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PRINCETON, N.J., 12/14/2005 -- ETS and TaskStream announced today a strategic alliance to provide educators with an enhanced, Web-based professional development management system.
The deal marries ETS's professional development content, instructional intervention and data management platform with TaskStream's technological ingenuity to create a single, online solution for implementing, managing and tracking professional development within schools and districts.
The alliance significantly extends the capabilities of ETS's System 5 (TM) suite, which offers five solutions for K-12 school improvement, professional development, data-driven decision making, instruction and assessment. Schools and districts can select individual products or services to fulfill a specific need, or invest in a complete solution to improve student achievement and school performance. The System 5 (TM) suite will integrate the processes of assessment of student achievement, targeted intervention and professional development management into a seamless, comprehensive school improvement program.
"The alliance with TaskStream makes the System 5 suite even more valuable to schools and districts," says Lou Pugliese, ETS's Vice President of Corporate Development. "Until now, the System 5 suite has been very student focused, giving educators the tools to assess what students know and what they still need to learn. With the addition of leadership tools, accountability applications, portfolios, lesson/unit and certification management features, this partnership will provide a true end-to-end school improvement solution."
Beginning in spring 2006, three ETS professional development programs will be available through the online platform, called ETS's System 5 (TM) Online Professional Development Solution:
--The Framework Induction Program, a mentor-training program that prepares experienced teachers to assist beginning teachers with classroom practice.
--The Framework Observation Program, which helps principals and other school leaders base teacher evaluations on evidence and provide standards-based, constructive feedback.
--The School Leadership Workshop Series, which helps educators become more effective school leaders and learn how to identify and correct issues that adversely affect teaching and learning in their respective schools.
Teachers and administrators will continue to receive the in-person training and standards-based content that have been the signature of these programs. The online platform will enhance the original service by enabling educators to organize and share professional development materials, reports and resources; manage online teacher portfolios and assessments; and facilitate collaboration between teachers, mentors and administrators.
"The combination of the rich content, methodology, and experience of ETS's professional development program, and the robust, Web-based education tools of TaskStream advantages all learning communities with powerful systemic capabilities," says Kevin Doyle, TaskStream CEO. "Now all professional development programs can have immediate access to proven quality resources and unparalleled efficiency in demonstrating learned competencies, to direct teaching toward successful student outcomes."
TaskStream offers a variety of tools that will enhance ETS's professional development programs and benefit schools and districts:
--Instructional design tools help educators create or adapt standards-based curriculum and use powerful assessment rubrics.
--An online portfolio assessment system that helps facilitate teacher candidate evaluation and institutional accreditation.
--The Web Folio Builder and Web Page Builder allow educators to create and publish electronic portfolios, personal Web pages and classroom home pages.
--An online resource library gives teachers access to searchable databases of lesson plans, standards, tutorials and educational Web sites.
--A dedicated e-mail system, instant messaging, threaded discussions, and the ability to post targeted announcements and calendar events also facilitates easy online communication between Authors and Reviewers/Mentors.
--Administration and reporting tools provide program coordinators with a set of online tools to initiate, manage, support and evaluate programs and workshops.
For more information about ETS professional development programs, please call (866) ETS-LEARN or visit http://www.ets.org/Media/Products/k12learn2/professionaldevelopment.html.
About TaskStream
TaskStream, 'Tools of Engagement,' is the leader in electronic portfolio learning management solutions. TaskStream provides subscriptions to facilitate organizing and showcasing online standards-based learning achievement, collaborative development, formative and summative assessment and reporting to demonstrate individual and programmatic success. Since 1997, TaskStream has been a leading innovator in the evolving teaching and learning process. Additional information is available at www.taskstream.com.
About ETS
ETS is a nonprofit institution with the mission to advance quality and equity in education by providing fair and valid assessments, research and related services for all people worldwide. In serving individuals, educational institutions and government agencies around the world, ETS customizes solutions to meet the need for teacher professional development products and services, classroom and end-of-course assessments, and research-based teaching and learning tools. Founded in 1947, ETS today develops, administers and scores more than 24 million tests annually in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. Additional information is available at www.ets.org.
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