The Resiliency Foundation Partners with ConnectEDU to Launch the First Innovation Academy

BOSTON, Feb. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Resiliency Foundation and ConnectEDU announced the launch of the Innovation Academy, an education model for 7^th-13^th graders that combines an early college model, a hands-on resiliency curriculum, and a scalable technology infrastructure for easy adoption nationwide. The organizations developed the Innovation Academy model to reform the way education is delivered and ultimately increase student success by measuring outcomes and program efficacy with real-time, learner-level data.

With at least 1 in 4 students failing to graduate high school and even fewer completing a postsecondary degree, the United States has struggled to fill jobs, despite high unemployment rates. The Resiliency Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to closing the opportunity gap by improving graduation rates and preparing young people to enter the workforce. ConnectEDU is a technology company dedicated to connecting the world's learners to life's possibilities through clear education-to-career pathways. Together, the organizations are launching a data-driven model that will not only serve students, but also enable districts, postsecondary institutions, businesses and college access organizations to measure their return on investment in Innovation Academies based on the success metrics that matter most to them. 

"We are very pleased to leverage our partnership with ConnectEDU to bring to fruition our mission," said Omari Walker, President and Co-Founder of the Resiliency Foundation. "We provide opportunities for academic and personal growth to 'at-promise' students, make learning relevant, and prepare students to find success in postsecondary education and beyond."   

The Innovation Academy model is a blend of three educational approaches proven to engage students and prepare them for college and careers. First, the Early College Model, beginning in 7^th grade, prepares students to potentially earn up to 60 college credits by the time they graduate high school. Second, the Resiliency Curriculum teaches students to be active participants in their communities and develop a sense of belonging and identity in a larger support network. Lastly, the Innovation Lab combines scalable software, hardware and infrastructure in support of the model, including education, career and financial planning tools for students and data-driven early warning and intervention tools for administrators.

"We are excited to advance our mission by partnering with the Resiliency Foundation," said Craig Powell, ConnectEDU's founder and CEO. "The Innovation Academy combines an engaging, purposeful in-classroom experience with the technology and infrastructure necessary to take it to scale."

The first Innovation Academy is scheduled to launch in the fall of 2013.

About ConnectEDU (www.connectedu.com)

ConnectEDU is a privately held technology company, committed to preparing and transitioning 21st Century Learners on their pathways from school to college to career, helping them realize their potential, achieve a secure financial future, and ultimately connect to life's possibilities. ConnectEDU was created in 2002, by Craig Powell, an entrepreneur with a passion for ensuring that all students have access to the expertise and resources needed to realize and achieve their potential. Today, ConnectEDU serves more than 20 million registered learners, 5,000 educational institutions, and 130,000 employers throughout 40 countries; all engaging and supporting learners across their school-to-college-to-career pathway.

About Resiliency Foundation (www.resiliencyfoundation.org)

The Resiliency Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit agency dedicated to the creation and support of innovative education pathways designed to close the achievement gap, improve graduation and dropout rates, and prepare young people to succeed in college and career. The Resiliency Foundation was founded in 2009 by Omari Walker, an educational leader committed to promoting student success through three key areas: rigorous academic preparation, an "engaged" experience, and the cultivation of resiliency and motivation.  Today, the Resiliency Foundation serves school districts around New England, designing and implementing educational strategies to ensure each student is "at-promise" for success.  

SOURCE ConnectEDU, Inc.