Tech and Learning 2011-07S370

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techlearning.com

I D E A S A N D T O O L S F O R E D T E C H L E A D E R S | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | $ 6

VOLUME 31

NUMBER 12

4 The best in asset management software4 Put to the test: Latest product reviews

WHATS NEWSUMMER SPECIALS

MoneyAll aboutthe

4Where it wentThe latest on funding

4How to get itBest grant-writing strategies

4How to save itUsing renewable energiesto teach and conserve

S P E C I A L I S S U E


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.

s really the heart o the writing

This is where you are able tod tighten your narrative into ang proposal. A common saying

writers is that writing is rewriting.no good writing, only good re-Great writers do this instinctively.

est o us, we need to practice.

head.

give you the opportunity toThere is nothing like the luxuryear the end o the grant writingSleep on it. Wait two days to

e editing process. Going at thisear mind will help you find whatd what doesnt work in your

. What seemed logical at thewriting will now stand out. As

n to edit, remember that thisme to cut, not add. Most o uswordy in our writing. Use this

et to the heart o what youg to say. Sure you will need toord here and there, but or the

t you should be trying to be asas possible.

go it alone.

posal will no doubt have been

ocessed, so take advantage ong and grammar checkinges. Make sure that the finished

d appearance have numberedeadings, and clean margins.u have simplified, spell-checked

erally cleaned up the final look,e document with colleagues

or their insights and reactions.rly ask or their comments about

nd content.

1 The National High SchoolJournalism Teacher o the YearProgram, sponsored by DowJones Newspaper Fund Inc.www.newsund.org/uploads/2011ITOYorm.pd

OngoingDonorsChoose.org connectsteachers who have approvedunding requests that meeteligibility requirements withwilling donors.www.donorschoose.org

The Stuart Foundations ocuson eductation includes inormedpublic policy, exemplary districtsand systems o schools, dynamicleadership, excellent teaching andengaged youth. Grants are madeto groups, not individuals.www.stuartoundation.org

Beyond Words: The DollarGeneral School Library RelieProgram, administered by theAmerican Association o SchoolLibrarians (AASL), is sponsoring aschool library disaster relie undor public school libraries in thestates served by Dollar General.www.dollargeneral.com

1 Toshiba Small Grants Program(or K5)www.toshiba.com/ta/

14 Lowes Toolbox or Education*www.toolboxoreducation.com

15 Shell Science Teaching Awardwww.nsta.org/about/awards.aspx

NEA Foundation Sponsored Grants Student Achievement GrantsLearning & Leadership Grantswww.nfie.org

22 Scholastic Library PublishingNational Library Week Grant*www.ala.org

1 American Honda Foundation Granthttp://corporate.honda.com/america/

Toshiba Large Grants(Grades 612, more than $5,000)www.toshiba.com/ta/

OngoingToshiba America Foundationaccepts Grade 612 applicationsor $5,000 or less on a rolling basis.www.toshiba.com/ta/

Digital Wish is dedicated tohelping schools gain technologyaccess across all subject areaswith grants awarded every month.www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/grant_awards

The Wells Fargo Foundationsupports many k-12 initiativesin specific states the companyserves.www.wellsargo.com/donations

Olympus America/Tool FactoryPodcasting Contest

www.toolactory.com/olympus_contest/


The International Reading

Association Regie RoutmanTeacher Recognition Grant*www.reading.org

15 The International ReadingAssociation Regie RoutmanTeacher Recognition Grant*www.reading.org

The International Reading Awards Eleanor M. Johnson Elementary

Teacher AwardIRA Award or Technology

and Readingwww.reading.org

30 NSTA Awards Vernier Technology Awards Sylvia Shugrue Award or

Elementary School Teachers Robert H. Carleton Award or

National Leadership in the Field oScience Education

DCAT Making aDiference Award

The Delta Education/Frey-Neo/CPO Science Awards orExcellence in Inquiry-basedScience Teaching

Maitland P. Simmons MemorialAward or New Teachers

Distinguished Teaching Awards Ron Mardigian Memorial

Biotechnology Explorer Award Wendell G. Mohling Outstanding

Aerospace Educator Award Zula InternationalNSTA Early

Science Educator Awards www.nsta.org/about/awards.aspx

30 Captain Planet Foundation Grantswww.captainplanetdn.org

Northrop Grumman Corp. awardsgrants that address education

related initiatives that promotethe advancement o science,technology, engineering and mathon a national level.www.northropgrumman.com(Click on Corporate Responsibility,then Corporate Citizenship, thenEducation Outreach)

OngoingNSPIRES is the NASA Solicitationand Proposal Integrated Reviewand Evaluation System.http://nspires.nasaprs.com

Verizon Foundation Grantshttp://oundation.verizon.com

Do Something Grants orCommunity Building, Healthand the Environmentwww.dosomething.org/grants

Intel Community Grants(awarded quarterly in geographieswhere Intel has a presence)www.intel.com/community/grant.htm

1 SeaWorld & Busch GardensEnvironmental Excellence Awardswww.seaworld.org

SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment

Environmental Educator o the Yeawww.nsta.org/about/awards.aspx

Pitsco/Hearlihy/FTE Grant Maley /FTEE Technology and

Engineering Teacher Scholarship www.iteea.org

3M ProessionalDevelopment Grant

www.ala.org

Association or Library Serviceto Children (ALSC) AwardsMaureen Hayes

Author/Illustrator Award BWI Summer Reading

Program Grant Bookapalooza ProgramPenguin Young Readers

Group AwardDistinguished Service Awardwww.ala.org

National Schools o CharacterProgram, sponsored by theCharacter Education*www.character.org


ke Every Grant

oney Maker

g Tips rom

& Learning

Sponsored by

*2011 deadline. Please check Web site or 2012 deadline.

Learn more about the Connected Classroom atDell.com/ClassroomConnections .

Education Grants 2011 Deadlines

Connected Classroom and Professional Learning.

Dells Connected Classroom pairs personal computers, powered byIntel, and other instructional devices with dynamic digital contenttailored to each students learning style. Proessional learning serviceshelp instructors and administrators explore how to efectivelyintegrate technology into daily teaching practices, heighteningproductivity, creativity, collaboration and communication.

A world of

connections,

centered around

each student.

July August September October November December

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Sponsored by

*2011 deadline. Please check Web site or 2012 deadline.

Learn more about Connected Inrastructure atDell.com/SchoolInfrastructure.

Connected Infrastructure.

Dells Connected Inrastructure, with servers powered by

Intel processors, helps deliver a technology rameworkthat is open, capable, and afordable. Ater a holisticassessment o the existing inrastructure and IT managementpractices, experienced educational consultants help schoolssimpliy technology management and guide technologyinvestments, maximizing eciency and minimizing costs.

A technology

framework that

helps drive your

educational

goals.

18 The International ReadingAssociation Teacher asResearcher Grants*

www.reading.org

31 Toyota Family LiteracyTeacher o the Year*www.amlit.org

OngoingDonorsChoose.org connectsteachers who have approvedunding requests that meet eligibilityrequirements withwilling donors.www.donorschoose.org

The Stuart Foundations ocuson eductation includes inormedpublic policy, exemplary districtsand systems o schools, dynamicleadership, excellent teachingand engaged youth. Grants aremade to groups, not individuals.www.stuartoundation.orgBeyond Words: The DollarGeneral School Library RelieProgram, administered by theAmerican Association o SchoolLibrarians (AASL), is sponsoring aschool library disaster relie und orpublic school libraries in the states

served by Dollar General.www.dollargeneral.com

22 Lemelson-MIT ProgramsInvenTeam Grants*http://web.mit.edu/inventeams

30 ING Unsung Heroes Awards*www.ing.com/us/unsungheroes

Northrop Grumman Corp. awardsgrants that address educationrelated initiatives that promotethe advancement o science,technology, engineering andmath on a national level.www.northropgrumman.com,(Click on Corporate Responsibility,then Corporate Citizenship, thenEducation Outreach)

OngoingToshiba America Foundation acceptsGrade 612 applications or $5,000 orless on a rolling basis.www.toshiba.com/ta/

Digital Wish is dedicated tohelping schools gain technology accessacross all subject areaswith grants awarded every month.www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/grant_awards

The Wells Fargo Foundation supportsmany k-12 initiatives

in specific states the company serves.www.wellsargo.com/donations

1 American Honda FoundationGranthttp://corporate.honda.com/

america/

NEA FoundationStudent Achievement Grants

Learning & Leadership Grantswww.nfie.org

Toshiba Large Grants(Grades 612, more than $5,000)www.toshiba.com/ta/

2 Toshiba and the NationalScience Teachers AssociationsExploraVision competition*www.exploravision.org

7 Innovative Reading Grant*www.ala.org

16 Lowes Toolbox or Education*www.toolboxoreducation.com

24 Intel Schools o Distinction*www.intel.com/education/schoolsodistinction


13 Sanord N. McDonnell Awardor Lietime Achievement inCharacter Education*www.character.org

18 Dollar General Back to SchoolLiteracy Grants*www.dollargeneral.com(Serving Others link)

18 Dollar General YouthLiteracy Grants*www.dollargeneral.com(Serving Others link)

30 Target Local Store Grantswww.target.com(community link)

OngoingNSPIRES is the NASA Solicitationand Proposal Integrated Reviewand Evaluation System.http://nspires.nasaprs.com

Verizon Foundation Grantshttp://oundation.verizon.com

Do Something Grants or

Community Building, Healthand the Environmentwww.dosomething.org/grants

1 National Endowment or theHumanities Summer Seminars &Institutes Program*

www.neh.govInternational Society orTechnology in Education (ISTE)Outstanding Young

Educator Award*

Kay L. Bitter Vision Award orExcellence in Technology-BasedPre-K-2 Education*

Outstanding Teacher/LeaderAwards*

Sylvia Charp Award or DistrictInnovation in Technology*

ISTE Public Policy Advocate othe Year Award* www.iste.org

ISTE SIGMS TechnologyInnovation Award*

www.iste.org

ISTE/SIGOL OnlineLearning Award*www.globalschoolnet.org

3 Toyota TAPESTRY Grants*www.nsta.org/pd/tapestry

15 Ezra Jack Keats FoundationMini-Grants

www.ezra-jack-keats.org(click on Programs)


The Tech Awards program*www.techawards.org

1 The International ReadingAssociation Travel Grantsor Educators

www.reading.orgLearning & Leadership Grants,sponsored by the NEA Foundationwww.nie.org

Student Achievement Grants,sponsored by the NEA Foundationwww.nie.org

NWAs Sol HirschEducation Fund Grants*www.nwas.org/grants/solhirsch.php

15Gale/Library Media ConnectionTEAMS Award*www.galeschools.com/TEAMS

Invent America! Student Contestwww.inventamerica.org

30Captain Planet Foundation Grantswww.captainplanetdn.org

OngoingIntel Community Grants(awarded quarterly in geographieswhere Intel has a presence)www.intel.com/community/grant.htm

Education Grants 2012 Deadlines

sentences and short paragraphssier to read and understand.

ample, instead o currently, trynstead o initiate, start. Using

words and short sentencesyour writing crisp and compact.

the active voice over the passive

makes or a stronger proposal.verbs add energy and the active

reveals who is speaking and

action. The passive voice hidess speaking and comes of as

ice o an institution speaking.

vague words and phrasings;d go or accurate and exact.

oesnt mean that you cut allives and adverbs, it means that

arpen them to make your point.

educational jargon and thebuzzwords. Use a down-

th word that says the sameas the latest ad word. For

ple, instead o interacingour colleagues, perhaps you

meet and discuss. Clear and

language always wins out overwinded and heavy-handed.

tal flaw o ununded grantsals is the use o generalities.

ecific. Dont leave the grant

r guessing at what you mean.me to synthesize what youo say and express it confidently

larative sentences.

writing is not lawyer writing.

like you talk. Dont worry inds too inormal. You canthe tone in a rewrite.

p it Short,

ct, Specific

Buzzfree

ry Carnow rom

& Learning

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8 Editors Desk

Come and Get It

6 News & Trends

Next Big Thing: Casioseco-friendly data projectors

Top 10 Web stories

Top Tweets

Blog Bits

Finding Free Stuff

Chicks Dig STEM

Top 10 Sites for Creating Outlines

Families Influence Media Choices

Grant-Writing Strategies

14 How Its Done:Its So EasyTeaching GreenBy Sascha Zuger

Schools that are combining

renewable energy with classroom

STEM curriculum activities.

T E C H & L E A R N I N G | 3

J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | V O L . 3 1 N O . 1 2

FEATURESAward-Winning Grant StrategiesBy James Careless

As school budgets shrink, grants are an increasing

important way to support core activities, and to pioneer

innovative new approaches to education. Here are

strategies that won significant grants for these schools.

PRODUCTSPut to the Test: T&L editors take somenew products for a test drive.

18 Brainchild Kineo

20 Apperson DataLink 4 software

22 Epson BrightLink Solo

Control RoomWouldnt it be great to know how many laptops are being

used at the school down the street? Or how many of those

are due for an antivirus upgrade? Asset-management tools let

IT directors find out these things, and a whole lot more, from

the comfort of their desk chairs.

Whats NewAtomic Epson BrightLink training * Bretford- Edu 2.0

* DYMO/Mimio STEM course images * HP Smart Clients

* Kajeet for Education * NBC Learn CaptionSync

* PCI Education LIFT * and more

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

40 18

42

46

SPECIAL REPORT

Fed Funding Update:

Where Did the Money Go?BEGINS ON PAGE 25

PADMINI JAMBULAPATI PROVIDES A

COMPREHENSIVE REPORT OF THE SCHOOL

IMPROVEMENT GRANT, OR SIG, PROGRAMTHE

LARGEST POT OF FEDERAL FUNDS EVER AIMED

AT IMPROVING A DISCRETE SET OF THE WORST-

PERFORMING SCHOOLS.

Tech & Learning (ISSN-1053-6728)(USPS 695-590) is published monthly byNewBay Media, LLC 28 East 28th Street, 12th Floor,New York, NY 10016

POSTMASTER: Send address changes toTech & Learning, PO Box 8746, Lowell, MA 01853

Periodicals Postage Paid at New York, NY,and additional mailing offices.

Copyright 2011 NewBay Media, LLCAll Rights Reserved.

6 14 28 40

contents


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editors desk

June was a great month to be a geek.First, there was the Infocomm11 tradeshow

held in Orlando. The show hosted more

than 1,000 manufacturers who sported

cutting-edge display and AV technologies.

For schools, there were large-scale IWBs

with pressure-sensitive touchscreens; short

throw projectors with astounding image quality; simulated

scenarios where student handhelds and smartphones sync to

classroom management systems, then splash their projects

on brilliant LED flat-panel displays. And then there is ISTE in

Philly, where the technology may be a bit more mundane, but

the applications are exciting all the same.

One discussion that often gets lost amongst the shiny boxes

and pretty pixels at these exhibitions is how educational

institutions can pay for all this stuff. Thats why we dedicate

every July issue to all things money. Our very own grant guru

Gary Carnow provides strategies for putting together the

perfect grant proposal. Contributor James Careless looks atbig-picture strategies on how schools and districts can fund

their future. And Sascha Zuger discovers how schools can

save money by using alternative energies and develop STEM

curricula at the same time.

Also, be sure to read our excerpt from the independent

think tank Education Sectors Portrait of School Improvement

Grantees. The report states that 843 schools from 49 states and

the District of Columbia have been selected as SIG grantees,

and the combined grants are expected to fund the teaching of

594,117 students. I expect you find what they got and how they

used it to be quite interesting.

COME AND GET IT

Kevin Hogan

Editorial Director

N THE WEB

www.techlearning.com

4 | TECH & LEARNING

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Custom Editorial Director: Gwen Solomon [email protected]

SchoolCIO Editor: Ellen Ullman [email protected]

ADVISORS

David Warlick, Ryan Bretag, Patrick Higgins, David Andrade,Dean Shareski, Scott Meech, Kim Cofino, Darren Draper,Terry Freedman, Cheryl Oakes, Bob Sprankle, Lisa Thumann,Jen Wagner, Lisa Nielsen, Ben Grey, Michael Gorman, DanielRezac, Henry Thiele, zge Karaoglu, Kevin Jarrett, Kyle Pace,Steven W. Anderson, Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano

TECHLEARNING.COM

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SOLVED.

2011CDWGovernmentLLC. CDW,CDWG andPEOPLEWHOGET ITaretrademarksof CDWLLC.

Yourdatais about tooutgrowyourschools datacenter.Noneed topanic.Wehaveover25years

ofexperiencehandlingthis verything.FromHPstorageandserverstoVMwaresoftware,well

help find theproductstooptimizeyourenvironmentandprepareyouforgrowth.Theendresult?Studentsandteachersgeta betterexperience.Andyou survivedatas formativeyears.

Avoid the painsofgrowingat CDWG.com/datacenter

A 10TB GROWTH SPURT.


8/54

newsktrends by T&L editors

Light Without LampsCasios new family of lamp-free eco-friendly data projectors will be

a welcome addition to tight school budgets. Equipped with Casios

Laser & LED Hybrid Light Source, the family of 12 new projectors

features projection output of up to 3,500 lumens. The rollout of three

new categories of projectorsSignature, PRO, and Short-Throwwill

start this summer and offer features such as 3-D capability, brightness

control, and interactive whiteboard and MobiShow function.

www.casio.com

nextbigthing

6 | TECH & LEARNING


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Worlds 1st WIRELESS

Document Camera!

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8 | TECH & LEARNING

1 Bodies of KnowledgeFrom techlearning.coms Site of the Day, sponsored by

netTrekker, this site comes from the British Library, which

presents in it a series of illustrated essays on the different

ways that the human body has been represented in art and

science through history.

2 Generation Z: Key to Driving Change?Lisa Nielsen shares career advice from Penelope

Trunk, who predicts that Generation Z, born between

1995 and 2010, will change education.

3 Worlds Simplest Online Safety PolicyLisa Nielsen and Tom Whitby argue that the simplest

policy is an open policy.

4 How the iPad Can HelpLearning-Disabled StudentsSpecial-needs teacher Vicki Windman posts examples

of the iPads numerous apps for helping learning-

disabled students compensate for their particular

disabilities.

5 iPad Apps to Meet IEP GoalsHere Vicki Windman explains how iPads can be used

to meet the requirements of an Individual Education

Program (IEP).

6 12 Flip Camera Alternatives

Now that Cisco has announced that it is discontinuingthe Flip camera, blogger Michael Gorman shares his

list of 12 low-cost video alternatives dedicated to

sustaining all those amazing classroom activities that

the Flip made possible.

7 Move Over, iPad: Here Comesthe Google ChromebookLisa Thumann reports on her test of the new

Google Chromebook.

8 Sources of Funding and FreeStuff for TeachersDavid Andrade

Grants, free resources, and more.

9 The Big 10Tech & Learning presents the 10 Most Influential

People in EdTech for 2011, as selected by our

readers and advisors.

10 Top 10 Sites for Creating OutlinesDavid Kapuler posts his top picks for Web sites

dedicated to sharpening students outlining skill

and taking it to the next level.

Follow us on Twitter (techlearning) and

Facebook (Tech&Learning Magazine) or

online at techlearning.com.

42.86%Not sure; its stilltoo early to tell.

33.33%Yes, Id like toadd 3-D to mytool bucket.

23.81%No, 3D devicesare too expensive.

T&L ASKS READERS

2-D OR 3-D?Are schools ready for 3-D?

top10WEB STORIES

TOPTWEETS

BLOGBITS

@ryanbretag: No doubt BYOD

and 1:1 should also receive atten-

tion, toward an engaging, person-

alized learning environment.

@tomwhitby: Leaders who pay

lip service to tech as a learning

tool w/o accepting and using it

personally are not leading.

@adambellow: This could be

awesome! Voice Search and

Search by Image are coming to

Google Desktop.

@CleanJourney: Leaders need 2

believe in their peopleexpect the

best/believe ur team has what it

takeslet them know often.

@pamelamaeross: Consider

leadership ability, and fit with

culture/strategy, more than

technical skill.

@aleaness: I think I will be

spending a lot of time at isteun-

plugged.comcool sessions!

Before you walk out of the room,

convince the interviewing com-

mittee that they are making

the deal of a lifetime by hiring

you, because for the price of

one teacher, they are getting

thousands of teachers. Bob

Sprankle

Im concerned that theres very

little modeling of forgiveness

when it comes to what we post

and share online. Shouldnt ourstudents and children see us

extending a little mercy and for-

giveness? Dean Shareski

Let computers do the comput-

ing! You are the ones that will

encourage and engage your stu-

dents, through your passion for

learning. Frank Pileiro

New Canaan High School is

unique in that it provides a

free-range learning environ-

mentmeaning that what is

contraband is embraced at this

school. Lisa Nielsen

See more polls at

techlearning.com.


11/54


12/54

The recent National Center for

Women & Information Technology

(NCWIT) Summit in New York was

a rewarding day of sharing ideas

and resources for connecting girls

to innovative STEM programs.

Here are some highlights of these

resources:

Botball.org: Global, national,

and regional robotics competi-

tions for grades six through 12

Getting Hands-On with Soft

Circuits: A workshop guide for creat-

ing an e-textiles program in schools.

www.media.mit.edu/~emme.

guide.pdf

Dotdiva.org: A nonprofit that

encourages high school girls to

pursue careers in computers

Mouse Squad NYC: Not just for

girls, but this youth-development

organization empowers under-

served students to provide techno-

logical support and leadership in

their schools. www.mousesquad.org

National Girls Collaborative

Project: This project allows girls to

collaborate on STEM-focused en-

deavors. Includes an online direc-

tory of programs and resources

that encourage girls to pursue ca-

reers in STEM. www.ngcproject.org

Society of Women Engineers:

Source of funding and networking

for female teachers.

outreach4change.org

FINDING FREE STUFF

CHICKS DIG STEM

newsktrends

10 | TECH & LEARNING

Sites We Like:

www.planbookedu.comPlanbook lets you keep all yourplans in the cloud.

Even with government stimulus packages and big grants,

we teachers dont see much money for our individual use.

So what do we do when the money just isnt there?

Other grants: There

are a lot of grant sources

out there. Ask grant-pro-

posal writers or teachers

who have gotten grants

for help.

Donors Choose: A

great resource for fund-

ing classroom projects.

Just sign up for an account, fill out a project proposal, and

select from a variety of ven-

dors the items you need; peo-

ple with money to donate go

to Donors Choose and select

projects to fund.

Corporate grants: Toyota,

Toshiba, Verizon, Microsoft, Best Buy, and Target have grant

programs you can apply for.

Vendor deals: Some

vendors have their

own grant programs or

special pricing or can

help you find grants

with which to buy their

products. Smart

Technologies, Epson,

Mimio, and Vernier are some of these companies.

Donations: Local businesses may be looking to donate

money, supplies, or equipmentbut you have to ask.

Do more with less: Look for cheaper or free alternatives

to the major brands.

Partner with local colleges: Sometimes they have older

equipment that they can donate to you. They may also be

able to get grants that benefit the K12 system.

Read more of David Andrades tips at techlearning.com.


13/54

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14/54

newsktrends

TECH & LEARNING

While creating an out-

line is nothing new,

there are Web sites

dedicated to honing

this skill and taking it

to the next level.

1Webspiration

Classroom:

From the creators of

Inspiration, a won-

derful graphic orga-

nizer that now permits

online collaboration

2Quicklyst: A free,

user-friendly site

for creating outlines.

Quicklyst also integrates

with a search engine

and dictionary forenhanced note taking.

3Knowcase:

Collaborate on

outlines with this easy-

to-use site, which fea-

tures a drag-and-drop

interface.

4Thinklinkr: A

real-time col-

laborative outline

creator that has a nice

built-in chat feature

with which to develop

projects

5Checkvist: A

great collab-

orative outliner that

has an abundance

of features, such as

Gmail-browser inte-

gration, mobility, and

nice import/export

features

6CRLS Outline

Maker: Takes

users through a step-

by-step process to

create an outline.

7Read Write &

Think Outline

Maker: An easy-to-use

outline creator

8Loose Stitch: A

nice, fun site for

creating collaborative

outlines that can then

be exported to a blog

or Web site

9Wisemapping:

More of a mind

mapper than purely

an outline creator, butstill a great visual site

that teaches the basic

concepts behind cre-

ating an outline

10Mindmeister:

A fun site for

real-time collaboration

that is ideal for brain-

storming and creat-

ing mind maps and

outlines

David Kapuler is an

educational consultant

with more than 10

years of experience

working in the K12

environment. For

more information

about his work, con-

tact him at dkapuler@

gmail.com and read

his blog at cyber-kap.

blogspot.com.

FAMILIES

INFLUENCE

MEDIA

CHOICESThe Joan Ganz Cooney

Center at Sesame

Workshop has released

the report Families

Matter: Designing Media

for a Digital Age, which

documents how digital

technology is changing

the rhythm of family life.

Key findings are:

More than half the

parents surveyed are

concerned about the ef-

fect of the use of media

on their childrens health,

but fewer than one in

five parents thinks their

kid spends too much

time with digital media.

More than a third of

parents have learned

something technical

from their children.

Lack of physical exer-

cise and online privacy

are parents greatest

concerns.

Most parents believe

that video games help

foster skills that are im-

portant to childrens ac-

ademic achievement.

Rule setting peaks at

age 7. Parents with chil-

dren older than 7 are

more likely to set con-

trols on their computers.

TOP 10 SITES FORCREATING OUTLINES


15/54

FrontRow

classroom sound systems increase attentiveness and engagementY

our teachers shouldnt need to compete with a pencil for students

attention! FrontRow Classroom Sound Systems are statistically proven

to increase attentiveness and engagement, reducing the time Timmy

spends off-task.

To get 50% off your first system,

call 800-227-0735 or go to www.gofrontrow.com/TL.

Look

Familiar?

I like the FrontRow system.It allows the teachers voice

to be heard throughout the

class without the headache of

her yelling. This in turn gets

my attention more instead of

daydreaming in the middle of

class. Also, the music playing

during homework/quizzes/tests helps me focus.

Student Attention & Behavior (as reported by teachers and principals)

Improved Behavior

Improved Comprehension

Improved Attentiveness

56%

93%

96%

Source: Rosenberg, Gail, et al. Improving Classroom Acoustics (ICA): A Three-Year FM Sound Field ClassroomAmplification Study. Educational Resources Information Center. 9 Mar 2007

Actual student testimonial

Melissa Spears class*

Monmouth-Roseville High School, IL

2011 Phonic Ear Inc. Phonic Ear, FrontRow, and the names of FrontRow products are trademarks or registered trademarks of Phonic Ear Inc. in the US and other countries.

FrontRow classroom sound systems feature patented OptiVoice

technology that clarifies audio better than any other brand,

keeping Timmys pencil from going where it shouldnt.


16/54

Its So EasyTeachingGreenBy Sascha Zuger

Most students today are taught the

importance of environmental respon-

sibility before theyre taught to tie

their shoes. These lucky kids dont justturn to chapter seven to get a sense

of how alternative energy works. They

can look out their classroom window.

A BREATH OF FRESH AIRThe Wind for Schools (WfS) program

in Idaho, Colorado, Kansas, Montana,

Nebraska, and South Dakota helps

coordinate the installation of small wind

turbines at K12 schools to demonstrate

how wind energy works. Instruction

for educators in developing hands-on

STEM projects that involve the tech

helps bring lessons in alternative ener-

gy home. Kids not only perform inter-

active research but also actually assist

in the installation, in assessing the local

environment, and in designing their

schools wind-energy system.

It motivates students to apply

real-world science to learning in the

classroom, says Anne Seifert, K12

STEM coordinator at Idaho National

Laboratory in Idaho Falls.

HERE COMES THE SUNEast Side Union High School District

in San Jose, California, in cooperation

with Chevron Energy Solutions, just

completed the largest K12 solar-

energy-efficiency project in the coun-

try. Estimated to save the funding

equivalent of the jobs of 30 teachers

in the first year alone, the venture

has benefits that reach beyond the

financial. Educators are taking part

in professional-development courses

so they can create STEM-based cur-

ricula and renewable-energy experi-

ments involving PV (photovoltaic)

panels and monitors that will make

students more energy conscious.

The class projects offer an under-

standing of what solar energy is so

they can value it and see how it helps

the school help the community, says

Dan Moser, superintendent of East

Side Union. They can measure it, seeit, and experience the benefits.

FUEL CELLS ITSELFStudents on the Hamden (Conn.) High

School swim team dont revel in the

July heat. Thanks to the new UTC

Power 400-kilowatt fuel cell, the water

in their pool is just right all year long.

The electrochemical device converts

hydrogen into electricity directly, and

the sole exhaust is heat and water.

Ninety percent of the high schools

annual electricity requirements are

covered, as is heat for the school all

winter, via by-product thermal energy.

An energy cost savings of more than

$800,000 over ten years is predicted.

***************

Whichever alternative is choen,

combining renewable energy with

classroom STEM curricula adds up to

great chemistry.

newsktrends


HowItsDone


17/54As seen in District Administration May 2011

Alachua County Public Schools has been usingOnCourse Lesson Planner for several years to

speed planning and improve its curriculum, but

the Web-based product has become more valu-

able than ever now that Florida is one of 10 states eligible to

participate in the U.S. Department of Educations Race to the

Top initiative.

One of the goals of the federal program is to improve

teacher quality, and OnCourse Les-

son Planners analytics give school

administrators a set of powerful tools

to evaluate how teachers incorporatestate standards and content goals into

classroom instruction, according to

Chauncey Freeman, a district technol-

ogy coordinator.

Alachua began piloting OnCourse

Lesson Planner in the 2004-2005 school

year, and offered it districtwide the fol-

lowing year. It quickly gained favor

among teachers. Freeman, a teacher at

the time, was already putting his les-

son plans on Google Pages, so he didntexplore OnCourse until he was named

a technology coach two years later.

After training myself, I said, I

should have used this when I had the

opportunity, Freeman said.

The OnCourse Lesson Planner,

part of a suite of products developed

by New Jersey-based OnCourse Sys-

tems for Education, allows teachers to

create, share and manage lesson plans

online. Users are guided through auto-

mated steps, and the software is preloaded with state cur-

riculum standards to ensure plans are aligned with teach-

ing mandates. Teachers still have leeway for individual flair

in instruction, but OnCourse Lesson Planner encourages a

more collaborative approach and uniform goals.

Teachers were spending hours and hours developing

weekly lesson plans, Freeman said. We had the state come

in and do observations. One thing they mentioned in feed-

back was theyd like teachers to use a template.

OnCourse Lesson Planner makes templates easy to set up

and disseminate, which saves time, reduces repetitive typing

and makes sure standards are met.In addition to ensuring that all lesson plans are consis-

tent and complete, OnCourse Lesson Planner enables every

teacher to easily create and maintain a Web page for posting

assignments and class news. Those Web pages are updated

automatically from the lesson plans, and teachers can post

additional information to keep parents up-to-date.

Freeman said the district also has realized the product

is not just a boon for teachers, but for

principals, too. School administrators

can run analytics for Title I initiative

reports and pull up lesson plans forreview. They can comment any time

from any Internet-enabled computer

even to mobile devices such as a smart-

phone or iPad. That makes it easy for

principals to check firsthand how a

teachers in-class instruction aligns with

the schools curricular guidelines.

In addition, administrators can

flag selected state standards with high

importance, so teachers get a recurring

reminder to address those so-calledpower standards in their weekly les-

son plans.

Freeman said he was impressed with

OnCourses technology, but another

important selling point for the com-

pany was its approach to the education

market. It is obvious that the compa-

nys product designers have classroom

experience, he said, and that they really

strive to improve the product.

I did not expect that, Freeman

said. Its an unexpected relationship that has been awe-

some. They have an open ear toward whats working, whats

not working and what we can do to make it better.

To find out more about OnCourse Lesson Planner and the com-panys other products, visit www.OnCourseSystems.com or call1.800.899.7204, Ext. 100.

They have an open ear

toward whats working,

whats not working and what

we can do to make it better.

A powerful tool that makes curriculumdevelopment and teacher evaluation easier

OnCourse Lesson Planner helps a Florida district

meet rising education standards and content goals

systems for education


18/54

Even if you have never written a grant pro-

posal, you can succeed at it. It is a lot like

planning a lesson; you already know how

to do that. Many teachers and administra-

tors turn to grant development to embark

on innovative workwork that often has no

committed funding or that there is no time to

attempt in this era of shrinking budgets.

Writing a grant proposal is both an art and a

science. Through experimentation, science estab-

lishes truth or finds objec-

tive facts. Art uses

ideas and emotions

to communicate.

Grant-proposal writ-

ing requires you

to think through and

express your problems and your proposedsolutions to them in a clear, understandable

format. With practice and persistence, you

can become skilled in creating fundable

proposals. Here are four strategies for

keeping your eyes on the road to suc-

cess in grant-proposal writing.

WHY DO YOU NEED THIS GRANT?

You may be able to make a good case for acquiring

a particular technology of your choice. But grants fund

ideas, not stuff. Your job in creating a fundable proposal

is to express your wants and needs as creative ideas for

programs. As you develop your proposal, explain what the

kids are going to do. Describe who will benefit and how

you will know you have made a difference.

ALL IN THE ORGANIZATION

Proposals that are organized, well written, and focused have

a better chance of being funded. A well-written proposal

answers the questions of who, what, when, where, why,

and so what; be succinct, and get to the essence of what

you are trying to do. Plain language is efficient for both

the author and the reader. So much about grant-proposal

writing seems mysterious

to those just starting out,

but remember that a grant

proposal is very structured.

It is more like a newspaper

article than a short story.

Write so that you draw the

reader into your program from

your opening sentence.

TIME MANAGEMENT

Writing a grant proposal is a daunt-

ing exercise in time management.

Writing one always takes longer

than you plan on spending. Schedule

time to write. Estimate how long it

will take to coordinate grant planning

and research. And how much timewill it take you to write and pack-

age your proposal, then submit it

and follow up on it? Figure out

what you believe is a realistic time

allotment. Then double that and

get to work.

COLLABORATION

Writers of grant proposals typi-

cally find that collaboration is an

e s s e n t i a l ingredient in preparing one except when it

comes to actually writing it. A grant proposal by com-

mittee is a painful document to read. Teams do help

you brainstorm, analyze what is and what could be,

develop goals and objectives, determine an evaluation

plan, and put the action plan into monetary terms with a

best-guess budget. Teams also provide great feedback

on a first draft and help the main writer of the pro-

posal include topics that may have been overlooked and

improve areas that need work.

Read more of Gary Carnows work in the Grant Guru sec-

tion at techlearning.com.


Strategies for Writinga Grant ProposalBy Gary A. Carnow, Ed.D.

newsktrends


19/54

Less paper.More green.

LEARNING COMMUNITY

MANAGEMENT SYSTEMby Edline.> District, School and Classroom Website Solutions> Learning Management Solutions

and Classroom Tools> Email, Phone and Text Notification

GO GREEN WITH EDLINEAND PUT DOLLARS BACK INTO YOUR BUDGET

Learn more about how schools are saving money with the new Edline: 800.491.0010 | edline.com/gogreeni

4 out of 5 schools say theyare saving money on printing andpostage costs with Edline.


20/54

By MaryAnn Karre

The Kineo is a low-cost tablet designed for educational

use whose features help students focus on learning safely

and securely.

QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS

Brainchilds Kineo is a seven-inch Android 2.1 tablet

designed to support educational apps while discouraging

students from accessing undesirable sites. It features an

800-megahertz dual core processor, 256 megabytes of

RAM, and a 4,500-milliampere-hour battery that charges

quickly and can hold a charge for 12 hours, so learning is

not slowed or interrupted by bandwidth problems, freez-

ing screens, or dead batteries.

EASE OF USE

The Kineo is no lightweight tablet in any sense of the word;

it holds a long-lasting battery, and it is sturdily built to stand

up to handling by youngsters. Still, it fits easily in small

hands and features a prop that angles it conveniently on a

desktop. The touch screen is quite resistant, so the stylus

that stores in the prop door comes in handy. Along the top

are convenient ports for USB, headphone, and HDMI high-

definition video/audio out as well as an SD card slot.

Setting up the Kineo is straightforward; icons that stu-

dents can access are easily moved to the desktop withthe touch of a finger but are protected by a password so

that students cannot add or delete applications. It is a little

more difficult to add Web sites, but software that will allow

applications to be installed remotely, via USB or Wi-Fi, is

ready for release. Brainchild can even diagnose and ser-

vice Kineos remotely. The Kineo is used most effectively

with Brainchilds Achiever! Web-based assessment and

standards-based instruction program.

CREATIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY

The Kineo features a Flash Player and MP4 Movie Player,

so it plays many multimedia and video files crisply and

realistically on the small screen. Not all multimedia sites

display properly, however, and a Flash Player upgrade maybe required. The Kineos ability to sync student data quickly

and easily from the Achiever! software is this handhelds

outstanding feature.

SUITABILITY FOR USE IN A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

The Kineos features are designed to focus attention on

learning by removing the ability to send messages, add

and delete applications, or cruise the Internet randomly.

Teachers can limit the Web sites and apps that are directly

accessible, but students can still follow links to other sites.

The additional Achiever! and Mechanics programs permit

self-paced instruction and mobile learning with data-driven

instruction. The tablet connects to Brainchilds Achiever!

instruction program, which was created for the seven-inch

screen. (Note: Achiever! is included in packages of 10 or

more Kineos).

OVERALL RATINGThe Kineo is no trim and lightweight, glamorous e-reader;

it is a real worker, built for the rough treatment that

handhelds have to withstand in schools.

PRODUCTREVIEWS


Top Features4The Kineo keeps students focused

by removing the ability to text, take

pictures, or add non-approved apps.

4The Kineo is built to withstand

classroom use, and its battery will last

longer than a school day.

4With the Kineo and the companion

Achiever! software, students can learn

independently yet with guidance, and

teachers can monitor and direct learning.

44PRODUCT: KINEO

http://brainchild.com4Retail price: $299.99


21/54


22/54

By Ben Grey

Data Link 4 is test-scoring software that collects and dis-

plays results of assessments scanned with an Apperson-

enabled device.

QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS

Data Link 4 software is built for educational environments

that use scanned assessments. It allows them to scan in test

results and manipulate the data from a given assessment.

The software has a simple interface that keeps users from

becoming confused or disoriented when working with large

quantities of data.

EASE OF USE

Overall, Data Link is easy to use. Scan results are displayed

in a spreadsheet that is simple to manipulate, and many

actions can be performed on the data while in the Data

Link interface. More-advanced functions can be executed

by choosing the quick export to Excel in the application.

The software also provides a wide variety of options for

presenting the data. These include a general scorecard for

performance on a test, analysis of specific items, detailed

analysis of an item, class rosters, histograms, and a series of

reports on alignment with specific standards.

Data Link also includes an option that many teachers will

appreciate, that of exporting assessment results directly intoa grade-book program. The application shows a large list of

available grading programs, and this simple transfer will save

educators time. While the reporting tool is easy to use, this

reviewer had problems running the software with the scan-

ner, but this may have been because of a problem with the

scanners driver. [Ed.: Apperson has fixed this problem.]


While Data Link 4 doesnt break any ground in the assess-

ment-collection market, it presents many useful features in

a simple manner that will make it appealing to districts that

use scanned assessments and their results. The ability to

export the results to many current grade-book programs

is helpful also.

SUITABILITY FOR USE IN A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

Data Link is easily implemented into classrooms that admin-

ister multiple-choice tests on scan sheets. The software

has a great pricefree with any purchased Apperson scan-

nerand the ability to move the data to other programs for

manipulation is useful also. In addition, the availability of

various reports is helpful for schools working on common

assessments and evaluating these assessments effective-

ness and students progress.

44PRODUCT: DATA LINK 4

www.appersonedu.com4Retail price: Included with any Apperson scanner

OVERALL RATINGWhile Data Link 4 does not stand out with a host of

innovative features for exam analysis or data collection,

it does provide an easy-to-use tool for educators who

employ scanning-based assessments.

Top Features4Easy to use

4Has a variety of useful reports

4Exports to grade book

PRODUCTREVIEWS



23/54 Copyright 2011, AVer Information Inc. All rights reser ved.

Break away from the front of the classroom with revolutionary mobility

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Key features

Wireless up to 45 feet30 frames per second high-quality video

8 hour battery life

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For more information about the new AVerVision W30

document camera, visit tl.averusa.com


24/54

By Ben Grey

Epsons Brightlink Solo is

a wall-mounted unit that

turns any projector and

hard surface into an inter-

active unit.

QUALITY AND

EFFECTIVENESS

The product offers a cost-

effective way to turn an

existing projector and sur-

face into an interactive

setup. The unit is simple

to install, and five minutes

after the box was opened,

it was mounted on the wall

and functioning as an inter-

active device. The instal-

lation plate is unobtrusive,

and the Brightlink Solo can

be set up in various ways

to make the most use of

existing whiteboards or

any even, solid surface. Theinteractive pen is comfort-

able to use, and the func-

tion button is in a convenient and effective place on the pen.

The pen functions correctly only when the unit projects on a

hard surface, so hanging screens will not work.

EASE OF USE

It took several calibration cycles for the Brightlink Solo to

function properly, but it maintained its calibration after ini-

tial setup was complete. Once the unit is installed, it simply

connects to a computer with the included USB cord. When

the Easy Interactive driver is launched, the unit communi-

cates with the Epson pen to provide the interactive experi-

ence. The pen runs on standard AAA batteries, and Epson

includes two pens with the package. The Brightlink Solo can

also be semi-portable should a district wish to purchase a

limited number of units. Schools can purchase additional

wall plates and then transport the units from room to room.

The product easily attaches to the wall plate with a hanging

channel and is then secured with two bolts, included with

the unit, that take less than a minute to fasten.


Epson obviously intended setup to be simple, and it is. The

Brightlink Solo would benefit from a software suite that

helped build interactive lessons, such as other interactive

whiteboard-tools have. Users can access TeamBoard Draw,

but this application is more for basic annotation over presen-

tations and projections. Schools looking for a complete inter-

active-design solution can consider adding separate software.

44PRODUCT: EPSON BRIGHTLINK SOLO

www.epson.com4Retail price: $629

PRODUCTREVIEWS

OVERALL RATINGThe affordability and overall ease with which a school

can take an existing projection setup and convert

it to an interactive tool make the Brightlink Solo a

compelling option.


Top Features4Ease of installation and setup

4Potential portability

4Cost efficiency


25/54


26/54

By Dennis Lessard

With educator achievement

goals mandated by both

federal and state govern-

ments, teachers today must devote time

to their own professional development.

Online instruction offers educators a more

balanced and flexible way to achieve their

professional development goals while

working full time. Here are some facts:

Self-paced classes offer the most flex-

ibility. Educators have total control over

when and where they learn.

Most online learning offers one-on-

one support. Online classes offer indi-

vidual support via online communication

with peers and professors through email,

message boards, chat rooms and video

conferencing.Accredited online courses and degree

programs provide the same total learn-

ing experience as a traditional school set-

ting. Accredited online degree programs

are evaluated using the same rules and

accreditation agencies as their traditional

school counterparts.

Educators can take online courses

with confidence. Teachers who are reluc-

tant to participate in a traditional school

situation often excel at online learning as

they can express themselves confidently

via emails, chats, and message boards.

Online learning levels the playing

field for rural teachers. Educators living

in the smallest towns can use online class-

es to access the same quality of learning

as those in large cities.

Examples of Successful OnlineProfessional Development Programs

Whether a course or program is spon-

sored by a state government, a commer-

cial teacher-training agency, or an online

university, many organizations offer the

means for teachers to update their knowl-

edge and satisfy their professional devel-

opment requirements. Here are some

examples:

Ohio government program: The eTech

Ohio Commission provides online learning

leadership and service opportunities for

all teachers, who must meet highly quali-

fied professional development standards.

PBS TeacherLine commercial pro-

gram: PBS TeacherLine program provides

teachers with opportunities to reflect on

what theyve learned and then discuss

their experiences with experts and peers.

Teachers access courses online, read the

material, and then put the new prac-

tice or strategy to work immediately.

Afterwards, they connect with class

facilitators and other learners to dis-

cuss their experiences, successes/fail-

ures and alternatives.

University programs: Teachers can

now take full degree coursework at presti-

gious, accredited online universities such

as Northcentral University (www.ncu.

edu), National University (www.nu.edu/)

and the University of Phoenix (www.phoe-

nix.edu), among others.

When selecting an online professional

development course or degree program,

teachers should ensure that the curriculum

includes some of the following principles:

Presents information that enhances indi-

vidual, academic, and organizational skills.

Provides the latest data in teaching

methodology, leadership techniques,

and learning practices.

Upgrades teacher knowledge in specific

content areas, use of technology, practi-

cal teaching strategies and more.

Connects to a long-term, goal-oriented

personal plan for career improvement

and advancement.

In summary, online courses provide

a more flexible way of learning and give

teachers the ability to balance their teach-

ing careers with their professional devel-

opment goals and their busy lives.

Dennis Lessard, PhD, is the Dean of School

of Education at Northcentral University.

FOR MORE INFO:

www.ncu.edu, (866) 776-0331.

Online PD Balances Workand Career Advancement

for K-12 Educators



27/54

SPECIAL REPORT

SPONSORED BY

PaperCutTM

FED FUNDS:

WHERE DID

THE MONEY GO?


28/54

Challenges

Lack of consistent data

tracking student progress

toward state standards

Lack of predictive

assessment data

Jefferson County Public

Schools is Colorados largest

district with almost 86,000 stu-

dents across 155 schools. In

2006, Jeffco set out to find

an online solution to provide

consistent data and inform

instructional decisionsfrom

the district level to the individual student level.

SolutionsToday Jeffco Public Schools utilizes

Acuity and Yearly ProgressPro to

support informed decision making and

instruction, and improve student learning.

Since 2006, Jeffco has partnered with

CTB/McGraw-Hill to make these online

assessments available to all students and

teachers, said Eric Everding, Executive

Director, School and Student Success in

Jeffcos Division of Instruction. Acuity and

Yearly ProgressPro allow us to systemati-

cally monitor student progress and ensure

the use of data in every classroom.

Acuity

Acuity is used with all students in Grades

310 as the districts universal screener

in its Response to Intervention (RtI) pro-

gram. Acuity is a unique integration of

predictive and diagnostic assessments,

reports, instructional resources, item

banks, and item authoringall aligned to

state standards and designed to improve

student achievement.

Acuity has proven to be highly pre-

dictive of our state assessment, saidEverding. It offers valuable information

about what students know and are able

to do related to grade-level standards

in reading and math. As a result, we

no longer have to wait to get our state

test results back to determine student

strengths or areas of need, or to plan pro -

fessional development.

Yearly ProgressPro

Yearly ProgressPro is used with a variety

of students in Grades 112. The online

progress monitoring solution combines

ongoing formative assessment, prescrip-

tive instruction, reporting, and data man-

agement. Built on 25 years of research

in curriculum-based measurement, each

test assesses all the skills in the annual

curriculum.

We use Yearly ProgressPro to provide

targeted and intensive information about

students skills in math and reading on a

weekly basis, said Everding.

Data Management

and Reporting

With Acuity and Yearly

ProgressPro, educators can

easily track student perfor-

mance and generate reports

at the student, class, school,

and district levels.

Acuity and Yearly

ProgressPro give us a common

data point, providing accurate,

reliable information for deci-

sion making, said Everding.

Results

Improved CSAP test scores

Thanks to educators focused efforts, Jeffco

students outperform the state in all grade

levels and content areas on the CSAP.

Acuity and Yearly ProgressPro help

us ensure were meeting the needs of all

our students throughout the school year,

said Everding.

26 | TECH & LEARNING SPECIAL SECTION

Jefferson County Students

Outperform the State onMath and Reading Tests

ADVERTORIAL

Learn MoreFor more information on Acuity or

Yearly ProgressPro and to view an

online demo, visit CTB.com or call

800.538.9547 to schedule an in-person

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READING MATHEMATICS

Grade Level State District State District

3 70 76 71 74

4 66 75 70 75

5 70 75 66 70

6 72 82 61 69

7 68 75 49 56

8 68 74 51 58

9 68 73 39 50

10 66 70 30 39

2010 CSAP Test ScoresPercentage of students scoring proficient and above


29/54

Copyright 2011 by CTB/McGraw-Hill LLC. All rights reserved. Acuity is a registered trademark of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

More than100,000teachers are usingAcuityto help studentsdiscover success.

Visit

CTB.com/Acuity

or call

800.538.9547.

Acuity is the winner of six industry awards.

Teachers nationwide use Acuity to determine the next best

instructional steps for each student. As a result, many students

are measurably improving their achievement as showcased

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When you need to know more about your studentsrely on

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Beginning in the summer of 2011, Acuity will be aligned to the

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30/54

By Padmini Jambulapati

In the last year, the federal government

has invested $3.5 billion dollarsin an

effort to fix the nations bottom 5 per-

cent of public schools. In the coming

months, it will roll out another $546 mil-

lion dollars to do the same. The initiativeis known as the School Improvement

Grant, or SIG, program. It is the larg-

est pot of federal funds ever aimed at

improving a discrete set of the worst-

performing schools.

The SIG program is not the first

federal investment in fixing low-per-

forming schools, but it does represent

a new approach, one that, if the Obama

administration prevails, will find its

way into the long overdue reauthoriza-

tion of the Elementary and Secondary

Education Act. Whereas the No Child

Left Behind Act relies exclusively on

absolute measures of proficiency to

measure school performance, SIG

allows states to choose their most

troubled schools based on their ownformulas that combine absolute profi-

ciency with measures of student learn-

ing growth over time. School districts

then compete for SIG funds, unlike the

more typical formula-based distribu-

tion of dollars under Title I of ESEA.

SIG grantees are eligible for up to

an unprecedented $6 million dollars

per school over a three-year period to

implement one of four prescribed mod-

els: school closure, restart as a char-

ter school, turnaround through replac-

ing the principal and 50 percent of the

instructional staff, or transformation,

which requires implementing a slate of

reforms. None of the SIG reform mod-

els has an unvarnished track record,

and none has been implemented at thisscale. The timelines for implementa-

tion and improvement are demanding

and, given the history of federal school

turnaround efforts, arguably unrealistic.

So far, 843 schools from 49 states

and the District of Columbia have

been selected as SIG grantees, and

the combined grants are expected to

serve 594,117 students. What do these

schools look like? What reform models

have they chosen?

SIG UPDATE

28 | TECH & LEARNING SPECIAL SECTION

IMPROVEMENTGRANTEES

A PORTRAIT OF SCHOOL


31/54

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In their applications to the federal Department of Education,

state education agencies compiled a list of the lowest-

performing schools based on self chosen (but approved

by the department) definitions that combined growth and

achievement. They had to prioritize and sort these schools

into three different tiers.Tier I represents the lowest-achieving 5 percent of Title I

schools or the five lowest-performing Title I schools in some

stage of improvement or restructuring under NCLB, which-

ever number was higher. Tier II includes schools that are

Title Ieligible, but do not receive funds. This category was

meant to deliberately include high schools and middle schools

that often do not receive funds in district distribution, but are

technically eligible to get them. Tier III includes the remaining

Title I schools that were in improvement or restructuring, but

were not identified as Tier I and Tier II

schools. The grant requires states and

districts to fund Tier I and Tier II schoolsfirst, in order to ensure that the lowest-

performing schools receive funds first.

Nationwide, many SIG grantees look a

lot like the schools that typically receive

the majority of federal dollarslarge,

low-performing, traditional public

schools that are highly segregated, low-

income, and in urban areas. Of the 843

SIG schools across the country, more

than half have African-American/Latino

populations that are 86 percent or high-

er; the median free/reduced lunch

rate is 78 percent; and around 58

percent of the schools are located

in urban areas.

But that is not the complete

picture of Americas lowest-per-

forming schools. A substantial

proportion of schools are in rural

(18 percent) or suburban (17 per-

cent) areas or in towns (7 per-

cent).6 (See Chart 1.)

The SIG program signals a shift

toward prioritizing high-poverty

rural schools. Typically, rural schools receive fewer Title

I dollars than their urban counterparts because funding

formulas favor wealthier states with larger urban districts.

While urban schools have greater access to

programs like private foundation grants and urban-spe-

cific programs, rural schools, often located in the poorestschool districts, lack the capacity and resources to tackle

expensive large-scale school reform.

Generally, larger schools are associated with poorer stu-

dent performance, but the distribution of school enrollment

numbers varied among the grantees. The average student

enrollment for a SIG grantee is 704 students. While 176 grant-

eesmostly high schoolsenroll more than 1,000 students,

41 grantees enroll fewer than 100 students. Almost half (49

percent) of the SIG recipients are high schools.

A CLOSER LOOK

AT SIG SCHOOLS

SIG UPDATE

SPECIAL SECTION32 | TECH & LEARNING

City/Urban58%

Rural18%

Town7%

Suburban17%

Note: The definitions for urbanicity come from the National C enter for Education Statistics urban-centric localecode, which classifies territory into four major types: city, suburban, town, and rural. You can find more informationabout NCES locale codes at http://nces.ed.gov/programs/handbook/data/pdf/appendix_d.pdf .

C HART 1

Most granteesare city/urbanschools, but notall of them.

l l l l l ll

ll ll l

ll ll l l

l

High49%

Other6%

Primary24%

Middle20%

Note: We used the NCES categories for school level. The NCES calculates a schools corresponding codes basedon the lowest grade and highest grade oered.1 = Primary (low grade = PK through 03; high grade = PK through 08)2 = Middle (low grade = 04 through 07; high grade = 04 through 09)3 = High (low grade = 07 through 12; high grade = 12 only)4 = Other (any other configuration not falling within the above three categories, including ungraded).You can find more information at the Common Core of Data, Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey,200809, http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/data/txt/psu081blay.txt .

CH A RT 2

Nearly half ofgrantees arehigh schools.


35/54

Most SIG grantees are traditional

public schools, but the 843 schools

selected so far also include 56 char-

ter schools in 15 states. Charter

schools are often touted as the solu-

tion to fixing low-performing schools.

They are granted greater autonomy,

or the ability to implement a variety

of reforms, in exchange for greater

accountability and sanctions. Thus,

in theory, it should not only be easy

to shut down a low-performing

charter, but it should be expectedthat low-performing charters will

be closed. Yet, the presence of char-

ter schools among a states worst

performers illustrates the variabil-

ity in their performance. And their

presence among SIG grantees illus-

trates an overall resistance to clos-

ing schools, regardless of how or by

whom they are governed. Notably,

of the 56 charter schools receiv-

ing funds, 22 (nearly 40 percent)

are charter schools from Texas,

which has seen tremendous growth

in charter schools over the last

decade, but also varying degrees of

performance.

In the coming months, districtswill apply for funds and a whole

new slate of schools will be identi-

fied, likely mirroring the current

profile of grantees. Whether or not

the worst of the worst schools can

turn themselves around is yet to be

seen. But the Obama administration

is banking on it, all in hopes that

targeting the hot spots, or public

educations neediest schools,

could spark enough change in actors

throughout the systemteachers,

principals, students, and parents

to alter the system as a whole.

Padmini Jambulapati is a research

assistant at Education Sector, an

independent think tank. This article,A Portrait of School Improvement

Grantees, is reprinted with permis-

sion from Education Sector. Read

more at www.educationsector.org.

A FEW SURPRISES


37/54

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38/54

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?How schools are using tech to save money.

Perfecting a PrintStrategy SavesThousands of Dollars

PROBLEM: The Kansas City (Mo.)

School District was desperate to

reduce the $2.4 million it was spending

on print, office products, furniture, and

janitorial products.

SOLUTION: The district partnered with

OfficeMax to outsource on-site print-

ing, consolidate office supplies, and

implement a managed-print-services

strategy and a technology-workflow

solution. In doing so, Kansas City

reduced annual cost per pupil from

$28 to $22, a 22 percent savings, and

it expects to save $682,000 annually.

ConsolidatePrinting, SaveTrees, and CutCosts Significantly

PROBLEM: The Park Hill School District

in Kansas City, Missouri, which serves

10,000 students at 15 schools, wanted

to make its printing operations more

effective and save money.

SOLUTION: By using Equitrac print-

management software to consolidate

devices and enforce print quotas, Park

Hill saved more than $15,000. In addi-

tion, the district reduced print output

by more than 500,000 pages (thats 60

trees!) and is now able to budget accu-

rately for print expenses each month.

Go Digital and Become More Efficient

PROBLEM: The English teachers at Air Academy

High School at the U.S. Air Force Academy in

Colorado wanted to put an end to plagiarism.

SOLUTION: Using Google to search for excerpts

from student papers did not work well, so the

teachers turned to Turnitin. We wanted to find

a comprehensive program that would allow us to

check for originality, keep electronic copies of student papers, manage paper

load, and easily transfer student work from year to year, says English teacher

Heather Scott. Turnitin lets her grade papers up to 70 percent quicker, be

more organized, and cut back significantly on paper usage, she says.

When Monitors Go Green, Everyone Wins

PROBLEM: Judson (Texas) Independent School District

wanted to increase computer access while simplifying

installation and support, even though its budget was

tight and its IT staff limited.

SOLUTION: The district had already deployed thin

clients, so it was encouraged when it discovered thatLG Network Monitors allow schools to run 11 monitors

through one computer. Each monitor works indepen-

dently of the rest (each student can run a different pro-

gram, content, etc.), and the system was designed for

schools whose IT budgets have been cut but that still

want to offer the most up-to-date technology. After put-

ting LG Network Monitors in classrooms, computer labs, and libraries, Judson

ISD cut computer acquisition costs 50 percent, made IT staff more productive,

cut electricity costs 70 percent, and reduced network infrastructure costs.

Energy Upgrades = ExtraordinaryFinancial Savings

PROBLEM: The Pearl River (N.Y.) Union Free

School District wanted to gain more control of its

energy costs by upgrading the energy infrastruc-

ture of its schools.

SOLUTION: Pearl River turned to Ameresco, Inc.

to implement a $4.2 million project, based on an energy savings performance

contract, that includes upgrades of a total of 390,064 square feet of space

and requires no up-front capital costs to the district, which expects to save

more than $6.4 million over the course of the 18-year project.

SPECIAL SECTION36 | TECH & LEARNING

SIG UPDATE


39/54

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