Throughout our day, each of us receives, interprets, and utilizes data in making individual decisions – big and small, short- and long-term, personal and public. Thanks to technology, data is being collected in real-time and is accessible with a swipe of a screen at the speed of your network. With the vast amount of data available comes the need to synthesize that data, filter the noise, and unveil the stories that lie beneath the numbers.
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Early childhood lays the foundation for literacy skills The Learn4Life 3rd grade reading proficiency network recognizes the importance of building literacy skills long before students reach school. L4L has identified Reach Out and Read Georgia as a bright spot in early childhood education, and is proud to support their work. Reach Out and Read Georgia is an evidence-based nonprofit that partners with health care providers to prescribe books and encourage families to read together. By
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Many Paths, One Goal Why this Metro Atlanta education nonprofit is rethinking life after high school graduation Four years of college, or bust. That used to be OneGoal’s way of thinking. Heck, it even used to be my way of thinking. After all, I was ranked third in my high school class; served as class president; had completed college classes in high school. So it’s probably safe to say I was always college-bound (Go, Blue
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“Without my college adviser, I don’t think I’d be going to college. I was really unmotivated before. Ms. Reese has inspired me.” The College Advising Corps (CAC) works to increase the number of low-income, first-generation college, and underrepresented students who enter and complete higher education. CAC programs accomplish this by placing well-trained recent college graduates in high schools to work as full-time college advisers. In 2019 there are two university partners in Georgia: the University
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More than sixty Toney Elementary students received free eyeglasses this week, thanks to a partnership between Vision To Learn and the Atlanta Hawks Foundation. Hawks players Kent Bazemore, Vince Carter, and Tyler Dorsey helped students put their new glasses on, while Harry the Hawk and the Hawks ATL Dancers cheered them on. After the students received their glasses, they participated in a basketball camp with the players. This event is part of a growing vision
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Tim Cairl is the Director of Education Policy at The Metro Atlanta Chamber, and a member of Learn4Life’s Core Team. The Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) has been engaging the business community in education and workforce development for many years. Our commitment to our schools has changed during that time from a sponsorship and advisory role to a much more interactive and forward-thinking one. Many businesses have sponsored local events, and some leaders even hold positions
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Learn4Life’s networks rely on research-based factors to find successful practices across our region. With guidance from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ six principles for school mathematics, L4L identified twelve factors that affect proficiency in eighth grade mathematics. Through factor analysis activities, the network chose to focus on the first three–Teacher Effectiveness, School Culture, and Interventions–in order to identify bright spots. Teacher Effectiveness Teacher effectiveness—including teacher content knowledge, teaching conceptually rather than just procedurally,
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Learn4Life’s Eighth-Grade Math Network recently visited three of our region’s highest-performing middle schools. Network members selected Drew Charter School, Rex Mill Middle School, and Freedom Middle school from a list of 23 schools that showed exceptionally high proficiency and growth on the state’s eighth grade math tests. All data is for schools’ economically disadvantaged student populations, and is compared against L4L’s region of eight metro Atlanta school districts. Drew Charter School (Atlanta Public Schools) 20.6% higher
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As a new school year launches, Learn4Life asked its three Post-Secondary Success Network Bright Spot Organizations what excites them about their work this year. L4L: How are you engaging parents in the college application process? Yarbrah Peeples, College Advising Corps: “As we begin the upcoming school year, the University of Georgia and Georgia State University College Advising Corps chapters are excited to continue the Parent Academy text messaging initiative in our high schools. This initiative
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You may have heard about how Learn4Life is working to increase third-grade reading proficiency by ensuring all students have access to vision screenings and eyeglasses. That work—of connecting the data dots—occurred within one of our Change Action Networks. If you’re interested in learning more about how L4L’s Change Action Networks (CANs) operate, here’s an overview of the process: 1. Convene The right people are the key to any successful movement. L4L has been fortunate
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