RR Research

Parents and policymakers around the United States are not happy with with public education. This is why by the year 2005 there were approximately 3,400 charter schools in the United States serving about 800,000 students. Parents want choices. (Source: Educational Trends Shaping School Planning and Design 2007 by Kenneth R. Stevenson, Department of Educational Leadership and Policies, College of Education, University of South Carolina.) It also appears as if classrooms may be getting smaller. Research indicates that over the next 25 years we may see elementary schools housing an average of 200 students, middle schools with no more than 400 to 500 students, and high schools with 500 to 750 students. Some supporters argue that small schools are better at improving the academic achievement for students.They believe small schools have higher graduation rates and improved behavior among students. There has been significant research indicating that smaller classroom benefits include enhanced academic performance and also improved student behavior and teacher morale. A few studies further suggest that such classes particularly benefit at risk students. One very successful program from Brooklyn, New York is known as Create Success. The after .. more»

What is Available Vouchers will be issued in two categories: 1) General Purpose Vouchers and 2) Software Vouchers. General Purpose Vouchers may be used to purchase specific hardware (listed below), any non-custom software for that hardware, evaluation tools, information technology (IT) services, and professional development services. IT and professional development services must be obtained from approved providers in Orange County schools. Software Vouchers may only be utilized to purchase specific categories of software (listed below) that are published or sold by any software provider. Both the General Purpose and Software Vouchers may be applied by Orange County schools in an amount no greater than the standard academic price, or if an academic price is not available, in an amount not to exceed the normal or standard price established by the manufacturer or vendor for such software. The following list gives examples of eligible goods and services that may be purchased with one or the other category of the vouchers: Hardware available for Orange County schools: Any new laptop, desktop, or tablet computer for any operating system platform; Peripheral devices: printers, scanners, monitors, keyboards, pointing devices (e.g., .. more»