September 2005

AEL Changes Name to Edvantia
AEL proudly announces its new name, Edvantia. As a nationally focused organization with four decades of experience, we are dedicated to improving education outcomes through high-quality research, evaluation, technical assistance, and professional development. Established in 1966 as one of the original Regional Educational Laboratories created by Congress, Edvantia then was known as the Appalachia Educational Laboratory. We view problems as challenges, clients as partners, and education as a process that transforms lives.


To learn more about Edvantia, how we can serve you, and what we have planned for the future, please join us for a national webcast and teleconference on September 21, 2005, at 3:00 EDT (12:00 noon PDT). Click here to register and enter this confirmation number: 1658847.

Institute on Creating Culturally Responsive Schools
November 2-4, 2005 • Nashville, Tennessee
This institute introduces a two-year, research-based, school reform process designed to close achievement gaps and improve academic achievement for all students.

  • Learn how to identify schooling practices that encourage all students to succeed.
  • Explore issues of culture as they affect how teachers teach and how students learn.
  • Examine culturally responsive teaching units.
  • Experience lesson study as a vehicle for improving instruction.

    Preschool Programs Wanted
    Administer parent survey, get a summary of program results.

    Policy Brief Looks at State Takeovers of School Districts
    Interest in state takeovers aimed at improving student achievement may increase as states explore turnaround options for districts identified for NCLB-required corrective action. This policy brief examines research and data related to state takeovers of urban and rural districts and suggests measures for increasing the effectiveness of similar corrective actions.

    • TCO Calculator Featured in eSchool News
    When schools launch new technology initiatives, failure to plan for indirect costs such as system maintenance can foil administrators’ attempts to monitor, control, and possibly reduce expenditures. Schools can remedy this situation by using Edvantia’s free TCO Calculator, updated for 2005, to calculate the total cost of ownership. The calculator was featured as an eSchool News "Site of the Week" in April. Read more about what the TCO Calculator can do for your school in an eSchool News article written by Al Zeisler, president of the Integrated Technology Education Group, LLC, and John Ross, director of the Institute for the Advancement of Emerging Technologies in Education at AEL (now Edvantia).

    Grants Update—September 2005
    This new listing features education-related grants from the federal government, foundations, and other sources.
    800.624.9120      |  www.edvantia.org  |  info@edvantia.org
    Post Office Box 1348, Charleston, West Virginia 25325-1348