President William Clinton
Address to Union City Schools
February 15, 1996
Early 1992 | Initial Planning of Bell Atlantic Technology Trial |
Summer 1993 | Phase 1: Installation & Teacher Training |
September 1994 | Phase 2: Integration of T-1, testing of CD-ROM server technology |
Spring 1995 | CD-ROM server and Internet access |
September 1995 | Phase 3: Expansion of project to Emerson High School |
October 1995 | NSF award for "Union City Online: An Architecture for Networking and Reform" |
March 1996 | Union City Board of Education approves 1.2 million for FY 1996-97 for expansion of networking infrastructure |
May 1996 | Installation of Board of Education Internet server |
Before | After |
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Skill-based | Whole Language |
Basal Readers, Single Text | Authentic Literature, Multi-Texts |
Memorization, Cumulative Knowledge | How to Learn, Research-based |
Vertical, Lecture Format | Horizontal, Cooperative Learning |
Before | After |
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Single, Isolated Periods of 37 Minutes (Reading, Language Arts, Spelling) | Blocks of Time, 74-111 Minutes (Communications/Social Studies) |
Teacher Centered | Student Centered |
Before | After |
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Limited: 4 Half Day Sessions (2 Hours Each), Some After School | Five Levels of Training, Half Days, Saturdays, On-Going |
Before | After |
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Centralized | Shared with School-based Improvement Teams (SITs) |
$$$ on Consumables (Workbooks, etc.) | Non-consumable Big Books, CD-ROMs, Computers |
Before | After |
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Labs with "Experts" | Labs with "Experts" and Classroom Computer Centers |
Occasional Use | Daily Use |
Separate Curriculum | Total Integration into All Curricula |
Before | After |
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Two Parent Nights | Two Parent Nights, Board Notes, Parent University |
Before | After |
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Failing District | Urban Model |
Threatened with State Takeover (May 1989) | Awarded State Certification (August 1995) |
Passing Rates for Elementary Grades: 30-35% | Passing Rates for Elementary Grades: 70-80% |