“eChalk means I go to bed at 9:00 instead of midnight,” says Florence Unified School District teacher Ed Callahan. What better way to sum up how eChalk has had a positive affect on his teaching experience and his life?

Florence USD’s eChalk experience began with a new website to present an enhanced face to the public. Next, the district established eChalk as its main information hub for administrators, teachers, parents and students and watched eChalk usage grow rapidly when teachers saw how easy it was to use:

• Calendars
• Notifications and announcements
• Discussion forums
• Setting up clubs and teams as groups 

“It really is an information hub for all of us,” says Callahan. “There are so many ways to use eChalk. It allows Spanish teachers, math teachers and science teachers to do whatever they need. Even theater teachers use it to post rehearsal times, performance dates and scripts that are being studied.”

Expanding eChalk Usage

Student eChalk usage is high at Florence USD, especially use of the homework dropbox. Parents love this feature because it lets them know what assignments are due and helps them keep their kids on task and up-to-date on homework. Students have become more accountable than ever for keeping up with schoolwork. Recently, the district has expanded its use of eChalk in these innovative ways:

• Hosting all academic resources online to prepare students for 21st Century college and careers
• Choosing elective course offerings
• Holding student council elections through eChalk—saving trees and expanding participation to all students

Success: Florence USD-Style

How would Florence USD sum up its eChalk experience?

• For teachers: eChalk saves time and improves organization. Plus, there’s satisfaction in knowing that eChalk helps prepare students for college and the job market.
• For parents: eChalk increases transparency to let them know what’s really happening in the classroom. Parents are happy and confident that their kids are using the Internet in a safe environment.
• For students: eChalk’s easy to use and easy to manage, making it easier than ever to keep up with homework and turn it in on time.