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Brainchild

www.brainchild.com

Program Description

Brainchild aims to improve student achievement through the use of portable study devices, CD-ROM software, and online assessment of student strengths and weaknesses for reading and math. Brainchild’s PLS-1K and PLS-2k are portable learning computers. It may be used for extended learning, take home programs, and raising standardized test scores. Over 160 software cartridges teach all core academic skills in a multiple‑choice format, for grades 1-12 and adult. There are programs available for reading, math, as well as science. In addition, there are cartridges for English Language Learners, to be used with Brainchild’s I Speak English workbooks. The program is available for both MACs and PCs, and can be used in either single user or networked environments.

The program follows three steps to higher achievement:

1. Pretest on each lesson to find strengths and weaknesses.

2. Each student works on the PLS-1000 or with Achiever or Mechanics CDs on the computer to reinforce skills.

3. Posttest to record progress in the personal planning guide or automatically in the grade book provided by the computer software.

Key Features:

· Achiever On-Line Assessments: Reading and Math (20-minute assessments)

· Promotes extended learning from the computer lab to classrooms and homes.

· Forms a link between teacher, parent and student.

· Promotes more time on task.

· Produces rapid assessment of strengths and weaknesses.

· Assists all types of learners in reaching their goals.

· Offers three interactive modes: Study, Review and Test.

· Randomizes, scores, times study and test sessions.

· Offers rationales for correct and incorrect answers.

· Frees up teacher time to provide more individual attention.

· Interactive study with feedback promotes higher achievement.

· Keeps gifted students challenged.

· Gives more learning and reinforcement to students having difficulty.

· Portable learning devices are less expensive than computers.

Evidence of Effectiveness

· Houghton Mifflin Reading Unit Increases, by the College of New Jersey, Graduate Education Department. Students using Brainchild achieved 18% more improvement than the control group. The control group increased unit test scores in thirty days by 1%; the Brainchild group increased 19%.

· Stanford Achievement Test Study, by Principal Rick Heers and staff, Immokalee, Florida. Students using Brainchild achieved 40% higher improvement than the control group (one year study).

· Classrooms Without Walls: Extended Learning with Brainchild, by Arnold Sanchez, Texas A & M Doctoral Study. This study was conducted to ascertain the effects of Brainchild’s extended learning techniques and products. Three of Brainchild’s extended learning techniques were followed: 1) Independent study; 2) Collaborative/team exercises in the classroom; 3) Take-home programs employing parental involvement.

The study focuses on students who scored under 50% in the 4^th grade math TAAS (Texas Assessment of Academic Skills) Test. Selected control and experimental groups were measured over a period of three weeks; students were paired with matching characteristics.

The experimental group showed 52.5% growth in math achievement with a mean score of 87.40, while the control group showed 3.4% growth with a mean score of 58.30.

Aspects of Reading

This program does not meet the guidelines for a research-based reading program, as identified by the National Reading Panel and listed in the No Child Left Behind Act.

Correlation to Nevada State Standards

No.

Teacher Support

· A free Teachers’ Guide provides six extended learning techniques, for use in class or at home:

- Self-Paced Study

- Cooperative Learning

- Collaborative Learning

- Peer Mentoring

- Mentor Programs

- Take-Home Programs

· Vendor offers staff development workshops tailored to local preferences and requirements.

Equipment Requirements

· Brainchild Units or Computer Hardware

· Software Cartridges

Costs

Software Site Licenses: $2999 --$4999 (for unlimited computers in a single school)

· 10 Pack: 10 Brainchild Units; 30 Cartridges; 10 Carrying Cases; 10 A/C chargers

$2,995 for PLS-1K, $3,995 for PLS-2K

· 50 Pack: 50 Brainchild Units; 150 Cartridges; 50 Carrying Cases, 50 A/C chargers

$14,975 for PLS-1K, $19,975 for PLS-2K

· 100 Pack II: 100 Brainchild Units; 300 Cartridges; 100 Carrying Cases; 100 A/C adapters

$29,950 for PLS-1K, $39,950 for PLS-2K

Additional cartridges for Brainchild handheld units are $39.99 each.

Packs of 25 Achiever study activity books are $150.

I Speak English student activity books and instructor guides are purchased individually.

For Information Contact

Becky Moore Rodriguez (Authorized Dealer/Trainer)

Southwest Education

208 Ridge Drive

Marble Falls, TX 78654

Phone: 1-830-798-2142

Current Location in Nevada

No school in Nevada has chosen this program during this state remediation funding cycle.

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Classworks

www.classworks.com

Program Description

Classworks is a computer-based program that provides interactive lessons and drilling to supplement classroom instructions in language arts and math. In addition, Classworks can help prepare students for the High School Proficiency Examination (HSPE). This program utilizes software to support what teachers are doing in the classroom:

Rich, interactive curricula and student practice
Assessment and bench-marking tools
Reporting capabilities
Professional Development

Classworks is designed to:

Achieve better test scores through instructive and interactive practice
Document progress with reporting and accountability tools
Support standards based education by aligning content with state standards
Incorporate the best of educational software into one management system
Save teachers time
Individualize learning paths based on student performance
Increase student achievement

There are over 20 different publishers and 180 titles in Classworks, and teachers can select applications that correlate to state standards or the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS). Houghton Mifflin users can select a Classworks edition that corresponds directly to those books.

First, students are placed in program via Classworks’ placement test, or skill-by-skill deficits can be found via grade level equivalence evaluations. Then, Classworks generates a work prescription for every student and the teacher can modify to fit his/her wishes for that student. In addition, reporting capabilities are built in so teacher can see progress on the lessons, activities, projects or quizzes assigned to each student. There are several different types of progress tracking reports available to teachers. Reports can be made for individual students and for whole classes. Disaggregation of data into subgroups is also possible.

Evidence of Effectiveness

Spring Valley, Illinois – J.F. Kennedy Elementary

Like other schools in the state, JFK students take the The Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT). The test measures individual achievement relative to Illinois Learning Standards. Students in grades 3, 5, and 8 take the ISAT in reading, writing and mathematics.

The school purchased and implemented Classworks in 1997. The state average for students who met or exceeded expectations was 61 percent in 1999, 63 percent in 2000 and 63 percent in 2001. The school scored 67 percent in 1999, 72 percent in 2000 and 73 percent in 2002.

Perryville, Missouri – Perryville Area Career & Technology Center

In this school’s first year using Classworks, it had 123 at-risk students using the program to improve their language arts and mathematics skills. Among the students, 91% in communications arts, 88% in reading and 98% in math improved by at least one grade-level.

Aspects of Reading

This program addresses the following aspects of reading, as identified by the National Reading Panel and listed in the No Child Left Behind Act:

·         Phonemic Awareness

·         Phonics

·         Fluency ü

·         Vocabulary ü

·         Comprehension ü

·         Motivation

Correlation to Nevada State Standards

Yes.

Teacher Support

In addition to the on-site training included in your initial purchase of Classworks, Curriculum Advantage's team can provide customized training based on your teachers' needs and experience with Classworks. Curriculum Advantage will assist your school in developing a system of equity and accountability that will motivate students and support teachers by emphasizing:

Integration of technology into the curriculum
Alignment of curriculum with state standards, and assessment
Measurement and tracking of student progress and performance

Packages are as follows:

Premier: $7500 (for 15 teachers)

2 initial days, 1 follow-up day

2 Web-ex sessions

Classworks Institute discount

Online support

Train-the-Trainer: $6500 (for 5 teachers)

2 initial days

4 Web-ex sessions

Train the Trainer materials

Online support

Standard: $2500 (for 15 teachers)

1 initial day

4 Web-ex sessions

Online support

Classworks Online Professional Development

Classworks Online Professional Development was created exclusively to provide teachers with an Internet online resource to complement the on-site Classworks professional development received. Classworks Online Professional Development maximizes the opportunity for teachers to fully integrate technology into the curriculum to help students reach high achievement expectations. This training provides:

Anytime, anywhere training access 24 hours a day
FAQ step-by-step tutorials that will guide you through Classworks
In-depth individual instruction on all the Classworks Modules which include:
Teacher Module
Enrollment Module
Curriculum Editor Module
Classworks Online Professional Development is not just a one time training guide.

Equipment Requirements

Classworks is designed for networked environments. Detailed specifications are available on the Curriculum Advantage website, but generally, Windows NT/2000 Server/Novell 6.0 (600 Mhz processor, 764 MB RAM) or AppleShare IP (G3 450 or faster, 512 MB RAM) servers are required. Windows workstations running Windows 98/Me/XP are generally acceptable, as long as they have appropriate multimedia capabilities. NOTE: Macintosh OS 9 is supported, but OSX is not.

Costs

Classworks is bundled by grade level and subject. Costs are as follows*:

Math OR Language Arts Bundle

K -3, 4-6, or 6-8 $25,500

4-8 $35,500

K-6 $42,500

K-8 $52,500

Math AND Language Arts Bundle

K-3, 4-6, or 6-8 $45,500

4-8 $61,500

K-6 $66,500

K-8 $89,000

High School Exit Examination Prep

Math and Language Arts $41,000

Math and Language Arts plus Grades 6-8 $53,000

If more than three schools in a group purchase a Classworks bundle, volume discounts are available.

*Classworks has a one-time LAN site license fee, and installation and first-year tech support are included in the price. Tech support is available in subsequent years for $500/year.

For Information Contact

Phil Thompson

Curriculum Advantage, Inc.

215 Pearl Street

Wayne, NE 68787-1933

(888) 841-4790

Email: [email protected]

Corporate Office:

Curriculum Advantage

215 Pearl St.

Wayne, NE 68787

(888) 841-4790

Current Location in Nevada

As this is a new program on the List of Effective Remedial Programs, no school in Nevada has purchased this program using state remediation funds.

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Compass Learning Odyssey Classic

www.compasslearning.com

Program Description

Compass Learning is a developer of education software with programs in over 15,000 schools serving 10 million students worldwide. Building on a nearly 30-year history, Compass Learning takes full advantage of the power educational technology offers with professional development and strong curriculum that teaches the basics, higher order thinking, problem solving and allows for individualized student assessment and learning paths.

Though the company’s flagship product is the web-based solution Odyssey, that program is not to be confused with Odyssey Classic, which is the approved program on this List. Odyssey Classic (formerly known as Tomorrow’s Promise) is software that assesses a student’s learning level, prescribes a plan of action, and then monitors progress. Within the progress tracking component, called Odyssey Manager, data can be aggregated or disaggregated according to No Child Left Behind subgroups. The program consists of reading, math and language arts components, as well as ELL components.

Evidence of Effectiveness

Connecticut – Hartford Study

Hartford students made unprecedented gains on the 1999 Connecticut Mastery Test, improving more in a single year than in the past four years combined:

Florida -- Osceola County Schools

In 2003, the Office of Planning and Evaluation for Osceola County (FL) evaluated the effectiveness of Compass Learning software on student performance in the district. The data presents a strong case about the influence of Compass Learning software instruction in raising the achievement levels of Osceola students in reading and mathematics for grades 4 and 5.

The data indicates that students who used Compass Learning solutions showed significant gains in both reading and mathematics scores as measured by the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). Additional data indicates that Compass Learning software can help lower-performing students achieve adequate yearly progress and improve their FCAT scores.

Aspects of Reading

This program addresses the following aspects of reading, as identified by the National Reading Panel and listed in the No Child Left Behind Act:

·         Phonemic Awareness ü

·         Phonics ü

·         Fluency ü

·         Vocabulary ü

·         Comprehension ü

·         Motivation ü

Correlation to Nevada State Standards

Yes.

Teacher Support

· Professional Development Services: Through a combination of consultations and formal workshops, Compass Learning’s Professional Development Team uses adult education methodology to instruct educators on software possibilities.

· Software Support Services: Annual contracts provide year-round curriculum courseware protection; includes toll-free telephone support.

· Hardware Support Services: Compass Learning provides next-day, on-site response for the hardware covered by agreement.

Equipment Requirements

Odyssey Classic is designed for networked environments, and runs on both Window and Macs.

Costs

For a classroom of 30 concurrent users, the cost would be $65,065. This includes:

30 software licenses
Reading K-8 bundle
Mathematics K-8 bundle
Teacher Guides
Compass Curriculum Manager
Professional Development Guides for Reading, Math, and Integrated Language Arts
Software support for one year
File server integration on-site

For Information Contact

Lynette Binka-McVay, Business Development Manager

7878 North 16^th Street, Suite 100

Phoenix, Arizona 85020

Phone: 1-800-521-8538, ext. 4609

E-mail: [email protected]

Current Location in Nevada

Clark County School District

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Direct Instruction

www.sra4kids.com

Program Description

Direct Instruction is an intensive teacher directed school reform model that maximizes learning through explicit instruction. The instructional design breaks skills into teachable sub-skills, and then provides many opportunities for practice that lead to generalization. Direct Instruction is not a program per se, however, a family of programs based on the Direct Instruction teaching methodology. All Direct Instruction programs have placement tests and immediate correction procedures.

Direct Instruction is primarily an elementary school (pre-K-6) program, but may also be used successfully with secondary and adult special education and remedial students. Curriculum materials, daily lessons, and teachers’ guides are available for grades K-6 in reading, language arts, spelling, and math; grades 4-6 in expressive writing; grades 3-6 in science; grades 3-12 in corrective reading; and grades 4-12 in corrective math. The following highlights some of the Direct Instruction products used as remedial programs:

· Elementary Classrooms: Reading Mastery and Horizons – Explicit instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics skills, fluency, vocabulary, and direct teaching of comprehension skills and strategies.

· Middle School and High School: Corrective Reading – Targets the older struggling reader; has two strands – decoding and comprehension.

Direct Instruction is a highly structured instructional approach, designed to accelerate the learning of at-risk students. Curriculum materials and instructional sequences attempt to move students to mastery at the fastest possible pace. While Direct Instruction has been used successfully as a school wide program, the reading and language arts (and sometimes math) portions of the program are frequently purchased for separate implementations.

The main features of the program are as follows:

· Scripted Lesson Plans – Classroom scripts are a hallmark of Direct Instruction ; the scripts are written, tested, rewritten, retested – polished in a cycle of classroom field-testing and revision that ends only when trials show that 90% of students grasp a lesson the first time around.

· Research-Tested Curriculum – In Direct Instruction, skills are taught in sequence until students have fully internalized them and are able to generalize their learning in new, untaught situations.

· Coaches/Facilitators – Another feature of the program is the use of in-class coaches for implementation support. The coach periodically monitors each classroom and is available to assist individual teachers with any problems, perhaps taking over a part of the lesson to model pedagogical procedures.

· Rapid Pace – Because the goal of Direct Instruction is to move students to mastery as quickly as possible, a large proportion of classroom time is spent on fast-paced teacher-directed instruction, punctuated by rhythmic choral-group and individual-student responses.

· Achievement Grouping – Common periods for reading and math are established across grades during which students are regrouped by performance level, with the idea that all students will progress at the fastest possible pace and no students will be left behind.

· Frequent Assessments – Frequent assessments are also built into the program as a means to ensure that all students are reaching mastery, to detect any student who might need extra help before falling too far behind, and to identify students who need to be regrouped.

Evidence of Effectiveness

Phoenix, Arizona – Wilson Primary School

Wilson Primary School in central Phoenix is located in the most indigent public school district in the state of Arizona. The school serves a population that is 97% disadvantaged, 75% Limited English Proficient (LEP), 69% mobile, and 25% homeless. For years, the standardized test scores (SAT/9) in the district were consistently in the teens and twenties. In 1998, the Reading score for Grade 3 was at the 17^th percentile, up only one percentile point from 1997. After the first year of implementation of Direct Instruction - Reading Mastery, the Grade 3 SAT/9 Reading scores rose from the 17^th percentile to the 50^th percentile. Language scores rose from the 21^st percentile in 1998, to the 59^th percentile in 1999, and to the 71^st percentile in the spring of 2000.

Houston, Texas – Wesley Elementary School

Wesley Elementary School (Houston, Texas) has one of the longest, continuous Direct Instruction implementations in the country. It is located in one of Houston=s poorest, mostly African-American, neighborhoods and has a student population that is over 99% minority and 90% eligible for school lunch subsidies – statistics that usually signal low achievement levels. For many years, however, this school has ranked in the top tier of all schools in the state. Much of this success has been credited to the school=s 1975 adoption of Direct Instruction. First piloted in a Title I reading resource room, DI was soon in use throughout the school. By 1980, Wesley students had average test scores above the 80^th percentile in both reading and vocabulary, outscoring students in comparison schools by more than 40 percentile points. By 1996, all of Wesley’s third-graders passed the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS), compared to fewer that 70 percent of third graders in comparable backgrounds statewide. In addition, Wesley reduced the number of students requiring special education to 3 percent, compared to 10 percent statewide.

Park Forest – Chicago Heights School District

Park Forest – Chicago Heights School District, located 40 minutes south of Chicago, had a history of poor performance on state and national tests. Its student population was 65% economically disadvantaged and 72% low income. During the 1998-1999 school year, Direct Instruction programs were implemented in six Pre-K-8 schools, serving a total of 2,200 students. Results in the first year showed improvement overall from younger to older students. The district’s TerraNova assessment data shows that before Direct Instruction was implemented, students in Grade 1 tested at the 48 National Curve Equivalent (NCE). After two years in the Direct Instruction - Reading Mastery program, scores rose to the 65.6 NCE. Similar results were achieved with Grades 2-8.

Aspects of Reading

This program addresses the following aspects of reading, as identified by the National Reading Panel and listed in the No Child Left Behind Act:

·         Phonemic Awareness ü

·         Phonics ü

·         Fluency ü

·         Vocabulary ü

·         Comprehension ü

·         Motivation

Correlation to Nevada State Standards

No.

Teacher Support

Materials may be purchased by individual grade and subject, as well as in a package suitable for schoolwide implementation.

Professional development and implementation support of differing levels of quality can be contracted from various providers for both single-subject and schoolwide implementations.

Equipment Requirements

Sets of Direct Instruction Materials (textbooks, workbooks, storybooks, etc.)

No unusual equipment is required in most cases. Some programs have audio books or CDs, which require tape or CD players and headphones.

Costs

· Complete sets of teacher materials range in cost from $100 - $750 (15 students); all materials may be purchased separately.

· Workbooks range in cost from $30 - $60 for a 5-pack.

· Storybooks or textbooks range in cost from $15 - $40.

For Information Contact

Suzan Campbell, Sales Representative

SRA McGraw-Hill

3610 NE Peerless

Portland, OR 97232

Phone: (503) 233-2069

(800) 933-4302 x4381600

Current Location in Nevada

Clark County School District

McCall Elementary

800 Carey Avenue

North Las Vegas, NV 89030

Contact: Mary Manchego

Phone: (702) 799-7149

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Leap Frog

www.leapfrogschoolhouse.com

Program Description

LeapFrog School House publishes curriculum and assessment content for the elementary education market. With the program’s multi-sensory learning curriculum, information and concepts are communicated to students by touch, sight, and sound. Leapfrog’s curriculum programs are research-based and include interactive electronic learning aids, as well as the teaching strategies a teacher needs to integrate the program easily into the classroom. The following products are offered:

The Literacy Center

The Literacy Center is a multi-sensory program that provides teachers with a structured approach to teaching early reading skills. Designed to supplement existing programs, The Literacy Center uses sight, sound, and touch to deliver a curriculum based upon the “best practices” in current reading research. There are three age‑appropriate editions of The Literacy Center: Pre-kindergarten, Kindergarten, and Grade 1. (NOTE: State remediation funding is NOT available for Pre-K.) Each includes a Teacher’s Manual and a book of black line masters that take young learners from phonemic and phonological awareness to explicit instruction in phonics. The lesson plans are structured for whole class, small group, and individual instruction.

LeapTrack Assessment and Instruction System

The LeapTrack Assessment and Instruction System individualizes K-5 learning by diagnosing student performance and prescribing a customized learning path to meet state standards. The LeapTrack system’s standards-driven assessment and reporting allows students to receive personalized instruction on the LeapPad platform in reading, language arts, math, science, and social studies. Depending on grade level, the system’s assessment and instruction library includes multiple copies of 30 – 60 assessment surveys, 120 – 280 full-color instructional cards and 26 interactive books all delivered to students on the LeapPad platform.

Language First

The Language First program is an English language development program for early elementary students that utilizes the LeapPad platform and books to develop English oral language and vocabulary skills for ESL, ELD, and special education students. Utilizing the high-quality audio of the LeapPad platform along with theme‑based, leveled interactive books, this reading program helps students develop English oral language and vocabulary. The program materials provide students with opportunities to listen to English in meaningful contexts. Language patterns and structures are integrated with everyday vocabulary to help students move toward English language fluency. Audio support from the LeapPad platform engages the student and provides for repetition with immediate and corrective feedback. An introduction to each book is provided in six different languages. Students can work independently and at their own pace to get the practice and repetition they need to learn English.

Evidence of Effectiveness

Northern California – Post Kindergarten Summer Program – 2001

Two subtests of the Reading and Decoding Skills CORE were administered with a total possible score of 10 points. These sub-tests measure short consonant-vowel-consonant real and pseudo word reading. The following results were found:

Los Angeles, California – Efficacy Study

LeapFrog’s LeapDesk assesses the student’s knowledge of individual letter-sound association for 32 phonemes. The following shows mid-year results for improvements in letter-sound awareness:

Northern California – 2000

Students who used LeapFrog’s Literacy Center as a supplement to a basal reading program showed 42% improvement on tests of early literacy skills, while students who received instruction from the same basal reading program with standard district supplementary materials showed improvement of 16%.

Aspects of Reading

This program addresses the following aspects of reading, as identified by the National Reading Panel and listed in the No Child Left Behind Act:

·         Phonemic Awareness ü

·         Phonics ü

·         Fluency ü

·         Vocabulary ü

·         Comprehension

·         Motivation

Correlation to Nevada State Standards

Yes. The LeapTrack Assessment system is aligned to the state’s content standards.

Teacher Support

Training and professional development can be arranged separately through the school’s sales representative.

Equipment Requirements

One teacher computer workstation.

Costs

Language First

Language First 9-theme Complete Learning Center $1869 - $2199

Language First Complete Getting Started Kit $779 - $1109

Language First Single-theme Kit $99 - $189

LeapTrack Assessment System

LeapTrack Classroom Kit $3195 - $3795

LeapTrack K-5 Assessment Kit $2395 - $2995

The Literacy Center

The Literacy Center Kindergarten Edition $1700

The Literacy Center Grade 1 + Edition $1900

The Literacy Center Multigrade Edition $1900

For Information Contact

Ann Gordon

Eduational Sales Specialist

7260 Drifting River Court

Las Vegas, NV 89149

Phone: (702) 839-0503

Current Locations in Nevada

Clark County School District

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NovaNET

www.pearsonedtech.com

Program Description

NovaNET is a comprehensive online courseware system for Grades 6 -12 that delivers thousands of hours of standards-based curriculum, as well as assessment and student management. NovaNET is designed to improve test results and lower high school dropout rates. NovaNET can be accessed remotely or on site with upgrades, new content and system enhancements at no additional cost.

NovaNET's curriculum offerings include:

· Pre-Basic Skills: vocabulary, ELL instruction for newly arrived students

· Basic Skills: reading, math, language arts, and spelling remediation for third through eighth grade levels – this part of the curriculum is used with struggling students

· High School and Middle School: math, English, social studies, earth science, biology, physical science, chemistry, study skills, etc. This portion of the curriculum helps reinforce core curriculum lessons.

· Testing & Assessment: Testing is integrated into the curriculum, local test authoring, Princeton Review’s SAT/ACT, etc.

As an online service, NovaNET is easily supported in a variety of technical configurations, from stand-alone computers to local and wide-area networks and even full access via modem from the home. Teachers can communicated online directly with their students, leaving notes as reminders or encouragement. Site managers and instructors can communicate directly with other sites and with service and support personnel. Students utilize NovaNET's bulletin boards to improve their written communication skills in structured, online discussion forums.

Evidence of Effectiveness

NovaNET's curricula have been evaluated with over 30 million hours of cumulative use. Results indicate average gains in the range of 1.3 to 2.5 grade levels for every 20 hours of on-line work with the principal curricula. Because students typically progress directly to the level at which they need help, the learning progress is fast in comparison with traditional teaching methods. NovaNET has been successfully used by schools to reduce dropout and at-risk rate, increase test scores and accelerate student achievement:

Winnemucca, Nevada GED/Adult Education

All told, Humboldt County Schools enroll 3,650 students within 12 sites. The ethnic breakdown of the district is 77 % Caucasian, 22 % Hispanic, and 1 % Native American. Humboldt faced the challenge of providing adult diploma students with the opportunity to earn credit in all subjects, as well as the ability to offer credit remediation to high school students faced with an unfunded mandate.

Goals for the Humboldt program include having every in-school student pass the Nevada State High School Proficiency Exam, making credit remediation available to every student ages 14 to 18, and making an adult diploma program available to anyone aged 16 and above.

NovaNET comprehensive online courseware was implemented in 2000 using a combination of Title 1, Federal, and District Board of Education funds. Money from the Adult Diploma Program budget was also used for the purchase.

Administrators refer in-school students for credit remediation and those dropping out to the adult program. District teachers are aware of NovaNET’s benefits and actively recommend it as a solution for those target student groups with the greatest need for such a program. Students enjoy using NovaNET because they can go at their own pace, repeat processes as needed, and experience success.

To monitor student progress, the coordinating teacher collects weekly reports, keeps a grade record, and collects off-line assignments, grading and reviewing them with students. Usage summaries come into play for completion of reports which are required by grants. To address accountability issues, the supervising teacher issues a supplement to the student’s transcript at either the adult center or the high school when the student completes a credit or ½ of a credit.

In 2003, as a result of the GED/Adult Diploma program and the help of NovaNET, 87 % of the seniors who had one semester to make up a credit in order to graduate completed their credit on time. In addition, 17 adults earned diplomas and were honored at a public completion ceremony. News of the program results were so positive that 79 people registered for summer use.

Aspects of Reading

This program addresses the following aspects of reading, as identified by the National Reading Panel and listed in the No Child Left Behind Act:

·         Phonemic Awareness

·         Phonics ü

·         Fluency ü

·         Vocabulary ü

·         Comprehension ü

·         Motivation

Correlation to Nevada State Standards

Yes.

Teacher Support

The following training is recommended when purchasing NovaNET:

NovaNET Initial Training $2,800 for up to 12 participants

NovaNET Extended Training $1,400 for up to 12 participants

Remote Consulting $1,300 per day

Extended and advanced training is also available for schools in their second year of implementation or later.

Equipment Requirements

Pearson Digital Learning offers three methods to connect to the NovaNET system. Macintosh and Windows workstations can access NovaNET via LAN/WAN or the Internet, or a combination thereof.

Workstation requirements are as follows:

Windows: Pentium II processor at 233MHz or faster, Windows 98/Me/2000/NT/XP (note: RAM requirements vary with operating system version), 4x CD-ROM drive, sound and video cards, TCP/IP network protocols.

Macintosh: Power PC 601 or greater at 120MHz, Mac OS 8.6.1 or later, 4x CD-ROM drive, sound and video cards, TCP/IP network protocols.

Costs

· A one-time installation and training cost includes data line installation, all NovaNET communications hardware required to provide capacity for up to the specified number of connections, on-site installation and all documentation and manuals.

Installation Fees: (Includes 4 days of on-site training for up to 8 staff)

Network Installation Up to 100 Connections $12,000

Serial Installation Up to 16 Connections $12,500

Serial Installation Up to 32 Connections $15,500

· Annual Subscription and Service

10 Connections $20,900

14 Connections $25,690

16 Connections $29,400

20 Connections $34,500

26 Connections $40,820

32 Connections $50,240

· Example: For a 16-connection, networked installed lab, the first year’s cost would be:

Installation $12,000

Subscription $29,400

TOTAL $41,400

This cost includes unlimited usage of all software, technical support, and service provided by NCS Learn.

For Information Contact

Jeff Mascarenas

Sales Representative

Pearson Digital Learning

827 West Grove Avenue

Mesa, AZ 85210

(909) 551-3757

Current Location in Nevada

No school in Nevada has chosen this program during this state remediation funding cycle.

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Ochard

www.orchardsoftware.com

Program Description

Orchard is a comprehensive, computer-based remediation program. Orchard software offers a variety of over 150 comprehensive, targeted, and motivating Skill Trees that are correlated to Nevada’s Content Standards and Indicators of Progress and to national and state objectives. Orchard pretests students and, based on the results, will automatically provide the student with a remediation path. Alternately, teachers may pick and choose particular Skill Trees that supplement their instruction. Each Skill Tree can be identified as matching one of five broad instructional categories:

· Critical Concepts provide targeted instruction in key reading, writing, and language skills through a combination of direct instruction and built-in puzzles or games.

· Skill Builders provide direct step-by-step instruction with helpful tutorials and motivating reward games when mastery is achieved.

· Learning Games help students practice key skills in a highly graphics environment.

· Math Concepts include highly interactive and graphic tutorials and age-appropriate activities to help students understand key concept stressed in the NCTM standards.

· Science Concepts provide the perfect multimedia supplement to science instruction through interactive videos and simulations.

Orchard for Nevada is designed to:

· Help prepare students for testing of the Nevada Content Standards and Indicators of Progress through Nevada content-specific assessment followed by instruction.

· Help students learn and master critical knowledge and skills in language arts, math, and science.

· Help students gain confidence by participating in learner-paced instruction.

· Provide students with ongoing feedback to aid in the learning experience and self-assessment process.

· Build and reinforce essential skills and methods that accommodate individual learning styles.

· Empower teachers with knowledge about student strengths and weaknesses corresponding to state content standards or common national test objectives.

· Provide a supplemental curriculum customized for each student in the class. Offer instruction and teaching practices grounded in research and proven to work.

· Assist teachers in the task of meeting individual learning differences.

· Help teachers to retrieve useful information about student progress in specific skill areas.

· Help offer a variety of teaching methods to complement traditional and non-traditional classroom instruction.

Evidence of Effectiveness

Spanaway, Washington – Bethel Junior High School

Text Box: Profile

Evaluation Period: 1999-2001
Target Population: 7th-8th Grade
Orchard Bundle: Math Concepts Orchard Mastery of Concepts: Each Skill Tree has a testing feature within the program that assesses mastery of a particular concept. 71 students took tests within the five Math Concepts Skill Trees. Upon review of the student records, 49 students displayed appropriate use of the program, and 22 students scores were disqualified because they exhibited behavior that would invalidate the average gains (such as insufficient time‑on-task due to attendance). Students achieved an average of 80% mastery on the assessments for each Skill Tree.

NCE Gains: The ITBS Normal Curve Equivalent (NCE) scores also show improvement. The 1999-2000 NCE scores show math achievement without Orchard, and the 2000-2001 NCE scores show math achievement with Orchard.

1. 88% of LAP Math students who used Orchard in the 2000-2001 school year increased their ITBS NCE scores from the 1999-2000 school year.

2. 29% of students who used Orchard in the 2000-2001 school year increased their ITBS NCE scores for the 1999‑2000 school year by 50% or more.

3. The average NCE score for the LAP Math students in the 1999-2001 school year was 56%.

4. The average NCE score in the 2000‑2001 school year (when Orchard was implemented) was 73%, representing a 17% gain in NCE scores.

Ocala, Florida – Madison Street School K-5

In an effort to improve FCAT scores, the school purchased several clusters of Orchard math software. Each fifth grader spent half an hour each day using the software. Results show the percent of students scoring level 3 or above increased from 44% during the 1998-1999 school year to 87% during the 1999-2000 school year; the school went from a C rating to an A rating.

Aspects of Reading

This program addresses the following aspects of reading, as identified by the National Reading Panel and listed in the No Child Left Behind Act:

·         Phonemic Awareness ü

·         Phonics ü

·         Fluency ü

·         Vocabulary ü

·         Comprehension ü

·         Motivation

Correlation to Nevada State Standards

Yes.

Teacher Support

Comprehensive staff development and training by experienced classroom teachers is available. A minimum of one half day of staff development is strongly recommended.

Equipment Requirements

· Windows or Macintosh workstations with audio and video capabilities; speakers; headphones; printers are optional.

· LAN/WAN availability

Costs

· Orchard Skill Trees - $395 each: This pricing includes a site license to install a Macintosh or Windows Orchard Skill on every stand-alone or networked computer at the school site. Minimum purchases of five or more Skill Trees with first order. This option includes Orchard’s Management System but does not include the Nevada specific assessment.

· Orchard Plus Skill Trees - $495 each: Orchard Plus allows you to install Orchard on both Windows and Macintosh computers and also provides a school-to-home “Take Home” license. This means that every student in the school can use Orchard at home for extra practice and reinforcement. Additional CD-ROMs may be purchased for $5 each. Additional documentation is available for $4 per Skill Tree. With the Orchard Plus License, unlimited copies of CDs or manuals can be made.

· Orchard Bundles – prices for bundled software range from $2,135 to $25,345, depending on grade levels purchased and number of products in the bundle. Bundles of curriculum and grade specific software offer schools a savings of up to 20% and include free Nevada specific pre- and post-test assessment with computer-generated assignments. Some bundles come with free basals.

· Complete Orchard – the complete K-12 bundle costs $43,255 (for Orchard) or $54,205 (Orchard Plus).

· Professional Development – $1,500 per day (includes training materials plus curriculum integration strategies for up to 15 participants).

· All Orchard software is delivered in full network and/or site license configuration. There is no charge for installing Orchard software on additional computer at the site.

For Information Contact

Clark County Rest of Nevada

Marcie Schroder, Managing Partner Chris Gilstrap

The Computer Generation Interactive Learning Technologies

P.O. Box 11689 1650 E. 12500 South

Prescott, AZ 86304-1689 P.O. Box 668

Phone: (888) 717-3070 Draper, UT 84020

(928) 717-1234 Phone: (888) 632-6899

Current Locations in Nevada

Churchill County School District Clark County School District

Gateways to Success Charter Tom Williams Elementary

P.O. Box 5219 3000 East Tonopah

Fallon, NV 89407-5219 3000 East Tonopah

Phone: (775) 423-6322 North Las Vegas, NV 89030

Contact: Shari Smith Phone: (702) 799-7179

Contact: Teddie Brewer

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PLATO Learning

www.plato.com

NOTE: PLATO Learning purchased the Lightspan Partnership in late 2003. The Lightspan product line will continue to exist but will cease to have the brand name Lightspan. All Lightspan products will be offered as PLATO products in the future. This year’s List of Effective Remedial Programs reflects this transition period, as it lists PLATO products and Lightspan products separately, but under this PLATO Learning entry.

Program Description –PLATO products

PLATO Learning, Inc. is a provider of computer-based and e-learning instruction, offering basic to advanced level courseware in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. The research-based, multimedia courseware, and flexible assessment and management tools, let the teachers give every student, including ELL and special needs students, an individualized learning experience. The program helps students become fluent readers and builds proficiency in math, science, and social studies to meet state standards and improve students’ performance on high-stakes examinations.

There are many instructional programs and several assessment programs in the PLATO library. The following are just a few of the products offered:

PLATO Link is a robust online assessment and diagnostic tool, powered by The Princeton Review, for grades 3-11. With more than 100,000 math and reading questions aligned to every state standard, major classroom textbooks and specific state and multi-state standardized tests, it is a powerful addition to any school program. PLATO Link provides flexibility to educators – they can assign comprehensive predefined state examinations or create-a-test to generate tailored practice tests specific to the skills measured by a state assessment or standard.

PLATO Web Learning Network provides browser-based PLATO instructional courseware, assessments, and curriculum management. The program provides ready-made instruction that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Reading Strategies features reading strategies and practice lessons to enhance comprehension and improve student performance. Because most learners can relate to reading magazines, PLATO reading courses promote learning using a fun and upbeat magazine format, so content is easy to understand and navigation is simple. PLATO Reading Strategies is combined end-to-end with companion curriculum Advanced Reading Strategies for grade levels 9-12.

Essential Reading Skills is designed for adolescents and adults reading at grade levels 3 through 4. The program refreshes basic skills and introduces strategies that fluent readers use. Bright graphics and animations hold the learner’s interest, while audio sets the pace and supports for emerging readers as they learn.

Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension is designed for students who read at grade levels 3 through 9. The program provides extensive and challenging comprehension practice with both expository and narrative texts. The 84 practices offer 252 passages on a wealth of topics. The companion vocabulary building activities pre‑teach or reinforce words from the passages.

Beginning Reading for the Real World provides comprehensive, age-appropriate courseware for emerging readers at the K-3 grade level. Integrated lessons include phonics, word recognition, and comprehension skills that can be customized for every learner. As students explore the undersea world, reach out to discover a rain forest, or encounter neighborhood events, they make hundreds of letter-sound connections and develop their reading proficiency.

Math Expeditions provides comprehensive coverage of math skills taught in grades K-8. Learners will enhance their comprehension of mathematics by connecting math concepts to real world expeditions. Math lessons are presented as an integral part of life while students journey across the country. Mental math, estimation and problem-solving lessons are emphasized throughout the courseware.

Program Description –Lightspan products

Lightspan is a technology-dependent curriculum delivery system. It is designed to help remedial students in reading, language arts and math. Lightspan relies on interactive software and runs on either a computer or a Lightspan handheld unit, much like a video game console. This method of instruction is supplemented with school and home learning activities, teacher materials, and student assessment components. Products offered are as follows:

· Lightspan Achieve Now is an approved skill- and content-based Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration Model program. Lightspan Adventures deliver a Nevada standards-based interactive curriculum on CD-ROMs and cover reading, language arts, and mathematics for grades K-8. Lightspan Adventures combine engaging stories, characters, and interactivity in ways that lead students to higher achievement. In class or at home, Lightspan Adventures can be run on either a Sony Playstation game console or a multimedia-equipped Microsoft Windows PC. Teacher support is provided via dynamic Teacher Guides that not only provide details about each Lightspan Adventure, but also include a full complement of support materials for teachers and students.

· The Lightspan Network is a Nevada standards-based Internet community that supports a student achievement model that gives teachers more power to assess, align, instruct, and evaluate. A powerful and secure search engine, Learning Search+, empowers teachers as they quickly and efficiently locate lesson plans, learning activities, and other Internet sites relevant to a grade-specific Nevada educational objective.

· Lightspan eduTest Assessment is a nationally standards-based Internet assessment resource that supports schools and districts in measuring student performance in real time. Assessment drives instruction in the classroom, and Lightspan eduTest Assessment supports administrators, teachers, and students by providing early indications of students’ strengths and needs. Administrators can chart progress throughout the year. Classroom teachers can target instruction where it is needed most. Students become responsible for their progress, becoming more motivated to succeed and less threatened by tests.

· Lightspan Reading Center is an internet resource that supports reading strategies (phonemic awareness, phonics and decoding instruction, guided oral reading instruction to improve fluency and reading comprehension, vocabulary development and background knowledge, and comprehension strategy instruction. The Lightspan Reading Center includes literacy activities, lesson plans, work sheets, assessment tools, and audio support.

· Lightspan Professional Development builds the capacity of schools, families, and communities to improve student achievement. Lightspan consultants provide site-specific professional development for school communities. Lightspan also delivers professional development via CD-ROM and the Internet, empowering teachers to take full advantage of multimedia resources as it supports their user levels and schedules.

Evidence of Effectiveness

North Carolina – Central Cabarrus High School - 2002

Central Cabarrus High School (CCHS) is located near Charlotte, North Carolina. The school uses PLATO primarily to support remediation programs that are intended to help low performing students meet graduation requirements. Specifically, CCHS used PLATO: 1) to provide an option for students to earn credit for failed courses or their associated end-of-course tests and 2) to help students review and develop skills needed to pass the state competency examinations. Results of an evaluation of this program are as follows:

· Of the 375 students who failed one of the courses required for graduation, 320 students qualified for remediation and earned credit using PLATO in the YES program. Thus, every student who qualified for remediation earned credit.

· Student NCCT scores increased in both the December 2000 and May 2001 re-tests. Students scored higher in December 2000 in both math (163.6 vs. 158.8) and reading (150.1 vs. 149.7) than they did on the May 2000 test. Students who re-took the assessment in May 2001 improved over the December 2000 test from 158.6 to 160.4 in math and from 146.3 to 148.8 in reading.

· A significant positive relationship was identified between PLATO usage and the NCCT test scores for both the December 2000 and May 2001 re-tests.

Rosenburg, Texas – Terry High School – 2002

Terry High School is one of three schools in the district serving grades 9-12. With an enrollment of over 2,100 students, Terry is the largest high school in the district. Terry also has a widely diverse student body, with over 47% Hispanic, 41% white, and 11% African American. State data also show that over 35% of students attending Terry High School are classified as economically disadvantages.

Over a five-year implementation of the PLATO tutorial program, the percentage of students passing all portions of the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) dramatically increased. From 1996 to 2001, the percentage of students passing all TAAS tests improved from 56.5% to 76.4%, an increase of nearly 20 percentage points. Results for TAAS math were particularly strong. Additional analysis of ethnicity shows particularly strong gains for African American and Hispanic students.

Dayton, Ohio – Fairview Elementary School – 2001

PLATO software was used in Title I math classes for three school years. The Title I teacher in the study used the software as an integral part of her class instructional strategy. Each day’s lesson was started with a 15‑minute group overview of the topics and skills to be learned. The more able students worked individually on the ten computers in the classroom while the teacher provided the other half of the students with small‑group and individual instruction. After 30 minutes, the students switched places.

Findings of the evaluation show that only 4% of the Title I students scored at the proficient level on the 4^th grade math pre-test. By the end of the year, 24% of the students were proficient in math. This represents moderately large and educationally meaningful gains in performance.

Aspects of Reading

This program addresses the following aspects of reading, as identified by the National Reading Panel and listed in the No Child Left Behind Act:

·         Phonemic Awareness ü

·         Phonics ü

·         Fluency ü

·         Vocabulary ü

·         Comprehension ü

·         Motivation

Correlation to Nevada State Standards

No.

Teacher Support

PLATO offers on-site technical support, training and software support services. On-site technical support is offered to help integrate PLATO courseware into the learning environment.

Equipment Requirements

· Computer workstations

· Servers

· Printers

Costs

Due to the expansion of Plato’s product line, price information was not provided for all Plato and Lightspan products. Contact the company for detailed information.

Professional Development: PLATO provides initial training for staff, on-going staff development, and customized specific learning paths based on need. Training sessions may have up to ten participants and the costs are as follows: Single Day - $1,250; 2-5 Days - $1,140 Per Day; 5+ Days - $1,000 Per Day.

K-3 Reading: 1 License - $900; 10 Licenses - $765 each; 30 Licenses - $630 each; 100 Licenses - $387 each; 500 Licenses - $288 each.

K-6 Elementary Package: 1 License - $1,650; 10 Licenses - $1,403 each; 30 Licenses - $1,155 each; 100 Licenses - $710 each; 500 Licenses - $528 each.

Middle School Package (reading, writing and math): 1 License - $2,900; 10 Licenses - $2,465 each; 30 Licenses - $2,030 each; 100 Licenses - $1,247 each; 500 Licenses - $1,120 each.

High School Package (reading, writing, and math): 1 License - $4,000; 10 Licenses - $3,400 each; 30 Licenses - $2,800 each; 100 Licenses - $1,720 each; 500 Licenses - $1,280 each.

For Information Contact

Nora Zwillick

Sales Representative

3362 E. Ascona Way

Flagstaff, AZ 86004

(928) 699-1472

Current Locations in Nevada

Lightspan Products:

Clark County School District

McCall Elementary

800 Carey Avenue

North Las Vegas, NV 89030

Phone: (702) 799-7149

Contact: Mary Manchego

Bridger Middle

2505 North Bruce Street

North Las Vegas, NV 89030

Phone: (702) 799-799-7185

Contact: Milana Winter

Plato Products:

No school in Nevada has chosen this program during this state remediation funding cycle.

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SuccessMaker

(formerly known as Computer Curriculum Corporation/CCC)

www.pearsonedtech.com/successmaker/

Program Description

SuccessMaker software contains over 6,000 hours of interactive learning in reading, language arts, mathematics, ESL/bilingual programs, and life-skills development. SuccessMaker offers a balanced, flexible curriculum that unifies support for essential learning strategies with innovation environments for open-ended learning. A set of powerful but easy-to-use tools enables educators to manage their options. The design of SuccessMaker is as follows:

· Identification of skill areas where the student is having difficulty. These assessments drive individualized courseware choices and study plans

· Dynamic ordering of the instruction provides the optimal learning sequence for the student

· Continuous progress assessment, both during and after the instruction

· Results Manager tools help teachers assess student performance, determine appropriate learning sequences, manage student portfolios, and continuously monitor progress. Detailed reports help teachers provide personalized learning paths for students and document progress for accountability.

Evidence of Effectiveness

Loudon County, Virginia School District

Over the course of the 1996-1997 school year, the district’s Office of Research studied the implementation of SuccessMaker and the effect it had on student achievement. There was one subject school and two control schools. There were 254 students using the program at the subject school. Standardized achievement test data were used to compare student math achievement from spring 1996 to spring 1997. Students were included in the study if they had test scores for both years and had spent sufficient time in SuccessMaker for the program to have an effect. Statistical box plots were used to examine the entire distribution for each grade and median scores were used to quantify the comparison.

In spring 1996, students in grades 2, 3, and 4 took the ITBS. One year later, students in grades 3, 4, and 5 took the Stanford-9. One flaw in this study is that the norm-referenced tests used are different for each year. However, the district maintains that they are comparable because they measure similar types of math performance and are based on similar standardization groups. Matched scores for those tests at the control schools were studied for achievement growth. Class schedules were compared to be sure that test results were not due to more or less instructional time in math at a given school.

At the subject school, median scores improved at all three grade levels over the study period. The distribution showed that students improved as a group, particularly in Grade 5, and not just because of a few high scorers. At the other two schools, scores remained stable. Improvements in test scores were specific to math, however.

Hempfield School District – Landisville, PA

In this five-year longitudinal study, the effect of SuccessMaker on reducing the number of students in the lowest quartile of the SAT-9 was studied. The study followed students who were in Grade 2 in 1993, the first year of the study, over five years to measure growth.

Student scores on the Stanford Achievement Test in May of each year from grades 3 through 6 were tracked. SuccessMaker was the primary intervention in math instruction. Analysis included comparison of the national percentile equivalent of the mean scaled score each year and the distribution of students by quartile.

The data demonstrated that students showed continued growth in mathematical achievement as measured by the norm-referenced test. The mean scaled score of the students in the study increased from 70^th percentile in 1995 to 80^th percentile in the last year of the study. The grade equivalent of the mean scaled score rose from 4.7 for Grade 3 to 10.2 for Grade 6. The percentage of students in the lowest quartile decreased from 12% to 6% and the percentage in the top quartile increased from 41% to 59%.

Aspects of Reading

This program addresses the following aspects of reading, as identified by the National Reading Panel and listed in the No Child Left Behind Act:

·         Phonemic Awareness

·         Phonics ü

·         Fluency ü

·         Vocabulary ü

·         Comprehension ü

·         Motivation

Correlation to Nevada State Standards

No.

Teacher Support

With extensive experience in integrating technology into the education process for K-12 schools in all 50 states and internationally, Pearson Education Technologies has developed comprehensive support services that are designed to assist staff before, during and after the technology purchase. Support services include: Professional Development, Technical Support, Installation, Hardware Sourcing, Project Management, Site/Technical Planning, Program Support, Training, Program Planning and Administrative Pre-Planning.