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Wireless Generation to Train Rhode Island Educators in Data Use

Statewide Professional Development to Enhance Instruction

Wireless Generation is pleased to announce an agreement with the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) to train educators across the state in the use of data to enhance instruction. The initiative is part of the State's federally funded Race to the Top (RTTT) initiative.

The $2.175 million professional development contract between RIDE and Wireless Generation was signed by Rhode Island Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Deborah A. Gist last week and launches a three-year engagement to help school leadership teams, including all teachers, with data use.

Wireless Generation will work with all of the more than 300 Rhode Island schools and will design and implement professional development that includes three days of training at the start of the school year, four additional day-long workshops throughout the year, and three days of on-site visits to each school. Approximately half the schools in Rhode Island will participate in the program in 2012-2013 and the other half the following year.

Wireless Generation's work will include undertaking a detailed needs assessment through surveys, focus groups, and observations, followed by the development of training materials customized for Rhode Island educators.

The Rhode Island statewide program will be based on Wireless Generation's Taking Action with Data framework which has been successfully implemented in other regions of the country. It will address the varied needs of Rhode Island educators who have different levels of experience in using data. The program will enhance their skills and comfort level in gathering and interpreting data, and in using data in educational planning and teaching.

Says Commissioner Gist, "One of our priorities as we work together to transform education in Rhode Island is to develop user-friendly data systems -- and to ensure that teachers and school leaders use data to improve instruction. As part of this initiative, we are using some of our Race to the Top funds to provide educators with high-quality professional development on the use of data. We are pleased to be working with Wireless Generation in this important endeavor, which will help improve teaching and learning in Rhode Island for years to come."

Adds Leslie Kerner, Vice President of Professional Services for Wireless Generation, "Using data effectively in schools means much more than looking at test scores. It means seeing a fuller picture, reviewing all available information about students, identifying trends and analyzing patterns of need, and then determining which instructional strategies to use to best target those needs. It also means monitoring progress and making adjustments as necessary."

Wireless Generation works with teachers and school leaders in every state across the country, providing professional development and training services. The company provides intensive coaching support in districts seeking to enhance data use, and is currently working in Delaware in another RTTT data use effort.

About Wireless Generation

Wireless Generation is an education company that harnesses technology to help teachers teach with excellence. Founded in 2000, the company provides educational software, such as assessment tools, and adaptive curriculum for individualized instruction and builds large-scale data systems. In addition, Wireless Generation provides consulting services to support teachers' expertise and school improvement. Wireless Generation's innovative tools help teachers meet the needs of individual students and benefit more than 200,000 educators and 3 million children in schools and districts in all 50 states. More information is available at www.WirelessGeneration.com.