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To help local education leaders with their own school reform efforts, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has produced a new series of onlin evideos highlighting successful school improvements from districts across the nation. The videos illustrate how several school districts have successfully turned around their low-performing schools using the four models endorsed by ED's $3.5 billion Title I School Improvement Grant program. This program makes funds available to states by formula, to help them target the bottom 5 percent of U.S. Schools--or approximately 5,000 chronic underperforming schools nationwide. Local school districts compete for the funds after identifying the schools they wan to overhaul and then determining which of four models is most appropriate: transformation, turnaround, restart, or school closure. Through interviews with school administrators, teachers, parents, and studetns, the videos aim to show how sometimes difficult changes in school leadership, personnel, curriculum, and culture can lead to dramatic improvemetns in student achievement.

There's a "disconnect" between school administrators and parents. While more than half of America's school principal's said they think they're "doing a good job" preparing students for the 21st century, only a third of parents of middle school and high school students agreed, according to research released by Project Tomorrow and Blackboard.

"The Big History Project is a collaboration designed to bring big history to life for high school students. It is entering the second year of a pilot program designed to create and refine a world class curriculum and online experience that will ultimately be freely available to schools worldwide. More than 80 partner schools are enrolled in our current piot program."

" IIME presented by Japan Art Mile is a project of international collaborative learning implemented with a school in Japan as a part of school education. Students of each class research on a global theme, share respective learning using internet, and finally express what they have collaboratively learned in a visible way of creating one mural (a big picture of 5-12 feet) together drawing half by half. Age of participants:6-18 ages, elementary-high school "

"Engineers at the University of California, San Diego, have developed an iPad app that helps students learn spatial visualization, an essential skill for doing well in science, math and engineering. They have been testing the app during a high school summer program at the Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego, as well as on undergraduate students at the school."

Although the app is not released yet, they do have a form to sign up for news releases and updates on its progress.

"CoSN's Participatory Learning in Schools: Policy & Leadership initiative (formerly known as Web 2.0 in Schools) is based on the recognition that Web 2.0 tools provide powerful learning resources for our children and thus prepare them for the world beyond the classroom. The purpose of this initiative, which is sponsored by The Digital Media and Learning Initiative from The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is to assist schools to adapt to this new reality. "

Babylon in Every School. The program makes Babylon's dictionary and translation software available to K-12 schools and their studetns free of charge.

t's the 21st century and I'm sure your school district has been embracing technology. With budget cuts, however, can your school keep up with the need for new and updated computers? I work in Bergen County (N.J.) where we have the highest property taxes in the nation, and yet this fall I'm not sure whether or not our media center will see more computers for our students. (Thank you, Governor Christie) I know of districts where every student has their own laptop. Not where I am. Still, I try to use what we have to prepare our students for when they graduate and go out into the world. No matter what they will do in their career, whether it's an auto mechanic or a lawyer, they will need these digital skills. If you are still wary about technology, it is time to jump into the water. We don't want you and your students left behind.

twiducate.com is a free resource for educators. Developed in 2009, our goal is to create a medium for teachers and students to continue their learning outside the classroom. We attempt to fill a need for a more educationally focused, safe venue for teachers, schools, and home learners in a social networking environment. We understand that many social networking sites exist, however the control of content is limited for teachers. Also, many of these social networking sites are continuously being blocked by school firewalls and administrators. Our service proudly differs in that only teachers and students may view classroom posts, thus creating a private network for you and your students and a safer online learning environment.

Free interactive curriculum supporting ethics and decision making themes for middle school student and athletic programs. For the high school, ethics and anti-doping themes.

"This blog is designed to promote the work of students in Room 8 at Melville Intermediate School. This school is located in the city of Hamilton in the Waikato Region of New Zealand. We are a class of 24 students who are Y7 level (10-11 year olds). We'd really like getting comments and feedback and would love to network with new classrooms nationally and around the world."

Through the My High School Journalism feature students can upload their own news content, including articles, podcasts, videos, and photos to the page. Each week throughout the school year, submissions are rated by journalism experts, and the top student reporters receive awards for their news coverage.

"Grand Island Public Schools recognizes the critical role that technology plays in educating children for the future. In order to be productive citizens in society, students must possess the skills to be contributing members in an information-rich technology environment. In accordance with state and national instructional technology standards, Grand Island Public Schools learners will be provided the skills and implementation opportunities which will enable them to: 1. use a variety of information technologies and applications. 2. develop positive attitudes toward the social impact of technology and apply ethical and legal principles to the use of information technologies. 3. develop strategies to utilize information technologies to search for, locate, and access information. 4. use a variety of media to communicate, collaborate, publish, and interact with experts, peers, and other audiences. 5. organize, prepare and present ideas and information utilizing information technologies. 6. solve problems utilizing a variety of information technologies "

"Adams says the current voucher program "discriminates" against wealthier students by providing public subsidies only to inner-city children in allegedly failing schools."

"a suite of free online learning games that encourage middle school to early high school-age youth to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Unlike many efforts to get kids excited about STEM, these games connect directly to their passions, abilities, and sense of identity, exposing them to the breadth and variety of STEM-based professions and allowing them to explore the potential pathways to these interesting careers."

"This K-6 program is designed to promote science literacy in elementary schools through free hands-on science activities and supporting videos. Access fun activities and enter to win a school-wide science assembly! "

"The Secret Millionaires Club Learn & Earn promotion teaches financial literacy and entrepreneurship with print and digital materials offering activities to do in the classroom, at home and in other venues and settings where students and families learn. It was developed to extend the lessons of the Secret Millionaires Club webisodes and prime time specials created by A Squared Entertainment, into classrooms and homes across the country. Sponsored by CreditReport.com, part of the Experian family of brands, a robust array of materials has been developed for distribution to schools, youth organizations, and families. All in-school activities are developed by educational partner, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and are aligned to national core math standards to ensure maximum integration and implementation. "

created to provide elementary school educators a venue for discussing issues and strategies that are specific to teaching in the elementary school context

This is an online learning environment dedicated for educators and students to learn how to effectively use Google Apps in an educational context.

Free google apps training.

Google Apps Education Training Center is a new online learning environment designed for educators and students who want to effectively use Google Apps in an educational context. The site offers six modules, including Google Apps Education Edition, apps Mail, Calendar, Docs, Sites, and other tools. The training will cover customizing apps for individual schools; organizing e-mail effectively; creating shared calendars; collaborating with others online; using documents, presentations, and spreadsheets; delivering and collecting surveys, quizzes, and feedback; developing media-rich websites; and setting up internal video portals for schools.