time so that they can reap the benefits of home ownership. As Jessica Lautz of the National Association of Realtors says, "They really value home ownership, and they're willing to give up a lot to have a home of their own."
It's In the Numbers
There are certainly more than a few reasons why single women are flocking to the real estate market, but demographics are changing rapidly. While it was once the case that most people were married, or would marry, more single women are opting out of marriage and opening up a wider market for single-person home purchases. Given the low interest rates and the increasing number of women choosing to be single, purchasing a home offers a solid bet and a financial boon.
Things to Consider
There are all kinds of things you will want to consider when buying the real estate that your family will call home. The problem is that far too many get caught up in the small or cosmetic details of the purchase and search that they forget the primary needs of the family in the process. Keep the following things in mind when considering real estate purchases and you are much more likely to be happy with your decision a few years down the road: size of the property, neighborhood. property value and school district. Of course there are other common considerations that should be taken into account. Among those are the condition of the home, the number of similar families in the area, and the closeness of the area to other conveniences such as stores, work, and entertainment. All of these things add up to a deep satisfaction in the home you have chosen or growing discontent over the years.
Getting Help
With a home offering up the benefit of security and the advantage of being a good financial choice, it's no surprise that increasingly women are turning to home ownership on their own. If you're contemplating purchasing a home of your own, you may want to contact one of our local real estate professionals for more information about opportunities in your area at 888-670-6791.l
