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Tag: Charter

  • Achieve Miami’s Teacher Accelerator Program Prepares 151 New Teachers for Full-Time Positions Across Miami-Dade County Classrooms

    Achieve Miami’s Teacher Accelerator Program Prepares 151 New Teachers for Full-Time Positions Across Miami-Dade County Classrooms

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    MIAMI, FL – Achieve Miami’s Teacher Accelerator Program (TAP) is tackling South Florida’s teacher shortage head-on by creating a clear path to teaching for college seniors and career changers. Following its first year at the University of Miami in 2023, the education nonprofit expanded to Florida International University and Miami-Dade College, making TAP accessible to college seniors and graduates with a four-year degree. Now in its second year, TAP has more than tripled its impact: 151 participants have successfully graduated from this year’s program and are preparing to teach in public, private, and charter school classrooms across Miami-Dade County as full-time teachers for the 2024-25 school year – up from 43 participants during its first year.

    “While Miami students are performing better than their peers in other major cities, learning gaps exist and the teacher shortage is exacerbating the problem. A strong education system is critical to ensuring the viability of South Florida’s economy over the long-term, and that begins with building a robust pipeline of teachers. TAP will be the single largest source of new teachers in Miami-Dade County this school year, and we’re eager to scale up our program in Florida and beyond,” said Leslie Miller Saiontz, Founder of Achieve Miami.

    TAP is addressing a teacher shortage that is impacting communities in Florida and beyond. On the first day of school for the 2023-24 school year, there were more than 5,000 vacant teaching positions in Florida, and hundreds of thousands across the U.S. according to Florida Education Association’s (FEA) count of vacancies.

    Becoming a teacher through TAP is achievable in four attainable steps: participants take TAP’s one-semester course, followed by a six-week paid summer internship, earn their teaching certification, and are then hired by a Miami-Dade County public, private or charter school and placed in a classroom. This approach ensures that new teachers are well-prepared to make an immediate impact in the classroom. The streamlined process offers a clear path to becoming a teacher, opening the eyes of many to the benefits of a career in education.

    “South Florida is full of talent, both at our local colleges and across the workforce, and we find that many qualified individuals are excited about a flexible and fulfilling career in education,” said Jasmine Calin-Micek, Senior Director of the Teacher Accelerator Program. “TAP’s success in Miami is proving that when you offer an onramp to teaching, there’s no shortage of demand.”

    TAP is the first initiative of its kind in Florida, and Achieve Miami is currently in discussions with other universities interested in expanding the program nationally. The launch of TAP is entirely privately funded through funds raised by Achieve Miami, including a portion of the more than $2.6 million contributed by nearly 500 donors during the Miami Foundation’s 2023 Give Miami Day.

    To learn more about the Teacher Accelerator Program, or to take the first step towards a fulfilling career in education, visit www.teacheraccelerator.org.

    ABOUT THE TEACHER ACCELERATOR PROGRAM

    Teacher Accelerator Program (TAP) is a non-profit organization creating a pipeline of talent for the teaching profession through recruiting, preparing, and mentoring aspiring educators. TAP’s comprehensive and streamlined program equips college students and career changers with the skills, knowledge, and certification necessary to excel in the classroom. TAP addresses the nationwide teacher shortage crisis by providing a built-in path to teaching, inspiring a new generation of educators.

    TAP participants take a one-semester course, followed by a six-week paid summer internship, earn a certificate to teach, and begin instructing in a Miami-Dade County public, private, or charter school classroom. TAP is an initiative of Achieve Miami, supported by Teach for America Miami-Dade, and is offered by the University of Miami, Florida International University and Miami-Dade College. Learn more at www.teacheraccelerator.org.

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  • Enhancing Communication and Safety at American Heritage Charter School with Rise Vision

    Enhancing Communication and Safety at American Heritage Charter School with Rise Vision

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    Rise Vision, the #1 digital signage software is excited to announce the release of its newest case study featuring American Heritage Charter School. American Heritage Charter School near Idaho Falls, uses Rise Vision to enhance safety and streamline communication channels within its three buildings.

    Josh Siqueiros, the Director of Technology at American Heritage Charter School, was a business IT administrator transplant into the world of education. Josh brought a fresh perspective and a determination to overcome communication challenges he noticed within the school. His background in the business sector equipped him with the skills to navigate the hurdles of implementing new technologies in the educational domain.

    Upon joining American Heritage Charter School, Josh Siquerios identified two major challenges he wanted to tackle: Effective communication and to increase safety.

    To address the communication and safety challenges, Josh explored various solutions. Josh remarked, “Before Rise Vision, [the school] had one TV in a secondary building doing basically a PowerPoint. They weren’t even using that when I got here. They were trying to use freeware… but it was a struggle with compatibility issues.”

    Coming from the business world with his fresh perspective, Josh commented, “Safety messaging was the big thing. We could do better, improve communication, and enhance safety to a higher level than before. Rise Vision was a key part of that goal”.

    Rise Vision caught his attention due to its digital signage capabilities and the potential to enhance communication and safety throughout the school.

    The American Heritage case study showcases the impact of digital signage on communication and safety in an educational setting. The school’s strategic implementation and commitment to leveraging Rise Vision for both safety and general communication provide valuable insights for other educational institutions considering similar solutions.

    For more information about Rise Vision and how it can increase communication and support school safety, visit the company’s website.

    ABOUT RISE VISION

    Rise Vision is the #1 digital signage software solution for schools. Rise Vision helps schools improve communication, increase student involvement, celebrate student achievements, and create a positive school culture.

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  • VHS Learning Earns MSA-CESS Reaccreditation 

    VHS Learning Earns MSA-CESS Reaccreditation 

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    Boston – VHS Learning has once again received accreditation from the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS), a worldwide leader in accreditation and school improvement. A peer review team from Middle States member schools recommended VHS Learning for reaccreditation, and Middle States voted on the recommendation at its biannual meeting in Philadelphia. VHS Learning has been accredited by MSA-CESS since 2008.

    For over 130 years, MSA-CESS has been helping school leaders establish and reach their goals, develop strategic plans, promote staff development, and advance student achievement. The institution accredits preK-12 public, private, parochial, and charter schools as well as non-degree granting career and technical post-secondary institutions and learning services providers. Receiving accreditation is a multifaceted evaluation process that schools and school systems voluntarily use to demonstrate they are meeting a defined set of research-based performance standards.

    “This reaccreditation reflects VHS Learning’s commitment to supporting its school community.  Accreditation by MSA-CESS is a validation of the dedication and expertise that our faculty and staff have in teaching and learning best practices,” said Carol DeFuria, President & CEO of VHS Learning. “Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools accreditation is the gold standard for measuring and advancing school improvement, and our reaccreditation shows that VHS Learning is committed to excellence and continuous improvement.” 

    As part of the reaccreditation process, VHS Learning conducted a self-study before the peer review team’s evaluation. That self-study involved input from the nonprofit’s leaders, teachers, parents, and students. “Collaborating with Middle States gives us valuable independent feedback on how well our program is meeting research-based performance standards,” DeFuria continued. “Our work with Middle States helps us evolve and adapt to meet the changing needs of our students and schools.”

    About VHS Learning

    VHS Learning is a nonprofit organization with almost 30 years of experience providing world-class online programs to students and schools everywhere. More than 500 schools around the world take advantage of VHS Learning’s 200+ online high school courses — including 29 AP® courses, credit recovery, and enrichment courses — to expand their programs of study. VHS Learning is accredited by Middle States Association Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS) and the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC). Courses are approved for initial eligibility by NCAA. For more information about VHS Learning please visit  https://www.vhslearning.org/ and follow on Twitter at @VHSLearning.

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  • State Tests Show 4th Straight Year of Improvement for Newark’s Citywide Public Education System

    State Tests Show 4th Straight Year of Improvement for Newark’s Citywide Public Education System

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Dec 4, 2019


    NEWARK, N.J., December 4, 2019 (Newswire.com)
    –
    ​​According to a local foundation’s analysis, Newark public school students posted a fourth consecutive year of improved results on New Jersey state tests–with the city’s charter school sector continuing to stand out. “This data is proof positive that Newark is on the right path: a citywide school system of improving district schools, alongside growing charter schools that all work together as neighbors and collaborators,” said ​Kyle Rosenkrans, Executive Director of the New Jersey Children’s  Foundation, ​the group that authored the analysis. 

    “The bottom line is that a larger share of Newark kids are reading and doing math on grade level again this year, and in so doing, they show the rest of the state and the country what’s possible.” 

    Newark’s education system has undergone a transformation over the last decade-plus. Notable amongst the changes was growing the city’s charter sector from just 7% of the students in 2006 to nearly 40% in 2019. The impact of those transformations was cataloged in ​a June 2019 report by New Jersey Children’s Foundation and Margrady Research, titled “A New Baseline.” 

    The new data covers the first full school year under new Superintendent Roger Leon–the first school district leader selected by the city’s elected board of education in decades. Leon has rolled back several changes put in place while the district was under state control but has maintained a collaborative relationship with the city’s growing public charter school sector. 
    Notable findings from the foundation’s analysis of the scores include: 

    Newark Charters Beating the State Again:​ Newark’s public charter school students posted stand out results, besting New Jersey’s statewide average for the second consecutive year–a notable feat in a state that was ​recently ranked number one in public education​. Fifty-three percent of public charter school students were proficient in ELA and Math this year, continuing their work to reverse the achievement gap for Newark kids who are more than twice as likely to be from low-income, black and Hispanic households than the average New Jersey student. 

    The charter school results are consistent with ​research that ranked Newark’s charter sector as number two in America​, second only to Boston’s, which is stifled by a charter school cap. 
    Citywide Trends Continue to Point Up: ​The citywide average of math and reading test scores across all district and charter school students showed improvement yet again this year. This measure has improved every year since the state began using new, more rigorous learning standards five years ago.  

    Key components of the test changed for 2019, which some have attributed to the slower overall rate of improvement–as is common with such transitions. While the rate of improvement may have slowed, the increase in the percentage of proficient students citywide is likely attributable to the growing overall number of students in the city’s high-performing charter school sector. A more detailed breakdown of proficiency rates in math and reading shows that Newark’s schools largely followed the statewide pattern of slower increases in proficiency.

    About the New Jersey Children’s Foundation: 
    The New Jersey Children’s Foundation is a non-profit organization aimed at promoting a 
    fact-based discussion about public education in Newark. Our mission is to invest in people, programs, and partnerships that will improve public education systems by putting the interests of children first. Our vision is that every child will break down the walls of inequity through the creation of high-quality public education systems. Our theory of change is that when communities are armed with accurate information about public education and given the tools to act, cities will demand great schools for every student. 
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    Contact: Matthew Frankel, MDF Strategies, 917.617.7914

    Source: New Jersey Children’s Foundation

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