Linky, Linky

• Today in Inside Higher Ed, Mike Rose writes powerfully about the challenges of our existing developmental education system:

  “But now we are at a watershed moment when not only are individuals and programs trying to do something fresh with remediation, but national attention -- public and philanthropic -- is focused on the issue as well. To make significant changes, we’ll need to understand all the interlocking pieces of the remediation puzzle, something we’re not oriented to do, for our disciplinary and methodological training and public policy toolkit work against a comprehensive view of the problem.”

  Rose raises a familiar lament about disciplinary and methodological silos, drawing particular attention to the lack of interaction between intellectuals focused on remediation and those focused on basic writing.
  
• In the spirit of breaking down silos (check out last week’s post about efforts in Ohio to align dev ed with adult basic ed), we want to draw your attention to an article published this morning by The Hechinger Report about basic skills education. Sarah Butrymowicz lifts up these programs: “Across the U.S., thousands of workers stuck in low-paying jobs are trying to get a leg up through free basic-skills classes that train them in everything from elementary math to basic literacy.”
• The U.S. Department of Education is hosting a Community College Virtual Symposium on April 27 from 2:00-5:00 PM EDT. There will be presentations on policies and practices that support bridge programs for low-skill adults, alignment of secondary and postsecondary education, improved developmental education, and college-employer partnerships that promote curricular change. Register here to participate.