NEW STUDY CONFIRMS EDGATE ONLINE LEARNING IMPROVES STUDENT PERFORMANCE: Study Shows Significant Improvement on Statewide Tests for State of Wyoming

A new scientific study has found that the implementation of an EdGate Online Learning Community has a significant effect on student performance. The study, which examined the impact of EdGates educational portal on student test performance in the state of Wyoming, showed increases in student test performance of approximately 27 percent and 13 percent in the areas of writing and reading, respectively. The results also found a decrease in Title 1 improvement watch schools from 32 to 0 in less than three years.

GIG HARBOR, Wash. (PRWEB) July 3, 2003 -- A new scientific study has found that the implementation of an EdGate Online Learning Community has a significant effect on student performance. The study, which examined the impact of EdGates educational portal on student test performance in the state of Wyoming, showed increases in student test performance of approximately 27 percent and 13 percent in the areas of writing and reading, respectively. The results also found a decrease in Title 1 improvement watch schools from 32 to 0 in less than three years.

EdGate is a leading provider of Internet-based learning content including lesson plans, assessments and a vast amount of education specific resources that are tied to prioritized state standards designed to improve student performance and teacher efficiency.

Improving student performance is the cornerstone objective of all of EdGates solutions," said Mark A. Mitrovich, Ph.D., EdGate President and CEO. This scientific study supports the anecdotal evidence that EdGate constantly receives, indicating improved student performance after an Online Learning Community and appropriate training have been implemented."

Beginning in the 2001-2002 academic year, the state of Wyoming implemented a statewide program utilizing EdGate in an effort to improve the educational experience and performance of students and teachers alike. The program included enabling broad access to the myriad of EdGates content-based tools, which are tied to state standards, as well as professional development supplied by EdGates trained educators.

Upon the introduction of EdGate, there were 32 schools listed on a Title 1 school improvement watch in Wyoming. The following year, only 18 schools were listed and by academic year 2002-2003, no schools in the state of Wyoming were listed. Standardized test scores have also risen at the district, school and student levels since the introduction of EdGate.

About the Study
The study, conducted by Stone Analytics, Inc., was commissioned to determine the degree to which the implementation of an EdGate Online Learning Community would impact student performance.
Using data collected from EdGate and the state of Wyoming, Stone Analytics computed statistical measures of the differences in test performance between a set of schools designated as undergoing implementation of the Gateway and appropriate EdGate training prior to academic year 2001-2002 and a control group containing schools that were not trained prior to 2001-2002.

First, a set of summary statistics, such as the mean and standard deviation, were computed separately for those schools that were trained in EdGate prior to academic year 2001-2002 and those schools that were not trained prior to 2001-2002.
For the areas of writing and reading, the study indicated a positive relationship between EdGate implementation and training and test performance even when other factors potentially related to test performance are considered.

About EdGate
EdGate (www.edgate.com), a leading provider of local, Internet-based learning communities, believes that success depends upon providing targeted, relevant, easy-to-use solutions that help educators, students, and parents apply technology in ways that positively affect the learning process. The companys unique learning products are designed to reinforce the current trends and movement by publishers to digital content" delivery while providing the tools for secure and controlled access to quality educational content. EdGate, which offers the tools and resources to assist educators meet the expectations of "No Child Left Behind" legislation, is headquartered in Gig Harbor, Wash.

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