District CIO

Many of us in today’s workforce had help from parents, teachers, mentors or peers in identifying what we wanted to become and getting started in our careers. Today’s students need the same kind of assistance to become the backbone of tomorrow’s workforce and our future leaders. The robotics competition can help.

The National Center for Data Statistics' Data Explorer for Main NAEP provides national and state results in 10 subject areas, including math, reading, writing, and science. Results have been produced for the nation and participating states and other jurisdictions since 1990, and for selected urban districts since 2002.

The Next Generation Science Standards, based on the Framework for K12 Science Education developed by the National Research Council, are now available. Download a printer-friendly version here or click on the videos to learn more. An interactive version will be available soon.

McGraw-Hill Education has formed a collaboration with education media company ePals Corporation that will allow teachers and students to connect with peers in more than 200 countries to participate in global learning activities.

Moore County commissioners seem inclined to pay for part of the school system's digital learning initiative, but they want to see results before committing to future funding. At the commissioners' critical issues summit Thursday, they indicated they want the school system to pay for more of the effort.

During its first year of operation, Florida Virtual School had 77 students. The next year, it had 476 students; then 2,489 students the year after that. Now, Florida Virtual School is a national brand, becoming the top online-course provider in America and serving tens of thousands of students every year, all over the country.

Riverside County (Calif.) supervisors authorized the sale of $21 million in bonds by the Coachella Valley Unified School District to support districtwide technology upgrades and supply every student with an Apple iPad.

In preparation of upcoming digital changes in Hamilton City Schools, two teachers within the district will soon take on the role of full-time technology instructional coaches. Zach Vander Veen, director of technology, said he hopes to have the spots filled by the end of the school year.

In October, the Florida Department of Education requested more than $400 million for digital learning in its annual budget request submitted to state lawmakers. The money was needed to buy computers and upgrade public schools' bandwidth and wireless access, it said. But now department officials say they can make do with just $100 million for next year.

The Kutztown (Pa.) School Board approved a $171,500 technology infrastructure upgrade. "The vision is to provide reliable and current resources," said Dr. Christopher Harrington, director of Bridges Virtual Education School.