The EdGate Observer 

Connecting Publishers With What Works!

April 2014correlation.edgate.com   
Greetings everyone,

 

In this month's newsletter, we focus on the most recent education news pertaining to Florida's Textbook Bills (Hot Topic), Common Core Vision Meets Reality (Common Core Update), "We Can Do This, Florida!" - Video Resources for Florida Math Teachers (Client Solution), State Bids and Third Party Reviews (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
"We Can Do This, Florida!" - Video Resources for Florida Math Teachers

The Florida Education Foundation is creating a video series entitled "We Can Do This, Florida!" to aid in teaching math concepts to elementary students. The videos will be resources that Florida elementary school teachers can use to extend and hone their teaching skills in math. The student is the ultimate winner with the release of these videos, as the goals are to help students understand math concepts and help them meet the expectations outlined in the Florida educational standards. "These more rigorous Florida Standards are already pushing our students to reach their full potentials today by helping prepare them for the colleges and workplaces of tomorrow," Ideguchi_Kathleen said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. State Farm contributed $100,000 to help fund this project. The videos will be available to teachers at the start of the 2014-2015 school year.

By: Kathleen Ideguchi
Project Manager
Hot Topic 
Florida's Textbook Bills

Two competing bills are alive in Florida under the banner of local control of textbooks. In the fight over Common Core, seen as centralized government control, these bills seek to interject local control into education rather than an out right reject or repeal of the Common Core standards that some other states are debating.
On Friday, April 11th the Florida Senate narrowly passed a bill (SB864) the would require the state's 67 school districts to review classroom textbooks themselves, instead of having the option to pick off the state's Department of Education list. Oposition concerns were voiced that this may put financial strains on smaller school districts to be able to do this.
In a competing bill, the House version (HB921), the ability to create a process for local selection of textbooks (an existing option) would be retained and the state would still maintain an approved list.
Both bills re-require districts to hold local public review for adoptions.
How the bills will be reconciled is unclear.
More information:

By: Rich Street
Project Manager
Common Core Update 
Common Core Vision Meets Reality

The Common Core at Four: Sizing Up the Enterprise: The common standards have touched virtually every aspect of the nation's K-12 system over the past several years, but big challenges remain for the enterprise.

Education Week, a U.S. national newspaper covering K-12 education, just released a special report on the Common Core in Action, which explores how the initial vision for the Common Core standards and aligned assessments are now bumping up against reality in states, school districts, and local communities.

 

Read the entire report for free during this site-wide open house. This special report features the following comprehensive articles that may be of interest to you:

  • Vision, Reality Collide in Common-Core Tests: Political, technical, and financial factors have constrained some of the original, and more ambitious, plans for the assessments being developed by two state coalitions.
  • Standards Pose Teacher-Prep Challenge: Response to the common core by teacher-preparation institutions runs the gamut from embrace to uncertainty and even resistance.
  • New Standards Sway Purchasing Plans: From technology to curricular materials and testing tools, the common core is having considerable influence on spending decisions by states and school districts.
  • Two Districts, Two Approaches to Common-Core Curriculum: To help implement the common-core standards, one district opts for the offerings of a major publisher, while another writes its own materials.
  • Common-Assessment Groups Differ on Accommodations: The two state consortia both aim to provide a more-inclusive experience for English-language learners and students with disabilities, but they part company on some testing accommodations.
  • Alternative-Assessment Groups Pursue Divergent Pathways: The two organizations, both federally funded, are developing alternate assessments for students with severe cognitive disabilities, but are working under very different theories of learning.
  • Resistance to the Common Core Mounts: Critics of the standards for English/language arts and Mathematics span the political spectrum, from tea-party members to union leaders. 
In This Issue
Top Stories 

Indiana faces deadline on new education standards after dropping Common Core 

 

As the first state to drop the national Common Core learning standards, Indiana is rushing to approve new state-crafted benchmarks in time for teachers to use them this fall, and education leaders from across the nation are closely watching.


Scholastic Aptitude Test from 1926 - Can you pass it?

 

The 1926 Scholastic Aptitude Test -- a long-ago precursor to the current SAT -- from the then College Entrance Examination Board in New York, tested students on vocabulary, math word problems, synonyms, an unusual artificial language, antonyms, and number sequences, among other problems.


Common Core Lens: Core Out Your Informational Text

 

This web-based evaluation tool uses the Common Core Learning Standards: Appendix A as a guide in developing a meaningful understanding of nonfiction. Begin your journey by registering and evaluating a piece of nonfiction with the criteria provided.


New Hampshire Creates STEM Education Task Force

 

The task force will make recommendations to ensure that New Hampshire's kindergarten through 12th grade STEM education is rigorous and extensive enough to prepare students to compete in the global labor force and also examine existing science and math education standards to ensure they meet at least national best practices.


Staff Highlight 
 In this issue of the EdGate Observer, we would like to introduce you a member of our Language Arts Project Team, Jodi Waugh.

Jodi has been EdGate's English Language Arts Project Manager for over 9 years, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience from her years in the K-12 classroom. In addition to managing ELA projects, Jodi also manages the Early Childhood Education and English Language Learners subject areas. A former commercial pilot, Jodi demands accuracy and attention to detail. As a Project Manager, she uses her problem solving skills to ensure that EdGate exceeds our client's expectations on all fronts.

 

EdGate Services 
State Bids and Third Party Reviews

This time of year many publishers, clients and prospects alike, contact us for assistance on state bids. Whether it is a third party review or letter to verify our correlation work, we are here to support you!

 

Due to our experience working with various state agencies, many entrust our team of experts to perform their reviews, knowing it will be done thoroughly, submitting their application in confidence with the EdGate "stamp of approval".

 

If there are state bids you are working on or other projects to complete before the next school year, please contact us to see how we can help. You can find out more about EdGate services by visiting our website at http://correlation.edgate.com/ or contact Tracy Olstad at tolstad@edgate.com.


Tracy_OlstadThe "EdGate Advantage is
YOUR Advantage"

Standards Update 

Updates to The EdGate Standards Repository include:
  • AQA GCSE Biology 4401 - Science (2014 exam)
  • AQA GCSE Chemistry 4402 - Science (2014 exam)
  • AQA GCSE Geography A 9030 - Science (2014 exam)
  • AQA GCSE Physics 4403 - Science (2014 exam)
  • AQA IGCSE Additional Applied Science 4505 - Science (2014 exam)
  • AQA IGCSE Additional Science 4408 - Science (2014 exam)
  • AQA IGCSE Biology 8401 - Science (2014 exam)
  • AQA IGCSE Chemistry 8402 - Science (2014 exam)
  • AQA IGCSE Further Additional Science 4410 - Science (2014 exam)
  • AQA IGCSE Physics 8403 - Science (2014 exam)
  • AQA IGCSE Science Double Award 8404 - Science (2014 exam)
  • Arkansas Foreign Language 2014 - World Languages (to be implemented 2014-2015)
  • Edexcel IGCSE Biology 4BI0 - Science (2014 exam)
  • Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry 4CH0 - Science (2014 exam)
  • Edexcel IGCSE Geography 4GEO - Science (2014 exam)
  • Edexcel IGCSE Physics 4PH0 - Science (2014 exam)
  • Edexcel IGCSE Science Double Award 4SC0 - Science (2014 exam)
  • Florida - Health and PE (2013)
  • National Physical Education Standards - Health and PE (NASPE 2013)
  • Nebraska - Early Childhood Education (2013)
  • South Carolina 2014-2015 - Science (to be implemented 2014-2015)
  • Texas TEKS Social Studies Grade 6 Breakouts - Social Studies (2013)
  • Texas TEKS World Geography Studies Breakouts - Social Studies (2013)
  • Thailand Standards - Mathematics (2008)
  • Thailand Standards - Science (2008)
  • U.S. National - Health and PE (NASPE 2013)
  • West Virginia - Science (2013 Forensic Science course added)
  • Wyoming - World Languages (2013)
AQA - (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) is an Awarding Body in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It compiles specifications and holds examinations in various subjects at GCSE, AS and A Level and offers vocational qualifications.

Edexcel - a UK company, is one of England, Wales and Northern Ireland's five main examination boards. The company offers a variety of qualifications, including A levels (GCEs), GCSEs and the BTEC suite of vocational qualifications.

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
Kristie McCarley

EdGate Standards and Operations Manager
About Us 

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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