Follow on Google News News By Tag * Race To The Top * RTTT * Response To Intervention * No Child Left Behind * Electronic Grade Book * School * Teacher * More Tags... Industry News News By Location Country(s) Industry News
Follow on Google News |  Software Answers and Goshen Local Schools - DataMap PartnershipK-12 Teachers’ Tool to Help Boost Student Standardized Test Scores
DataMap was created by Goshen’s Technology Director, Mark Slagle, in response to his teacher wife’s overwhelming amount of hard-copy student data, and her need for easily accessible, compiled and actionable information to better guide her Goshen Middle School social studies students to excel on state standardized tests. For the 2009-2010 school year, Goshen Schools for the first time ever met 100% of the Ohio Department of Education state indicators earning an EXCELLENT rating for the district. DataMap collects, aggregates and displays trending and historical standardized achievement test scores, formative and summative practice assessment scores, student demographics, and other student information system data in a single and easy-to-use web portal. At their fingertips, teachers see classroom, grade, school and state aggregated information. By drilling down to student level data, teachers gain specific, actionable benchmarks to teach and emphasize, resulting in improved state standardized test scores. Software Answers, CEO, Paul Chaffee said, “Helping teachers identify specifics to better educate students for a brighter future, as well as for improved state achievement test scores, is an important mission — we’re excited to be a part of it. DataMap has big potential to help districts improve their state rating, impact a district’s state funding allocations, and could positively affect Race to the Top candidates.” Mr. Slagle states that by connecting a student’s historical testing data with current diagnostics assessments, a complete picture of the student develops. He explains, “It’s not good enough for teachers to simply know students struggled on standardized tests – teachers must know specifically where students struggled and understand how to help them to improve their test scores. DataMap takes data from an administrator’ Mr. Slagle added, “Once practice or state test scores are available, DataMap results are ready within hours – it used to take days and frequently weeks to use this type of information effectively. No matter what a state calls it - Adequate Yearly Progress, (AYP), Accountability and Overview Report, or simply School District Report Cards/Grades – DataMap can help districts get a handle on where their students need help. Teachers can use data to target students for Response to Intervention, (RTI) and then track the success of intervention programs, with an end result of educating students, improving student test scores, and meeting more academic indicators, just like our district did.” Lisa Edwards, Goshen Sixth Grade Teacher said, “DataMap is invaluable! In just seconds my peers and I can see details on classes and can identify kids’ strengths and weaknesses. Then we can zero in on test topics that need extra attention. I can see disparity, for example, in a student’s 4th and 5th grade results, as well as state standards differences, such as 100% in vocabulary but 55% in literary text. Furthermore, DataMap helps ensure the value-added growth that’s required by the state. We simply could not have worked any harder – but with DataMap, we are working smarter with all students at all learning levels.” The contract between Software Answers and Goshen Local Schools enables either party to sell DataMap, and has Software Answers providing development, integration into the Software Answers suite of products and new client installation and support services. About Goshen Local School District (GLSD) – GLSD in Clermont County, Ohio, is located in a rural community 24 miles northeast of Cincinnati, Ohio. The district has four schools, 168 licensed educators, and 2,700 students, with a higher than average special needs student population. Average spending per pupil during the 2009-2010 school year was $9,690 as compared to the state’s average of $10,512. GLSD was rated “Excellent” About Software Answers, Inc. - Software Answers provides K-12 school districts with web-based district, classroom and student management solutions. Software Answers’ flagship product, ProgressBook( Janice Schenk, Corporate Marketing, Software Answers, Inc. 800-638-5212, x3008 SchenkJ@Software- 6770 West Snowville Rd., Suite 200, Brecksville, Ohio 44141 Visit http://www.Software- # # # About Software Answers, Inc. - Software Answers provides K-12 school districts with web-based district, classroom and student management solutions. Software Answers’ flagship product, ProgressBookTM, is used by teachers, guidance counselors and administrators for attendance, state-standard lesson planning, grading and report cards. ProgressBook greatly improves teacher-parent communications with 24/7 parent and student access to grades, homework, report cards and teacher messages. ProgressBook is used in 650+ school districts across the U.S., and over 75% of Ohio public schools. Other Software Answers products include a Student Information System, Online Learning and Special Services (IEP/ETR). Districts using Software Answers products realize optimized teacher classroom time and advanced academic achievement. The company is headquartered in Brecksville, a Cleveland, Ohio suburb. End
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
