Growth is Spread Across All Channels -- School Management, Summer School,
Supplemental Educational Services, and Achievement Management Systems
NEW YORK, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Edison Schools announced today that it
expects to serve more than 250,000 students for the 2004-2005 academic year --
marking significant growth over the previous year. Best known for partnering
with school districts and charter school boards to operate schools, Edison
will manage 157 schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia in 2004-
2005. Of the 15,000 school systems in the nation, Edison Schools is the 47th
largest according to size. Edison will also deliver a range of educational
services -- summer school, supplemental education services (SES), and
achievement management -- to over 700 schools and sites through its Newton
Learning, Tungsten Learning, and Edison Schools UK divisions.
Edison Schools has grown each year since it first began operating schools
in 1995. Serving more than 250,000 students this year represents significant
growth since last academic year when Edison divisions served approximately
132,000 students.
Chris Whittle, Edison Founder and CEO, commented on the company's
2004-2005 outlook: "The real story behind our company's growth is the
tremendous efforts of the hundreds of public-school clients we are privileged
to serve, and the achievements of the thousands of children whose learning we
are privileged to help nurture and grow. The men and women of Edison are proud
of our business success -- but what we are passionate about is the student
achievement that we have been able to help our clients to achieve."
According to Steve Pines, President of the Education Industry Association,
"Edison is one of the founders of our industry, and its strong growth and
diversification this year is evidence of our industry's momentum, its
potential -- and most of all, the extraordinary benefits it brings to children
across this nation. The EIA congratulates Edison for its expanding
partnerships with local schools."
District Partnerships, Charter Schools, and Edison Alliance
With more than 71,000 students enrolled in district partnership and
charter schools across the country, Edison Schools remains the nation's
leading education provider. Through its research-based School Design, Edison
provides districts, charter boards, and states with effective school
management that includes innovative curriculum, professional development,
leadership training, operational support and achievement management systems.
In 2004-2005, Edison has opened new schools in Denver, CO; Indianapolis,
IN; Warren, MI; and Philadelphia, PA. Edison also expanded grades served and
student enrollment at many existing schools across the country.
Additionally, Edison is working in partnership with two districts in South
Carolina to launch its new Edison Alliance program at nine schools in
Charleston and four schools in Allendale. Edison Alliance partnerships offer
customized academic achievement programs tailored to meet individual district
and school achievement goals, while allowing the district to maintain
management and operational control of schools.
"Over the past ten years Edison Schools has invested considerable time,
focus, and more than $40 million in research and development to create
comprehensive systems and a world-class school design that helps our partner
districts and boards drive student achievement," said Edison President, Chris
Cerf. "In that time we've also learned how to work shoulder to shoulder with
our partner districts, boards, and states. Together we are making a difference
for many more schools, students, and communities across the country."
Schools that partner with Edison are achieving academic gains faster and
more consistently than comparable schools; making strong strides toward
leaving no child behind in meeting state standards; and beginning to help
close the achievement gap. Edison's achievement data is compelling:
* Students at schools that partner with Edison posted an average gain of
6.7 percentage points between 2002 and 2003. This gain rate is more
than two and nearly three times the respective district and state gain
rates where those Edison partnership schools are located.
* On the basis of average achievement gains at each school across the
system -- 82 percent -- are fulfilling their primary mission: raising
student achievement.
* Comparing the gain rates of schools that partner with Edison to schools
with similar levels of economic disadvantage and ethnicity shows that
Edison schools have a gain rate that is nearly double of comparable
schools -- 6.7 percentage points from 2002 to 2003 versus an average
gain rate of only 3.6 percentage points for similar, non-Edison
Schools.
* Edison is beginning to close the achievement gap. The average gain
rates of Edison schools with predominantly African-American students
(90 percent or higher) have an average one-year gains of 7.2 percentage
points and two-year gains of 9.5 percentage points, exceeding those of
their local district and state.
* Edison is helping improve the academic performance of schools "in need
of improvement" according to No Child Left Behind legislation. In
these schools, Edison has improved student achievement by an average
one-year gain of 5.5 percentage points. Over the same period of time,
the districts and states in which these traditionally low-performing
schools are located made average one-year gains of 3.5 and 1.9
percentage points, respectively.
* For the eighth consecutive year, parents are overwhelmingly satisfied
with their Edison schools. In an independent survey, 85 percent of
Edison parents rate their school an A or B, with a majority of 51
percent giving their schools an A.
Newton Learning and Newton Learning SES
Newton Learning is the division of Edison Schools that offers summer
school, after-school, and supplemental educational services (SES) programs.
In providing a world-class, extended-learning program that focuses on specific
student needs, Newton Learning programs provide students with student-
centered, targeted assistance guaranteed to raise academic achievement levels.
Newton Learning, which operated summer schools in 68 districts this past
summer, expects to serve approximately 67,500 students next year. It has
established itself as a proven academic enrichment program for students and a
high quality, cost-effective partner for school districts. Newton Learning
has also launched its after-school programming with districts in Missouri and
California, which will offer Newton Learning programs this fall.
Newton Learning's SES program offers tutoring and targeted educational
support for individual students outside the regular school day. It provides
targeted instruction in reading and math, with active, hands-on lessons that
combine skills that help get children excited about learning. Lessons are
aligned to state standards, and Newton Learning SES works with individual
districts to ensure that the program is consistent with the instructional
strategies and curriculum students receive during the regular school day. The
SES program is offered at no charge to parents, as it is funded as a provision
of No Child Left Behind federal legislation.
Newton Learning has been approved as an SES provider in Alabama, Alaska,
Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Illinois,
Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New
York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee,
Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, and West Virginia. In addition, Newton
Learning SES has been approved with renewal or revision pending in the
following states: Colorado, Hawaii, Louisiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio,
Texas, and Wisconsin.
Tungsten Learning
Named for the key element in perfecting the modern light bulb, Tungsten
Learning, a division of Edison Schools, offers the best elements, knowledge,
and expertise-gleaned from years of research and development and school
management experience-that have driven student achievement for tens of
thousands of children across the country. Tungsten is a leading provider of
formative assessment content, technology, and expertise. Its comprehensive
Benchmark Assessment System helps school districts inform instruction and
raise student achievement.
For the academic year 2004-05, Tungsten Learning will serve approximately
75,000 students at districts in Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana,
Michigan, Missouri, New York, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Edison Schools UK
Since 2002, Edison has partnered with Essex County Learning Services, the
second largest system of public schools in the United Kingdom, to introduce a
unique, comprehensive school improvement program. In 2004-05, Edison Schools
UK will expand operations beyond Essex to serve approximately 15,000 students
in 32 schools for the academic year 2004-05.
The Edison UK program, which was developed by a joint team of UK-based
educators in conjunction with Edison, is designed to support teachers,
motivate students, engage parents and the community, and raise student
achievement levels. Schools retain their autonomy, and benefit from Edison's
expertise in helping teachers and school leadership accelerate learning
through a core skills curriculum, assessment for learning tools, strategies
for parent school engagement, and for creating a positive learning
environment. The program is supported by relevant and timely professional
development for teachers and teaching assistants.
About Edison Schools
Founded in 1992, Edison Schools partners with school districts, charter
boards, and states to raise student achievement and educational outcomes
through its research-based school design and curriculum, achievement
management solutions, professional development, and extended learning
programs.
In 2004-2005, Edison Schools will serve more than 250,000 students in
20 states, the District of Columbia, and the United Kingdom. Approximately
71,000 students will attend 157 district partnership and charter schools
managed by Edison; approximately 67,500 students will participate in Edison's
Newton Learning after-school and summer school programs and approximately
42,000 students will attend Newton Learning SES programs; approximately 75,000
students will benefit from achievement management solutions provided by
Edison's Tungsten Learning; and 15,000 students will be served by Edison
Schools UK programs. For more information, please visit
http://www.edisonschools.com.
SOURCE Edison Schools
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Related links:
http://www.edisonschools.com
CONTACT:
Adam Tucker, VP Communications, Edison
Schools, +1-212-419-1602
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