Common Core Standards for Kentucky Now Available on Study Island

Study Island From Archipelago Learning Announces Common Core State Standards Product Update

Professional Development, Instructional and Assessment Materials Will Help Teachers Adjust Classroom Practices, Prepare Students for Transition to New Standards

June 30, 2010 2:45 PM EDT

DALLAS, June 30, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- When the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers released the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for K-12 education earlier this month, they set in motion a seismic shift in what students are expected to learn and how teachers are supposed to teach. Kentucky became the first state to officially commit to adopt the CCSS, and since that time, additional states, including Maryland, Michigan, Hawaii, Missouri, New Mexico, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Ohio and Utah have also announced their intent to move to the new standards.

To help educators ensure their students are gaining the critical knowledge and skills specified by the new standards, Archipelago Learning, (Nasdaq: ARCL), a leading subscription-based online education company and developer of the highly-acclaimed Study Island, announced today the availability of the first of their products built directly from the CCSS. The Study Island Kentucky edition includes on-line instructional content, supplemental resources, video lessons, a digital writing portfolio, on-line assessment development, and engaging animated games. In addition, the new Study Island Kentucky edition includes an extensive on-line integrated professional development module, with teacher videos, lesson plans, activities, and supporting materials to enable a smooth and effective transition to the new standards. Kentucky customers will be able to concurrently access both the prior Kentucky standards as well as the new updated Common Core State Standards from within the Study Island product, to provide districts and schools with complete flexibility. Updates to other Study Island state editions will be made available based on each state's specific time frame for implementing the CCSS.

"Change can be complex, challenging and expensive for schools and districts, but not with Study Island," said Tim McEwen, chief executive officer for Archipelago Learning. "Because we are 100 percent digital we have always been uniquely positioned to help schools and districts transition curriculum and assessments to new standards, simply and cost-effectively. It's no different with the Common Core State Standards and no doubt why we are one of the fastest growing providers of online education solutions to the K-12 market. Study Island is the most economical resource available to schools to support the transition to the new standards, providing an online resource built from current standards, a roadmap for helping educators transition to the new standards, and the most comprehensive coverage of the new Common Core State Standards and all included at no additional charge to our regular very affordable subscription price. In most cases, the annual subscription price of Study Island for a student is less than the cost of a hamburger and fries in a fast food restaurant!"

Through its large and experienced product development team, proprietary content management systems and authoring tools, Study Island's online instruction, practice, assessment, and productivity tools are built directly from state standards and the new Common Core State Standards, and are constantly updated. The comprehensive, web-based program combines rigorous content in math, reading, writing, science and social studies with interactive games and rewards that engage students, reinforce accomplishments and create a culture of academic success. In addition, Study Island's eLearning professional development workshops are available to help educators effectively transition to the new common core standards and optimally use Study Island's curriculum, assessment and reporting features and functionality. The goal is to speed student acquisition of fundamental academic skills and conceptual understandings, and to do so via a unique methodology that ensures learning mastery is sustainable and achieved in a fun and engaging manner that motivates continued student learning throughout their academic careers.

"Study Island has an inherent ability to anticipate and be ready 24/7 with the digital resources required to succeed in this ever-changing K-12 landscape," said McEwen. "Kentucky was the first state to adopt the standards and I know there is some concern among educators across the state about how they will be ready to teach and assess to the new standards in a consistent manner, and do so in a time of budgetary constraints. Study Island has always been committed to ensuring that our product is developed from the most current standards available for each state, and our customers can rest assured that we are completely prepared to integrate the new standards into our product for each state that adopts them."

Study Island is available for purchase by schools, districts and learning centers, as well as parents and students. More information along with pricing for individuals and quantity discounts for educational institutions is available at the Study Island website: www.studyisland.com; or, better still, contact Study Island's Kentucky Sales Rep, Pat Ryan [800.419.3191 x7617 or pat.ryan@studyisland.com]