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This Week at TransACT (May 5, 2008)
Success Story: Georgia Department of Education
The Georgia Department of Education not only leads the charge in providing its districts with access to high quality, multi-lingual parent notices necessary for legal compliance, but also demonstrates how such an extensive resource can be disseminated effectively across the state.
Click here to read how GA leads the nation in student improvement through increased parent involvement.
This Week at TransACT (April 29, 2008)
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April eNewsletter: The Grants and Funding Issue
Do you need more money? Funding all of your programs is difficult business. This issue of the TransACT eNewsletter will direct you to grants and funding sources to help you meet your parent notification needs.
Also included; Section 504 Compliance Collection deal only for current subscribers, California budget cuts and Georgia's great success.
Click here to read the April eNewsletter.
Click here to view our eNewsletter archive.
Your online collections have been updated! To view the new document, log-in to you subscription, then look in the National Resources folder.
New USDOE Guidance:
- NCLB Act and Regulation: Proposed Title I Amendments
This Week at TransACT (April 21, 2008)
Your online collections have been updated! We're working hard to ensure you meet ever changing parent communication requirements. Recent updates include:
GenEd Parent Notification Collection:
- New Japanese translations. (Korean coming soon.)
- School Administration: Document details for the Residency Affidavit updated
New USDOE guidance posted:
- USDOE policy letter: Differentiated Accountability
This Week at TransACT (April 14, 2008)
Limited-time pro-rated offer only for current subscribers
To make adding the Section 504 Compliance Collection to your subscription easier, we're offering a pro-rated special to our current subscribers. Add the collection before May 31st and you'll won't pay full retail price, simply a reduced pro-rated amount.
To request your special pricing, you may use this form or call us at 425.977.2100. This offer ends May 31st, 2008.
This Week at TransACT (April 7, 2008)
Are you attending the NAFEPA Conference in Washington D.C. next week?
TransACT CEO Rick Passovoy and Regional Sales Manager Greg Heaston and will be attending the NAFEPA conference April 13th through April 16th. Stop by the TransACT booth for the opportunity to ask questions, make comments, just say hi, or most importantly, enter a drawing to win an iPod shuffle!
Stop by and see us at booth #24 anytime during the conference.
Success Story: Duval County Public Schools
“We trust that TransACT will always provide us with documents that are professionally translated and are updated, as needed, to stay in compliance with a variety of legal requirements,” said ESOL Supervisor Brenda Trimble of Duval County Public Schools. This success story highlights how Duval has used TransACT letters to ensure compliance with parent notification requirements for over ten years.
Click here to read how Duval reaches every family.
New Publication: Avoid common Title I audit findings
TransACTs most recent publication demonstrates how our online parent notification collections help school, districts and states avoid common Title I audit findings.
Click here to download a pdf and see how we can help you.
This Week at TransACT (March 31, 2008)
March eNewsletter: The Audit Assistance Issue
Are you ready for a federal audit? "Audits are happening and will continue to happen," said Phil Rosenfelt of the U.S. Department of Education during a speech at the NASTID conference last February. "The Secretary of Education has indicated an interest in more effective parent notification leading to more participation." This eNewletter includes valuable information to help you prepare for federal and local monitoring.
Also in this issue: Read about the great success of Duval County Public Schools, Puyallup School District's smart approach to district-wide TransACT awareness and how Polk County Public Schools keeps their ELL families involved.
Click here to read the March eNewsletter.
Win a 'Welome to Our School' poster!
Would you like to win one of TransACT's highly sought-after Welcome to Our School poster? Simply use this form to refer your Section 504 Coordinator to us and you'll be entered in a drawing to win a poster. Winners are drawn weekly!
This Week at TransACT (March 10, 2008)
Are you certain you are meeting all the parent notification requirements of Section 504?
New Section 504 Compliance Collection demonstrations dates have been added. This demo will show you how to use TransACT documents to meet requirements for non-discrimination notices, initial student screening, accurately determining student eligibility, evaluation and re-evaluation procedures, thorough accommodation plans and parent permissions. Click on the button below to view the dates and time available.
Your online collection has been updated!
Additional guidance documents posted:
- USDOE Guidance: Targeted Assistance Programs - Funds for HQT – 2003
- USDOE Guidance: Targeted Assistance Programs - AYP - 2004
- NCLB Guidance: Title I - Fiscal Issues
- NCLB Guidance: ACCT-C3 - Office of English Language Acquisition - Fiscal Q & A 2006
- OCR Policy Letter: Access to Accelerated Programs - 12/2007
- Section 504 Guidance: UI: Beyond the Classroom - Section 504 Violations
Maria Crenshaw of Richmond, VA wins an iPod shuffle!
The winner of our most recent iPod shuffle drawing for demonstration attendees is Maria Crenshaw of Richmond, VA. Congratulations Maria!
This Week at TransACT (February 25, 2008)
February eNewsletter: The Fantastic Value Issue
What better time than budget planning season to review how our document collections save you time and money? This month's issue of the TransACT eNewsletter illustrates some of the incredible value your subscription brings you.
In this issue, you may view how other districts use federal funds to pay for their subscription, read about the Pennsylvania Department of Education's smart partnerships and get a little bit of Hollywood trivia!
Click here to read the February eNewsletter.
Want to read previous issues? Click here for January or December editions.
This Week at TransACT (February 18, 2008)
Success Story: The Pennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education has teamed with the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) and TransACT Communications, Inc. to provide a consistent statewide solution for parent notification requirements. The statewide subscription option provides a solution for all included districts at a fraction of the cost of individual plans.
Click here to read about Pennsylvania's smart partnerships.
Are you attending the ESOL conference in Georgia next week?
TransACT Executive Director of Customer Operations, Monica Munar, is hosting special training sessions at the 7th Annual ESOL Conference at Kennesaw State University.
A TransACT subscription is provided free to all Georgia school districts through the Georgia Department of Education. These conference trainings will show users how to access their free translations online in addition to sharing best practice tips for navigating the site successfully.
Sessions will be held twice daily on both February 26th & 27th in room 210 at the KSU Center. Sessions start at 1:00pm and 2:15pm and run for 45 minutes. Sessions are limited to 24 participants, so be sure to arrive on time to ensure you get a computer station.
Not yet registered for the conference? No worries. There's still room for the February 26th sessions. Click here to print and fax a registration form. February 27 is completely full and no longer accepting registrations.
This Week at TransACT (February 11, 2008)
The winner of our iPod shuffle drawing is Joan Fitton of Worcester, MA. Thanks to all our current subscribers who filled out a two-question survey regarding audits. Your input will help us improve our collections and serve you better.
Additional documents posted in National Resources (NCLB Accountability & Compliance):
- Teacher Compensation: Two reports examining the issue of teacher compensation were released by a nonpartisan research and educational institute, The Center for American Progress. The reports examine differential compensation for teachers in eight states and issues that must be addressed to move away from the current teacher compensation system that is predominately based upon the single salary schedule. The reports are found in National Resources in the District and School Leadership folder under Teacher Compensation.
- National Assessment of Title I: Final Report: As part of NCLB, the Congress mandated a National Assessment of Title I to evaluate the implementation and impact of the program. The law specifically requires a longitudinal study of Title I schools to examine the implementation and impact of the Title I. Read the results from the study in the Final Report and the Summary of Key Findings which were revised January, 2008 and are posted under NCLB in the Title I folder.
This Week at TransACT (January 21, 2008)
Additional USDOE guidance documents posted:
- NCLB Guidance: Title I - Reading First (Guidance Papers)
- NCLB Guidance: Title I - Early Reading First (Guidance Papers)
- NCLB Guidance: Title III - Assessment and Accountability for Recently Arrived and Former LEP Students (Guidance Papers)
- USDOE: Highly Qualified Teachers (Policy Letters)
This Week at TransACT (December 14, 2007)
Focus on Section 504: TransACT winter eNewsletter now available
The winter edition of the TransACT eNewsletter is available online. We've packed this edition with helpful Section 504 information. Click here to read more about how Section 504 requirements apply to you and common district compliance failures.
Also in this edition, read about helpful site usage tips, adding a pass-through link to your district intranet, professional development opportunities and more.
This Week at TransACT (December 10, 2007)
Additional accountability and compliance guidance documents posted under the Section 504 Compliance Collection:
- Regulations: CFR - Equal Access to Public School Facilities for the Boy Scouts of America Final Regulations
- Resources: OCR Finding - Access to Services by LEP Students - Denver Public Schools, Sample Nondiscrimination Policy - Virginia Beach City Public Schools
- Guidance Papers: OCR Memo - Compliance with Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act of 2001, USDOE - Student Placement, Section 504, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, OCR - Deaf Student Education Services, Revised Assurance of Compliance - Civil Rights Certificate Form
This Week at TransACT (December 5, 2007)
Success Story: The Kentucky Department of Education
The Kentucky Department of Education has teamed with TransACT to provide consistent parent notifications across the state with no room for compliance failure. The statewide subscription option provides a solution for all included districts at a fraction of the cost of individual plans.
Click here to read more about Kentucky's great success.
More changes have been made to our parent notification collections. Updates are as follow:
- The entire Section 504 Compliance Collection is now available in Spanish.
- PDF files have been adjusted to ensure that district names may be viewed at all times.
- Collections have been customized per request for Mississippi and Minnesota, as well as for Boston Public Schools.
This Week at TransACT (November 26, 2007)
Are we in your area this week?
Members of the TransACT team will be present at two conferences this week. Are you attending either of these conferences? If so, stop by. We’d love to see you.
Louisville, Kentucky: Talk to us in person at the SETESOL 2007 Regional Conference. Come hear our Executive Director of Customer Operations Monica Munar present: Breaking Language Barriers and Building Bridges: Communicate with Parents by using TransACT this Friday (11/30) from 9:00am to 9:45am in the Clubhouse Room. Maureen Keithley, Kentucky Department of Education Title III - LEP/Immigrant Consultant will co-present.
Tampa, Florida: Meet TransACT President/CEO Rick Passovoy at the AESA Annual Conference this week in Tampa, Florida. Rick will be leading a workshop with Dick Moody, Director of Business Services for AESA showcasing ActPoint Roadmaps. Join this workshop Friday (11/30) at 10:45 in room 9.
This Week at TransACT (November 12, 2007)
New Section 504 webinar options added
You've heard about the release of our new Section 504 Compliance Collection. Do you also know that online demonstrations are available for you to preview the collection and learn more about how Section 504 requirements affect your district? Learn more>>
This Week at TransACT (November 5, 2007)
Section 504 Compliance collection just released!
Our latest subscription add-on provides you with the forms, notices and letters you need to communicate Section 504 requirements and processes with staff and parents. This collection of parent notifications is available in English and Spanish.
Click here to read more or to add Section 504 compliance assurance to your subscription.
This Week at TransACT (October 29, 2007)
Additional USDOE guidance documents posted:
- NCLB Guidance: Title I - Modified Academic Achievement Standards 07/2007 (Guidance Papers)
- USDOE: Summary - Final Regulations on Modified Achievement Standards 05/2007 (Policy Letters)
This Week at TransACT (October 22, 2007)
New translations and revisions have been posted to the parent notification collections!
Revisions and additions to TransACT IDEA 2004 and NCLB Parent Notifications:
- IDEA-B4 - Invitation to Manifestation Determination Review - Rev. 08/2007
- NCLB-C4 - District Not Making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Letter to Parents - Rev. 06/2007
New translations for TransACT NCLB Parent Notifications:
(Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Arabic and Hmong)
- NCLB-C5 - District Improvement Plan Meeting, Invitation to Participate
- NCLB-C9 - Meeting Notice: Parent and Community Comment on School Restructuring Plan
- NCLB-C10 - Notice to Parents: Options During Restructuring
- NCLB-D7 - Change in District Status as Supplemental Educational Services Provider
This Week at TransACT (October 8, 2007)
Revisions and additions to TransACT NCLB Parent Notifications:
- Revised document details for the following documents: NCLB-A5 and NCLB-A6