June 10, 2011 |
Vol. 5, Issue 12 |
News Slices
Business Leaders Honored for Commitment to Education
Organizations and businesses from around the state were honored last Thursday evening in Tampa during the 2011 Commissioner's Business Recognition Awards ceremony. Hosted by the Florida Department of Education and the Florida Education Foundation, more than 80 education business partners were recognized for improving the academic success of all students by Florida Education Commissioner Dr. Eric J. Smith, along with members of the Florida Education Foundation and the State Board of Education. The awards program encourages successful alliances within the business community and among local school districts for the benefit of Florida's students. For more information about the Florida Education Foundation and to view a list of winners, visit http://www.floridaeducationfoundation.org.
FCAT and FCAT 2.0 Results Hold Steady
The statewide 2011 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test 2.0 (FCAT 2.0) Reading results for grades 4-10, FCAT 2.0 Mathematics results for grades 4-8, FCAT Mathematics results for grade 10, and FCAT Science results for grades 5, 8, and 11 show that the scores remained essentially the same as last year due to the process used to transition to new, more rigorous assessments. FCAT Science and the Grade 10 FCAT Mathematics were also administered this year, with results showing statewide student performance increases for all science-tested grades and a slight performance decrease at grade 10 in Mathematics. Next year, grade 11 Science and grade 10 Mathematics will be replaced with Florida End-of-Course (EOC) assessments and grades 5 and 8 Science will transition to FCAT 2.0.
Florida's statewide assessments are currently undergoing a transition from the FCAT to the new FCAT 2.0 and Florida EOC Assessments. These new assessments are based on Florida's updated, more rigorous curriculum standards adopted by the State Board of Education several years ago. To help complete the transition, a method was used this year to link the new FCAT 2.0 results to the old FCAT score scale, resulting in essentially the same percentage of students statewide scoring in each achievement level as last year. The linking process also allows for different results at the district and school level. New scale score and achievement level standards will be set this fall. To view this year's assessment results and learn more about the transition to FCAT 2.0 and EOC assessments, visit http://fcat.fldoe.org.
First-Ever Algebra 1 End of Course Exam Results Announced
The recent release of the Algebra 1 End-of-Course exam results marked a significant milestone in Florida's education reform efforts. First, the exams measured student performance on very clear, course-specific Algebra 1 content standards that allow teachers to study results, benchmark performance, and refine their instructional strategies as necessary. Second, the Algebra I EOC was given to students almost entirely via computer. This represented a very large-scale and successful statewide introduction to computer-based testing, meaning more time for students to learn the important algebra content and a quicker turnaround for results in the years ahead.
As this is a transition year for the new EOC assessment, results were reported on a special scale known as a T-score scale of 20-80. On this scale, a score of approximately 50 is at the statewide average, and Individual Student Reports will indicate whether a student's score falls within the high, middle, or low levels as compared to other students in Florida. For students who entered grade 9 in the 2010-11 school year and were enrolled in Algebra 1 or an equivalent course, each student's Algebra 1 EOC Assessment score must be used to calculate 30 percent of his or her final grade in the course. The method for applying this requirement will be determined and applied by each school district. For more information about End-of-Course assessments, visit http://fcat.fldoe.org/eoc/.
Virtual Curriculum Marketplace Now Available for Teachers
A new approach to help teachers navigate the crowded digital curriculum landscape is now available as the Florida Virtual Curriculum Marketplace (FVCM). The marketplace provides a single point of entry for Florida teachers to search for content that is educationally proven and aligned to Florida's Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (Common Core). Even though most educators use digital content daily, the challenge is the difficulty in finding appropriate and easy-to-use content on the Internet. With FVCM, teachers have access to district and school-licensed digital content from multiple sources and a wide variety of public and free sources. Every Florida educator has access at no cost to the FVCM and its free, user-generated and district-licensed resources. Informational training sessions will be offered throughout the summer to enable teachers to get a head start on their instructional planning before the new school year starts. To learn more about the marketplace and to watch a short informational video, visit http://www.learning.com/floridavcm.
Summer Literacy Adventure Encourages Kids to Read Outdoors This Summer
In conjunction with the Summer Literacy Adventure announced by First Lady Ann Scott, the Florida Departments of Education (DOE) and Environmental Protection (DEP) are encouraging students to head outdoors with a book from DOE's Just Read, Florida! 2011 Recommended Summer Reading List. Many of the books on this year's list are themed around travel, and children can use their imagination and the environment at Florida's state parks, greenways and trails to discover and learn about places near and far. And, through the "Find a Book, Florida" search tool, students can find books tailored to their own interests and reading level that will help them meet their Summer Literacy Adventure pledge to read a certain number of books. To access the Summer Reading List and participate in the Summer Literacy Adventure, visit the Just Read, Florida! website at www.justreadflorida.com. Students can identify books based on their interests through http://florida.lexile.com. For more information on Florida's State Parks, visit www.FloridaStateParks.org.
Volunteer USA Foundation Announces Family Literacy Grant
Volunteer USA has opened an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) process to support high-quality family literacy projects during the 2011-12 academic year. Eligible programs interested in opening or expanding literacy experiences to families of diverse backgrounds - including families of deaf and hard of hearing children - may access the ITN application online. To learn more and download the application, visit http://www.volunteerusafoundation.org/What-We-Do/Family-Literacy-Initiative/Call-for-Family-Literacy-Grant-Applications. The deadline is June 30, 2011.
Nominations for District Data Leader Due This Summer
Nominations are currently being accepted for the Florida Department of Education District Data Leader of the Year Program. This program recognizes Florida school district superintendents who are leading the way in using education data to drive student improvement. Participating districts must nominate their district superintendent prior to Aug. 1, 2011. Only district superintendents are eligible to be nominated. If you have any questions about the 2011 District Data Leader of the Year Program, please contact the Office of Communications and External Affairs at (850) 245-0413 or email Damonica.Rivas@fldoe.org. The nomination form is available at www.fldoe.org/districtdataleader.
Brevard County Teacher Recognized as Innovative Change-Maker Andrew Hanson, a physical education teacher at Atlantis Elementary School in Brevard County, was named by Splashlife as one of the nation's 30 most innovative educators under the age of 30. The virtual network for young Americans searched all corners of the education field for the most inventive and creative ways to make a change from the country's best and brightest. To find out more and view the list of educators, visit http://splashlife.com. Orange County School Named National Finalist Fifth-grade students at Sunrise Elementary School in Orange County have been named a national finalist in the grade three to five category of the Siemens "We Can Change the World" Elementary School Challenge. The school researched how to recycle the more than 44,000 lunchroom trays that were going to a landfill every year. The Challenge encourages students at every grade level to develop and share environmental solutions that may change the world, and is sponsored by the Siemens Foundation, Discovery Education, National Science Teachers Association and the College Board. For more information, visit http://www.wecanchange.com/. Seminole Student Wins State Arts Competition The Florida Alliance for Arts Education (FAAE) has named Allison Tate-Cortese as the overall winner of the FAAE Digital Media Challenge. The Oveido High School student will receive the award and a $500 prize at the Digital Media Festival at UCF CREATE in Orlando later this month. Florida Virtual School Wins Sterling Council Competition The Talent Management Catalyst Team from the Florida Virtual School won first place at the Florida Sterling Council's Storyboard Competition earlier this month in Orlando. The competition was part of the Council's 19th Annual Conference for organizations to showcase best practices. The team's winning entry focused on validating leading indicators for student learning outcomes. Lake-Sumter Community College Student Wins Recognition Sam Karp, a dual enrollment student at Lake-Sumter Community College, is the recipient of the 2011 Bob Graham Distinguished Service Award from the Florida Junior/Community Colleges Student Government Association's year end conference held in Tallahassee in March. The award is given to one student from Florida's 28 colleges who has provided distinguished service to his or her school and community. Karp is president of the South Lake Campus Student Government Association (SGA), chair of the SGA Campus-Wide Association, and sits on the College-Planning Council and the Student Activities Budget Committee. |
| Branching Out |
Digital Media Festival June 16, 2011 Center for Research on Education, the Arts, Technology and Entertainment University of Central Florida Orlando, Fla. Teachers, administrators, students and parents are invited to participate in the Digital Media Festival on June 16, 2011, at the University of Central Florida. The one-day workshop will enable participants to work with industry professionals to learn how to use software programs in more artistic ways, find out about careers in technology and the arts, and learn how to integrate technology into art and other curricular areas. For more information or to register online, visit http://www.faae.org/digital.cfm. If you have questions, send them to info@faae.org or call (407) 488-8868. Florida Alliance for Arts Education Leadership Summit June 16 - 18, 2011 Sonesta Hotel Orlando, Fla. The Florida Alliance for Arts Education will host its annual Leadership Summit in Orlando on June 16 - 18, 2011, with the theme, "Arts Education is 21st Century Education." The summit features breakout sessions by and for educators, administrators and advocates, the Arts Achieve! Model Schools Recognition, the Digital Media Festival Exhibit and much more. For more information, visit www.faae.org or contact Susan Burke, Executive Director of FAAE, at (407) 488-9951 or susan@faae.org. National Agriculture in the Classroom Annual Conference June 22 - 25, 2011 Marriott Harbor Beach Resort Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Language arts, math, nutrition, social studies and science teachers will benefit from the 2011 National Agriculture in the Classroom conference June 22 - 25, 2011, in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Engaging interactive workshops and tours will showcase unique agricultural operations in South Florida and illustrate how educators can incorporate real-life agriculture applications into their lesson plans. Visit http://www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/aitc/ for more information and conference registration. National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Seminar June 26 - July 29, 2011 Educators are invited to apply to attend the Summer Seminar offered by the National Endowment for the Humanities June 26 - July 29, 2011. During the five-week program, participants will study the economy of the North Sea region in northwestern Europe. The seminar will meet at the Institute for Historical Research at the University of London for the first week and at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Studies in Wassenaar, The Netherlands, for the remaining four weeks. For an application and a full description of the seminar, visit http://www.umassd.edu/euro/neh_prosp_app.cfm. Florida Association for Pupil Transportation Summer Symposium June 28 - 29, 2011 Ocala Hilton Ocala, Fla. Student transportation professionals and others from across the state are invited to attend the 63rd Florida Association for Pupil Transportation Summer Symposium June 28 - 29, 2011, in Ocala. The symposium comprises two full days of general and concurrent sessions and includes workshops on bullying prevention, school bus stop selection and safety, serving charter schools effectively, and using benchmarking and key transportation performance indicators to measure and improve performance. For more information, visit www.faptflorida.org/FAPT%20Summer%20Symposium.htm. Panhandle Area Educational Consortium/FloridaLearns Foundation 44th Annual Leadership Conference July 13 - 14, 2011 Bay Point Marriott Resort Panama City Beach, Fla. Educators from across the state are invited to the 2011 Panhandle Area Educational Consortium/FloridaLearns Foundation Leadership Conference July 13 - 14, 2011, in Panama City Beach, Fla. Participants will hear what education experts have to say, discover fresh approaches and find solutions to challenges facing schools and districts, connect with peers to discover best practices, and become motivated to begin another academic year with renewed enthusiasm. For more information, call (877) 873-7232 ext. 2260 or ext. 2320, or visit http://www.paec.org/leadershipconference/. |
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