District Administration articles from August 2003

District Administration archives from August 2003

Leaving me behind. (Editor's Letter).
August 1, 2003... OK, first things first. I want everyone to know that I tried. I did. In writing a story that highlights the vast variations in state standards, I really tried to give No Child Left Behind, its principles and its accountability, the benefit of...

Online prep courses connect all the students: TestU levels the prep and exit exam playing field. (Advertisement).
August 1, 2003... When high school students--either college bound or those preparing for state-mandated exit exams--require an academic refresher, teachers are challenged to find time, not to mention the tools, to provide the just-in-time assistance most...

Maine's attempt to be exempt axed. (Inside the law: analyzing, debating and explaining No Child Left Behind).
August 1, 2003... After the state Senate and House of Representatives in Maine passed a resolution requesting a waiver to exempt Maine from the federal No Child Left Behind legislation, the U.S. Department of Education rejected the plea. "To opt out of the...

Thinking out of the box. (Putnam County (Fla.) School District).
August 1, 2003... No more Ds or even that pesky F. Efforts to meet goals set forth in No Child Left Behind are showing results in Putnam County (Fla.) School District. Every one of the 19 schools earned an A, B or C under the state's school grading system. Not...

Do unto others ... (Inside the law: analyzing, debating and explaining No Child Left Behind).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Treat others the way you want them to treat you. It's the backbone of The PoliteChild, a company that assists schools in offering courses that teach children the importance of the three C's--courtesy, caring, and compassion. When it comes...

Oakland's perfect storm leads to state takeover. (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).
August 1, 2003... It was a "perfect storm" of sorts, dubbed by locals referring to the 48,000-student Oakland, Calif., school district during the last two years. As a result, the ship's captain, Superintendent Dennis Chaconas, and its locally elected school...

Video games build visual skills. (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Not all video games are bad, according to a research report. First-person-shooter video games, those that require players to kill or maim enemies or monsters, directly improve visual attention skills, according to a story in The New York...

Making a special law better. (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).
August 1, 2003... Congress is a step closer to devising a bill for reauthorizing the 28-year-old Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Sens. Judd Gregg, R-New Hampshire, chairman of the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and...

Four-day school week? (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).
August 1, 2003... A bill allowing four-day school weeks passed in Michigan in mid-June, but the governor vetoed it. Gov. Jennifer Granholm vetoed the bill because a companion bill, which would have tailored the teacher pension system to hours instead of...

The bill's highlights. (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).
August 1, 2003... The bill's highlights: * clarifies methods to measure student progress * requires states to meet clear benchmarks to ensure special needs children get an education with the least restrictions * provides alternative dispute...

Buffalo restores teachers, aides and extras. (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).
August 1, 2003... While many districts nationwide cut programs and staff this past year, Buffalo (N.Y.) Public Schools restored interscholastic sports and instrumental music, and recalled 173 teachers and 64 teacher aides, according to the school district. ...

Fourth-grade reading up, 12th-grade scores down. (update).
August 1, 2003... A look at the nation's students shows that the lowest-performing fourth-graders showed steady progress in reading since 1998, while high school seniors consistently declined in performance, according to The Nation's Report Card: Reading 2002....

Meditation's benefits. (update).
August 1, 2003... For 20 minutes every day, students at a charter school in Detroit sit, close their eyes, and seemingly do nothing. But for 10 minutes in the morning in homeroom and 10 minutes at the end of their school days, 160 fifth- through...

Despite court ruling, pledge goes on as usual. (update).
August 1, 2003... When California schools went back into session in late July, students continued saying the Pledge of Allegiance as usual and will so--for now. The Elk Grove (Calif.) Unified School District immediately appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to...

Houston fudges dropout rate. (update).
August 1, 2003... A recent investigation revealed that Houston Independent School District either mishandled, lost or hid paperwork for thousands of students who may have been dropouts. An investigator's report showed that a high school administrator shredded...

Shh! It's the law. (update).(Students in Texas public schools will start observing a minute of silence this year.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Public school students in Texas will observe a minute of silence to reflect, meditate or pray and recite pledges of allegiance starting this coming school year. The new law requires school districts to observe a minute of silence and...

Re-igniting debate on teacher pay. (update).
August 1, 2003... Contrary to popular thought, teachers get paid quite well, say economists who have studied the topic. In fact, their hourly salary matches or exceeds architects, civil engineers and accountants, according to the economists. Their studies...

Student hacker erases class files. (update).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... A junior at Marion High School near Rochester, N.Y., last school year was charged with hacking into his school's computers and erasing folders belonging to the junior class. Police stated that Clint W. Triou, 17 at the time, deleted the...

Radiated beef in school lunches. (update).
August 1, 2003... The U.S. Department of Agriculture gave the OK to allow hamburgers and meat loaf to be treated with low doses of bacteria-destroying radiation and served in school cafeterias. Individual school districts will have a choice to not buy...

Teacher quality guide. (update).
August 1, 2003... Improve teacher quality and improve student achievement. The Public Education Network believes the two go hand-in-hand. The group is spearheading an effort to improve the quality of teaching in America's schools. PEN recently released, A...

Full-day kindergarten pays off. (update).
August 1, 2003... A first study-of-its-kind, targeting nearly 22,000 kindergartners nationwide, found that full-day kindergarten students make greater reading gains than children who attend half-day kindergarten. The recently released The Early Childhood...

It's a small world: when this Minnesota leader travels, he takes home more than souvenirs. (Administrator profile: Ted Blaesing).
August 1, 2003... Where in the World is Theodore Blaesing? It's the newest twist in educational games. Since 1998, this White Bear Lake (Minn.) Area Schools' leader has spent three weeks each in Germany and Japan, soaking up ways to improve education at...

Connecting the dots: a district-born program linking families to services helps achieve stability at home and success at school. (District profile: Lake Elsinore School District).
August 1, 2003... In Southern California's Lake Elsinore area, the area's namesake also happens to be the community's biggest headache. The town is divided by--you guessed it--a big lake. For those on the wrong side, often without transportation, access to...

A most uneven playing field: big differences between state standards threaten the accountability that's at the heart of No Child Left Behind.
August 1, 2003... Whether you agree or disagree with the accountability called for in No Child Left Behind, one thing is starting to become clear--the standards and the Title I money attached to meeting those standards may depend a lot more on where you live...

Are we there yet? Technology across the curriculum holds promise, but payoff has been elusive.
August 1, 2003... Tres Wells, an eighth-grade math teacher at Jackson P. Burley Middle School in Charlottesville, Va., opened his e-mail last June to find a message that read, in part: "Tres, You are invited to attend a special summer ...

The ABC's of early Ed: experts believe reducing funds for early childhood education is suicide.
August 1, 2003... Use it or lose it. It's a cute saying, but it is particularly fitting for the brain--especially in small, developing brains. "During the first three years of life, there's an overabundance of activity in the brain," says Kenneth A. Wesson,...

Are you being served? Smaller, faster and more affordable, today's servers can help transform a district's network center.
August 1, 2003... When you walk in through the door of the brand spanking new $30.4 million Beacon (N.Y.) High School--located in the heart of the Hudson Valley--you might be tempted to stroll around admiringly, taking in the sights. But if technology...

Building boom: recession or not, districts grappling with overcrowding and looking to implement reform strategies make adequate school facilities a priority. (Special section: construction trends)(Cover Story).
August 1, 2003... Behind the glitz of the Las Vegas Strip is a real problem--one that's far removed from excessive gamblers and sneaky pickpockets but just as frenetic as the crowds of tourists making their way from one casino to the next. For Clark County...

Toward a grander central: a district's main office shouldn't necessarily be last on the list of facility improvement needs. (Special section: construction trends).
August 1, 2003... Alan Hutchinson's least favorite office game is playing tag. But the school district treasurer and CFO has had lots of practice, with "phone tag and e-mail tag and every other tag you can think of," he says. Such is life when your daytime...

Atmosphere for inquiry: the new rules of science lab construction. (Special section: construction trends).
August 1, 2003... The "Great White" fire in Rhode Island earlier this year was a horror--killing nearly 100 people when rock fans were trapped inside a burning building with too few fire exits. Science laboratory safety expert Jim Kaufman worries that a similar...

Music programs missing the patriotic beat. (Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies).
August 1, 2003... Students today are more likely to know the lyrics to pop chart toppers like "Oops!... I Did it Again" from Britney Spears than "Mary Had a Little Lamb" or even "The Star Spangled Banner." So says a nationwide survey conducted by music educator...

Impact of math confidence negligible? (Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies).
August 1, 2003... TRUE: Girls tend to underestimate their math abilities in high school--despite their actual performance being just as good as that of boys. FALSE: This confidence issue pushes girls away from mathematically based college majors. ...

Report: the Neglected "R". (Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies).
August 1, 2003... Not unlike many issues in public education, it all boils down to time and money. A group of superintendents, university leaders and teachers, assisted by a panel of writing experts, has called for a dramatic increase in both these resources...

Environmental resources on the way. (Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies).
August 1, 2003... It's becoming increasingly important for the public to understand complex environmental issues and how individual decisions affect the environment locally and globally, according to the National Science Foundation. That's why it has awarded a...

Don't pass this on: hoaxes, scams and urban legends can plague districts. (The Online Edge).
August 1, 2003... A teacher recently forwarded to me a disturbing series of images that supposedly documented the Feb. 1 explosion of the Space Shuttle Columbia. The message stated the pictures were taken by an Israeli satellite, and released by the U.S....

The lessons of American Idol: educators can translate what worked in the television show into their district. (Speaking Out).
August 1, 2003... Seemingly eight or nine nights for the past several weeks my family and I were caught up in the American Idol phenomena. Thirty-eight million Americans joined us in watching the show's finale. I am encouraged that it is still possible to bring...

Bringing the outside into the classroom: GIS makes connections for students. (Computer literature: books on the latest software programs for technology directors and IT staff).
August 1, 2003... In Raleigh, N.C., sixth- through eighth-graders at Martin Middle School learn about neat stuff--Geographic Information Systems. And they're using GIS in the classroom as a tool. "It [GIS] really is all around them," says teacher Barbaree...

Artech House Publishers Introduction to GPS: the Global Positioning System.
August 1, 2003... $59.00 With more than 75 illustrations, this hardcover book is a good resource using timely and easy-to-understand ideas of GPS without using advanced mathematics. It addresses all aspects of GPS, emphasizes its applications, examines...

The Mountaineers Books GPS Made Easy: Third Edition.
August 1, 2003... $14.95 Maps, charts, graphs are big in this book, which explains how GPS works for beginners to advanced users. It features all common receivers, gives practical examples of GPS use in the outdoors, how to use it with maps and in rough...

The Globe Pequot Press Publishers Basic Essentials: Global Positioning Systems.
August 1, 2003... $7.95 This 50-page book is for the novice or veteran discovering how to leave an electronic trail to find a way back to their starting point; store the coordinate addresses of important locations; and navigate the GPS market. CIRCLE...

Springer-Verlag Wien New York's GPS Theory and Practice.
August 1, 2003... $66.95 This book shows how GPS works and accommodates the most recent advances in GPS technology. It explains the latest applications in surveying, navigation and attitude determination. It reveals descriptions of project planning,...

Heinemann Publishers GIS in the Classroom.
August 1, 2003... $18.00 Author Marsha Alibrandi describes how educators try to reframe social studies for the new century to address conditions that impact adolescents and education--showing how geographic information systems can teach social studies and...

Immerse (don't submerge): this is the best way to teach students English. (Research corner: essentials on education data and analysis from research authority AEL).
August 1, 2003... When it comes to helping English language learners make adequate yearly progress in school, most people agree on one point: the sink-or-swim method won't work. Research strongly supports this conclusion, and federal law (Lau v. Nichols, 1974)...

SonicFire Pro 3.0: SmartSound. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... www.smartsound.com, Software, $299 ($499 for standard bundle) The latest version of this audio software allows students to create soundtracks for their visual media projects. Enhancements include the Infinite Search Maestro feature, which...

BoardDocs: Emerald Data Solutions. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... www.emgrp.com/eds, Software, $1,000/month (includes site setup, technical support and training) BoardDocs, which allows administrators and board members to publish board agenda items, supporting documents and policies to the Web, features...

SMART Board 2000i: Rear projection. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... Smart Technologies www.smarttech.com, Hardware, $12,999 (educational grants are available to qualifying institutions) This mobile, interactive whiteboard features a 66" shadow-free, touch-sensitive display with an height-adjustable screen....

Write! Foundations and Models for Proficiency: Curriculum Associates. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... www.curriculum associates.com, Program, $12.95 each book, Teacher guide $6.95 Available for students in grades 1-8, this rubric-based writing program includes eight student books (one per grade level) that are divided into two parts. Part...

Starter Paragraph Punch: Merit Software. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... www.meritsoftware.com, Software, Single station $79, 30 stations $1,119 (other pricing options available) This software helps students in grades 3-5 learn to write an effective paragraph using reason, detail, sequence and example. The...

Kaplan Achievement Planner 3.0: Kaplan. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... www.kaplank12.com, Program, About $25 and up/student (varies) Kaplan has updated this Web-based data analysis and instructional software program, which helps educators use data from state tests and ongoing assessments to inform instruction....

Achiever Plus: Brainchild. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... www.brainchild.com, Software, Site license $4,999 (math or language arts for elementary and middle school packages, or both subjects for high school) This latest addition to the Achiever software line was developed to target standards in...

eLearning Edition: RoboDemo. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... eHelp www.ehelp.com, Software, $449 This Flash-based simulation software is suitable for district offices planning professional development courses for teachers, as well as for tech-savvy teachers creating student lessons and assessments....

iReach: Scholastic. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... www.scholastic.com, Internet, Annual teacher license $99/40 students, Annual site license $349/200 students (through August) New features are available for this Internet-based reading assessment program for grades 2-8. The program, which...

Solving Problems in Schools: American Productivity & Quality Center. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... www.apqc.org, Book, $20 This slim, 58-page guidebook helps stimulate the insight needed for problem solving. Practical examples and organizational tools help in tackling specific problems and finding lasting solutions. The step-by-step...

Questionmark Perception Office Connector: Questionmark. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... www.questionmark.com, Software, License $1,995 and up Teachers and administrators can use this software to launch quizzes, tests, surveys and questionnaires from Microsoft Office files. Compatible with Microsoft Office 2000 and Office XP,...

All Else Equal: Routledge. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... www.routledge-ny.com, Book, $19.95 This book looks at the differences--and similarities--of public and private schools. Topics include: Recasting Public and Private Education in Post-Industrial America; Should We Expect Private and Public...

ParaPrep Learning System: Pace Learning. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... www.pacelearning.com, Program, Price $8,000 and up Under No Child Left Behind, adults who work alongside teachers in the classroom must become certified as paraprofessionals. This self-contained assessment and training system is designed to...

e/pop Java Client: WiredRed. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... www.wiredred.com, Software, $35/user Districts can use the new version of this system for cross-platform instant messaging, whether it's as an alternative to a public address system, or for getting information out across a school or district....

Brigance Screens Online Scoring System: Curriculum Associates. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... www.casamples.com, Program, $38 to $99 per class This online service allows educators to get customized reports on students from preschool to first grade. The scoring service allows educators to input data once and receive reports about...

TCO Tool: Consortium of School Networking. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... Internet, www.classroomtco.org, Free Determining Total Cost of Ownership--or overall technology costs, including direct and indirect labor associated with purchases--can help administrators better manage staff and resources. The TCO Tool,...

Apple Remote Desktop 1.2: Apple. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... www.apple.com, Hardware, $149 The latest version of the Apple Remote Desktop lets users remotely install software to groups of Macs as well as set a remote server as the start-up disk for a group of Macs. From their own computers, teachers...

The Imagination Station: istation.com. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... www.istation.com, Internet, $50/student Students in pre-K through third grade can use this Internet-based interactive education network to boost their reading skills. Aligned to No Child Left Behind, this reading instruction and...

WriteNote: ISI ResearchSoft. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... www.writenote.com, Software, High school site licenses from $1,000-$3,400/year WriteNote is a Web-based research and writing tool for organizing term papers. It allows students to use library resources in their native interfaces and...

Overcoming Dyslexia: a New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level: Alfred A. Knopf. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... www.aaknopf.com, Book, $25.95 Administrators and teachers hoping to solve students' reading problems can turn to this book about achievement in the face of dyslexia. Written by Yale University neuroscientist Dr. Sally Shaywitz, the book...

Peterson's Test Prep--SAT Online Course: Peterson's. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... www.petersonstestprep.com, Program, Annual site license $850 and up ($40 or less per user) Peterson's online course aims to be both customized for each student and affordable. The program, which can be bought by a district or individual...

ER1 Curriculum Guide: Evolution Robotics. (New Products).
August 1, 2003... www.evolution.com, Hardware, Lab pack $1,999 (includes 20-user site license and 3 ER1 robots) This robotics curriculum for grades 9-12 aims to engage the minds of students interested in robotics and technology. Students can program the...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
August 1, 2003... In the story, "Getting Kids to Learn-Or Else", (May 2003, p. 45), the vice president and chief academic officer at Scholastic was misidentified. She is Francie Alexander. The story, "Finishing on Top, With Help", (May 2003, p. 18)...

By the numbers: a data bank on education trends for district leaders.
August 1, 2003... THIS MONTH: Parental Involvement In a recent study of American adults, almost all respondents, 96%, said parents should partner with teachers in their children's education. Also, 94% said all adults in a community--not just the parents...