Press Releases
Magic Johnson Enterprises & EdisonLearning to Collaborate on Education and Workforce Readiness in Urban Communities
Dropout Prevention and School Improvement are Focus of Strategic Alliance
Los Angeles, CA (September 12, 2011) – Stressing that education is “an essential component of any effort to grow, improve, and redevelop the social and economic fabric of urban communities,” Earvin “Magic” Johnson announced today that Magic Johnson Enterprises and EdisonLearning, a leading international educational services provider, will work together to advance effective and sustainable programs to educate America’s urban students and help turn around underperforming public schools. The strategic alliance will operate under Magic Johnson-EdisonLearning Assist.
“Improving the quality of life for people residing in urban areas is my life’s passion, and through Magic Johnson Enterprises we have been part of positive change in these communities,” Mr. Johnson said. “When just over 40 percent of students in Los Angeles, Houston, and Baltimore are graduating from high school; and less than 30 percent of black males in New York, Detroit and Miami – steps need to be taken to recapture these students into the education system to better their opportunities in life. Magic Johnson-EdisonLearning Assist will directly address this crisis.” Read More.
Capital Area Region of Pennsylvania Sees Dramatic Increase in Students Taking Online High School Courses
Enola, PA – (May 1, 2011) The number of high school students in Pennsylvania’s Capital area region taking online courses has multiplied by nearly ten times in the past year.
The Capital Area Online Learning Association (CAOLA), which provides online learning options to students in 19 school districts included in the Capital Area Intermediate Unit (CAIU), has seen the number of students taking online courses jump from 149 to 1,242. The number of students taking all of their courses online also increased from 1 in 2010, to 87 this year.
The reason for the dramatic increase is clear according to Holly Brzycki, supervisor of online learning at CAIU, which established CAOLA to provide flexible online learning options to its member districts. “Providing quality online courses helps our districts better serve their students more efficiently and effectively,” explained Brzycki. “This innovative approach to education is cost-effective, and allows them to offer a broader range of courses without the need to increase costs and resources.” Read More.
EdisonLearning Names Dropout Recovery Expert to Expand Efforts to Help School Districts and Students
New York, NY – (Feb. 1, 2011) EdisonLearning, a leading international educational solutions provider, has named Alvin Allgood Senior Vice President and head of its Dropout Recovery Center initiative. Allgood has extensive experience launching and managing dropout recovery centers and will lead the acceleration of EdisonLearning’s presence in this critical area.
Earlier this year, EdisonLearning opened eight dropout recovery Centers in Ohio – four each in Columbus and Cleveland. Each center provides educational services for 100 to 150 students seeking to earn their high school diploma.
“With the alarming high school dropout rates across the country, EdisonLearning’s experience in education reform positions us well to help our state and local partners address this issue,” said EdisonLearning President and CEO Jeff Wahl. “Alvin’s educational and administrative background in establishing the programs and facilities to help students earn a high school diploma will help accelerate our presence in this important area.” Read More.
EdisonLearning Names New Chief Operating and Education Officer
New York, NY – (Dec. 7, 2010) EdisonLearning, a leading international educational solutions provider, has named Paul Lincoln as the company’s new Chief Operating and Education Officer. Lincoln has a deep knowledge of the EdisonLearning model, having founded the organization’s operation in the United Kingdom in 2003.
“Because educational and operational excellence is critical to meeting the needs of our partners and helping students succeed, Paul is a natural to lead our efforts in these areas,” said EdisonLearning President and CEO Jeff Wahl. “He has a thorough understanding of the ingredients of outstanding schools, having honed his skills during the 19 years he spent as a highly successful teacher and leader in state secondary schools in England.” Read More.
EdisonLearning Partnership with Hawaii Schools Continues to Produce Solid Improvement Results
Honolulu, Hawaii (August 3, 2010) – The 2010 Hawaii State Assessment preliminary test results show that despite spending fewer days in the classroom, Hawaii’s public school students made solid achievement progress in reading and math. The test results also show that EdisonLearning’s partnership role with the Hawaii Department of Education continues to help build and sustain student achievement gains.
Known as one of the nation’s leading education management organizations partnering with charter schools and local districts, EdisonLearning has been in a school partnership with the Hawaii Department of Education, providing turnaround curriculum, professional development and assessment programs for school improvement under its district partnership service – Alliance™ - since 2005. Read More.
EdisonLearning Math Force™ Intervention Program Accelerates Learning and Scores for Students in 26 Colorado School Districts
Denver, Colorado (May 18, 2010) – Focused on bringing value and service to its school districts, the Colorado Department of Education’s pilot math intervention initiative with EdisonLearning’s Math Force is improving the math skills of 1,000 Southeastern Colorado students who scored unsatisfactory or low partially proficient in math on previous state achievement tests, including students with Individual Education Plans (IEP).
Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) results show that students achieved one-year median growth percentile gains of 16 points on the math section of the CSAP test from 2008 to 2009, whereas students in the region that were not in the math pilot experienced a decline of eight percentiles. When CSAP scores of special education students were isolated, they showed a median growth percentile increase of 13.5 points. Read More.
