TEXAS my state!

Gradespeed Update (Revised 01/10/2009)

Source: Chicago Public Schools - Features SchoolNet’s instructional Management Solutions (SIMS) and Gradespeed as part of an integrated IMPACT solution.

Note: This blog entry last updated 01/10/2009

Several Texas districts are reporting that Campusware has contacted them to let them know of a change, a partnership that has been established and they shouldn’t be worried. One reported the following: GradeSpeed called us personally to alleviate any fears we may have. I appreciated that.We love GradeSpeed!!

9:00 AM:
In this blog entry, I shared some news about Gradespeed, a fantastic electronic, web-based gradebook system that has immediate import with folks around Texas and the Nation. However, after they received lots of calls from customers (so, I guess don’t call them to ask what’s up) I was asked by Bobby Knuth to pull the blog entry until an official announcement is made towards the end of next week, at which time Around the Corner will get exclusive access to new information and insights.

The title of the earlier version of this entry was “Gradespeed Sells Out,” which may give the wrong impression (that Gradespeed has compromised its values) and that is FAR from accurate. Without the blog entry to provide the context for that title, I’m updating the title to “Gradespeed Update.”

Two school district sources have shared that–independent of Gradespeed–Gradespeed has entered, or is about to enter, into a “partnership” with another company. That’s the extent of what other districts have pointed out.

I urge Campusware to release the information sooner (like today) rather than later. Folks are writing hourly to ask what exciting things are happening to their favorite electronic gradebook provider.

Update: 01/10/2009 - Since Campusware is contacting customers, this news is no longer confidential. I’ve heard from several sources–technology directors–that they are personally being called about this.

Original blog entry (revised 01/10/2009):

In a late-breaking news announcement Campusware’s Gradespeed sells out for an undisclosed amount to Schoolnet. The family-run Campusware’s flagship product, Gradespeed, an electronic gradebook and attendance tracking system–which has merited national attention with Chicago Public School’s adoption of it as the gradebook program of choice–will be announcing the buy-out soon, perhaps next week.

No immediate changes are planned for Campusware’s Gradespeed product, which is in wide use throughout the State of Texas and other school districts around the Nation. Plans are to keep Campusware’s base of operations at it’s San Antonio, Texas location.

“One of the main reasons,” shared my source, “that we’re joining SchoolNet is that it will allow us to better market our Student Information System.” In my experience, few student information systems work well. I was gratified to hear that Campusware’s new student information system–being tested in Brazosport and Itasca ISDs in Texas–is working well. Apparently, their SIS allows for direct upload into the Texas PEIMS and reported zero errors, which is quite an achievement. This will certainly give slower, clunkier student information systems a run for their money.

In the meantime, this acquisition of Gradespeed by SchoolNet marks the end of a small underdog delivering high quality product, and gives Campusware a launch-pad for reaching the stars with its new student information system.

SchoolNet’s award-winning Instructional Management Suite (IMS) helps districts improve efficiency and increase student achievement.SchoolNet’s systems are built upon an open, scalable platform that provides users with the data, reports, tools, and content to develop teachers,individualize instruction, engage parents, and promote school improvement.Source: Reuters

It’s possible–and this is just me guessing–that SchoolNet.com and Campusware made their first contact in Chicago Public Schools (CPS), a golden opportunity to collaborate since in February, 2008, Chicago Public Schools decided to renew its partnership with SchoolNet for an additional 3 years.

SchoolNet CEO and President points out in a news release that “Chicago has been an innovator in the adoption of technology for years. The implementation of a robust system at the scale of over 400,000 students makes CPS perhaps the nation’s leader in Instructional Management Solutions.”

Perhaps it is Chicago Public Schools’ idea of PARTNERSHIP that motivated the union between Campusware and Schoolnet. Robert Runcie, CIO for CPS, writes that that “Successfully deploying large scale IT projects requires talented staff and a strong partnership with technology vendors.” What’s more natural that connecting your Instructional management system with electronic gradebook and attendance tracking system, especially when they have a working student information system?

In April, 2008, THE Journal reported the following:

“The Campusware gradebook solution presents a great opportunity for us to significantly improve the user experience for our teachers,” said Chicago Public Schools CIO Robert Runcie, in a prepared statement. “In addition, it gets us to the next level where we will soon have a compelling proposition for engaging our parents (link to CPS document on their Parent Portal that confirms integration of Gradespeed into IMPACT).”

Following the initial pilot, the district expects to deploy GradeSpeed.NET across all of its campuses. According to Campusware, “No school district as large as CPS has ever implemented an enterprise-wide electronic gradebook solution.”
*Note: Link is mine.

Apparently, Gradespeed and SchoolNet may already find themselves in more than one district. If it makes sense for Chicago Public Schools to have Schoolnet and Gradespeed partner up, it certainly makes sense for several Texas school districts. Some include Goose Creek ISD which has an online tutorial (nice job, BTW) that features both on the same page, and Judson ISD (which also has a “jumpstart” manual…also nice!)

Of course, this is mostly speculation. What are the facts that are known?

SchoolNet and Campusware have entered into a partnership that will formally announced later this week.
Campusware customers have been called personally and notified that the change will not affect service.
Gradespeed and SchoolNet have been working in the same school districts in complementary ways.
Campusware has not put out a press release or a blog entry about the subject. Neither has SchoolNet.

I know many folks will definitely be following this story. Campusware and SchoolNet get a “C” for sharing this information with the public. In the meantime, I offer this quote to both businesses:

Before long, it won’t simply be the case that you shouldn’t simply write or say anything you wouldn’t want discovered in the New York Times or online. Instead, in an effort to attain the kind of transparency that is obligatory in a new era of citizen journalism, a new standard will emerge whereby organizations will be compelled not to do anything they wouldn’t want discovered.

The organizations that will be truly successful in this environment are those that have integrated transparency as part of their organizational culture and not just their communications strategy. To the extent that the two are inter-related, the communications strategist has a substantial role to play here.
Source: MediaShift Blog - Transparency as a PR Tactic