News - KEH Communications

Curriculum Associates Expands ‘Ready® Common Core Reading’ for Grades K–1

Multicomponent program uses best-practice teaching strategies and routines to help students in early grades develop reading comprehension skills assessed by the Common Core

NORTH BILLERICA, Mass., September 9, 2013 – Curriculum Associates, LLC, has expanded its Ready® Common Core Reading program with Grades K–1 content to help students in early grade levels meet the new demands of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Ready Common Core Reading offers K–1 students age-appropriate instruction and practice to build reading comprehension skills and supports teachers with point-of-use professional development to help them teach the new, more rigorous standards.

Education Visionary Tom Vander Ark Discusses Blended Learning for Special Education in Webinar

PresenceLearning sponsors October 1st webinar to help administrators understand how to deploy blended learning in special education

SAN FRANCISCO, September 5, 2013 – As blended learning continues to become more popular in ed-tech discussions, educators want to understand the practical considerations and implications for their schools and students. Blended learning offers special opportunities in special education, allowing new levels of individualization and engagement for students with special needs. PresenceLearning, the leader in online speech therapy and other special education-related services for K-12 students, is partnering with Getting Smart to present a free, one-hour webinar featuring Tom Vander Ark, a leading champion of blended learning: “Getting Smarter About SPED: 5 Blended Learning Decisions & Implications” is being held on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at 12 PM ET (9 AM PT). To register for the webinar, visit http://plearn.co/1doemDE

Sumter County School District, FL Selects Teachscape to Strategically Build Upon their Teaching Effectiveness Success

District to further enhance its culture of continuous improvement through ongoing PD based on fair and reliable teacher evaluations

SAN FRANCISCO, September 4, 2013 – To build upon its success, and maintain its designation by the Florida Department of Education as an academically high-performing school district, Sumter County School District (SCSD) in Bushnell, FL has chosen Teachscape to help them drive teacher effectiveness and promote a culture of continuous professional improvement. SCSD will implement the Teachscape Effectiveness Platform based on Charlotte Danielson’s 2011 Framework for Teaching Evaluation Instrument (FFT), with plans of implementing the 2013 Edition of the FFT in the 2014-15 school year.

NYSED names Curriculum Associates’ i-Ready® Diagnostic for Grades 9-12 as an Approved Measure of Student Growth

Online diagnostic for reading and math to help New York State school districts and BOCES define student growth for teacher and principal evaluations

NORTH BILLERICA, Mass., September 3, 2013 – Curriculum Associates’ i-Ready Diagnostic for Reading and Math for Grades 9-12 has been approved by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) as a measure of student achievement or growth. As a result, i-Ready Diagnostic will subsequently contribute to teachers’ and principals’ annual performance appraisals per the state’s teacher evaluation requirements.

Survey Shows Educators’ and Publishers’ Opinions, Concerns Regarding Online Search for Educational Content

Results indicate increased publisher awareness of the Learning Resource Metadata Initiative

Philadelphia, PA, August 27, 2013 – Publisher awareness of the Learning Resource Metadata Initiative (LRMI) has nearly doubled between 2012 and 2013 (from 46.6% to 85.9%), according to results of a recent survey just released by the LRMI. The report, “Ease and Discoverability: Educators and Publishers on the Search for Educational Content,” depicts results of two February 2013 surveys, which individually targeted educators and publishers and were a follow up to surveys conducted in April 2012. Data from all surveys are included in the report, demonstrating respondents’ experiences, opinions, and frustrations when searching for and tagging educational resources online.

Bahamian Educators Learn How To Bring Sustainable Energy Lessons To The Classroom

August 26, 2013- The Ministry of Education in the Bahamas and the Organization of American States (OAS) through its Department of Sustainable Development conducted a two-day teacher workshop in Nassau on August 21-22, 2013 to teach educators the importance of teaching about renewable energy and energy conservation in order to enhance the current academic curriculum. The workshop also actively involved educators in the advocacy of cleaner and more sustainable energy development in the Bahamas. The attendees included primary and secondary school teachers from New Providence and the Family Islands.

PublicSchoolWORKS’ New Website Provides Information and News About School Safety Requirements

Cincinnati, OH – August 26, 2013 – PublicSchoolWORKS, the signature safety solution for schools, has launched its new website that has been redesigned to provide an improved user experience. The new website includes enhanced navigation tools to access comprehensive school safety information, timely and relevant industry news, plus updated information and resources available from PublicSchoolWORKS.

Department of Defense Adopts New Physical Education Program for Schools Worldwide

San Diego, CA, August 20, 2013 — Don’t let the name fool you: the Department of Defense is taking the Offense in the fight against childhood obesity. During the past two years, Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) has been vetting quality Physical Education (PE) programs for potential adoption. The DoDEA issued a solicitation in June 2012 for curriculum materials for four PE courses – Comprehensive PE Grade Level K-8, Grades 9 – 12 Lifetime Sports, Personal Fitness Grade Level 9 – 12, and Grades 9 – 12 Physical Activity and Nutrition. After a lengthy research and review process, DoDEA recently announced that SPARK, provider of the world’s most researched and field-tested PE programs, was awarded the four contracts.

Dixie and TeacherLists.com Team up to Make Back-to-School 2013 Easier for All

Dixie supports the largest and fastest growing free online service for posting and sharing school supply and teacher wish lists.

Atlanta, GA (August 19, 2013) – Back-to-school is always a hectic time for parents and families, but having a list of items students need and teachers want helps make shopping less stressful. Dixie is pleased to announce its partnership with TeacherLists.com – the largest and fastest-growing free online service for posting and sharing school supply lists and teacher wish lists with parents –in an effort to make back-to-school preparation easier.

SPARK™ Principal Researcher Honored for Contributions to the Study of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Health

Dr. Thom McKenzie will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy Degree (Sport and Health Sciences) from Finland’s University of Jyväskylä

San Diego, CA, August 13, 2013 — On August 24, 2013, Dr. Thom McKenzie, principal researcher at SPARK™, will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy Degree (Sport and Health Sciences) from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland. Dr. McKenzie is being recognized for his collaboration with the university and his continued efforts to promote the study of physical education, physical activity, and health.