Disparity in Achievement Amongst Students Must be Addressed; Grade Results Seeks to Replicate Its Success in Closing the Achievement Gap for Black Male Students
“The Schott 50 State Report on Public Education and Black Males” clearly identifies an achievement gap between black male students and their white counterparts. However, according to Grade Results, the leading innovator of live, one-to-one online instruction, there are proven, effective strategies for reducing this gap.
New Orleans, LA, September 30, 2010 --(PR.com)-- There’s no doubt that there’s a crisis in education. The recent results reported in “The Schott 50 State Report on Public Education and Black Males” clearly identifies an achievement gap between black male students and their white counterparts. This disparity affects every area of our economy. However, according to Grade Results, the leading innovator of live, one-to-one online instruction, there are proven, effective strategies for reducing this gap. Today, the company released recent data supporting how the use of technology and differentiated instruction can dramatically improve academic results.
Background
The Louisiana Recovery School District (RSD), New Orleans, is a special school district administered by the Louisiana Department of Education, designed to take underperforming schools and transform them into successful places for children to learn. In 2005, the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina spurred intense action and reform in the educational system, resulting in the development of a broader definition of failing schools and the formation of more charter schools focused on closing the achievement gap. Additionally, with many residents deciding to leave New Orleans and not return, the school district found that there was a critical shortage of qualified teachers.
Solution
Grade Results worked closely with RSD to design powerful intervention and remediation solutions. Students were given a pre-test and then a Graduation Advancement Plan was developed based on the academic level of each individual student. Students then received instruction entirely tailored to them, administered by an advanced-degreed instructor via an advanced online platform. The solution provided RSD with the additional teacher support they desperately needed, while giving students the differentiated instruction and assistance they need to succeed.
Results
When given this level of individualized prescriptive instruction and effective curriculum, the results are compelling. Hundreds of RSD students benefited from the solution. Specifically, for three RSD high schools, graduation rates for black males soared over national and local averages.
According to The Schott Report, only 39% of black male students graduated in the state of Louisiana in 2007/2008, while the graduation rate for white males was 59%, making it the fourth from the lowest rates in the nation. In Jefferson Parish, the graduation rate is even lower, at 28% for black male students compared to 44% for white males.
Comparatively, of the students who were provided access to Grade Results’ Graduation Advancement Plan solutions in the spring of 2009:
· Perry Walker High School – 96% graduated
· Walter L. Cohen High School – 92% graduated
· Sarah T. Reed High School – 100% graduated
Further, Grade Results’ data shows that early intervention can produce even better academic results for the future. The company provided math and language arts instruction to fourth graders in Louisiana in the summer of 2010. Among black male students, math scores increased 5% from the previous semester and language arts scores increased by 13%.
“There’s absolutely no reason that these results can’t be replicated in all schools districts, especially those in which black male students are critically under-served. Our program is scalable, prescriptive, flexible and aligned with each state’s curriculum. With a delivery method that has proven to be successful time and again, we’re fully prepared to bring this same solution to other school districts,” said David Thomas, Executive Vice President, Grade Results. “We believe that we can change the face of education, one student, one school and one district at a time by focusing on intervention at multiple levels and giving students the prescriptive, individualized instruction that they need to succeed. Our online delivery mechanism allows us to do this cost-effectively and our flexibility allows us to scale to meet the needs of any district.”
In addition to Louisiana, Grade Results has implemented its Graduation Advancement Plan in school districts in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
“The gap isn’t a problem that’s unique to Louisiana, but rather something we’re seeing all across the country. That’s why we’ve developed our Graduation Advancement Program focused on three specific areas: attaining readiness for the workplace or even college-level coursework, achieving remediation where necessary and increasing retention and graduation rates,” said Suzanne McElyea, CEO of Grade Results. “We are especially compelled by the recent findings of The Schott Report and are thrilled with the opportunity to help to close this gap.”
About Grade Results
Grade Results is the leading innovator of live one-to-one online instruction, providing a comprehensive set of services to public, private, charter and alternative schools, as well as community colleges and universities. Grade Results is the only provider that combines powerful content, dynamic live instruction, and unparalleled technology to enhance the performance of students across the country. Grade Results’ state aligned content is developed and taught by advanced-degreed instructors and expands the educational spectrum from basic skills, such as reading and math, to highly specialized courses for gifted and talented students. In addition, Grade Results provides college entry exam prep, and a full range of college courses. Grade Results provides critical solutions to its clients, including one-to-one tutorial services, distance learning, credit recovery, retention management, graduation advancement, remediation, and intervention. Grade Results currently serves elementary through college students in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. For more information, visit www.graderesults.com.
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Background
The Louisiana Recovery School District (RSD), New Orleans, is a special school district administered by the Louisiana Department of Education, designed to take underperforming schools and transform them into successful places for children to learn. In 2005, the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina spurred intense action and reform in the educational system, resulting in the development of a broader definition of failing schools and the formation of more charter schools focused on closing the achievement gap. Additionally, with many residents deciding to leave New Orleans and not return, the school district found that there was a critical shortage of qualified teachers.
Solution
Grade Results worked closely with RSD to design powerful intervention and remediation solutions. Students were given a pre-test and then a Graduation Advancement Plan was developed based on the academic level of each individual student. Students then received instruction entirely tailored to them, administered by an advanced-degreed instructor via an advanced online platform. The solution provided RSD with the additional teacher support they desperately needed, while giving students the differentiated instruction and assistance they need to succeed.
Results
When given this level of individualized prescriptive instruction and effective curriculum, the results are compelling. Hundreds of RSD students benefited from the solution. Specifically, for three RSD high schools, graduation rates for black males soared over national and local averages.
According to The Schott Report, only 39% of black male students graduated in the state of Louisiana in 2007/2008, while the graduation rate for white males was 59%, making it the fourth from the lowest rates in the nation. In Jefferson Parish, the graduation rate is even lower, at 28% for black male students compared to 44% for white males.
Comparatively, of the students who were provided access to Grade Results’ Graduation Advancement Plan solutions in the spring of 2009:
· Perry Walker High School – 96% graduated
· Walter L. Cohen High School – 92% graduated
· Sarah T. Reed High School – 100% graduated
Further, Grade Results’ data shows that early intervention can produce even better academic results for the future. The company provided math and language arts instruction to fourth graders in Louisiana in the summer of 2010. Among black male students, math scores increased 5% from the previous semester and language arts scores increased by 13%.
“There’s absolutely no reason that these results can’t be replicated in all schools districts, especially those in which black male students are critically under-served. Our program is scalable, prescriptive, flexible and aligned with each state’s curriculum. With a delivery method that has proven to be successful time and again, we’re fully prepared to bring this same solution to other school districts,” said David Thomas, Executive Vice President, Grade Results. “We believe that we can change the face of education, one student, one school and one district at a time by focusing on intervention at multiple levels and giving students the prescriptive, individualized instruction that they need to succeed. Our online delivery mechanism allows us to do this cost-effectively and our flexibility allows us to scale to meet the needs of any district.”
In addition to Louisiana, Grade Results has implemented its Graduation Advancement Plan in school districts in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
“The gap isn’t a problem that’s unique to Louisiana, but rather something we’re seeing all across the country. That’s why we’ve developed our Graduation Advancement Program focused on three specific areas: attaining readiness for the workplace or even college-level coursework, achieving remediation where necessary and increasing retention and graduation rates,” said Suzanne McElyea, CEO of Grade Results. “We are especially compelled by the recent findings of The Schott Report and are thrilled with the opportunity to help to close this gap.”
About Grade Results
Grade Results is the leading innovator of live one-to-one online instruction, providing a comprehensive set of services to public, private, charter and alternative schools, as well as community colleges and universities. Grade Results is the only provider that combines powerful content, dynamic live instruction, and unparalleled technology to enhance the performance of students across the country. Grade Results’ state aligned content is developed and taught by advanced-degreed instructors and expands the educational spectrum from basic skills, such as reading and math, to highly specialized courses for gifted and talented students. In addition, Grade Results provides college entry exam prep, and a full range of college courses. Grade Results provides critical solutions to its clients, including one-to-one tutorial services, distance learning, credit recovery, retention management, graduation advancement, remediation, and intervention. Grade Results currently serves elementary through college students in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. For more information, visit www.graderesults.com.
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Contact
Grade Results
Lynaia Lutes
817-226-4332
www.graderesults.com
Lynaia Lutes
817-226-4332
www.graderesults.com
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