The National Center for Educational Achievement’s School Improvement Planning Solution Receives Support by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation

Friday, March 12 2010

The National Center for Educational Achievement is granted $1 million from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation for further research, development, and evaluation of the effectiveness of its comprehensive school improvement tool, CoreWork™ Diagnostics.

Austin, TX — The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation continues its support of the National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA) and awards the non-profit organization an additional $1 million to extend its research and development of CoreWork™ Diagnostics, an online service tool that enhances a school system’s capacity to strengthen and sustain teaching and learning improvement. The tool empowers K–12 administrators and educators to make informed school improvement planning decisions by drawing on student performance data. CoreWork Diagnostics puts into action one of the Foundation’s core commitments: improving children’s lives through education.

Reforms across the country focus on the need to raise standards in K–12 education so that students are adequately prepared for postsecondary work or studies. CoreWork Diagnostics is one solution to which schools and districts can turn for assistance in establishing a collaborative environment among staff and faculty—at the district, school, and classroom levels—so that they give all students the opportunity to reach college and career readiness.

“College and career readiness for all students is an ambitious but achievable goal,” says Angela Hall Watkins, assistant vice president and managing director of NCEA. “What we see missing is the link that connects philosophies to practice. CoreWork Diagnostics provides educators with the knowledge and tools to make college and career readiness a reality for all students. The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation has provided invaluable support on this endeavor. We are grateful for their commitment and continued backing.”

CoreWork Diagnostics is in its second year of implementation within school districts. The grant allows NCEA to create additional school improvement tools and solutions, as well as to better evaluate the results of school and district performance after implementation.

For more information on CoreWork Diagnostics, please visit www.nc4ea.org/cwinfo.
For more information about NCEA, please visit www.nc4ea.org.

About NCEA

The National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA) is an ACT-owned non-profit organization committed to providing data, best-practice research, and evidence-based tools to help educators, policy makers, and other leaders raise academic expectations and promote practices to ensure all students are college and career ready.