Speak 2013 launches on Wednesday, October 2nd!

Happiest Monday to all our followers and supporters!

Speak Up 2013 launches October 2nd!

This week is an important week here at Project Tomorrow and at schools and districts across the nation...Do you know why?

That's right, you guessed it! Speak Up 2013 is just about here! The 2 day countdown is on. Speak Up 2013 officially launches on Wednesday, October 2nd!

There is still time to register your school or district in Speak Up 2013. Registration can be found here. Be sure your school/district has a primary contact registered so that your data results can be viewed in February 2014. This year, no password is required for educators, but a student password is required, and can be created by the main/primary contact.

You may be asking yourself a few questions:

Where can I learn more about Speak Up? Click here. 

What are some of the few question themes on this year's survey? Blended and flipped classrooms, digital footprints, attitudes toward technology, and digital games are just a few of the themes on this year's surveys. Moreover, this year, we have a new community members survey. These surveys are meant to be taken by anyone in the community who wants to voice their opinions concerning technology in education.

Spread awareness surrounding Speak Up 2013 using our handy and convenient promotional materials which can be found here.

During the survey period, get the latest updates by following us here on this blog, twitter, and facebook.

Who will be speaking up on Wednesday, October 2nd? Be sure to let us know in the comments.

- The Project Tomorrow team

California Becomes the First State to Pass a Bill to Allow Minors to Delete Social Media Posts that may be Harmful to their Image

Minors Can Now Remove Past Social Media Posts

California Governor Jerry Brown recently approved a law that will give minors the freedom to delete information that may be harmful to their reputation on social media sites.

The law, which was signed on Monday, September 23rd, has been praised by some and criticized by others. Those who are for the law believe it will help minors avoid receiving a bad reputation that may be harmful in their academic, personal, and professional pursuits based on ill-conceived postings. Others opposing the law believe it is a slippery slope that could lead to more restrictions as to what should be removed from the Internet, leading to Internet censoring. 

What are your thoughts on the new law? Read more about it in The Los Angeles Times here.

This year, our Speak Up Surveys will ask questions related to a student's digital footprint. 

An example question is:

Which of these statements reflect your thoughts about digital footprints (information that is available online about you from what you and others have posted)? (Check all that apply)

Speak Up Surveys are free, and schools and districts can receive access to their school and/or district's data in February 2014. Results regarding a student population's digital footprint will also be apart of that data.

Speak Up opens on October 2nd, and will run through December 20th.

To register, click here.

Our helpful and handy promotional materials can assist you in spreading the word about Speak Up to your students, parents, teachers, administrators, and more! View our full list here.

Questions about Speak Up? E-mail SpeakUp@tomorrow.org.

Join the Speak Up conversation on Twitter! #SpeakUp2013 & @speakuped

Have a wonderful day.

- The Project Tomorrow team 

Under Armour Next Generation Charity Challenge

We're super excited to let you know that we're part of the UA Next Generation Charity Challenge. The Challenge is a fundraising campaign being launched by Under Armour.

To give back, Under Armour will be donating $50,000+ to organizations like ours focused on sparking positive social change by fueling the behavioral, educational and physical advancement of the NEXT generation. 

The charity that raises the most throughout the Challenge will get $20,000 from Under Armour. Second place gets $10,000 and third gets $5000. We're out to raise as much money as possible for our cause so we can win that $20,000 grand prize donation. 

We think we can win and to do so, we definitely need your help. Every donation makes a difference, no matter how small. 

To help now, please Click Here and give whatever you can. 

Or, if you want to go one step further, Go Here and click 'Create Your Fundraiser.' In seconds, you'll have your own fundraiser that you can share with all of your family and friends so that you can raise money for our cause too.

Please email CrowdRise at UANEXTChallenge@CrowdRise.com if you have any questions at all and they'll help solve everything. 

Thanks so much for your support. 

- The Project Tomorrow team

Around the Web Wednesday

It's Wednesday...

Do you know what that means? It is Around the Web Wednesday!

Browse all the links below for the latest news and topics trending in education. Be sure to let us know which article intrigued you the most!

Be sure to check back each week for our Around the Web Wednesday Series

Have you registered for Speak Up 2013? Surveys launch next week on October 2nd! Make sure to register so your voice can be heard!

Enjoy your day.

-The Project Tomorrow team

1. Unveiling the Blue Ribbon Schools - US Department of Education

2. Online Education - Silicon Valley Business Journal

3. Non-profit Organizations Influencing K-12 Education - NJ.com 

4. Dropping Rates of Teacher Prep Programs - EdSource

5. Minecraft as an Educational Tool - NY Times

6. Online Classes Move Toward Degree Programs - NY Times

7. Kindergarten Applications Going Digital - NY Times

8. The Story of American Public Education - PBS

9. Education Lessons from Around the Globe - PBS

10. Testing Common Core Knowledge - PBS

Mobile Learning: Transforming Education and Engaging Students and Teachers

Happy Tuesday to all our followers and supporters! 

Last week, on September 17th, Project Tomorrow's CEO Julie Evans participated in a panel discussion at Brookings in Washington D.C., concerning the subject of mobile technology in our K-12 schools. 

Mobile technology is in a plethora of ways transforming education in the United States. But what do these changes look like, and what do they mean for the enhancement of educational comprehension for our K-12 students?

To learn more, view the panel discussion here. Be sure to let us know your thoughts, and join the conversation on Twitter at #ProjectTomorrow, #SpeakUp, and #TechCTI.

Don't forget to register your school/district for Speak Up 2013! The countdown to October 2nd is on! 

-The Project Tomorrow team 

Congratulations to this year's Speak Up 200 Cohort!

Speak Up 200 Schools—2012 Participation

This annual recognition program highlights schools that are effectively incorporating Speak Up data into their local decision-making.  Each year, finalists are selected based on total student participation, length of time involved with Speak Up, and use of data in local decision making.  

Top 200 Schools – 2012 Participation

Congratulations to the Speak Up Top 200 Schools for their participation in Speak Up 2012.

Top 5 school districts (based on total participation)

• Klein ISD* (Texas)
• Shelby County School District*  (Alabama)
• Weslaco ISD* (Texas)
• McAllen ISD (Texas)
• Richardson ISD (Texas)

Top performing district for parent participation

• Shelby County School District*  (Alabama)

Top performing district for administrator participation

• Klein ISD* (Texas)

Top performing district for teacher participation

• Klein ISD* (Texas)

District	School (*=Recognized multiple years)	City
Alabama
Coffee County	Zion Chapel High School*	Jack
Lee County School District	Beulah High School	Valley
	Sanford Middle School*	Opelika
Madison County	Lynn Fanning Elementary School*	Meridianville
	Meridianville Middle School*	Hazel Green
	Riverton Intermediate School*	Huntsville
	Endeavor Elementary School	Harvest
	Sparkman Middle School*	Toney
Shelby County	Chelsea High School	Chelsea
	Chelsea Intermediate School*	Chelsea
	Creek View Elementary School*	Maylene
	Montevallo Elementary School*	Montevallo
	Mount Laurel Elementary School*	Birmingham
	Oak Mountain Intermediate School*	Birmingham
	Thompson Sixth Grade Center*	Alabaster
	Helena Middle School*	Helena
	Valley Intermediate School*	Pelham
	Oak Mountain Middle School*	Birmingham
	Pelham High School*	Pelham
	Riverchase Middle School	Birmingham
	Thompson High School	Alabaster
	Thompson Intermediate School	Alabaster
Arizona
Apache Junction Unified	Cactus Canyon Junior High School*	Apache Junction
	Desert Vista Elementary School*	Apache Junction
	Superstition Mountain Elementary School*	Apache Junction
Paradise Valley Unified	Desert Trails Elementary School*	Phoenix
	Explorer Middle School*	Phoenix
	Shea Middle School*	Phoenix
	Sunrise Middle School *	Scottsdale
	Cactus View Elementary School*	Phoenix
	Horizon High School	Scottsdale
	Mountain Trail Middle School	Phoenix
	North Ranch Elementary School*	Scottsdale
	Arrowhead Elementary School*	Phoenix
	Foothills Elementary School	Phoenix
	Hidden Hills Elementary School	Phoenix
Arkansas
Cabot	Cabot Middle School North*	Cabot
	Southside Elementary School*	Cabot
	Stagecoach Elementary School*	Cabot
	Ward Central Elementary School*	Ward
	Westside Elementary School*	Cabot
	Cabot Middle School South*	Cabot
	Mountain Springs Elementary School*	Cabot
	Northside Elementary School*	Cabot
	Magness Creek Elementary School*	Cabot
California
Fullerton Elementary	Laguna Road Elementary School*	Fullerton
	Robert C Fisler Elementary School*	Fullerton
	Sunset Lane Elementary School	Fullerton
Irvine Unified School District	Culverdale Elementary School*	Irvine
	Sierra Vista Middle School	Irvine
	Venado Middle School	Irvine
Merced Union High	Atwater High School*	Atwater
	Buhach Colony High School*	Atwater
	Golden Valley High School*	Merced
	Livingston High School*	Livingston
	Merced High School*	Merced
	Yosemite High (Continuation)*	Merced
Murrieta Valley Unified	Vista Murrieta High School	Murrieta
Natomas Unified School District	Natomas Charter #19	Sacramento
Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified	Yorba Linda Middle School*	Placentia
San Marcos Unified	San Marcos High School*	San Marcos
	Paloma Elementary School	San Marcos
Solana Beach	Carmel Creek Elementary School*	San Diego
	Skyline Elementary School*	Solana Beach
	Solana Highlands Elementary School*	Solana Beach
	Solana Pacific Elementary School*	San Diego
	Solana Santa Fe Elementary School*	Rancho Santa Fe
	Solana Vista Elementary School*	Solana Beach
Delaware
Diocese of Wilmington	St. Mark’s High School	Wilmington
Lake Forest	Lake Forest Central Elementary School*	Felton
Red Clay Consolidated School District	Brandywine Springs School	Wilmington
Florida
Brevard County	Discovery Elementary School*	Palm Bay
	Apollo Elementary School*	Titusville
	Lewis Carroll Elementary School*	Merritt Island
	Herbert C. Hoover Middle School*	Indialantic
	Quest Elementary School*	Melbourne
	Tropical Elementary School *	Merritt Island
	Imperial Estates Elementary School	Titusville
	Indialantic Elementary School*	Indialantic
	Meadowlane Intermediate School*	West Melbourne
	Surfside Elementary School	Satellite Beach
	Lockmar Elementary School*	Palm Bay
Broward County	Miramar High School*	Miramar
	Deerfield Beach Middle School	Deerfield Beach
Florida Virtual	Florida Virtual Global School*	Orlando
Hawaii
Kamehameha Schools	Kapälama Middle School*	Honolulu
	Kapälama High School*	Honolulu
	Hawaii High School	Kea‘au
Illinois
City Of Chicago School District #299	Byrne Elementary School	Chicago
	Falconer Elementary School*	Chicago
	Gray Elementary School*	Chicago
	Haines Elementary School*	Chicago
	Saucedo Elementary Scholastic Academy*	Chicago
	Washington G Elementary School*	Chicago
Harrisburg C U School District #3	East Side Intermediate School*	Harrisburg
	Harrisburg Middle School*	Harrisburg
	West Side Primary School*	Harrisburg
Indiana
Fayette County School Corp	Connersville Sr. High School	Connersville
M S D Wayne Township	Ben Davis Ninth Grade Center	Indianapolis
	Garden City Elementary School	Indianapolis
Plymouth Community School Corporation	Lincoln Junior High School*	Plymouth
	Plymouth High School*	Plymouth
	Riverside Intermediate School	Plymouth
	Menominee Elementary School	Plymouth
Scott County School District #2	Scottsburg Middle School	Scottsburg
Smith-Green Community Schools	Churubusco High School	Churubusco
Tri-Creek School Corporation	Lowell Middle School	Lowell
Warsaw Community Schools	Edgewood Middle School	Warsaw
	Eisenhower Elementary School	Warsaw
	Jefferson Elementary School	Warsaw
	Lakeview Middle School	Warsaw
	Leesburg Elementary School	Warsaw
	Madison Elementary School	Warsaw
	Warsaw Community High School	Warsaw
	Washington Elementary School	Warsaw
Kansas
Blue Valley Unified School District	Aubrey Bend Middle School	Overland Park
	Harmony Middle School	Overland Park
	Lakewood Middle School	Overland Park
	Overland Trail Middle School	Leawood
	Oxford Middle School	Overland Park
	Pleasant Ridge Middle School	Stillwell
	Prairie Star Middle School	Overland Park
Maryland
Baltimore City Public School System	Digital Harbor High School*	Baltimore
	John Ruhrah Elementary School	Baltimore
	North Bend Elementary School	Baltimore
Missouri
Kearney R-1 Schools	Kearney Junior High School*	Kearney
	Kearney Middle School	Kearney
North Carolina
North Carolina Virtual Public School	North Carolina Virtual Public School*	Raleigh
Onslow County Schools	Hunters Creek Middle School*	Jacksonville
	New Bridge Middle School*	Jacksonville
	Northwoods Park Middle School*	Jacksonville
	Trexler Middle School*	Richlands
Ohio
Berea City School District	Berea High School	Berea
	Big Creek Elementary School	Cleveland
	Ford Middle School	Brook Park
	Frederick Roehm Middle School	Berea
Medina City School District	Claggett Middle School	Medina
	Eliza Northrup Elementary School	Medina
	Ella Canavan Elementary School	Medina
	Sidney Fenn Elementary School	Medina
Shawnee Local School District	Shawnee High School	Lima
	Shawnee Middle School	Lima
Pennsylvania
Chambersburg Area School District	Chambersburg Area Middle School South	Chambersburg
Owen J Roberts School District	East Vincent Elementary School	Spring City
	North Coventry Elementary School	Pottstown
	Owen J Roberts High School	Pottstown
	Owen J Roberts Middle School	Pottstown
	West Vincent Elementary School	Chester Springs
Tennessee
Hawkins County School District	Surgoinsville Middle School*	Surgoinsville
Texas
Klein Independent	Benignus Elementary School*	Klein
	Doerre Intermediate School*	Klein
	Greenwood Forest Elementary School*	Houston
	Klein Intermediate School*	Houston
	Klein Oak High School*	Spring
	Klenk Elementary School*	Houston
	Krimmel Intermediate School*	Klein
	Lemm Elementary School*	Spring
	Northhampton Elementary School*	Spring
	Schindewolf Intermediate School*	Spring
	Schultz Elementary School*	Tomball
	Strack Intermediate School*	Klein
	Theiss Elementary School*	Klein
	Ulrich Intermediate School*	Houston
	Wunderlich Intermediate School*	Houston
	Benfer Elementary School*	Klein
	Brill Elementary School*	Klein
	Ehrhardt Elementary School*	Klein
	Eiland Elementary School*	Houston
	Epps Island Elementary School	Houston
	Klein Forest High School*	Houston
	Metzler Elementary School	Spring
	Nitsch Elementary School*	Houston
McAllen Independent	Brown Middle School	McAllen
	Castaneda Elementary School	McAllen
	Cathey Middle School	McAllen
	Dr. Pablo Perez Elementary School	McAllen
	Fields Elementary School	McAllen
	Gonzalez Elementary School	McAllen
	McAllen High School	McAllen
	McAuliffe Elementary School	McAllen
	Roosevelt Elementary  School	McAllen
	Rowe High School	McAllen
Weslaco Independent	A N Rico Elementary School*	Weslaco
	Airport Elementary School*	Weslaco
	Central Middle School*	Weslaco
	Cleckler/Heald Elementary School*	Weslaco
	Dr R E Margo Elementary School*	Weslaco
	F D Roosevelt Elementary School*	Weslaco
	Mario Ybarra Elementary School*	Weslaco
	Memorial Elementary School*	Weslaco
	North Bridge Elementary School*	Weslaco
	Sam Houston Elementary School*	Weslaco
	Weslaco High School*	Weslaco
	Dr. Armando Cuellar Middle School	Weslaco
	Mary Hoge Middle School*	Weslaco
	Rodolfo Rudy Silva Jr. Elementary School*	Weslaco
	Weslaco East High School*	Weslaco
	Raul A Gonzalez Jr. Elementary School*	Weslaco
	Beatriz G Garza Middle School*	Weslaco
Virginia
Albemarle County Public Schools	Jackson P. Burley Middle School	Charlottesville
	Joseph T. Henley Middle School	Crozet
	Monticello High School	Charlottesville
	Mortimer Y. Sutherland Middle School	Charlottesville
	Western Albemarle High School	Crozet
Arlington County Public Schools	Taylor Elementary School*	Arlington
Wisconsin
Luxemburg-Casco	Luxemburg-Casco Intermediate School*	Luxemburg
Verona Area	Badger Ridge Middle School	Verona
	Verona Area High School*	Verona