Good Grades! Using Database Technology to Boost School Performance Anthony N. Dragona, RSBA School Business Administrator ~ Grace Poli Media Specialist Union City Board of Education Union City, New Jersey

Anthony N. Dragona, RSBA

School Business Administrator

~

Grace Poli

Media Specialist

Union City Board of Education

Union City, New Jersey

Snapshot of Union City Visit iTunes Store to view video about the demographics of Union City Open iTunes Store Click on iTunes U Scroll to the bottom and select K-12 Click on New Jersey Union City School District Select “ABOUT UNION CITY” and download free podcast about Union City demographics

Open iTunes Store

Click on iTunes U

Scroll to the bottom and select K-12

Click on New Jersey Union City School District

Select “ABOUT UNION CITY” and download free podcast about Union City demographics

Fiscal Planning and Budget Process 13 School Based Budgets 36 Child Care Provider Budgets 18 Central Office Departmental Budgets 67 Individual Budgets Deadlines initially appear unreasonable or impossible September to December - Schools and Providers November to February - Central Office Departments February to March - District Budget Submission

13 School Based Budgets

36 Child Care Provider Budgets

18 Central Office Departmental Budgets

67 Individual Budgets

Deadlines initially appear unreasonable or impossible

September to December - Schools and Providers

November to February - Central Office Departments

February to March - District Budget Submission

No Child Left Behind Making A Y P Data collection, analysis and reporting are critical components of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) School districts must collect more data, in more detail and disaggregate them State-level systems and support are being developed for collecting and integrating student assessment data with demographic information

Data collection, analysis and reporting are critical components of No Child Left Behind (NCLB)

School districts must collect more data, in more detail and disaggregate them

State-level systems and support are being developed for collecting and integrating student assessment data with demographic information

2007 NJ Ask 4 - Union City Percent by Group 60% of students tested were continuously enrolled in district for 3 years

2005-2007 NJ Ask 4 - Percent by Group

2007 GEPA Union City Percent by Group 64% of students tested were continuously enrolled in district for 3 years

2005-2007 NJ GEPA - Percent by Group

Provide every child with an opportunity to learn in a safe environment, using higher order thinking skills and differentiated instruction strategies Restructuring of educational delivery through Clear and Constant Communication Team Building and Collaboration through Professional Development District Philosophy

Provide every child with an opportunity to learn in a safe environment, using higher order thinking skills and differentiated instruction strategies

Restructuring of educational delivery through

Clear and Constant Communication

Team Building and Collaboration through

Professional Development

Add efficiency to workflow - ability to route and track tasks Response to mandates Implement School Reform Strategies Empower schools through site-based budgets Provide differentiated instruction Meaningful faculty collaborative planning Challenges

Add efficiency to workflow - ability to route and track tasks

Response to mandates

Implement School Reform Strategies

Empower schools through site-based budgets

Provide differentiated instruction

Meaningful faculty collaborative planning

Members of Strategic Planning Team Fiscal Planning and Program Review Task Force In a fiscally conservative environment it requires collaboration and a sense of unity of purpose Databases store, sort, report and deliver data for use in School Based decisions Collaboration

Members of Strategic Planning Team

Fiscal Planning and Program Review Task Force

In a fiscally conservative environment it requires collaboration and a sense of unity of purpose

Databases store, sort, report and deliver data for use in School Based decisions

Wealth of data but little actual knowledge of what the data means Scattered and antiquated technology infrastructure – separate legacy systems– impossible to link Data accessible only through gatekeeper – data analysts Need dynamic or live data Data Reality

Wealth of data but little actual knowledge of what the data means

Scattered and antiquated technology infrastructure – separate legacy systems– impossible to link

Data accessible only through gatekeeper – data analysts

Need dynamic or live data

No small mission - Strategic planning task force Clear and constant communication Show the big picture Convince the non believers - Evangelize your dreams Recruit support and feedback - Act on suggestions Develop a Savvy Technology Team “That Walks the Talk”

No small mission - Strategic planning task force

Clear and constant communication

Show the big picture

Convince the non believers - Evangelize your dreams

Recruit support and feedback - Act on suggestions

Technology Matters Data Information = Technology Tools Perceived Benefits of Technology Helps provide timely data for decisions Helps school support staff do their jobs more efficiently Increases administrator productivity Helps educators communicate with parents & community Motivates students

The goal is for teachers to understand that through emerging technology trends, such as Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Digital Storytelling, students become active participants in real life learning Schools that use emerging technologies help drive the restructuring of education that result in student-centered learning 21st Century Learning Technology Trends

The goal is for teachers to understand that through emerging technology trends, such as Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Digital Storytelling, students become active participants in real life learning

Schools that use emerging technologies help drive the restructuring of education that result in student-centered learning

Technology Tools Wikis Blogs Google Doc Network Servers Databases iPods Digital Storytelling iMovies Podcast Report Writer FileMaker Data Analysis

21st Century Education & Skills Apple Distinguished Educator 2007 Grace Poli Media Specialist José Martí Middle School

Shift in Education Teacher-centered Student-centered

Essential tools for 21st Century Skills Creativity and Innovation Critical thinking and problem solving Communicating and collaborating Productivity and Leadership Technology, media and telecommunications Source: www.21stcenturyskills.org Developed by the Partnership for 21st Century skills

Creativity and Innovation

Critical thinking and problem solving

Communicating and collaborating

Productivity and Leadership

Technology, media and telecommunications

Web 2.0 Tools Blogs - is a website on which individuals post written entries http://delicious.com/ - “Social bookmarking” is way to obtain your bookmarks from any computer, anytime, anywhere Wiki - is a webpage that anyone can change and edit

Blogs - is a website on which individuals post written entries

http://delicious.com/ - “Social bookmarking” is way to obtain your bookmarks from any computer, anytime, anywhere

Wiki - is a webpage that anyone can change and edit

Video Sharing - You Tube, Google Video, and Teacher Tube Web 2.0 Tools Mr. Colosi’s First Graders D-I-G-I-T-A-L video Won $15,000 to purchase new technology and all students received free iPods http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=c611904a467b4892806a Click on the link below to view video Teacher Tube Example

Video Sharing - You Tube, Google Video, and Teacher Tube

Record PowerPoint and Keynote Slides with Audio Profcast (Mac) Microsoft Windows http://www.profcast.com/public/index.php ProfCast provides a low cost solution for recording and distributing lectures, special events, and presentations as podcasts. ProfCast offers an integrated workflow that makes creating, recording, and publishing podcasts easy. $59.95 (educational discounts available)

A combination of the words iPod and broadcasting A way for people to be able to selectively subscribe to audio or video content over the Internet This content can then be automatically added to iPods Allows people to listen what they want, when they want, and where they want What’s the buzz? Podcasting

A combination of the words iPod and broadcasting

A way for people to be able to selectively subscribe to audio or video content over the Internet

This content can then be automatically added to iPods

Allows people to listen what they want, when they want, and where they want

Podcast http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/ The iTunes Store offers over 100,000 audio and video podcast episodes

A basic podcast contains only audio and is the easiest to create and listen to. An enhanced podcast has both audio, images, slides (narrated PowerPoint presentation or Keynote), embedded URLS, and chapters A vodcast (or video podcast) contains video and audio and is most difficult to create Currently, there are three types of podcast: Types of Podcast

A basic podcast contains only audio and is the easiest to create and listen to.

An enhanced podcast has both audio, images, slides (narrated PowerPoint presentation or Keynote), embedded URLS, and chapters

A vodcast (or video podcast) contains video and audio and is most difficult to create

Format for syndicating content from the Internet Choose what information to receive Get new content when it becomes available Can be used to distribute files Really Simple Syndication http://www.apple.com/startpag e / What is RSS?

Format for syndicating content from the Internet

Choose what information to receive

Get new content when it becomes available

Can be used to distribute files

Want to learn for free? Learn on the go Learn from the best Explore 75,000 educational audio and video files from top universities, museums, PBS station, Liberty Science Center, Smithsonian, and much more iTunes U

Learn on the go

Learn from the best

Explore 75,000 educational audio and video files from top universities, museums, PBS station, Liberty Science Center, Smithsonian, and much more

iTunes U New Jersey Union City School District iTunes U Site: Writer’s Workshop Icon lesson plans podcast of instructions student handouts Visit iTunes U to view teacher podcast

New Jersey Union City School District

iTunes U Site:

Writer’s Workshop Icon

lesson plans

podcast of instructions

student handouts

Exciting new way to generate creative expression Greatly enhances the learning process Engages and motivates students to want to learn Students are better able to visualize a specific topic Student-created podcasts can be subscribed to and viewed by parents and the community Podcasts can be viewed on any computer, an iPod or a television Benefits of Podcasting

Exciting new way to generate creative expression

Greatly enhances the learning process

Engages and motivates students to want to learn

Students are better able to visualize a specific topic

Student-created podcasts can be subscribed to and viewed by parents and the community

Podcasts can be viewed on any computer, an iPod or a television

View video from iTunes U Student Showcase Student Podcast Before Paper & Pen Metropolitan Museum New York, NY Now iPod & Voice Recorder El Museo del Barrio New York, NY

Do our instructional practices have a positive impact on student achievement? Does our investment in Professional Development and Special Programs produce maximum gain in student achievement? What is the relationship between NCLB expenditures and student performance? Strategic questions:

Do our instructional practices have a positive impact on student achievement?

Does our investment in Professional Development and Special Programs produce maximum gain in student achievement?

What is the relationship between NCLB expenditures and student performance?

What is the solution? View FileMaker video in iTunes U New Jersey Union City School District Message from the Board Fiscal Resources - click on FileMaker

Human Resource Data Warehouse Fixed Assets - Location, value, status Early Childhood Survey, a State mandated Multilingual Web-based form Speaker Bureau / Workshop Evaluation Tool Board Meeting Agenda Creator Online Lesson Plans FileMaker

Human Resource Data Warehouse

Fixed Assets - Location, value, status

Early Childhood Survey, a State mandated Multilingual Web-based form

Speaker Bureau / Workshop Evaluation Tool

Board Meeting Agenda Creator

Online Lesson Plans

With the click of a button a presentation can be viewed or downloaded.

Reporting and Analysis Services Turning data into useful information Training Learning how to use data to make informed decisions. State and Federal Reporting Meeting reporting compliance Dissemination Sharing data with the community (ie: report cards) School Interoperability Framework & IMS Components of a Data Based Decision Making System Personalized Instruction Source: US Department of Education, 2003. Reports Data Warehouse SIS Finance Assessment Instruction Applications

It takes time It has to start at the top with committed leadership Progress has to be measurable Business models are starting points Community outreach is essential Lessons Learned

It takes time

It has to start at the top with committed leadership

Progress has to be measurable

Business models are starting points

Community outreach is essential

Majority of districts are making progress in collection of data and most are working towards analysis and reporting Challenging task remains providing teachers with proven strategies for targeted interventions in the classroom Lessons Learned

Majority of districts are making progress in collection of data and most are working towards analysis and reporting

Challenging task remains providing teachers with proven strategies for targeted interventions in the classroom

21st Century Connections Have a vision Make a plan Create a scheme of work Document Build a team Balance a budget Learn from others Train teachers Delegate Tell the world

Have a vision

Make a plan

Create a scheme of work

Document

Build a team

Balance a budget

Learn from others

Train teachers

Delegate

Tell the world

Sustained academic achievement has become institutionalized “ Success is a norm not an exception” Union City students achieve the highest test scores among all urban school districts in New Jersey on standardized assessments 7 Benchmark Schools - NJ Business Coalition 4 Best Practice Schools - NJ Dept. of Education 1 Blue Ribbon School - US Dept. of Education 1 Governor’s School of Excellence Award 1 Title I Distinguished School - US Dept. of Education 2 Title I Distinguished Educators New Jersey Technology Teacher of the Year - NJAET Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting - ASBO Intl. (5 years) Accolades and Success

Sustained academic achievement has become institutionalized

“ Success is a norm not an exception”

Union City students achieve the highest test scores among all

urban school districts in New Jersey on standardized assessments

7 Benchmark Schools - NJ Business Coalition

4 Best Practice Schools - NJ Dept. of Education

1 Blue Ribbon School - US Dept. of Education

1 Governor’s School of Excellence Award

1 Title I Distinguished School - US Dept. of Education

2 Title I Distinguished Educators

New Jersey Technology Teacher of the Year - NJAET

Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting - ASBO Intl. (5 years)

For additional information: http://www.union-city.k12.nj.us Anthony N. Dragona, School Business Administrator [email_address] Grace Poli, Media Specialist [email_address] www.teachwithgrace.com

Union City Board of Education Jeanette Pena, President Alicia Morejon, Vice President Johnny Garces, Trustee Carlos Vallejo, Trustee Pablo Cabrera, Trustee José Mejia, Trustee Kennedy Ng, Trustee Anthony N. Dragona, Interim Board Secretary Stanley M. Sanger, Superintendent of Schools Sylvia Abbato, Asst. Superintendent of Schools Gerald Caputo, Asst. Superintendent of Schools Robert Fazio, Asst. Superintendent of Schools Anthony N. Dragona, School Business Administrator