Brainchild's Achiever! is Newly Aligned to TN Curriculum Standards

Brainchild’s Achiever! is Newly Aligned to Tennessee Curriculum Standards

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brainchild (www.brainchild.com) announced today that TCAP Achiever! online assessment and instruction resource has been newly aligned to the new and more rigorous Tennessee Curriculum Standards that students will face in the 2010 TCAP (Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program). TCAP Achiever! monitors interventions and helps educators give additional support to children who are falling behind. The program accurately assesses TCAP standards-based performance and shares data between teachers, administrators and parents so that they can monitor student progress and provide intervention as needed.

Full release at: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20091006005214/en or visit www.brainchild.com

From the WSJ: Tweet for Your Biz or Use a Firm

WSJ has a great article with examples of companies who tackled Tweets and social networking by themselves and some who used an agency. This article lists some of the monthly retainers paid and a list of firms who do this type of work. I found it very insightful especially since I have a few clients who are considering a jump into the social networking world--in a big way.

I find that many companies have just established a presence and let it sit. They feel that simply posting information will draw an audience to you. It takes much more effort than that. While the upfront investment in time can be substantial, there eventually comes a time when the process becomes automatic. Some of the new social media press release sites allow you to set up the Tweet message so anyone who views your press release can easily circulate it many ways: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, del.icio.us, etc.)

I recommend reading two recent articles from the Wall Street Journal: the one posted here: Firms Get a Hand with Twitter, Facebook and A Start-ups Tale: Tweet by Tweet . Remember, these links are only valid for seven days so download now.

My other advice, subscribe to the Wall Street Journal!

ED Announces Student Video Contest About Student Responsibility

ED Announces Student Video Contest

Students submit videos by November 2.

"Students share responsibility for their education and for fulfilling their dreams," said Duncan. "This video contest is an opportunity for young people to share their stories about where their education and career training can take them. At the same time, I encourage parents, schools, and communities to play a strong role in their stories by being accountable for forming stronger partnerships that guide students to their goals."

This is great. It would be neat for the students who use Penda (formerly SAM Learning) to submit their views. Penda is focused on student-driven learning and has been promoting this concept of "taking responsibility" for years.

Free Webinar on ARRA Funding for ELL

Educators seeking more information about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for English language learner (ELL) materials are invited to a free Webinar on September 30 at 10:00 a.m. PDT. Hosted by Ballard & Tighe, Publishers (www.ballard-tighe.com), guest speaker Dr. Jennifer House, a former school administrator and expert in K-12 education, will discuss the ARRA program and how it applies to ELL materials.

Register at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/339617514
Title: How to Use Your Stimulus Funds to Better Serve ELLs
Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. PDT

Charter Schools Pass Key Test in Study

From the Wall Street Journal... I like this researcher's thinking. If someone criticizes research, go back and rework it so it addresses the very faults they raised!

Charter Schools Pass Key Test in Study
By JOHN HECHINGER and IANTHE JEANNE DUGAN
Wall Street Journal
September 22, 2009

An excerpt from the article:

Critics of charter schools have long argued that any higher test scores were not necessarily attributable to anything the schools were doing, but to the students themselves, on the premise that only the most motivated students and families elected charters. Ms. Hoxby's study sought to address that argument by comparing students who attend charters directly with similarly motivated students -- those who sought to attend charters but were denied a seat through a random lottery. She concluded the charters did have a positive effect.

Link to article (only live for 7 days) http://online.wsj.com/wsjgate?subURI=%2Farticle%2FSB125358513141729871-email.html&nonsubURI=%2Farticle_email%2FSB125358513141729871-lMyQjAxMDI5NTIzMzUyODM1Wj.html

Study Buddy Earns Five-Star Review

Naples, Florida-- Sept. 16, 2009 -- The Study Buddy personalized learning device from Brainchild (http://www.brainchild.com/) earned a five-star review from a noted education magazine this week. Multimedia & Internet @ Schools magazine gave the handheld Study Buddy its highest rating and applauded the Study Buddy’s ease of use and ability to fit varied school settings including in-class lessons, individual tutoring, group learning and some ESL situations.

Read the release on Business Wire

Sacramento Business Journal - ECO:LOGIC Engineering Helps Secure Stimulus funds

Rocklin firm helps secure stimulus funding for wastewater treatment plant

Published: September 4, 2009

Rocklin consulting engineering firm ECO:LOGIC helped secure federal economic stimulus funding that will pay for a new wastewater treatment plant the city of Live Oak needs to stay in compliance with its wastewater discharge permits issued by the California Water Resources Control Board.

To continue reading, go to: http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2009/08/31/daily94.html?surround=etf&ana=e_article