District Administration articles from January 2004

District Administration archives from January 2004

NCLB at 2.(Editor's Letter)
January 1, 2004... As No Child Left Behind marks its second anniversary this month, the wide-ranging law is facing its toughest criticism. I've both praised and criticized the law already, so this month I'll comment on how it is being perceived by...

Meet Frank Smith? No thanks.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... AS A LONGTIME READING teacher, the December 2003 article, "Meet Frank Smith" (page 41) by Gary Stager dismayed me. Smith indeed is well known for his contention that students' learning to read competently occurs "naturally." That is to...

Claiming bias in Milwaukee voucher story.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... THERE ARE COUNTless objective, scientific and independent research studies on the Milwaukee voucher program that come up with quite different conclusions than your magazine's article extolling the "successes" ("Choice is Good," November 2003,...

Administrative team update.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... A POSTSCRIPT to the article that includes our Clifton school district ("Hire Power," December 2003, page 16): We have hired both the curriculum director and the human resources director, and both have begun to contribute to the improvement of...

Large district leaders back NCLB.(Inside the law: analyzing, debating and explaining no child left behind)
January 1, 2004... In Small Town USA, No Child Left Behind looks more like a foe than a friend. But most big city leaders think it's a reasonable challenge. This was one result of a national survey of school superintendents and principals, Rolling Up Their...

New Mexico finally enchants teachers.(Inside the law: analyzing, debating and explaining no child left behind)
January 1, 2004... Mountain ranges and rustic stone buildings against cobalt skies are enchanting images of New Mexico. But teachers have been known to steer clear of the beautiful state. It had among the lowest teacher salary structures in the nation, 11...

Highly qualified teachers.(Inside the law: analyzing, debating and explaining no child left behind)
January 1, 2004... On a national level, the U.S. Dept. of Education created a Teacher Assistance Corps last summer. It is comprised of federally-appointed expert volunteers who "listen, learn and share" with various state governments and educators to meet the...

Struggling American girl: will she make adequate gains under federal act?(Inside the law: analyzing, debating and explaining no child left behind)
January 1, 2004... Elizabeth Ashley is a shy, white sixth-grader who likes typical 12-year-old stuff, like hanging out with her friends, listening to music and talking. Her favorite band is Good Charlotte. Her favorite food? Pizza. Her favorite color? Light blue....

Chicago brings out not-so-shy parents.(Inside the law: analyzing, debating and explaining no child left behind)
January 1, 2004... Long before No Child Left Behind became a reality, Chicago Public Schools brought parents and communities together to improve student achievement. In 1989, the first Local School Council, or LSC, was created in Chicago. Each school council...

The new Sat.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
January 1, 2004... It's not your father's SAT anymore. Come spring of 2005, high school students will be sitting down to take an SAT that is much different from anything their parents, or even their siblings, ever faced. The College Board is in the midst of...

Colorado considers axing senior year.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Colorado legislators are studying the option to ax 12th grade and include a year of preschool instead. The idea is that students would start nut early, and hopefully, on a better foot for success in college. The plan, if implemented, would...

An ounce of prevention, a pound of paperwork.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
January 1, 2004... Dropout discussion is all the rage in Texas these days. A new report finally has some good news for the Houston Independent School District. The district has been criticized recently for artificially lowering its dropout rate through...

Name-calling a no-no.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
January 1, 2004... Sticks and stones may break our bones, but names will break our spirit." This line from James Howe's The Misfits (Simon & Schuster, 2001) sums up how it feels to be teased. The novel has inspired 30-plus organizations--including New Moon...

Skank and tramp remarks = free speech.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
January 1, 2004... Both sides are claiming victories in a federal court ruling involving Alexander Smith, a former Michigan high school student who made lewd and vulgar remarks about school personnel over lunch one day in the school cafeteria. U.S. District...

Scarlet letter Web site for Vermont misconduct cases.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
January 1, 2004... Want to find out about discipline cases regarding school officials? Well, in Vermont, anybody can with just a click. A new Web site will tell visitors if any school official who is seeking a job or office was suspended or had their license...

Picture phones pose problems without clear district policies.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
January 1, 2004... Denis Biagini, associate principal at Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minn., is among several administrators concerned about the latest fad that teens are buying into-picture phones. Among the concerns are privacy issues, potentially...

Feds uncover a new digital disconnect.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
January 1, 2004... Think Internet access engages students and facilitates a higher level of learning? Think again. Access is a necessary building block. but not the answer. John Bailey, director of education technology at the Department of Education, says schools...

Accounting for NEA dues, or not.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
January 1, 2004... Has the National Education Association violated federal tax law? The Internal Revenue Service has launched an investigation to find out whether millions in tax-exempt membership dues are being spent on unreported political activities. In a...

Oklahoma teen exonerated after violent tale.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
January 1, 2004... The case of the Oklahoma student on trial for writing a violent short story about attacking his school officials has been dismissed by a judge, who said prosecutors failed to prove the student intended to carry out the act, according to Wired...

A big boost for LA's small schools.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
January 1, 2004... The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has been eyeing school reform efforts made by Los Angeles Unified School District. According to The Los Angeles Times, the momentum created by the district in raising test scores and relieving overcrowding...

Most kids fail running and stretching.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
January 1, 2004... About one million California kids, or 75 percent, of the 1.3 million students who took an annual fitness test at school last spring, failed to meet six basic fitness categories, including running, lifting and stretching, according to...

Holding onto teachers that flee.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
January 1, 2004... When more teachers leave the field rather than stay, it poses a big problem. Experts say that specialized professional development, mentor teachers and formative assessments for beginning teachers are just some ways districts can retain more...

L.A. bans junk food.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
January 1, 2004... Considering a million California kids can't run or stretch up to typical standards, the Los Angeles Unified School District is kicking out candy bars as of July and replacing them with nuts, baked chips, pretzels and fruit snacks. The...

N.Y. loosens grad requirement.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
January 1, 2004... Following the debacle of the Math A Regents exam last June, New York is loosening testing requirements for high school graduation. A report, created by a panel appointed by the Regents and New York Education Commissioner Richard E Mills,...

Head start's fate is uncertain.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies ... early childhood education is debated in U.S. Congress )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Congress is still dabbling with the federal Head Start program and is already getting unhappy reviews. A bill from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, proposed last fall, increases funds for Head Start and is to be...

Study: nurture plays huge role in education.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
January 1, 2004... It's not just genes that make or break a child's academic achievement and IQ. Disputing a popular notion, two studies say good nutrition and a solid education can help create success. The studies show early childhood health is key and...

Catcher of thieves: after hearing rumors of corruption by state retirement fund leaders, this superintendent sprung into action and emerged a hero.(Administrator profile: Dennis Leone, Chillicothe (Ohio) School District)
January 1, 2004... Dennis Leone didn't initially intend to play Robin Hood when he heard rumors of excessive spending at the State Teachers Retirement System office in early 2003. But once this Ohio superintendent realized the extent of the pension board's...

Heads of the class: in every office, every classroom and every corner of every school campus, the people of this district are looked at as leaders.(District profile: Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools)
January 1, 2004... As soon as Principal Renita Perkins saw the teacher's tears, she had a pretty good notion about what was wrong. At the teacher's prior school, affluence and two-parent homes were the norm. On the flip side, Nashville's Cumberland Elementary...

Dewey or don't we? Today's library automation systems promise to improve efficiency and save money. Turning those hopes into reality depends on making the right choice for your district.
January 1, 2004... Michigan's Waterford School District is at a crossroads. In 1995, administrators purchased an Integrated Library System designed to automate and link Waterford's 21 school libraries and its single collection of videos. After a year of...

Annual report on school spending: a school board in Kansas is hawking extra property on eBay while districts in Florida are pocketing extra cash from the lottery. Find out the creative measures states across the country are taking to find extra funding in the money.(Cover Story)
January 1, 2004... For the first time in close to two years the Dow has hit 10,000, unemployment rates are edging down and the manufacturing sector is posting gains. "The recent positive news on state budget performance is good not only for K-12 education budgets...

An educator's guide to scientifically based research: documenting improvements in student performance & supporting the NCLB act.
January 1, 2004... Dear Readers: Schools and school districts are under increasing pressure to make sure federal dollars are used to implement programs and practices proven effective by scientifically based research. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001...

Pressing forward: think it's impossible to deploy state-of-the-art learning technology tools cost effectively? Find out how these three districts did it.(Presentation Systems)
January 1, 2004... Today's students are used to state of the art video technology. Offer them anything less in the classroom, and you'll catch them staring out the window in a hurry. Yet with budgets tight, buying the best presentation tools for your classrooms...

Keeping the peace: these 10 points are the cornerstones of any good violence prevention program.(Security)
January 1, 2004... This September in San Diego, a 14-year-old boy jogging with his high school cross-country team was shot and killed by his father, who then killed himself. Eleven days later, a 16-year-old girl in Kentucky fatally shot a teen and herself as the...

Bomb threat planning.(news)
January 1, 2004... Because bomb threats are real in many schools across the nation, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Department of Education recently joined forces to offer a CD-ROM with one comprehensive plan as well...

Planning for terrorism.(news)
January 1, 2004... Most school districts are ill-prepared to respond to terrorism and lack anti-terrorism training. That's according to the National Association of School Resource Officers, which is comprised of 12,000 school-based law enforcement personnel and...

Beware the writing assessment: Q & A with George Hillocks Jr.(Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies)
January 1, 2004... Q Why is "teaching to the test" especially harmful in writing instruction ? A Examinations of all state assessments, and interviews with more than 400 teachers and administrators in six school districts in five states, found that...

Joining hands to keep history alive.
January 1, 2004... It has long been known that Thomas Jefferson owned slaves, which has certainly fueled many a classroom discussion about his phrase "all men are created equal." Until recently, it wasn't widely known that Jefferson had children with one of his...

Progress made on math gap.
January 1, 2004... Overall improvement is worth celebrating. But the 2003 National Assessment of Educational Progress, which has data for all 50 states for the first time, reveals that math educators can also be proud of evidence that the achievement gap is...

Unbreakable bonds.
January 1, 2004... Looking to form a history partnership? Educators and historians involved in these types of projects suggest that administrators: * Acknowledge and value the contributions and commitment of teachers to the project. Offer a stipend and...

GR8 4 TXT TLK: your district should have a policy to regulate how cell phones are being used to transmit text messages.(The Online Edge)
January 1, 2004... Whether your district allows students to bring mobile phones to school or has a "no cell phone" policy, a major handheld communications revolution is brewing. Thanks to dropping prices and enhanced technology, nearly one-third of American...

Pointing in the wrong direction: PowerPoint is ruining classes by depriving students--and teachers--of creativity.(Speaking Out)
January 1, 2004... The good news is that my daughter's teachers are at last beginning to use computers. The bad news is they are using them to make PowerPoint presentations. Frightening images of my high school algebra teacher with the indelible blue arm from the...

Unethically teaching to the test: one teacher's inner journey as he takes on his principal--and the Texas testing culture.(Public Opinion)
January 1, 2004... Everyday, teachers are confronted with many challenges, from prodding stubborn learners to subduing undisciplined students. But one of the most important parts of every teacher's equilibrium can go unchecked day after day. Ethics. ...

Finding and keeping rural teachers.(Research corner: essentials on education data and analysis from research authority AEL)
January 1, 2004... Schools in isolated rural areas and inner cities are the hardest to staff, particularly those serving minority or low-income students, according to recent data. Teachers in special education, math, science and foreign languages are especially...

SMART Technologies.(This month's focus: Security and AV)
January 1, 2004... SMART Board displays www.smarttech.com, Hardware, $3,299 These two new 40" SMART Board for flat-panel display interactive overlays are touch-sensitive for large-area LCD panels. The overlays support the NEC-Mitsubishi LCD4000 and Clarity...

Failure free reading.(This month's focus: Security and AV)
January 1, 2004... Failure Free Reading www.failurefree.com, Internet, $999/ year (up to six students)-$9,999/year (more than 100 students) This Web-based program of age-appropriate reading materials and interactive software emphasizes the use of word...

NetMatrix.(This month's focus: Security and AV)
January 1, 2004... On-Net Surveillance Systems www.onssi.com, $1,995 (including transmitter and one receiver) NetMatrix's new software will allow a school to respond immediately to emergency situations that have been captured on CCTV. The new software...

PLUS vision.(This month's focus: Security and AV)
January 1, 2004... M-series www.plusamerica.com, Hardware, $2,095 This series of electronic copyboards allow text and drawings to be copied directly from the board's surface to a memory card, which eliminates the need to connect to a PC. The copyboard...

Gefen.(This month's focus: Security and AV)
January 1, 2004... USB-500 www.gefen.com, Hardware, $799 This extender lets USB devices operate up to 1,650 feet from the computer for remote usage. It has a built-in, four-port USB hub mad uses fiber optic cables to connect the sender and receiver units....

Polyvision.(This month's focus: Security and AV)
January 1, 2004... Impulse LTX www.polyvision.com, Hardware, $8,995-$9,495 This updated multimedia whiteboard system lets users connect a PC to the board to project and interact with images and programs. New capabilities include an on-board scanner, which...

Maupin house.(This month's focus: Security and AV)
January 1, 2004... Research in the Real Classroom: The Independent Investigation Method for Primary Students www.maupinhouse.com, Book, $19.95 This book by educational consultants Cindy Nottage and Virginia Morse is the first in a series of resources intended...

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.(This month's focus: Security and AV)
January 1, 2004... Administrator's Guide: How to Support and Improve Mathematics Education in Your School www.nctm.org, Book, $14.95 This book aims to lead schools to better math achievement, offering tips on how to: align improvement efforts to the six...

SETI Institute.(This month's focus: Security and AV)
January 1, 2004... Voyages Through Time www.voyagesthroughtime.org, Program, Individual module $199; Six-module curriculum $999 This year-long, standards-based integrated science curriculum for ninth and tenth graders focuses on change over Lime in the...

McGraw-Hill.(This month's focus: Security and AV)
January 1, 2004... Inside Mrs. B's Classroom www.books.mcgraw-hill.com, Book, $22.95 Leslie Baldacci got lots of kudos--and more than a few caveats--when she left behind her journalism career and the Chicago Sun-Times for a fast-track route to teacher...

US Netcom Corp.(This month's focus: Security and AV)
January 1, 2004... PhoneMaster www.usnetcomcorp.com, Starts at $2,599.00 Instant messages to parents or others is made possible by this company's high-tech version of PhoneMaster for Windows and Web products. The 4.6 version makes outbound communication...

Philips.(This month's focus: Security and AV)
January 1, 2004... Bcool XG1 and SV1 www.philips.com, Hardware, $3,650 (XG1); $2,250 (SV1) This new series of ultra-portable projectors connect to a desktop PC or laptop. The projectors are compact and weigh 3.5 pounds (XG1) to 4.2 pounds (SV1). The XG1...

eHelp.(This month's focus: Security and AV)
January 1, 2004... RoboPresenter www.ehelp.com, Software, $399 This software lets users create eLearning and Flash presentations from PowerPoint with no Flash knowledge required. The software lets users add synchronized audio narration, quizzing, graphical...

N-Liter.(This month's focus: Security and AV)
January 1, 2004... Golden Retriever www.n-liter.com, Internet, $14.95 This Web-based tool lets users retrieve and photocopy information on the Internet The program saves pages with personal annotations and highlights for retrieval on- or offline. The toolbar...

Curriculum Associates.(This month's focus: Security and AV)
January 1, 2004... Student Behavior Intervention Planner www.curriculumassociates.com, $199.95 per building/annual subscription Student Behavior Intervention Planner Online is a subscription-based behavior management system that allows teachers and...

Middle Atlantic Products.(This month's focus: Security and AV)
January 1, 2004... Quiet-Cool Series www.middleatlantic.com, $806 This engineered active thermal management system keeps equipment cool when surveillance consoles get hot, The Quiet-Coal Series Security Console isolates the user from noisy equipment by using...

FileMaker.(This month's focus: Security and AV)
January 1, 2004... FileMaker Meetings www.filemaker.com, Software, $49 (or $323 for districts without FileMaker Pro 6) Built on FileMaker Pro 6 database software, this meetings management application provides task-specific features to help reduce the...

SchoolKit.(This month's focus: Security and AV)
January 1, 2004... Never Mind the Laptops: Kids, Computers and the Transformation of Learning www.schoo/kit.com, Book, $33.95 This book looks at the world's first laptop schools and the effects of laptop use in today's classroom. Author Bob Johnstone argues...

Hitachi.(This month's focus: Security and AV)
January 1, 2004... StarBoard P-50X www.hitachisoft.com, Hardware, $11,000 and up This new interactive 50" plasma display device offers new levels of responsiveness, flexibility and space optimization using plasma technologies. The display device consists of a...

Canon.(This month's focus: Security and AV)
January 1, 2004... LV-7215 www.usa.canon. com, Hardware, $3,499 This new LCD projector displays from 8.2 feet from a screen, wall or other surface. The projector features a 1.6x ultra-wide zoom lens, which produces theater-sized images in small class room...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
January 1, 2004... The EduComm Conference at InfoComm2004 June 9-11, 2004 * Atlanta, Georgia Join us as DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION magazine presents The EduComm Conference at InfoComm2004-- an exciting new conference specifically designed for...

Key Curriculum Press[R]--innovators in mathematics education.(Information showcase: free catalogs and literature)
January 1, 2004... Supporting innovative educators for over 30 years, Key Curriculum Press publishes award-winning software, textbooks, and supplementary materials for secondary school mathematics. The Geometer's Sketchpad [R] is the world's leading software tool...

A field trip to the stars without leaving your school!(Information showcase: free catalogs and literature)
January 1, 2004... The STARLAB Portable Planetarium, "the universe in a bag," lets the stars come to you saving the expense, hassle and worry of field trips. In the exciting environment of STARLAB, treat students to interactive, interdisciplinary Lessons and...

NEA Professional Library.(Information showcase: free catalogs and literature)
January 1, 2004... 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 research based and designed for...

RFB&D's[R] learning through listening[TM].(Information showcase: free catalogs and literature)
January 1, 2004... RFB&D's Learning Through Listening [TM] memberships are a proven reading accommodation for students with learning disabilities, visual impairments or other physical disabilities. RFB&D memberships offer access to more than 90,000 recorded...

Teen ink magazine--written entirely by teens for teens.(Information showcase: free catalogs and literature)
January 1, 2004... Let your students be published. Now in its 15th year, this monthly magazine is used by 5,500 teachers. More than 25,000 works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art and photos already published for free. Teen Ink encourages reading, writing,...

Teacher's interactive whiteboard.(Information showcase: free catalogs and literature)
January 1, 2004... The Interactive Presentation Manager[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)
January 1, 2004... Since 1992, Project Wisdom has been producing a school-wide character education program that helps students make wiser choices. Join more than 10,000 licensed schools across America. It's simple. It's affordable. It works. Visit our Website for...

The performance series from Scantron.(Information showcase: free catalogs and literature)
January 1, 2004... Responding to sweeping education reforms, Scantron delivers the new standard in diagnostic assessment technology. The Performance Series is a standards-based, testing and assessment tool that empowers educators with critical data to impact...

2004 Big Book of Ideas and Solutions catalog.(Information showcase: free catalogs and literature)
January 1, 2004... With more than 250 new products spread throughout our 2004 Big Book of Ideas and Solutions catalog, we guarantee the best selection of math, science, and technology education products. Explore 392 pages of relevant activities, kits, and...

Are your students making gains like these?(Information showcase: free catalogs and literature)
January 1, 2004... New research shows a 65% increase in fluency gains when students add Recorded Books to their practice. To maximize the effectiveness of your program, try the "listen and read" strategy with Recorded Books. It's the easiest and most...

Most pressing issue.(By the numbers: a data bank on education trends for district leaders)(what is considered the greatest issue in education)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 1, 2004... Insufficient school funding 71% Implementation of NCLB 20 Lack of talented administrators 6 Poor teacher quality 3

You're fired.(By the numbers: a data bank on education trends for district leaders)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 1, 2004... How difficult would it be for you (a superintendent) to fire a tenured teacher who was terrible in the classroom? Difficult but doable 80% Virtually impossible 16 Relatively easy 4 Note: Table made from...

I'm outta here.(By the numbers: a data bank on education trends for district leaders)(top reasons principals/superintendents leave education)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 1, 2004... Superintendents/principals who leave the field are most likely to leave because they are frustrated by: Politics and bureaucracy 82% Unreasonable demands brought on by higher standards and accountability ...

Superintendents rate principals.(By the numbers: a data bank on education trends for district leaders)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 1, 2004... Percentage of superintendents who rate their principals as "excellent" or "good" when it comes to: Excellent Good Insuring that students and teachers keep student 24% ...

Principals rate superintendents.(By the numbers: a data bank on education trends for district leaders)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 1, 2004... Percentage of principals who rate their superintendents as "excellent" or "good" when it comes to: Excellent Good Working with the school board and other local officials ...

Union blues?(By the numbers: a data bank on education trends for district leaders)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Sometimes the union fights to protect teachers who really should be out of the classroom SUPERINTENDENTS 86% TEACHERS 47% The teachers' union sometimes resists doing things that would improve education in their district...