BCPSS Looks To Expand Community Involvement

  • By Evan Tassistro
  • 05/03/10

Citing a need to improve information flow between the district and the schools it serves, the Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS) is moving to Schoolwires Centricity to manage online communications.

"By broadening and enhancing our communications through our Web site, we will be able to better engage with our community and showcase the extraordinary transformation under way at all of our schools," said Michael A. Sarbanes, executive director of partnerships, communications, and community engagement for BCPSS. Previously, BCPSS operated a Web site at the district level but lacked ability to reliably include individual schools in communications. The district also cited a need for Centricity's digital file sharing capabilities.

Centricity ties the Web site content from different schools and district organizations together via a single platform and offers inclusion of form, survey, and blog content, as well as e-mail and electronic alert capabilities, for real-time information distribution.

The Centricity platform is an example of the increasingly accepted "Web 2.0" tools used in to facilitating communication and participation in a community, which focuses on interactivity between content providers and end-users.

Baltimore City Public Schools currently enrolls more than 82,000 students and supports 201 schools and programs.

About the Author

Evan Tassistro is a freelance writer based in San Diego, CA.

Featured

  • pattern of icons for math and reading, including a pi symbol, calculator, and open book

    HMH Launches Personalized Path Solution

    Adaptive learning company HMH has introduced HMH Personalized Path, a K-8 ELA and math product that combines intervention curriculum, adaptive practice, and assessment for students of all achievement levels.

  • red brick school building with a large yellow "AI" sign above its main entrance

    New National Academy for AI Instruction to Provide Free AI Training for Educators

    In an effort to "transform how artificial intelligence is taught and integrated into classrooms across the United States," the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), in partnership with Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, and the United Federation of Teachers, is launching the National Academy for AI Instruction, a $23 million initiative that will provide access to free AI training and curriculum for all AFT members, beginning with K-12 educators.

  • laptop on a desk with its screen displaying numerous colorful educational app icons

    Survey Finds Majority of Schools Using 10 to 15 Educational Apps

    A new report points to the fragmented digital landscape of educational apps in use at schools and districts across the country.

  • laptop displaying AI-powered educational content

    Kira Introduces AI-Generated Lesson Tool

    AI company Kira has announced a new AI-powered lesson generation tool that it says delivers complete, standards-aligned lessons that are personalized to each student.