Cingular Community-based Programs

"Cingular supports community-based programs and organizations that address educational, cultural, and social issues that affect the quality of life in the communities where we work and live. Our philanthropic endeavors include: Assisting victims of domestic abuse; Helping in times of disaster; Offering financial support to several national organizations and many local non-profits in our communities, as well as our employees' volunteering with these organizations."

Understanding and Measuring Attendance in OST

"'Understanding and Measuring Attendance in Out-of-School Time Programs,' reviews developmental research and out-of-school time program evaluations to examine three indicators of youth attendance in OST programs -- intensity, duration, and breadth -- and offers a few different models for how youth's attendance can influence their outcomes."

Attracting and Sustaining Youth Participation in OST

"'Moving Beyond the Barriers: Attracting and Sustaining Youth Participation in Out-of-School Time Programs,' culls information from several implementation and impact evaluations to develop a set of promising strategies to attract and sustain youth participation in out-of-school time (OST) programs."

November 1st Deadline for Support for the Disabled

"The ELA Foundation funds programs that are led by, or support, people with disabilities. The Foundation is interested in programs that are supported by the local community and meet the needs of people with disabilities in the areas of arts, advocacy, or education. Emphasis is given to programs focusing on women. Nonprofit organizations across the United States are eligible to apply. The next deadline for submitting proposals is November 1, 2004."

Youth Leaders for Literacy Grants

"The National Education Association & Youth Service America will award twenty $500 Youth Leaders for Literacy grants to encourage and celebrate literacy service by American youth ages 5-21, and honor them for doing reading-related
activities that benefit others. Applications must be postmarked by October 22, 2004."

U.S. Opinions on Schools Contradictory

"The recent Gallup/Phi Delta Kappa poll finds a growing consensus that adequate financial support is the number one problem facing schools today. Issues related to discipline and drugs dominated the poll as the major concern until 2000, when lack of financial support rose to the top. While the public continues to report it has too little information about the No Child Left Behind act to have an opinion, the evidence suggests that many agree with the goals of narrowing achievement gaps and raising performance – but not with high stakes testing, vouchers and other controversial aspects of NCLB’s strategies for improving learning."

Grants for Youth Social Change Projects

"YouthActionNet awards small grants to youth leaders and their emerging projects that promote social change and connect youth with local communities throughout the world. These youth-led projects should have clearly defined goals and have potential for growth or further replication. Award recipients will receive $500 and are eligible to participate in an international capacity-building workshop. Individuals ages 18 to 29 with a leadership role in youth-led initiatives that work to create positive change in their communities are eligible to apply. The next application deadline is October 1, 2004."

Enhancing Curriculum

"The editors of eSchool News have compiled a one-stop source for expert advice and key intelligence regarding online resources for enhancing curriculum. Don't miss this helpful online toolkit, which features an extensive collection of stories and articles from the eSchool News archives, as well as links to outside resources."

AFTER SCHOOL FOR ALL: A CALL TO ACTION FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY

"A new framework has been unveiled for building quality after school
systems in the United States that all young people have access to. A
group of business leaders is calling on local, state and federal
government entities, as well as private and non-profit sectors, to assess
existing after school programs, consider philanthropic priorities, review
policy proposals on 21st Century Community Learning Centers, and other
programs, and formulate policy positions that provide more after school
care to working families."

Technology and Media Services for Individuals With Disabilities

"The purpose of the Technology and Media Services for Individuals With Disabilities--Television Access competition is to: (1) Improve results for children with disabilities by promoting the development, demonstration, and use of technology; (2) support educational media activities designed to be of educational value to children with disabilities; (3) provide support for some captioning and video description; and (4) provide cultural experiences through appropriate nonprofit organizations. Deadline: September 09, 2004"

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Wikipedia is both an encyclopedia and a wiki community.

Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org) is a copyleft encyclopedia that is collaboratively developed using wiki software. In addition to standard encyclopedic knowledge, Wikipedia includes information more often associated with almanacs and gazetteers, as well as coverage of current events."

House bill would slash ed-tech funding

"As House Republicans and Democrats trade salvos over the federal budget in an election year, advocates of educational technology are rallying supporters to stave off what could amount to a 13-percent cut in technology-specific education funding in 2005."

Oregon Takes Go-Slow Approach to Cyberschools

"The Oregon Department of Education has put the brakes on funding for online charter schools. The state has adopted the go-slow approach as it tries to reconcile differing interpretations of what defines the online version of the "comprehensive instructional program" that charter schools are required to offer."

Lamenting the Loss of Typing Skills in Students

"In some schools, typing classes disappeared at least a couple of decades ago. A skill that once seemed vital -- particularly to prepare young women for secretarial jobs -- no longer appeared relevant in an age that urged more kids to consider going on to at least some form of higher education. And yet, argue some teachers, the ability to touch-type -- or to 'keyboard,' the term more often used today -- has perhaps never been more essential."