Archive for November, 2009

Online Education College Degree: The Top 3 Advantages

An online education college degree is the non-traditional, trendy way to get the 21st century benefits of a higher education.
From early on, our parents have drummed into our heads how important it is to have a college degree.
For the 99% of us (minus the 1% who are the Bill Gates and Michael Dell’s of the world, and those that inherit millions) having a college degree is an advantage even basic requirement for our careers.
However, studying full-time at a university may not work out for many people for various reasons. Luckily there are good options and that’s where an online education college degree shines.
This so-called new trend really takes the best of the old way of learning and combines with the latest technologies. The courses and curriculum are really just the same.
What’s missing from the mix is lengthy commute, schedule rearrangements and to some extent expensive textbooks. Most universities offer accredited degrees in all manner of majors and degree levels.
This method of education works well for many people who missed out on college education earlier due to financial circumstances, lack of accessibility to a college.
Therefore, the online education students are not your usual type. The typical he or she is someone who already has a career and a family and find these programs helpful to advance their career.
Here then are the Top 3 advantages to choosing an online education college degree:
1. Affordability: Online education courses are usually more affordable than the traditional university. This factor is particularly helpful to the student who has a family and children to support. The student gains an opportunity to advance his career.
2. Accessibility: Let’s not forget that not every town has a local university. This is a problem for those who would like to obtain a college degree. Well, not anymore.
3. Flexibility: Studying from home allows for flexibility. This has certain benefits. For instance, the adult student does not need to attend classes with other younger students and feel uncomfortable.
Remote learning also allows the student to focus on studies rather than college activities.
The benefits to learning online cannot be overstated. Provided she has a good sense of self-discipline, the student enjoys greater flexibility, a more affordable education, and the comfort of learning at her own pace, as well the convenience of studying in their home environment.
Given they kind of stress we have to endure in today’s workplace, an online education college degree is the answer for many adults looking for a way to further their education, boost their income and most importantly, build a better future for their families.

Why Should You Get a Master of Education Degree Online?

If you work in education there are a lot of reasons that you should consider getting a Master of Education degree online. Getting a Master of Education degree can really help your career and you might even be required to get one at some point in your career. Right now in the US there are twenty states that require full time teachers at any grade level to have a Master of Education degree so if you want to teach any grade in those states you need to have a Master of Education degree and getting a Master of Education degree online can make getting your Masters degree a lot easier. Even in the states where a teacher isn’t required to have a Master of Education degree in order to teach there is a very big difference in the salary that a teacher who has a Master of Education is paid. In most states a teacher without an advanced degree makes about $31,000 per year. In most states a teacher that has a Master of Education degree makes $45,000 per year. That is a very large difference in salary. So if you are a teacher that doesn’t have a Master of Education degree and you want to make more money then taking the time and spending the money to get a Master of Education degree is a good investment because you can immediately start earning more money once you get your Master of Education degree.

Getting a Master of Education degree online can also be a more convenient way to get a degree if you are teaching and can’t take time off from your full time job to focus on getting a Master of Education degree. Online masters programs are built around the needs of a working student. Courses are usually available at any hour of the day online and meetings are schedule on the phone or through instant message and chat. Professors are almost always accessible by email and each course usually has a message board where students can post questions, respond to other student’s questions, and share ideas. Work is graded and ideas are discussed mostly through email. So if you are comfortable working on a computer then getting a Master of Education degree online can be a much easier and less stressful way to get a Masters degree than trying to get to a local campus for classes three or four nights a week. Online degree programs are often less expensive than traditional Masters programs as well because you don’t have to pay all the school fees that you would have to pay if you were attending classes at a local campus. There is also less competition for admission to an online Master of Education program than you might find at a local college so have a better chance of getting into the Master of Education program online. Graduate schools can be very competitive so if you don’t want to wait a year or two until there is room for you in the Masters program at a local college get an online Master of Education degree and get your career moving forward faster.

Special education funding in California is causing deficit in school district budgets

School districts are required by federal law to pay for a large portion of special education programs and services.  These programs and services cannot be altered or cut in any way because it is federally mandated, unlike all other programs for the rest of the students. The short explanation is that federal law mandates it, as set forth in the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act  [20 USC 1400 et seq.].  This law, also called IDEA, enumerates the required needs for students with disabilities.  We all agree that students with special needs must be accommodated, additional care is necessary.  However, most of us do not know the details of the funding and spending on this issue.   In addition to the IDEA federal mandate, the State of California also sets forth special education funding apportionment in its Assembly Bill 602 SELPA [AB 602].

If you read these codes on its face and believe that the state and federal government will fund the programs as set forth in the requirements, then you’re not alone.  Must of us assume that this mandated federal and state law will come from separate federal and state funds.  Most people who I asked assumed that special education is funded entirely by federal government disability funds.  It does make sense since it is a federally mandated requirement.  The state and federal statutes require schools to provide ”free and appropriate public education” for special education students.

Here is the shocking news, local school districts are responsible for this “free and appropriate public education.”  In fact, IDEA section 1400(c)(6) cites that states and local education agencies are responsible for providing the education for students with disabilities, but that the Federal Government will have a role [emphasis added] in assisting the state and local education agencies.

If you sample a school district’s budget, you will find for example [PVPUSD] it receives $5,049M from the state [AB 602] in addition to the federal IDEA grant which is approximately $2M.  However, the actual costs for the special education programs in this district total approximately $22M.  This district has reported a deficit spending for special education in the sum of $12.5M which is almost double the amount it receives in funding from the federal government and state, combined.  This school district has to find and fund $12.5M in excess of the sum provided by the government funding.

How could special education needs add up to such a colossal amount and cause such a deficit for local school districts? In the code, you will find that required programs such as one-on-one aids are mandatory for each qualifying special needs child. Transportation, specialized at-home care and a host of other services are also required under the law.

I asked the California Department of Education why local school districts are not receiving more funding for special education requirements.  I asked how the local special education funding from the state is apportioned.  Becky Robinson of the CDE Special Education Department stated that “all funds, federal or state, must be approved by the governor.”  I checked, she is right.  The Budget Act of 2008-2009 AB 1781 (chapter 268) sets forth the budget for special education as determined by the state budget and the governor.

At a time when teachers and administrative staff are being laid off en masse, it is difficult to understand why school districts are forced to spend an additional $12.5M on special education program requirements, when state budget cuts are forcing school districts to cut teachers and programs elsewhere.  $12.5M could solve all of the local budget woes and keep the teaching and administrative staff employed for the benefit of the entire school.  The answer is that special education programs are depleting the school districts’ budgets as administrators make cuts to prioritize the federally mandated programs for special education.

Another item for budget in the statute that I should mention, is the special needs education conflict and dispute resolution.  There are law firms that specialize in representing students with disabilities and negotiate the settlement for district’s alleged failure to comply with the established statutes and regulations under the federally mandated IDEA.  This means that the statutes for special education inherently set forth guidelines for legal action following administrative proceedings should a parent identify a violation of their child’s “free and appropriate public education.”

Many school districts have greatly suffered from lawsuits brought by parents who claim that their special needs child’s rights were not met under the code.  Case in point, Porter v. Board of Trustees of Manhattan Beach Unified School District et al., 307 F. 3d 1064 (9th Cir. 2002), 537 U.S. 1194, 123 S. Ct. 1303, 154 L. Ed. 2nd 1029 (2003).

In the case of Porter, the parents of a student, who had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, charged that  Manhattan Beach Unified School District failed to provide their child with a “free appropriate public education.”   This lawsuit resulted in the school district paying over $6.7M to the family of the student.  In addition, as part of the settlement, control of the student’s education was transferred to a Special Master, Ivor Weiner, Ph.D., resulting in the cost of just under $1.1M to pay for the education of the student at the direction of the Special Master.

The problem is that whether or not this school district properly complied with the federally mandated programs and services for this student, the school district was forced to make cuts elsewhere to pay for this legal settlement.   Why has the federal government mandated such broad standards for special education and then leave local school districts to oversee, manage and fund these programs?

Since the subject of budgets and special education is not a topic that people are willing to discuss, reform in this regard is unlikely.  Certainly, special education programs and services are not to blame for this problem.  This problem belongs squarely on the lap of the federal government under the mandated IDEA laws.

Online Education Journals

Finding Online Education Materials

The material for online education journals is gaining relevance in a quickly evolving landscape. The need for improvement and achievement has been one of the most grueling desires of successful people. In a journey towards almost limitless wealth creation, every lesson learned is used to advance oneself. Finding the key to unlock the secrets of wealth creation and financial freedom is therefore a constant absorption of knowledge. In this case, the values of 21st century education should be a continuing source of information for people wanting to find financial freedom.

Thus, the relevance of online education in the continuing search for 21st century knowledge has been increasing. As people are slowly starting to see the value of having a 21st century education, the demand for much learning that is much higher than what classical knowledge has sky rocketed. More and more people are taking advantage of the influx of digital information by applying great lessons that they learned through online learning. Indeed there are many materials available about financial literacy in online education journals.

Mind Tickling Online Journals

One such series of online education journals that talks about 21st century education is the e-course of Jamie McIntyre. As the author of “What I didn’t Learn in School but I Wish I Had,” Jamie was once a young man blown away by debt. However, he knew that he had to change his mindset. He invested his time and money to acquire a millionaire’s mindset. Along the way he has helped the lives of different people wanting to achieve financial freedom. Now he is offering mini online education courses with no cost at all. His initiative has allowed a lot of people gain valuable insight about wealth creation and personal management in a way where there could not have been a better approach.

The material of online education journals regarding financial freedom and wealth creation are tremendous. As an example, Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad has opened the eyes of the middle class on the value of an emergent education. Like Jamie McIntyre, he contends that what we are learning today is far removed from what the world is really built on. In order to get over the system, people should get back to learning what is really essential in achieving absolute freedom. Kiyosaki’s online education journals have been one of the most read personal wealth content in the web. This shows that information can be tapped anywhere. With inspiring people openly sharing their experiences, the wealth of online education journals on wealth creation can help change a nation from a defeatist perspective to a society where true wealth is shared.

Towards Self-Improvement

The practicalities of online education are endless. Online education allows you to have time flexibility and keep a full-time job while studying in the luxury of your own home. At the same, the mobility of students is enhanced in such a way that people can go anywhere and still learn. The physical and power structure that is found in classrooms is therefore different. Online education journals also help in one’s personal development. Most of these journals about wealth creation are designed to be highly comprehensive and readable for any reader at any stage in their lives. Students can pick their own pace while amplifying the advantage team works to succeed alongside each other. 21ist century online education can be learned linearly or dynamically without much hassle of stress.

Thus in our continuing effort to improve, online education is the way to go. Online education journals will be your constant guide until you acquire the shift in mindset and transmute your knowledge into action. Find the most apt online education journals for yourself and start learning the 21st century way.

Adult Education Program – Should You Really Do This?

There are a lot of adults who want to take an adult education program. There are all kinds of reasons that they may want to do this. No matter what your reasons are, you must make sure that you chose the right adult education program for yourself. This is a very important point to consider.

There are hundreds of these adult education programs that you can take. You will need to figure out what motivates you to want to do it. When you know what your motivation is you will have a much better chance of completing the program.

You also need to figure out what it is that you want to do. This is something that you have to know before you sign up for any adult education program. Otherwise you will end up wasting your time and money trying to figure it out later. You can do some research to see what the programs have to offer. This will help you narrow down your choices.

Once you know what it is that you want to do you will need to figure out where you are going to take the adult education program. These days you can take a lot of the programs that are offered online. After you have decided the program that you want to take you will need to find out if it is offered as an online adult education program or not.

Most of the junior colleges and Universities now offer their programs online. They understand that it is harder and harder for people these days to pursue an adult education program unless it is in the comfort of their own home and at their own pace.

With everyone having a full time job, kids and other responsibilities, you will probably not have very much free time to go and spend it at a school. Some people can and this is great for them. However, there are not a lot of adults who cannot manage this. This is why the online adult education program is becoming more and more popular.

So deciding where you need to take the adult education program is very important. You want to look at the online adult education programs that are offered and the ones that are not done online. Then decide for yourself which one would work better for you. All of these decisions need to be made before you sign up for any program.