Dropout Recovery That Works: SIATech Recognized as Top School in Nation

SIATech's Dropout Recovery High Schools Identified as "Model Schools" by International Center for Leadership in Education

ORLANDO, Fla., June 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SIATech's network of charter schools is one of the nation's most effective and efficient schools according to the International Center for Leadership in Education. This award is noteworthy since SIATech schools work entirely with disadvantaged, low-income students who have previously dropped out of traditional schools.

SIATech Gainesville was invited to present its best practices to more than 5,000 educational leaders at the Model Schools Conference in Orlando, FL, on June 15 and June 16.  SIATech Gainesville is part of a national network of 15 SIATech charter high schools focused on low-income students who have previously dropped out of school.

Recent research on the dropout crisis has illuminated the importance of dropout recovery to the nation's social and economic well-being, and SIATech high schools have developed numerous strategies for serving re-enrolled students.

SIATech schools are commended as a model of data driven decision-making, shared leadership, relationships, instructional technology, partnerships, and relevant instruction. Part of SIATech's success is attributed to high student engagement due to the instructors who set high standards while treating students with kindness and respect. Students emerge from SIATech as transformed learners ready for college and careers.

According to SIATech spokesperson Linda Leigh, "We are thrilled to be recognized for what we do best – providing a quality high-tech accelerated learning program to students who have not been successful in traditional schools. Thank you to the International Center for Leadership in Education for this terrific opportunity to celebrate the hard work of our schools' teachers and students."

About the International Center for Leadership in Education and Model Schools Conference

Since its inception in 1991, the International Center has been committed to finding the nation's most innovative model schools and their most successful practices to provide all students with a rigorous and relevant education. This is the fifth year we have continued that mission in partnership with the Council of Chief State School Officers and the Successful Practices Network, with financial support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Conference will showcase these schools and our research findings from this five-year initiative. Through this partnership, we identified a diverse group of successful high schools and sent site reviewers to document their best practices and school characteristics. Modelschoolsconference.com and conference program.

About SIATech

SIATech® (pronounced SIGH-a-tek) is an award-winning dropout recovery program. SIATech stands for the School for Integrated Academics and Technologies. It is a fully accredited network of public charter high schools that operates in partnership with Job Corps and other federal workforce programs. The schools serve low-income, previously out-of-school youth. SIATech excels at identifying student strengths and individualizing instruction to meet each student's needs and goals. The school's safe and caring setting enables students to take charge of their learning and obtain the tools needed to be college- and career-ready. SIATech's four Florida school sites are SACS accredited and have graduated nearly 1,500 of Florida's previous dropouts since 2004. siatech.org

SOURCE SIATech