Follett Software Unveils Aspen Curriculum & Learning

MCHENRY, Ill., Sept. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Follett Software Company announced that Aspen, its Student Information System (SIS), has dramatically evolved to now serve as a fully-integrated instructional, curriculum and learning management system, allowing for seamless access to digital content, online learning and collaboration tools all in one product.

"Aspen Curriculum & Learning is a brand new way to think of Aspen; in fact an entirely new direction for a SIS to take," said Stephen Lyle, Follett Software's program director for Aspen. "Our Aspen customers have influenced this release more than any other, contributing significantly to our creation of a 'one-stop shop' that combines Student Information, Special Education, Curriculum Management, Instructional Resources, and a Learning Platform all in a single system. Ultimately, Aspen helps maximize teacher effectiveness and student success, all the while simplifying technology."

Known for its flexibility and adaptability in meeting even complex local requirements, Aspen includes full special education capabilities, health office functionality and professional development tracking in addition to traditional student information.

Aspen's newest chapter – the addition of curriculum and learning – creates a collaborative environment for curriculum teams, media specialists, librarians and teachers, bringing paid digital content, free and open-source content, and locally created resources together in a single system. All of these standards-aligned resources are usable by teachers, students and parents to augment lessons and extend the classroom to anytime, anywhere learning.

Aspen Curriculum & Learning, for example, will help districts seamlessly connect their standards-aligned curriculum maps to their instructional resources, and easily distribute them to all teachers and onto the student/parent portals with drag-and-drop simplicity. Individual lessons can be attached to the planner, so all teachers will be equipped – with materials on-hand – and ready for each lesson.

Teachers will be able to enhance their existing class web pages so all the class activities, including assignments and resources, are available to the family via the student/parent portal. Students can download an assignment, complete it online and submit back to the teacher. Other assignments, such as online quizzes or tests, can be auto-graded and the grades immediately sent to the Gradebook for real-time results.

Six districts piloted Aspen Curriculum & Learning during the 2011-12 school year and users were universally thrilled with the functionality, breadth of what can be accomplished and ease of use.

"In our district, we have approximately 1,000 teachers and our student information system needs to be a one-stop shop," said Sarah Marandos, systems administrator for Nashua (N.H.) School District. "Previously, we had teachers logging into three or four systems. Now with the evolution of Aspen, it will be one system for everything. Once it is finished, we will be able to include curriculum mapping pieces, assessments, and professional development all in one spot."

Existing Aspen customers can simply "add on" the Curriculum & Learning feature to their subscription.

The Aspen SIS, which has expanded Follett's broad range of technology and content delivery solutions, has shown consistent growth since Follett Software purchased it in October 2010. Aspen is now in 122 school districts, more than 1,500 schools and serves nearly 890,000 students, and in the past year alone, has debuted in the states of Illinois, Virginia, Michigan, Washington, and New Jersey.

For more information on Follett Software Company, visit www.FollettSoftware.com.

About Follett Software Company | www.FollettSoftware.com
Follett Software Company is the integrated technology solution provider that more than half of America's school districts trust to create a student-focused, digital learning environment. From discovering new ways to use emerging technologies to connecting students and teachers with the traditional and digital resources that support achievement, Follett helps educators and students navigate and collaborate in the digital world. Follett's powerful solutions integrate the technology, data and content to support an active, engaging learning community for the 21st century. Follett Software Company is a subsidiary of Follett Corporation, a $2.7 billion, privately held company that provides products, services and solutions to the educational marketplace. Follett Corporation was founded in 1873 and has its headquarters in River Grove, Ill.

SOURCE Follett Software Company