Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools students to get new digital curriculum
Nash-Rocky Mountain Public School System
April 9, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Ashley Simmons
Chief Public Information Officer
Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools
Phone: (252) 462-2523
Fax: (252) 459-2734
aesimmons@nrms.k12.nc.us
Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools students to get new digital curriculum
Exciting, interactive learning programs going into 13 NRMPS schools this month in major effort to boost instruction
Nashville, NC – Students and teachers in 13 Nash-Rocky Mount schools will begin using exciting, interactive curriculum as part of a groundbreaking shift to digital learning, Superintendent Anthony Jackson announced.
Students and teachers at nearly half the district’s 27 schools will work with the highly interactive and more rigorous digital math and English language arts programs starting this month, Superintendent Jackson said. Training for teachers will begin almost immediately as a result of a partnership with the Pearson education company that will support the school district’s move to boost instruction with digital learning.
The school district already announced that students in grades 4 through 6 would receive iPads, and students in grades 7-12 will work with MacBook Air laptop devices before the start of the next school year as part of NRMPS’ dedication to preparing all students for a bright and prosperous future by “providing rigorous and relevant instruction in every classroom, every day.” Now, the new agreement with Pearson will deliver the digital curriculum to light up those devices with exciting learning programs.
Students will use Pearson’s highly interactive digits, enVisionMATH and MyMathLab programs for mathematics. For English language arts, NRMPS students will use Reading Street, Prentice Hall Literature and Writing Coach programs. NRMPS teachers will use Pearson’s interactive texts, videos, animations and other features in the digital instructional programs to provide more dynamic, personalized math and English language arts lessons. The curriculum programs have assessment tools built in that determine in real-time each student’s level of performance to help teachers quickly identify academic strengths and weaknesses. Pearson’s digital learning programs are built on decades of expertise and research in effective teaching and learning and are aligned with the new Common Core standards.
“We are committed to providing our students with access to the best learning resources,” Dr. Jackson said. “Our students live in the midst of a technological revolution and digital resources define their lives in unprecedented ways. Now, when they walk into their classrooms every day to learn, they will plug into this exciting new world of digital learning. This is a game changer for our students and their futures.”
The new digital curriculum will be used first this spring at Bailey, Baskerville, Cedar Grove, Coopers, DS Johnson, MB Hubbard, Nashville, Spring Hope, and Williford elementary schools, Parker Middle School, and Nash Central, Southern Nash and Early College high schools.
Teachers soon will be trained to incorporate technology and customize lesson plans for the new digital curriculum. Pearson will provide ongoing training for lead teachers at all 27 schools and for another 21 educators in how to use the digital curriculum to improve learning. As soon as the digital curriculum helps teachers make the improvements in learning that district leaders are seeking, the program will be expanded to all 27 schools over five years.
Pearson will apply its research-based 1:1 Learning Framework helping districts successfully start and run mobile learning programs to train NRMPS educators and assist in planning and management of the digital curriculum’s rollout to classrooms.
“Superintendent Jackson and the school board, along with the teachers and staff and community, are to be applauded for setting a high standard of learning in the Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools,” said Scott Drossos, Senior Vice President of Pearson 1:1 Learning. “NRMPS has looked into the future and determined that digital learning will help students of this community be better prepared for college and the careers of the digital age. The school district has committed itself to ensuring that each student becomes a globally competitive, responsible and contributing member of society. This move toward new digital learning and the digital curriculum isn’t just one small step; it’s a giant leap for preparing students for the future. Pearson is honored to work elbow to elbow with NRMPS educators in support of this exciting district digital conversion.”
The agreement with Pearson also will give NRMSD solid data on the effectiveness of digital learning environments throughout the district and help district leaders make the best decisions about how to deploy the digital learning assets over the next five years.
