When Upton High School in Wyoming switched from a traditional to a self-paced education model last year, Weston County School District Superintendent Summer Stephens' 15-year-old daughter reacted the way many students did. "'I don't know how to make choices,' she kept saying" Stephens recalls. "But now a year later, she has organized her classes and […]
Quick quiz: After the buildings, salaries and benefits, what is one of the biggest expenses for most school districts? Chances are that it's those ubiquitous yellow buses that pick up kids in the morning and return them home (or close to it) after school. With the typical school bus costing between $45,000 and $90,000 a […]
School district administrators hate it when they stumble across closets full of unused computing devices or visit classrooms where whiteboards are being used as very expensive chalkboards. Technology leaders at Dysart USD in the Phoenix suburbs had real-world experience with this phenomenon and were determined to make changes, says Diana Hawari, chief information officer. "Buying […]
Faced with tight budgets and the expanding use of electricity-hungry technology, districts are turning to energy efficiency solutions that don't sacrifice learning power. "Academic achievement is always foremost in everyone's mind, and parents, teachers and administrators all want to be first in that space where you're providing the latest tools—the tablets, laptops and phones that […]
Today's more sophisticated visitor management systems allow K12 leaders to get a better handle on who's trying to enter (or leave) their buildings—including tardy students. Lobby kiosks can perform automated and instant background checks, screen guests, and issue badges. This process can immediately identify registered sex offenders and alert staff to parental custody issues, among […]
Towson University's Educycle program teams college students with high school interns to clean, run diagnostics on and redistribute 'old' computers. Refurbished devices go to Towson's student labs and to local Baltimore County, Harford County and Baltimore City school districts, who then install new software and operating systems. Educycle was launched in spring 2014 after Theresa […]
Too many students graduate high school unprepared for college and career. There is a disconnect between what they know when they leave high school and what they are expected to know when they enter college and the workplace. They lack vital communications and critical thinking skills as well as real-world experiences. So, how do you […]
Whether it's a small district with just a few schools or a mammoth operation that spends billions of dollars, one thing is certain: getting tech support in the right place at the right time is mission critical. This not only requires having trained staff to fix problems, but maintaining careful coordination and communication between the […]
We pretty much understand rocket science, says Doug Green. That is, we understand the complex math and physics that propel objects into space. "The human brain, however, which is the learning playground for students and teachers, is much more complex and less understood." An educator since 1970—as an elementary principal, district computer director, K12 science […]
Many elementary school students in Marion County Public Schools spend more than 20 minutes per night reading with family members. Parents in the central Florida district also report their children feel less stressed this school year.
