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 The EdGate Observer Connecting Publishers With What Works! | |
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Greetings everyone,
In this month's newsletter, we focus on the most recent education news pertaining to Student Data Privacy Concerns (Hot Topic), New York K-12 Social Studies Framework (Common Core Update), Great News for All Our Clients with Social Studies Content (Client Solution), Standards Confusion and Preparing for the New School Year (EdGate Services) and following up with new additions to the EdGate Standards Repository (Standards Update).
As always, EdGate is your source for staying current with new developments in education and the impact of educational standards.
Regards,
Sandra Schugren,
EdGate General Manager
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Great news for all our clients with Social Studies content. We now have the new College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards available.
 The creation of the C3 Framework for Social Studies standards was the result of a three year state-led collaborative effort to assist both states in the development of new Social Studies Standards and for practical use for teachers, schools, districts and developers of curriculum to use in strengthening their Social Studies Programs. According to NCSS the objectives are to: a) enhance the rigor of the social studies disciplines; b) build critical thinking, problem solving, and participatory skills to become engaged citizens; and c) align academic programs to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies.  The goal of the C3 Framework is to help address the needs of students in preparing for college, careers, and civic life. If you think you may be interested in adding these standards, please contact your sales or project manager, they will be happy to provide you with a quote. |
Student Data Privacy Concerns
The topic of student data privacy is on the mind of many as classrooms engage in on-demand delivery of content, cybernetic forums to network with other students and teachers, and many other technological uses to increase the educational process and student enhancement. The question of student safety and security has grown. This fear was validated by the negative response to the March 2013 inBloom announcement promising a data warehousing tool for U.S. school districts that contains a wide range of student data. A variety of responses are demanding specifics on how the data will be protected from fraudulent use.
 The U.S. Department of Education Privacy Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) responded to this outcry with the March 2014 release of "new guidance" on protecting student privacy while utilizing online services. PTAC feels that these technologies have the ability to transform the educational process as being shown by the recent use of technology and proliferation of student data. "The Department is issuing this guidance to answer questions from schools, districts and vendors about how student data can and should be used, what steps are necessary to protect students' privacy, and how to prevent the misuse, abuse and commercialization of students' information."
The Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) paralleled the release of PTAC's new guidance with publishing a series of industry best practices for providers of school services. They highlighted the following practices:
- Educational Purpose
- Transparency
- Authorization
- Security
- Data Breach Notification
More information on the New Guidance
Training on the "new guidance" is available at http://ptac.ed.gov/
Elaboration on the 5 points for SIIA
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 New York K-12 Social Studies Framework
In April 2014, New York revised their K-12 Social Studies Framework on the new engageNY website.
These standards were designed to prepare students for college, career and civic life with courses that are rigorous and aligned to New York State Learning Standards, both Common Core and Social Studies. This framework integrates existing New York State Learning Standards and the New York State Core Curriculum for Social Studies into a single 3-part document. It is intended to serve as a guide for local districts to develop their Social Studies curriculum. It incorporates the New York State Common Core Learning Standards and recommends the use of the C3 Inquiry Arc as instructional methodology. Social studies practices are identified, as well as the key ideas, conceptual understandings and content specifications.
The Field Guide, to be released in Summer of 2014, will build on the Framework by providing guidance on how to the leverage the Framework to promote conceptual understanding (including the development of questions to drive inquiry) and how to integrate social studies content, practices, and the CCLS in curriculum, assessment, and instruction. In short, the Framework articulates what students should learn in social studies, while the Field Guide will provide guidance about how to integrate social studies content, practices, and CCLS in the context of rigorous, inquiry-driven instruction.
Meanwhile, the Board of Regents has not formalized its decision regarding the Regents exam in Global History and Geography. As test development takes approximately 3 years, it is anticipated that the earliest a new exam could be available would be June 2017. Teachers should continue to prepare students for the current 2-year exam in Global History and Geography and the United States History and Government exam, aligned to the 1999 core curriculum and resource guide, until informed otherwise. However, there is no reason why instruction should not embrace the social studies practices and a more student-centered approach. As more specific information becomes available it will be posted on the EngageNY website.
Please note EdGate is currently working on the correlation of these standards and will have available this summer 2014.
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A+ Advice for Parents
One goal of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) is to ensure "college and career readiness," so you'll find these skills included. When students graduate, they will be expected to work across great distances and collaborate with colleagues via complex technologies. A globally connected workplace will be the norm for them, not the exception.
Digital Learning Gets More State Attention
States are passing legislation to improve technology use in K-12 classrooms, having debated more than 450 digital learning bills and having signed 132 into law last year, according to the Digital Learning Report Card 2013.
Microsoft Commits $1 Billion to Help Schools Buy Devices
Microsoft will spend $1 billion to make devices less expensive for K-12 public schools to purchase. According to the release, the company's manufacturer partners will offer tablets and laptops starting under $300. (All devices will be "Common Core testing compliant" and run Windows 8.1)
26 Companies Signed a Pledge to Help Advance STEM Education
These companies join a collective chorus of business leaders in championing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) literacy by signing on to Change the Equation's (CTEq) Commitment to Excellence in STEM. The Commitment stresses the corporate community's pledge to collaborate with each other as well as programs and communities; high expectations for all students; data-driven advocacy for STEM; and the availability of high-quality STEM learning programs in communities across the country.
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In this issue of the EdGate Observer, we would like to introduce you to a member of our Mathematics Project Team, Rich Street.
Rich is one of the founding employees of EdGate and has had experience as a Product and Project Manager for the past 14 years. He manages the Math correlation team and math projects. He has had many years of experience teaching a variety of subjects and grade levels from elementary to high school, and was also a District Technology Curriculum Specialist.
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Standards Confusion and Preparing for the New School Year
 If you have been making an attempt to keep up with all the "talk" about standards but have a hard time making sense of it all, you're not alone. With so many issues, opinions, and various agencies publishing information, it is difficult to know what is real and what isn't.
As the leader in hosting the most robust and comprehensive standards repository in the industry, EdGate is here to help you sort it all out. Whether you are concerned about correlating your content to the most current standards or licensing standards that make the most sense for your product and clients, we will make sure your needs are met by delivering the best quality services that are affordable and far exceed others in the industry, all while making YOU the expert in what's happening today!
To learn more about EdGate services, please visit our website at http://correlation.edgate.com/ or contact Tracy Olstad at [email protected].
 The "EdGate Advantage is YOUR Advantage"
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Updates to The EdGate Standards Repository include:
- College Board AP Physics 1 & 2 - Science (2014)
- College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies (2013)
- Connecticut - Social Studies (2011)
- Indiana - Social Studies (2014)
- Indiana - World Languages (2014)
- Kansas - Language Arts (Handwriting 2013)
- National Curriculum for England - Arts Education (Revised 2013)
- National Curriculum for England - Health and PE (Revised 2013)
- National Curriculum for England - Language Arts (Revised 2013)
- National Curriculum for England - Mathematics (Revised 2013)
- National Curriculum for England - Science (Revised 2013)
- National Curriculum for England - Social Studies (Revised 2013)
- National Curriculum for England - World Languages (Revised 2013)
- Oklahoma 2014-2015 - Science (2014 - NGSS)
Kristie McCarley
EdGate Standards and Operations Manager
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 EdGate Correlation Services works with over 200 content providers to increase the value of their products in a rapidly expanding digital world. EdGate uses its patented technology and highly skilled staff to assure client success. Employing its nearly two decades of innovation experience, EdGate has proven learning platforms, robust metadata tools and comprehensive correlation services to serve every clients unique needs. EdGate Correlation Services LLC is a division of EDmin, Inc., a learning management and instructional technology solutions company based in San Diego, California.
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Copyright � 2014. All Rights Reserved.
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