11th-Graders Will Avoid Controversial Smarter Balanced Test HARTFORD — The state's 11th-graders will be taking the SAT instead of the controversial Smarter Balanced Assessment test starting in the coming school year, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced Thursday. The U.S. Department of Education approved a waiver request that Malloy submitted "to reduce the amount of standardized testing required for public high school students." The SAT will be used in lieu of the Smarter Balanced test, and will be free for all Connecticut students, Malloy said. "Beyond the benefits of reducing duplicative testing, the move has an added benefit of leveling the playing field by ensuring those who otherwise might not be able to afford the SAT — the costs for which typically run more than $50 — will not be precluded from taking the exam, which is often requisite for admission to higher education institutions," the governor said in a statement. The federal education department also approved a new program to allow the state to rate schools 1-5 based on their performance.
Manifesto for 21st Century Teacher Librarians | Teacher Librarian Editor’s Note: This article was originally published as a Tag Team Tech column on www.voyamagazine.com. It has been reprinted and reproduced numerous times and in many places. We are making it available here to ensure that all of our readers have seen it. Manifesto for 21st Century Teacher Librarians By Joyce Kasman Valenza October 2010 A couple of summers back a young school librarian, fresh out of library school, asked a very honest question at one of our state retreats: We’re all doing different stuff. Well into the 21st century, it is clear that the concept of modern teacher librarian practice is not clear. What I know for sure is that if the Joyce who graduated from library school in 1976 (and again with a school specialty in 1988), heck, if the Joyce from the 2007/2008 school year, were to visit my library today, she would be stunned by the differences in my/our practice. And in my humble opinion some aspects of emerging practice are nonnegotiable. Reading Information Landscape 1. 2. 1.
Participate Learning - Keynote references & tools Follett BryteWave K-12 Edition Follett BryteWave K-12 Edition by Follett NOTE: THIS IS NOT THE COLLEGE VERSION OF BryteWave. THIS IS DESIGNED FOR K-12 SCHOOLS. More than just pages on a screen – Follett eBooks are dynamic teaching tools that enhance learning, both in the library and the classroom. Enjoy easy and instant access...
Share Book Recommendations With Your Friends, Join Book Clubs, Answer Trivia Invent To Learn: Making, Tinkering, and Engineering in the Classroom (9780989151108): Sylvia Libow Martinez, Gary S. Stager: Books Follett Community : Blogs : Webinar follow-up materials: Destiny Resource Manager 8/25 What's New with Destiny Resource Manager? Everything! It's a Whole New Ballgame To be useful, any resource management solution must be designed to manage all educational, administrative and facility resource categories; from physical items and print materials, to digital resources and even services. Destiny Resource Manager is built to maintain a centralized inventory to identify all district resources and services. With Destiny Resource Manager you are able to deploy resources automatically to teachers and students via their class schedules. In short, Destiny Resource Manager helps districts in three distinct ways: Strategically: Superintendents can now see how much they have invested in educational, administrative and facility resources. Destiny Resource Manager is a part of an integrated software platform that also includes textbook, library materials, and media management systems.
Diana Laufenberg | Speaker Common Core Under Attack As you read this, at least five of the 45 states that signed on to adopt the new Common Core State Standards have opted not to offer the online assessments designed to measure student outcomes against the standards. Over the summer, a number of other states threw up their hands and said they can't afford the assessment price tag. And in two bellwether states—Indiana and Florida—legislators are getting an earful from grassroots critics who see Common Core as a federal takeover of state education policy. Some have even dubbed it "Obamacore." Why all the fuss now, two years after most states signed on to align with the national math and ELA standards? And how many more states can drop out before the "common" is lost from Common Core? There's still a year to go before the standards and assessment officially roll out. To close observers, it's no surprise that the debate over Common Core's mission is heating up, given the odd alliances that have formed. For some, it may be too late.
School Library Effective school library programs and professionally trained teacher librarians play an essential role in the instructional program of each school and student achievement. In 2006, a requirement that each school district in Iowa employ a qualified teacher librarian and have in place an articulated, sequential K-12 library program, became a part of 281--Iowa Administrative Code 12.3(12). 21st Century Teacher Librarian The role of the teacher librarian in Iowa schools is evolving to meet 21st century learning needs and to integrate technological tools to enhance instruction and support multiple literacies. The resulting vision for effective school library programs is conveyed through seven key roles of the teacher librarian. Back to top Vision for Iowa’s School Libraries Iowa’s best schools have library programs that engage the entire school community to elevate the learning experience for all. Program Guidelines Information Literacy Curriculum Resources Documents
Highly Effective School Library Program | CDE The focus of the Highly Effective Schools Through Libraries (HESTL) is two-fold: To provide guidance for K-12 educators as they facilitate student achievement and preparation for 21st century success, and, To recognize outstanding school library programs and librarians. Our goal is that all schools will have highly-qualified teacher librarians and communities (parents, students, administrators, and fellow educators) who value an exemplary teacher-librarian and library program in order to help students and staff thrive in school and beyond. To earn highly effective status principals and teacher librarians complete applications for five exemplars, using the HESTL rubric as a guide. HESTL Program Information Flyer Guidance The newly revised HESTL Rubric 2020 provides a more structural way to evaluate the strengths and areas of growth for library staff, library spaces, and library programs. Highly Effective Recognition *NEW* Actual examples of Impactful Artifacts/Evidence Contact Information
School Libraries Transform Learning This digital magazine produced by AASL in partnership with American Libraries, is designed to be shared with parents, colleagues, administration, and policymakers. Available electronically or as a PDF download, this tool can open the door to discussions on the multiple ways school libraries transform learning. Articles "I'm an Expert" School Librarians Transform Learning Reimagining Advocacy for School Libraries "Do Kids Even Use the Library Anymore?" Extras Give printed copies to your stakeholders during your conversations! School Library Advocacy Packs These advocacy packs are intended to be used as tools to spread the word about the many ways school librarians are transforming teaching and learning. This pack includes: 25 copies of a limited print edition of “School Libraries Transform Learning,” an American Libraries Digital Supplement Assorted brochures from the “School Library Programs Improve Student Learning” series, also sponsored by BTSB 2015 | Item # 9200-2015 | Free.