EdisonLearning Names Dropout Recovery Expert to Expand Efforts to Help School Districts and Students

NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- EdisonLearning, a leading international educational solutions provider, has named Alvin Allgood Senior Vice President and head of its Dropout Recovery Center initiative. Allgood has extensive experience launching and managing drop out recovery centers and will lead the acceleration of EdisonLearning's presence in this critical area.

Earlier this year, EdisonLearning opened eight dropout recovery Centers in Ohio – four each in Columbus and Cleveland.  Each center provides educational services for 100 to 150 students seeking to earn their high school diploma.

"With the alarming high school drop out rates across the country, EdisonLearning's experience in education reform positions us well to help our state and local partners address this issue," said EdisonLearning President and CEO Jeff Wahl. "Alvin's educational and administrative background in establishing the programs and facilities to help students earn a high school diploma will help accelerate our presence in this important area."

With EdisonLearning, Allgood is leading the development of the EdisonLearning™ Drop Out Recovery Design, a dropout recovery program that allows EdisonLearning to leverage nearly 20 years of increasing achievement in some of the most challenging school districts in the U.S. to provide students who have left the school system the opportunity to earn a diploma in a setting that is both engaging and flexible.  The EdisonLearning™ Drop Out Recovery Design will provide students with the credits they need to obtain a high school diploma, as well as provide them guidance, job placement and college and career planning assistance that they need to succeed after they graduate.

"The high school drop out problem is an epidemic in the U.S. and I'm proud to be part of an organization that wants to do something about it," Allgood said. "The way to end poverty is through education.  We have an important role to play in providing opportunities to students who may not have experienced education that is suited to their needs."

From 1999 to 2009, Allgood was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Educational Services of America (ESA), a leading provider of K-12 alternative and special education schools and programs for students who are at risk of dropping out and for students with special needs.  At ESA, he built four operating divisions, which include its drop out recovery services and the infrastructure to support them.

Allgood noted that seeing the progress of students is one of the most gratifying aspects of being in education.  "Small steps are important.  I have seen a non-verbal student develop to the point where upon his graduation led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.  To see his progress and how proud his family was at that moment made a major impression," Allgood said.

He added that it is heartening to hear students talk about their futures after they graduate. "Knowing we contributed to that is what our work is all about," he said.

Allgood served in the U.S. Army and holds a Master's degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from Middle Tennessee State University.

EdisonLearning (www.edisonlearning.com) is a leading international educational solutions provider with nearly 20 years of experience partnering with school districts, governments, organizations, charter authorizers, and boards. Our education reform heritage gives us unique perspective and experience in providing our partners effective solutions to improve student achievement. EdisonLearning has educated more than one million students, and currently serves partners with more than 450,000 students in 25 states, the United Kingdom and the Middle East through 391 school partnerships. EdisonLearning writes about news and ideas shaping education at http://studentachievement.edisonlearning.com/.

SOURCE EdisonLearning