Written by Laura Lawley on August 30, 2010.
Gov. Rick Perry unveiled in Abilene today an incentive proposal meant to save school districts money, but it is unclear if Abilene Independent School District would immediately benefit.
The program would reward districts for partnering with other schools, counties, cities, or even private sector businesses to provide administrative services, such as accounting, human resources, transportation, and facilities use.
Districts that participate would receive a one-time grant that’s worth 10 percent of the amount saved by partnering with another entity.
“It’s a voluntary program, but I suspect it’ll be tough for local districts to pass that up — an opportunity to save some money and to get a reward,” Perry said. “I firmly believe that money saved in the state’s investment will be dedicated to further educational opportunities.”
Perry spoke to a group of students and school district officials at AISD’s Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math and Science, which is now on the Texas State Technical College campus. He was joined by Ro
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Written by Gabrielle Batchelor on August 30, 2010.
HOUSTON – Parents are still totaling the cost of school supplies and uniforms. And for some, it’s a struggle to make everything add up.
How’s this for a math problem: divide four kids, their mom and grandmother among three bedrooms. Now factor in the broken air conditioning.
Lashawnda Sims can’t seem to solve it.
The single mother feels like “almost, I would say, the old woman in the shoe,” she says. “Except I’m not that old. And I don’t have that many children.”
After losing her job, Sims had to move back in with her mom. Now, while looking for work, she must outfit her brood for the classroom.
Back to school time costs the average family about $424, according to the National Retail Federation.
That includes $225 for clothing, $103 for shoes and $96 for school supplies.
One of Sims’ daughters, Germani Smith, has most of what she needs for Ms. Scott’s second grade class.
“I have pencils, a folder, some scissors and crayons and some glue,” says the 7-year old girl. “And all I need is 2
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Written by Laura Lawley on August 26, 2010.
“It’s not necessarily what you have, but how you use it,” Rob McClellan, technology director for Region 14 Educational Service Center, says in reference to technology in the classroom.
McClellan said the service center will facilitate workshops for teachers so they will be as proficient with new technology as their students. This week, the Texas Education Agency, or TEA, announced it is providing free multimedia educational content for students, teachers and parents on Apple iTunes.
Anyone who has iTunes on a computer, phone or other mobile device can download the content for free. The TEA is asking Texas math teachers to upload podcasts on algebra for consideration of placement on iTunes U.
Mark Gabehart, chief technology officer for Abilene ISD, said students are immersed in a variety of Internet tools such as blogging, Wikipedia and social networking sites.
“Using iTunes is another mechanism for students to access educational content,” he said.
He describes today’s students as digital natives who were born with this type of technology in their hands, while their educators and parents are digital immigrants, still learning.
“That’s a challenge,” he said.
He also said it’s a challenge to figure out how to incorporate all these types of technology into the classrooms. For school district
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Written by Gabrielle Batchelor on August 25, 2010.
For the second year in a row, California’s been left behind in a national competition for nearly three-and-a-half billion dollars in supplemental federal funding.
New York, Ohio, North Carolina and six other states led the race for Race to the Top money. The winning states proposed the most sweeping reforms to improve student learning, teacher and principal preparation, and turning around low-performing schools, federal education secretary Arne Duncan said in a conference call.
If more money were available, he said, California would have won some of it. But Duncan didn’t say what part of California’s proposal pushed it out of the winner’s circle.
Thirty-six states applied for Race to the Top grants. Duncan said he hopes there will be enough money to pay for a third round.
Judges looked for reform plans to overhaul teacher assessment and student achievement, such as using standardized test scores to measure teacher effectiveness. Judges also considered whether teachers unions supported reforms. Many of
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Written by Laura Lawley on August 22, 2010.
Student’s can’t move into their campus homes until Saturday, but students and others attending a celebration today got a sneak peak at the $3.5 million renovation of Mathias Hall — the college’s largest residence hall.The project, paid entirely through student housing fees, was completed over the summer.Improvements included work on the building’s common spaces; “green” improvements including low-flow water fixtures, recycled-content materials, Energy Star appliances and energy efficient lighting; and technology upgrades.The renovation also increases CC’s Living Learning Communities from one to four. The LLC program is built on collaborations between student life and academic offices, allowing a group of students to develop living standards, programming and community service. The three new themes are Gender and Sexuality, Global and Spirit of Non-Violence. The Civic Engagement theme is now Grassroots Organizing. Themes are chosen depending on staff resources, faculty involvement and student interest.Mathias Hall, which houses 296 students, is on the southwest corner of Uintah Street and Nevada Avenue. It was built in
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