Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Celebrates Five-Year Professional Development Partnership with Action Learning Systems
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — May 18, 2010 — Global education leader Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) today celebrates their five-year partnership with Action Learning Systems (ALS), a company that identifies strategic curriculum and professional development solutions to increase student achievement across California schools and districts. HMH and ALS share a fundamental commitment to provide ongoing training, support and collaboration resources for new and veteran educators.
As a primary professional development trainer for many of HMH’s California products including Harcourt Achieve , California Gateways and Holt Literature and Language Arts , ALS possesses an intimate understanding of the Company’s learning theory and instruction framework. ALS is also the co-author and professional developer for HMH’s California Gateways intensive intervention program for struggling readers and English learners.
“Our foremost priority is to connect California school districts with quality professional development services,” said John Sipe, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Western Region Vice President. “Action Learning Systems holds an impressive record of long-term achievement gains for schools and districts throughout California and can help districts best utilize educational materials to improve student achievement.”
ALS services begin with a multi-day training period to familiarize participants with California curriculum and content standards, as well as teach them how to analyze instruction materials and implement all curriculum components in the classroom. ALS promotes a direct interactive instruction method that includes clearly defined goals, sufficient allocated instruction time, and content that aligns tightly with basic skills and foundational concepts. After initial training, ALS provides participants with ongoing coaching services to address any resulting issues related to curriculum implementation or instruction strategies.
“Action Learning Systems believes deeply in the value of coherence to a district in building capacity and sustainability for student achievement,” said Dr. Kit Marshall, President and CEO of Action Learning Systems. “When publishers and comprehensive district reform partners like Action Learning Systems work in concert to deliver a solution that brings clarity to the chaos of change, the impact is obvious and measurable.”
ALS’s model for school-wide reform through professional development is firmly grounded in research-based strategies and best practices proven to impact student achievement and performance gains, as measured by formative and summative measures and academic achievement tests.
“Our district has partnered with Action Learning Systems for the past six years and we have received coherent and comprehensive professional development for our teachers, coaches and administrators,” said Dr. Martinrex Kedziora, Professional Development, Hemet Unified School District. “Our relationship has helped us focus on classroom instruction, which is at the heart of our professional development program and has allowed us to move beyond what is possible for student achievement and effective classroom instruction.”
“The Fullerton School District (FSD) has worked with Action Learning, Systems for several years with our first partnership resulting in FSD receiving the High Priority Schools Grant funding for two of our elementary school sites,” said Susan Albano, Director of Educational Services for Fullerton School District. “ALS has provided our district and schools sites with excellent professional development opportunities including Direct Instruction, Collaborative Coaching, Demonstration Lessons Co-Plan/Co-Teach and SB472 Intensive Intervention training. ALS has been instrumental in ensuring the success of the program by providing staff training, discussion forums, coaching, and collaborative planning.”
For more information about Action Learning Systems, visit www.actionlearningsystems.com.
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.
CONTACT:
Margeaux Esler
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
916-448-5802
mesler@randlecommunications.com