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Chalkboard and Stand for Children partner on mentoring
Joint legislative proposal supports new teachers and principals

The Oregon House Subcommittee on Education Innovation heard testimony today on House Bill 2574, which would phase in a statewide mentoring program for all new teachers, principals and superintendents. The bill was introduced by a bipartisan group of legislators, and has attracted broad support in the education community.

The proposed legislation calls for a four-year phase in of the program, with $5 million allocated in the 2008-09 school year to meet the needs of about one-third of eligible teachers and administrators.

Creating a strong statewide mentoring system is a top priority for Chalkboard this session, as the need is supported both by best practices and public opinion research.

Read the joint news release announcing the legislation

Read more about Chalkboard’s 2007 legislative proposals and long-term action plan

Chalkboard creates CLASS Project
Innovative three-district pilot kicks off this spring

The Chalkboard Project has awarded CLASS (Creative Leadership and Student Success) Project grants to the Sherwood, Tillamook and Forest Grove school districts to develop individualized pilot programs that test the impact of greater teacher collaboration and leadership on student performance.

The pilot projects will establish new leadership roles for teachers, and expand training and collaboration opportunities. Participating districts also will reward individual and/or team success for meeting school goals in improving student achievement, based on a broad set of measurements.

Each district will receive financial and in-kind support from Chalkboard to design its own program over the next several months. Once design is complete, each district will receive annual implementation awards of $200 to $400 per student for multiple years.

Several other Oregon school districts have expressed interest in the pilot project, so Chalkboard may award a second round of CLASS Project grants in fall 2007.

Read the news release announcing the CLASS Project

Tech Tools grantees report success
Using technology to connect parents with schools

Eleven Oregon schools that received grants in late 2005 to create better online communications with parents are reporting success.

Through the Online Tools for Schools grant program (referred to as Tech Tools), Chalkboard provided funding to implement a Web hosting service for K-12 schools that allows parents and students to access attendance records, homework assignments and grades on a real-time basis. Grants were offered through the generous support of Intel Corporation.

The grants enabled more public schools in Oregon to use the Internet to connect with parents and/or guardians. A majority of Oregon parents told Chalkboard in a statewide poll that they would like schools to make better use of computers and the Internet to involve them in schools.

Tech Tools grants reached schools in Creswell, Redmond, Junction City, Huntington, Oregon City, Reedsport, Pendleton, Portland and Warrenton. After a year’s worth of use, all schools receiving grants report they find the technology a valuable enough tool to continue funding it on their own.

Read more about the sucess of the Tech Tool grants

Visit our In The News section to read recent reports from around the state.