The U.S. Department of Education released a new education plan calling for increased technology integration into all levels of education. The plan states that by engaging students early with online tools, schools better prepare their students for college and the workforce. Educators at Colorado online high schools couldn’t agree more.
Audie Rubin Executive Director of
Provost Academy Colorado, an online high school from EdisonLearning, said, “Students today want to be active participants in their education. They want to learn the same way they live, utilizing what they are familiar with such as blogs, podcasts, and instant messaging to create an interactive environment in which they can thrive.”
Online high schools have been on the forefront of incorporating technology in the classroom. But unlike traditional schools, online schools can provide the additional benefits of customized lesson plans and individual attention that help young students move at their own pace to earn a high school diploma.
“I know many students who have benefited from the flexible schedule that online school offers. They could be an elite athlete or musician who needs to travel for competitions, a student who is helping to support their family with a job or a teen mom who needs care for her child but doesn’t want to sacrifice an education. Online school gives these students the chance to earn a real high school diploma,” Rubin said.
About eight years ago, Northmoor Academy had a very disturbing gap in achievement, particularly amongst the children living in poverty. Over the past few years Northmoor, an EdisonLearning Alliance partner, has been able to close the achievement gap.
In fact, last year the Department of Education recognized the school as a Blue Ribbon School for drastically closing the gap. Principal Nicole Wood said, “We were one of just 320 schools to receive this honor. We couldn’t have closed the gap without our talented, dedicated staff and without EdisonLearning’s research design and ongoing support.”
Today, Northmoor regularly meets or exceeds state testing standards. Principal Wood said, “Here at Northmoor we have a world-class mission to give children opportunities that can help nurture them into successful citizens. EdisonLearning has enabled us to do this by working closely with us to develop rich world-arts and technology programs. Being an EdisonLearning charter school means we are cutting-edge. We have all the resources necessary to maximize our children’s learning potential and prepare them for the future.”
Hey kids! We want to see how creative you can get! Camplified 2010 sponsor EdisonLearning is looking for original videos of kids, tweens and teens singing, playing an instrument or just plain rocking out to EL’s new theme song, “The Power of You,” by Eddie Bush of Lucky Bush Publishing.
The five best PoY renditions will be judged and selected by Camplified artists as well as music industry insiders. If you’re selected, you will win an iPod Shuffle, a $20 iTunes gift card and a prize pack courtesy of Epiphone Guitars! Click HERE to listen to and download “The Power of You” theme song. Then head on over to our YouTube group to upload your video by July 28.
Participants (campers or non-campers, U.S. only) must adhere to our Camplified Contest Rules.
Chicago International Charter School (CICS) Longwood opened in 1997. Located on the South Side of Chicago, CICS Longwood is a partnership between EdisonLearning and Chicago International Charter School. Students at CICS Longwood are organized into elementary, junior and senior academies serving grades 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12, respectively. The school offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, and students work 7.5 hours a day over a 200-day school year.
EdisonLearning works with the school to provide a dynamic learning environment. Principal Robert Lang said EdisonLearning’s professional development and leadership programs allow CICS Longwood is able to provide students with customized goals, creating an environment conducive to learning.
Principal Lang also offers a mentorship program where students meet with their mentor, which is a teacher, the dean or a staff member, weekly to establish trust amongst students and staff.
This creates a strong school culture. Principal Lang said, “The kids like being here. We want our students and staff to bond together to reach every goal we set in our learning pursuit.”
On Monday April 19, 2010, Randy Gradishar, a former Denver Bronco All-Pro player, spoke to Manny Martinez Middle School (an EdisonLearning school partner) students about being successful and about having integrity in life. Gradishar visited Manny Martinez as part of program sponsored by the school and the and Phil Young Community Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial resources to help champion self-esteem and the leadership of young people through excellence in education, sports, and recreation.
Gradishar met with all students during the weekly Monday morning assembly and then met with individual grade levels to answer questions, sign autographs and share life stories and experiences. Randy will return in May to work with small groups of students in developing and focusing on productive life and achieving goals.
Gradishar is considered one of the greatest defensive players in Denver Broncos history. In 1977, he led the Broncos to Super Bowl XII, and made the Pro Bowl for the second time - beginning a string of six consecutive Pro Bowl appearances from 1977 to 1983. He retired after the 1983 season, finishing his career with the NFL record for most tackles all time with 2,049. Prior to his career with the Broncos, Gradishar was an All-American at Ohio State.
Students and staff at Hawaii’s Maui Waena Intermediate School, an EdisonLearning Alliance school, are starting their summer break with a sense of accomplishment after a remarkable academic turnaround. Math proficiency for all students at the Kahului school jumped from 18 percent to 41 percent in the most recent Hawaii State Assessment results, while reading proficiency improved from 58 percent to 67 percent.
The percentage gains in both subjects were the highest among the state's public middle schools. This shows how far Maui Waena has come since being tagged for restructuring under the federal No Child Left Behind law due to poor performance.
In recognition of that progress, Principal Jamie Yap was selected as the Maui District nominee for Hawaii's 2010 Distinguished Principal award program sponsored by the National Association of Elementary School Principals and U.S. Department of Education.
Although initial steps toward an academic revamping took place in the 2007-2008 school year, Yap indicated the effort gained real traction the next year when Maui Waena entered into a partnership with EdisonLearning.
Under the partnership, "professional learning communities" were created to allow teachers in the core subjects of mathematics, science, reading and social studies to meet several times a week with their counterparts in all three grade levels to discuss curriculum and instructional strategies.
Monthly tests let teachers know whether students are on track for the Hawaii State Assessment administered annually in March and help teachers decide topics that may need to be revisited beforehand. Teachers also work with students on their test-taking skills.
Over the past two years, EdisonLearning staff has continued to visit Maui Waena weekly to provide support.
Principal Yap shared credit for the school's academic progress with teachers and staff. He said the partnership started with a "candid" discussion with EdisonLearning officials making it clear that while open to a new approach, Yap, ultimately, was still in charge of the school, and teachers were responsible for their classrooms. "That helped the staff feel like they weren't being told what to do by an outside provider. It put the teachers in charge," he said.
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The Williams Sisters – Tiffanie (16), Twana (15) and Victoria (14) are the creators of “
Drive Safe,” a national campaign (non-profit 501 (c) (3) Smart Teens Drive Safe Foundation). Their mission is to "SAVE LIVES,” says Twana Williams, Vice President of Drive Safe and Smart Teens Drive Safe Foundation.
On Wednesday, April 7, 2010, this impressive trio of young sisters received the Key to the City, and a Proclamation from their City of Columbia, SC. They were presented with the honor of this most prestigious award with House Majority Whip, Congressman James E. Clyburn of the great State of South Carolina in attendance. “I have been following the success of The Williams Sisters for the past few years. It is wonderful to see the passion these young ladies have on a very important subject.” said Clyburn.
Tiffanie Williams, the President of Drive Safe and the CEO of the Smart Teens Drive Safe Foundation, also announced their Smart Teens Drive Safe and Smart Kids Ride Safe Campaign to kick off National Traffic Safe Month, May 1, 2010.
Since 1982 the federal government has honored our nation’s highest-performing public and private schools. Join a select panel of “Blue Ribbon” principals at the
National Charter School Conference to learn their unique perspective on what it takes to create and sustain student achievement. This panel doesn’t rely on theory or philosophy, just proven leaders sharing proven innovations and experience.
Presenters of the
“Blue-Ribbon Schools, Blue-Ribbon Practices” panel include Denise Patton, San Jose-Edison Academy; Cengiz Karatas, Horizon Science Academy Cleveland; Mark DiBella, YES Prep North Central; and Linda Mikels, Sixth Street Prep.
The panel will be on June 30, 2010, 3:45 p.m. in room E271b.
Join EdisonLearning at the
National Charter School Conference for a panel discussion on a comprehensive view of the reality of virtual schools on June 30, 2010, 1:45 p.m. in room E450a.
Presenters Audie Rubin, Provost Academy Colorado; Mark Kushner, K12 Inc.; and Susan Patrick, International Association for Online Learning will share how online learning can be successfully integrated in the brick and mortar school experience.
Charter boards are responsible for the success of their schools, but may lack an understanding of their responsibilities and authority.
Many contracting with CMOs/EMOs lack the expertise to interact with them effectively or hold them accountable. Experts specializing in advising both boards and educational service providers will fully explore, the legal and financial considerations involved during the
National Charter School Conference.
Join Paul O’Neill, EdisonLearning; Rich O'Neill, Renaissance School Services; at Cliff Schneider, Cohen Schneider LLP on June 29, 2010 at 3:45 p.m. in room E451a to discuss
“Helping Boards Understand Their Responsibilities and Work Successfully with Education Service Providers.”