Weekly News from PEN of Florida

November, 2011

Weekly News

from PEN of Florida

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Future FCAT to be harder to pass

Changes in scoring are expected to lower student and school grades.
JACKSONVILLE - State Board of Education members will raise the scores necessary for Florida students to pass the newly revised FCAT, but members and panel participants were divided as to how high is high enough to ensure students are ready for college.

The board held a workshop on Monday at the Florida State College at Jacksonville Urban Resource Center to discuss new achievement levels for the standardized test.

New cut scores, or the lowest score a student must make in order to make a certain level on the FCAT, are necessary due to changes in the test and content, said Kris Ellington, Department of Education deputy commissioner. Students took a new test - dubbed the FCAT 2.0 - for the first time in the spring.
"Standards define what we want to achieve - not describing what we are currently," she said, adding that the scores are "noble, but achievable."

The test is rated on a scale from 1 to 5, with a score of a 3 denoting in most cases "satisfactory" performance.

Read more of this Gainesville Sun article here.

11 States Meet Early-Bird Deadline for NCLB Waivers
By Michele McNeil

Eleven states will have the first opportunity to secure waivers from the U.S. Department of Education under the No Child Left Behind Act after meeting Monday's deadline for the first round.

They are: Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

This is fewer than the 17 states that originally had planned to apply by this first-round deadline, and reflects how much work-and collaboration with stakeholders-is required to put together a solid waiver proposal. As many as 40 states, plus D.C., may apply in subsequent rounds of the waiver process. The next deadline for states is mid-February, although the department has indicated it will accept applications in the future on a rolling basis.

Continue reading this Education Next article here.

PBS Kids launches augmented reality game for iOS, says all the cool kids are counting sushi

By Chris Barylick

It's official: Kids today have way cooler toys than you did when you were growing up. PBS Kids has just outed its first augmented reality mobile app for iOS -- a game called Fetch! Lunch Rush that aims to take the sting out of learning to do addition and subtraction in your head. If you're up on PBS' children's programming (and why wouldn't you be?), you'll recognize that pooch Ruff Ruffman as the game show host in the animated show Fetch! Here, he's a legendary movie director trying to make sure there's enough sushi for his movie crew (grown-up problems, right?). That's where the augmented reality comes in: bits of raw fish floating around screen. Though it's worth noting that this isn't augmented reality in the strictest sense of the term, in that you have to print out game cards to use with your iPhone or iPod touch's camera. The free app requires an iPhone or iPod touch (fourth-gen or later) or an iPad / iPad 2 running iOS 4.0. While we can't say we're a bit envious of those six- to eight-year-olds with their very own iPod touches, but then again, will they ever know the sheer joy of hunting in Oregon Trail over and over again?

Read more of this Engadget article here.

PEN of Florida has endorsed these "Members Only" benefits provided by Association Member Benefits Advisors (AMBA).

For additional information on these benefits, please contact AMBA at 1.800.258.7041 or visit www.amba.info.

LONG TERM CARE/HOME HEALTH CARE

AMBA will build a policy to match your own needs. You select the daily benefit amount, elimination period, and

benefit period which best suits your needs for care. AMBA endorsed Long Term Care Policy features include: no

prior hospital stay; no waiting period for pre-existing conditions; pays in addition to your other insurance, and

no premium increases with age.

FIRST DIAGNOSIS CANCER PLAN

The First Diagnosis Cancer plan pays money directly to you in cash at one time in one lump sum payment upon

first diagnosis of Internal Cancer or Malignant Melanoma you can select the lump sum payment of $10,000,

$20,000, $30,000, $40,000, or $50,000 that best fits your needs.

MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE PLANS

The Senior Class Medicare Supplement Plans pay for eligible expenses not paid by Medicare, and gives you the

freedom to use your own physician, specialist, and medical facility.

FINAL EXPENSE WHOLE LIFE POLICY

You can have peace of mind knowing that your premiums are guaranteed never to increase, and your coverage is

guaranteed never to decrease. Death benefits paid to your beneficiary are tax free.

TAX-DEFERRED ANNUITY

AMBA offers a Single Premium Tax-Deferred solution for your retirement featuring tax-deferred accumulation of

interest, guaranteed competitive interest rate, multiple payout options, and a nursing home waiver.

MEDICAL AIR SERVICES ASSOCIATION

Over the past 30 years Medical Air Services (MASA) has become an international company dedicated to providing

life saving emergency assistance. The coverage is designed to protect members against catastrophic financial loss

when emergencies arise. The Platinum Membership offered through AMBA offers the following 13 services: Emergency

Air Transportation, Helicopter Transportation, Ground Ambulance Transportation, Organ Retrieval, Organ Recipient

Transportation, Recuperation/Repatriation, Return Transportation, Escort Transportation, Non-Injury Transportation,

Minor Children/Grandchildren Return, Mortal Remains, Vehicle Return, and World Wide Coverage.

ACCIDENT EXPENSE

This accident policy protects you in 8 ways: ambulance, medical expenses, hospital expenses, intensive care, physical

therapy, family lodging & transportation, accidental death, and dismemberment. This policy does not pay losses

resulting from illness.

AMERITAS DENTAL INSURANCE

Ameritas dental insurance plan offers the freedom to use your own dentist or you may choose one in the Ameritas

Dental Network for additional discounts. For information, an application, or rates call AMBA at 800.258.7041.

(Coming soon.)

VISION SERVICE PLAN (VSP)

VSP is the largest national quality eye care company. VSP can offer you one-stop shopping for eye care. VSP offers

discounts for quality eye exams and unlimited eyewear choices. VSP WellVision Plans offers eyewear, contacts,

and a Laser VisionCare program. For information, an application, or rates call AMBA at 800.258.7041.

(Coming soon.)

Government Employee Travel Opportunities (GETO)

This is a unique vacation condominium, hotel, and resort program for association members. Space available

condos located worldwide are available for a flat rate per week. Visit www.getravelop.com or call 877.867.3639

to check on rates. Use discount ID number 823 when making reservations.

GETO hotel discounts are available at the following hotels. Call our special member benefits hotline at

877-670-7088 and use discount ID number 60712 when booking. Participating Hotels include: Wyndham Garden,

Wingate, Hawthorn Suites, Ramada, Days Inn, Super 8, Baymont Inn & Suites, Microtel Inns & Suites, Howard

Johnson, Travel Lodge and Knights Inn.

VACATIONS TO GO CRUISES

This online company constantly scours the itineraries of every cruise line to create an exclusive list of the world's

great cruises with every conceivable discount included.

AMBA association members can subscribe to the free weekly Vacations to Go newsletter vacations where most

cruises are discounted 40-60% off the published catalogue price. Check www.vacationstogo.com for cruise information,

www.resortvacationstogo.com for resort information, and www.tourvacationstogo.com for tours or call

800.338.4962.

LA QUINTA INN AND SUITES DISCOUNT

La Quinta Corporation now gives you a 15% discount at their La Quinta Inn and Suites locations nationwide.

Please mention the eligibility word "AMBA" to receive your discount. For reservations, please call 800.531.5900

or check www.LQ.com

AVIS , BUDGET, and HERTZ RENT-A-CAR DISCOUNTS

For Avis reservations, call 800.331.1212 or check www.avis.com and use the AMBA ID #G725000. For Budget

reservations call 800.455.2848 or visit www.budget.com and use the AMBA's ID #X925500. For Hertz reservations

call 800.654.2210 or visit www.hertz.com and use CDP# 1860896.

records change. CSIdentity will scour your credit report, public records, criminal records, court records, the internet

black markets, and many other sources to provide you with a powerful proactive tool for identity protection.

Should a fraud be committed against you, personalized restoration is available 24/7 and a $25,000 no deductible

restoration policy is there to back you up. Visit www.amba.info/idtheft.html or call 877.274.7401 and mention

AMBA and your association to receive your discount. Not available in NY.

CSIDentity PROTECTOR sm With CSIdentity Protector sm you receive instant reports and alerts when your identity has been stolen and your

DELL COMPUTERS

Great discounts are now available from Dell through the Employee Purchase Program. Call Dell at 866.257.4711 or

visit www.dell.com/eppstore/amba and enter your ID number PS95750248 to receive your discount.

APPLE DISCOUNTS*

The Apple association discount program qualifies for preferred pricing on some of the latest Apple products

and accessories. Apple member purchase program benefits include special member discounts on apple products,

quarterly promotions, free standard shipping on orders over $50, free engraving on iPod, online custom product

configuration, and simplified checkout suing any combination of credit card, Apple Gift Card, or apple Instant

Loan. Call 1.877.377.6362 or visit www.apple.com/eppstore/slg. When calling please identify yourself as an eligible

participant purchasing the Apple Association Member Purchase Program. *Discounts currently not available on all

items like the iPhone and iPod. Visit the EPP website or call Apple to verify discounted items.

1-800 FLOWERS

Save up to 15% on discounts from 1.800.Flowers by ordering by phone at 1.800.356.9377, or going online to

www.1-800-Flowers.com. Use promotion code "AMBA" to receive your discount. You will find a wide assortment

of beautiful flower arrangements and plants to choose from ready to ship to your door.

AMBA Travel Perx

AMBA Travel Perx brings the best values in vacations to association members. Special offers are available on

fantastic cruises, resorts, and escorted tour vacations to the Caribbean, Mexico, Panama Canal, Europe, Alaska,

South America, and Asia. To learn more, or view current specials, visit www.AMBAtravelPerx.com or call

1.800.480.4080. If you are looking for some "fun in the sun," you've found it with AMBA Travel Perx!

WIREFLY

Wirefly - Verizon, Sprint & T-Mobile Cell Phones & Plans

Wirefly brings valuable cell phone benefits to association members. Fast & free FedEx shipping! Members can

visit: www.amba.info/wireless to view details.

CU WIRELESS

CU Wireless - Discounted Cell Phones & No Commitment Plans

Plans start as low as $9 per month, no activation fees, no commitment plans, free and low cost phones are both

available. Visit www.cuwireless.com or call 1.877.818.3656 for details.

PRESTO

Presto Printing Mailbox - Presto is a convenient printer system that plugs directly into a telephone jack.

Authorized senders can email messages and pictures that are printed in color. Visit www.presto.com/amba

to view pricing and to learn more.

Keep us Updated!

Make sure to email any changes to your contact information to membership@penfl.org