Resources: Check It Out!

“Ready or Not: Creating a High School Diploma That Counts” by the American Diploma Project, creates the argument for the need for educational reform. The document, a summary, and the full report can be located at www.achieve.org/node/552.

Easy-to-use procedures to collect and evaluate evidence about the impact of technology to enhance academic performance is the focus of an article printed in a recent issue of the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning’s (MACUL) “Journal.” To view or download the article, visit www.macul.org/site/files/js06evaluatea.pdf.

The Comprehensive School Reform Quality (CSRQ) Center recently published “Questions That Educators Can Ask About the Participation of Students with Disabilities in School Reform and Improvement Models,” which can be used by educators to assess the capacity of school reform and improvement models to address the needs of students with disabilities. To view or download the checklist, visit www.csrq.org/documents/QuestionsEducatorsCanAsk.pdf.

The Michigan Department of Education recently released a specific list of expected release deadlines and course/credit content expectations and guidelines as required or listed as options in the Michigan Merit Curriculum. To view or download the document, visit www.michigan.gov/mde/0,107,7-140-28753---,00.html.

The U.S. Department of Education’s “New No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Flexibility: Highly Qualified Teachers” document reviews options for teachers in the process of meeting NCLB requirements. The document also offers a short glossary of terms. For more information, visit www.ed.gov/nclb/methods/teachers/hqtflexibility.pdf.

The National Education Association offers a chart and online quiz to help teachers figure out if they meet the Highly Qualified requirements under NCLB. To view or download the chart, visit www.nea.org/esea/qualification/teacher/index.html.

The Freedom to Learn Initiative is a program designed to provide students with more one-on-one interaction with educators. The program provides every participating student and teacher with access to a wireless notebook PC in a wireless environment, which has been credited with improving grades as well as behavioral problems. For more information, visit http://www.wireless.mivu.org.

The National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET) Web site offers “My Future My Plan: A Transition Planning Resource for Life After High School.” This curriculum is designed to motivate and guide students with disabilities and their families as they begin early transition planning for life after high school. For more information, visit www.ncset.org/publications/mfmp.asp.

The ACT® is a national college admission examination that consists of subject area tests in English, mathematics, reading, and science. The ACT Plus Writing includes the four subject area tests and a 30 minute writing test. ACT results are accepted by virtually all U.S. colleges and universities. Fore more information, visit: www.actstudent.org.

Understanding University Success describes foundational skills and content standards in English, mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences, second languages, and the arts. The 80-page booklet addresses each discipline in a separate chapter, and each chapter comprises two sections: foundations and standards. To view or download a copy, visit www.s4s.org/cepr.uus.php.