Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Launches Professional Development Partnership with Pivot Learning Partners in California
Partnership allows California school districts to offer professional development seminars for K–6 teachers using Houghton Mifflin Reading – Medallion Edition
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — March 25, 2010 — Global education leader Houghton Mifflin Harcourt today announced an exclusive professional development partnership with Pivot Learning Partners, a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization focused on closing the achievement gap, to deliver training courses to California’s K–6 English Language Arts (ELA) teachers based on the HMH’s Houghton Mifflin Reading – Medallion Edition program.
The multi-day program, called Balanced ELA, begins with a Foundation Day focused on the California Reading/Language Arts Framework, and follows with one to three days of material covering key areas of implementation including improving teaching and learning for English Language Learners (ELL). Because of its unique structure, Balanced ELA can satisfy the needs of individual schools and districts at a decreased duration and cost.
“We are delighted to partner with Pivot Learning on Medallion Edition professional development,” said John Sipe, Regional Sales Vice President for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. “Pivot Learning Partners is an organization of high-caliber educators with a fantastic track record of professional development and success in California schools, and they built this new training with highly-experienced educators who know what it takes to effectively implement Medallion Edition.”
This announcement comes on the heels of a recent adoption of Medallion Edition by seven additional school districts in California. Medallion Edition has now been adopted by 54 California school districts representing more than 350,000 students statewide. The program was approved by the California State Board of Education as part of the California Reading Language Arts adoption in November, 2008, and is the only approved offering designed specifically to meet the needs of financially challenged school districts. Medallion Edition provides schools with updated curriculum at about one third of the cost of a new program; thus helping districts save a combined total of $50 million dollars.
“With the recent adoptions of Houghton Mifflin Reading – Medallion Edition, teachers across the state will need the latest tools to help their students achieve in the classroom. Our training program is unique in that it provides coach consultants to help educators learn the best skills for instruction in ELA,” said Merrill Vargo, Executive Director of Pivot Learning Partners. “The demand for professional development is high, and Pivot Learning is thrilled to partner with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt to turn districts’ need into a reality.”
About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company is a global education leader and the world’s largest publisher of educational materials for pre-K–12 schools. The Company publishes a comprehensive set of best-in-class educational solutions, ranging from research-based textbook programs to instructional technology to standards-based assessments for students and educators. The Company also publishes an extensive line of reference works and award-winning literature for adults and young readers. With origins dating back to 1832, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt combines its tradition of excellence with a commitment to innovation. To learn more about Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, visit www.hmhpub.com.
About Pivot Learning Partners
Pivot Learning Partners (formerly Springboard Schools) is a non-profit public school change catalyst working with school districts throughout California to raise the achievement of students overall and close the achievement gap. The San Francisco-based non-profit helps create a future in which all students learn to high levels and where race, class, language, gender and culture are no longer good predictors of educational outcomes. In the 2008–09 school year, Pivot Learning Partners worked with fifty California districts serving 750,000 students. Students in these districts represented a higher percentage of low-income, minority, and non-native English speakers. To learn more about Pivot Learning Partners, visit www.pivotlearningpartners.org.
CONTACT:
Justin Joseph
Manager, Communications
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
617-351-5020
justin.joseph@hmhpub.com
For Houghton Mifflin Harcourt:
Margeaux Esler
916-448-5802
mesler@randlecommunications.com
Mryna Alcaide
Communications Coordinator
Pivot Learning Partners
415-348-5526
malcaide@pivotlearningpartners.org