Today the influx of information is almost as daunting as the absence of information was decades ago. While there is no doubt that the digital divide exists (U.S. Dept of Commerce 1999)-separating those with and without access to computer technology and the vast Internet of resources-there is also a problem borne out of the open nature of this technology, a glut of questionable information and expertise touted at every website.

This is found in a variety of subject areas, with health and medical information being one of most notable, prevalent, and abused (Jadah, and Gagliardi 1998). Considerable information is being presented and offered as factual, and the consumer can become confused as to what is valid and worthwhile. Clearly, this situation provides an important impetus to review the disparate material available. The notion of a web-based depository of information for charter school related information is not new-see, for example, WestEd's www.uscharterschools.org. However, the idea of addressing the specific cultural and social issues faced by charter schools with predominantly Hispanic students is a new and important area to address particularly in light of the high drop out rates they are continuing to experience.

Luz Academy of Tucson will offer a defined program that will provide information on state-of-the-art research, programs, and policy and means for daily exchange of information and practices as they pertain to inclusion of cultural competence and relevance. This program will base its design on academic successes being enjoyed by schools such as Luz Academy of Tucson and others, and community development fostered and created by Luz Academy for its primarily Mexican-American student population. The proposed project will assist other charter school educators of culturally diverse student bodies to access successful culturally relevant practices, literature, and research concerning viable curricula, practices, and programs.

The proposed demonstration project will use web-based technology, technical assistance and trainings of trainers to address its overarching goal of enhancing the health, well-being, and academic success of ethnically diverse students attending charter schools. To achieve this end, focus will be placed on educating and enhancing the skills of administrators and educators of charter schools with Hispanic student bodies. Providing school staff and administrators with the tools and opportunity to work through a process of personal investigation, trainings, and dynamic exchange of ideas will accomplish this. Through this effort, they will acquire the necessary information and skills to address the academic, social, and health issues of their students in a culturally relevant manner.

Technical assistance will be addressed in many curriculum, health, and prevention aspects. In some cases, it may pick up where the state has left off. In Arizona, it will, among other aspects, speak to the statewide effect the passing of the referendum limiting English as a Second Language (ESL) and Bilingual Education to a single academic year will have on school districts. The only viable avenue for continued support for ESL and Bilingual Education rests with the charter schools that are not held to this change in law.

Using a variety of computer-based tools, such as web-based access, and on-line communication links and personal instruction and exchange, a technical assistance network, and policy development, the proposed dissemination demonstration project will have six components that will be phased in over the course of a three-year funding period:

1. To provide a dynamic information dissemination process for administrators and staff of predominantly Hispanic charter schools in Arizona to reduce causal factors influencing academic failure rates among their students.
2. To create a means for daily exchange of ideas and issues among public charter school administrators and staff in Arizona who serve Hispanic students.
3. To offer a service that informs public charter school administrators and staff serving Hispanic students on changes in government policy on charter schools, grants, and research findings related to their interests.
4. To provide training and technical assistance to public charter school staff to enhance retention, health, and welfare of their Hispanic students.
5. To conduct professional meetings in which experts in the fields of Hispanic retention, health, and prevention services and programs present findings and develop policy initiatives.
6. To identify and support charter school applicants interested in replicating Luz Academy of Tucson's mission and focus to bring cultural competency to their curricula and prevention and health programs.