I. PURPOSE OF THE INITIATIVE

During its first year - 1993 - the project began at four sites: McCleary Elementary School, Schenley International Studies Program, Westinghouse Science and Mathematics Program, and Woolslair Elementary Gifted Center. In 1994, Carrick High School, East Hills International Studies Academy, Frick International Studies Academy, Fulton Academy of Geographic and Life Sciences, Liberty International Studies Academy, Phillips Elementary, and Spring Hill Elementary came aboard. In 1995 Allegheny Middle School, Knoxville Middle School, and Schiller Middle School were added.

Each CK:P site has a specific curriculum project that uses the Internet as a resource and a hardware configuration that is unique to that particular building and project. To help teachers implement the curriculum activity at their site, they receive training and ongoing support from the CK:P staff.

The 1996 Request for Proposal - RFP - will identify 6 new high school sites. Proposals can be submitted by teams of teachers, students, administrators, parents, and support staff. The proposals will be reviewed by a committee of teachers, administrators, board members, parents and community representatives. This committee will make its selections based on the strength of the curriculum project being proposed, the team of educators who will implement the project, and the equitable distribution of network resources within the building.

Each school site chosen will receive wiring, network equipment, computers and support from the Common Knowledge staff. Schools should note that this is a limited installation that will not meet the needs of the entire school. CK:P will provide the foundation of a network infrastructure that is both scalable and sustainable.

II. CK:P PROJECT GOALS

Teaching Environment: The network shall enhance the

teaching environment for all teachers in the Pittsburgh Public

Schools by expanding the personal contacts and information resources

available to these teachers.

Curriculum Development: The network shall be available to serve

the development of curricular activities of the Pittsburgh Public

Schools in all subject areas and at all grade levels.

Access to Information: The network shall provide information

services not currently available to the Pittsburgh school system.

School Restructuring: The network shall serve as a tool in the

restructuring efforts of the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

A National Model: The network and its associated curricular

activities shall serve as a national model for the implementation

of wide area networks in the K12 environment.

School proposals should be aligned with these goals.

III. TIMELINE FOR THE RFP

February 15, 1996 - RFP Mailed Out

February 15 - March 31 - Proposal Writing, Visit Existing Sites

March 29, 1996 - Proposals Due to CK:P

April 22, 1996 - Third Year Sites Announced

June 1, 1996 - Wiring Designs Finalized

July 1, 1996 - Equipment Ordered

Summer, 1996 - (Tentative Workshop)

January 1, 1997 - Full Implementation

IV. PRIORITIES FOR THE PROPOSALS

CURRICULUM

¥ Network activities are by nature research oriented and

interdisciplinary. Projects need to be focused on

specific areas of the curriculum that take advantage of

network resources.

¥ The instructional procedures must describe a shift from a

teacher-centered paradigm to a research oriented

student-teacher partnership.

¥ The Internet project must be clearly integrated with the

school's Comprehensive Educational Improvement Plan (CEIP)

plan.

¥ Project goals need to be consistent with District

curriculum standards. Your project's curriculum

standards should be clearly stated and measurable.

¥ Technology should be viewed as a tool for curriculum

delivery.

TEAMING

¥ There must be evidence that the team has the support of

the administration, other teachers in the building and

the feeder-pattern community.

¥ Individual members must present their vision of the

activity. This should include the individual's commitment

to the proposal as exemplified by his/her willingness

to: modify classroom interactions, learn and implement a

new technology, and work collaboratively with colleagues.

¥ A description of how the school team will manage the

project needs to be part of the proposal.

EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES

¥ focus on under-represented populations

(e.g. females in mathematics/science, African Americans

in accelerated classes ... ),

¥ come from schools that have little or no access to technology,

¥ propose to work with at-risk students,

¥ propose open access points such as libraries,

¥ demonstrate continuity within a school's feeder pattern.

(e.g. work with students from other CK:P sites).

V. PROPOSAL WRITING GUIDELINES

¥ Proposals must not exceed 10 pages, double spaced, with

one inch margins.

¥ The minimum type acceptable is 10 point.

¥ A Cover Page and an Introduction may be included; these

are not part of the 10 page limit.

¥ Letters of Support and the school's CEIP plan, must be

included as appendices.

¥ Each school must submit 25 copies of its proposal.

Part One - Curriculum Project (30 Points)

Problem Statement

¥ Define the learning problem that your

curriculum/network project addresses.

Curriculum Activity

¥ Describe the link between existing curricula and

the proposed activity.

Instructional Procedures

¥ Develop an instructional plan for using this tool

in the classroom.

Assessment Plan

¥ Describe how you will measure success both from

teacher and student perspectives.

Part Two - Design and Implementation Team (40 points)

Support and Vision

¥ Include a letter from each team member that

describes his or her motivation, goals and

responsibilities for the activity. Include letters of

support from school administrators. A maximum of

five additional letters of support from relevant

community members and school-support staff may

be included. (Submit as Appendix A.)

¥ Describe the members of the school team and

discuss each individual's responsibilities.

¥ Demonstrate that the proposal is not the work of

a single individual.

Management

¥ Describe how the team will manage the project in

the school.

¥ Designate a site coordinator.

Comprehensive Educational Improvement Plan (CEIP)

¥ Align your proposal with your school's CEIP

plan. (Submit the CEIP plan as Appendix B.)

Part Three - Equitable Distribution of Resources (30 points)