About Aspire Public Schools
Founded in 1998, Aspire Public Schools currently provides 12,000 students across California in grades K-12 with a rigorous, college-preparatory education. Aspire seeks to transform underserved communities and it has a track record of success, with 100% of graduating seniors accepted to four year colleges. With a motto of “College for Certain,” Aspire makes sure that when its students graduate they are not only enrolled in college but also prepared to succeed in college, career and citizenship.Piloting Blended Learning at ERES Academy with Education Elements
Always pushing the boundaries on innovation in teaching and learning, Aspire began to explore blended learning and, in the fall of 2011, piloted blended learning at ERES Academy in Oakland. The ERES Academy serves about 220 students in grades K-8. The student population is 98 percent Hispanic, 97 percent free and reduced-price lunch and 60 percent English Language Learners.
According to Liz Arney, the Director of Innovative Learning, Aspire investigated a variety of models and decided on the classroom rotation model as the best fit with Aspire’s instructional model. In the rotation model, students are either working in a small group with a teacher, working independently with a partner or small group, or working on a computer with an adaptive software program. The students rotate between these three stations during a given class period.
Aspire turned to Education Elements to help them operate their blended learning program. The pilot program leverages Education Elements’ software platform to facilitate the integration of digital content and applications.
Aspire ERES Academy and Promising Results
Overall the pilot has been a success and Aspire Eres Academy is already seeing promising academic results. Student achievement increased in both ELA and math–the California API score rose 47 points to 812 in 2011-2012– and teachers felt their work was more sustainable and that blended learning has made a significant impact on student learning. As a result, they plan to expand blended learning to more schools in 2013.
Enjoy this video that showcases blended learning in action at ERES Academy
To learn more about Aspire, visit http://www.aspirepublicschools.org.