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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Dear Friends of Learn4Life, As a new school year begins, and Learn4Life continues into its second year of helping to build a stronger cradle to career pipeline in metro Atlanta, we are excited to announce the launch of our blog. Through the blog, we will share updates on the progress of our three active networks: Early Grade Literacy, 8th-Grade Math, and Post-Secondary Success. Collective impact requires insight from each corner of our region to find
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