NEW YORK — The College Board has announced that five schools located in Florida, Pennsylvania and Washington were chosen as SpringBoard® National Demonstration Schools for the 2012-14 school years. These five schools were selected because of the outstanding practices of their teachers and administrators during the implementation of SpringBoard. These schools will serve as model sites for future SpringBoard implementations throughout the country. In addition to this recognition, the schools will receive additional professional development, registration and recognition at College Board events; a customized school banner and plaque; and opportunities to preview new SpringBoard-related teaching resources.
SpringBoard was developed by the College Board as a college readiness program in English Language Arts and Mathematics for students in grades six through 12. This research-based program provides culturally and personally relevant activities designed to engage students in problem solving and critical analysis — creating a pre-Advanced Placement® program that increases participation and prepares a greater diversity of students for success in AP® and college. Designed to align with the Common Core State Standards, SpringBoard provides teachers with a rigorous curriculum and highly informative student assessments. SpringBoard is used in more than 1,400 schools, and it serves over 1.4 million students across the country.
The five SpringBoard National Demonstration Schools have implemented SpringBoard for a minimum of two years with ongoing professional development and improved student achievement. Their teachers have established a professional learning community within the school, so they and their peers can learn from collective experiences and share best practices. Each of the five schools selected produced a brief video of SpringBoard in action, featuring student, teacher and administrator interviews that highlight the benefits and successes achieved. Additional evaluation criteria included classroom walk-throughs, student and staff interviews, and portfolio review by the SpringBoard National Demonstration School site selection team.
“SpringBoard provides rigorous learning opportunities with a curriculum that engages and empowers both students and educators,” said Pamela L. Nelson, vice president and general manager of SpringBoard at the College Board. “These five outstanding schools have been recognized and honored because they have shown that by aiming higher, rigor can be achieved by all students.”
This year’s SpringBoard National Demonstration Schools are:
Washington:
Gig Harbor High School — Peninsula School District
Peninsula High School — Peninsula School District
Florida:
Bloomingdale High School — Hillsborough County Public Schools
Pennsylvania:
Quakertown Community Senior High School — Quakertown Community School District
Strayer Middle School — Quakertown Community School District
“When considering curriculum that impacts an entire school population, SpringBoard is in a category of its own, and after four years, we are reaping the benefits of the increased rigor afforded by using this curriculum. Because we know that students have a more successful college experience if they have taken AP course work in high school, my goal was for all students who graduate from Bloomingdale to complete at least one AP course,” said Mark West, principal of Bloomingdale High School (Fla.). “To this end we increased enrollment in all AP classes, and through the use of SpringBoard our students are better prepared for the challenges experienced in these courses. For the second year Bloomingdale has had the highest AP pass rate among 27 high schools in the 8th largest district in the U.S.”
These five outstanding schools, combined with the 14 schools selected in 2011, bring the total number of SpringBoard National Demonstration Schools to 19.
-30-
About SpringBoard®
SpringBoard® is the College Board’s clearly articulated, proven model of rigorous instruction for English Language Arts and Mathematics for all students in grades 6–12. Written and field-tested by teachers who understand the challenges of today’s classroom, SpringBoard is a research-based program composed of rigorous curriculum, assessments, professional development and coaching services. SpringBoard is based on the Common Core State Standards and is highly recommended by Phi Delta Kappa International (PDK) as a program of exceptional quality. For more information about SpringBoard, visitwww.collegeboard.org/springboard.
About the College Board
The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success — including the SAT® and the Advanced Placement Program®. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators and schools. For further information, visit www.collegeboard.org.
Media Contact
Deborah Davis The College Board 212-713-8052 communications@collegeboard.org