New Classroom Improvement Technology Grant

Turning Technologies’ Turning Foundation Partners with Study Island and Performance Matters to Launch Grant Initiative

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Turning Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization established by Turning Technologies, LLC, today announced in partnership with Study Island and Performance Matters, their 2009 Classroom Improvement Technology Grant. The goal of this joint effort is to help educators develop 21st Century classrooms and improve achievement by providing technology and professional development tools from multiple industry leading companies.

Turning Foundation Director, John Wilson stated, “In developing the 2009 Classroom Improvement Technology Grant, we intentionally reached out to Turning Technologies’ excellent K-12 partners. Our goal is to positively impact student achievement and increase the overall success of students and teachers in the classroom. Combining these effective solutions under one grant opportunity will give award recipients the tools they need to accomplish exactly that. We appreciate both Study Island’s and Performance Matters’ contributions to this year’s grant program.”

Grant applications will be accepted from teachers in grades 3-8 currently teaching in an accredited, non-profit, public school building in the United States. Fifteen (15) classroom awards estimated at $5000 each will be distributed and include student response technology, a web-based standards mastery program, as well as data management tools.

Selected applicants will receive the following:

Turning Technologies, developer of interactive student response systems focused on engaging and motivating students while increasing achievement, will provide one 32-seat radio frequency student response system that includes: TurningPoint® and TurningPoint AnyWhere™ polling software, ResponseCard® RF keypads, USB-based response RF receiver, QuestionPoint™ 2 - state-aligned question bank, customized carrying case and technical support.

Study Island, a leading provider of online, standards-based assessment, instruction, practice, and test preparation programs for the U.S. K-12 educational market, will include a one year license of the specific classroom subject for up to 30 students as well as access to their industry award-winning customer and technical support. Study Island enables students to choose their style of learning and work at their own pace. They can work using a standard test format or choose from a wide range of interactive games.

Performance Matters, a pioneer in the field of K-12 information management systems, has developed a web-based data management system that is an enterprise platform for data driven decision making geared toward both small and large school districts across the country. Performance Matters will provide one year of access to their award winning solution for each awarded teacher as well as technical and professional development support.

“Providing K-12 educators access to Study Island’s foundationally and statistically research-based content will offer educators an effective tool in increasing student learning and achievement. Partnering with the Turning Foundation on the Classroom Improvement Technology Grant is an ideal extension of our strong partnership,” stated Archipelago Learning CEO, Tim McEwen. Archipelago Learning LLC is the parent company of Study Island.

Woody Dillaha, Performance Matters CEO commented, “Our solution is designed to turn data into actionable information for every stakeholder involved in student learning and will help teachers accurately analyze student performance data against state standards in order to differentiate instruction and meet student learning needs. We’re excited to collaborate with the Turning Foundation on this grant opportunity and provide award winners with a complete package.”

Grant applications will be available online starting September 22, 2009 and will close October 25, 2009. Awards will be announced October 30, 2009. For more information, please visit: www.TurningTechnologies.com/K12Grant/.

About Turning Foundation:

Turning Technologies, LLC, a leader in the interactive student response industry, established The Turning Foundation - a separate non-profit 501(c)3 organization in 2009 to help educational organizations find and secure the resources necessary to help classrooms, schools, and districts with their school improvement efforts.http://www.turningtechnologies.com/studentresponsesystem/turningfoundation
About Study Island, LLC:

Since 2000, Study Island has been building and marketing online, state standards-based learning programs that are the most effective and easiest to use of their kind. Our in-house technical development and content teams design and create our programs, which are used by millions of students in thousands of schools across the United States. All of our programs are built specifically from state standards and are designed to create a user-friendly experience for both students and teachers alike. For more information, visit www.studyisland.com.

About Performance Matters:

Performance Matters provides products and services for K-12 school systems which are designed to turn data into actionable information for every stakeholder involved in student learning. www.performancematters.com

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September 23, 2009 11:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time