I only got 3 replies, so the information here probably doesn't represent all the
options that schools are using.
Paying for AR HIT
1) Our district pays for it for elementary schools, with them paying for STAR
for all campuses. One school is looking to add capacity for K, which district
doesn't pay, themselves. Betsy from TX.
2) I am very fortunate in that my high school has a separate AR budget which
includes the cost of operating Renaissance, so none of that is taken from my normal
library budget. Kathy from CA
3) I wrote a grant that paid for two years. I will have to see what happens then.
Jeanna
Thank you for these responses. I don't think our district will be able to use
these methods. I think the majority of the funding will come from our meager
library budgets.
Lisa Hunt, NBCT 2005
School Library Media Specialist
Apple Creek Elementary
Moore, OK
lisa3moon@yahoo.com
________________________________
From: Lisa Hunt <lisa3moon@YAHOO.COM>
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Sent: Thursday, January 8, 2009 6:21:40 AM
Subject: TARGET: Opinions about $$paying for$$ AR Enterprise
This discussion and HIT came at the perfect time for my district. We are piloting
Enterprise this semester at 2 schools (we have 23 that use AR) and will meet soon
to discuss our options.
Please let me know how schools pay for Enterprise. The biggest worry for us is the
expense. I would spend more on Enterprise this year than I normally spend on AR
quizzes, and that is the case for most of my district. We are well supported in
OK, and each school has a buget based upon a state standard ($9 per child up to 500
and $5 after that.) Most of us would spend about 1/3 of our standard budget to pay
for Enterprise. We all have access to fundraising money (bookfairs), grants and
PTA support as well as the standard budget.
The librarians in my district hope that the district would commit to sticking with
Enterprise AND principals would pay for 1/3 to 1/2 the cost per year with the rest
coming from the standard library budget.
I'll post a HIT after I get your feedback on "where the money comes from."
Lisa Hunt, NBCT 2005
School Library Media Specialist
Apple Creek Elementary
Moore, OK
lisa3moon@yahoo.com
________________________________
From: Nancy Dickinson <dickinson1@K12TN.NET>
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Sent: Wednesday, January 7, 2009 9:26:35 PM
Subject: HIT: Opinions about AR Enterprise
Thanks to those who gave me their opinions about AR Enterprise. Those who
like it seem to really like it a lot. I don't know for sure what I will
do, but right now I doubt if I will switch unless I can convince PTO to
help me foot the bill. I am posting a hit because I had almost as many
requests for a hit as I had answers.
Thanks!
Nancy
Original target:
I need your opinion about why (or why not) I should switch to AR
Enterprise. I hear so many of you talking about doing it so I checked into
it. Did I understand it's $4.00 per child every year? Plus a $399 annual
hosting fee if I use their server? My school has about 500 children so I'm
looking at $2,399 a year, right?
We've been using AR for 17 years. We have over 9000 tests. According to my
calculations I spent $925.64 on new tests last year plus the $249 tech
support fee.
Can you see any reason why we should switch? I just need your help to
think this through and see all the angles.
-------------
Our school switched two years ago and it has been great. I don't have to
worry about buying the test and can pre-order books before the tests are
published. Also, the main benefit for our school was that the kids could
buy books or go to the public library for their books and still be able to
test on those for the most part. Also some of the features with the
reports and certificates, etc. are better. I have also heard that the test
price is going to be raised again so I actually came out ahead by
switiching to Enterprise over continueing to buy the test. The teachers
love and so do the kids. Only draw back is if the network goes down the
kids can't take the test.
----------
The reason we like it is having access to all quizzes -- reading,
vocabulary, literacy, voice, other (textbook), plus ability still to make
teacher tests per campus. As far as them hosting, I like that they
automatically update quizzes and problem. One less thing for me and my
tech folks to worry about.
------------------
I made the choice 1 1/2 ago to switch and I think it's worth every penny.
AR was huge in the school before I started. The school had about 4500
tests. I was frustrated because kids wouldn't read a book unless they
could test. I would order tests whenever I did a book order, but I
couldn't keep up with the demand. I would make lists of tests kids
requested and had to wait until I had 20 before I could order. When I
made the switch, students and parents loved it. There is now a feature
called HomeConnect, so that parents can login at home to see what tests
their child has taken. Parents can also sign-up to get e-mail
notifications each time their child tests. I have aboiut 300 students and
I have RenLearn host the data (one less headache for the tech guy). There
haven't been problems connecting, once in a blue moon our Internet
connection goes down, but that doesn't happen often.
---------------
The major benefit of Enterprise that many schools see is the access to all
quizzes. This means that your students can also quiz on books from home or
from the public library. Additionally, if your school has a high level of
parent involvement, parents can track students' progress using the Home
Connect website.
----------------
Switching to AR Enterprise was the best move I made in my twenty years at
my school. We LOVE it. The best part is that our Tech Services has only
minimal involvement. They're happy about that and so am I. It's the one
tool we use that we can't do without. I wouldn't want to walk into work
knowing we no longer were able to afford Enterprise. I imagine we would
pass the hat among the reading and language teachers to be able to keep
it.
Nancy Dickinson, Librarian
Hillsboro Elementary School
Hillsboro, TN 37342
dickinson1@k12tn.net
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