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The EdGate Observer

 

CONNECTING PUBLISHERS AND

EDUCATORS TO WHAT WORKS

 

February 2014 


News_Line

In This Issue
Top Stories
Client Solution
Hot Topic
Common Core Update
Top Stories
News_Line

 

EdGate has been selected as a partner in the Edutone Single Sign-On Marketplace
Edutone is an innovative solution that provides fast, secure access to online learning and content through a single portal. The solution will be embedded in every new Intel� Education Solutions device-and is available at refresh or as an add-on to the more than 10 million existing Intel Education Solutions devices deployed worldwide. The EdGate Curriculum Matrix� will be a featured product in the Marketplace.
   

 

Top 10 States of 2013 Public High School Graduates Succeeding on AP Exams:

1.   Maryland (29.6%)

2.   Connecticut (28.8%)

3.   Virginia (28.3%)

4.   Massachusetts (27.9%)

5.   Florida (27.3%)

6.   California (26.9%)

7.   New York (25.4 %)

8.   Utah (25.4 %)

9.   Colorado (24.4 %)

10.  New Jersey (23.6%)

 

Now for the iPad: an App to Prepare for Common Core Curriculum

The Ardsley School District in Westchester County is one of five districts in the U.S. participating in a yearlong pilot program using an app developed by Pearson Education Inc. that teaches math and English to prepare students for the Common Core curriculum, new educational standards that most states are beginning to implement. 

 

The Common Core in New York

Last spring the state shifted from its old standardized tests for grades three through eight to ones based on the new learning standards. Scores declined, as expected; only about 31 percent of the state's students in those grades met or exceeded the new proficiency standard in English language arts, down from about 55 percent the year before. The decline in scores came as a shock to parents in affluent communities, many of whom insisted that the problem lay not in their schools but in the new tests.

 

Louisiana Principal's Success - A Lesson in Perseverance

Port Barre Elementary's school principal, Gabe Sonnier, is new to the principal position, but he's been working at this same school for more than 30 years. Mr. Sonnier's incredible journey from janitor to principal began in 1985. 

 

Staff Highlight

 

We would like to introduce you to a member of our Digital/Video Content Project Team,
Candy Mead
 
Candy is part of EdGate's team that segments and summarizes educational video. In addition to her work with EdGate, she writes online current events lessons for middle and high school and develops study guides for a non-profit educational film producer/distributor. As a home-schooling parent, Candy served as president of the Puget Sound Speech and Debate Association for homeschooled teens. She received her bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Washington.
 

 About Us

 



Founded in 1997, EdGate Correlation Services (EdGate) is a leader in the field of alignment solutions for educational companies around the world. 

  

The EdGate Standards Repository is the most comprehensive collection of national and international educational standards in all subject areas.

 

Through the power of our technology and the professional experience of our subject-area specialists, EdGate provides  accurate and continually updated correlations, on-demand correlation reporting capabilities, and effective website integration options.

 

EdGate can also deliver standards licensing, customized taxonomy solutions, correlation to assessment standards, and more.

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Welcome to The EdGate Observer!

 

Greetings everyone,

 

In this month's newsletter, we focus on the most recent education news pertaining to Print and Digital Sales (Hot Topic), Florida's Petition to Publishers (Common Core Update), EdGate's Website Facelift (Client Solution), Supporting Trends in the Educational Market (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

 

Client Solution  

 

EDGATE CORRELATION SERVICES WEBSITE HAS A NEW LOOK!

 

Our website has undergone an extensive makeover. If you haven't visited correlation.edgate.com recently, now would be a great time.

 

We have several new features on our website including the Products and Services page. Under Services you can get an idea of the many solutions we offer at EdGate including Correlations, Content Development, Custom Reporting and GAP Analysis just to name a few.

 

The Products section provides links to and descriptions of several of our deliverable formats including the Bulk Download format. Try out a sample Correlation User Interface to get an idea of the basic functionality; this particular service is highly customizable and can be re-tooled to meet any client need. EdGate's ExPERT Reporting Tool allows authorized users to generate correlation reports. Click here to view sample reports and features of this tool. The Curriculum Matrix is also showcased to highlight the features of this product.

 

Click the Standards tab if you need more information on the U.S. Standards, Common Core, International or Supplemental Standards, housed and monitored in the extensive EdGate Repository. JWaugh

 

Please feel free to contact any of us here at EdGate Correlation Services with any questions you have or to request a sample using your content.

 

By: Jodi Waugh  

Project Manager

Hot Topic      

 

PUBLISHER PRINT AND DIGITAL SALES PICK UP

 

After years of lackluster sales due to the economic downturn, there is light at the end of the tunnel for educational publishers with the increasing demand for PreK-12 digital and print content correlated to Common Core Standards.

 

The surge has intensified since state budgets improved and districts are able to once again invest money in instructional materials. An Education Week article reports that sales for print and digital instructional materials jumped 25% in September over the prior year. We have seen the steady increase here at EdGate with our clients trying to meet this demand by providing Common Core alignments for both new and previously published content. We look forward to this trend continuing!

 

If you find a need for any of your digital or print content to be correlated, we are happy to help. Please feel free to Jennifer_NEWcontact your project manager or one of our sales account managers for assistance. 

 

By: Jennifer Larson
Project Manager

Common Core Update  

 

FLORIDA PETITION TO PUBLISHERS

 

On February 18th, the Council of Language Arts Supervisors in the state of Florida prepared a general petition to ELA publishers regarding the revisions the Florida Department of Education (DOE) made to their set of Common Core standards.

 

This letter states the transition to the Language Arts Florida Standards requires adjustments on the part of each school district in Florida. The curriculum guides will reflect the change in coding (LAFS instead of LACC) as well as the revised verbiage of individual standards. These same revisions will be applied to course syllabi, lesson plans, posted learning goals, and academic scales of understanding. The board is petitioning publishers to replace the term "Common Core" with "Florida Standards" in all applicable instances and that the coding of each standard reflect the official coding set forth by Florida DOE by the fall of 2014 to reflect these modifications.

 

According to the state's press release, there were 13 clarifications and the addition of cursive writing to 4th and 5th grade. For mathematics, there are 24 clarifications, two deleted standards in kindergarten and first grade, and the addition of 60 new standards that includes 53 for calculus at the high school level. These changes will take effect in the coming 2014-2015 school year.

 

EdGate is addressing these changes made by the state and have added to our queue of updates for this summer. The standards currently in our repository accurately reflect the standards which are implemented for the 2013-2014 current school year.  Here is an example of this change reflected in an ELA standard for Grade 2 Literacy

EdgateServicesEdGate Services       

 

KEEPING UP WITH CHANGE
 

 

For over a decade, EdGate has worked hard to build a solid reputation for excellence in the services we provide and in the way in which we care for and treat our clients. While these are key elements in creating lasting relationships with our partners, today's world of technology demands so much more and EdGate is ready for the task!

 

As the educational industry is ever changing, we see more and more companies merging and expanding product lines into the digital market. Terms such as 'data normalization', 'data analytics', 'algorithms', 'data structures', 'machine readable' and 'machine recoverable' can be quite overwhelming to most of us who speak in laymen terms, however, there is no reason to be alarmed! EdGate's technical team, sophisticated technology, and capabilities together can meet your needs and support your organization in navigating these waters.

 

Let us work together to build a foundation that best supports your product and overall business structure so your users have the best experience possible!

 

To find out more about EdGate services and how our team can work with you, please contact an Account Representative today. To reach Leslie Kolber, please email her at lkolber@edgate.com or to reach Tracy Olstad, please email tolstad@edgate.com.

  Leslie_Kolber The "EdGate Advantage is   Tracy_Olstad

YOUR Advantage"

 

 

 

 

StandardsUpdate

Standards Update 

 

Updates to The EdGate Standards Repository include:  

 

� Australian Curriculum (ACARA) - Science (2013)

� Australian Curriculum (ACARA) - Mathematics (2013)

� Australian Curriculum (ACARA) - Language Arts (2013)

� California - Science (2013)

� Connecticut - Early Childhood Education (2013)

� ISTE Standards for Students - Name change from ISTE NETS for Students

� ISTE Standards for Teachers - Name change from ISTE NETS for Teachers

� ISTE Standards for Administrators - Name change from ISTE NETS for Administrators

� Newfoundland and Labrador - Science (2012)

� Texas TEKS - Language Arts Courses (2011)

� Texas TEKS United States History Studies Since 1877 Breakouts - Social Studies (2013)

� Texas TEKS English Language Proficiency Social Studies Breakouts - Social Studies (2013)

If you have any questions regarding standards, feel free to contact me and I will be happy to assist you. You can always join us on Twitter and Facebook to receive notifications regarding state standards in the

EdGate Standards Repository at:

Kristie

http://twitter.com/EdGate

http://www.facebook.com

 

Kristie McCarley

EdGate Standards and Operations Manager

kmccarley@edgate.com