District Administration articles from June 2003

District Administration archives from June 2003

Reader beware. (Editor's Letter).(Editorial)
June 1, 2003... A superintendent I know once heard somebody at a party discussing the latest study on reaching at-risk children. Although the findings didn't exactly jibe with his first-hand knowledge, he was so eager to improve this part of his district that...

Debating the gap. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2003... I JUST FINISHED READING "The Union Gap" (Understanding the Times, Daniel Kinnaman, March 2003, p. 53). How right you are. The complete and utter destruction of the public education system is clearly at the hands of teachers' unions. As an...

New math, fewer teachers. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2003... I READ WITH INTEREST THE STORY REGARDING Florida's need for 20,000 teachers (Update, April 2003, page 8). I was especially interested in Gov. Jeb Bush's mathematics regarding the cost of these teachers. Obviously, if you extend any program...

Missing the point. (Letters).
June 1, 2003... I RECENTLY READ THE ARTICLE "ARE Desktops Dead?" (April 2003, p. 30). I think it misses the point with the choice between laptops and desktops. It never discussed the impact that instructional model and assessment model has on the integration...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
June 1, 2003... In the news story "Portland's Lesser of Two Evils" in our May 2003 issue, it was inaccurately written that the district would lose 10 days of school in 2002-03. Teachers agreed to work for no pay for 10 days. The teacher association did not...

Online evaluation program passes classroom tests: teachers use Internet-based Assess2Learn to gauge students' performance. .(Advertisement)
June 1, 2003... Testing at the K-12 level is getting easier--and, many say, better--thanks to the increasingly pervasive presence of computers in classrooms. "The Internet is transforming the way our teachers measure student performance" says Bob...

18,000 look to transfer in New York City. (Inside the law: analyzing, debating and explaining no child left behind).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Parents of more than 18,000 New York City children have demanded they be transferred out of failing public schools and into better-performing schools as one of the rights given under No Child Left Behind. There are at least 228,000...

More than dollars and a super test. (Inside the law: analyzing, debating and explaining No Child Left Behind).
June 1, 2003... Despite some popular beliefs about education, more money and the best test won't solve the challenges in meeting No Child Left Behind legislation, according to Barbara Nadler, CEO of education technology company TIECorp. "In terms of No...

Small district on left coast still grappling with law. (Keyes (Calif.) Union Elementary School District).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... In a district 90 miles south of Sacramento, Keyes (Calif.) Union Elementary School District Superintendent Thomas Changnon has a corps of qualified teachers and a plan to notify parents of their choices. But he, along with other...

Colorado: vouchers start next year. (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).
June 1, 2003... About 4,000 Colorado students in the state's neediest districts will be eligible for school vouchers next year under legislation signed by Gov. Bill Owens in April. The voucher legislation is the first to be passed by a state since the U.S....

Dallas schools to hire its own police. (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).(Dallas Police commissioned officers accountable to Dallas Independent School District)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Dallas students will have their own police patrols after having Dallas Police Department officers. The district will turn the 150-person security force into a commissioned department where officers will be trained to work with students and...

Paige misquoted. (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).(Education Secretary Roderick Paige)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Allegations that Education Secretary Roderick Paige made inappropriate comments about religion and schools recently led lawmakers and civil libertarians and education groups to call for an apology or resignation. But after careful review...

Houston shares its secrets. (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).(study shows minority students narrowing achievement gap)
June 1, 2003... Bewildered by the lack of viable strategies for closing the gap between minority students and their white counterparts? Join the club. Fortunately, there is an alternative. Take the Houston Independent School District, where the Beating the...

Ooops ... Philadelphia uncovers millions. (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Instead of finding a deficit, Philadelphia school officials found more than $8 million in extra cash, due to overpayments to health insurance providers. Schools officials said in April they expect to find even more money when employees...

TIMSS: math classrooms in action. (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).(Third International Mathematics and Science 1999 Video Study)
June 1, 2003... More conceptual lessons, less review time. Gleaned from a new video study of methods for teaching eighth-grade math, the suggestion above could potentially cause a teachers' mutiny. If students aren't absorbing a concept, shouldn't they review...

Lesbian can establish club in Texas. (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).(Marla Dukler wins lawsuit)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... A Houston school district has settled a federal lawsuit with a 17-year-old student who wanted to set up a gay acceptance club at her high school, according to CNN.com. Marla Dukler, a Klein Independent School District student, and 10...

Immersion at school. (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).(technology immersion)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Immersing children in technology in school as much as they are immersed at home is one key to expand educational opportunities for students, parents and the school community. Educators gathered in Washington for a one-day conference in...

Law to block child porn sites sparks debate. (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Debate is brewing over a law that blocks Pennsylvania Internet users from checking out child pornography sites. Supporters of the law believe shutting off access to such sites will cut demand for such material and then put such Web site...

Special ed law: the latest. (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).(Individuals with Disabilities Education Act updated)
June 1, 2003... An updated version of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act increases federal spending up to 20 percent, includes early intervention for students with learning problems, aims to better identify disabled students and reduces...

Web site crosses the line. (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).(Parents and school administrators in Southern California close an allegedly hurtful Web site)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Parents and school administrators in Southern California were successful in closing an allegedly hurtful Web site, saying its information was harmful to children. On schoolscandals.com, a Shout Box included profanities and disparaging...

Education trust fund proposed. (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).(Washington Governor Gary Locke's proposal)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Washington Gov. Gary Locke proposed a new trust fund for education, but left out the details. Locke and Democratic leaders in the House and Senate proposed creating a dedicated fund, including at least $100 million, that would funnel...

A small district rallies against Albany. (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).(Fairport New York School District)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... The State of New York has not passed a timely budget in 19 years. And the Fairport (N.Y.) School District is fed up. Superintendent William Cala scripted a three-part resolution crying out against state regulations that force districts to...

Research shows hope for dyslexia. (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Intensive training for dyslexic children that covered the changing sounds of language helped them improve reading skills, research shows, according to a CNN.com story. Researchers at Stanford University reported in an issue of Proceedings...

iMac retires. (Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Apple Computer's original iMac computer is retiring as sales slow. At the same time, the company took on a new board member, former Vice President Al Gore. Apple stated it sold more than six million of the 15-inch-screen computers...

Vermont's value-added: this superintendent uses Yankee ingenuity and an ardent work ethic to juggle 11 school boards while fighting for fair education policies. (Administrator profile: William J. Mathis, Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union, Vt.).
June 1, 2003... For a Tennessee native, William Mathis fits in well as a rural New Englander. And for a counselor by training, he sure makes a capable superintendent--one who was just recognized as one of AASA's four national Superintendent of the Year...

An eye for design: students in Miami-Dade's Web design academy get a feel for real-world project management and, at the same time, help area nonprofits. (District profile: Miami-Dade County Public Schools).(students from M-DCPS Apple Web Design Academy)
June 1, 2003... Do the Right Thing, a Miami Police Department-sponsored organization that rewards students for positive behavior, had done its own thing but was in search of more. Using basic software, the nonprofit's staff had been grappling this fall...

The next challenge: as districts begin to work through the varied requirements of No Child Left Behind, one of the most challenging sections deals with educating special ed children.(Cover Story)
June 1, 2003... A year ago, little Peter Ciaccio, a 7-year-old from Wilton, Conn., rarely listened or followed directions. The Tilford W. Miller School student has Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder tendencies but was never formally diagnosed. Peter...

Recharging teachers' batteries: professional development for almost 6,000 teachers for just $4 million.(Fast facts. The Center for the Advancement of Teaching)
June 1, 2003... North Carolina's public schools start their summer vacation later this month, but the most significant break from the classroom may already have occurred for many of the state's teachers. During the past year, almost 6,000 participated in...

The Districts' Choice Awards 2003: NCLB and better technology stand out as the two key factors that influenced this year's list of outstanding products. (The Top 100).(No Child Left Behind legislation)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Every once in a while, it's good to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Working day-to-day, whether at a magazine or a school district, can be akin to living with young children. Each day they grow, both physically and mentally,...

Hardware: no longer luxuries: you don't have to agree with every choice made in this section, but if your district isn't using some version of all the tools mentioned here--including laptops, high-tech projectors and digital cameras--you are shortchanging your students. (The Top 100).(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2003... AlphaSmart DANA LAPTOP www.alphasmart.com, $399 (bulk pricing available) Dana is a laptop alternative device. It features Palm OS 4.1, and all Palm applications are compatible with Dana. It includes a full-size keyboard and a...

Internet: powerful: the biggest benefits of the Web--limitless space and the ability for users to customize its information--are leading factors in each of the sites chosen this year. (The Top 100).(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2003... ASAP Portal ACCELERATED SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS PREPARATION PROGRAM www.asapportal.com, $150 per person per month, or $1,100 a year; $50 per person for individual six weeks access The Accelerated School Administrators Preparation...

Software: transitioning: two forces--technology advancements and the specific NCLB requirements--had a hand in almost every item chosen in this category, from Apple's Jaguar to CompassLearning's standard-based tool Explorer. (The Top 100).(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2003... Adhaero Technologies ADHAERO DOC www.adhaero.com, $245-$299 (based on number of users; site licenses available) This Windows-based system encrypts and controls the use of Microsoft Office documents and e-mails. The software...

Books: hot off the press: ff you're looking for verification of No Child Left Behind's worth, you might want to skip this section. Many of the books chosen, from Reading The Naked Truth to Not With Our Kids, come out swinging against NCLB. (The Top 100).(Bibliography)
June 1, 2003... Active Learning Associates 2002 COMPLETE SOURCEBOOK ON CHILDREN'S INTERACTIVE MEDIA www.childrenssoftware.com, $70 Featuring educational software, smart toys, Web sites and videogames, the latest addition of this annual guide has...

Miscellaneous. (The Top 100).(educational software)
June 1, 2003... Classroom Connect CONNECTED EDUCATOR READING www.classroom.net, $299 per teacher/per course/per year Connected Educator Reading is a reading professional development product for teachers in grades K-6. Connected Educator Reading...

Study: boys literate in spite of school. (Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies).
June 1, 2003... Boys will be boys. Research suggests that boys don't like to read and don t read very well. Two Canadian education professors have shown that earlier studies don't tell the full story. Their recently completed, two-year qualitative research...

Checkmate, my classmate! (Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies).(does chess belong in the classroom?)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Chess has been shown to improve visual memory, attention span and spatial reasoning among children who play--often resulting in higher test scores and greater intellectual and social maturity. But does chess belong in the classroom? ...

Report: 'fear factor' holding back civics. (Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies).
June 1, 2003... 3:1 That's the ratio of civics-related courses most students took in the 1960s compared to now. It's no wonder that Americans under age 25 are less likely to vote than both older Americans today and young people of the past. The pressures...

Making new science books dynamic. (Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... When an American Association for the Advancement of Science study described science textbooks as "full of disconnected facts that neither educate nor motivate," there wasn't much the education community to celebrate. But a new Center for...

Improvement by subtraction: here are three things education would be better off without. (Understanding The Times).
June 1, 2003... Whoever came up with the phrase "No Child Left Behind" deserves a promotion. Marketers everywhere have played off the name. From "No teacher left behind" to "No superintendent left behind" and "No board member left behind," there's no end to...

Unlocking history's trove: presidential library Web sites offer powerful education opportunities. (The Online Edge).
June 1, 2003... How educationally valuable would it be if your teachers and students could gain access to six boxes of formerly classified presidential documents kept locked in Franklin Delano Roosevelt's White House safe in the '30s and '40s? And what...

The end of textbooks: with so many vital sources of information available to students, why are schools slavishly holding onto textbooks? (Speaking Out).
June 1, 2003... I was excited a few years back when Texas legislators suggested using textbook funds to purchase student laptops. I was less thrilled with the subsequent announcement that the laptops would act as digital textbooks. It is a profoundly bad idea...

Smaller classes? Yes! (But ...). (Research corner: essentials on education data and analysis from research authority AEL).
June 1, 2003... Want to start a debate at your next board meeting? Try arguing that smaller class sizes really aren't effective, despite the popular sentiment in favor of them. The debate on the benefits of smaller class size vs. the long-term costs and...

Calendar of events.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
June 1, 2003... JUNE 2003 International Communications Industries Associations Conference InfoComm www.infocomm.org June 3-5 Orlando, Fla. National Educational Computing Conference NECC ...

Attitudes on testing. (By the numbers: a data bank on education trends for district leaders).
June 1, 2003... Mandatory Standardized Tests Question: Should public school students be required to pass a standardized test in order to promoted to the next grade? No 20% No Opinion 3% Yes 77% Source: Gallup News...