The Abell Foundation has awarded the Baltimore Curriculum Project a grant of $108,000 to support the City Springs Academic Technology Project.The grant will fund the purchase of 111 tablet computers, which will be utilized by seventh and eighth graders at City Springs Elementary/Middle School as part of their daily instruction and during an after-school academic support program.
Currently, seventh and eighth grade students at City Springs only have computer access at school once a week and 42% do not have Internet access at home.
Providing increased computer access will allow students to complete their academic work at a high level and gain the skills they need to succeed in high school and beyond.
The project includes four components:
- Achieve 3000 – a web-based reading and writing instruction solution, which improves reading comprehension, vocabulary and writing;
- Perfect Paper Program – a program that requires students to revise compositions until they meet high standards in order to improve writing skills;
- Algebra - Ace High School Math Algebra, Khan Academy videos, and possibly other apps will be used for differentiated algebra instruction; and
- After-School Academic Support Program/Parent Engagement - the after-school program will provide additional computer time, homework support, and draw parents into the school to use the tablets and support their children academically. Parents will also receive tablet training. The program will target the 44 students without home Internet access.
Differentiated algebra instruction using the tablets will improve algebra skills for high and low performers.
The after-school program will increase parent volunteerism and engagement, and tablet training will increase parent technology skills.
We would like to thank the Abell Foundaton for supporting the Academic Technology Project.