What is your implementation objective (Example-RTI, credit recovery, Special Ed.)?
Our school district has used Ascend for a multitude of instructional opportunities. Those include, special education, RTI and/or tier 2 students, after school enrichment/intervention and gift and talented students. We have implemented the program in all of our schools in the district.
How many students use Ascend?
With a small district of around 500 students, we have utilized approximately 150 to 200 licenses.
On average, how many hours per week are they on Ascend?
Students range from one hour to four hours a week depending on their home use.
How many teachers use Ascend?
Approximately 20 to 25.
What were some of the challenges faced, and what were your reasons for adopting Ascend?
Each school in our district has a specific challenge ranging from student needs and the time available to intervene, and technology issues specifically bandwidth.
The main reason that we have adopted Ascend is its ease of use, instructional video for student viewing on mathematics concept, interactive practice and student pre and post assessments. An additional key component to the Ascend program is a reporting system that gives beneficial reports of student progress and achievement.
What were your desired objectives?
We have used the Ascend program to intervene with tier 2 and tier 3 students. It has provided instruction that has helped some of our struggling students gain up to three levels in a six month period.
We have some parents who like to have their children practicing and actually working above grade level. The Ascend program allows for instruction to be viewed and learned via the program and the student is able to learn at their own pace. So many parents are very appreciative to the Ascend Program and our school district in providing learning opportunities that is up and above the traditional school day.
What has been Ascend’s impact on student achievement, and what are the actual outcomes (Ascend results, test score results, etc)? As I said above, some of our students have grown three levels in six months. Our students are taking the NWEA Mapp assessment next week and I look forward to interpreting the data of those children who have been actively involved in the Ascend program to that of the Mapp score.
What were the funding sources used to adopt Ascend?
For the first year we used Arra funds but are now looking at using district funds because it has been requested to be used in the schools.
The schools in this county are as followed: Elk Mountain Elementary, Medicine Bow Elementary, Hanna Elementary HEM Middle/High School, Saratoga Middle/High School, Saratoga Elementary, Encampment K-12 School
