House and Senate drafts of ATTAIN

Both the House draft and the Senate draft underscore the importance of 21st. Century Skills and professional development. They also agree on a minimum formula-based award of $3,000 per district. Both versions also indicate their concern that upon completion of the 8th grade that all students are technologically literate. Although this last issue has been addressed by districts in their technology plans, the new legislative drafts have added the following:

“Assess not less than once by the end of the 8th grade student performance in gaining technology literacy…including through embedding such assessment items in other State tests, performance-based assessments, portfolios, or through other means, but provided that such assessments shall be used only to track student technology literacy and not in conjunction with meeting adequate yearly progress goals…”

The 2006 Connecticut Library Partnership Honorees

The 2006 Library Partnership Honorees were honored on May 17, 2007 as part of The Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge festivities. Representatives from the Burlington Public Library and the Guilford Public Library were presented with a plaque from Governor M. Jodi Rell and State Librarian Kendall Wiggin. Both libraries were recognized for their outstanding ability to coordinate reading efforts with their local public schools.

Library representatives were on hand along with school representatives from the 2006 top participating elementary, middle and high schools for the kick-off of The Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge for 2007 – Read, understand, grow!

For additional information, click on the following link; The Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge. If you have any questions, please contact Amy F. Radikas at the Connecticut State Department of Education at amy.radikas@ct.gov

ATTAIN Act in the new House discussion draft of No Child Left Behind

Sept. 7, 2007; SETDA is thrilled to announce that our hopes for ATTAIN have been realized - EETT has been replaced by the ATTAIN Act in the new House discussion draft of No Child Left Behind. Although we are still working through the NCLB reauthorization process by submitting comments to the House and waiting to see the Senate version, this is a great sign for education technology and SETDA members' efforts to promote systemic reform within your states!

State grant for Computer Assisted Writing, Instruction, and Testing

This grant program is to create pilot sites that will allow the Department of Education to (1) examine the effectiveness of using technology in the teaching of high school writing, including the use of artificial intelligence to provide specific, frequent feedback to students on their writing, and (2) examine issues and necessary accommodations related to online delivery of the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT)

Deadline: October 17, 2007
Eligibility: All districts may apply (except those that received a state grant for writing)
Bidder's Conference: September 18, 2007, 2:00 P.M. @ ACES
Download a copy of the RFP.

For additional information, e-mail Karen Kaplan or call her @ 860-713-6781.