Stacy Andell is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Stacy has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For more information on Orange County schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/California/Orange-County/index.html
What is Available
Vouchers will be issued in two categories: 1) General Purpose Vouchers and 2) Software Vouchers. General Purpose Vouchers may be used to purchase specific hardware (listed below), any non-custom software for that hardware, evaluation tools, information technology (IT) services, and professional development services. IT and professional development services must be obtained from approved providers in Orange County schools. Software Vouchers may only be utilized to purchase specific categories of software (listed below) that are published or sold by any software provider. Both the General Purpose and Software
Vouchers may be applied by Orange County schools in an amount no greater than the standard academic price, or if an academic price is not available, in an amount not to exceed the normal or standard price established by the manufacturer or vendor for such software. The following list gives examples of eligible goods and services that may be purchased with one or the other category of the vouchers:
Hardware available for Orange County schools: Any new laptop, desktop, or tablet computer for any operating system platform; Peripheral devices: printers, scanners, monitors, keyboards, pointing devices (e.g., mouse, trackball, etc.); Equipment needed for networking and infrastructure (e.g., routers, servers, wireless network cards, or wireless access points); Hardware for accessing the Internet through television sets and Internet access for such hardware for students' homes; Non-custom assistive technology devices for use by students with special needs
Software available for Orange County schools: Purchased with General Purpose Vouchers – Any non-custom software titles (any platform) that are designed for use on any qualifying hardware (see Hardware above); purchased with Software Vouchers – Specific categories of software offered by any software publisher or vendor, including: Operating system, Word processing, Spreadsheet, Presentation, Desktop relational database oriented towards single users and typically residing on a standard personal computer, Web-authoring, Productivity and/or Productivity Suite, Encyclopedia, Server, including client access licenses, Eligible software bundled with a computer purchased with the General Purpose Vouchers
IT Support Services available for Orange County schools: Services that primarily involve the maintenance of hardware procured through this Settlement and the installation and maintenance of software procured through this Settlement.
Professional Development Services available for Orange County schools: Professional development services directed solely at leadership development for school administrators in the use of education technology to improve learning at the site or district; Professional development services directed solely at general curriculum development and instructional strategies which utilize educational technology to improve instruction; Professional development services directed solely at the improvement of technology integration for any software title acquired through this Settlement; Training in the use of any hardware or software title acquired through this Settlement; Certification training for software and networking
What Schools are Eligible
Orange County Public school districts that have a state-approved technology plan may apply on behalf of their eligible schools. Orange County offices of education, direct-funded charter schools, and State Special Schools do not have to meet the state-approved technology plan requirement and can apply on their own behalf. "Eligible Schools," as defined in the Settlement Agreement, means all public kindergarten through twelfth grade schools at which at least 40 percent of the attending students are eligible to receive free or reduced price meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). "Eligible Schools" also include all public high schools in Orange County California that serve students from public elementary, middle, and junior high schools at which at least 40 percent of the attending students are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals through the NSLP.
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By: Abhay Sinha | 27/12/2009By taking up science in the respective subjects, you have the options to become Physicist, Meteorologists, Oceanographers, Mathematicians, Statisticians, Geologists, Geophysicists etc. In the Chemical industry the appointments of Organic Chemists, Inorganic Chemists, Physical Chemists, Analytical Chemists, Industrial Chemists, chemical engineers, Chemical Engineering Technicians etc. In Biological field there is a scope for becoming Biotechnologists, Genetic Scientists, Biochemists etc.
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By: Paul Ingersole | 21/12/2009Tracking storms and lightning is a highly specialized process that most meteorologists are equipped to do. There are companies that sell special equipment to track lightning and the equipment can be rather expensive. That is why if you want to do it that you should price the equipment first. Look online and in general make sure that you are getting the best deals possible.
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By: Paul Ingersole | 21/12/2009Some regions of the country are particularly prone to thunder and lightning storms, but they can pretty much happen anywhere. That is why it is important for everyone to learn lightning safety. People who are outside are not the only ones at risk either. It is not uncommon for something like a tree on your property or a chimney to get struck by lightening.
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By: Paul Ingersole | 21/12/2009Some areas of the country are really prone to getting lightening strikes. That is why lightning rods are so important. Lightning strikes the tallest thing in an area. With areas that have hills, trees, and a diversity of landscape, that isn’t a problem.
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By: Stacy Andell | 11/10/2006 | K-12 EducationWashington, DC- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced a congressional resolution recognizing Kim Burke-Ables, a science teacher at Washington D.C. schools ‘ Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, on her selection as the District of Columbia Teacher of the Year for 2006, and "congratulating her for her exceptional dedication to the students and her excellence as a teacher."
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By: Stacy Andell | 11/10/2006 | K-12 EducationThis year, the state's new graduation requirements become "real" as students in Seattle schools in the class of 2008 receive the results of their first attempt at the 10th-grade Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). Passing the 10th-grade WASL will be the avenue most students take to earn the Certificate of Academic Achievement, one of the four new statewide graduation requirements.
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By: Stacy Andell | 11/10/2006 | K-12 EducationSan Jose State University's Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies and the San Jose Jewish Film Festival have teamed up with the San Jose Schools in an event to celebrate the San Jose State University's Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies twenty first year. The celebration event also includes the premiere of the film "Beethoven's Hair" at the San Jose Jewish Film Festival. This will be an event for the whole community held in downtown San Jose in October.
San Francisco Gets Serious About Arts Education
By: Stacy Andell | 11/10/2006 | K-12 EducationSeptember 28 was the beginning of a new era for arts education in San Francisco schools. The San Francisco Unified School district and the City are partnering on a historic effort to bring back the arts for all students.
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By: Stacy Andell | 11/10/2006 | K-12 EducationCurrent and former students, community members and staff from the San Antonio Schools staff gathered in the historic auditorium of Douglass Academy on Sept. 26 for a homecoming celebration and dedication ceremony to mark the completion of a major construction and renovation project at the school.
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By: Stacy Andell | 11/10/2006 | K-12 EducationThe Pittsburg Schools is holding an Information Fair aimed at providing parents with the information they need to provide their children with the best opportunities. The Pittsburg Schools' Magnet Information Fair will be held on October 7th at the Frick International Studies Academy.
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By: Stacy Andell | 11/10/2006 | K-12 EducationFive Orlando public schools will be recognized for outstanding prevention efforts in the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs at the Statewide Prevention Conference in Orlando held at the Caribe Royale Resort. Only 10 schools in the state are being honored during the event to be held on September 20, 2006.
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By: Stacy Andell | 11/10/2006 | K-12 EducationThe Orange County Schools ' Special Education Alliance was created by the 28 districts in Orange County in 2003. The primary goal of the Orange County Schools' Special Education Alliance is to meet the need for a countywide system that can focus on special education.