District Administration articles from April 2005

District Administration archives from April 2005

The state of education, V. 2005: from teacher tenure to Algebra I to NCLB, today's leaders share their successes--and frustrations--about running a school district in 2005.(Editor's Letter)
April 1, 2005... Every year when I go to the American Association of School Administrators conference it's a great time to hear a state of K-12 education from the people who should know, the ones running the country's school systems. As usual, this year's three...

Florida high school taps Questia classroom for CMS online tools: course management system linked to online library powers interactive learning environment.(Advertisement)
April 1, 2005... A new course management system (CMS) for secondary schools--powered by Questia the world's largest online academic library--has become a key part of the ambitious academic and staff-training programs at St. Lucie West Centennial High School in...

Tungsten learning gives educators the data they need to improve scores: the Benchmark Assessment System continuously monitors student learning and provides real-time help and effectively informs classroom instruction.(Advertisement)
April 1, 2005... With a range of school districts adopting Tungsten Learning's Benchmark Assessment System, the early response has been uniformly positive. At one school where the Benchmark Assessment System has been in use for two years--Collegiate Academy,...

Bush's budget: taking from Peter to pay Paul?(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
April 1, 2005... This time of year, education lobbyists work hardest for their paychecks, and President Bush's proposed $56 billion education budget for fiscal year 2006 will mean plenty of overtime as advocates work toward restoring $4.3 billion in programs...

Bush resurrects choice fund.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... In President Bush's 2006 budget proposal, he asks for $50 million in the Choice Incentive Fund. The idea, which was resurrected from his first term, would allow groups across the U.S. to compete for federal money for programs that give parents...

Georgia targets dropout rate.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... A statewide effort to reduce high school dropouts in Georgia is depending on community organizations, churches, Parents and child care providers. Education. Go Get It is a recent campaign that targets children from preschool through high school...

Graduation exams under the microscope.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
April 1, 2005... Do high school graduation exams drive kids to drop out of school? Do the tests correlate with lower SAT scores? Yes, according to a new report in Education Policy Analysis Archives. Graduation tests may represent the final obstacle that causes...

Bipartisan review of NCLB reveals change is necessary.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
April 1, 2005... A 10-month study by a special task force of the National Conference of State Legislatures shows that states need flexibility to meet the goals of No Child Left Behind despite the U.S. Department of Education's conviction that the three-year-old...

A shift in middle school.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
April 1, 2005... The New York Board of Regents recently approved a plan that would revolutionize the way middle schools administer its curriculum with the ultimate goal of improving student performance. According to the regents' plan, a study determined that no...

Florida Gov. wants more vouchers.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Florida Gov. Jeb Bush recently proposed massive expansion of the use of vouchers for any student in Florida who fails the state reading test for three consecutive years, according to The Miami Herald. It's part of a comprehensive package of...

Web site pulls school merchandise after complaints.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Prep Sportswear receives a warning )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The National Association of Independent Schools has issued an alert to members about a Seattle-based Internet company that is selling merchandise such as shirts and backpacks with public and private school names on them without their knowledge....

Colorado Court: vouchers are unconstitutional.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... In Colorado, the Supreme Court recently ruled that the state's voucher program strips school boards of local control, which is unconstitutional, according to The Denver Post. The decision upholds a district court ruling that claims local...

Charter School Leadership Council kicks off.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... At a time when charter schools are facing serious challenges, the newly formed Charter School Leadership Council is kicking off its first-year agenda, focusing on growth and quality. The council started with appointing a high-level Task Force...

Virginia offers cash to keep teachers.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
April 1, 2005... The Virginia Department of Education is starting a program it hopes will be a national model for retaining successful teachers at schools that are chronically difficult to staff. The program, called the Commonwealth's Teacher Retention...

Higher education valued.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... A recent national survey of young adults shows that the majority of them value higher education, according to Public Agenda, the nonprofit, nonpartisan opinion research organization. Most of the young adults, ages 18 to 25, surveyed in Life...

Wisconsin brings in the band.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... A first-of-its-kind arts facility is breaking ground in Waunakee, Wis. The Wisconsin Center for Music Education, worth $1.9 million, is expected to open in late July to music teachers and students in public and private schools and others....

Legislators critical of Bush's call to expand NCLB.(Inside the law: analyzing, debating and explaining No Child Left Behind)
April 1, 2005... President Bush might not have the votes in Congress he needs to move forward on his a $1.5 billion proposal to expand the major tenets of No Child Left Behind to the nation's high schools. Some key Republican and Democratic congressional...

Green mountain state debates axing law.(Inside the law: analyzing, debating and explaining No Child Left Behind)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... A Vermont school's union is pushing the state to ax the No Child Left Behind law in light of what they think are unreachable goals and little federal money to carry out the law. But so far, the plan is on hold. Six school boards of the...

From soup to nuts, data are available.(Inside the law: analyzing, debating and explaining No Child Left Behind)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Any administrator in Prince William County School District in Manassas, Va., can now easily access test results, enhance curriculum and track performance in any class in any school in the district. The district, which recently consolidated...

Utah close to cutting loose from NCLB.(Inside the law: analyzing, debating and explaining No Child Left Behind)
April 1, 2005... Despite the Utah House of Representatives giving a thumbs-up to a proposed bill that would give higher priority to local educational goals than to those under the federal No Child Left Behind law, the bill is on hold after Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr....

Illinois districts say NCLB conflicts with IDEA.(Inside the law: analyzing, debating and explaining No Child Left Behind)
April 1, 2005... In a first of its kind, a state Board of Education and two Illinois school districts are suing the U.S. Department of Education saying the No Child Left Behind sections that apply to special education students are in direct conflict with the...

Stu's clues: the secret to this superintendent's success is good humor and a focus on kids.(Administrator profile: Stu Silberman, Fayette County (Ken.) Public Schools)
April 1, 2005... Stu Silberman might be a little eccentric. At school events, his favorite pineapple and cream cheese-ball recipe, pilfered years ago from the food services director at Daviess County Schools, is a must. His e-newletters include leadership...

A need, not a perk: this district's high priority on gifted and talented programs has given students an edge--and helped the system combat shrinking enrollment.(District profile: Rebecca Sausner Independent School District of Boise City, Idaho)
April 1, 2005... Fifth and sixth graders are rehearsing for Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream in Marti Agler's highly gifted class of 12. The Boise, Idaho, students recently finished analyzing Macbeth, as well as parliamentary debates about school...

High school reform: governors move to improve high schools at action summit. But what will the, accomplish?
April 1, 2005... With talk among educators and politicians revealing little likelihood for comprehensive federal reform of the nation's high schools, state governors are vowing to undertake the job themselves to improve student achievement and graduation rates...

Protecting the teacher's pet: as more teachers are accused of sexually harassing or molesting students and as reports of misconduct rise, districts need detailed plans to reduce incidents and protect themselves.
April 1, 2005... The heart-breaking stories are on www.sesame.org, Web site of SESAME, Stop Edueator Sexual Abuse, Misconduct & Exploitation. Often, the victim is the trusting, innocent teacher's pet and the teacher is well-liked by peers and students alike....

Boosting technology and communication in Big Apple.(Security trends: the latest in school safety and security)
April 1, 2005... Security issues continue to be a top concern in New York City's 1,300-plus schools, highlighted by the recent arrest of a high school principal accused of tussling with a police officer stationed in the building. New York Mayor Michael...

Taser tag is serious in schools.(Security trends: the latest in school safety and security)
April 1, 2005... A battle is brewing over the latest defense in school security in some communities--use of the Taser gun. About 1,700 police departments have equipped school resource officers with Tasers, which can halt students in danger of harming themselves...

New speed limits on cyber highway.(Security trends: the latest in school safety and security)
April 1, 2005... The idea that teachers--and administrators-need more formal assistance in protecting students and computers from the hazards of the Internet has gained traction in the past few months, with Microsoft and a handful of other technology companies...

Linked to police.(Security trends: the latest in school safety and security)(schools linked directly to police stations)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... An Indiana school district recently became one of the first districts in the nation to link its school's video system directly to the local police and fire center. Merrillville High School is directly linked to the Merrillville Police and...

Biometrics goes one step further.(Security trends: the latest in school safety and security)(computer users will be identified by age)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... A leading security company is developing technology that would verify if a computer user is a child or adult by analyzing a bone in a person's finger, according to The Seattle Post-Intelligencer RSA Security, Inc., a developer of...

Best buddies: superintendents and mayors are no longer adversaries. These days, especially in urban districts, many of them work together to make their schools--and city--better.
April 1, 2005... They have a lot in common. They have constituents. They struggle with budgets. They grapple with transportation problems. They have to manage big staffs and human relation issues. And they both have governing boards they have to work with to...

Remote control: heard about the latest wonder tool that has the construction world buzzing? With construction management software, district administrators can remain in control of building projects.
April 1, 2005... In the grand scheme of business, school districts who jump onto the construction management software bandwagon are hardly pioneers. Not when Nicholas Johnson, business development executive for education at Constructware in Alpharetta, Ga.,...

Students to help unlock the secrets of longevity.
April 1, 2005... Living in just one tiny region of Italy are 20 times the number of centenarians than the average for the developed world. An island off the South American coast has a 66 percent higher proportion of centenarians than the U.S. And inhabitants of...

Forming a formative assessment.(Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... "There are teachers who have never used it. but once they start there's no going back." says Edmundo Gonzalez of Software Technology Inc. He's referring to the kind of test a teacher can administer on a Friday that will inform what happens in...

Study to track impact of e-portfolios.(Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Electronic portfolios, which allow students to get creative in demonstrating their knowledge, have been growing in popularity in schools. But do they work as part of the learning process? Helen Barrett, who has been researching e-portfolios...

From sea to shining sea.(Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... A successful West coast math/ music program is now looking to hit the right note on the Gulf coast, as well. Six years after testing began in California schools, the MIND Institute's Math + Music program, which combines music instruction and...

New wave of teaching black migration in U.S.(Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies)("In Motion: The African-American Migration Experience" program)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Acts of migration have created communities with a sense of identity that collectively make America what it is today. Yet there's one story that some historians say hasn't been fully told--that of African-American migration traditions. ...

The effective, non-invasive method.(Kirksville R-III School District uses instant message software to contact teachers )
April 1, 2005... Problem: It's not always easy for a superintendent or building principal to get a message to teachers quickly without either calling and disrupting their lesson or disturbing the whole school with an announcement over the loud speaker. But one...

New browsers have compelling features and fewer problems.(Odvard Egil Dyrli on Alternative Web Browsers)
April 1, 2005... When continuing assaults from viruses, spam, pop-up ads and adware made Internet use almost intolerable in my teacher-son Karl's K-12 school in Massachusetts, the staff changed Web browsers from Internet Explorer to Firefox and the problems...

John Dewey is ours!(international education comparison)
April 1, 2005... Put on your dunce caps! It's international education comparison season again. I know. I know... Eritrea is kicking our butt in long division. If we don't get tough quickly, all of our best fast-food jobs will be outsourced overseas. ...

Examining exit exams.(Research corner: essentials on education data and analysis from research authority AEL)(American Education Research Association )
April 1, 2005... After running a 13-year marathon, 52 percent of all U.S. public school students in 2004 faced a final hurdle as they neared the finish line: mandatory exit exams. The merits and drawbacks of these exams are being debated, and the buzz among...

Parents on power trips.(Leadership books: an essential collection of the latest books for district-level leaders)(tips about parent-teacher relations)
April 1, 2005... Character traits like trustworthiness, integrity, authenticity and respect are like "money in the bank" when it comes to dealing with unhappy parents. But dealing with a parent on a power trip takes special care. Here's how to identify and deal...

Class and Schools: Teachers College and the Economic Policy Institute.(Leadership books: an essential collection of the latest books for district-level leaders)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... Class and Schools TEACHERS COLLEGE AND THE ECONOMIC POLICY INSTITUTE by Richard Rothstein www.tcpress.com, $17.95 Subtitled Using Social, Economic and Educational Reform to Close the Black- White Achievement Cap, Rothstein argues that it's...

Setting the Record Straight: Second Edition: Heinemann.(Leadership books: an essential collection of the latest books for district-level leaders)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... Setting the Record Straight: Second Edition HEINEMANN by Gerald W. Bracey www.heinemann.com, $21 Featuring the latest data and a new chapter on No Child Left Behind, the second edition of this book (originally published in 1997) offers...

Promises Kept: Sustaining School and District Leadership in a Turbulent Era ASCD.(Leadership books: an essential collection of the latest books for district-level leaders)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... Promises Kept: Sustaining School and District Leadership in a Turbulent Era ASCD, by Steven Jay Gross. www.ascd.org, $25.95 How do leaders in change-oriented schools and districts work through disruptions to uphold a vision of learning?...

Live Ink reading help: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.(New products: the latest offerings in books, hardware, Internet and software)
April 1, 2005... www.liveink.com Online Edition, $3 add-on to price of online textbooks (which start at $65.95) This text-formatting method is now available in the online versions of the company's textbooks, including biology and its entire line of social...

Network video management system: D3Data.(New products: the latest offerings in books, hardware, Internet and software)
April 1, 2005... www.d3data.com Software, $1,200 and up This surveillance system offers Windows-driven, browser-based, networked video management features. Administrators and police departments can monitor specific locations like school entrances and...

iClass CP400: HID Corp.(New products: the latest offerings in books, hardware, Internet and software)
April 1, 2005... www.hidcorp.com Hardware/Software, $1,800 The latest edition to the company's contactless smart card technology product line enables programming of security-based applications and card management functions. Users can now program access...

FPS-5: Perimeter Products.(New products: the latest offering in books, hardware, Internet and software)
April 1, 2005... www.perimeterproducts.com, Hardware, $30/linear foot This fence-mounted intrusion detection system communicates all alarm and supervision information, including audio, on the same integral fiber transponder. Using the fiber communication...

Latin and Greek word roots 2: Glavach and Associates.(New products: the latest offering in books, hardware, Internet and software)
April 1, 2005... www.strugglingreaders.com, Program, $30 This 135-page book of reproducible masters for individual classroom use was developed to help middle school and high school students improve their decoding, spelling, vocabulary and reading...

Follett falcon: Follett Software.(New products: the latest offering in books, hardware, Internet and software)
April 1, 2005... www.fsc.follet.com, Hardware, $1,795 and up This hand-held computer combines wireless access with barcode scanning and PDA technology. It gives access to real-time library, patron and textbook information from anywhere within range of the...

Content security manager 2100 CF: SonicWall.(New products: the latest offering in books, hardware, Internet and software)
April 1, 2005... www.sonicwall.com, Appliance, $2,800 and up This product was designed to enhance network security and employee productivity, optimize network utilization and manage access to over 55 categories of Internet content as well as the use of...

Xsan for Mac OS X: Apple.(New products: the latest offering in books, hardware, Internet and software)
April 1, 2005... www.apple.com, Software, $999 This 64-bit cluster file system enables school districts to consolidate storage resources and provide multiple computers with concurrent file-level read/write access to shared volumes over Fibre Channel. Up to...

Dantz Retrospect 7: EMC Dantz.(New products: the latest offering in books, hardware, Internet and software)
April 1, 2005... www.dantz.com Software, $299-$1,299 This latest release is offered in four updated editions: Retrospect 7 Multi Server, Single Server, Small Business Server and Disk-to-Disk. Among its new features are intuitive wizards that streamline...

ThinkPad T43: IBM.(New products: the latest offering in books, hardware, Internet and software)
April 1, 2005... www.ibm.com/thinkpad, Hardware, $1,499 and up This laptop comes equipped with a layered approach to virus protection and advanced security, data recovery and power management features, such as: Rescue and Recovery 2.0, a set of tools...

DiscMate: Checkpoint Systems.(New products: the latest offering in books, hardware, Internet and software)
April 1, 2005... www.checkpoint/ibrary.com, Equipment, Approximately $1 per case, $50 per standard unlocking unit This product, which is compatible with any library automation system, helps librarians secure and circulate CDs and DVDs. It includes...

Take it to your seat geography centers: Evan-Moor Educational Publishers.(New products: the latest offering in books, hardware, Internet and software)
April 1, 2005... www.evan-moor.com, Curriculum, $19.99/title This program's four titles target students in grades 1-5 and reinforce critical geography concepts with grade-level appropriate centers like Using a Map Key. Step-by-step teacher directions and...

ScienceTextCentral.org: environmental literacy Council.(New products: the latest offering in books, hardware, Internet and software)
April 1, 2005... ScienceTextCentral.org Sciencetextcentral.org, Internet, Free This Web site helps educators select science textbooks. Scientists review the books for accuracy and balance while teachers evaluate the same books for their effectiveness...

CompuGuard Cornerstone: Centurion Technologies.(New products: the latest offering in books, hardware, Internet and software)
April 1, 2005... www.centuriontech.com Software, $7.25-$22/copy This hard-drive protection software guards against permanent changes being made to a user's hard drive. After a computer with CompuGuard is rebooted, it's restored back to the optimal...

Play Attention Learning System: unique logic + technology.(New products: the latest offering in books, hardware, Internet and software)
April 1, 2005... Play Attention Learning System www.playattention.com, Software, $1,795 This program aims to maximize attention and concentration in both children and adults. It includes a sensor-lined helmet similar to bicycle helmets and an interface...

By the numbers on life after high school: a data bank on education trends for district leaders.
April 1, 2005... Roughly 1 in 3 young Americans do not go on to any form of higher education. VALUE OF A COLLEGE DEGREE Percent of 18- to 25-year-olds who agree with the following statements: It's easier to move up in a company when you have a...