LEADER OF THE YEAR
A A West Virginia Department of Education  employee was nationally honored by her peers for her leadership in instructional technology. The State Educational Technology Directors Association named Brenda Williams, executive director for the Office of Instructional Technology, as the first-ever Leader of the Year. EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Virginia Department of Education  recently honored eight outstanding educators with the Education Technology Leadership Award for their advocacy and use of educational technology in the commonwealth's public schools. The awards were presented during the department's December 8-10 Educational Technology Leadership Conference at the Hotel Roanoke. ACADEMIC CONTENT STANDARDS ADOPTED
The Ohio State Board of Education voted unanimously (16-0) to adopt new academic content standards in computer literacy, fine arts and foreign language. These conclude the remaining three of seven subject areas approved by the Board in Ohio's effort to create an aligned system of academic standards, model curricula and tests. Content standards for English language arts and mathematics were adopted in December 2001, while science and social studies standards were approved in December 2002. PARTNERSHIP ENHANCES HISTORY EDUCATION
The History Channel and Comcast announced a three-year partnership with The School District of Philadelphia to provide teacher training sessions, grants/scholarships, classroom materials and a public service announcement for Philadelphia's public secondary school teachers and students. This special commitment strives to further enhance history education in the city's schools and all educational support will be tied into Philadelphia's curriculum standards. The History Channel education initiative with The School District of Philadelphia is part of Save Our History, the network's national campaign for historic preservation and history education. HUMAN RESOURCES WEB PAGE LAUNCHED
The newly redesigned Human Resources Web page on the  Anne Arundel County Public Schools' Web site now offers the ability to apply online for positions. Individuals can apply online for teacher, administrator, guidance counselor, principal, assistant principal, personnel worker, school psychologist, and speech-language pathologist positions.

K12 News

NEW KENTUCKY SECRETARY OF EDUCATION
Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher announced his Secretary of Education. Fletcher named former executive director and CEO of Kentucky Educational Television (KET), Virginia Fox, who was one of the first 10 people to launch KET in 1968 and helped transform it into the largest PBS member network in the United States.

3,000 REFURBISHED COMPUTERS DONATED
The School District of Philadelphia announced that it will be able to put 3,000 refurbished computers into district high school classrooms this year thanks to its civic and corporate partners, better known as the district's Computer Re-Use Collaborative. The city of Philadelphia, Merck & Co. Inc., Saul Ewing LLP and the Vanguard Group donated computers, and Microsoft Inc. donated necessary licenses and software that will be installed on the refurbished machines.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK BACKBONE EXTENDED
Lt. Gov. Dave Heineman, chair of the Nebraska Information Technology Commission (NITC), announced the extension of the statewide telecommunications network backbone to the communities of North Platte, Alliance and Norfolk. Developing the statewide telecommunications network backbone has been a collaborative effort of the state's Division of Communications, the University of Nebraska, the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission, the Department of Education and the NITC.

JR. ROBOTICS EVENT
The University of Illinois hosted the FIRST Jr. Robotics event for students from ages 9 to 14. Students form teams to design, build and program robots using LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Invention System technology. Working with team members, mentors and teachers, students apply engineering know-how, computer programming skills and presentation techniques as they compete to best solve the annual challenge. The sixth annual LEGO League Challenge event is "Mission Mars."

$7.7 MILLION FOR NEW MEXICO PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARIES
The New Mexico Public Education Department and Department of Cultural Affairs announced that each of New Mexico's 89 public school districts would share in $7.7 million as a result of voter approval of GO Bond C in November 2002. The funds will flow to 682 public school libraries through their local school districts.

$3 MILLION FOR ELECTRONIC PORTFOLIOS PROJECT
The University of Vermont College of Education and Social Services will team up with Champlain College and three Vermont state colleges to train future teachers to make the most of the computers in their classrooms and to create their own state-of-the-art "electronic portfolios" using grant funding. Over the next three years, the university will study those first users of the e-tools to see how well they use technology when they become teachers. The $1.45 million grant will be matched with local funds to bring the total to $3 million over three years.

$1 MILLION FOR MATH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
BellSouth announced a $1 million commitment to help improve the teaching skills of middle and high school teachers in the areas of math and science, to motivate more students to pursue opportunities in engineering, and to impact economic develop in South Carolina. The South Carolina Department of Education, the University of South Carolina College of Engineering and Information Technology, and the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce are partnering with BellSouth on this initiative. The grant will be used to fund Project Lead the Way and For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.

$568,300 GRANTS FOR WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY LABS
The South Dakota Department of Education recently awarded $568,300 for wireless and handheld technology labs to 52 local schools in South Dakota. The awards were funded through two competitive U.S. Department of Education grants awarded to the state of South Dakota from the federal Fund for the Improvement of Education program and the Star Schools program. Seventy-nine proposals were reviewed by the South Dakota Department of Education; 52 received awards. For more information visit the following Web site or Web site.

$500,000 PLEDGED TO SCHOOL MEDIA CENTERS
Thousands of new books will appear on the shelves of Orange County Public Schools over the next five years thanks to a huge donation from the Central Florida Educators Federal Credit Union. The credit union, which serves Orange County Public Schools employees and other groups, pledged half a million dollars to local school media centers for books, software and other educational supplies. Ten checks totaling $100,000 were given out to school principals at a special ceremony at Hungerford Elementary School, which received one of the $10,000 donations.

$468,545 GRANT FUNDS PARENT-TEACHER EDUCATION CONNECTION
The University of North Texas Center for Parent Education and its partner teacher education programs received a three-year grant for $468,545 from the U.S. Department of Education's Fund for Improvement of Postsecondary Education. The grant will fund the Parent Teacher Education Connection project, by providing a curriculum for teachers in training to learn about different cultural beliefs and practices related to parenting, communications and school-parent relationships. The curriculum, which supports the provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act, will be distributed nationally via the Internet library of UNT's Texas Center for Educational Technology.

$50,000 LIBRARY SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGY ACT GRANT
Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas awarded a $50,000 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant for advanced computer technology to the Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro. The LSTA-funded Advanced Technology Grant is designed to assist public libraries in achieving major upgrades to their integrated automation systems. Requirements include a large-scale (20 or more users) integrated library automation system seeking to improve public services.

MYSIGNLINK
Whether you are a parent using sign language to communicate with a deaf child or someone who simply wants to learn how to sign a particular word, the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf developed an exciting new online tool to help you. MySignLink is a searchable online sign language dictionary. It is a powerful new application that promotes deaf literacy, while helping others around the state and the world learn American Sign Language (ASL). Getting started is easy by visiting the Web site.

EDUCATOR LICENSURE AND RECRUITMENT SYSTEM
Seven months before the licenses for about 80,000 educators will expire, the Massachusetts Department of Education is encouraging the educators to utilize a new online system to renew their licenses months in advance. Over the past year the DOE upgraded ELAR, the online Educator Licensure and Recruitment system. This system is streamlined and easy-to-follow, allowing those with all of their paperwork in order and who complete their application online to get their new license mailed out by the end of the next business day. For more information, teachers should call the Licensure Call Center at 781.338.6600.

SNOW-DAY WEB SITE
The West Virginia Department of Education offers an additional option for parents to learn of any changes in their children's daily school schedule. Snow, flooding or utility problems can cause schools to cancel, delay their morning start or dismiss early sending students home and causing concern among parents or other caregivers. Citizens who wish to receive e-mail notifications should visit the Department of Education's Web site.

eRFPSchoolWatch

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND WIRING BID
Turner Construction Company and the Town of Wallingford invite all qualified bidders to submit sealed lump-sum bids for bid packages: 01 Telecommunications and Technology Wiring for the Six Wallingford Schools - Telecommunications and Technology Wiring Project in Wallingford, CT. For more information, contact the Town of Wallingford Department of Finance - Bureau of Purchases, 45 South Main St., Wallingford, CT 06492; Attention: Robert Pedersen, Jr. All questions must be directed in writing to Turner Construction Company; attention: Mr. Bruce Hoff at (fax) 203).783.8899. All bids are due Dec. 29, 2003.

K12 IT News

COMPUTER RE-USE COLLABORATIVE

The School District of Philadelphia announced that it will be able to put 3,000 refurbished computers into district high school classrooms this year thanks to its civic and corporate partners, better known as the district's Computer Re-Use Collaborative. The city of Philadelphia, Merck & Co. Inc., Saul Ewing LLP, and Vanguard International Inc. donated computers and Microsoft donated necessary licenses and software that will be installed on the refurbished machines.

ONLINE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Ohio SchoolNet contracted with the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems to determine the extent to which Ohio school districts use online professional development opportunities and student courses, and which companies and organizations provide these professional development activities and student courses. Ohio SchoolNet is using this information as part of a larger and ongoing study about the use of computer-based and online tools in Ohio school districts.  Please click here to access the audit report.

SOFTWARE CHALLENGE

Outstanding Mendive Middle School students in the Washoe County School District will be honored at a reward breakfast December 4 in the Mendive Multipurpose Room.  Students who have achieved a grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a scale of 4.0) will receive special recognition. And this year, the students will have an extra surprise, thanks to Microsoft Licensing, the school's partner in education. They will receive free copies of Encarta.

$1.4 MILLION IN TECHNOLOGY GRANTS FOR WEST VIRGINIA EDUCATION

The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) was one of nine states awarded technology grants from the U.S. Department of Education. These grants will provide funding for rigorous scientific evaluations of how technology impacts student achievement in elementary and secondary education. WVDE is the recipient of two grants, one in the amount of $1.4 million over three years, which will be appropriated to the ED PACE program. This program will employ a quasi-experimental design with experimental elements to assess student achievement in virtual foreign language courses.

$1 MILLION DONATION SUPPORTS LIBRARIES AND TECHNOLOGY

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg joined Sean "P. Diddy" Combs to announce a $1 million donation to support libraries and technology in New York City public schools. The funds were raised through "Diddy Runs the City, An Initiative by Sean Combs" to raise awareness and solicit donations for children's health and educational needs while training for the ING New York City Marathon.

$300,000 DONATION OF FREE SOFTWARE AND TEACHER TRAINING

All 296 Washington school districts and the educational service districts are receiving free software and teacher training this fall to enhance instructional opportunities for students. The value of the statewide donation totals more than $300,000. Under a program called MSDN Academic Alliance High School Membership, Microsoft Corp. donated a package of software that can be used on computers in 684 public high schools and some junior high schools and middle schools throughout the state. The software, called Visual Studio, allows students to create their own software using multiple programming languages and develop programs that will operate in a Microsoft Windows environment. Along with the software Microsoft, will also offer the schools teacher training.

$200,000 FOR 21ST CENTURY SCHOOLS OF DISTINCTION AWARD

Intel Corp., Scholastic Administr@tor and the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Foundation, announced a national award program to recognize outstanding K-12 schools in the United States -- The 21st Century Schools of Distinction Award. This new program will highlight the successes of the nation's best schools and celebrate their use of technology, the benefits of strong teamwork, and their development of excellent classroom teachers. The Intel Foundation will award more than $200,000 to the honored schools.

ST. PAUL LEARNS

Parents whose children attend a Saint Paul public school have a new way to take an active role in their children's education. With the help of business, non-profit and community partners, Saint Paul Public Schools launched Saint Paul Learns, a Web site that aims to enrich learning for students by providing parents with educational resources and information. District leaders expect parents to use the information on the Web site to work closely with their children to improve academic performance. Key sections of the site are already available in Hmong, Spanish and Somali, and the goal is to have the whole site translated.

JUST READ, FAMILIES

Florida Commissioner of Education Jim Horne launched a new Web-based reading program, called Just Read, Families! For the Holidays at Oak Hill Elementary School in Jacksonville. Just Read, Families! For the Holidays is a new holiday reading program which provides information for parents so they can take an active role in reading with their children during their winter break. Resources include tips for parents on how to read well with children and a list of recommended books with holiday themes including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, and Ramadan.

VIDEO MAGAZINE LAUNCHED

The Indiana Department of Education's Division of Educational Options created a video magazine, called Focus, designed to provide the public with information regarding alternative education programs. The program was developed as a response to educators across the state asking for more information about the subject. Focus also provides the Division of Educational Options with a new method for sharing data and current research on successful alternative schools. Along with the video magazine, a discussion forum has been added to the department's Web page and can be accessed at the Focus homepage. The first episode can be viewed at the Web site.

PRE-KINDERGARTEN-16 PUBLIC EDUCATION INFORMATION RESOURCE

The Texas Pre-Kindergarten-16 Public Education Information Resource (TPEIR) project was less about technology and more about collaboration and partnerships. TPEIR is a multi-agency data repository managed by three Texas state agencies: the Texas Education Agency, Higher Education Coordinating Board and State Board for Educator Certification. The partners collaborated to build a system that would assure that the entire system of public education, extending from early childhood through postgraduate study, is coordinated to provide public education stakeholders with efficient, effective and high-quality educational services and activities. For more information, visit the Web Site.

K12 News
 
NEW MEXICO'S FIRST SECRETARY OF EDUCATION
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson named Veronica Garcia as New Mexico's first Secretary of Education. The top two choices from the committee were: Veronica Garcia, a former teacher who was executive director of the New Mexico Coalition of School Administrators; and Kurt Steinhaus, an education policy advisor who worked since 1999 as director of Student and Education Programs at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

NEW SECRETARY OF EDUCATION FOR CALIFORNIA
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that he appointed Mayor Richard Riordan as the California Secretary for Education. Riordan was elected Mayor of Los Angeles in 1993 and overwhelmingly reelected in 1997.

AWARDS FOR WEB SITE AND HOMEPAGE
Fairfax County Public Schools' (FCPS) Office of Community Relations (OCR) and Kings Park and Kings Glen Elementary Schools have been named winners in the 2002-03 communications contest of the Chesapeake Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association. The Office of Community Relations won five awards: an award of merit for its Internet homepage; an award of excellence for its alumni Web site; an award of merit for its emergency preparedness and support Web site; an award of excellence for its intranet homepage; and an award of excellence for its OCR intranet page on crisis and critical incidents.

$2.55 MILLION CONTRACT TO SUPPLY FINANCIAL COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
New York City Department of Education signed an agreement with Tier Technologies Inc. to manage, maintain, upgrade, and Web-enable a number of financial computer applications for the Department of Education's Division of Financial Operations. The contract, which runs through July 31, 2006, will be invoiced on a time and materials basis and is valued at up to $2.55 million.

GENERATIONLINK
Senior citizens from the Hal Marston Community Center, ranging in age from 60 to 92, are becoming computer savvy, thanks to a program at Orange County Public Schools' Evans High called, "GenerationLink," which has high school students teaching seniors how to use the Internet. Ten students from the school's Professional Educators Academy will work one on one with the local seniors for six weeks in the innovative program that is being sponsored by EarthLink, in partnership with AARP Florida. Evans is only the second school in the country to be selected for the initiative.

COMPUTER DONATION FOR MORE-AT-FOUR PROGRAM
North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley joined More-at-Four pre-kindergarten students at Southeast Elementary in Kinston to celebrate a generous donation from IBM Corp. IBM is donating 93 Young Explorer computers to More-at-Four classrooms across the state. The donation of 93 computers is being distributed to More-at-Four classrooms across the state based on need. The equipment includes age-appropriate educational software for the program's pre-K curriculum as well as colorful, child-sized plastic furniture. IBM will also provide training for all lead teachers who receive computers in their classrooms.

$10 MILLION TECHNOLOGY FOR TEACHING GRANT
Hewlett-Packard announced a $10 million Technology for Teaching Grant initiative targeting schools in the United States from kindergarten through university level. The initiative is designed to support innovative and effective uses of technology in classrooms so that students may reach their full potential, particularly in math, science and engineering.

$1.5 MILLION EVALUATING STATE EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY GRANT
North Carolina will have a better understanding of the educational benefits of technology use in the classroom thanks to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's recent receipt of a three-year, $1.5 million Evaluating State Educational Technology Grant. North Carolina is just one of 10 states to receive this grant, which will be used to conduct scientifically based research into the impact of technology on student learning.

$626,000 GRANT FUNDS HOMELAND SECURITY PROGRAM
Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan, School Board President Patricia B. O'Neill and Superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools Dr. Jerry D. Weast announced that the county is taking another step forward in enhancing homeland security throughout the community. The announcement focused on a new $626,000 federal grant for schools to provide more communication about emergency procedures with students, parents and teachers. In addition, a new $1 million police command bus purchased with federal funds earlier in the year was unveiled. The bus provides a portable public safety command post with state-of-the-art equipment to manage emergency situations.

$860,000 FOR 3D AND VIRTUAL REALITY PROGRAM
An Iowa State University industrial technology professor earned an $860,000, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation for a computer program that produces three-dimensional stereoscopic images and a low-cost virtual reality technology package for high school and college product design and technical graphics classrooms.

$20,000 IN LEAPTRACK SYSTEMS DONATED
Longfields Elementary School in the Prince George County Public Schools has been selected to receive a donation of five LeapTrack Systems from the LeapFrog SchoolHouse Co. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. The LeapTrack System provides teachers with the ability to instantly assess their students, personalize student instruction, and continuously monitor student progress as they move towards mastery of state standards. These five systems, for use in grades K-5, will include 60 LeapPad units, grade-level assessments, interactive instructional materials, and professional development materials. The value of this donation is $20,000.

MYLUNCHMONEY.COM LAUNCHED
Now students in the Duval County Public Schools can log on a new Web site and pay for their school meals online. Using myLunchMoney.com, parents can log on and prepay for school meals using a MasterCard or Visa credit card. This new service is free, easy-to-use, convenient, private and secure.