Three-year Agreement with Perry Township, Indiana to Serve
approximately 5,000 Students in Grades 2-6
NEW YORK, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Edison Schools Inc., the
nation's leading public school partner, announced today that it has signed an
agreement to offer "full-service" achievement management solution and
consulting services to the Metropolitan School District (MSD) of Perry
Township of Indiana. The services outlined in the three-year contract will be
delivered through Edison's newly launched Tungsten Learning Division to nine
Perry Township schools in 2003-2004, serving approximately 3,800 students in
grades 2-5. The partnership will expand in 2004-2005 to serve a total of
approximately 5,000 students in grades 2-6. MSD Perry Township, Indiana's
10th largest school district enrolls approximately 13,000 students and lies in
a suburb just south of Indianapolis, IN.
Formerly known as Edison Affiliates, Tungsten Learning specializes in
helping school districts raise student achievement through cost-effective
"behind-the-scenes" achievement solutions that are customized to each client's
needs. Tungsten's suite of full-service achievement management products and
services include Edison's highly effective and innovative "Benchmark
Assessment System".
"Tungsten Learning and its services are a natural extension of Edison's
core competency -- management of instructional services for K-12 students,"
said Jim Howland, Edison CEO for Educational Services. "With nearly a decade
of experience in whole-school management, we have developed powerful,
cost-effective achievement management systems that provide teachers and
administrators with the data and support they need to improve instruction and
drive student achievement. Now, through Tungsten Learning, others can benefit
from this practical know-how."
In Perry Township, Tungsten will implement the Benchmark Assessment
System, a revolutionary electronic student assessment system with real-time
reporting capability that is used in every Edison partnership school in the
country. With its split-ASP technology platform, the Benchmark system is able
to provide instantaneous feedback to both students and instructors, thereby
helping teachers to gauge and improve student learning in real time, meet
accountability goals, and ultimately help make average yearly progress (AYP).
Tungsten also will also provide targeted, ongoing professional development for
teachers and administrators on topics that range from achievement planning
support to effectively analyzing data to inform instructional practice.
Doug Williams, Perry Township Superintendent and Indiana's Superintendent
of the Year expressed optimism for the partnership. "For several years we
have searched for a resource to assist teachers in assessing student progress
on an ongoing basis and a product that can greatly assist teachers in
addressing the learning needs of those students. We believe that we have
finally found that resource through Tungsten Learning."
This agreement complements an already existing relationship between Edison
Schools and MSD Perry Township. In collaboration with the MSD, Edison
currently operates two partnership schools in Perry Township -- Jeremiah
Gray-Edison Elementary and Rosa Parks-Edison. Rosa Parks-Edison, a K-5 school
with approximately 630 students, opened its doors this fall. Jeremiah
Gray-Edison, a K-5 school with approximately 650 students, now in its second
year with Edison, is already receiving high marks from students and parents.
On an independent survey conducted by Harris Interactive, 84% of students
rated the school and A or B; 94% of teachers rated their school an A or B; and
an impressive 93% of parents rated the school an A or B -- with 73% of parents
giving their school an A.
Jeremiah Gray-Edison principal (recently named Perry Township's
Administrator of the Year), Ann Puckett-Harpold, also shared her enthusiasm:
"The Edison program has helped change the lives of our students by providing
the right tools for success. We are thrilled that other children in our
community will now be able to benefit from some of the opportunities afforded
to the students at Jeremiah Gray-Edison. This new relationship with Tungsten
Learning will provide valuable support to fulfill our township's strategic
achievement goals."
ABOUT EDISON SCHOOLS
Founded in 1992, Edison partners with school districts and charter boards
to raise student achievement through its research-based school design, aligned
assessment systems, interactive professional development, integrated use of
technology and other proven program features. Edison students are achieving
annual academic gains well above national norms. Edison Schools now serves
more than 132,000 public school students in over 20 states through four
different business channels: (1) the management of schools for school
districts, (2) charter schools, (3) summer and after-school programs, and
(4) achievement management solutions for school systems. The Company operates
130 full-year schools and 200 summer schools.
Between 1992 and 1995 and in on-going efforts, Edison's team of leading
educators and scholars has conducted intensive research to develop its school
design and support systems. Edison opened its first four schools in August
1995, and has grown in every subsequent year. For more information, please
visit http://www.edisonschools.com.
Any statements in this press release and any other press release issued by
Edison on or about the date hereof about future expectations, plans and
prospects for Edison, including statements containing the words "believes,"
"anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," and similar expressions, constitute
forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from
those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various
important factors, including the risk factors discussed in our most recent
quarterly report filed with the SEC. The forward-looking statements included
in this press release represent Edison's estimates as of September 25, 2003.
Edison anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its
estimates to change. While Edison may elect to update these forward-looking
statements at some point in the future, Edison specifically disclaims any
obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied
upon as representing Edison's estimates or views as of any date subsequent to
September 25, 2003.
SOURCE Edison Schools Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.edisonschools.com
CONTACT:
Adam Tucker, VP Communications, of Edison
Schools Inc., +1-212-419-1602
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