iSchool Campus Wins Bid to Continue Groundbreaking Smart School Technology Program in Utah Public Schools
iSchool Campus™, the leading integrator of SmartSchool™ technology, has been selected by the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) to continue deploying whole-school technology in Utah public schools through the expansion of the groundbreaking `Smart School Technology Pilot Program.’ The expansion represents the broad scale implementation of leading edge technology utilizing one-to-one mobile devices in the classroom. The iSchool Campus model offers a seamless conduit to advanced digital learning environments that directly speak to the native abilities of today’s students.
Due to the success of the 2012-13 Smart School Pilot Program, the Utah legislature provided additional funding for new schools in 2013-14 through SB 284. The program extension will allow additional schools from around the state the opportunity to implement whole-school technology, including iPads for each student and teacher. Based on a grant application process, as well as the availability of matching funds, schools were selected by the Utah State Office of Education (USOE) to participate in the pilot expansion.
“From Governor Herbert’s first days in office, continuing to improve education has been a priority because of its direct relationship to economic prosperity. To this end, one of Utah’s four key objectives in economic development is ‘to prioritize education to develop the workforce of the future’ and the Smart School program is an important element in achieving success,” said Spencer Eccles, GOED executive director. “GOED is pleased to continue the partnership with USOE and iSchool Campus, together we look forward to fulfilling the mandate to educate a productive workforce that will keep Utah’s economic future bright.”
“We believe the Smart School model represents the future of education, and will provide Utah students with the skills and experience they need to thrive in the competitive digital economy they will enter,” stated Eccles.
The iSchool Campus SmartSchool model provides:
- One-to-one tablet deployment on any platform;
- Complete security no matter where the tablet is used;
- Access to assignments, tests, textbooks and other educational materials even when wireless and Internet may not be available;
- Proprietary software that integrates testing, assignments, learning management systems, analytics, instant messaging, textbooks and collaboration—all in real time;
- State-of-the-art channel blanket wireless technology on the most powerful network available;
- Comprehensive professional development for teachers, administrators, IT professionals—even parents;
- Classrooms with surround sound audio;
- Interactive HD flat screen televisions; and,
- 24/7 ticket and phone support.
Since their initial Smart School Technology Pilot program deployment last December, Jarod Sites, principal of Dixon Middle School in Provo, reports significant increases in both student engagement and achievement, including impressive gains in their STEM program, with 96% of students scoring at 4 or higher on the CRT test. “We feel fortunate to have benefitted from the first year of the program, and are grateful that the State of Utah continues to recognize not only the success of whole-school technology, but the need for our students to learn in a manner that engages, challenges and excites them,” Sites said. “Our experience at Dixon Middle School has been exceptional and we are well on our way to extraordinary results.”
“iSchool Campus is setting the standard when it comes to education technology,” said William Nixon, the company’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our hardware, software and service solutions are empowering educators as they redefine effective instruction. The State of Utah has shown its leadership in providing powerful digital learning environments to its students, and we are honored to be part of the team. As a company, iSchool Campus is delighted to be with GOED at the vanguard of the education revolution.”
Based on legislative funding, as well as matching funds from participating schools, iSchool Campus will provide one-to-one mobile devices to approximately 3060 students across the State. Additional Smart School initiatives are underway in other states, with iSchool Campus planning deployments in Colorado, Idaho, Florida and Texas in the coming months.
For more information, please visit www.ischoolcampus.com.
About iSchool Campus, LLC
iSchool Campus empowers educators and those they teach as the leading provider of holistic education technology, creating Smart School environments—from one-to-one tablet deployment on robust and highly secure wireless networks to interactive and analytical software along with live support 24/7.
Media Contact:
Sue Winchester
801.201.1190
sue.winchester@ischoolcampus.com