Mark Truemper, as Dunham Fund Advisor, East Aurora High School alum, and co-founder of the Foundation for East Aurora Schools, said while presenting the grant, "This is the kind of innovative and educational initiative that the Dunham Fund is excited about supporting. STEM-related initiatives represent the future of progressive elementary, middle, and high school education in our nation and an area where the United States needs to advance more rapidly to better compete in the global educational arena."
The drive for 1:1 Computing for the Magnet School came out of an initial District 131 assessment survey of middle school magnet students which indicated that while 92% of these students had a computer at home, 80% of them were only able to use the computer once a month. The middle school academy itself had access to only twenty laptops for teacher check-out. The "digital divide" between students from lower-income families, predominant in District 131, and others in more affluent areas became quite apparent in the survey results.
The focus of the Academy's 1:1 Computer Initiative is to prepare students for their future in a world of digital technology and information. Learning with computers integrates technology into the school curriculum anytime, anyplace. And with the additional 24 hour a day access to a portable personal computer device for the student, the initiative further ensures parental engagement in the student's academic success and increases the family's technology awareness and skill sets.
The Dunham Fund 1:1 Computer Initiative grant could provide age appropriate devices for up to 750 children. All parents will be required to attend an orientation and training to provide access to the devices for their children. Parents will also have access to additional training on the basics of email, internet usage, and Microsoft Office suite and will be encouraged to communicate with their students' teachers electronically.
"The Fred Rogers Magnet School, opened in the fall of 2006, is already a model for collaboration." says Mr. Truemper. "Along with innovation, collaboration is another key criterion for a Dunham Fund grant." The District Board of Education has supported the redesigned STEM-focused Academy courses and has purchased the Fred Rogers Community Center from the City of Aurora to triple the size of the Academy to up to 750 students. Collaborations with the Aurora East Educational Foundation, Aurora University and North Central College for STEM Teacher Education and Academy internships have been very successful. Comcast has provided low-cost internet service to the district families at home and the Magnet Academy has collaborated with the City of Aurora to connect the Academy's new building to the "OnLight Aurora" fiber-optic network. "And on a more basic, but most important level", says Truemper, "the district collaborates with the families of Magnet Academy students to provide outstanding educational opportunities for these future successful citizens."
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Mark Truemper, Dunham Fund Advisor
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To learn more about the 1:1 Computer Initiative, read the press conference news release or visit the Dunham Fund website.
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