| Building A Collective Vision |  |
| This Critical Issue focuses on the importance of building a collective vision and mission. Schools are likely to be more successful in achieving in-depth learning when leaders work with staff and the community to build a collective educational vision that is clear, compelling, and connected to teaching and learning. This collective vision helps focus attention on what is important, motivates staff and students, and increases the sense of shared responsibility for student learning. |  |
| Enough To Go 'Round? | |
| The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Model refers to the life cycle of costs for technology, including both direct and indirect expenses. TCO includes costs incurred by capital (hardware, software, and facilities); administration and operation (planning, upgrade, replacement, and technical support); and end-user operation (staff development and user downtime). This resource helps in identifying, planning, and managing TCO, so that schools and districts can maximize their technology investments and get the best for students. | |
| Step 2: Questions To Consider In Technology Planning | |
| The University Service Administrative Company have posted a set of review questions to consider when engaged in technology planning. While these questions were designed for schools applying for the E-Rate, they can be used in a process of reviewing and suggesting changes in the district technology plan. | |
| Best Practices Case Studies: Downer's Grove School District 58 | |
| This short case study is about a school district who felt that collaboration around technology was a necessary practice; it eventually became standardized into formal committees. The author mentions how the district measures and extends its successes. | |
| CoSN Essential Leadership Skills Series | |
| CoSN's Essential Leadership Skills Series from the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) provides a set of Professional Development monographs for the District Level Technology Decision Maker. The monographs collective covers the responsibilities of a district level director of technology. While the monographs need to be purchased, there are short briefs in PDF format that summarize critical issues for leadership. | |
| Empowering Parents And Building Communities: The Role Of School-Based Councils In Educational Governance And Accountability | |
| This article builds and explores the hypothesis that parent and community participation in school governance can have positive impacts on community development by fostering improvements in school performance and school-community relations and by acting as a catalyst for collective action around community-development issues. It does so through case studies of reforms for school-based management that have led to the creation of school-site councils that include parents and community representatives in Kentucky, Hawaii, Chicago, and El Paso. The article finds that the hypothesized outcomes can occur where parents are given meaningful decision-making authority in schools, nongovernmental organizations provide training and advocacy for parents, and principals actively facilitate parent involvement. | |
| Roles In Technology Planning | |
| Part of the Education Leadership Toolkit. This web page describes the roles of school boards, superintendents, principals, and districts in the phases of technology planning. | |
| A Technological High | |
| Access to computers, multimedia labs and advanced software engages students at this San Diego charter school. | |
| Hoosiers Go High-Speed | |
| City leaders in Fort Wayne, Indiana plan to infuse the city with new life by convincing Verizon to wire the entire city as a business investment. As part of this effort, all of the schools were also linked with broadband. | |
| Voters Urge Teaching Of 21st-Century Skills | |
| Poll suggests 'back-to-basics' approach to education is not enough for nation's citizens | |
| Cyber Learning Virtual Schools Expand Horizons | |
| This article discusses the rise in cyber learning and virtual schools, as public schools fail to meet the needs of certain student and families. The virtual school is a new and potentially affordable school model. | |
| How To Make Great Teachers | |
| The author discusses important education policy questions facing Americans today: what does a good teacher look like, how do we create good teachers, and how should they be rewarded appropriately? This questions are important to consider in the quest to find and retain high-quality teachers. | |