Collaboration with PT3 Grant Seekers Reiterates Lightspan's Commitment to Preparing Teachers to Use Technology in the Classroom
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 13, 2000--
Lightspan Partners With Five Historically Black Colleges and Four
Local K-12 Districts in Mississippi to Ensure Technology
Education for New Teachers
Lightspan Inc. (Nasdaq:LSPN), a leading provider of curriculum-based educational software, professional development products and services, and Internet products and services for school and home, announced today its partnership with Jackson State University, Rust College, Mississippi Valley State University, Alcorn State University, Tougaloo State University and local K-12 districts; Holly Springs School District, Bolivar County School District, Washington County School District, Greenville Public Schools, Canton Public Schools, and Jackson Public Schools in providing grant-writing expertise to university and school fund-seekers.
The project is a collaborative effort between the five Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Lightspan, and the six local K-12 districts. The primary focus of the partnership is to ensure that new teachers entering the classroom have solid technology experience and the ability to immediately share that expertise with their students in order to help bridge the Digital Divide.
"Collaboration will help us share resources and ideas and increase our chances for developing winning proposals," said Beverly Hogan, vice-president for Office of Institutional Advancement at Tougaloo State University, and one of the collaboration's founders.
The project is expected to be awarded funds from the Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology (PT3) Grant program. The PT3 Grant program is a competitive discretionary program authorized under Title III of the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994. Grants awarded under this program support innovative teacher preparation program improvements developed by consortia composed of higher education institutions, state agencies, school districts, non-profit organizations, and corporations who are joining forces to develop well-prepared, technology-savvy educators.
The consortium will also work with the local school districts to facilitate the application process for other federal education grants. For 2001, the group plans to apply for a minimum of 10 grants to help improve local schools, raise student achievement, provide professional development to in-service educators, and prepare future teachers to use technology effectively in their classrooms.
For more information on the PT3 grant program, visit the U.S. Department of Education Web site at www.ed.gov. |
