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Brevard Public Schools Earns ''A'' Grade for Learning Gains - Uses Classworks As Remediation Resource in Mathematics, Language Arts and Reading

Posted on: Friday, 9 September 2005, 12:00 CDT

When the Florida Department of Education (DOE) announced the top districts making gains in mathematics, reading and writing proficiency for 2005, Brevard Public Schools scored exceptionally well and was honored in all three categories, earning an "A" grade for district-wide gains on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). Brevard uses Classworks from Curriculum Advantage as a remediation resource for mathematics, reading and writing (www.curriculumadvantage.com).

In addition to the "gains" measurement for mathematics, reading and writing, the Florida DOE calculates overall grades using the FCAT scores for students, overall student learning gains, and the learning gains for the lowest 25% of students including those with limited English proficiency. In a July 19 news release from the Florida DOE, Brevard received an "A" grade and was one of 10 districts to receive such a grade since the ranking system was implemented in 2002.

"We are very pleased to see that our students are doing so well on the FCAT and showing impressive gains reading, math and writing," said Lynn Spadaccini, director of elementary programs for Brevard Public Schools. "Many factors contribute to this success but we do know that Classworks has been a consistent and reliable learning tool that helps students in Brevard County master the Sunshine State Standards and subsequently score well on the FCAT."

Brevard uses Classworks with special education and mainstream students. Over 200 schools in Florida currently use Classworks with great success and the Florida School Boards Association has selected Classworks as one of the premier curriculum library and remediation tools of choice for the Florida elementary and middle schools.

"We feel that our commitment to individualized learning keeps each student engaged in the curriculum and helps each student succeed," added Ms. Spadaccini. "Technology resources are a valuable part of the curriculum our staff use to address individual needs and we appreciate the automated tasks in Classworks that prescribe personalized learning plans based on FCAT and other benchmark tests."

Classworks includes 8,600 learning activities chosen from dozens of favorite educational software programs and all of which are correlated with National Education Standards in math and language arts and the Florida Sunshine State Standards. With over 4,000 hours of learning activities, 6,000 test items for benchmark tests, a Universal Import Utility for state and benchmark assessments and a direct FCAT Import Utility, Florida teachers can more closely tie their teaching to the core concepts and competencies with less effort. Classworks Version 5.7 also includes the fully-integrated OpenBook Anywhere content for English as a second language (ESL) students and English language learners and over sixty hours of algebra and pre-algebra activities.

About Curriculum Advantage

Curriculum Advantage, Inc. (www.curriculumadvantage.com) is based in Atlanta, Ga. Curriculum Advantage's flagship product is Classworks, a network-based system of K-12 reading and mathematics curriculum and learning tools that currently comprise over 4,000 hours of curriculum. Classworks activities are correlated to national and state learning standards and state tests. They include prescriptive and summative assessment, remediation and reporting tools. Classworks is installed in 2,000 schools in the United States and worldwide. INET Classroom, also from Curriculum Advantage, is a comprehensive library of web-based curriculum linked to state and national standards. For more information, call 888-841-4790.

Source: Business Wire

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