The Learning Accelerator Announces Blended Learning Partnership with Colorado School District

Posted on March 19, 2014

Greeley-­Evans School District 6 will personalize learning through effective use of technology

Cupertino, CA ­– March 19, 2014 ­– The Learning Accelerator (TLA), a nonprofit organization supporting the implementation of high­-quality blended learning in school districts across America, today announced a district-­wide implementation partnership with Greeley­-Evans School District 6 in Colorado. The partnership will also include the Colorado eLearning Collaborative, a Colorado nonprofit supporting the expansion of high-­quality online and blended learning.

“We are excited to build on the great work the Greeley-­Evans school district has done in support of student achievement and we are eager to help the district adopt blended learning at scale,” said Scott Ellis, CEO of The Learning Accelerator. “We are here to provide expertise and support in accelerating the process and to create an example of a successful implementation that we can share with other districts across the country.”

The partnership’s goal is to implement the first phase of blended learning during the 2014­-15 school year and to adopt blended learning district wide within four years. TLA will provide the overall framework for implementation and bring partner organizations, like the Colorado eLearning Collaborative, in to assist with critical focus areas, including Internet network upgrades, purchasing, and professional development.

Blended learning is the combination of traditional, face-­to-­face teaching with elements of personalized, online, mastery­-based education that leads to improved student engagement and achievement. At its core, blended learning is the effective use of education technology to transform the learning experience for students.

“Our goal in District 6 is always to improve student achievement. We believe blended learning is a model that can help us reach that goal,” said District 6 Superintendent Dr. Ranelle Lang. “This method will blend the best of brick-and-mortar teaching methods with online teaching methods, creating more opportunities for students to take control of their own learning at a pace that is right for them. With the help of The Learning Accelerator, our district will be on the forefront of creating a successful blended learning model that other school districts in the nation can use. That is incredibly exciting for our district, our students and our staff.”

Greeley-Evans School District 6 was selected for its inventiveness and its commitment to personalized learning—and because it’s a typical American school district with demographics that match many others across the country.

“District 6 is committed to achieving outstanding results for its students, teachers and community,” said John Branam, Partner at The Learning Accelerator. “Our work together will provide a model - a series of boulder-sized breadcrumbs - for other districts who understand the power of blended learning, but that need a roadmap for how to get there.” Branam will work closely with the district on its blended strategy and design.

For more information about TLA, contact John Branam at john.branam@learningaccelerator.org. For additional information about the Colorado eLearning Collaborative, contact Judy Bauernschmidt at jbauernschmidt@coloradoelearning.org. For more information about Greeley-Evans District 6, contact Theresa Meyers at tmyers@greeleyschools.org. 

The Learning Accelerator is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming education by accelerating the implementation of high-quality blended learning in schools districts across America. Learn more at www.learningaccelerator.org. What is blended learning? Watch this brief video.

The Greeley-Evans School District 6 provides a quality education for every learner within a system of high expectations and rigorous, focused instruction. District 6 serves more than 20,000 students in the communities of Greeley and Evans, Colorado. They have 25 district-operated schools, plus five charter schools and an online academy. Learn more at www.greeleyschools.org.