Catch the latest news and most exciting opportunities with the Spark Round Up!

Network News

Arts Education Collaborative at ISTE2012  Conference

Jamie Kasper from the Arts Education Collaborative checks in with a blog post from The International Society for Technology in Education Conference. Drawing an estimated 18,000 attendees to San Diego, ISTE showcases presenters and vendors of innovative technology for the teaching world.

The LABs guest-blogs at The Library as Incubator Project

Writing on The Library as Incubator Project, Emily Fear profiles The LABs, the soon-to-be opened digital literacy initiative at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

Comic-Con 2012

The annual Comic-Con will be taking place next week in San Diego, California. If you can’t make it to the convention, you can receive instant updates via Comic-Con’s Twitter and Facebook feeds- sign up now!

Obama Freezes Student Loan Rates

Signing legislation only days before deadline, President Obama opts to hold student loan rates at 3.4% rather than allowing them to increase to 6.8% with the start of July. This temporary fix will be reevaluated in the coming weeks for a long-term solution.

Five States Waived and More to Come

Last week, five states were waived from the mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act. The U.S. Department of Education may grant additional waivers in the coming weeks with 13 states still waiting to hear.

Upcoming Events

Monday, July 9: Project-Based Learning Lunch & Learn

Be sure to RSVP for the upcoming Lunch & Learn on July 9^th, featuring Ken Lockette, Principle of Avonworth High School! Ken will be discussing project-based learning and strategies for implementation in other districts.

Wednesday, July 11: Planet Party at Assemble

Head to Assemble for an evening exploration of the solar system. Part of Assemble’s Spark-supported Learning Party series, the Planet Party features astro-experts and maker-artists combining forces for blended learning.

Thursday, July 12: Spark Night at Oglebay Institute

Spark’s road trip to Oglebay Institute in Wheeling, WV is rapidly approaching. Be sure to RSVP to connect@sproutfund.org to reserve your spot at this limited event!

Sunday, July 15: Students Speak Up

Hear Me 101 presents “Students Speak Up”, a presentation of short documentaries from teen advocates. This free event will be held at CCAC South Campus.

Share With Us! Have something you’d like to share with the network? Send your item to news@sproutfund.org or complete the Network Events & Opportunities Form and we’ll help spread the word.