technology

High schools are a cornerstone of America’s rural communities. When they are strong, rural secondary schools provide twenty-first-century students with the high-level knowledge, skills, and technology they need to succeed in college, careers, and life. In too many rural communities, however, high schools are in trouble. In fact, more than one fifth of the nation’s two thousand lowest-performing high schools are located in rural areas. Despite progress in overall rural educational attainment, rural high school dropout rates are still too high and college enrollment rates are too low. With more than 3.4 million American students currently attending rural high schools, these troubling outcomes are more than a “local” problem; they are a national crisis.

A day after Wayne County Prosecutor Kym WORTHY called for a ban on cell phones and text messaging in schools, the chair of the Senate Education Committee gave his take on why he didn't think that was a good idea.

Sen. Wayne KUIPERS (R-Holland) said he remembered that after the Columbine High School shooting 10 years ago, parents and educators said they felt the use of cell phones might have resulted in the police arriving earlier and perhaps lives would have been saved.

Kuipers said he admits he has not seen Worthy's data, but he remains to be convinced the ban would do any good.

"Cell phones are not the problem," he told MIRS.

Worthy said she wants to cut into gang violence and activity in the schools and she argued that the cell phone is a conduit for that.

By Jennifer S. McDonald
C & G Staff Writer
ROCHESTER HILLS — District officials within the Avondale School District are hoping to make it easier than ever for their students to obtain a high school education with online courses.
Avondale Superintendent George Heitsch said the district applied for a seat-time waiver from the Michigan Department of Education that allows students to take most — if not all — of their classes online.
The program, which runs through Avondale Academy for students in grades nine through 12, was officially started this fall after an afternoon online program was piloted last spring.

Now that we have a great new feature on our website that allows members to see all questions posted and even reply directly from your email, we have had some members inquire as to how to control the many emails coming across your desk!

Step by step, here's how to control the flow of emails - first in text, step by step, then below that, graphic images of how your screen will look and what you'll see!

1. Log in to the website with your username and password.

2. On the next screen you are sent to, scroll down until you see on the RIGHT, your username at the top of one of those boxes. That is your "usermenu".

3. In the usermenu, click on MY GROUPS.

Participate in the AT&T/MACUL Student Technology Showcase

November 12, 2008
Michigan Capitol Building, Lansing
9:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Teams may choose one of three 90 minute times to participate. K-12 schools from across Michigan are invited to participate in the eighth annualAT&T/MACUL Student Technology Showcase.

Here's a tip for the start of the new school year!

We want to make sure you can easily access this site, especially the robust Q & A section, which you must be logged in to view in full and contribute to. So follow these steps to make logging in just that much easier:

The Title IID Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) grant program, Category 6: Models of Demonstrated Proficiency, is now available on the MEGS system for application. The deadline for submission is September 19, 2008.

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From Straight A's Alliance for Excellent Education--Volume 8, Number 10 May 19, 2008

The National Science Board reports that jobs in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields are outpacing overall job growth three to one. Yet according to a recent Government Accountability Office report, the number of U.S. students pursuing degrees in STEM areas has declined.
Read more about STEM field needs and find out what the National Mathematics Advisory Panel says needs to happen to change U.S. math education:
Foundations for Success: The Final Report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel