Our Blog

10 May

The State of Education in Metro Atlanta Review

By Rebecca Parshall Cradle to Career, Partners in Education 2

Learn4Life released its third annual “State of Education in Metro Atlanta” report. At the report release event, our region’s superintendents shared their perspectives on how k-12 school districts can help bridge students to and through post-secondary attainment. They also discussed the importance of continuing to work toward improvement on key indicators, such as third-grade reading and eighth-grade math proficiency. Dr. Stephen Green, DeKalb County School District, Dr. Grant Rivera, Marietta City Schools, and Dr. Morcease

30 Apr

Join Our State of Education in Metro Atlanta

By Rebecca Parshall Cradle to Career, Partners in Education 1

Join us on Monday, May 6 from 8:00am-10:00am via live stream for the release of the 3rd annual State of Education in Metro Atlanta report. Superintendents and other community and business leaders will discuss the current state of education performance for our region’s 600,000 students. We will also review Learn4Life’s progress toward scaling cradle to career strategies to improve early grade literacy and post-secondary success. Hear from education leaders, including: Morcease Beasley, Superintendent, Clayton County

30 Apr

Math Bright Spots Identified: STEM Certification and STE(A)M Truck

By Rebecca Parshall Eighth-Grade Math 2

Learn4Life is pleased to announce the identification of the 8th grade math network’s bright spots—strategies that are working to improve 8th grade math proficiency in our region. After a rigorous process of data and factor analysis and review of more than fifteen bright spot proposals, the math network and L4L’s executive committee selected STEM Certification through the Georgia Department of Education and STE(A)M Truck. Both of these strategies positively affect the network’s focus factors of

12 Apr

April 17 ‘Unlikely’ Documentary Screening

By Rebecca Parshall Post-Secondary Success 1

Please join us on April 17 at Georgia State University’s Rialto Center for the Arts for a reception, screening and panel discussion for the film ‘Unlikely.’ This documentary is about the obstacles students face in earning college degrees and how universities and organizations are helping students overcome those obstacles. https://www.unlikelyfilm.com/ Wednesday, April 17 5 pm: Reception 6 pm: Screening 7:45 pm: Panel discussion moderated by WABE’s Martha Dalton RSVP for free tickets here. Rialto Center

12 Apr

STEM Certification Transforms Learning

By Dr. Lya Snell Eighth-Grade Math 3

Learn4Life’s math network is working to scale strategies that raise 8th grade math proficiency in our region. We are proud to partner with the Georgia Department of Education to help more schools become STEM/STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) Certified. STEM and STEAM Certification is a process through which schools shift their instructional practices to an integrated curriculum that is driven by exploratory, project-based learning and student-centered development of ideas and solutions to real-world problems

01 Apr

Play + Tools = Authentic Learning

By Jason Martin Eighth-Grade Math 3

Most Atlantans would think twice before handing a hammer to a kid in a park with the suggestion, “go play!” Yet this is exactly what some parks are doing in Great Britain and increasingly here in the US. The belief that risk, authenticity and play go hand in hand is something most older grandparents might muse to the younger generation, entreating them with “in my day, and with nothing more than a stick and tire,

18 Mar

Partners in Education: Philanthropy as Locksmith

By Lesley Grady Partners in Education 2

1984, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Caught in one of the city’s epic snow storms, I stood in front of my sister’s empty home, seeking entry. After 30 frigid minutes twisting, jamming (and finally striking) my key into the lock, I was denied entry; unbeknownst to me, my sister had changed her locks. Two hours later, I arrived at my warm home, having learned a critical life lesson. Keys are only as good as the locks for which

27 Feb

Partners in Education: Libraries Create Connections

By Tom Brooks Third-Grade Reading 3

“I can finally see.” Those words spoken by Levi, one of the first young children to receive free eyeglasses from Vision To Learn (VTL) through mobile eye clinic visits at Cobb County Public Libraries, are a powerful message for underscoring the impact of our engagement with Learn4Life. Cobb Librarian Stacy Hill gave Levi his eyeglasses last summer after the first visit by the national non-profit in Cobb County. “This program is amazing!” Stacy wrote to

13 Feb

Partners in Education: Using Data as a Flashlight

By Christina De Giulio Data 5

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.

28 Jan

Bright Spots in Early Literacy: Reach Out and Read Georgia

By Iyabo Ojikutu Third-Grade Reading 1

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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