News - KEH Communications

Top Early Childhood Literacy Experts Provide Recommendations for Improving Literacy Instruction Based on Research Findings

Early Childhood Literacy: The National Early Literacy Panel and Beyond book provides decision-making insight that leads to actionable teaching

BALTIMORE, MD – September 5, 2012 – The federally-funded National Early Literacy Panel (NELP) Report (January 2009) analyzed hundreds of studies published in peer-reviewed research journals in order to determine what matters in early literacy instruction. The report showed that to improve early literacy skills and outcomes in all children, administrators, curriculum developers, and early literacy specialists must work to strengthen practices and change the way literacy is addressed in early education. However the report’s findings could be deemed as too complex for practical application by literacy educators, and newer research on literacy instruction conducted since the publication of the report offers additional ways to strengthen practice and improve outcomes for all children.

Pennsylvania Department of Education Selects Teachscape's Framework for Teaching Proficiency System

Online system trains and tests teacher evaluators statewide on accurately assessing teaching practice

SAN FRANCISCO, September 5, 2012 – The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has chosen Teachscape, the leader in delivering Web-based professional learning content, innovative technologies, and expert services to improve teaching practice, to provide a system by which to train and assess the state’s 5,350 teacher evaluators. PDE will use Teachscape’s Framework for Teaching Proficiency System, an online system to train and assess teacher evaluators, to help ensure evaluator accuracy as the state rolls out a five-year comprehensive statewide teacher evaluation system based on Charlotte Danielson’s Framework for Teaching (FFT).

Schools May Now Apply for Nationwide "Healthy School Makeover Contest"

Leading health and physical education organizations team-up to provide a healthy school makeover worth $45,000 in support of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

San Diego, CA, September 5, 2012 — Video entries are now being accepted for the nationwide Healthy School Makeover Contest, with the winner receiving an unprecedented grand prize worth $45,000 in educational materials, training, and equipment. Individuals can nominate a school by submitting a short video explaining why their school needs a healthy school makeover and how they’ll use the Grand Prize award to improve the health of their students. The contest, managed by SPARK™, provider of the world’s most-researched and field-tested physical education program and a division of School Specialty, features products and services from leading organizations including Sportime, AAHPERD/NASPE, Healthy Kids Challenge, Skillastics, Healthy Lifestyle Choices, GenMove, The First Tee, Polar, and the ANNIKA Foundation.

Online Speech Therapy Fills Needs for Fowler Unified School District

California district uses online speech therapy to provide services to 80 students

SAN FRANCISCO, September 4, 2012 – After having no applicants to fill their speech language pathologist (SLP) openings for an entire school year and lacking the funds to pay what other districts in the area were paying for SLPs, Fowler Unified School District (USD) turned to PresenceLearning, the leading provider of online speech therapy services to K-12 students. The district is using PresenceLearning to provide services to 80 students located at the six schools within the district.

Brookes Publishing To Give Away Free Books at Pathfinders Run Wild for Autism Event at the Maryland Zoo

Practical books will support Maryland families raising children with disabilities

BALTIMORE, MD – August 30, 2012 – Brookes Publishing, a family-owned Baltimore-based publishing company, is sponsoring the second annual Pathfinders Run Wild for Autism 5K race and Family Fun Run/Walk on Sunday, September 16th, 2012, at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.

PresenceLearning Partners with the Arizona Charter School Association

Corporate partnership provides Arizona charter schools access to online speech therapy benefits

SAN FRANCISCO, August 22, 2012 – PresenceLearning, the leading provider of online speech therapy services to K-12 students, recently joined into a corporate partnership with the Arizona Charter School Association. Through the partnership, the Association will help make Arizona’s 524 charter campuses aware of the uses and benefits of online speech therapy provided by PresenceLearning.

Health and Physical Education Organizations to Launch "Healthy School Makeover Contest" This Fall

Contest offers unprecedented grand prize of $45,000 in curriculum/training/equipment in support of National Childhood Obesity Awareness month

San Diego, CA, July 12, 2012 — A consortium of the nation’s leading health and physical education organizations have teamed-up to offer a nationwide Healthy School Makeover Contest to support National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month this September. One lucky K-12 school will win a comprehensive Healthy School Makeover worth $45,000. SPARK™, provider of the world’s most-researched and field-tested physical education program and a division of School Specialty, will manage the online contest.

Rhode Island contracts with ETS/Teachscape to use Framework for Teaching Proficiency System to train classroom observers statewide

Princeton, N.J. (July 10, 2012) — Educational Testing Service is proud to announce that the Rhode Island Department of Education awarded a contract to ETS and its subcontractor, Teachscape, to offer the Framework for Teaching Proficiency System to all districts implementing the Rhode Island Model Teacher Evaluation and Support System.