District Administration articles from August 2008

District Administration archives from August 2008

X-Factor student achievement grant.(DA Online: DistrictAdministration.com)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What kind of reading and math program could you build to help struggling students? Tell us in 500 words or less and you could win a $20,000 cash grant plus $30,000 in software and professional development. ...

New Web seminar: making sensible snacking a part of your nutrition program.(DA Online: DistrictAdministration.com)
August 1, 2008... Register for this new DA Web seminar on the challenges that districts face in implementing stricter nutrition guidelines. This free seminar is scheduled for Thursday, August 21, at 2 pm ET. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Readers' choice top 100 K12 products.(DA Online: DistrictAdministration.com)
August 1, 2008... Which products will be the 2008-09 winners? Participate by rating and commenting on your favorite products. Our special New Products issue will be published in mid-January and will feature the winners. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Top K12 news.(DA Online: DistrictAdministration.com)
August 1, 2008... Sign up to receive daily news headlines selected by our editors, with a free subscription to DA Daily. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] www.DistrictAdministration.com/news

Staying informed and alert.(Editor's Letter)
August 1, 2008... THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO (N.Y.) SCHOOL DISTRICT'S NEW EMERGENCY TELEPHONE notification system was activated during the winter of 2005-2006, but I didn't know it. On the first potential snow day that December, I expected as usual to dial in to the...

X-Factor winners.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... Larry Carr and I appreciate DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION for choosing our district, Mohawk Area School District in Pennsylvania, to win the $30,000 X-Factor Student Achievement Award, sponsored by AutoSkill International Inc., last summer. You...

Disappointed with program.(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... I am disappointed that Renzulli Learning is being touted as a valid tool for differentiation and enrichment ("Differentiation and Enrichment," June 2008). Every non-tech-savvy curriculum and instruction and gifted and talented...

Do handhelds go the distance?(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I read with interest the article on the use of handheld devices presented as a financially and pedagogically viable alternative to laptop computers. Whenever I read of such "new" technological approaches, it appears...

Salvaging an "unsalvageable" law.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... WITH OVERALL SUPPORT FOR President Bush's No Child Left Behind education law as low as ever during the last days of his presidency--both on Capitol Hill and in wide swathes of education circles--his secretary of education, Margaret Spellings,...

Congress delays action on Bush budget.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)
August 1, 2008... HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERS RECENTLY BEGAN AN APPROPRIATIONS process for President Bush's FY 2009 budget proposed in February that would reject the funding cuts in his plan while increasing spending for domestic priorities like education, but they...

From podcasts to riches.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)(Website overview)
August 1, 2008... GETTING ADVICE FROM other district administrators can play a key role in the ability of superintendents and other educational leaders to improve schools, but often getting the advice is easier said than done. A new Web site sponsored by...

Technology by the numbers.(STAT BLAST)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 86% of teachers have desktop computers in class 67% of teachers have access to laptops for their students 5% of teachers have no access to computers of any kind Source: Quality Education Data Inc.

Peak enrollment brings new challenges.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT in the 2008-2009 school year is expected to reach a new high of 50 million students, up from just over 49 million, with minority students making up 43 percent of public school enrollment overall, says a new report from...

Students weigh texting against writing.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... ALTHOUGH FEW CAN DENY THE IMPACT OF "E-COMMUNICATION" on the in-class writing of today's students, what may come as a surprise is that 60 percent of students themselves do not consider such communication to be "writing." A new survey,...

Students allowed to choose top SAT scores.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)
August 1, 2008... HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS trying to spin their college applications in the best possible light will soon be able to choose which SAT scores to share with admissions officers and which to hide, the College Board recently announced. Under the new...

Fitness bill pushes students to shape up.(BRIEFINGS: Curriculum)
August 1, 2008... A BILL RECENTLY SIGNED BY Florida Gov. Charlie Crist aims to beef up the physical education requirements for elementary and middle schools. The Don Davis Physical Education Act seeks to clarify the intent of a bill passed last year and...

Pumping up your physical activity plan.(BRIEFINGS: Curriculum)
August 1, 2008... WANT TO IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE physical activity program fully integrated with your physical education program but lack the resources to initiate it? A great informational starting point is the new position statement from the National...

Taking the stink out of dissection.(BRIEFINGS: Curriculum)
August 1, 2008... MANDATES IN 14 STATES ALLOWING BIOLOGY STUDENTS TO OPT out of dissection without jeoparding their grades are fueling increased interest in virtual dissection as a tool to teach anatomy. With the formaldehyde-soaked animals costing between...

The benefits of transitionary learning.(BRIEFINGS: English Language Learners)(Interview)
August 1, 2008... ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS are the fastest growing population in U.S. public schools, and educating them is becoming a significant challenge for K12 administrators. Josie Tinajero, a leading Spanish-language and reading expert and a senior...

School-tied ELL test scores.(BRIEFINGS: English Language Learners)
August 1, 2008... IF BRINGING STUDENTS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH-SPEAKING skills to high levels of achievement is a challenge, it might have more to do with what the school is like than the students themselves, says a new study released by the Pew Hispanic Center....

8th annual salary survey: a guide to the going rate for education leaders nationwide.(HUMAN RESOURCES)(Cover story)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GIVEN A STRAINED ECONOMY with skyrocketing fuel prices and homeowner foreclosures that threaten property tax rolls, plus pressures to satisfy mandates for improved student achievement, district administrators must...

Do you know the drill? District leaders are becoming more proactive with emergency drills.
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHETHER YOUR school buildings are decades old with doors that need locks, or your high-tech surveillance cameras capture every image in hallways, one of the best defenses against a violent threat is practicing...

The evolution of notification systems: administrators' usage of these emergency technologies widens.(SCHOOL-TO-HOME CONNECTION)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The American public's favorite methods of notification are still phone and e-mail, but advancements in technology over the past several years have changed the way many district leaders contact parents when an...

Gates Chili (N.Y.) Central School District: www.gateschili.org.(How Well Does This Web Site Work?)
August 1, 2008... The Gates Chili (N.Y.) Central School District is located in a western suburb of Rochester and serves some 5,000 students in the towns of Gates and Chili. The professional staff numbers 494, and there are 396 support staff members. Design...

XD211U, projector: Mitsubishi.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MITSUBISHI XD211U, Projector Hardware, $1,595 This new model from Mitsubishi utilizes a DLP chip with XBA resolution, displays at a brightness of 2,200 lumens, and has an energy efficient lamp that...

MiniVox Lite, portable public address system: Anchor Audio.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
August 1, 2008... ANCHOR AUDIO MiniVox Lite, Portable Public Address System Hardware, $433 Basic/S996 Deluxe Among the new models Anchor Audio debuted at InfoComm this year is the new MiniVox Lite portable public address system. Weighing just 3...

As seen at INFOCOMM.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
August 1, 2008... INFOCOMM'S 2008 SHOW, HELD JUNE 18-20 IN LAS VEGAS, WAS THE largest ever, with some 30,000 attendees from around the world. With over 10,000 products on display from every segment of the professional audiovisual industry, many manufacturers...

50PG20C, plasma display: LG.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... LG 50PG20C, Plasma Display Hardware, $1,599 LG debuted new digital signage technologies including multitouch display screens, 3D monitors, and "triple-view" screens, which are capable of displaying three screen images at once,...

Tag School Reader, literacy tool: LeapFrog School.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
August 1, 2008... LEAPFROG SCHOOL Tag School Reader, Literacy Tool Classroom Materials, $275/4-pack The Tag School Reader is a handheld, stylus-shaped learning tool for beginning readers in pre-K through grade 3. When students press the pen to the...

Interactive Display Frame, whiteboard accessory: SMART Technologies.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SMART Technologies Interactive Display Frame, Whiteboard Accessory Hardware, From $2,319 SMART Technologies unveiled its new interactive display frame, which attaches to existing plasma television...

PG-F312X, PG-F262X, PG-F212X, projectors: Sharp.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SHARP PG-F312X, PG-F262X, PG-F212X, Projectors Hardware, $1,245-$1,695 Sharp introduced several projector models with new levels of brightness and resolution. Their new DLP chip projectors, the PG-F312X,...

GlobalViewer Enterprise, A/V management program: Extron.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
August 1, 2008... EXTRON GlobalViewer Enterprise, A/V Management Program Software, $5,000 Extron introduced its new enterprise-level software for managing large A/V installations. It offers an easy upgrade path for users of Extron's free...

As seen at NECC.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(National Education Computing Conference)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... THE 2008 NATIONAL EDUCATION COMPUTING CONFERENCE (NECC), THE largest educational technology conference in the country, was held June 29-July 2 in San Antonio. Presented by ISTE, the conference is intended to help educators take part in...

DORA Phonemic Awareness, DORA/EDELL Spanish, DOMA Algebra online assessment resources: Curriculum Associates.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
August 1, 2008... CURRICULUM ASSOCIATES DORA Phonemic Awareness, DORA/EDELL Spanish, DOMA Algebra Online Assessment Resources Internet, Annual site licenses $6-$15 per student Curriculum Associates and Let's Go Learn debuted three new online...

Follett Digital Classroom, instruction content delivery system: Follett software.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
August 1, 2008... FOLLETT SOFTWARE Follett Digital Classroom, Instruction Content Delivery System Software, Starting at $5 per student Follett unveiled Digital Classroom, a software program enabling educators to organize, manage, utilize and share...

EXCEED/RTI, response-to-intervention software: Spectrum K12 school solutions.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
August 1, 2008... SPECTRUM K12 SCHOOL SOLUTIONS EXCEED/RTI, Response-to-Intervention Software Software, Pricing to be determined Spectrum K12 announced its launch of EXCEED/RTI, a response-to-intervention software solution providing a seamless way...

Speaking spelling bee handheld game: Franklin.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FRANKLIN Speaking Spelling Bee Handheld Game Classroom Materials, $99.95 This handheld device from Franklin allows students to compete in a virtual spelling bee, with features including a full slide-out keyboard,...

Envi Series, whiteboards and bulletin boards: Quartet.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... QUARTET Envi Series, Whiteboards and Bulletin Boards Hardware, $9.84-$12.84 Presentation materials manufacturer Quartet has just released Envi, a new product line of the first environmentally friendly whiteboards and bulletin...

Insight, classroom technology management program: Faronics.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
August 1, 2008... FARONICS Insight, Classroom Technology Management Program Software, $299-$599 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Insight is a classroom computer management program from Faronics that enables teachers to control all the computers in their...

Alphabet beats, DVDs: The TV Teacher.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
August 1, 2008... THE TV TEACHER Alphabet Beats, DVDs Classroom Materials, $35 each/S64.99 in a set These DVDs use a method combining singing with repetitive instruction to teach elementary students the written alphabet. In 5-minute segments hosted...

OpenClassroom Server, server: Aspen Learning.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
August 1, 2008... ASPEN LEARNING OpenClassroom Server, Server Hardware, $1,200 The OpenClassroom Server is an appliance for K12 classroom or computer lab use that combines learning management tools, collaborative software and personal storage space...

Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac, office suite: Microsoft.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
August 1, 2008... MICROSOFT Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac, Office Suite Software, $149.95-$499.95 Redesigned to be more streamlined and intuitive, the latest edition of Microsoft Office for Mac also emphasizes compatibility with PCs and adds new...

Phaser series, printers: Xerox.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
August 1, 2008... XEROX Phaser Series, Printers, Hardware, $279-$1,999 Xerox has just added to its Phaser series printers with five new models, three black-and-white laser printers and two multifunction units. The Phaser 3250 starts at $279, prints up...

Razorbook 400, mini notebook PC: 3K Computers.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 3K COMPUTERS Razorbook 400, Mini Notebook PC Hardware, $299 3K Computers' new Razorbook 400 is a compact, value-priced mini notebook. Designed for ultimate portability, this model is just over 8 inches...

Enterprise, TV search appliance: SnapStream.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... SNAPSTREAM Enterprise, TV Search Appliance Hardware, $6,000-$15,000 A combination of a digital video recorder (DVR) and a search engine, SnapStream enables educators to record thousands of hours of television programming and to...

Maple 12, Math software: Maplesoft.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
August 1, 2008... MAPLESOFT Maple 12, Math Software, Software/$995 This latest edition of engineering-focused mathematical software Maple adds new features to increase accessibility and ease of use. Necessary operations are now accessible entirely...

DM Online, test prep and literacy program: Defined Mind.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
August 1, 2008... DEFINED MIND DM Online, Test Prep and Literacy Program Online Curriculum Resource/$20 annual subscription per student DM Online is a new Web-based version of Defined Mind's music-centered test prep and literacy program, Vocabulary...

Cricut Expression, electronic: Provo Craft.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
August 1, 2008... PROVO CRAFT Cricut Expression, Electronic Paper Cutter Hardware, $499.99 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This new model is the largest size electronic cutter in the Cricut series. At 24 inches wide, it allows users to cut shapes...

System lets students eat with fingers.(Problem Solution: SUCCESS STORIES FROM DISTRICTS ACROSS THE NATION)
August 1, 2008... PROBLEM THE FOOD SERVICE ACCOUNTING system in Orangeburg Consolidated School District 4 in Cope, S.C., had issues: It didn't shelter low-income students from the stigma of being labeled "poor." Despite assurances of confidentiality,...

English Language Arts Units for Grades 9-12: International Society for Technology in Education.(Technology Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)
August 1, 2008... INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION English Language Arts Units for Grades 9-12 www.iste.orq, $37.95 Educational technology professor Christopher Shamburg presents 12 language arts units that illustrate a holistic and...

Web Literacy for Educators: Corwin Press.(Technology Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)
August 1, 2008... CORWIN PRESS Web Literacy for Educators www.corwinpress.com, $25.95 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This guide by educational technology expert Alan November helps teachers and students effectively find, sort and evaluate information...

Reinventing Project-Based Learning: Your Field Guide to Real-World Projects in the Digital Age: International Society for Technology in Education.(Technology Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)(Brief article)(Book review)
August 1, 2008... INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION Reinventing Project-Based Learning: Your Field Guide to Real-World Projects in the Digital Age www.iste.org, $34.95 Authors Suzie Boss and Jane Krauss guide educators,...

Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns: McGraw-Hill.(Technology Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)
August 1, 2008... MCGRAW-HILL Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns www.mcgraw-hill.com, $32.95 Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen applies his concept of "disruptive innovation"...

Making the Most of the Web in Your Classroom: Corwin Press.(Technology Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)
August 1, 2008... CORWIN PRESS Making the Most of the Web in Your Classroom www.corwinpress.com, $28.95 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Professors Timothy D. Green. Abbie Brown and LeAnne Robinson authored this guide, which describes field-tested...

The future of testing: addressing the effects of NCLB and resolving issues of quality and fairness.(PROFESSIONAL OPINION)(No Child Left Behind Act of 2001)
August 1, 2008... Ever since the no child left Behind act was passed in 2001, district administrators, teachers, policymakers and testing companies have been working to implement the law's requirements to improve achievement so that all students are proficient...

Assess more to improve learning: regular measurement of learning and the subsequent adjustment to instruction promote higher levels of student achievement.(SUPERVISOR'S OPINION)
August 1, 2008... The Richard Henry Dana Elementary School in Dana Point, Calif., houses 385 students on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The demographics of the school would suggest a challenging scenario for raising student achievement: 78 percent of...

Lessons from a noose: it created anger and misunderstanding as well as valuable historical lessons.(CRISIS RESPONSE)
August 1, 2008... A noose was found hanging one day last April from the most prominent tree in front of a South Florida high school. It was after almost all staff and students had left. The principal immediately had the noose taken down and wondered how many...

Enrichment programs: the winners win more at the expense of their classmates.(SPEAKING OUT)
August 1, 2008... One could hardly disagree that recent generations have experienced increasingly mechanized school practices. Issues impacting school administrators such as data-driven decision-making and management theories, borrowed from industry, are obvious...

Calendar of events.(Brief article)(Calendar)
August 1, 2008... AUGUST 2008 ICML, International Center for Mediated Learning August 11-15 San Diego, Calif. www.mindladder.com DA Web Seminar Making Sensible Snacking a Part of Your Nutrition Program August 21...

Hollowed out schools: the importance of the Internet to the future of k12 education.(UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES)
August 1, 2008... It's understandable. Today's schools severely underutilize the educational power of the Internet. The impact of Internet-based technologies on school organization, student groupings, interactions between teachers and learners, teaching methods,...