IMPORTANT REGARDING  E  RATES 

Following the close of the FCC’s call for public comments regarding proposed changes to the E-rate program, Funds For Learning, the nation’s largest E-rate consulting firm, is conducting a survey to gather the opinions of administrators and school technology leaders about the current state of the program. Respondents are encouraged to share their thoughts on the impact of E-rate on their school, district or library, and the changes proposed by the FCC, through June 4. After the survey closes, Funds For Learning will aggregate the responses and provide the anonymous results to the FCC and USAC, as well as provide detailed analysis of the survey information on its web site.
The nine question survey is available here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2014ErateSurvey

 

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

MORE ON I.R.A.

The International Reading Association (IRA), a membership association of reading teachers and literacy researchers, has often been featured on Education Talk Radio. IRA was mentioned in a recent Huffington Post blog by Eric Cooper, President of the National Urban Alliance for Effective Education, that deals with accelerating an international literacy movement. Entitled Working to End Illiteracy and Social Injustice, the piece outlines specific goals supported by IRA and the Alliance that are needed to advance the literacy instruction of today’s children. You can access the blog atwww.huffingtonpost.com/eric-cooper or by Googling the phrase “Working to End Illiteracy.”

 

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

CoSN Responds to FCC Net Neutrality Vote
Washington, DC (May 15, 2014) – CoSN (the Consortium for School Networking) CEO Keith Krueger today issued the following statement regarding the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) new net neutrality proceeding:
“As the voice for school system technology leaders, CoSN calls on the FCC to carefully evaluate the impact of net neutrality regulations on classrooms and other digital learning opportunities. Our nation must ensure that students and teachers are not left behind on the Internet because others can pay for faster broadband. Ensuring that the Internet stimulates and nurtures learning innovations is a top priority for CoSN and our members, and this requires robust broadband at the lowest cost to achieve the President’s vision of ConnectED.”
About CoSN 
CoSN is the premier professional association for school system technology leaders. The mission of CoSN is to empower educational leaders to leverage technology to realize engaging learning environments. Visitwww.cosn.org or call 866-267-8747 to find out more about CoSN’s focus areas, annual conference and events, advocacy and policy, membership, and the CETL certification exam.

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

 

 

Pitsco Education logo

Texas adds two more Star Academies

Award-winning program goes into
Spring, Lancaster districts

PITTSBURG, KS (May 15, 2014) — A Texas Workforce Commission grant is bringing the Star Academy program for dropout prevention and acceleration to school districts in Spring and Lancaster for the 2014-15 school year. The program’s primary goal is to help overage and at-risk students reconnect with education and eventually earn a high school diploma.

 

The Star Academy program in Spring ISD will be implemented at Westfield High School. In Lancaster ISD, the program will be set up at Lancaster High School.

 

Based on research of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, the combination of courses in the accelerated program at both locations will include Algebra 1A, Algebra 1B, integrated physics and chemistry, biology, reading, English, and world history. In addition, each district will provide elective courses to round out students’ schedules.

 

The Star Academy program is effective at reengaging students through a rigorous progression of instruction that incorporates hands-on learning, individualized instruction, collaborative learning, team-based instruction, and real-world career connections.

 

“I have seen the transformational power of the Pitsco instructional model and its effect on student engagement,” said Lancaster ISD Superintendent Dr. Michael McFarland. “A lack of engagement can cause students to fall behind or drop out, and this academy will help us ensure that our at-risk students graduate with a high school diploma and are reengaged.”

 

Students in the Star Academy program achieve academic success, develop leadership and communication skills, and ultimately experience a positive change in attitude toward themselves and their future. The expected outcomes of participating in the program are accelerating two grade levels (eighth and ninth grades) in one school year and improving attendance habits and behavior.

 

Financial benefits are realized when students graduate instead of dropping out of school. On average, a dropout earns $7,852 less and pays $3,666 less in income-related taxes than a graduate each year.

 

Learn more about the Star Academy Program atwww.pitsco.com/staracademy.

 

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

EDUCATORS   FYI
 The Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Access and the National Air and Space Museum will host “Wing-ing It: A Conversation about Flight” in its first Connected Classrooms online event. The free, virtual field trip will highlight aspect ratio and wing shape as key features in flying everything from model gliders to real airplanes. Students will have the chance to ask questions of noted aerodynamics expert and curator Dr. John Anderson and educator Michael Hulslander from the National Air and Space Museum via Google Hangouts on Wednesday, May 21 at 1:00 p.m. EDT.
You can learn more about the upcoming Connected Classrooms event here: http://s.si.edu/1isqlkt

Posted by in Uncategorized