Newsline

Deborah S. Sutton, Director  
Claranne Vogel, Supervisor 
Lisa Walters, Library Media and Technology Consultant
Rosalyn Wieberg, Supervisor
Shirley Brumley, Administrative Assistant

  Instructional Technology Update

Budgets / Grant Programs 

Missouri Technology Acquisition Grant (TAG) Program
The Department plans to submit a request to the 2005 General Assembly for $5 million to re-instate the TAG Program for 2005-2006.  

Missouri Safe Schools & Pilot Safe Schools Grants Program – Reminder
Districts, particularly those receiving a Pilot Schools or a Safe Schools grant, are reminded of the Missouri Association for Alternative Education (MAAE) annual conference coming up October 29-30, at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia, Missouri. The 2004 Conference: Kindling the Spirit will present a slate of presentations that cover a wide variety of topics on alternative education and serving at-risk students. To submit a proposal or learn more about the conference visit: http://maae.info/. 

Federal Title II.D “Ed Tech” or “EETT” Program

     New resources for assessing technology readiness and use –
The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) recently announced the release of tools that can be used by states, districts, and schools in assessing technology readiness and use. The tools are based on a framework that is aligned with NCLB goals. Profiling Educational Technology Integration (PETI): Resources for Assessing Readiness and Use is available free to all stakeholders including states, districts, schools, and other organizations. SETDA developed the resources in conjunction with the Metiri Group and support from the U.S. Department of Education. PETI includes a framework for assessing educational technology, a matrix that links PETI indicators and questions to NCLB goals, the suite of tools for assessing technology at the district, school, and classroom levels, methodologies and protocols, sample reports, and a corporate matrix that lists organizations and corporations that provided information on how they could implement PETI. See: http://www.metiri.com/SETDA/PETI/.  

     Congressional activity regarding future funding of Title II.D –
Last month Newsline detailed appropriation figures proposed by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, and Education that included a $91.8 million cut in FY05 Education Technology funding. The House Appropriations Committee approved the federal education bill in September. Meanwhile, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of the FY05 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations bill on September 15. The Senate bill increases funding for education programs overall by $3.2 billion, which is $1.1 billion more than the House's bill. Funding increases in the Senate were mainly allocated for Title I and IDEA. The Senate rejected the House's cuts to the Education Technology block grant and provided level funding at $69.8 million.  Additionally, the Senate Committee provided funding for the smaller education technology programs zeroed out in the House version, including $24 million for the Star Schools program, a $3.6 million increase over last year, and $11 million for the Community Technology Centers program, a $1.1 million increase. The Committee also funded the Statewide Data Systems program at $40 million ($10 million more than the House allocated), which will provide grants to states to develop longitudinal data systems to comply with No Child Left Behind. The Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers to Use Technology program received no funding in either the Senate or house versions of the FY05 spending bills. 

With limited time left, it is very unlikely that the Senate bill will be approved by the full Senate before Congress’ scheduled October 8^th recess. The most likely scenario is that Congress will combine the remaining uncompleted appropriations bills, including the Labor, HHS and Education bill, into an Omnibus Appropriations bill and attempt to pass it sometime before the election and possibly as late as next February. As part of the Omnibus process, the Senate and House Appropriations Conference Committee will have to negotiate the various funding levels of the programs. It is unknown whether the Conference Committee will split the difference on the relative EETT funding levels, or whether the House will agree to the Senate funding level for the program. Since the FY2005 fiscal year begins October 1, and very few FY05 programs have had their funding approved, Congress is expected to approve a five to six-week continuing resolution (CR) that will fund all programs at FY04 levels until it either passes an omnibus bill or approves another CR. 

Census of Technology

2004 COT Data Collection and Reporting
The data warehouse glitch reported last month has been resolved, and completion of the statewide report is projected for early October. The 2004 COT data indicate continuing trends in schools making education technology resources available and in educators and students making effective use of those technologies. Likely due to funding decreases in 2003-2004, the 2004 COT shows little growth in new technology holdings – the smallest noted since COT was begun in 1997. Nonetheless, districts and schools report improvements in routine uses and overall technology skills.  

2005 COT Item Review
A draft of the 2005 COT items is available for review and comment. The Department is pleased to report that another 25 percent of the items of the items have been removed from the technology core data system. The 2005 core data screens (30 and 31) will address around 30 items instead of the 43 asked in 2004 and the more than 70 items asked in 2001 and 2002. Contact Instructional Technology if you are interested in participating in this process.  

E-rate Program 

SLD suspension of issuing funding commitment decision letters
It was reported last month that the FCC ordered the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to convert to a new accounting standard (Government GAAP) under which funds can only be obligated if USAC has money in the bank. As a result, USAC decided in early August to suspend mailing out any funding commitment decision letters (FCDLs) until the issue is resolved. Last week it was reported that USAC is negotiating with the FCC on how best to handle the situation and hopes to reach some kind of decision by October 1.  

The possible effects of this ruling are far reaching. In the short term, if no resolution is reached by the opening on the next application window in November, most applicants will not know how much or what to apply for next year. To date, only $760 million in FCDLs out of $2.25 billion have been made. In the longer term, if the Government GAAP rules remain in place, FCDLs will only be sent out based on how much has been collected, thereby delaying many applications for months. This may deter eligible entities from participating and cool interest in the program. If the Government GAAP rules remain in place, USAC may be forced to ramp up or ramp down collections at various points in the funding year, thereby causing great fluctuations in phone bills and possibly leading to political controversy. 

House hearing on more allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse
During a September 22nd hearing in the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on E-rate waste, fraud, and abuse, House Energy and Commerce Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) lambasted the administration of the program and proposed major changes to the program’s structure to reduce the number of waste, fraud and abuse cases. Specifically, Barton proposed changing the E-rate to a loan program, with special consideration provided to low-income applicants, or funding it through local taxes rather than through the universal service fund. He even suggested that the program be frozen until major changes to the E-rate could be affected. Although new FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Chief Jeffrey Carlisle and School and Library Division President George McDonald responded that a program suspension would be overreaching, they agreed that vast restructuring of the program is necessary. They both noted that the FCC and USAC have explored several anti-abuse options, including audits, debarment rules for violators, and a revision to the discount matrix.  

The September hearing was the third in a series of hearings targeting the allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse currently wracking the E-rate program. While previous hearings focused on abuses in Puerto Rico and San Francisco, this hearing investigated the "two-step procurement process," taken on behalf of companies such as NEC-BNS, VNCI, and IBM. In the IBM case, a federal investigation was launched in May 2002 after USAC received an anonymous whistleblower letter claiming that IBM had abused the procurement process in El Paso and seven other Texas school districts in FY01 and FY02. Christopher Caine, Vice President of Governmental Programs at IBM, testified that IBM lawfully followed the E-Rate rules and that its service prices were based strictly upon the school districts' technology plans.  

In all the cases addressed at the September hearing, Congressional investigators spread blame for the rule violations to the applicants (including superintendents, technology directors and others), service providers, third-party E-rate consultants, and government agencies alike. Although the critical tone of the hearing seemed to suggest that the Committee is poised to undertake a major overhaul of the E-Rate program next year, Subcommittee Ranking Member, Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) attempted to moderate the tone by questioning the most appropriate way to make these changes. Rep. DeGette mentioned that some suggested reforms, including the proposed adjustment of the discount matrix, may cause more harm than good by targeting those schools and libraries that depend on the highest discount rates to maintain existing connections. Other mechanisms to curb abuse, such as application audits, are already underway and USAC hopes to complete 250 audits of E-rate applications by the end of this year. 

District Technology Plan Approval  

Last month, Newsline detailed the changes that the FCC Fifth Report and Order – FCC 04-190 made regarding the timing, content, and approval of district technology plans. With these changes, the Department is encouraging all districts to examine current technology plans to determine whether new or revised plans should be submitted for state approval in 2005. Districts that received state approval in 2003 (and 2004, possibly) should elect to submit new plans (in 2005 rather than wait until 2006) if any of the following conditions are in place:

• the 2003 plan must be updated to cover technologies proposed in an E-rate application

• the district has a new or substantially updated comprehensive school improvement plan (CSIP)

• the district has already completed most of the action plans and implementation strategies detailed in the 2003 technology plan

•  the district has experienced significant changes that necessitate a new plan (changes in personnel, academic performance standings, technology holdings, technical capacity, etc.)

•  the plan approved in 2003 received a low approval score (75 to 85 points)

Districts electing to submit plans early and desiring technical assistance should contact Instructional Technology and/or the Missouri Educational Technology Professionals Association (METPA). Depending on district need and interest, METPA members are again poised to offer workshops and review draft plans. 

2005 District tech plan approval process
District technology plans are reviewed by a panel of Missouri educators and scored using a 100-point scoring guide. The scoring guide, updated in 2004, can be downloaded from Instructional Technology’s district tech planning website at: http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/instrtech/techplan/techplan.htm. To submit a plan for state approval, complete the top portion on page one of the scoring guide as indicated and send the guide along with one [1] technology plan to the following address no later than March 31: DESE Instructional Technology, PO Box 480, Jefferson City, MO  65102-0480. Plans submitted by the March 31 deadline will be reviewed on April 15, with approval status determined no later than June 30, thereby meeting the timing deadline for e-rate applications. Contact Instructional Technology if you are interested in participating in the review process.  

Other Washington News 

Congress Moves to Conference IDEA Bills
After months of inactivity, the House and Senate announced who will serve on the conference committee to iron-out differences between House and Senate versions of the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Although conferees have been announced, the conference committee will not meet until after the elections in order to de-politicize the bill and build consensus to pass it this year. The Senate conference committee group will consist of all the members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.  

Most importantly for education technology, the Senate version of the bill includes a number of provisions designed to improve the development and usage of technology by and for students with disabilities. Under the Senate’s new Part B, states would be permitted to use IDEA funds to support the development and use of technology (including universally designed technologies and assistive technology devices and services), to enhance learning and maximize accessibility to the general curriculum. Part D of the Senate bill includes a new finding that support is needed to improve technological resources and integrate technology, including universally designed technologies, into the lives of children; it also allows Professional Development grants to be used for, among other things, encouraging and supporting the training of teachers to effectively integrate technology into the classroom. In addition, Part D of the Senate bill contains a new priority for projects that promote the development and use of universally designed technologies, and assistive technology devices and services. The new National Center for Special Education Research established in the Senate bill also has a universal design focus, as it is charged with examining and incorporating universal design concepts in the development of standards, assessments, curricula, and instructional methods.  

FCC Releases NPRM on CALEA Implementation for Broadband
The FCC recently issued a NPRM asking for comments on a proposal to extend the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) from traditional telecommunication networks (i.e. standard telephone) to broadband providers. The order has provoked widespread concern from broadband providers and Internet advocates, who believe that the proposal runs contrary to the CALEA statute, and would drive up costs, threaten innovation, and reduce privacy on the Internet. Of particular concern to educators, the NPRM extends CALEA obligations to the commercial Internet backbone and appears to go beyond, "common carriers," specified in the statute to reach educational networks like Internet II, the Abeline Network, and state education networks that aggregate traffic to these networks.  

Adopted by Congress in 1994, CALEA defines the statutory obligation of telecommunications carriers to assist law enforcement in executing electronic surveillance pursuant to court order or other lawful authorization, and requires carriers to design or modify their systems to ensure that lawfully authorized electronic surveillance can be performed. For example, telecommunication providers have to configure their, "equipment, facilities and services in a manner that permits isolation, interceptions and collection of communication call identifying information." In addition, providers have the obligation to collect and deliver the information to law enforcement. Pursuant to CALEA, there have been multiple proceedings at the FCC to determine acceptable industry standards, cost reimbursements, upgrades, changes in technology, and the like.  

In the most recent proceeding, the FBI petitioned the FCC to expand the reach of CALEA to broadband networks, which would include broadband Internet communications, wireless broadband, Voice Over IP (VoIP) services such as Vonage, and, "push-to-talk," communication, such as Nextel. Many advocates believe that the language of the NPRM fails to recognize the scale and complexity of the networks that may be affected by CALEA or the complexity and cost of compliance.  

The NPRM can be found at: frwebgate5.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID= 317369522230+8+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve. Comments are due in early November. 

 
Ed Tech Research, Publications, Resources  

SETDA releases Profiling Educational Technology Integration (PETI) resources
The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) announced the release of Profiling Educational Technology Integration: Resources for Assessing Readiness and Use, available free to all stakeholders including states, districts, schools, and other organizations. Representing consensus and work of state directors from over 30 states, PETI is designed to assist states in implementing NCLB and evaluating the effectiveness of educational technology in all educational environments. SETDA developed the framework, instruments, and protocols in conjunction with the Metiri Group and support from the U.S. Department of Education. The instruments and protocols were validated through extensive pilots in five states and examined through a peer review process. The web site includes the framework for assessing educational technology, a matrix that links PETI indicators and questions to NCLB goals, the suite of tools for assessing technology at the district, school, and classroom levels, methodologies and protocols, sample reports, and a corporate matrix that lists organizations and corporations that provided information on how they could implement PETI. To access PETI, visit http://www.metiri.com/SETDA/PETI/.  

CoSN issues cyber security resources
The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) has unveiled a set of free, web-based resources to help school leaders understand and assess cyber security needs. Cyber Security for the Digital District provides a set of tools intended to give school leaders the information they need to protect students and sensitive school data from Internet dangers such as hacking, phishing, and spyware. The materials help users to identify the status of their network security, evaluate strengths and weaknesses, and make needed improvements. A part of the web site is devoted to sharing best practices from the education community, private industry, and government institutions. Districts are encouraged to share their experiences in making their networks more secure – both for learning and operations. See: http://www.cosn.org/.  

Report on school characteristics for effective ed tech use
In the September issue of Education Policy Analysis Archives (EPAA), the research study “Identifying Teacher, School and District Characteristics Associated with Elementary Teachers’ Use of Technology: A Multilevel Perspective” provides evidence that school organizational characteristics are associated with teacher use of technology in the classroom. Organizational characteristics such as district and school leadership practices and emphasis on technology, the type and amount of technology-related professional development available to teachers, and the amount of technology-related restrictive policies in place were found to be associated with the four measures of teacher use of technology examined in the study. Individual teacher characteristics such as constructivist beliefs, higher confidence using technology, and positive beliefs about the efficacy of technology were each found to be associated with increased use of technology in the classroom. See: http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v12n48/.  

NetDay announces results of Teacher Speak Up Day
NetDay, with support from BellSouth, hosted Speak Up Day for Teachers - a nationwide online survey which gave teachers in all grades and subjects the opportunity to share their voices and views about their personal and professional use of technology and the Internet. More than 11,000 teachers from 1,885 schools in 50 states completed the online survey. The survey found teachers are using technology to enrich their lessons plans and to engage students in learning. Results also revealed that teachers are relying more and more on technology to meet the requirements of No Child Left Behind. “What we found during Speak Up Day for Teachers is that technology is really taking hold in America’s classrooms and teachers are increasingly more comfortable using it to deliver lessons,” said Julie Evans, CEO, NetDay. “However, teachers also told us that, with technology becoming as commonplace in schools as chalkboards, they need better training and a greater voice in technology decisions.”  To learn more about NetDay and findings from the 2004 Teacher Speak Up Day, visit: http://www.netday.org/.  

Brief on Children, The Digital Divide, and Federal Policy
An issue brief prepared by the Kaiser Family Foundation, “Children, The Digital Divide, and Federal Policy”, includes new research findings and reviews the latest information on wiring the nation's schools and libraries, including points of access, the speed of connection, and what children are doing online. The report also examines current federal policies and policy ideas that could address the new digital divide.  

The report indicates that federal policies and funding have contributed substantially to reducing the "digital divide," but the quality of access remains very unequal for too many children. The study finds that school-aged children with less-educated parents or who attend school in lower-income communities are significantly less likely than other children to use the Internet in a typical day or to have Internet access from their homes. This is the tenth in a series of reports on topics related to children, media and health that pull together the most relevant research on such issues as TV violence, teens online, media ratings, and children and video games. See: http://www.kff.org/entmedia/entmedia091604pkg.cfm

  October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month
--Submitted by Lainie Strange, Web Developer, DESE
http://dese.mo.gov/divadm/infotech/cybersecuritymonth.htm

What is National Cyber Security Awareness Month?
National Computer Security Awareness Month (NCSAM), observed in October and organized by the National Cyber Security Alliance, is an intensive awareness campaign reaching out to consumers, small businesses, educators, children and other stakeholders. NCSAM focuses on raising awareness of the importance of computer security and educating users, particularly those listed above, about practices and technologies they can use to protect themselves online. The objective is to improve the state of computer security for individual users, our information networks and our nation as a whole.

Visit the website for the free flyers, brochures, and other Cyber Security resources.

  2004 MOREnet E-rate Regional Training Sessions
--Submitted by Eric Nicklas, Program Manager, K-12 Technology Network Program, MOREnet 

In late October and early November of 2004, MOREnet will conduct regional training sessions on the E-rate program. These sessions are intended as an introduction to the program. During this training, participants will receive an overview of the E-rate program, including eligible services, the application process and the required forms. Form 471 will be covered in-depth to provide the knowledge needed to complete an application this fall. 

Training registration: To register for an E-rate regional training session, please e-mail training@more.net or call (800) 509-6673 and ask for Krista Hediger. Please include your name, daytime phone number, e-mail address, organization and location and date of the training session you wish to attend. 

Sikeston
Oct. 19
1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Sikeston School District

West Plains
Oct. 20
8:30 a.m. – Noon
West Plains Public Library

Webb City
Oct. 21
8:30 a.m. - Noon
Southwest Center for Educational Excellence

Independence
Oct. 22
1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Mid-Continent Public Library
Administrative Headquarters

Kirksville
Nov. 3
1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Kirksville Regional TCRC

Camdenton
Nov. 9
1:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Camden County School District
Administration Building

St. Peters
Nov. 11
1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
St. Charles City-County Library
Administration Offices
 

 Free Tool for Managing E-rate
http://www.fundsforlearning.com
http://www.eratemanager.com 

Funds for Learning has created the “E-rate Manager SL”, a free tool for school districts to use to assist them in managing their E-rate applications. E-rate Manager SL for schools and libraries is designed to help you receive all the E-rate discounts you worked so hard to get approved.  

Funds For Learning (FFL) is an educational technology consulting firm specializing in the federal E-rate program. FFL helps K-12 schools, libraries and businesses benefit from this and other ed-tech funding opportunities designed to get them connected to the Internet. 

How can E-rate Manager SL help you?  

• It tracks how much E-rate funding you have left to use.
• It simplifies the payment paperwork.
• It helps you keep on top of the fluctuating deadlines for the Form 486, invoices and BEARS—and for using your services or getting products installed.
• It tracks the site or sites where you specified your funding will be used.
• It helps you respond to questions from program auditors.

Best of all, E-rate Manager SL is free to schools and libraries. Join the hundreds of schools, school districts and libraries that are using E-rate Manager SL to keep all their E-rate funding data and their complete E-rate program history at their fingertips. Additional information is available on the Funds for Learning website at http://www.fundsforlearning.com and http://www.eratemanager.com
 

 Participate in Megaconference VI – Proposals Being Accepted
http://www.megaconference.org for general information about the conference http://www.megaconference.org/call to submit your proposal

Join the global conversation and submit your proposals for interactive presentations as part of MegaConference VI, December 9, 2004. Because this year's MegaConference is designed to emphasize interactive, global videoconferencing, this will be your opportunity to include more than one site in your presentation, and to extend the conversation to your audience. 

The successful proposal should entice audience participation in the form of Q&A, direct participation, contribution or other dynamic interaction. Additionally, co-presenters from more than one site are encouraged. You are invited to include examples (tapes or streams) of previous interactivity as part of the real-time presentation. Prior arrangements for participation, made in cooperation with other sites, are welcomed. Presentations may include musical, dramatic or other performances. Presentations should be approximately 15 minutes in length. 

Note that the conference is divided into two sections – 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET
(12 p.m.-6 p.m. GMT) and 6 p.m.-12a.m. ET (10 p.m.-4a.m. GMT) -- with a four-hour, informal "hallway session" between them. In keeping with the conference theme, you are encouraged to "stay up late" or "get up early" in order to interact with people from other time zones around the world. 

The deadline for proposals is October 29.  Please submit early.
For more information contact:
Robert S. Dixon, Ph D, PE
Chief Research Engineer
Ohio Academic Resources Network (OARNet)
(614) 292-1638
Ohio State Bob_Dixon@osu.edu
 

  Show-Me TechKnowledge Day—January 19, 2005
--Submitted by Sally Burnett, 2005 Show-Me TechKnowledge Day Chairperson 

Do you work with students and technology in innovative ways? Would you like to showcase your students and district for policymakers throughout the state? If so, we want you!  

A grassroots organization, Show-Me TechKnowledge, helps identify and support students as they exhibit effective and innovative uses of technology. State leaders, policymakers, and others are invited to the Capitol Rotunda to view the exhibits, talk to the students, and learn how education technology positively impacts teaching and learning. 

Last year, 16 districts from across the state, grades K-12 participated in the event. This year’s event will be held on January 19, 2005. Show-Me TechKnowledge 2005 applications from prospective student/teacher exhibitors are now being accepted. The deadline for submitting applications is December 6, 2004. Join us in celebrating your students’ success – submit an application today. Check http://successlink.org/ for information and application form.
 

 Handhelds in the Classroom
-- Submitted by Julie Barchenski, SuccessLink
http://successlink.org/ 

Handheld computers are causing quite a stir in Missouri. SuccessLink, a grant program in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, is providing support and training to teachers and students in over 65 schools this year.  

Elliot Soloway, a Professor in the College of Engineering, School of Education and School of Information at the University of Michigan, and his colleagues in the Center for Highly Interactive Computing in Education (Hi-CE) have been exploring, for the last 10 years, ways in which computing and communications technologies can be the catalyst in bringing a constructivist, project-based pedagogy to K-12 science classrooms. According to Soloway, constant and consistent access to handhelds can have a positive effect on student learning. In his keynote during the opening session of the Technology Leadership Academy, Soloway commented that, while the impact of computers in schools has been disappointing to many because of their limited access and use, a handheld computer allows the student to have his or her "computer" with them at all times. The low cost of a handheld provides the opportunity for full time access for each student. And the small size of the handheld allows for easy portability. Students can pull their handhelds out of their book bags or desks anytime they need to. 

Midway Heights librarian, Wende Geitz, is one of 19 educators who went through the SuccessLink training on handheld computers. Each of twenty-one fourth-graders at her school was assigned a Palm M-130, along with an attachable keyboard, that could be taken home at night. The Midway Heights package valued at about $7000, just a fraction of what it would cost to give each child a laptop computer said Stacey Franks, state coordinator for SuccessLink’s handheld project.  

“The handhelds are causing quite a stir here at Midway, a good stir!” Stated Ms. Geitz. “Students have been able to take them home and are using programs like MathCard and Giraffe. They are using them so much that they need to be charged on a daily basis! Students are doing upwards of 150 MathCard problems a night! It's unbelievable.”  

Fellow fourth-grade teacher at Midway Heights, Candace Jorgenson, said she’s seen a noticeable improvement in math performance because students like practicing on the computer. Fourth-graders can be seen practicing math while waiting in the lunch line or at other times when they have a spare minute, Midway Heights teachers said. Before each lesson Ms. Jorgenson has students warm up by answering as many times-tables problems as they can in two minutes. When time is up, the computers instantly score their answers. “The high score has gone from 19/21 to 41/41 in just one week. “ 

Dr. Mark Yehle, director of SuccessLink, believes the use of handheld computers is the biggest “sea change” he has seen in his 37 years in education. Dr. Yehle said that the small handheld computers are really different because of “access”.  Schools can now reach that 1:1 ratio because the handheld computers have much the same power as a desktop computer and only cost around $200. The portability of the handheld computers opens a myriad of new uses by the students. Almost 2,000 educational software packages have been written for handhelds and many are free.”   

For further information, Stacey Franks and Dr. Yehle can be reached at 573-636-4395.
 

 Free Truancy Reduction Materials Available for Missouri Courts and Schools
 --Submitted  by Tina O. Hageman, MSW, MBA, Program Coordinator, St. Louis County Truancy Court
truancycourt@yahoo.com 

Looking for a way to combat truancy in your community?  St. Louis County Truancy Court has been recognized in Missouri and beyond as an effective truancy reduction program worthy of replication.  In the school-based court diversion program, volunteer judges team with school staff and deputy juvenile officers to provide positive reinforcement, accountability and character education in weekly truancy “court” sessions.  Over 60% of the students respond with significant improvements in school attendance. 

With funds provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and provided through a grant made available through the Missouri Department of Public Safety, Office of the Director and the Missouri Juvenile Justice Group, St. Louis County Truancy Court is distributing comprehensive training and implementation materials to interested courts, schools, and agencies at no charge.  Additional funding for the St. Louis County Truancy Court is provided through a Safe Schools Grant from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, a Juvenile Accountability Block Grant and a Title II grant from the Missouri Department of Public Safety, and contributions from each participating school district.  

Contact truancycourt@yahoo.com to request a training manual and video on how to develop and implement a “truancy court” in your community.  Please provide your name, organization, mailing address, and phone number.  Materials are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

 SBCTechnology Seminar-October 12, 2004-Marceline, MO
--Submitted by Lora Smith, Education Advocate, SBC  

The SBC Family of Companies invites you to attend their Technology Seminar on October 12, 2004 at the Walsworth Community Center, 124 E. Ritchie, Marceline, Missouri.  Topics include:  

•          E-rate Funding

•          Legislative Forum

•          Technical Applications

•          Interactive Sessions

You will learn about technologies to assist you in being a leading force in your community, to assure safety, and optimize efficiency. 

E-rate funding that supports your technology needs will be discussed and you will have the opportunity to dialogue with Missouri legislators on education initiatives. 

For those Higher Education or K-12 customers not interested in E-rate, you are welcome to join us beginning at 11:15 for lunch and the balance of the presentation. 

Please RSVP via email to ls8179@sbc.com to confirm your participation in the Seminar.
 

  Missouri Schools and Programs in the News

Jefferson City School District
Linda Eisinger, a third grade teacher at West Elementary School in the Jefferson City School District, was selected Missouri
Teacher of the Year for 2004-2005. A selection committee appointed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education interviewed six state-level finalists to select the new Teacher of the Year.  The Missouri Teacher of the Year program is conducted by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with financial support provided by the Boeing Company, St. Louis. Mrs. Eisinger automatically becomes Missouri’s candidate for the National Teacher of the Year award. Congratulations!
 

  eMINTS Questions of the Month 

Q. What funding sources are available for our district to add eMINTS classrooms? We have several elementary and middle schools and want to expand into those schools. 

A. Watch the DESE Instructional Technology website's Newsline for announcements about grant opportunities at http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/instrtech/newsletters/August04.html  Another source of funding is the Comprehensive School Reform (CSR) program. 

These are federal funds administered by DESE. The CSR program cannot be used to add eMINTS classrooms in a school building that already is in the program, however, it can be used to add classrooms in buildings that do not have any eMINTS classrooms. Another source of information about grant opportunities can be found on MOREnet's website at http://www.more.net/services/grants/index.html  

Q.  How long should a student be taken off the computer if they violate the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)?  

A.  Your Acceptable Use policy and/or Classroom Use Policy should list the consequences that will occur if the policy is violated. Taking students completely off computers in an eMINTS classroom is quite similar to taking away textbooks in a teacher directed classroom. Many teachers have come up with great compromises that keep the student actively learning while limiting their opportunity to make another poor choice. One idea is to have the student banned from touching the keyboard or mouse for a few days. This means they still sit with their group or partner but the other group members do all of the actual computing skills. Some teachers have those students stay with the group but do their portion of the written work by hand. The key here is not removing a child from the learning environment and yet making a clear point that the Acceptable Use Policy will be enforced. There are some situations where extreme measures need to be taken, such as repeated offenses or students who purposely access inappropriate sites. Try to keep the same guidelines as you would with suspending a student in these cases. One to three days is usually plenty of time.  (Jennifer Kuehnle)
 

  Copyright Question of the Month 

Q.  May an educator (e.g., administrator, classroom teacher, substitute teacher, or student teacher) other district employee, volunteer, or others read and translate a work into a student’s native language and create an audio tape?  

A.  No   Translation of print materials from one language to another or to an audio format creates a derivative work. This is the exclusive right of the copyright owner. 

Note: Permission to change print materials to audio format must be requested from the copyright owner.
 

  Grant Writing Tips
http://techlearning.com/resources/grants.jhtml
Source:  Technology & Learning 

1. TIP:  Who will evaluate the program?  It’s not unusual for grant guidelines to require an outside evaluator.  If you choose well, your outside evaluator will help develop evaluation instruments, implement the evaluation plan, and will provide an unbiased analysis of the data for reporting purposes.
    

2. NCLB TIP: Alignment of the curriculum with state standards and assessments is an important piece of No Child Left Behind legislation.  Software and Web-based systems can be used to facilitate and document this alignment.  Include the use of technology for this purpose in your funding proposals.
    

3. TIP:  How will your project impact others?  Grantors are more likely to fund programs that can be replicated or adapted in other situations.  Explain how you will document and evaluate the program and how this information will be disseminated to others.
    

4. NCLB TIP: Private schools are eligible to share in No Child Left Behind funds awarded to public school districts.  Many private schools have students eligible for services provided by NCLB funding.  Public school proposals must include a description of methods used to consult with the private schools in the district’s service area to provide equitable services to these students.  Private school educators may also be eligible for such funds for professional development.
    

5.  TIP:  What’s your sustainability track record?  Most grantors want to support institutions that have successfully sustained other grants beyond the original funding period.  Research your district’s success in this area and include that data in a specific sustainability plan.
    

6. NCLB TIP:  No Child Left Behind legislation requires dramatically increased home/school communications.  Federal funds may be used to rachet up your existing communications systems.  Communication channels  including email, the school Web site, and telephone-based messaging systems are all eligible for financial support.

  Grant Funding Opportunities

Source:  Technology & Learning
For descriptions of the individual grants, go to the www.techlearning.com/grants.html 

 
  Mark Your Calendar

   Upcoming 2004-2005 Conferences 

 
     From the Mailbag      

Hewlett-Packard Middle School Science Leadership Grant
http://grants.hp.com/us/programs/science_leadership.html
(Deadline: October 8th, 2004) Hewlett-Packard has recently issued a Request for Proposals for middle schools who would like to attend the LASER Middle School Science Leadership Symposium to be held in Atlanta, GA this coming December. Districts in which more than 50% of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch may apply for this grant from HP. Up to 11 middle school teams will be selected to receive a scholarship package that covers the cost of symposium registration as well as a "presentation package" of HP technology valued at approximately $6,000 (laptop, projector, and digital camera). The HP grant application and LASER registration must be completed and returned to the NSRC before October 8th.  

Intel "Schools of Distinction" Award
http://www.schoolsofdistinction.com/
Deadline: December 1, 2004. Intel Corporation, Scholastic Inc., and Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, Inc., are conducting a search of elementary, middle, and high schools that demonstrate excellence in any of ten categories - from Academic Achievement to Technology Excellence. In addition to prizes consisting of equipment, software, and services, winning schools will receive $10,000 - and two schools selected from these winners will be designated as "Best of the Best." These schools will receive an additional $15,000. Last year's overall prize package was valued at over $120,000 per school.  

Inspired Teacher Scholarships for Visual Learning program
http://www.inspiration.com/scholarship
Inspiration Software Opportunities: Inspiration Software(r), Inc. is pleased to announce the seventh annual Inspired Teacher Scholarships for Visual Learning program! Applications are now available online at http://www.inspiration.com/scholarship. AWARDS FOR CHAMPIONS OF VISUAL LEARNING - The scholarship program offers 25 scholarships in the amount of $750 each to educators who champion visual learning and technology in their classrooms, schools or districts. NEW!! ROOKIE AWARDS - This year, Inspiration Software is also offering five Inspired Teacher Scholarship Rookie Awards in the amount of $750 each to educators who are new to the area of visual learning, but are ready to learn more. The 30 scholarship recipients will be chosen on the basis of applications evaluated per published criteria. Scholarships can be used for professional development activities in the area of visual learning and technology. Scholarship applications are due on or before January 27, 2005. Scholarship recipients will be notified by March 17, 2005. Learn more about the 2005 Scholarships program, download application forms and apply online. 

Annenberg Foundation Professional Development Opportunities: "Do the Write Thing"
Whether writing skills are being tested or not, we educators know they are critical to our young people.  Annenberg/CPB will premiere two new free workshops this fall that focus on teaching writing: "Write in the Middle: A Workshop for Middle School Teachers" is designed to help teachers learn effective practices and strategies to use with middle school students in writing instruction.  The eight-part workshop will air Mondays, September 20-November 15. 

"Developing Writers: A Workshop for High School Teachers"
Practical and philosophical advice for teaching writing, while examining issues every teacher faces. This eight-part workshop will air Mondays, October 25-December 20. 

Free Paint Shop Pro and Paint Shop Pro Studio for Teacher Training Centers
New Teacher Training Program Enables Educators to Stay Current with Advanced Digital Image Editing Software
Minneapolis, Minnesota (September 20, 2004) – Jasc® Software, Inc. announced today that Paint Shop^™ Pro^®  9 and Paint Shop^™ Pro^® Studio are available free of charge to teacher training centers. The Teacher Training Program allows school districts to get teachers trained on the latest advances in digital image editing software so they can evaluate the technology for preparing lesson plans, presentations, web projects, and use in the classroom without burdening school district budgets. The program is available to educators at technical schools, colleges, universities, and K-12 in the United States and Canada. 

Launched this month, Paint Shop Pro Studio and Paint Shop Pro 9 are two new products that offer users at all skill levels software tailored to their needs. Paint Shop Pro 9 is a professional-strength product for photo editing, graphic design, and digital art. Paint Shop Pro Studio is a Jasc photo editor that includes an Idea Book and learning tools for those who want to do more than novice editing without a steep learning curve. 

NSF Information Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST)
Owner-grants-1@more.net
Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (required): November 01, 2004
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time): February 09, 2005  

Synopsis of Program:
ITEST is designed to increase the opportunities for students and teachers to learn about, experience, and use information technologies within the context of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), including Information Technology (IT) courses. It is in direct response to the concern about shortages of technology workers in the United States.  Supported projects are intended to provide opportunities for both school-age children and for teachers to build the skills and knowledge needed to advance their study, and to function and contribute in a technologically rich society. 

ITEST has two components: (a) youth-based projects with strong emphases on career and educational paths; and (b) comprehensive projects for students and teachers.  This solicitation complements and is not intended to overlap with the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program described in Section I.  Information Technology (IT) is within the scope of the ATE program, so proposals for the development of IT classroom materials for students or teachers, or for professional development of IT teachers in support of technical careers, should be submitted to the ATE program. 

Digital Accessibility Solutions for Literacy and Special Education - by Colligo
Colligo provides the most cost effective, easiest to use, and most versatile digital accessibility solutions for individuals with Vision Impairments, Literacy Challenges and Reading Difficulties. People across the nation are benefiting from these tools, assisting them to read, read more easily, more rapidly, with more comprehension, developing better reading skills and a more Independent way of life.

Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award
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