Alliance for Digital Equality Successfully Completes First Year of Learning Without Walls Program; Students Flourish

/PRNewswire/ -- The Alliance for Digital Equality (ADE), the leading voice for affordable broadband deployment in underserved communities, has successfully completed its first year in partnership with the Learning Without Walls program (LearningWOW), an initiative aimed at enhancing student performance, literacy, and self-esteem through the use of broadband technologies. As a result of this partnership, LearningWOW students flourished both inside and outside of the classroom, proving that access to mobile broadband services is critical for students to achieve their maximum potential.

One of ADE's implementations of LearningWOW is at North Clayton Middle School (Clayton County Public Schools) outside of Atlanta, GA. There were several notable impacts on students' achievement this past school year.

* LearningWOW Female Academy students had higher average Georgia CRCT scale scores than the district (reading, English Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies) and in the state (reading, English Language Arts, science, and social studies).
* LearningWOW Male Academy students surpassed the district in English Language Arts.
* LearningWOW students also had higher average scale scores than a comparison group of male and female academy students (no laptops) on all five content area tests.
* LearningWOW students' 9-weeks grades for all content areas were also collected and compared with the 9-weeks grades for the Non-LearningWOW Male and Female Academy students. The LearningWOW Female Academy students had consistently higher averages in ELA, social studies, and science; and the LearningWOW Male Academy students had higher averages in mathematics.
* The LearningWOW male students had the best attendance rate in the school, 98%!


"The ADE is grateful for the participation and support of AT&T and Qualcomm's Wireless Reach initiative. The success we have achieved through this partnership clearly demonstrates what can happen when we deliver real-time solutions to communities who have far less than adequate access to mainstream broadband technology — in this case, public school students and their families based in one of the nation's most academically challenged school districts," said Alliance for Digital Equality Chairman Julius H. Hollis. "We believe that providing access to broadband technology will enhance the ability of these students to meet the challenges of the 21st Century, and we couldn't be more proud of the results that we are seeing in these truly talented students."

"Qualcomm is very proud to collaborate with AT&T and the ADE through our Wireless Reach initiative to help end digital illiteracy," said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, chairman and CEO of Qualcomm. "To see these exceptional students thrive as a result of this project reinforces our view that mobile broadband can aid in improving academic achievement."

The LearningWOW initiative in Clayton County, GA provided students with laptop computers enabled with Internet connectivity to extend access to the home. Teachers received formal coaching to incorporate technology into lesson plans. This one-to-one initiative focused on project based learning. Students were able to collaborate online with each other and with their teachers. Imagine students blogging daily about math. The blog became a tool for the teacher to know what to do the next day (review the lesson, move to the next lesson, or repeat the lesson).

"The entire North Clayton Middle School community is thrilled to be part of this innovative program to bring students the one-to-one instructional support they need to achieve their academic goals and lay the foundation for a successful learning experience," said Monika Wiley, principal of North Clayton Middle School. "We look forward to continuing to work with ADE and continued success through the LearningWOW program."

The LearningWOW program made tremendous accomplishments in its first year with positive data based research from an independent report, great student performance on Georgia's CRCT and positive student satisfaction and engagement. ADE is moving forward to secure public and private funding to expand the program. Additionally, a second school will participate this school year and experiment at a lower grade (4th) level. This first year has encouraged the ADE to continue to replicate this program in more schools in the state of Georgia and nationally.

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Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS) Launches

/PRNewswire/ -- The Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students, a new independent successor group to the United Way's Early Education Commission, will help business, government leaders, providers and parents maximize the economic return on the state's investments in early care and learning.

Guided by a growing body of business and economic research documenting the high-dollar return on investment associated with early learning and care, GEEARS will work to position Georgia as a national leader in ensuring that all children enter kindergarten ready to learn and on a path to read by third grade. Hitting these markers in the next decade will reduce costs associated with remedial education, juvenile justice and public assistance, thereby improving the quality of the state's workforce and business climate.

Philanthropist Stephanie Blank, longtime champion of children and education, serves as the founding chair of the governing board of GEEARS.

"The first five years of a child's life are literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Ms. Blank. "Smart money gravitates to early childhood investments. Children who get off to a good start contribute more to Georgia's economic growth. We also have a moral obligation: There are no do-overs where our children are concerned."

To meet the organizations aggressive goals, GEEARS has appointed early education and children's advocate Mindy Binderman as Executive Director. Mindy previously served as Advocacy Director for Voices for Georgia's Children (Voices), a non-profit organization that attempts to develop positive public policy for Georgia youth. As Advocacy Director, she developed and executed public and government affairs strategies supporting Voices' campaign promoting a long-term commitment to children. Prior to joining Voices, Ms. Binderman gained years of professional and academic experience in public policy through her own consulting firm, various directorships and as a faculty member of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies, teaching a masters seminar in advocacy. Ms. Binderman was born and raised in Alabama, and holds a law degree from American University.

"I'm excited to be leading GEEARS because I want today's toddlers to become the next generation of Georgia's business entrepreneurs, teachers, nurses, farmers, doctors and professionals," said Binderman. "We cannot keep doing the same things and expecting different results, and Georgia taxpayers cannot afford to see more of our youth fail at school, become teen parents or end up in the criminal justice system," Mindy commented.

Pat Willis, Executive Director, Voices adds, "Mindy will bring immediate energy and action to GEEARS' agenda. While we will miss her as Voices' director of government affairs and advocacy, we look forward to forging a strong partnership with GEEARS as advocates for young children."

The organization's launch comes at a pivotal time, as the current state of early education in Georgia continues to decline.

In fact, Georgia now ranks 48th in nationwide student test scores and currently, only 50 percent of 4-year-olds are enrolled in Georgia Pre-K Program. Additionally, more than 7,000 children across the state are on the Georgia Pre-K Program waiting list.

GEEARS will reverse this trend by:
-- Increasing quality, accessibility and affordability of early care and
education all Georgia children
-- Establishing higher standards of excellence for childcare that helps
Georgia's children enter kindergarten ready to learn and on a path to
"read to learn" by 3rd grade
-- Providing resources for parents
-- Driving public awareness emphasizing the importance of learning from
birth to age 5

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What the College Rankings Won't Tell You

Congratulations to Kennesaw State University, the only college in Georgia to be given an "A" ranking according to WhatWillTheyLearn.com standards.

/PRNewswire/ -- Responding to the widespread dissatisfaction with traditional college rankings and the growing demand for universities to refocus on undergraduate education and value, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni unveiled today its 2011 college evaluations on WhatWillTheyLearn.com, a day before the release of U.S. News & World Report's college rankings.

The free website evaluates more than 700 colleges and universities based on their general education curricula: the core courses aimed at providing a strong foundation of knowledge. Mel Elfin, founding editor of USNWR's college rankings, praised the website as "an invaluable and unique additional resource for parents" and The Wall Street Journal called its focus on education "admirable."

The website assigns each institution a grade from "A" to "F" based on how many of the following seven core subjects it requires: Composition, Mathematics, Science, Economics, Foreign Language, Literature, and American Government or History. Only a handful get A's, and most do not require college-level courses in many of these critical subjects.

"The crisis in higher education is about more than money--it's about what we are paying for. And when it comes to ensuring graduates possess the basic skills and knowledge they need to succeed, universities are shortchanging students," said ACTA president Anne D. Neal, speaking at the National Press Club. "Since when is do-it-yourself an educational philosophy?"

Key Findings:
-- Colleges and universities have by and large abandoned a coherent
content-rich general education curriculum, thereby allowing students
to graduate with important gaps in their knowledge:
-- More than 60% of all institutions receive a "C" or worse for
requiring 3 or fewer subjects.
-- Nearly 40% don't require college-level mathematics.
-- Less than 5% of colleges and universities require economics.
-- Less than a third require intermediate-level foreign language, a
broad survey class in American government or history, or
literature.
-- Paying a lot doesn't necessarily get you a lot: Average tuition at the
more than 100 "F" schools is $28,200 (2009 figures). At the 16 "A"
schools, it's $13,200.
-- Public institutions are doing a relatively better job of ensuring
students graduate with some of the basic skills and knowledge they
need than private institutions: More than half (52%) of all privates
receive a "D" or an "F" for requiring 2 or fewer subjects, while a
little under half (44%) of all publics receive a "B" or better for
requiring 4 or more subjects.


The American Council of Trustees and Alumni is an independent non-profit dedicated to academic freedom, academic excellence, and accountability. Since its founding in 1995, ACTA has counseled boards, educated the public and published reports about such issues as good governance, historical literacy, core curricula, the free exchange of ideas, and accreditation in higher education. For further information, visit www.goacta.org or www.WhatWillTheyLearn.com.

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Learning Makes a Difference Foundation Announces $25,000 Grant From Dunn Foundation

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Learning Makes a Difference Foundation has been awarded a $25,000 grant by the Robert and Polly Dunn Foundation for the evaluation and blueprinting of the successful Learn, Earn and Achieve program. This generous gift will enable the Learning Makes a Difference Foundation to blueprint: creating a plan that anyone can follow to implement the Learn, Earn and Achieve program in their hometown.

Last year the Learning Makes a Difference Foundation implemented Phase 1 of the Learn, Earn and Achieve (previously named Learn and Earn) in conjunction with the Fulton County School system. Students who completed Learn and Earn, a pilot program that paid participants to attend after-school tutoring, showed improved performances in math and science following the completion of the 14-week program.

Learn and Earn began as an idea of Newt Gingrich's, was championed by Robb Pitts, Fulton County Commissioner, funded in Phase 1 by Charlie Loudermilk, chairman and CEO of Aaron Rents, trialed by the Fulton County school system and the Learning Makes a Difference Foundation. The LMD Foundation is continuing to raise funds for this important program.

The final report from the pilot program noted, "All of the students were excited about getting paid. One student stated, 'I treat it like I'm getting paid from my parents for good grades.' Another stated, 'It is fun to get paid for learning.' Another stated, 'It feels good. It motivates me to learn.' One high school student stated, 'It is like a job, you drag yourself in whether or not you feel like going.'"

As to their academic performance in math and science, Learn and Earn students outperformed similar students in a comparison group who did not receive pay or tutoring. Half of the Learn and Earn students improved in both math and science while only 20-30 percent of the comparison group improved in those subjects.

"At first I didn't like school, but now that I am bringing up my grades, I like school more and want to go to high school and college," said one eighth-grade program participant.

The mission of the LMD Foundation is to accelerate and enhance knowledge through innovative learning programs:

-- By acting as an incubator of ideas.
-- By creating, implementing and testing new initiatives.
-- By providing funding and support to non-profit organizations and
partners.


Learning Makes a Difference Foundation Inc. is an Atlanta-based non-profit whose mission is to accelerate and enhance knowledge through innovative learning programs. It is funded through private donations from individuals, corporations, grants and foundations. For more information, visit www.lmdfoundation.org.

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