CONTACT: Lynda Quick
PHONE: 716-376-8237

January 23, 2003
     
    STATEWIDE WEB PORTAL NYSVLS FEATURES SCHOOLTOOLS.US FROM CA BOCES
    Albany, New York - Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES consortium has one of seven web-based projects featured in the New York State Virtual Learning Space (NYSVLS) project by the New York State Education Department that went live to educators across New York State on January 23, 2003. The NYSVLS Project is designed to develop and deliver school centered information and software applications to help educators, students and parents increase student achievement. This is the first phase of the project that will provide statewide access to:
   

•  Learning Standards in each of the seven standard areas
•  Performance Indicators for each standard area at all levels of education
•  Resource guides with core curricula
•  State assessments
•  Learning experiences tied to the performance indicators
•  Instructional and curricular resources, including online professional development opportunities for teachers, developed by districts and BOCES
•  Library, archive and museum resources
   
Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES is no stranger to web-based application development for education. In 1998 they became pioneers by establishing a team to deliver high-tech web based tools to teachers. They were recognized by the New York State Board of Regents in 2000 for the development of an "Exemplary Curriculum Management Tool". It was through the demonstration of the CA BOCES tools that the dream for a statewide web portal application was born.

Schooltools.us is NYS Standards based and currently has an educator version which features:
   

•  Learning Experiences
•  Curriculum Mapping
•  Graphic Organizers
•  E-Cards
•  Professional Development Tools
•  Assessments
•  Web-Based Resources for Teachers
     
   
     
    According to Dr. Robert Olczak, CA BOCES District Superintendent, "SchoolTools.us is on the cutting edge and will be used to create and share state standards and assessments, find and close curriculum gaps, provide complete educational maps for an overall picture of K-12 education - one that supports the learning needs of all children, including those with special educational needs." In addition, the website will facilitate communication between parents and teachers and allow educators to communicate with others around the region, state and even the world.
     
    For more details on the scope of the web development project, contact Program Director Lynda Quick at (716) 376-8237.