April 10th, 2010

Leveling the Playing Field with Technology

The story of the 24-7 Program at Cathedral City Elementary

Cathedral City Elementary

Palm Springs Unified School

District

Located in Cathedral City, CA

Approximately 850 Students

K - 5 Elementary

90 % Hispanic 90% SocioeconomicallyDisadvantaged

45% English Language Learners

CA State Accountability

California ‘Academic Performance Index’ - API

California Standards Test - CST

Schools scores between 200 to 1,000

Goal for all CA schools to 800

Cathedral City Elementary

Cathedral City Elementary - API 559

Similar School Ranking - 4 (10 high)

Underperforming School (IIUSP to PI)

Significant Achievement Gap

2002 - Initial Challenge

Creating The Vision

Language Arts?

Math?

ELD?

Required - IIUSP three year academic plan

We asked ourselves - “With everything equal, have we leveled the playing field?”

Where do we start?!?!

NO!!!

Creating The Vision

Parent Survey Data - 33% Home Computers

Of the 33% only half with Internet (16.5%)

Student Survey - Of 16.5% w/Internet only half were allowed to use it!

Only 8.25% students with full access to technology

92% of Student Population - Not On Level Playing Field!

We Felt Like This...

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The Vision“Cathedral City Elementary will eliminate the digital

divide by providing every student with two full years

of 24 hour access to technology.”

K - 1

2 - 3

4 - 5

Basic Skills & FunctionsMinimum

60 min. per week

Instruction & Student-Created Projects

Minimum 3 hours per week

Laptops for Every Student “24/7 Access”

Getting Started

Two computers per room - Ratio one computer per every 12.5 students

Several Apple IIe’s

Staff Development

COST!!!

Assessing the Challenges

Getting Started

Created a 4 year plan

School Plan Budget (Categoricals)

Fundraising Campaign

BUDGET - BUDGET - BUDGET!!!

It can happen, just plan it out!

Getting Started

Invite community leaders to visit during school hours - Mayor, City Council, Law Enforcement, Chamber of Commerce, TV and Newspapers, Local Business Owners, Medical Professionals, etc.

Structure the visits with student guides - 3 to 4 ‘guided tours’ - 8 to 10 minutes each

Each classroom with prepared presentations

Fundraising Campaign - ‘Community Action Walk’

Getting StartedFundraising Campaign - ‘Community Action Walk’

4 Year Plan

Staff Collaboration & Planning:

1.Create a Technology ‘Philosophy’ - Vehicle for instruction

2. Incorporate into Core Instruction - Lesson Plans

3. Generate Student-Led Projects

4. Eliminate Technology Fear

Year 1

4 Year Plan

Infrastructure

1.Share Vision with ETIS Dept.

2.Hire Computer Lab Technician

3.Servers

4.Wireless Connectivity

5.Furniture

Year 1

4 Year Plan

Computer Lab - Through TIME WARNER and Desert Hospital (Community Action Walk!) - For K-1 & 2-3 Vision

Begin 4 yr. Lease to Own contract with Apple - 315 Macbooks

Apple Staff Development - 10 Teachers/2 Admin/Computer Specialist - 1 Week

Year 2

Year 3

4 Year PlanStaff Development

4 Year PlanYear 4

“The Rollout”

4 Year PlanYear 4

“The Rollout”

4 Year PlanYear 4

“The Rollout”

4 Year PlanYear 4

“The Rollout”

Program Tools

Keynote

iMovie

iPhoto

Podcast

English in a Flash

Achieve 3000 - Kid Biz

Achieve 3000 - Kid BizDifferentiated Reading Instruction in One Classroom

Reaches every student at their individual level - Lexile Assessment & Student Motivation

Teaches students one on one at their level

Automated Technology - Easy way for teachers to practice inclusive differentiation

All students read same topic and can participate in class discussion and group assignments

Achieve 3000 - Kid Biz

Access from Home

Daily e-mail account

Thought Questions

Perfect for ELL

Achieve 3000 - Kid BizKid Biz Mastery Levels

2007-2008

Cub Level – 25 Lessons

Cougar Level – 50 Lessons

Tiger Level – 75 Lessons

*Lion Level – 100 Lessons

*Master Lion Level – 150 Lessons

*Lion & Master Lion Levels will include pizza parties and restaurant certificates to be awarded at the end of

every trimester:

10/26/07 – 2/29/08 – 6/26/08

Achieve 3000 - Kid Biz

130

199

00

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200Expected Lexile Gain Actual Lexile GainCCE students using Kid Biz

between August 2006 & February 2009 averaged a Lexile

gain of 199 points, more than one and a half times the

expected gain of 130

The Results

Achieve 3000 - Kid Biz

70

150

95

178

70

143

00

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Lex

ile P

oints

2006 - 07 2007 - 08 2008 - 09

Expected Lexile Gain Actual Lexile GainCCE Year-by-

Year Lexile Gains

Student Samples

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The Results?

559

635689

743 755

00

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

2002 2004 2006 2008 2009

API Total for CCE196 API Points over seven years!!!

Similar School

Ranking = 8!!

Out of Program Improvementin 2008!!!

THANK YOU!