[tasla] K-12 Databases Program - Phase One - Communication Plan for School Leaders

[Martha Rossi]

As a part of a K-12 Databases communication plan for school leaders, we
will be sending the email pasted below to school leaders across the
state later this week.  We wanted to give you a 'heads-up' in case your
district or campus administrators ask you about this.

We expect only a certain percentage of school leaders will request K-12
Databases Leadership e-Kits and will alert our library contacts at those
districts where school leaders respond.

We look forward to hearing your questions and/or comments.

Thanks much,

- Marty

Martha (Marty) Rossi
Library Services & Media Specialist
Education Service Center, Region 20
1314 Hines Avenue
San Antonio, Texas 78208-1899
(210) 370-5711
martha.rossi at esc20.net 

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Subject: 
Don’t Let Students Just Google It! State-Funded Quality Online
Resources Help Make the Grade 

Text:
Dear school leader:

21st Century learners need 21st Century resources. The 81st Texas
Legislature reauthorized $2.5 million in funding for the K-12 Databases
Program. This program provides access to quality, authoritative online
resources from Encyclopædia Britannica and EBSCO Publishing for all
Texas public schools.  Access to TEKS-aligned newspaper, magazine and
encyclopedia articles, reports, maps, images, video clips and much more
is available 24/7 to students, teachers, school leaders, and students’
families. This program is made possible through a partnership between
the Texas Education Agency, the Texas State Library and Archives
Commission and Education Service Center, Region 20. 

You may ask yourself, why use online databases when so much free
information is available on the open Web?  We invite you to find the
answer by viewing this short K-12 Databases VS Open Internet video. 

The purpose of our message is to emphasize the importance of the K-12
Databases Program and invite you to learn more about its valuable
resources and benefits. 

Please reply to this email and receive important information about this
powerful program provided at no cost to your school community. 

The Leadership e-Kit provided to you will include:

-	A unique username and password for you to access all K-12
Databases Program resources 24/7 anytime, anywhere;
-	Usage statistics for your campus and/or district since September
2007;
-	Top reasons why online databases are crucial to 21st century
instruction; 
-	Sample lessons that integrate the use of these resources; 
-	A suggested action plan for increasing awareness, utilization
and integration at your district; and
-	A link to a brief online course designed especially for school
leaders that provides 1.5 hours of CPE.

Thank you in advance for your invaluable support.

Click ‘reply’ and we will send your K-12 Databases Leadership e-Kit
right away. Please include your name and school, district or
organization.

Happy searching!

The K-12 Databases Team
K12help at esc20.net 



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