Pittsburgh Public School District Expands Technology in Classrooms with Compass Learning® Software Across All 11 Area High Schools

PITTSBURGH, May 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Following nearly 10 years of successfully utilizing Compass Learning personalized learning software in K-8 classrooms, the Pittsburgh Public School District is now rolling out Compass Learning software for use by students in all 11 area high schools. The move will bring tailored educational tools to more than 25,000 area students and provide advanced learning opportunities for Pittsburgh students.

"We have experienced success in enabling teachers to advance learning for students using the Compass Learning program in our elementary and middle schools," says Pittsburgh Public School District Chief Academic Officer Dr. Jerri Lippert. "We feel our high school students can benefit as well especially with support for credit recovery."

All Pittsburgh-area high schools will adopt the Compass Learning personalized learning software and have it in use in their classrooms by the end of the month. The schools will primarily use Compass Learning for remediation and preparation of students taking the Keystone Exams, as the Compass Learning program covers 100 percent of Keystone standards with direct instruction for each standard. The program will also be used for Credit Recovery and Summer School needs.

"Technology now enables us as educators to reach students on a more personal level, and by expanding our work with the Pittsburgh Public School District, we will help educators meet students where they are today, understanding their current skill and comprehension levels, and use that information to advance their learning to the next level," said Eileen Shihadeh, Vice President at Compass Learning.

Courses offered through the expanded implementation will include Biology, Algebra I & II, English I-IV, Chemistry, World History, U.S. History, Geometry, Calculus, and Physics. Available electives include Economics, Health, Psychology, and Sociology.

After working with Compass Learning to first introduce a technology-based math and read/language arts element to a handful of Pittsburgh middle schools, the district then expanded the use of Compass Learning software to include all middle school grades in 2004. In an effort to build the district's Extended After-School (EAP) and Intervention programs before the 2007-2008 school year, the district and Compass Learning decided to conduct a year-long pilot of the K-5 Reading/Language Arts program. At the conclusion of the pilot, Compass Learning found that data-driven instruction was no longer just a goal but a reality in the district. Additionally, K-8 students received assignments specifically tailored to their instructional weakness, which helped advance their overall educational achievement.

For more information on Compass Learning, visit: www.compasslearning.com

About Compass Learning®

Compass Learning® provides K–12 educational software that empowers teachers to unlock every student's potential for academic success and growth with personalizing learning. Compass Learning takes a student-centered approach by providing comprehensive solutions that address the needs of every student and student-type to create personalized learning and differentiation programs that reach, engage, and inspire students to succeed. Teachers and administrators can more efficiently and effectively manage and measure progress, freeing time to focus on delivering academic results. Known for its academic rigor that is based on more than 40 years of research into how students learn, and are aligned to state and Common Core State Standards to support classroom and district accountability, Compass Learning is committed to the mission of partnering with educators to achieve record academic achievement one student at a time. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Compass Learning serves more than 10,000 schools across the United States.

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SOURCE Compass Learning