District Administration articles from September 2003

District Administration archives from September 2003

Step by step.(Editorial)
September 1, 2003... We all know the first step to overcoming a problem is to admit there is a problem. Consider school officials, and especially those leading some of the largest urban districts, to be on step one in their fight against dropouts. In...

Hear it in court.(Inside the law: analyzing, debating and explaining No Child Left Behing)(National Education Association plans to sue federal government over unfunded mandate)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Criticism just keeps coming for No Child Left Behind. The nation's largest professional employee organization, the National Education Association, is joining the malcontents nationwide, including governors, top school leaders and school boards....

It's about the parents.(Irving (Texas) Independent School District)(donation of laptops to grade 9-12 students)(technical literacy important for the family)
September 1, 2003... Administrators in Irving (Texas) Independent School District give laptops to all students in grades 9-12. As they consider more technology for middle school students, it's clear that parents must be part of the process. This is especially...

Every state accountable.(Inside the law: analyzing, debating and explaining the No Child Left Behind)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Every state now has new accountability plans explaining how they will meet the federal demands to make each child a proficient learner by 2014. "It's been interesting to see how differently district administrators have been responding to...

Head Start in question.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... By one vote, the House passed in July the Head Start reauthorization bill that would reshape the program to be more in line with what the White House wants, and with what many politicians and educators fear. The issue now goes to the...

Teenagers grade schools.(survey show most would get B's and C's)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... A national survey to find out how teenagers would grade their education showed that most of them would give B's and C's. Earlier this year, the Gallup organization asked teens to grade their schools, technology at school, extracurricular...

Teen ratings of school tech: students were asked: how would you rate the technology in your school?(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
September 1, 2003... Teen Ratings of School Tech Students were asked: How would you rate the technology in your school? Percent giving A's Total 28% The breakdown of those giving A's: Gender Boys 31 Girls 24 ...

Financial Band-Aids for education.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)
September 1, 2003... It was Karen Roorda's second marriage, and she and her husband-to-be wanted something special for the June wedding. It wasn't china or new bath towels. Roorda, who works at the University of California in San Francisco, and her...

Full-day K gets hot.(kindergarten programs)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Full-day K Gets Hot Parents and education policymakers appear to see more benefits from full-day kindergarten than they did 20 years ago, according to the U.S. Census Bureau figures. Student enrollment in full-day kindergarten...

Fast times at Florida high.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(graduating faster)
September 1, 2003... Will a new law allowing Florida students to graduate from high school in three years create missed opportunities or provide new ones? It depends on who you ask. Under the provision, which will help comply with a new law to shrink public...

Average teacher salary up.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Teachers are making a bit more these days, according to a survey by the American Federation of Teachers. The average teacher salary hovered around $44,000 in 2001-2002, a 2.7 percent increase over the previous year's average salary. New...

Tale of Two Schools.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... In a special PBS documentary, A Tale of Two Schools, to be aired this month, two failing schools in Mississippi and Texas will show what it takes to turn struggling programs around. Produced by Reading Rockets, a service of public...

Study: teacher prep helps reading.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(quality of teacher training related to student reading achievement)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... A recent national study found that investing in quality reading teacher preparation at the undergraduate level helps teachers effectively teach students in class and helps students learn how to read in elementary schools. Key results in...

Classroom health report hardly a breath of fresh air.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(study, Environmental Health Conditions in California's Portable Classrooms)(high formaldehyde levels and other indoor pollutants in classrooms)
September 1, 2003... Asthma, allergies and eye and throat irritation may be the least of the ills in classrooms. A California study found that a small, yet still substantial, percentage of classrooms have formaldehyde levels that may cause short-term irritant...

Edison goes private.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Edison Schools Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The nation's largest for-profit schools manager is buying back the company from shareholders and taking it private. Chris Whittle, chief executive officer and founder of Edison Schools, will buy the schools firm for $174 million using a...

Golden state shines on charters.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(California's charter schools)
September 1, 2003... Recent studies show that charter schools in California are improving student achievement at a faster rate than public schools, but have not matched overall public school performance. RAND Education, an educational policy analyst, and the...

New York schools sued over pregnancy tests.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... New York City school administrators forced several eighth-graders to be tested for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases last school year after skipping school to go to a party where some students allegedly had sex, according to a...

Laptops not so free.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Michigan wireless plan)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Michigan's plan to provide wireless tools to 132,000 sixth graders will cost school districts $25 per pupil. The Freedom to Learn program, kicking off in January, allows schools to lease laptops or other wireless devices, such as Palm...

Disappearing D's.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(dropping D grades)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Dropping the "D" grade shows signs of paying off in Frederick, Md. A year after Frederick County School District eliminated the D in its high schools, preliminary data from one semester shows that many students who formerly got D's were getting...

Bush joins push for bible club.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(George W. Bush supports Child Evangelism Fellowship)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The Bush administration joined with a national religious group in late June to force Maryland's Montgomery County schools to put recruitment fliers for an after-school Bible club in children's backpacks. Child Evangelism Fellowship of...

Rules for prayers.(Update: education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(schools that prohibit outside religious activity endanger federal funding)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... For the first time, schools that prohibit students from praying outside the classroom or stop teachers from holding religious meetings among themselves could lose federal money, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Teachers may not...

Texas trailblazer: this school chief may not have parted the Red Sea, but he's helped make education miracles happen.(Administrator profile: Mike Moses, Dallas independent school district)(Biography)
September 1, 2003... You might say that Mike Moses is a leader of Biblical proportions. He runs a really big school district--12th largest in the U.S.--oversees a super-sized $1.2 billion budget and makes $325,000 a year, by many accounts more than any other...

Plug in, turn on, win out: how a district went from nearly no-tech to attention-grabbing high-tech in five years.(District profile: Irving (Texas) Independent School District)
September 1, 2003... Located smack-dab between Dallas and Fort Worth, Irving Independent School District has experienced technology acceleration at its finest. Its ambitious technology upgrade plan has put Dell laptops into the hands of every student mid sparked...

Leader to leader: inspiration for the year ahead.
September 1, 2003... Back-to-school time can be exciting, hectic and exhausting. Effective leaders take time to reflect and learn from others. Editor-at-Large Gary Stager has asked many of America's top education thinkers to share their advice for the year ahead....

Bringing home the bacon: the going rate for Grade-A education leaders, the latest controversial contract points and more.(3rd Annual Salary Report)
September 1, 2003... Even an inexperienced sleuth who happened upon the village of Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., could easily do it. The challenge: uncover the total compensation of the school district's leader. "What you see is what I get," says man-in-charge Sidney A....

Distance learning grows up: false enthusiasm aside, virtual schools are starting to make an impact across the country.
September 1, 2003... It's blind to race, sex and even acne. And it's a place where popular and unpopular, gifted and at-risk, wealthy and poor take courses together as welt as share stories and relate to each other's woes and wonders. It's distance education,...

The cybrarians are coming: need to join technology with instruction? Leave it to your in-house Cyber Librarian.
September 1, 2003... We called him "Swampy" Hayes, or the "Swamp Fox," after Frances Marion, the Revolutionary War hero whose spying tricks infuriated the British. At my high school in a Chicago suburb, Mr. Hayes, the head librarian, apparently wanted us to...

Anaheim's test drive: what do teachers need to create a tech-forward classroom? This district found an unusual way to make sure the teachers' demands are met.(Special focus: presentation systems)
September 1, 2003... Anaheim Union High School District had 1,200 classrooms to renovate, 200 new to build, and nearly $300 million to do it. Building classrooms that would house the evolution of education and technology over the next 30 years proved the hardest...

Should you choose a DLP or LCD projector?
September 1, 2003... Decisions, decisions. Windows or Macintosh computers? Inkjet or laser printers? DLP or LCD projectors? While it's fairly simple to choose PCs and printers, the projector question can be a stumper. That's because there are advantages and...

Creating a media-rich classroom.(Presentation News)
September 1, 2003... In the past, trying to put together different pieces of classroom technology was a headache for educators and technology administrators. This often caused them to keep equipment separate rather than suffer through integration and compatibility...

Indianapolis' HDTV experiment.(Presentation News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... If you've ever looked longingly at a high-definition television in an electronics store, the nagging question in your mind is probably, "Does anybody really own one of these?" Well, you might be surprised to find out that there's a bunch of...

MediaPOINTE SystemOne: Advanced Media Design.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.mediapointe.com, Hardware, $59,990 This interactive communication and presentation system may be useful to administrators and educators. The system features the MediaPOINTE operating platform and on-screen graphical user interface. Set...

PB2220: BenQ.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.BenQ.com, Hardware, $2,995 This digital projector features a 2,000:1 contrast ratio at 1,700 ANSI lumens and 85 percent uniformity. It is just over 2", weighs 3.8 lbs., and it can support 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios with X6A resolution....

DPS1, DPS2, DPS3: Dukane.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.dukane.com, Hardware, $2,499-$3,499 Schools planning to install data/video projectors can now access these updated models added to the Dukane Projection System, which provides the components needed for the installation of a data/video...

SMART Board 8.0: Smart Technologies.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.smarttech.com, Software, Free download to customers/ships with all SMART Board interactive whiteboards and Sympodium interactive lecterns Educators using both Macintosh- and Windows-based computers can now use file latest version of...

LC-X4A: Eiki.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.eiki.com, Hardware, $16,995 This three-panel LCD projector offers 5,200 ANSI Lumens brightness for screens up to 40 feet wide. The projector includes modular inputs, for rapid reconfiguration, mad features a powered lens shift that...

LV-7555: Canon.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.usa.canon.com, Hardware, $7,999 Designed for large venues such as auditoriums, this multimedia projector features 4,600 ANSI lumens brightness, a 900:1 contrast ratio, and an Integrated Circuit. Features of the IC include color...

VBXcast: Vbrick Systems.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.vbrick.com, Hardware, $4,995 This portable MPEG-4 video appliance lets users plug in and broadcast video across networks. It connects to standard video devices such as a video camera, DVD player or VCR, and it compresses the video and...

Walk-and-Talk Presentation Series: Polyvision.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.polyvision.com, Hardware, $1,899-$2,699 This electronic whiteboard features a remote control that lets educators roam away from the board while presenting, eliminating the need for icon strips down the side of the board or special pen...

InfonetTV 2.0: Matrox.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.matrox.com, Software, $5,495 Schools can use the latest version of this integrated information delivery system to communicate their messages via cable channels, closed-circuit television, the Internet or an intranet. The system allows...

TLP-S30U: Toshiba.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.csd.toshiba.com, Hardware, $1,199 This LCD projector features 1,400 ANSI lumens, 400:1 contrast ratio, SVG resolution and automatic keystone correction. The five lb. projector is compatible with Toshiba's notebooks and Pocket PCs, and...

StarBoard F-75 whiteboard: Hitachi.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.hitachi-soft.com, Hardware, $1,699 and up Teachers can run computer applications and add freehand annotations to displayed graphics using this 75" interactive communication system. The system, used with its associated software, features...

Mediasite LiveRL Capture Station: Sonic Foundry.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.sonicfoundry.com, Hardware, $21,950 This system was developed as part of Mediasite 3.0, an updated Web presentation system. Designed as a rack-mount or cart-based system, it lets users integrate content in real time from a variety of...

PJ250: Viewsonic.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.viewsonic.com, Hardware, $2,499 This palm-sized, 2.2 lb. projector features a 2,000:1 contrast ratio and 1,000 lumens. In addition, it features XGA resolution, digital keystone correction, picture-in-picture and enhanced video inputs...

SDP-6500: Samsung.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.samsung.com, Hardware, $4,750 This digital document camera features 1.5 million pixel resolution through its 1/3-inch Progressive Scan CCD and is compatible with PC and Macintosh computers. The camera features SXGA (1,280 x 1024) pixel...

TH-42PHD6UY HD:.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.panasonic.com, Hardware, $6,995 This 42" high definition plasma display panel features a five-facet, grid-cell structure panel that improves the light-emitting balance of primary image-creating colors, it also features a...

StarTablet T-18SX: Hitachi.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.hitachi-softcom, Hardware, $2,995 This 18" TFT interactive communication system features SXGA quality graphics. Used with its associate software, it lets presenters run and annotate computer applications while simultaneously displaying...

DT20: NEC.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.necsam.com, Hardware, $6,195 This integrated five-in-one projector projects data from computer sources, video, documents, transparencies and 3-D objects from one integrated source. The 16 lb. projector features a 2,800 lumens and...

DP8200x: Infocus.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.infocus.com/education, Hardware, $4,799 This 13 lb. projector features a 3,000 lumens and three bayonet user-replaceable lenses, and it projects images from multiple sources such as PDAs, comauters and DVD players. The projector also...

CT-L2000: Panasonic.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.panasonic.com, Hardware, $1,295 This 20" LCD monitor/receiver features 4:3 aspect ratio, SVGA resolution, 400:1 contrast ratio, 160-degree viewing range and a brightness of 450cd/m. It weighs 15.9 lbs., and it features...

BenQ Q150: BenQ.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.benq.com, Hardware, $995 This 15-inch, HDTV compatible LCD TV features a built-in TV tuner, 3-D dynamic edge filtering system, built-in subwoofer and an optional wireless kit ($199). The TV can be used as a computer monitor or with a...

GT-6000R: NEC.(Presentation Products)
September 1, 2003... www.necsam.com.com, Hardware, $22,995 This projector for rear screen applications features a lamp life of up to 9000 hours, and 2000 ANSI lumens with both lamps or 1000 ANSI lumens with one lamp. It projects 4:3 data on a 16:9 screen...

Students get to the heart of the matter.(Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies)(high school students observe health care careers)
September 1, 2003... In Oklahoma City, 25 Putnam City High School students escorted their health science teacher, Larry Winnard, to the hospital. Necessary, yes. Emergency, no. Because of his family history of heart disease, the 51-year-old was prompted by his...

More cities celebrating same book.("one book" projects across the country)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... "One book" projects, initiated by the Washington Center for the Book in 1998, are spreading fast. The projects feature multiple events, such as meet-the-author readings, reenactments and theme parties, around a single book selection. "It...

Math and Science teachers: 'I'll do it my way'.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Teachers have a strong sense of autonomy in carrying out lessons. That's one major finding of file recent report, Looking Inside the Classroom: A Study of K-12 Mathematics and Science Education in the United States. While the content of...

California students to study courage of Hmong.(curriculum to include role of Hmong and Iu Mien tribesmen in the Vietnam war)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... It's a forgotten Vietnam War story. More than 40,000 Hmong and Iu Mien tribesmen helped the CIA fight Communists in Southeast Asia. At one point, though vastly outnumbered, the tribesmen blocked the Ho Chi Minh Trail and rescued more than 100...

Curriculum hot spots on the Web: make the Web work for you. Share our list of the best curriculum Web sites throughout your district. The updated hot list is available online at www.districtadministration.com/hotlist.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... It's probably not surprising that a recent Pew report found that eight of 10 students from 10 to 17 use the Internet to help with their schoolwork. What is surprising is that these same students say their teachers do not use online resources in...

Fixing district report cards: Web sites are tracking your district data--often inaccurately.(The Online Edge)
September 1, 2003... Imagine having a fast and inexpensive way to reach many people with a great advertisement of what your district has accomplished. Obviously, that's the case with your school district's Web site. Norfolk, Va., school superintendent John O....

Embrace the back row: the start of the school year is a time to reflect on our past practice and relationships with students.(Speaking Out)
September 1, 2003... I once watched a professional dancer and choreographer lead a dance class for middle school girls. As the complexity of the dance steps increased so did the restlessness and inattention of the girls farthest from their instructor. During a...

Can you override your internet filter? A close examination of the Supreme Court decision has implications for school librarians nationwide.(Public Opinion)
September 1, 2003... The recent Supreme Court decision in the American Library Association case challenging the Children's Internet Protection Act has significant implications related to how filtering software is implemented in schools. While at first glance,...

Quality teaching: reaching your goals.(Research corner: essentials on education data and analysis from research authority AEL)
September 1, 2003... Teaching quality is a hot topic these days because research shows that teachers have a greater influence on student academic growth than any other factor, including class size, ethnicity, location or poverty. Several researchers have reached...

TI's wireless learning system.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... This wireless classroom learning system allows teachers to assess student comprehension levels in real-time and adjust their instruction to address individual student needs. TI-Navigator also aims to promote open discussion and interest and...

What Every Superintendent and Principal Needs to Know: School Leadership for the Real World: Education Communication Unlimited.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... www.superintendents-and-principals.org, Book, $24.95 Three Illinois superintendents share advice and good humor Oil what works and what doesn't ill education leadership. Topics range from assessment issues and building trust to getting...

Odyssey Manager 6.0: CompassLearning.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... www.compasslearning.com, Software, $50 per student The updated version of this learning and management software offers features to help teachers with reporting mandates of standards. The software features learning and management tools such...

ReadyMade curriculum activities: Intellitools.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... www.intellitools.com, Software, $49.95-$199.95 Built with IntelliTools Classroom Tools, these supplemental activities aim to help students develop literacy, math, social studies and science skills. Teachers can modify activities for...

Mathematica 5: Wolfram Research.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... www.wolfram.com, Software, Student version $139.95 This new version of Mathematica technical computing software was designed to outperform dedicated numerical systems in raw computational speed. Previously, similar functionality was...

Through new eyes: examining the culture of your School: National Education Service.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... www.nesonline.com, Video, $174.95 This 35-minute VHS video for educators examines school culture via the experiences of a young boy. Created by Richard DuFour, it places the student in two different schools and ask viewers to relate to his...

Powering Achievement: school library media programs make a difference: the evidence: Hi Willow Research & Publishing.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... www.lmcsource.com, Book, $27 Authors Keith Curry Lance and David V. Loertscher summarize 10 state academic achievement studies and include presentations for facilitators. The emphasis is on commitments that districts and library media...

PB7220: BenQ.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... www.BenQ.com, Hardware, $3,695 This digital projector includes the DLP DDR chip set, proprietary video-processing technology that promises high-contrast digital images that won't fade or degrade over time. It features XGA resolution, and...

AlcoholEdu College-Bound Program: Outside the Classroom.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... www.outsidetheclassroom.com, Software, $995-$10,000, depending on enrollment This online prevention program lead students through decision-making exercises that emulate real-life situations they may experience at college High schools are...

Mobile Multimedia Teachers Workstation: WatCOM-ICR LLC.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... www.discoverycart.com, Hardware, $879/cart including security package This workstation can be shared among different grade levels, with teachers attaching various equipment, of any blared, as needed. Equipment might include a data...

The Administrative Observer Version 3.5: Preferred Educational Software.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... www.pes-sports.com, Software, Palm and Pocket PC handheld version $99.95 ($295 Windows desktop version required for use) Staff evaluations and observations can be done on a Pocket PC with the latest version of this software,, which is also...

i-know Progress: CTB/McGraw-Hill.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... www.mheducation.com, Software, $4 per student/year I-know Progress is a Web-based longitudinal student achievement tracking system that 'allows data to be aggregated mid disaggregated to meet the federal adequate yearly progress...

Inspiration 7.5: Inspiration Software.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... www.inspiration.com, Software, $59/single unit; $310/5 computer licenses-S895/20 computer licenses Updates to this visual leaning software offer support for writing, including one-click transfer to Microsoft Word or AppleWorks. A new...

Gyration Ultra Professional Mouse: Gyration.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... www.gyration.com, Hardware, $179 New to the education market, this optical mouse allows teachers and lecturers to move around the room freely as they present to their students. The mouse features a 100-foot range, has no line-of-sight...

Pinpoint: Sagebrush Corp.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... www.sagebrushcorp.com, Software, $1.65 per student grade 3 and up/first year; $0.33 per student hereafter/year (with capital funds) Students can use this integrated research tool to locate the best available resources from multiple sources,...

PT-L735NTU: Panasonic.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... www.panasonic.com, Hardware, $5,799 This portable Aria projector features three 0.9" LCD panels with Micro Lens Array with a 200W UHM lamp for a 2,600 lumens and 90 percent image uniformity. Users insert an SD Memory card and use the...

E-mail and calendaring system: TeachingNetwork Corp.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... www.teachingnetwork.com, Internet, Free Schools, administrators, teachers, students and parents can register for this new Web-based e-mail and calendaring system at no charge. Schools that register receive a TeachingNetwork.com address and...

Inspiration in Science and Inspiration in Language Arts: Inspiration Software.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... www.inspiration. Com, Books, $39.95 each These two new lesson plan hooks offer teachers resources for integrating Inspiration and Kidspiration into classroom instruction. Inspiration in Science includes lesson plans for building concept...

The CD workshop: PowerPoint 2000 for Administrators: ISTE.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... www.iste.org, Software, $49.95 Learning to use PowerPoint for daily tasks can be daunting. This CD was created to equip busy administrators with the knowledge and skills required to make powerful, informative presentations to school boards,...

WebEvent View: WebEvent.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... www.webevent.com, Internet, District license $10,000 (500 to 1,000 users) and up This universal Web-based calendaring platform integrates public, group and personal calendars and schedules. The tool can be used to help increase event...

By the numbers.(education statistics)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
September 1, 2003... Student Enrollment Projections Number of K-12 students in the U.S. 2001-2002 178,500 2002-2003 378,000 2003-2004 571,200 2004-2005 1,092,000 Note: Table made from bar graph. Source: The Peak Group ...