I am honored to represent Quantum Learning our client and the educators behind this historic event in education. My PR tip? Even though I’m using a press release because this is breaking news, believe me, I’m on the phones making sure my closest media contacts and those covering educational news have inside information, interviews and goodies not covered in the release. Remember: relationships, relationships, relationships. And top-tier media need goodies not covered in press releases. Also, you might take note of the format of this press release as it was written by our senior writer at Wasabi Publicity and he spent 20 years in a New York Times related daily newspaper office.

Federal Government Grants Historic Waiver from No Child Left Behind Standards, Tests

Kansas Initiative Will Use Quantum Learning Citizenship Model

For Immediate Release:

[San Diego, CA/USA] The U.S. Department of Education has granted a Kansas school district the first broad-based waiver from the No Child Left Behind Act.

No Child Left Behind, signed into law almost a decade ago by President George W. Bush, requires all government-run schools that receive federal funding to administer statewide standardized tests.

The McPherson Unified School District in Central Kansas was informed last week that Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has approved its request for a waiver from NCLB, Superintendent Randy Watson said. In partnership with Quantum Learning and ACT, Inc., the school district developed the C³ — Citizenship, College and Career Readiness plan, including benchmarks to measure student progress in the three areas of emphasis.

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) called the C³ initiative “bold, challenging and one of a kind in the United States,” Dr. Watson said. DOE officials indicated it would be considered a model for future waiver requests from other school districts.

Quantum Learning Network, which integrates Quantum Learning teacher and student programs in school districts nationwide, has worked with the school district for almost 10 years.

“Quantum Learning is thrilled to be part of this breakthrough initiative in McPherson,” said Bobbi DePorter, president of Quantum Learning Network.

Ms. DePorter said the opportunity to develop students who are better equipped for success in college, careers and life is consistent with Quantum Learning’s mission to transform education and the lives of young people.

Standardized testing mandated by No Child Left Behind has come under significant scrutiny in recent months from critics who believe state standardized tests are too narrowly focused, are not an authentic measurement of student learning, and create undue stress for students, teachers, administrators and parents.

Dr. Watson chose to partner with Quantum Learning to develop the Citizenship-Ready component of the C³ model. Quantum Learning’s 8 Keys of Excellence is McPherson USD’s foundation for teaching and assessing students in their citizenship readiness. The model also includes a partnership with ACT, which will supply multiple assessments for 6th–12th grade students based on a College Ready/Career Ready curriculum.

About Quantum Learning
Quantum Learning delivers programs that empower teachers, students, administrators and parents to create a district culture of student engagement, positive behavior, teaching excellence and student responsibility for learning. Quantum Learning’s 8 Keys of Excellence equip everyone in the learning community with a common language of character that propels student success. In two decades of collaboration with school districts nationwide, Quantum Learning has trained over 100,000 teachers impacting more than 5 million students. More information on Quantum Learning is available at www.QuantumLearning.com.

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Media Contact:
Michelle Tennant Nicholson
Wasabi Publicity, Inc.
828-749-3200
michelle@publicityresults.com 
http://www.quantumlearning.presskit247.com

Filed under: Topics Tagged: duncan, mcpherson, no child left behind, school reform, secretary of education. quantum learning, testing flexibility, testing standards