“BuildYourOwnCurriculum has provided Lindbergh with a framework to implement the Understanding by Design curriculum process. As a result, Lindbergh’s curriculum now contains preK- 12 enduring understandings and essential questions that ensure viability and cohesiveness. Through BYOC, we have developed living documents that allow us the flexibility to continually add lesson plans, assessments and tools for differentiation.”
Tara Sparks
Director of Assessment and Student Services
Lindbergh School District
Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis (CSD) has announced a partnership with Education Technology Partners and School Software Group (SSG) that will provide BuildYourOwnCurriculum (BYOC) and BuildYourOwnAssessment (BYOA) to member districts at a reduced price. Over the past year, a growing number of CSD member districts — including Pattonville, Clayton, Mehlville, Lindbergh and Hancock — have adopted SSG’s offerings as their platform for curriculum and assessment mapping and development.
BYOC is a Web-based curriculum management solution that works on any computer with an Internet connection. Students and parents can view curriculum, standards, assignments and class activities. Teachers can also easily review curriculum requirements and then align their lesson plans to district standards and expectations. Administrators gain instant access to the entire learning path at building, grade and classroom levels.
BYOA provides educators with an easy-to-use assessment development tool, including built-in flexibility to accommodate specific testing procedures, students-per-computer ratio and testing schedules.
“BYOC was head and shoulders above the other options we looked at,” David Miller, Coordinator for Assessment & Library Services for Pattonville School District, said. “Number one – it’s easy to use. Number two – they have a good support team who continue to deliver support to our district. And number three – it meets the needs of our teachers in the classroom; they now have material available at their fingertips.”
“As a brand new user of BYOC/BYOA we are pleased with the responsiveness we have consistently received from School Software Group and Education Technology Partners as we are beginning our implementation,” Dr. Connie Hurst-Bayless, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum at Mehlville, said. “Each step of the way we have had our questions answered, in-service provided and positive support. My secretary who is inputting initial information made the comment, ‘I love this program!’ I can't tell you how exciting this is for Mehlville School District.”
Education Technology Partners is the exclusive distribution partner for School Software Group in the central United States and will be working with CSD member districts interested in BYOC and BYOA.
CSD expects to announce dates in May and June for BYOC/BYOA informational seminars and product demonstrations shortly.
ABOUT EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS
Founded by a former educator in 2003 and headquartered in St. Louis, MO, Education Technology Partners was started with one goal in mind: to bring to schools the most effective educational technology available in the market. Applying rigorous standards based on our own experience in the classroom, knowledge of the needs of our education clients and input from fellow educators, we research the ever-changing and sometimes overwhelming array of educational technology. This rigorous process allows us to identify “Best of Breed” technology solutions — solutions that stand apart from the rest due to their proven ability to improve student learning and teacher effectiveness. Additional information can be found at www.edtechpartners.com.
ABOUT SCHOOL SOFTWARE GROUP
School Software Group (SSG) is an educational technology products and services organization headquartered in Appleton, WI. Since 2004, SSG has partnered directly with school districts and state education agencies to develop innovative, web-based curriculum development and assessment solutions. The combination of SSG's technical skills and the educational expertise of the company’s partner districts support solutions that are practical, effective, and focused on the real-world needs of teachers and students. Additional information about School Software Group and its products can be found at www.schoolsoftwaregroup.com.
