District Administration articles from October 2003

District Administration archives from October 2003

Taking control.(Editor's Letter)
October 1, 2003... In K-12 education these days, it sometimes seems as if everything a superintendent or curriculum leader does is prescribed. The bulk of many districts' school budgets remain the same from year to year. New test requirements come from the...

Disputing your IT advice.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... I WAS DISAPPOINTED when I read "Are You Being Served" [August 2003, p. 35] and found poor advice in the sidebar on page 36. Under the heading "Shop Around," the advice provided [to not choose one vendor just for convenience] ignores the value...

Stop the tests.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... THANK YOU FOR THE COLUMN IN THE JULY 2003 DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION ["Halt the Testing Madness," By Gary Stager, p. 48]. It is about time that someone stood up for children and made a stand against this Orwellian federal-imposed testing mania....

Write on.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... MY RESPONSE [TO GARY STAGER'S MAY COLUMN, "A Lotta Coloring Goin' On," p. 63] is, simply, "terrific." I think Mr. Stager's thinking is clear and uncluttered with false preconceptions. As a successful grant writer, fourth-grade teacher and...

Wisconsin adopts a virtual solution: Appleton goes online with the Connections Academy.(virtual charter school)
October 1, 2003... The growth curve at the Wisconsin Connections Academy (WCA)--the state's first combined charter and virtual K-8 school--is about as steep as it can be with enrollment nearly doubling in this, its second year of operation. Now serving more than...

Golden state making strides.(Inside the law: analyzing, debating and explaining no child left behind)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... California schools appear to be making progress toward federal goals for student proficiency in English and math. A new report by the state Department of Education shows 55 percent of all schools meet adequate yearly progress targets as...

Feds yank cash from Minnesota.(Inside the law: analyzing, debating and explaining no child left behind)(invalid assessment of adequate yearly progress)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... A casualty of No Child Left Behind is evident in Minnesota, where the feds yanked $112,964 in federal education money after an alleged communication mixup. The money is a fraction on of the more than $500 million the state gets every year...

Half this district's schools need better scores.(Inside the law: analyzing, debating and explaining no child left behind)(California Keyes Union Elementary School District)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... In the small California Keyes Union Elementary School District, half of the six schools are missing the mark when it comes standards of No Child Left Behind. But the still in good shape. "Three schools received a 'no' but the district...

New NAEP results: urban districts closing the gap.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(National Assessment of Educational Progress)
October 1, 2003... Big city students are trailing their national counterparts, according to 2002 reading and writing test scores, but some results reveal pleasant surprises, officials say. In a first-of-its-kind measure, six urban school district results...

Ho-hum, let's use the Internet.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
October 1, 2003... Boring. That's one description students use when it comes to Internet usage in the classroom, even though they are absorbed when using the Internet at home, according to a recent study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. "It...

Survey: Big City leaders lament restraints.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(authority to change underperforming schools)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Most urban superintendents say their hands are tied and they are set up for failure while they have to meet new stringent demands, according to a recent University of Washington study. Based on a survey of 100 superintendents in the...

Students' views.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies ... the Internet as educational tool)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Students offered several suggestions to improve and enliven educational Internet usage: * Better coordination of out-of-school education with classroom activities * Increasing the quality of access to the Internet in schools *...

High school for gay students: safe haven or segregation?(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
October 1, 2003... Would Harvey Milk, the slain gay right's activist, support the nation's first four-year, fully accredited high school for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth? The school, named after him, opened this fall in Manhattan. ...

Illinois surprise: my principal is a felon.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(criminal background checks)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Tougher and more costly criminal background checks will be used for some new employees in the Elgin (Ill.) School District U-46 after finding a school principal was a felon, according to the Chicago Tribune. Calvin Gooch's resume showed he...

E-Rate critical to schools, libraries.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Education and Library Networks Coalition report)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... E-rate support for basic telecommunication services, Internet access and networking is vital while schools and public libraries face tough budget cuts, according to a new report from the Education and Library Networks Coalition. In E-Rate:...

Seeing stars in Minnesota.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(rating system for adequate yearly progress)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Minnesota parents, school administrators and teachers are seeing stars, but not in the sky. The stars are on new "report cards" that rate all schools in the state on academic achievement in math and reading, as well as academic opportunity,...

More pledge rulings.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Pledge of Allegiance)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... A federal judge issued a restraining order in August preventing Colorado school officials from forcing students to say the Pledge of Allegiance every day. The judge issued a temporary injunction against a Colorado law that requires public...

American faith in schools slips.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Gallup poll)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Only 40 percent of American respondents to a survey have a "great deal" of confidence in public schools, down 18 percentage points from the public's high point of 58 percent in 1973, according to a recent Gallup poll. The confidence level...

Superintendent fails literacy test.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Wilfredo Laboy)
October 1, 2003... What's good for the goose is good for the gander. At least that's what some teachers in Lawrence, Mass., believe. These teachers are suing Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy because he's penalizing teachers for not passing an English test, while he...

Fun is critical.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(recess and physical education)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Children need to run around on blacktops, swing on swings, and play in the sandbox while they are at school, according to one organization. "Attention parents and principals: This school year commit to recess being a critical part of the...

Stripling: better be accurate.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Houston Superintendent Kaye Stripling)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Houston Superintendent Kaye Stripling told more than 500 principals and administrators in August that they are responsible for accurate data on dropouts, as well as student achievement, according to a story in the Houston Chronicle. ...

So many teachers, so few spots.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(American Association for Employment in Education survey)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... For the second straight year, the demand for teachers has fallen and is at its lowest level since ]998, according to results of an annual survey from the American Association for Employment in Education. The nationwide teacher shortage that...

Paid liaisons in NYC.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(parent coordinators)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... In what is anticipated to be a key lever for change in New York City schools, 1,200 new parent coordinators are serving as liaisons between parents and school officials. The liaisons will also reach out to parents who may have never seen their...

Seeing the big picture: leading 42 districts through major changes calls for unusual abilities.(Administrator Profile)(Rudy Castruita of San Diego County Office of Education)
October 1, 2003... Understanding the educational landscape is what Rudy Castruita does best. Now serving his 10th year at the top of the San Diego County Office of Education, his particular talent suits the gargantuan dimensions that come with his job. ...

Finding funds, solving mysteries: student teams pull together to investigate a community health enigma--and make curricular connections in the process.(District Profile)(Cache (Okla.) Public Schools)
October 1, 2003... When Irene Runnels landed a school Suburban in the mud on the banks of the Red River, her boss responded with a grin and shrug of his shoulders. Some administrators might try to reign in Runnels, a learning disabilities teacher whose...

Cash back: sometimes saving money doesn't mean cutting back. These three districts found that they could improve or maintain services while pinching pennies.
October 1, 2003... For many cash-strapped school districts, there may be no better news than finding a few ways to save money and stretch budgets. But the following examples are a sort of daily double. These districts have not only found ways to shave their...

Double duty: resource-squeezed school chiefs in remote towns drive buses, dish out food, yell plays on the gridiron, and teach.
October 1, 2003... The first thing Terry Grant, superintendent of the Blue Sky School District in Rudyard, Mont., did this morning was unlock the doors of his K-12 school and do a walk-through. He makes sure the restrooms have enough soap and toilet paper, and he...

The road not traveled: promotion or retention? Struggling students fare better in the largely uncharted gray area between the two.
October 1, 2003... He called her Sunshine. But it was more of a hope than a true reflection of the high school senior's life. "I had never seen this kid smile," says Principal Don B. Austin. An assistant in his office at La Sierra High School in Riverside,...

Gateway--serving higher education's purchasing requirements through eProcurement services.
October 1, 2003... Looking Back to the Future It's not too difficult to recall those days when purchase orders were handwritten or typed on carbon copies, stored in loose-leaf binders and sent to vendors via mail. Sounds so old-fashioned, or is it? How many...

Pint-sized algebra: this district, and others like it, are starting to emphasize math concepts as early as kindergarten.(Washington Township School District in Indianapolis math program)
October 1, 2003... Dressing up like scarecrows in the fall and donning leprechaun hats and jackets in March is all the rage in some kindergarten classes in Indiana. It's hard to tell these students are learning the beginnings of complex math, but it's easy to see...

JASON XV: Rainforests at the Crossroads: The JASON Foundation for Education.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.jasonproject.org, Internet, $249 This expedition-based curriculum focuses on Panama's tropical rainforest ecosystems, its geological and human history and its regional culture. Students become Dart of an expedition team of leading...

World Languages DVD Tutor: Spanish Level I and II, French Level I and II: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.hrw.com, Software, $99 each This DVD and CD-ROM set is designed to supplement the corresponding Holt World Language textbook. The interactive CD-ROM allows students to explore each location visited in their textbook, practice the...

SuperSpell Grammar Series (1 and 2): Tool Factory.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.toolfactory.com, Software, $79.95 each (multi-pack and site license pricing available) Grammar 1 covers a variety of topic for elementary, middle school mad ESL students, including nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs and verbs....

Algebra 1: MathRealm.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.mathrealm.com, Software, $1,000-$3,750 (based on number of users) Algebra 1 feature hands-on interactive lessons, graphing tools and practice and enrichment activities for use with the MathRealm Management System. The network-based...

Look, Listen, and Speak: Evan-Moor.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.evan-moor.com, Books $29.99 each This five-book series for grades 1-3 is designed to foster language development for students at varying stages of English acquisition. Students are introduced to new vocabulary in thematic units through...

Acting Out: Reader's Theatre Across the Curriculum: Linworth.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.linworth.com, Book, $36.95 Created for students in grades 5-10, Acting Out is designed to boost interest in reading by allowing children to actively participate in literature through the Reader's Theatre process. The 100-page book...

ImagiProbe eX:ImagiWorks.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.imagiworks.com, Software, $349 Targeted for use in advanced disciplines, such as physics and chemistry, this software enables students to conduct real-time scientific investigations and to collect data at up to 20,000 samples per...

Junior Timelines on File, Updated Edition: Facts on File.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.factsonfile.com, Book, $185 This three-ring binder is filled with loose-leaf pages of maps, diagrams, experiments, charts, timelines and visual illustrations of more than 250 timelines from prehistory to the present. Each timeline...

The Literacy Center: LeapFrog Schoolhouse.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.LeapFrogSchoolHouse.com, Program, $1,695-$1,995 and up Two new editions of The Literacy Center's multisensory program integrate lesson-for-lesson with the kindergarten and Grade 1 Houghton Mifflin's reading curriculum. They include...

World History: A Comparative Civilizations Perspective: Teaching for Thinking.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.teachingforthinking.com, Software, $149 for single copy; 30 for $3,000 This nine-hour history program is presented through personally told narratives. It shows each historical era from Paleolithic times to the 21st century. Included in...

Tell me More: Auralog.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www. auralog.com Software, $2,000 for 25 licenses This foreign language learning software is available in French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, ESL, Chinese, Japanese and Arabic. The program features comprehensive courses on fundamental...

Take it to the Computer: Evan-Moor.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.evan-moor.com, Software, $299 each grade per 10 users; $499 each grade per 30 users With this K-3 software program, students learn to use basic computer tools while practicing language arts and math skills. The program comes with...

Extensions in Mathematics Series: Curriculum Associates.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.curriculumassociates.com, Books, $5.95 each Designed for grades 1-8, this eight-book series extends the 12 key math strategies taught in the CMS-STAMS series, Each lesson includes teacher-guided instruction, scaffolded practice and...

Curriculum Resource Center: Facts on File.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.factsonfile.com, Internet, $830 (costs may vary based on enrollment) This database of teacher handout material (formerly called Curriculum Resource Center: Grades 6-12) has been updated with a new organizational structure. All content...

Inicio a la Lectura: Lexia.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.lexialeaming.com, Software, $300-$500 per license This software program is designed help Spanish-speaking students learn to read in their native language. Students can work independently by listening to verbal computer instruction and...

Toy Store: Sunburst Technology.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.sunburst.com, Software, $89.95 for 10 licenses Students in grades 2-6 create a toy store business in a four-part series of activities. First they survey classmates about their favorite types of toys, interpret the results, and create...

Career Strategies How to get and keep a job: Academic Innovations.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.academic innovations.com, Book, $64.80 This textbook follows two high school students who are on a quest to discover the secrets of success ha the workplace. With the guidance of a teacher and three mentors from the business world, the...

First Steps on Mars: MPI Home Video.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.mpihomevideo.com, Video, $14.98 Based on research by NASA, this documentary is a true-to life scenario of what a manned trip to Mars will really be like. It analyzes the dangers and difficulties the first crew on Mars might experience,...

Interactive Mathematics and Interactive English: Academic Systems.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.academic.com, Software, $500 each and up Interactive Mathematics is a self-paced algebra program that allows teachers to cater instruction to the different levels and abilities of students. Designed for middle and high school...

Sibelius Starclass: Sibelius USA.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.sibelius.com, Software, $89 Designed for educators teaching music to elementary and middle school students, Starclass has 180 ready-to-use lesson plans, as well as hundreds of music clips, printable pictures and a 99-track audio CD. ...

Westward, ho! The Lewis & Clark bicentennial in class.(Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies)
October 1, 2003... A good deal is in the eyes of the beholder. That's just one lesson students can learn while honoring the 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark expedition. In an elementary unit about trade relationships, discussions center around how people...

Answering life's great questions.(philosophy competition for children in grades K-12)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Kids are full of wonder, but classroom talk is generally not. Perhaps that's because the idea of a K-12 philosophy course draws more eyebrow-raising than head-nodding. Philosophy is, however, becoming more common as part of other K-12...

Lewis and Clark as leaders.(exhibited leadership qualities important today)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Meriwether Lewis and William Clark exhibited some of the same shared leadership strategies touted by management experts today. While the government wanted a single officer in charge, Lewis shared his captain duties with Clark. They trusted each...

K-12 philosophy resources.(web sites about philosophy)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... American Philosophical Association, www.apa.org Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children, www.chss.montclair.edu/iapc/homepage.html Kids Philosophy Slam, www.philosophyslam.org Northwest Center for Philosophy for Children,...

Back home: Q&A with Cathy Seeley.(interview with president elect of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics)(Interview)
October 1, 2003... Q: During your two years teaching secondary math with the Peace Corps in West Africa, what did you miss most about the U.S, educational system? A: I missed access to resources. Here, we take for granted access to textbooks for every...

College hopefuls: ready or not?(many students not taking core college-preparatory courses)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Nearly two out of five college-bound high school seniors surveyed by ACT last year did not take the recommended core college-preparatory courses. "These results underscore the need for educators and parents to start early in counseling students...

Big Brother 24/7: school Webcams may help reduce violence but also raise privacy issues.
October 1, 2003... When students in Biloxi, Miss., started this school year, they encountered a digital army of Internet-linked cameras that would record every minute of every activity in every classroom. Furthermore, the cameras will run continuously all year,...

Who moved my stalag? Awakening the leader within.(leadership values of school administration)
October 1, 2003... While on a recent flight across the South Pacific, I pondered the challenges facing American education. Somewhere high above Guam, it hit me. What we really need is a witty leadership book replete with checklists, platitudes, alliterations and...

The algebra divide: essentials on education data and analysis from research authority AEL.(Appalachia Educational Laboratory)
October 1, 2003... Algebra is a gateway to better math scores on standardized tests, higher math courses, and college attendance. Several studies have now established these benefits. Yet in districts or states that do not require algebra for graduation from high...

Video conferencing from Apple.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... Apple iChat www.apple.com, Hardware, $149 The iSight digital video camera works with Apple's iChat AV software to enable video conferences between two Mac users over any broadband connection The camera features a dual-element...

Interactive Metronome.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www. IM Powered.com, Hardware, $2,000/kit, variable software time costs, from 10 hours of software for $10/hour This neural-training device aims to help students improve test scores and reading and math performance. Through repetition of...

iPerform: iAssessment.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.iassessment.com, Internet, $3 per user This Web-based education performance management system automates technology implementation and usage in K-12 schools. It helps administrators make top-down decisions with aggregate data and...

SASIxp 5.5: Pearson Digital Learning.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.pearsonedtech.com, Software, Elementary core product license $5 per student, Secondary license $20 per student The cross-platform Schools Administration Student Information system helps districts meet the reporting requirements of No...

Norton System Works 3.0 for Macintosh: Symantec.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.symantec. com, Software, $]29.95 Districts can use this software to protect their Macs from catching viruses from PCs--and from passing them onto Windows users. The software includes Norton AntiVirus 9.0, which finds and repairs Mac and...

Fluency Formula: Scholastic.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.scholastic.com, Program, $599.99 per kit This three-part research-based supplemental program for grades 1-6 helps students bridge the gap between word recognition and comprehension. The components of the program include: the direct...

Classroom Wizard 4.0: Scantron.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.scantron.com, Software, approx. $6,000 for kit of 30 handhelds preloaded with software, plus wireless application subscription The latest version of this real-time assessment tool for Palm-powered handhelds and mobile devices features...

Omnipage Pro 12: ScanSoft.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www. scansoft.com, Software, $599.99 ($199.99 to upgrade) The latest version of this office management software does not require manual reproduction of documents and spreadsheets. Users can convert paper and PDF files into editable...

Snapshots! Educational Insights from the Thornburg Center: Thornburg Center.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.tcpd.org, Book, $24.95 (educational discounts available) This book tackles an array of current issues in education. Each chapter is written by a different center associate. Chapters include: The Power of Storytelling in Education;...

SPSnapShot: Council for Educational Change.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.student performance. com, Software, $2-$2.95 per student/calendar year Educators in districts that use norm-referenced or criterion-referenced standardized tests can use this software to analyze and interpret assessment data Tables,...

SchoolTools@work 3.1: Digital controls.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.e-solutionsatwork, com/ schooltools, Internet, $22,500 installation and initial annual license; $3,200/year thereafter for license, hosting and support Districts can use the latest version of this Web application to improve...

STIPD: Software Technology.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.sti-k12.com, Internet, $15 per employee, plus annual license fee of 20 percent of purchase price This Web-based software is designed to simplify administrative tasks and organize, centralize mid cross-reference information from school...

Professional Development Manager: KALPA.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.kalpalearn.com, Internet, $18,000-$25,000, plus $8,500 average annual subscription fee/year This Web-based system lets administrators track and manage district-wide teacher development and allows teachers to track and manage activity...

Focus on standards: the Pulliam Group.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.pulliamgoup.com, Software, starts at $5 per student This end-to-end software helps teachers and administrators understand the assessment data they are collecting and learn how to adjust instruction for improved results. The five-part...

The Only Grant-Writing Book You'll Ever Need: Carroll & Graf.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.avalonpub. com, Book, $14 This book includes resources, sample forms, proposal components and elements that grantmakers look for in proposals, glossary of terms, tips on using the Internet to find grant opportunities and practice...

Middle School Mathematics Premier Online Student Editions: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.hrw.com, Internet, $43.95 per student (Course 1); $45.45 per student (Courses 2 and 3) This math curriculum is the online version of Holt Middle School Math. The online textbook helps students learn difficult math concepts by using...

DigitalCurriculum: AIMS multimedia.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.digitalcurriculum.com, Software, $995-$1,395 per license, depending on enrollment This multimedia curriculum system integrates more than 40,000 multimedia components and has been enhanced to include a My Digital Curriculum status page,...

Funds for Learning.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... E-rate Manager www.eratemanager.com, Internet, Free to schools This Web-based system lets E-rate applicants monitor the status of their funding requests and then generate the multiple forms for the Schools and Libraries Division in order...

Textbook Tracker v.3: Companion.(New Products)
October 1, 2003... www.companioncorp.com, Software, $1,495-$2,995 The latest version of this textbook management program features a Web interface where students and parents may view transactions for the Internet. The SIF-compatible software also includes a...

Key Curriculum Press[R]--Innovators in Mathematics Education.(Information Showcase)
October 1, 2003... 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...

Special needs software!(Information Showcase)
October 1, 2003... For over 20 years, Laureate Learning Systems has been dedicated to publishing software for students with special needs. Our award-winning, research-based programs have consistently been honored for their integrity and proven effectiveness. We...

NEA Professional Library.(Information Showcase)
October 1, 2003... 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...

A field trip to the stars without leaving your school!(Information Showcase)
October 1, 2003... 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...

NetSupport School.(Information Showcase)
October 1, 2003... NetSupport School is the innovative classroom management software solution that empowers teachers by enabling centralized PC instruction. With NetSupport School, a teacher can remotely control PCs in their classroom, allowing them to show their...

Micrograms.(Information Showcase)
October 1, 2003... Micrograms offers the best in educational software for grades K-6. See our latest award winners, the NEW Mathosaurus, and the NEW Super Science Show! Request a FREE Showcase CD and explore each Micrograms program with features such as our new...