District Administration articles from October 2007

District Administration archives from October 2007

OurTube: online video brings compelling reality to teaching and learning.(Editor's Letter)
October 1, 2007... DO-IT-YOURSELF VIDEO IS EXPLODING ACROSS THE INTERNET, thanks to the widespread availability of inexpensive cameras and free online file-sharing services including YouTube, Dailymotion, Metacafe and Putfile. Films made by camcorders and digital...

Doubting the dialogue.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... In the September Inside the Law story you attest you are in favor of beginning a "dialogue on these critical issues," i.e., the ones that pertain to whether it is still necessary to use race as a criterion for desegregation. I, however, am...

Fixing NCLB from the ground up.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... I enjoyed your commentary on No Child Left Behind (Speaking Out, August). There is no doubt that the foundation of NCLB is fundamentally flawed. It is my belief that in public education we are completely focused on the systematization of...

Fostering good competition or worsening the problem?(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... Daniel Kinnaman's August column supports giving public funds to the private sector to improve education. I do not believe data exist to support this position. Kinnaman says, "Entrepreneurial providers need to be able to open and run...

Getting the PTA side.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... We're writing in response to the "PTA Loses Members to PTOs" story (News Update, August). We thought the story was one-sided and pro-PTO. You stated that locally both groups have the same goal and function. However, we do not have the same...

Are schools "drug-infested"?(BRIEFINGS: News Update)
October 1, 2007... A NEW STUDY FROM THE NATIONAL Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University is calling U.S. middle and high schools "drug-infested," while at the same time other major studies point to an overall de cline in teen drug...

Georgia grows in advanced placement participation.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... GEORGIA GOVERNOR SONNY PERDUE AND STATE Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox recently announced that students in Georgia have continued to outpace other U.S. students taking and succeeding in Advanced Placement classes. A report released by the...

Did you know?(BRIEFINGS: News Update)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Data from the National Center for Education Statistics say that between 1995-1996 and 2005-2006, the average mathematics SAT scores increased by 10 points, while the average critical reading scores decreased by 2...

Engineering academies to combat the "New American Dilemma".(BRIEFINGS: News Update)(engineering related occupations is on the rise)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... DATA FROM THE BUREAU OF LABOR Statistics say that two of the five fastest-growing occupations in the next five years will be engineering related and that the supply of engineering professionals has failed to meet market demands. In an effort to...

Nonprofits target misplacement of students of color in special education.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)
October 1, 2007... AN AMERICAN AND AN ISRAELI nonprofit education group have partnered to work with U.S. school districts in an effort to ensure that children of color are not mistakenly placed in special education. The National Urban Alliance for Effective...

Fast fact.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Over the next five years demand for scientists and engineers will increase at least 70 percent faster than the overall growth rate for all occupations in the United States. Source: National Science Foundation

Florida goes global with new virtual school.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)
October 1, 2007... FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL, AN accredited, public, online school serving students in grades 6 through 12, recently announced the launch of the Florida Virtual Global School as part of its new Global Services division to further enhance e-learning...

Study examines why teachers quit and what can be done.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)
October 1, 2007... THE RETIREMENT OF THOUSANDS OF BABY boomer teachers and the departure of their much younger counterparts fueled by the stress of working in low-performing schools forced superintendents and recruiters across the nation to scramble to fill...

Probing Science in Fairfax County.(BRIEFINGS: Curriculum Update)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, acting as scientists in Fairfax County (Va.) Public Schools (FCPS), monitor ecosystem changes and track the water quality of the Chesapeake Watershed. Linda Chin, the FCPS middle school science curriculum specialist, is...

Science students should do the math.(BRIEFINGS: Curriculum Update)
October 1, 2007... OVER 80,000 STUDENTS TAKING INTRODUCTORY SCIENCE courses at more than 70 U.S. colleges were randomly surveyed by senior Harvard-Smithsonian Center lecturer Phillip M. Sadler and the University of Virginia's Curry School of Education Associate...

Astronaut targets Science education.(BRIEFINGS: Curriculum Update)
October 1, 2007... SALLY RIDE IS CHANGING THE face of science education, particularly among girls, through the Sally Ride Science (SRS) program and is introducing students to real scientists and science-related careers. "Ever since I left NASA, I've been...

Defensive action with bulletproof backspacks.(BRIEFINGS: Security Update)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... NEW CLOTHES? CHECK. NOTEBOOKS and binders? Check. Bulletproof backpack? Check...? As many parents tackled back-to-school shopping lists last month, one new safety item they might not have thought to consider--My Child's Pack was on the...

New tool to evaluate school security.(BRIEFINGS: Security Update)
October 1, 2007... CDW GOVERNMENT (CDW-G), THE LEADING SOURCE OF IT SOLUtions to government agencies and educators, recently published its School Safety Index Self-Assessment Tool, which allows you to participate in CDW-G's School Safety Index survey to learn how...

Districts keep out sex offenders with screening software.(BRIEFINGS: Security Update)
October 1, 2007... DISTRICTS ARE UTILIZING VISITOR screening computer systems to flag sex offenders attempting to enter schools. One such system, V-Soft, manufactured by Houston-based RaptorWare, optically scans a visitor's driver's license or other ID. Used...

Alaska judge calls for more school oversight.(BRIEFINGS: Inside the Law)
October 1, 2007... THE STATE OF ALASKA MUST improve its oversight of persistently under-performing school districts to ensure that students are getting an adequate education or it will no longer be able to use its high school exit exam, State Superior Court Judge...

California schools required to provide services to students with diabetes.(BRIEFINGS: Inside the Law)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A LEGAL SETTLEMENT RECENTLY announced in Oakland, Calif., will require all California schools to have someone available trained to assist diabetic children. The new policy will require all students with diabetes to...

New guide for engaging parents in education.(BRIEFINGS: Inside the Law)
October 1, 2007... U.S. ASSISTANT DEPUTY SECRETARY MORGAN Brown recently announced the release of a new DOE publication, "Engaging Parents in Education: Lessons from Five Parental Information and Resource Centers," which identifies innovative and successful...

Banning lawn pesticides in Connecticut.(BRIEFINGS: Inside the Law)
October 1, 2007... GOVERNOR M. JODI RELL OF CONNECTICUT RECENTLY FURTHERED the cause of environmental health safety by signing into law a ban on lawn-care pesticides at public middle schools in the state. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Exposure to such...

Charter school founder arrested.(BRIEFINGS: Inside the Law)(Charles Steven Cox's theft case)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... A SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY GRAND JURY RECENTLY INDICTED Charles Steven Cox, the founder of the California Charter Academy, charging him with grand theft of nearly $5.5 million and misappropriation of school funds. Hesperia City Councilman Tad...

Hiring principals ... with confidence.(District Profile: ALEXANDER COUNTY (N.C.) SCHOOLS)(human resource management)
October 1, 2007... JACK HOKE KNOWS A GOOD thing when he sees it. When it comes to hiring principals for his district schools, Hoke, the superintendent of Alexander County (N.C.) Schools, has hit upon a sure bet: Look for graduates of the North Carolina Principals...

The new literacies: students are immersed in 21st century "New Literacy" technologies, but are schools preparing them for the future?(CURRICULUM)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE Pacific Northwest tree octopus? Most likely not. Good thing there is a Web site on the Internet to tell you all about it! According to the tree octopus site,...

ELL testing: a state of Flux: districts grapple with federal mandates and assessment options for English Language Learners.(SPECIAL REPORT)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BY 2030, ALMOST HALF THE POPulation in the United States will speak a language other than English, meaning the number of English Language Learners (ELLs) in schools nationwide will also increase. And critics of the...

Fairfax county's solution: one district's fight with NCLB is not for naught.(Administrator Profile: SUPERINTENDENT JACK D. DALE)(No Child Left Behind)
October 1, 2007... EVIDENCE OF GROWING UNEASE OVER testing English Language Learners came to a head this past school year in Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia. It started when Superintendent Jack D. Dale wanted his district's ELLs to be tested fairly for...

Addressing autism: how school districts can improve prospects for students with autism.(SPECIAL EDUCATION)
October 1, 2007... AS THE FASTEST GROWING DEVELOPMENTAL disability, autism presents one of the greatest special education challenges facing school districts today. In February, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control released data showing that about 1 child in 150...

Purchasing technology: second of a series: technology is the top purchasing priority for 76 percent of K12 districts.(DISTRICT BUYING POWER 2007)
October 1, 2007... AS THE MAGAZINE OF EDUCATION LEADERSHIP for top-level decision makers in K12 education, DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION reaches key executives in virtually every school district in the United States, including superintendents, business officers,...

Mexico (N.Y.) Academy and Central School District www.mexico.cnyrsc.org.(How Well Does This Web Site Work? READ WHAT OUR WEB ANALYST SAYS IS RIGHT AND WRONG WITH THIS DISTRICT SITE)
October 1, 2007... THE MEXICO ACADEMY AND Central School District is located in the center of New York state, on the shore of Lake Ontario, and includes three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. The current district Web site was designed...

35 Series LCD: ViewSonic.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND THE INTERNET)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] www.viewsonic.com Hardware, Starts at $599 The 35 series of TVs is integrated with ATSC/NTSC tuners and includes the 26-inch N2635w ($599), 32-inch N3235w ($699) and 37-inch N3735w ($899). They offer 1366x768...

Tron-X Case for iPods: Parat Solutions.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND THE INTERNET)(protective pouches)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... www.paratsolutions.com Hardware, $545 The newest case transport by Parat protects and stores up to 20 iPods with video. It is constructed of impact-resistant ABS synthetic material and a solid aluminum frame. Features include an integrated...

EasyTech, TechLiteracy, Aha!Math: LEARNING.COM.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND THE INTERNET)
October 1, 2007... www.learning.com, Software, $12 per student The company's three products include EasyTech, TechLiteracy Assessment and Aha! Math. The first is a K8 technology literacy program that allows teachers to integrate technology skills into their...

Storyboard: Toon Boom Animation.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND THE INTERNET)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] www.toonboom.com, Software, $249.99 Storyboard's software can be used for all audiovisual projects. As a digital application, it enables artists, video makers, advertisers and game developers to validate a...

DV-981 HD: Oppo.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND THE INTERNET)
October 1, 2007... www.oppodigital.com, Hardware, $229 Oppo's slim DV-981 is an upgrade to the 970 model and uses the Mediatek chip and a Genesis Deinterlacer. Simply put, there is more detail and enhancement to almost any video source, even without a 1080p...

On-Sight: Genevalogic.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND THE INTERNET)(internet access software)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... www.genevalogic.com Software, Starts at $3,495/single server Administrators now have a reliable way to give students access to computers and the Internet with the assurance that they're using them safely and appropriately. The software...

Phase-6: PHASE-6.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND THE INTERNET)(children's educational software)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... www.phase-6.com Software, $4-$8 per student per year Based on brain research and the Ebbinghaus Forgetting-Curve, students can use this technology to lock vocabulary into their long-term memory. It converts flash cards using specific...

TI-30XS MultiView: Texas Instruments.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND THE INTERNET)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] www.education.ti.com Hardware, $15.99 The TI-30XS MultiView is a great choice for general math, geometry, algebra and higher math, as well as science classes, where visualizing equations is key to student...

Oral Language Builder: Wright Group/Mcgraw-Hill.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] www.wrightgroup.com Books, $180 Designed for pre-K2 students learning English, French or Spanish, each of the 10 stand-alone kits comes with vocabulary picture cards and an illustrated wordless big book--the...

ImageNow 6.0 Sunflower: Perceptive Software.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND THE INTERNET)
October 1, 2007... www.imagenow.com, Software, $20,000 ImageNow's document management, imaging and workflow software suite introduces enhancements that improve business processes and increase efficiencies regardless of the scale of deployment. Users can...

Bookshelf 4.5: Vitalsource Technologies.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND THE INTERNET)(educational software)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... www. vitalsource.com, Software, Free Bookshelf's upgraded software can be downloaded for free from the company's Web site. While previous editions allowed readers to highlight and annotate e-books, this new version lets them create a...

Lexia Reading: Lexia Learning Systems.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND THE INTERNET)(reading software )(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... www.lexialearning.com Software, $5,000/25 simultaneous users Targeting K12 students, this Web reading software supports core reading curricula in over 10,000 schools nationwide. It helps students master reading by building essential skills...

Rate Your Favorite Products!(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND THE INTERNET)(rating system for 2007's favorite product)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION is naming the Reader's Choice Top 100 K12 Products of 2007. Which products belong? Use our new star rating system to select your favorites. There are thousands of products to view and we're adding to our database...

GeoSafari Quiz Bowl: Educational Insights.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND THE INTERNET)(children's educational software)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] www.educationalinsights.com Hardware, $499.99/kit Designed for students in grades 3 and up, teachers can use this wireless system to create quiz questions via the master unit's game authoring software, assign a...

PowerTeacher: Pearson School Systems.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND THE INTERNET)(educational software)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... www.pearsonschoolsystems.com Software, Pricing varies based on need and configuration PowerTeacher enables educators to assess their students' progress from many different angles in order to maximize student achievement. Teachers can use...

Read to Know: Knowledge Unlimited.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND THE INTERNET)(educational software)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... www.thekustore.com Software, $249/34 weekly issues Intended for students in grades 6-9, this online, nonfiction reading program covers national and international news and other important content areas, such as science, the arts, sports,...

Microsoft Math 3.0: Microsoft.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND THE INTERNET)
October 1, 2007... www.rnicrosoft.com/math, Software, $19.95 via download With this math software students get help tackling complicated problems in prealgebra, algebra, trigonometry, calculus, physics and chemistry. It includes a full-featured graphing...

FromPath: Springboard Integrated Technologies.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... www.helpspring.com Internet, $25 per user FormPath's dedicated document routing system allows educators to complete forms online and sign the form with their digital signatures. Once the form is completed, it's automatically routed through...

Vmath: Voyager.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... www.mathlive.com Software, $79 per student (includes VmathLive), $30/stand-alone Voyager's math intervention program provides struggling students in grades 3-8 with targeted, 30-40 minutes of systematic, daily instruction to brinfl them to...

NP 1150, 2150, 3150: NEC Display Solutions Of America.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... www.necdisplay.com Hardware, Starting at $3,999 NEC's series of projectors utilize the Connect to a Network Projector wizard in Windows Vista without the need for additional proprietary software. They range in brightness from 3,500 to 4,000...

Knowledge Adventure Academy--Early Literacy: Knowledge Adventure.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
October 1, 2007... www.knowledgeadventure school.com Software, $3,750 Conforming to national and state curriculum standards, the software helps teachers implement current strategies for reading improvement and manage individual student literacy needs,...

Spotlight on Paired passages: Curriculum Associates.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)(Book review)
October 1, 2007... www.cainc.com Books, $32.90/10-pack Designed to enhance reading comprehension skills, the series consists of books alphabetically titled from Book A to Book H for students in grades 1-8 and ESL classes. Reading passages help students...

OpticBook 3600 Corporate: Plustek.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... www.plustek.com Hardware, $499 The OpticBook scanner adds searchable PDF capabilities that process scanned book pages via optical character recognition and then saves them in a searchable file format that allows the entire PDF to be...

HP-35s: HP.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
October 1, 2007... www.hp.com/calculators, Hardware, $400 As a scientific programmable calculator, users can switch between Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) and algebraic entry-system logic at any time. With RPN, the calculator requires fewer keystrokes and is...

mCLASS: Reading 3D: Wireless Generation.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(children's educational software)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... www.wirelessgeneration.com Software, $2,000 per building Reading 3D's second edition was designed for grades K3, enabling teachers to conduct formative assessments in English and Spanish and use the data to deliver effective instruction to...

Mentoring in the 21st Century Resource Kit: Ask Publications & Professional Development.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
October 1, 2007... www.askeducation.com, Books, $985 The mentoring kit provides tools to design and implement a comprehensive mentoring program for a school or district. It comes with a facilitator's handbook that includes detailed teaching notes and...

DSRAZOR for Windows: Visual Click Software.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
October 1, 2007... Interacting with Windows and Active Directory environments, the software allows users to manage users, groups and files and to discover security weaknesses, document objects, manage attributes and delegate duties. Features include the ability...

6715B notebook: HP Compaq.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
October 1, 2007... www.hp.com, Hardware, Starting at $866 HP's 6715B 15.4-inch diagonal widescreen display notebook is equipped with a range of features. Besides broadband wireless, WLAN and Bluetooth technologies, AMD Turion 64 X 2 Mobile Technology with AMD...

DesignKids: Autodesk.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(educational software)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... www.autoflesk.com/school Software, Starts at $1,500/10 lab seats plus 1 for instructor DesignKids is an exploratory science, technology, engineering and mathematics program for middle school students. Its flexible approach offers them a...

Federal law mandates e-mail archiving.(Problem Solution: SUCCESS STORIES FROM DISTRICS ACROSS THE NATION)
October 1, 2007... PROBLEM TO COMPLY WITH THE RECENT Supreme Court mandate for the storage of electronic records, the Auburn- Washburn School District (AWSD) of Topeka, Kan., needed to implement an e-mail archiving system. The 2006 amendment to the Federal...

Linworth Books: School Library Management, 6th edition.(Leadership Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)
October 1, 2007... www.linworth.com, $44.95 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This new edition covers the basic principles of library management in addition to today's unique technology challenges. The handbook's collection of articles from Library Media Connection...

R&L Education: School Crisis Case Studies: Solutions to Crucial Problems Facing Educators.(Leadership Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)(Brief article)(Book review)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] www.rowmaneducation.com, $19.95 The author presents a wide range of crisis events in K12 schools that require urgent solutions. She also explains control procedures and offers strategies for resuming normal...

Henry Holt And Company: Tested: One American School Struggles to Make the Grade.(Leadership Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)
October 1, 2007... www.henryholt.com, $25 Author Linda Perlstein, a former education writer for The Washington Post, introduces readers to the daily realities faced by the Tyler Heights Elementary School, which was once on the newspaper's list of Maryland's...

Educational Testing Service: A Repair Kit for Grading: 15 Fixes for Broken Grades.(Leadership Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)
October 1, 2007... www.assessmentinst.com/ark-gnrland.html, $28 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Author Ken O'Connor contends that grades should reflect the quality of learning taking place, not merely the accumulation of points that students accrue over the...

R&L Education: Team-Based Professional Development: A Process for School Reform.(Leadership Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)
October 1, 2007... www.rowmaneducation.com, $24.95 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This book provides an overview of adult learning and its impact on professional development. Each chapter offers a theoretical foundation along with practical advice on...

Solution Tree: The Power of SMART Goals: Using Goals to Improve Student Learning.(Leadership Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... www.solution-tree.com, $24.95 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SMART Goals is an easy-to-read guide that will help your staff set effective goals. Four case studies offer a firsthand look at elementary, middle and high schools that strategize...

Harvard Educational Review: The Opportunity Gap: Achievement and Inequality in Education.(Leadership Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)(Brief article)(Book review)
October 1, 2007... www.hepg.org, $32.95 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The authors aim to shift attention from the current emphasis on the achievement gap to more fundamental questions about social and educational opportunity. Their essays reintroduce the...

Linking the disciplines-and achievement.(Research Corner: ESSENTIALS ON EDUCATION DATA AND RESEARCH ANALYSIS)(integrated curriculum and academic achievement)
October 1, 2007... IN GREAT BRITAIN, THE TIMES Educational Supplement reported this year that four out of five primary schools plan to replace traditional subject teaching with interdisciplinary, theme-based lessons, as recommended by the Royal Society of Arts'...

Lessons from Rural Schools: it's time to revisit the benefits of small schools.(PROFESSIONAL OPINION)
October 1, 2007... THERE'S A LOT TO LEARN FROM rural schools. "We're on the cutting edge because we never changed," said one rural school principal from Maine. He referred to principles that still work: staying small, involving parents and nurturing close ties to...

Stop the insanity: here are simple strategies for addressing the growing epidemic of at-risk learners.(SPEAKING OUT)
October 1, 2007... WHEN POLITICIANS SHOUT AND headlines highlight underperforming schools and children left behind, they are referring to the growing number of students labeled "at-risk." The phenomena leading to this designation include poverty, behavioral...

Calendar of events.(educational organizations' conferences)(Brief article)(Calendar)
October 1, 2007... OCTOBER 2007 The Alliance for Excellent Education From No Child Left Behind to Every Child a Graduate October 4-5 Washington, D.C. www.all4ed.org/events * Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI) ...

The power in differing points of view: if you listen only to what you already believe, you speak only to yourself.(UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES)
October 1, 2007... A WHILE BACK MY LOCAL board of education proposed a major, districtwide school construction initiative. The millions of dollars in proposed costs naturally inspired some taxpayer backlash and lots of lobbying for and against. Eventually it went...