 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Home » News & Events » Press Releases » AutoSkill launches its first Literacy Challenge with the Orange County Public Schools, FL
NewsPress ReleasesAutoSkill launches its first Literacy Challenge with the Orange County Public Schools, FLTo focus on the role of math in literacy intervention programs Oct. 11, 2005 Orange County, FL and Ottawa, ON ? October 11, 2005 ? AutoSkill International Inc together with the Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) in Florida today launched a Literacy Challenge - a program designed to track gains in math skills during the 2005-2006 school year. University High School in Orange County, Florida was selected from over 1,000 schools across the United States to participate in the Literacy Challenge. With its selection, University High School is expanding its literacy enhancement efforts to include mathematics intervention. The school has already achieved significant gains in reading using AutoSkill's flagship intervention program, the Academy of READING®, during the past two years. The school is now challenged to achieve comparable gains in math as part of the Literacy Challenge. Students who struggle in reading also tend to struggle in math. The Literacy Challenge aims to highlight the importance of addressing both reading and math as part of an integrated literacy intervention program. The program introduces a consistent, scientifically proven training approach to facilitate permanent and measurable skill acquisition across both subjects. “Our selection exemplifies our philosophy at University High as ‘A Place of Higher Learning' where our focus is on student achievement,” said David Christiansen, principal, University High. “We believe in high expectations and support for all students, especially for those who may be struggling. We know that algebra is the gatekeeper for higher mathematics, so our participation in this program will allow us to prepare students for that gate and on to success in academics and in life.” This initial Literacy Challenge is comprised of 350 underperforming students; 91 from the 9th grade, 81 from the 10th grade and a control group. The treatment group will use AutoSkill's math intervention program, the Academy of MATH®, twice a week for 48 minutes per training session. The control group will not use a computer-based intervention program to build mathematical skills. Each group of students will be tested at the beginning of the school year and in the spring of 2006 using the Stanford Diagnostic Math Test (SDMT). “We issued the Literacy Challenge to highlight the importance of addressing reading and math intervention in a consistent way,” said Peter Eddison, president and CEO, AutoSkill International Inc. “University High has already demonstrated excellent results using the Academy of READING and we are confident they will perform at least as well using the Academy of MATH.” “OCPS is always looking for new ways to reach our students and provide them with the tools they need for academic success,” said Dr. Jan Pratt, deputy superintendent of Instruction and Curriculum Services for Orange County Public Schools. “Partnerships such as these give us the opportunity to research best practices so that our students benefit in the long run." University High School will use the Academy of MATH at no charge for the duration of the Literacy Challenge.
About AutoSkill International Inc
About Orange County Public Schools For more information, contact:
Dylan Thomas
David Christiansen |
|
