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Schools

State, Microsoft launch 'Sunshine Connections' system

The Internet system lets teachers track student achievement test progress and share teaching tips.

Florida and Microsoft Corp. on Friday launched the first phase of a cutting-edge Internet system that will give the state's teachers a new way to track student achievement and share information on how to improve learning.

Gov. Jeb Bush joined state and local education leaders at Bay County's Mosley High School in Lynn Haven to unveil "Sunshine Connections." Bay County, which includes Panama City, was the first to activate the system. It is expected to be in all Florida schools by 2009.

"This pioneering approach will free teachers of burdensome paperwork, allowing them to focus on teaching," Bush said in a news release.

Teachers will be able to use their desktop computers to follow students' progress on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or FCAT, from grade to grade even if they move from one school district to another.

A teacher then will be able to focus on areas where individual students, or an entire class, may need more attention, said Anthony Salcito, general manager of Microsoft Education, who also was on hand for the unveiling.

"Without the data the teacher has to kind of move forward, and some kids will continue to be lost and left behind," Salcito said in a telephone interview. "Now, with the data, the teacher can take proactive steps to really make sure that no child is left behind."

The federal No Child Left Behind law is one reason Microsoft plans to spend $6-million on "Sunshine Connections." The Redmond, Wash., software giant hopes the system, which relies heavily on Microsoft products, will serve as a model for other states, Salcito said.

No Child Left Behind orders schools to ensure all children achieve regardless of race, ethnicity or income, requires that they make "adequate yearly progress" in annual testing and penalizes schools that fall short. It also requires students to reach state standards in reading and math by 2014 and gives parents more school choice options.

The system also eventually will allow teachers to tap into a central repository containing curricular materials and let them exchange information with other educators around the state.

Mosley math teacher Michelle Gainer demonstrated the system for Bush and the other officials.

"The secure login allows me to analyze my students' areas of weakness based on the previous year's FCAT results," Gainer said. "Much like a doctor analyzing patients before treating them, I can analyze my students' needs before teaching them."

[Last modified August 20, 2005, 01:14:08]