District Administration articles from August 2005

District Administration archives from August 2005

Technological progress.(Conferences)(Editorial)
August 1, 2005... This is the time of year when school officials probably find themselves asking, "If it's the summer, how come I'm so busy?" Although my .job has more of a monthly schedule than an annual one, I'm wondering the same thing. June was a month with...

Proposed billion dollar law for excellent teachers.(update: Education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
August 1, 2005... There was such a love fest when Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) introduced the Teacher Excellence for All Children Act this spring that something may actually come of the ambitious legislation. "Nothing is more important to a student's...

Teacher salaries stagnant.(update: Education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Despite several six-digit salary teachers in classrooms across the U.S., the National Education Association reveals in a report that teacher salary levels have barely budged in the past decade. The report, Rankings and Estimates. Rankings of...

School enrollment sets new record.(update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... With immigration rising and children of the baby boomers playing a role, 49.5 million students are sitting in America's classrooms. It surpasses the all-time high of 48.7 million students in 1970. The figure is expected to peak at 50 million in...

Alternate teaching gains popularity.(update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Nearly 33 percent of all certified teachers who taught for the first time this year were licensed through alternate routes, according to a report by the National Center for Education Information. About 35,000 new teachers this year are...

Teacher shortage still alive and kickin'.(update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Foreign teachers are still a big source for school districts that are faced with a short supply of American teachers. For example, in Virginia and Maryland, school officials are hiring teachers from more than a dozen countries. Fairfax...

Is the fourth "R" spreading too far?(update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... All schools have reading, 'riting, and 'rithmatic. But Larry Kvamme, a zookeeper from Tacoma, Wash., wants a fourth "R" that trumps all the rest: relationships. "If you are not successful in relationships, you are not going to be successful in...

Big voucher testing grounds find pros and cons.(update)
August 1, 2005... Fifteen years after the first state-supported voucher program was established in Milwaukee, education officials across the country are still vehemently debating whether giving students money to go to private schools actually increases academic...

Study: charter schools failing.(update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Students attending charter schools in seven states are scoring almost the same on tests as their counterparts in public schools, according to a study released by Arizona State University. Despite academic freedom and smaller class sizes,...

California's real child star.(update)(Preschool education)
August 1, 2005... California's First 5 Initiative is helping children prepare for the rest of their lives. A first-of-its-kind Preschool For All program opened its doors in April. First 5 California, a preschool initiative that took hold in 1998, takes this...

Tenure tangle.(update)(Teachers in California are protesting against new initiative of teachers evaluation)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Teachers in California are protesting in droves Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's initiatives that voters will approve or deny on Nov. 8. The governor wants to increase the time it takes from two years now to five years--for K-12 educators to...

New college prep work mandated.(update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Los Angeles high school students will have to complete a set of college prep courses starting with the class of 2008. The Los Angeles Board of Education recently approved the academic reform plan which some opposed due to already high...

Garden State bans soda, candy and fatty foods.(update)
August 1, 2005... In the most comprehensive junk food ban in the nation, sugary beverages and high-fat foods are going to be a thing of the past in New Jersey school cafeteria lines and vending machines. The Garden State is requiring by September 2007 that...

States ban together.(update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... New Jersey is one of a dozen states that enacted school nutrition policies this year. The states include Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, New Mexico, Oklahoma and West Virginia. Texas enacted a school nutrition policy in...

Potential recruits for military.(update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The Department of Defense recently started working with a private marketing firm to create a database of high school students, ages 16-18, and college students to help the military target potential recruits. The new database, which privacy...

U.S. DOE gives Florida schools "provisional" break: Florida reports that it has 1,111 schools making AYP this year, up from 534 in 2003. There also are 1,169 schools not making progress, down from 2,473.(Inside the Law: Analyzing, Debating and Explaining No Child Left Behind)(United States Department of Education)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and state education officials have struck a one-of-a-kind deal with the U.S. Department of Education to prevent 825 schools from being labeled as failures for not meeting adequate yearly progress standards under the...

New guidance on tutoring.(Inside the Law: Analyzing, Debating and Explaining No Child Left Behind)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The federal government has released a 50-page report that lays out details of providing tutoring or remediation to K-12 students. Supplemental Educational Services: Non-Regulatory Guidance, released in June, has new information or changes...

Some Hispanic student gains, but why?(Inside the Law)
August 1, 2005... When Education Secretary Margaret Spellings recently exclaimed that Hispanic students are catching up to white kids in reading and math and No Child Left Behind was mainly behind it, some educators disagreed. Spellings says the federal law...

California sues over English-Language-Learner tests.(Inside the Law)
August 1, 2005... Ten school districts in California are suing the state over what they think is a violation of the federal No Child Left Behind law by forcing students with limited English skills to take annual standardized tests in English rather than in their...

Illinois gives a break.(Inside the Law)(Lower passing scores including bilingual students)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... In Illinois, 61,000 limited English learners can breathe easier. The state Board of Education recently approved lower passing scores for a test given to students in bilingual programs for less than three years. The new scoring cutoff is...

Not your average Joe: while a gentle, silent type, this big-city superintendent has made sweeping system changes.(Administrator Profile: Joe A. Hairston, Baltimore County Public Schools)(Biography)
August 1, 2005... If nicknames connote trust, Joe Hairston's parents set him on the right path the day they just named him "Joe" rather than Joseph. "It pretty much reinforces my personality," he says of his nickname kind of name. "For whatever reason, people...

Choice encounters: with near perfect attendance, rigorous curricular programs and motivated students, this district's magnet schools are a model for others.(District Profile: Duval County (Fla.) Public Schools)
August 1, 2005... Katrina Rivera doesn't mind the nearly three-hour, round trip bus ride from her home to Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology. "I chose this magnet school because I'm trying to become an actress and if I don't make it--it's not really a...

Making assessments work: your district just overhauled its assessments. Are you sure these improvements are reaching your students?
August 1, 2005... There's lots of buzz about formative assessment these days; some analysts say this latest byproduct of No Child Left Behind comprises the fastest-growing segment of the education testing market. It's not difficult to understand, given how...

The end of recess: higher standards are squeezing out playtime at schools throughout the country. Some educators not only disapprove, but they're fighting to restore recess to the school day.
August 1, 2005... It used to be that the biggest of recess were scraping having a run-in with the schoolyard bully. Nowadays the greatest risk may be to your school's Adequate Yearly Progress rating. As state and federal standards have been ratcheted up, the...

Digital days: from measuring the force of a soda rocket to writing prose, handheld computers are inching their way into classrooms.
August 1, 2005... Dear Johann, My name is Schuyler and I live in Delmar, Maryland, USA. I like video games and pizza. Also, I like to ride bikes. I am going on a 3 week break. Happy Easter! >From your friendly internet buddy, Schuyler Dear SSgt....

Site seeing: it's a no-brainer: outgrowing a district's school facilities means it's time to open a new school. Finding an adequate site, however, is not so easy.
August 1, 2005... In urban, suburban and rural districts alike, leaders inevitably come up against some formidable challenges when seeking and acquiring a new school site. In the city, the problem most often is the lack of available land. Even locating an...

Over the line: technology is making boundary decisions easier from a data and planning standpoint. Learn what you need to make successful decisions.
August 1, 2005... The plaques proclaiming him outstanding school administrator, top teacher and excellent PTA administrator don't mean anything when it comes to saving Paul Shepherd's good name these days. As director of planning and boundaries for Granite...

Sept. 17: schools must teach Constitution.(Curriculum Update: The latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies)
August 1, 2005... Ready or not, mandates come. A statutory requirement from the federal government is about to take effect: Every educational institution receiving federal funds or any taxpayer money (that is, every public school) must organize a student program...

Celebrating the freedom to read.(Curriculum Update: The latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... In Goochland, Va., after the school board banned Stephen King's Salem's Lot, parents and students could pick up free copies of the book in a local bookstore. While it's not always schools doing the planning, Banned Books Week activities can run...

Hands-on science bus rolls around Philly.(Curriculum Update: The latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies)
August 1, 2005... What was once just a typical 40-foot passenger bus now has some serious business going on inside as Philadelphia elementary children compare crime scene fingerprints, extract DNA and protein from fruit and create rainbows from different color...

Odvard Egil Dyrli on visual search tools: Grokker and related tools are transforming online research.
August 1, 2005... Although school district Web sites often include links to the popular text-based search engines Google and Yahoo, growing numbers are including new visual search tools that are redefining online research. For example, California's Orange County...

Gary Stager on adults behaving badly: why are students and adults becoming antagonists?(Column)
August 1, 2005... In American Psychology and Schools, Seymour Saragon writes of the shock expressed by the community after the horrible tragedy at Columbine High no outrage was expressed when police officers were stationed in a suburban school. That should have...

Getting assessment help.(Problem/Solution: Online Assessment)
August 1, 2005... Problem: Bradley K. Barrett, superintendent of the Gilbert (Ariz.) Public Schools, knew two things when he looked at how his district's students met the state standards. He knew he wanted to improve student performance and he knew his district...

Understanding learning disabilities.(Research Corner: Essentials on education data and analysis from research authority AEL)
August 1, 2005... About one in 20 K-12 students is classified as having a specific learning disability. These students are served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Most spend at least part of their day in a regular classroom. Students...

Read & Write 7.1E Gold: Texthelp Systems Inc.(New Products: The latest offerings in books, hardware, Internet and software)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... www.texthelp.com Software, Single version $645, School network site license $4,495 This software program was designed for students in grades 3 and up who struggle to read and write in English. It helps learners gain access to curriculum...

Destination Reading Course III, IV, V: Riverdeep.(New Products: The latest offerings in books, hardware, Internet and software)
August 1, 2005... www.riverdeep.net, Courseware, $499 and up These programs offer individualized, media-rich content and cross-curricular connections. Course III targets grades 4-6, Course IV is for grades 6-8 and Course V is a high school appropriate...

3D-Readers: The NeuronFarm.(New Products: The latest offerings in books, hardware, Internet and software)
August 1, 2005... www.neuronfarm.com Web program, $600/starter pack This online program was designed to help educators build lifelong reading skills in a diverse group of learners. It teaches research-based reading strategies that can be applied to any text...

Adobe photoshop CS2: Adobe Systems.(New Products: The latest offerings in books, hardware, Internet and software)
August 1, 2005... www.adobe.com, Software, Estimated at $599 Available as a stand-alone application or key component of the company's creative suite, the software is a major upgrade to the professional industry standard for digital imaging and creation....

Voices Reading: Zaner-Bloser.(New Products: The latest offerings in books, hardware, Internet and software)
August 1, 2005... www.zaner-bloser.com Program, $150-$300 per student Designed for grades K-2, this program aligns literature with six important character development themes: identity awareness, perspective taking, conflict resolution, social awareness, love...

Yearly ProgressPro Reading/Language Arts version: MacGraw-Hill Digital Learning.(New Products: The latest offerings in books, hardware, Internet and software)
August 1, 2005... www.mhdigitallearning.com Online system, $7.99 per student/year This progress monitoring system includes two types of online assessments. The Reading Maze is a timed assessment consisting of weekly, leveled reading passages for grades 1-8...

Readingpen: The Reading Pen Group.(New Products)
August 1, 2005... www.readingpen.com, Device, $99 each/package of 10 This tool allows students to scan printed words or full sentences and obtain the pronunciation, definition and translation in seconds. They can gain self-confidence while enhancing skills...

Todos a leer con PLATO Achieve Now: PLATO Learning, Inc.(New Products)
August 1, 2005... www.plato.com, Software, $150 per student license Designed to help English-language learners develop literacy skills, this program features materials in Spanish that cover key objectives in emergent literacy, reading comprehension and...

Text Talk: Scholastic.(New Products)
August 1, 2005... www.scholastic.com Reading program, $375/per level This research-based vocabulary program was designed to build oral vocabulary and comprehension skills for K-3 students. Its instructional model includes language-rich read-alouds, direct...

APRIL age Progression Software: Aprilage Development Inc.(New Products)
August 1, 2005... www.aprilage.com Software, $2,999 to $3,999 per license (plus $599-$799 for maintenance and support) This software drives home the harmful results of smoking to middle and high school students. Working from a digital photograph of a human...

Spark Educator, Spark Learner, Kidspark: Spark-Space.(New Products)
August 1, 2005... www.spark-space.com, Software, estimated price: $69-$398 This idea-mapping product is offered in three editions. Spark Educator targets teachers, enabling them to capture all learning styles in the class and accelerate learning by...

CardMaster Card Reader cards: Califone International.(New Products)
August 1, 2005... www.califone.com Reading program, $69.95 per set This program offers five new sets of cards that blend print and audio to enhance reading instruction. Students select a magnetic card, listen to the pre-recorded sound, record a...

FOCUS Series: Curriculum Associates.(New Products)
August 1, 2005... www.cainc.com Books, $24.90/10-pack, $4.95/ teacher guide This 48-book series offers brief instruction and concentrated practice in the six reading strategies most difficult for students to master. Each strategy is covered in separate...

bSphere: Tenex Systems, Inc.(New Products)
August 1, 2005... www.tenexsys.com Internet, $8 and up per student/year This online fund accounting and business management solution provides a centralized approach to managing financial data. It delivers a suite of integrated modules--general ledger,...

TIP (Textbook Inventory Program).(Information Showcase: Free catalogs and literature)
August 1, 2005... TIP (Textbook Inventory Program) is designed to be the most comprehensive textbook inventory system available. It is a tool for recording the transactions of textbooks as well as components, test booklets, calculators etc.), at both the...

Teacher's interactive whiteboard.(Information Showcase: Free catalogs and literature)
August 1, 2005... The Interactive Presentation Manger [TM] (IPM) brings your multimedia classroom presentations to life with powerful and easy to use "Softkeys" that link to computer files for "on command launch." Using your PC and an LCD projector, the IPM...

Lower your discipline referrals proven results.(Information Showcase: Free catalogs and literature)
August 1, 2005... Since 1992, Project Wisdom has been producing a school-wide character education program that helps students make wiser choices. Join more than 12,000 licensed schools across America. It's simple. It's affordable. It works. Visit our Website for...

Improve every student's critical thinking skills with NewsCurrents.(Information Showcase: Free catalogs and literature)
August 1, 2005... Written at three levels in an engaging and timely news context, this stimulating current events discussion program boosts critical thinking and reading skills for all students. Our unique cross-curricular format supports differentiated...

Rand McNally.(Information Showcase: Free catalogs and literature)
August 1, 2005... Mapping a changing world for more than 147 years. All NEW in 2004 is the Rand McNally Achievement Series[TM] digital line of Maps and Globes!! Our New Map and Globe line is Larger and Brighter than ever before! As always Rand McNally still...

Recorded Books raise reading scores 34%! Research shows it!(Information Showcase: Free catalogs and literature)
August 1, 2005... You can improve comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary for all your students, even those who struggle--with help from Recorded Books. University studies and teacher research prove it. Add Recorded Books to your reading program and start...

NEA Professional Library.(Information Showcase: Free catalogs and literature)
August 1, 2005... Whether you're a superintendent, curriculum director or classroom teacher, the NEA Professional Library offers books and other resources that speak directly to the challenges you face every day. Each title is research based and designed for...

By the numbers on public opinion on education: a data bank on education trends for district leaders.
August 1, 2005... NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND As of March 2004, 5 states--Connecticut, Kentucky, New York, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania--had met or were partially on track to meeting all 40 NCLB requirements. TEACHER QUALITY People believe that additional...