Plano ISD Adopts Destination Success; Texas District Chooses Riverdeep's Award-Winning Courseware to Help Battle the Achievement Gap
he Plano Independent School District has adopted Riverdeep's award-winning Destination Success(TM) to help close the achievement gap among at-risk students. As part of the implementation, the district will make Riverdeep's Destination Reading(R) and Destination Math(R) courseware available in all of its 42 elementary schools and anticipates it will be used by special-needs students in many of its middle schools as well. In addition, students will be able to access lessons from home via the Internet.
San Francisco, CA / Plano, TX (PRWEB) May 13, 2005 -- The Plano Independent School District has adopted Riverdeep's award-winning Destination Success(TM) to help close the achievement gap among at-risk students.
As part of the implementation, the district will make Riverdeep's Destination Reading(R) and Destination Math(R) courseware available in all of its 42 elementary schools and anticipates it will be used by special-needs students in many of its middle schools as well. In addition, students will be able to access lessons from home via the Internet.
Teachers and administrators will also have use of the Destination Success Learning Management System which will allow them to assess students and automatically prescribe student lessons based on individual needs, and view how students are progressing toward mastery of Texas' academic standards.
According to Plano Superintendent Dr. Doug Otto, the adoption is part of the district's drive to close the achievement gap for its Limited English Proficiency and low-income students. "Our district is trying to target specific strategies that can be employed at all of our schools that can narrow those gaps," Otto said. The fact that Destination Success courseware is so engaging -- and that Destination Math is available in Spanish -- made it particularly appropriate for the district's students. "It's a quality piece of software that our students and teachers will enjoy using. They'll be able to use it at home and use it at school -- we think it's going to go a long way in helping us close those achievement gaps," Otto said.
Jim Hirsch, Associate Superintendent for Technology Services, agreed. "We're always trying to extend our learning day," Hirsch said. "We've placed computer systems in apartment complexes and community centers in the district, and of course many students have Internet access at home. The fact that Destination Success is web-based will enable students to extend their learning outside the school day. We really do look for those 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week links."
Hirsch added that Plano liked the way Destination Success could be adapted to meet the needs of all kinds of learners. "One of the real enticing parts of the program is that it allows for differentiated instruction, both for students who are at-risk and those who are ready to accelerate," he said. "Along with that, we thought the way the product put learning in context was clearly outstanding. Their lessons are more real-world, more engaging. And they do a wonderful job of teaching vocabulary in each content area."
"Plano ISD has consistently won national and state-wide attention for its commitment to student achievement, and for its innovative use of information technology," said Gail Elizabeth Pierson, Riverdeep's Chief Education Officer. "These are educators who know what they're doing, so we're especially proud they've selected Destination Success to support their curriculum."
The district is integrating Destination Success into its on-line Curriculum Planner, so teachers doing lesson planning will be able to directly incorporate units from Destination Reading and Destination Math. Plano educators will be training on the system over the summer months, and will be ready to begin using Destination Success with students in fall 2005.
About Destination Success(TM)
Destination Success is a critically needed solution for bringing a diverse student population to the same high level of academic achievement -- in as little as 90 days. The Destination Success solution consists of Riverdeep's award winning courseware, Destination Math(R) and Destination Reading(R), learning management system and professional services. Destination Success empowers educators with both the tools and the training necessary to provide effective, standards-based instruction as well as assessment. Destination Success provides teachers with the tools they need to effectively individualize instruction in a real-world classroom.
Destination Math(R) is a scientifically proven educational series for grades K through 12. The program begins with assessments based on state standards, and then delivers sequenced, prescriptive instruction targeting each student's individual needs. Validation studies from around the nation have proven Destination Math's ability to rapidly boost student achievement.
Destination Reading(R) is a comprehensive program for grades PreK through 12, featuring standards-based coursework, assessment and reporting materials, and a broad range of both online and on-site educator support resources. All lessons and creative activities are student-adaptive, making it easy for teachers to respond to the individual needs of every child within in a diverse classroom.
About Riverdeep(R)
Riverdeep Inc., A Limited Liability Company, with offices in San Francisco, California, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Dublin (Ireland) and Manchester (United Kingdom) is a leading publisher of interactive products focusing on education and personal productivity for the consumer and school markets. Riverdeep's rich portfolio of interactive award-winning products feature such well-known brands as the Destination Success(TM) solution, which includes Destination Math(R) and Destination Reading(R); The Print Shop(R); Reader Rabbit(R) and Kid Pix(R). For more information, call toll free 888-242-6747 or visit www.riverdeep.net.
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