New York Comprehensive Center

INFORMATIONAL BRIEF: A look at credit recovery programs across the United States

Anushka — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 19:15:03 +0000

The New York Comprehensive Center (NYCC) was asked in the summer of 2012 to prepare a brief that provides guidance on implementing a credit recovery program, including research-based evidence, programmatic examples and offerings. The purpose of this brief was to review the current literature on credit recovery programs to facilitate exploration into the variety of novel [...]

INFORMATIONAL BRIEF: Impact of Public Libraries on Educational Reform

jonshrem — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:24:17 +0000

To demonstrate the positive impact of public libraries on all students and the lifelong learning opportunities that they provide, the New York Comprehensive Center (NYCC) was asked in the spring of 2012 to prepare a brief demonstrating the critical role public libraries play including research-based evidence, programmatic examples and offerings, and impact studies. To read [...]

Academic Acceleration: Summary of Research and Policy Considerations

adamtanney — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 23:11:14 +0000

Authors: Adam Tanney & Candace Bocala Download here: grade accel brief revised Nov 2012 Abstract Acceleration is an “educational intervention intended to present talented youth with appropriate levels of academic challenge” (Wells, Lohman, and Marron, 2009, p. 248). There are two broad forms of acceleration: content-based and grade-based acceleration, and “the primary [...]

PRESENTATION: Limiting Risks, Maximizing Benefits of Social Networking Programs in Schools to Empower Online and Blended Learning

emilyrukobo — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 18:54:53 +0000

Anushka Paul and Emily Zyko Rukobo presented at the iNACOL Virtual School Symposium in New Orleans, LA. This research-based presentation focused on the implementation of programs in schools to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of social networking in education to engage students in online and blended learning environments. Further, we discussed how school [...]

PRESENTATION: 2012 NYSCATE Annual Conference

Jason Gaines — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 20:14:58 +0000

2012 NYSCATE Annual Conference
November 18, 2012
Rochester NY Members of the New York Comprehensive Center’s educational technology team presented at the 2012 NYSCATE Annual Conference in Rochester, NY. The conference featured hands-on workshops and informative presentations on social media, cloud-based learning solutions, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Strategies and mobile device management [...]

Long Island Tech Summit 2012

Jason Gaines — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 13:45:29 +0000

Long Island Tech Summit
October 24th, 2012
Melville, NY Members of the New York Comprehensive Center’s educational technology team presented at the Long Island Tech Summit in Melville, NY. The summit was hosted by the Western Suffolk BOCES, the

Presentation – NYLA 2012 Annual Conference

jonshrem — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:49:43 +0000

November 7, 2012 Saratoga Springs, NY At the 2012 NYLA conference, the New York Comprehensive Center presented our work related to the impact of cultural institutions, namely school and public libraries, and our work on social networking in education on a panel alongside the New York State Education Department, entitled “The Networked Library.” The panel [...]

Career readiness for students with disabilities & evaluation and measures of effectiveness for special education teachers

adamtanney — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 18:51:57 +0000

Download documents here Q1_SWD_career_readiness_v4 & Q2_teacher_effectiveness_sped_collaboration_v4x Created by Adam Tanney, Candice Bocala, Claire Morgan Attached are two reports, completed in January 2012, that the New York Comprehensive Center produced in response to a request to explore two issues: 1) career readiness for students with disabilities and 2) evaluation and measures of effectiveness for [...]

Evaluating the effectiveness of special education professionals

adamtanney — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:57:58 +0000

Download documents here: SPED Teacher Evaluation Interviews NYCC final Special Educator Evaluation Systems Request for Information_NYSED_DV_6_01_12 In winter and spring of 2012 the New York Comprehensive Center (NYCC) explored two questions related to evaluating the effectiveness of special education professionals. 1) How state and district educator evaluation system designs are differentiating practices [...]

Credit Flexibility in Ohio

adamtanney — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 23:23:56 +0000

Ohio¹s Flexible HS Credit 9-8 The state of Ohio has changed the method by which high school students can earn course credit by dropping its statewide system of using Carnegie Units and requiring that districts develop their own plans for how students acquire credit. The new system allows for testing-out and alternative methods beyond [...]

Literature Scans of Conditions and Practices Related to Implementing the Dignity for All Students Act

adamtanney — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 19:26:45 +0000

Overview of Literature Scans of Conditions and Practices Related to Implementing the Dignity for All Students Act New York Comprehensive Center Prepared for New York State Education Department March 23, 2012 Background This memo describes four literature scans prepared by the New York Comprehensive Center offered in support of New York State Education Department’s responsibility [...]

2012 NYSCATE Mobile Learning Summit II

Jason Gaines — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 14:15:07 +0000

September 28, 2012
Briarcliff Manor, NY Recently, members of of the New York Comprehensive Center’s educational technology team attended the second installment of the annual NYSCATE Mobile Learning Summit, held in Briarcliff Manor, NY. The summit included presentations on iPad use and utilization in the classroom, best practices for implementing wireless solutions, collaboration and [...]

Review of policies and resources to implement anti-bullying and anti-harassment in public education laws: Massachusetts, Florida, California

adamtanney — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 19:40:09 +0000

CA anti-bullying description FINAL Florida bullying FINAL DRAFT Rev8.29.12docx Massachusetts bullyling FINAL rev 8.29.12

Analysis of the Research Surrounding District Capacity Building as a School Improvement Strategy

adamtanney — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 17:05:05 +0000

Author: Adam Tanney Download here: district_capacity_building_brief july 17 2012 This paper contains the following: 1) summary of the rationale for district capacity building; 2) summary of the research on investing in district capacity, 3) highlights of the research on the characteristics and attributes of high-performing and improving districts, 4) resources for state policy [...]

Supporting Data-use Skills and Assessment Literacy for Teachers and Administrators: Current Best Practices and Research

adamtanney — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:49:16 +0000

Authors: Julie Hirschler and Adam Tanney Download here: Assessment_Literacy revised july 9 2012 Cite as: New York Comprehensive Center. ( 2010, January). Supporting data-use skills and assessment literacy for teachers and administrators: Current best practices and research. New York, NY: RMC Research Corporation. Supporting Data-use Skills and Assessment Literacy for Teachers [...]

Synthesis of School Year 2010-2011 Federal School Improvement Grant Studies

adamtanney — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:29:38 +0000

Dowload file: Schwarz Tanney NYCC SIG brief July25 Authors: Jack Schwarz and Adam Tanney This three-page brief synthesizes findings from seven school year 2010-2011 national studies of SIG. We also provide summaries of each individual study in the addendum. Summary Brief Preface The New York Comprehensive Center (NYCC) reviewed seven recent studies, six [...]

PRESENTATION: The Guidebook for Standards-Aligned Online Course Evaluation and Creation

emilyrukobo — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 15:50:57 +0000

Emily Zyko Rukobo and Jonathan Shrem presented at the 18th Annual Sloan Consortium Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Their presentation focused on the Educational Technology Team’s work in the area of online and blended learning and shared practical applications for The Guidebook for Standards-Aligned Online Course Evaluation and Creation. This presentation, in workshop format, detailed and [...]

Regional Online Learning Webinar Series

emilyrukobo — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 15:59:51 +0000

The Regional Online Learning Webinar Series, cosponsored by the New England and New York Comprehensive Centers, was designed to assist education leaders in: a) Understanding the landscape of P-12 online learning in the Northeast; b) Utilizing key, current national research on P-12 online learning policy and practice; c) Identifying and capitalizing on opportunities for cross-state [...]

Updated multistate review of professional teaching standards

tomhaferd — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 16:19:38 +0000

This study reviewed the following primary teaching standards documents in California and five other states. (REL Technical Brief, Regional Educational Laboratory West, 2010) Authors: Melissa White, Reino Makkonen & Kari Becker Stewart Download

What Characteristics of Bullying, Bullying Victims, and Schools are Associated with Increased Reporting of Bullying to School Officials?

crystalfrancis — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 16:16:54 +0000

This report examined 51 characteristics of bullying victims and their schools. One of the most significant findings from the report was that 64 percent of bullying victims do not report it to a teacher or adult. The end of the report includes the questions asked in the survey. These questions could also be used by [...]

Bullying Among Children and Youth with Disabilities and Special Health Needs

crystalfrancis — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 16:16:11 +0000

This tip sheet details bullying amongst students with special needs. Students with special needs are often at risk for bullying because of their size or perceived cognitive vulnerability. This tip sheet provides warning signs for bullying of special needs students and what parents can do to stop it. (StopBullying.gov) Download

Bully Report and Incident Report Form

crystalfrancis — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 16:15:20 +0000

This sample Bully Report and Incident Report Form is from the Doing What Works website. Students fill out these report and turn it in to the teacher. This encourages students to report incidences of bullying as well as gives schools and teachers records of these incidences. This artifact is a great example for schools beginning [...]

Bullying in Schools: An Overview

crystalfrancis — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 16:14:01 +0000

This 2011 report from the Department of Justice provides an overview of bullying in schools. In the report, two qualitative studies are conducted: one detailing how schools can mitigate the effects of bullying and another describing what teachers say about bullying in their schools. The report concludes with recommendations on anti-bullying programs. (Department of [...]

A practical guide to designing comprehensive principal evaluation systems

crystalfrancis — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 16:12:54 +0000

A Practical Guide to Designing Comprehensive Principal Evaluation Systems is intended to assist states and districts in developing systems of principal evaluation and support. The guide is informed by research on performance evaluation design and lessons learned through the experience of state/district evaluation designers. It is organized in three sections: Research and Policy Context State [...]

Dignity for All Students

crystalfrancis — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:53:48 +0000

Recently, my colleagues at the NYCC and I went to a special screening of Bully. With the recent media attention around bullying, cyber-bullying and the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), this movie was very timely and relevant. The movie follows five children and families affected by bullying and at times was hard [...]

Webinar Postponed: Cyber-bullying, Peer Aggression and the Dignity for All Students Act

emilyrukobo — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:46:22 +0000

June 21, 2012 | 3:00 – 4:00PM We apologize for the short notice, but this webinar is being postponed and will be rescheduled at a later date. Thank you for your interest. For more information on the Dignity for All Students Act, please visit www.p12.nysed.gov/dignityact. For more information on guidance pertaining to Internet safety, please [...]

PARCC Computer Guidelines

davidabrams — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:23:16 +0000

Earlier this spring, PARCC released general computer specifications to aid school districts in planning for the initial administration of the testing program in the 2014-2015 school year. These specifications are meant to inform current and future purchasing decisions. As long as school districts have hardware and connections that meet these minimum specifications, they can be [...]

Online Course: Linguistic Accommodations for English Language Learners

emilyrukobo — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:46:24 +0000

The Center on Instruction has released a free self-paced online course providing insight on Linguistic Accommodations for English Language Learners (ELLs). Module One: Background Information and Facts about ELLs provides facts on the ELL population and the instructional programs that serve them. Module Two: English Language Proficiency Standards and Proficiency Levels discusses the language proficiency development process and the [...]

Focus Group Scoop

stevebongiovi — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:37:18 +0000

Just as the focus mechanism on your television’s remote control provides clarity and precision of vision so that you can easily see your favorite American Idol contestant, so has NYCC’s Common Core Learning Standards Team focused on “focus” in its ongoing collaboration with NYSED ELL leadership. Our initiative, sometimes taking the form of a quest, [...]

Educational Networking Pilot Program

Anushka — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:02:20 +0000

The city of Salamanca, New York is home to a large majority of the Seneca Indians. As we drove down Iroquois Drive to the district office and school building, I was reminded of the Iroquois longhouses that the Seneca Indians lived in. The Salamanca City Central School District’s (SCCSD) mission is to ensure learning and growth [...]

NYCC Educational Technology Team work highlighted in NYSED News and Notes

emilyrukobo — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:23:14 +0000

March 23, 2012 Albany, NY The work of Educational Technology Team Member, Jon Shrem, was highlighted in NYSED’s recent P-12 News and Notes from Deputy Commissioner Ken Slentz. Slentz references that through the synthesis of “numerous studies conducted throughout the United States, the brief illustrates the importance of school libraries in the lives of [...]

State policy options to enhance local education flexibility: waivers and options beyond

Jason Gaines — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:09:59 +0000

Authors: Adam Tanney, Julie Hirschler, and Jack Schwarz
Download Full PDF Executive Summary Incentives and capacity building are two essential elements to improving education systems, but systems also need opportunities to use incentives and capacity. Rhim, Hassel, & Redding (2008) propose that in an effective statewide system of support, flexibility joins with [...]

New York Formative Assessment Technical Assistance Study

Abby Zyko — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:11:28 +0000

The NY Formative Assessment Technical Assistance Study is a pilot study that is a collaborative effort among the Assessment and Accountability Comprehensive Center (AACC), the New York Comprehensive Center (NYCC), the New York State Education Department (NYSED), and Syracuse City School District (SCSD). The project’s goals are to (1) develop capacity within the comprehensive center [...]

ARCHIVED WEBINAR: NECC and NYCC Online Learning Series, Part 4

Jason Gaines — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 23:37:54 +0000

Part 4: Parent Engagement in Online Courses May 22nd from 3-4PM ET This webinar featured both a researcher who has evaluated the value of parental involvement in online programs and parents who know first-hand the value of parental involvement in online programs. The presenters provided an overview of parent involvement in traditional education, discuss its role [...]

EVENT: Technologies in Education 2012 Supporting and Piloting Social Networking Programs in Schools Presentation

emilyrukobo — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:05:19 +0000

May 17, 2012 | 2:30PM
College of St. Rose | Albany, NY Anushka Paul, Jonathan Shrem, and Emily Zyko Rukobo facilitated this research-based presentation at the Technologies in Education (TEC) 2012 Conference, which focused on the implementation of programs in schools to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of social networking in education, [...]

Celebrating Teaching AND Learning

emilyrukobo — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 20:36:54 +0000

March 17, 2012 | 11:30AM
Celebration of Teaching and Learning | New York, NY As an Advisory Board Member, I had the immense pleasure to attend WNET’s Celebration of Teaching and Learning once again this year. An event expressly designed to spotlight solutions rather than confrontation for K-12 education. The list of speakers and [...]

Celebrate Parents

emilyrukobo — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 12:55:38 +0000

March 17th, 2012 | 8:30AM Celebration of Teaching and Learning | New York, NY Recently, the NYCC had the pleasure of attending the Celebration of Teaching and Learning right here in New York City. The Celebration features a who’s who in education sharing the latest best practices and strategies. One of the sessions I attended [...]

2012 NYSCATE Mobile Learning Summit

Jason Gaines — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 21:11:53 +0000

March 16, 2012
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY This past March, representatives from the New York Comprehensive Center attended the 2012 NYSCATE Mobile Learning Summit hosted at Hamilton College. The summit offered numerous presentations that discussed mobile learning in technology. The expert speakers were helpful and informative and offered solutions for implementing one-to-one technology [...]

WEBINAR: Presentation of the Handbook on Family & Community Engagement

Jason Gaines — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 01:20:38 +0000

March 6th, 2012 at 7:00PM To support the use of the Handbook, the New York Comprehensive Center hosted a webinar to provide support, guidance, and practical uses for states, districts, and schools. The webinar detailed how the Handbook is organized and the foundational research; shared highlights from chapters relevant to New York State schools and [...]

No Events Scheduled. Please check back soon.

Jason Gaines — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 01:12:53 +0000

NYCC Helps to Bring the SIG Grant Regional Conference to Life

Jason Gaines — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 01:01:07 +0000

On April 13 and 14, 2011, representatives from the New York State Education Department and Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Yonkers City School Districts participated in theSchool Improvement Grant (SIG) Regional Conference in Washington, DC. District participants were a mix of SIG school principals, central office administrators, and a teacher union representative. The conference, which [...]

Digital Learning Takes Center Stage in the Northeast

Jason Gaines — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:58:25 +0000

In conjunction with the New England Comprehensive Center and the Center on Instruction, NYCC hosted a Regional P-12 Summit on Virtual Education in Boston April 26 and 27. Intended to bring participants up to date on P-12 virtual education in the Northeast and elsewhere, the summit provided occasions for participants to learn about current research [...]

NYCC and AACC Proudly Present the New York Formative Assessment Project

Jason Gaines — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:57:35 +0000

The New York Comprehensive Center, in partnership with the Assessment and Accountability Comprehensive Center, is proud to present the results of the New York Formative Assessment Project. The New York Formative Assessment Project was created to implement formative assessment practices in a New York school district in order to provide lessons learned from the implementation [...]

New York State Education Department Launches Internet Safety Toolkit

Jason Gaines — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:57:09 +0000

NYSED is soliciting feedback on its new Internet Safety Toolkit. NYS Education Law – Section 814, Courses of Study on Internet Safety, calls for education of students concerning the safe and appropriate use of Internet technology and resources. In response to this law, the NYSED Office of Educational Design and Technology (ED&T) has launched an

NYCC Holds Seminar about Preparing and Retaining Teachers for High Need Schools

Jason Gaines — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:56:40 +0000

This was the third in a series of interactive seminars organized by the New York Comprehensive Center (NYCC) with assistance from the National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality. The seminar brought together the major stakeholders involved in teacher education in and around New York City. Participants included deans and program heads from 20 teacher preparation [...]

NYCC Contributes to Report on Alternate Assessment

Jason Gaines — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:55:54 +0000

The New York Comprehensive Center, together with the New York State Education Department and the Center for Assessment, conducted a briefing for the U.S. Education Department in Washington, D.C. to present considerations for alternate state assessments based on modified achievement standards for students with disabilities. The report details strategies and policy recommendations for identifying an [...]

NYCC Collaborates with NYC UFT Teacher Center

Jason Gaines — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:55:20 +0000

The New York Comprehensive Center was recently mentioned in The Communicator, a resource newsletter for the New York State Teacher Centers. The article discusses the collaboration between the United Federation of Teachers–Teacher Center (UFTTC) and the New York Comprehensive Center (NYCC) to meet the goals of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law and improve student [...]

Adolescent Literacy

Jason Gaines — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:54:52 +0000

Center On Instruction (COI) Coffee Chats
Members of the Adolescent Literacy Team have participated in several Coffee Chats facilitated by the COI Reading Strand. Topics have included formative assessment, struggling readers, and English language learners. The Coffee Chats are webinars where the NYCC adolescent literacy team members are able to learn about current research [...]

Comprehensive Assessments

Jason Gaines — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:54:02 +0000

The CAS team has just completed a series of 3 informational meetings at NYSED. These meetings have focused on: a) acquainting NYSED program staff with the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) definition and attributes of formative assessment; b) Wiliam’s and Black’s research on the potential characteristics and benefits of classroom formative assessment; c) [...]

eLearning

Jason Gaines — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:53:35 +0000

New York State Internet Safety Initiative The NYCC eLearning Team has been asked to review the existing Internet Safety section of the New York State Education Department website and provide feedback around the utility of the resource as it relates to statute. In addition, the eLearning team is gathering information on how other states have [...]

Teacher Quality

Jason Gaines — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:52:36 +0000

The New York State Education Department’s Office of K–16 Initiatives and Access Programs has been charged with creating a work group that will provide recommendations to the Board of Regents on strengthening the preparation and retention of urban teachers. The Institutions of Higher Education/Teacher Quality (IHE/TQ) team assists in the planning and organization of Regents [...]

Mathematics

Jason Gaines — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:52:15 +0000

In conjunction with our partner, the United Federation of Teachers Teacher Center (UFTTC), the mathematics initiative continues to work on a new model for implementing academic intervention services (AIS) for students struggling in mathematics. Expert mathematics trainers continue to provide professional development to AIS teachers in a cohort of schools in the use of Singapore [...]

Family & Community Engagement

Jason Gaines — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:51:53 +0000

The Parent Involvement team is participating in the Summer Parent Academy (SPA) in July sponsored by the NYDOE Office for Family Engagement and Advocacy. We are conducting workshops on Team Building and Sharpening Your Advocacy Skills. The final meeting of the NYSED Parent Advisory Committee convened on June 25, 2008.

Statewide System of Support

Jason Gaines — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:51:15 +0000

In collaboration with the EducationCounsel, consultants funded by the Gates Foundation in July completed and submitted a set of recommendations for a world-class statewide system of school support for New York. The report has been submitted to the Commissioner of Education and New York Board of Regents. This is part of a larger initiative by [...]

TQ Research and Policy Update cites the NYCC

Jason Gaines — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:50:20 +0000

TQ Research and Policy Update cites the NYCC The NYCC was cited in the National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality’s (NCCTQ) newsletter TQ Research and Policy Update in October 2006. The regional comprehensive assistance centers often have relationships in their states and regions that can open doors to begin the necessary conversations about setting goals for teacher preparation [...]

WEBINAR: NECC and NYCC Online Learning Series, Part 3

Jason Gaines — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:36:43 +0000

Part 3: Building the Virtual High School Experience; Problems and Pitfalls in Moving 100% Online
April 24th from 3-4PM Planning and implementing a virtual school program is no small undertaking. Stakeholder involvement at all levels is necessary and knowing what issues to address and when is critical. This webinar will feature experts who have [...]

ARCHIVED WEBINAR: NECC and NYCC Online Learning Series, Part 2

Jason Gaines — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:35:49 +0000

March 27th from 3-4PM Part 2: Online Course Evaluation
As virtual education continues to expand as a valid path for many students, it is increasingly difficult to determine course quality, which is an imperative skill for states, districts, and schools. This webinar leveraged experts in the field who provided research, along with insight from [...]

Webinar: The FACE Handbook

Jason Gaines — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:31:40 +0000

The FACE Handbook
March 6th, 2012 at 7:00PM In collaboration with the U. S. Department of Education’s Title I Office, the Academic Development Institute and Center on Innovation & Improvement have produced a Handbook on Family and Community Engagement. The Handbook is available free for download at www.families-schools.org. The Handbook is designed to guide [...]

Access to Algebra I: The Effects of Online Mathematics for Grade 8 Students

Abby Zyko — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 23:14:44 +0000

This report presents findings from a randomized control trial designed to inform the decisions of policymakers who are considering using online courses to provide access to Algebra I in grade 8. It focuses on students judged by their schools to be ready to take Algebra I in grade 8 but who attend schools that do [...]

WNET Celebration of Teaching and Learning

Jason Gaines — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 22:52:43 +0000

Each year, the Celebration brings together a unique gathering of thinkers, experts, and visionaries to share insights and perspectives on what it takes to provide the absolute best in educational opportunities for our students. Speakers address a range of issues associated with the following curriculum strands and topics: The Arts, ELA, Global Awareness, Health [...]

ARCHIVED WEBINAR: What resources and elements constitute a quality online or blended course?

emilyrukobo — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:23:11 +0000

February 28, 2012
Having agreed-upon standards of quality for online courses enables organizations to evaluate course quality and implement best practices for students and teachers. This webinar will feature expert online course developers who, using the National Standards of Quality for Online Courses developed by the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) and the EdTech [...]

Strengthening Formative Assessment Practices in Syracuse, NY: From Consultant to District to Classroom to Student and Back

Abby Zyko — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 01:02:17 +0000

January 22, 2010
Washington, DC Staff from the New York Comprehensive Center and the Syracuse City School District presented a description of how a high-poverty, urban district (Syracuse, NY) invested in capacity to scale up classroom formative assessment practices. This description included the research supporting the effectiveness of formative assessment, the definition and attributes [...]

No Child Left Behind Waiver Applications: Are They Ambitious and Achievable?

Abby Zyko — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 23:38:11 +0000

This report outlines what states must submit in their applications and summarizes some key elements of what states proposed or did not propose. Each application was scanned to see how ambitious and achievable their accountability and evaluation proposals were, identifying some strengths, weaknesses, or questions left unanswered. The report concludes with findings that span the [...]

Major Accountability Themes of Initial State Applications for NCLB Waivers

Abby Zyko — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:49:33 +0000

This report analyzes the NCLB waiver applications submitted by the first 11 states to the U.S. Department of Education in November 2011. Among the findings in the report are that these states are proposing new and complex accountability systems which they assert will respond to local needs and better identify schools that need assistance. Also, [...]

Youth Safety on a Living Internet: Report of the Online Safety and Technology Working Group

Abby Zyko — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:00:02 +0000

In this paper,the Online Safety and Technology Working group present their recommendations to improve the online experiences for students and teachers ensuring that students are kept safe in this dynamic environment. As we begin to embrace social networking in education, it has become imperative to develop a new taxonomy of online safety. The working group [...]

ARCHIVED WEBINAR: Instructional Strategies for Online Learning

Abby Zyko — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 04:54:18 +0000

October 24, 2011
New York, NY Effective online instruction means designing learning experiences appropriately, with facilitation by experienced educators. This webinar brings together veteran online teachers to share evidence- and experience-based best practices. They highlight successful examples of direct instruction, interactive learning, and effective online assessment in order to paint a picture of what [...]

The Current State of Field Experiences in K-12 Online Learning Programs in the U.S.

Abby Zyko — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:16:50 +0000

This study provides a status report on the state of field experiences in K-12 online learning programs in the United States. After developing a survey instrument, teacher education programs and K-12 online learning programs were surveyed to find out what they are doing to help prepare pre-service teachers for K-12 online learning environments. While teachers [...]

Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning: An Annual Review of State-level Policy and Practice

Abby Zyko — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:15:58 +0000

Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning is the latest in a series of annual reports that began in 2004 that examine the status of K-12 online education across the country, providing a research-based overview of the latest policies, practices and trends affecting online learning programs across all 50 states. (Evergreen Education Group, 2011) [...]

Acceptable Use Policies in the Web 2.0 and Mobile Era: A Guide for School Districts

Abby Zyko — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:07:52 +0000

Web 2.0 applications and mobile Internet devices have added new issues to the safety/access situation for schools. The purpose of the CoSN guide is to assist school districts in developing, rethinking, or revising Internet policies as a consequence of the emergence of Web 2.0 technologies. (Consortium for School Networking Initiative/a>, 2011) [...]

ARCHIVED WEBINAR: Early Learners & Online Learning

Abby Zyko — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 04:51:59 +0000

September 26, 2011
New York, NY Schools and districts are looking online to provide all students, even our earliest learners, with resources and courses to enhance and enrich their educational experience. This webinar introduces the use of online learning on early learners and shares web-based and off-line resources available to assist early learners in [...]

EVENT: New York State Online and Blended Learning Summit II

emilyrukobo — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 23:46:18 +0000

September 14, 2011
Albany, NY The New York State Online and Blended Learning Summit II, Albany, which was sponsored by New York State Education Department, the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL), with support from Intel, included open and closing sessions by NYSED, presentation by iNACOL on the state of online education in [...]

Report of Findings and Recommendations of the New Jersey School Library Survey

Abby Zyko — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 22:11:40 +0000

This brief details a survey and it’s results that was commissioned by Rutgers University. The survey was aimed to show that the New Jersey school libraries and librarians contribute to the intellectual life of a school and to the development of students. (Scholastic, 2011) Download

School Libraries Work!

Abby Zyko — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 22:10:04 +0000

Produced by Scholastic, this Research Foundation Paper provides an extensive foundation regarding state library practices and effectiveness across the country. The brief also highlights key research supporting school libraries and explains why state policy makers should value their contributions to promoting student achievement. (Scholastic, 2011) Download

New York State’s School Libraries and Library Media Specialists: An Impact Study

Abby Zyko — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 22:09:20 +0000

This resource provides a detailed look into the impact of school libraries and librarians in New York State. The study structure is separated into phases and takes an in depth look into issues of technology use, teacher collaboration, literacy instruction, service to special needs, and more. (Center for Digital Literacy, Syracuse University, 2011) [...]

Preliminary Findings about Waivers: CEP Survey of State Education Agency Officials

Abby Zyko — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 06:10:59 +0000

In the fall of 2011, CEP surveyed state education agency officials about the need for waivers of the accountability provisions under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act. The state officials surveyed said the waivers are greatly needed and generally agree that the four principles that must [...]

ARCHIVED WEBINAR: Online Credit Recovery

Abby Zyko — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 04:53:02 +0000

August 22, 2011
New York, NY Many states and districts are looking to online courses and credit recovery programs to meet the needs of students at risk of failing or dropping out of school. This webinar brings research and practice to bear on the potential implications of this solution and share strategies for building, [...]

State Education Agencies as Agents of Change

Abby Zyko — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:14:43 +0000

What are the obstacles that inhibit them from most effectively tackling today’s challenges? What has experience taught the most successful state education chiefs what their role should look like? What can reformers or policymakers do to help prepare SEAs for these new challenges? This paper sets out to answer these questions. Finding the available literature [...]

Distance Education Courses for Public Elementary and Secondary School Students: 2009-10

Abby Zyko — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 22:13:41 +0000

This report provides a comprehensive statistical look at student enrollments in distance education and includes data on the extent of enrollment, monitoring and accountability, deliverers and developers, courses, and technologies. The estimates presented are based on a district survey about distance education courses offered by the district or by any of the schools in the [...]

ARCHIVED WEBINAR: Evaluating and Supporting Online Instruction

Abby Zyko — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 04:55:26 +0000

July 25, 2011
New York, NY As part of the New England and New York Comprehensive Centers’ Virtual Education Initiative, the University of Florida’s Dr. Cathy Cavanaugh was invited to discuss the importance of online teacher evaluation in virtual education programs. Dr. Cavanaugh discussed the need for the development of comprehensive evaluation programs for [...]

The Road to Autonomy: Can Schools, Districts, and Central Offices Find Their Way?

Abby Zyko — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:11:47 +0000

Experience with charter schooling and other autonomous school reforms has shown that granting schools more flexibility can yield more innovation in school management, staffing, and instruction, bringing examples of success to neighborhoods where high-performing schools are rare. But experience has also shown that not all schools have the capacity to fill the space created by [...]

The Handbook on Family and Community Engagement

Abby Zyko — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:53:59 +0000

The Handbook is designed to guide state, district, and school Title I personnel in providing high-quality, research-based family and community engagement programs and experiences. Each chapter provides grounding in research and practical action principles for the field. A concluding chapter lists specific recommended practices for the state, district, and school. (Families-Schools, 2011)

How the Supplement-Not-Supplant Requirement Can Work Against the Policy Goals of Title I

Abby Zyko — Mon, 30 May 2011 00:13:49 +0000

This paper briefly describes the origins of Title I’s supplement-not-supplant requirement and provides examples of how the rule affects state and local implementation of Title I programs. This paper also offers three options for reforming the rule…The purpose of this paper is to explore the ways in which the supplement-not-supplant requirement works against the goals [...]

Teaching: Prepare and Connect

Abby Zyko — Sun, 29 May 2011 21:56:46 +0000

The National Education Technology Plan Technical Working group presented a model of learning powered by technology in five different areas, one of which is Teaching with an emphasis on preparing and connecting educators to transform our education systems. This model of connected teaching helps build online learning communities that improve student learning. The article talks [...]

INFORMATIONAL BRIEF: Impact of School Libraries on Student Achievement

Abby Zyko — Sun, 29 May 2011 04:48:06 +0000

May 28, 2011
New York, NY To demonstrate the positive impact of school libraries on the implementation of the Regents Reform Agenda in New York, the NYCC was asked in the Spring of 2011 to prepare a brief which highlights specific examples of programs in states that have had success utilizing school libraries to [...]

ARCHIVED WEBINAR: Strategies for Implementing Student IEPs in the K-12 Virtual Education Environment

Abby Zyko — Tue, 24 May 2011 04:56:25 +0000

May 23, 2011
New York, NY As part of the New England and New York Comprehensive Centers’ Virtual Education Initiative, Dr. Erin Berry of Virtual Virginia (VVa), Jeff Jacobson of Florida Virtual School (FLVS), and Liz Pape of Virtual High School (VHS) were invited to discuss their work and recommendations for states and districts [...]

EVENT: Technologies in Education (TEC) 2011 Educational Networking Presentation

Abby Zyko — Wed, 18 May 2011 04:50:55 +0000

May 17, 2011
Albany, NY Adam Goldfarb and Emily Zyko presented the findings from a brief on social networking in education, prepared in response to a request from NYSED, at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY. Goldfarb and Zyko were invited by the NYSED Office of Educational Design and Technology to present [...]

A Parent’s Guide to College

Abby Zyko — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 23:56:04 +0000

This guide, produced by the New York Urban League in conjunction with the New York Daily News and the City University of New York, assists parents and students across New York with the college application process and all the steps leading up to it. The guide gives parents and students information regarding college entrance exams, [...]

EVENT: Digital Learning Takes Center Stage in the Northeast

Abby Zyko — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 04:57:32 +0000

April 26 and 27, 2011
Boston, MA In conjunction with the New England Comprehensive Center and the Center on Instruction, NYCC hosted a Regional P-12 Summit on Virtual Education in Boston April 26 and 27. Intended to bring participants up to date on P-12 virtual education in the Northeast and elsewhere, the summit provided [...]

ARCHIVED WEBINAR: Diverse Learners in Virtual Education — Reaching a New Generation

Abby Zyko — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 04:58:52 +0000

April 11, 2011
New York, NY As part of the New England and New York Comprehensive Centers’ Virtual Education Initiative, we invited Dr. Eve Müller and Dr. Paula Burdette, who researched and prepared the Project Forum report Virtual K-12 Public School Programs and Students with Disabilities: Issues and Recommendations, to discuss their work and [...]

Teaching the Teachers: Preparing Educators to Engage Families for Student Achievement

Abby Zyko — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:54:54 +0000

Teachers are more effective when they build relationships with families and communities. “When teachers understand families and communicate and build relationships with them, students benefit.” (p.1) “ Thus, by giving teachers the support they need to work with families, teacher education programs can have an even greater impact on student achievement.” (p. 1) (

ARCHIVED WEBINAR: Teacher Preparation for Virtual Education

Abby Zyko — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 06:36:52 +0000

Feb 28, 2011
New York, NY Invitees from the northeast participated in a webinar presentation by Dr. Kathryn Kennedy, of Georgia Southern University, and Dr. Leanna Archambault, of Arizona State University, on Teacher Preparation for Virtual Education: Preparing a New Generation. Highlights included: a presentation of national survey results on teacher preparation for virtual [...]

Eight Elements of High School Improvement: A Mapping Framework

Abby Zyko — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 22:41:56 +0000

The National High School Center has developed a framework that consists of eight core elements and provides a lens for mapping school, district, and state high school improvement efforts. The exercise of mapping should inform strategic planning and implementation efforts by illuminating the connections among elements, revealing strengths and gaps in current state and district [...]

School Improvement Grants: Take 2

Abby Zyko — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 01:16:05 +0000

While SIG may be a huge opportunity for dramatic improvement, it is also a huge opportunity to once again fail our students, families, and communities. Round 1 took place at breakneck speed, with states, districts, and schools ‘building the plane while flying it.’ With Round 2 SIG applications due in the next few months, states [...]

EVENT: New York Summit on Online and Blended Learning

Abby Zyko — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 06:37:39 +0000

December 8, 2010
Albany, NY The New York State Education Department (NYSED), the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL), and Intel hosted a summit on online and blended learning for stakeholders throughout New York State. The goal of the summit was to identify potential next steps in creating a structural network for expanding [...]

Coherence: Key to Next Generation Assessment Success

Abby Zyko — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 22:50:34 +0000

The way forward to better assessment begins with the conception of assessment not as a single test but as a coherent system of measures. Coherent systems must be composed of valid measures of learning and be horizontally, developmentally, and vertically aligned to serve classroom, school, and district improvement. Each of the component measures must reflect [...]

Virtual K-12 Public School Programs and Students with Disabilities: Issues and Recommendations

Abby Zyko — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:24:41 +0000

This policy forum proceedings document details the organizing and outcomes of a February 2010 policy forum held to identify the challenges associated with serving students with disabilities in virtual K-12 public school programs and to develop policy recommendations to address these challenges. The document includes information about the current online learning landscape; information about what [...]

Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning: A Review of State-level Policy and Practice

Abby Zyko — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:22:28 +0000

iNACOL Research Committee Issues Brief: An Exploration of At-Risk Learners and Online Education

Abby Zyko — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:21:16 +0000

The purpose of this Issues Brief is to help policy makers and practitioners better understand how online programs are dealing with students who have been identified as at-risk. The first section, Strategies for Working with At-Risk Student Populations in Online Environments, documents a sampling of K-12 online programs currently working with at-risk student populations by [...]

Fulcrum of Change: School Improvement Grants

Abby Zyko — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:15:31 +0000

As unprecedented levels of resources flow to state departments of education to support dramatic change in persistently low-performing schools under the revised and expanded U.S. Department of Education’s School Improvement Grant (SIG) program, a variety of approaches to leveraging the dollars are emerging…With the broader goal of culling lessons related to states playing a substantive [...]

When Failure Is Not An Option: Designing Competency-Based Pathways for Next Generation Learning

Abby Zyko — Sat, 29 May 2010 22:25:45 +0000

Technological advancements are opening new educational opportunities that emphasize personal, student-centered, performance-based, anytime, anywhere educational opportunities. This paper explores competency-based pathways, a necessary condition to realizing the potential of next generation learning.( iNACOL, 2010) Authors: Sturgis and Patrick Download