Washington - Microsoft
Partners in Learning Project
Overview
Washington has partnered with Microsoft Corporation to help transform teaching and learning through the enhanced use of technology. The Office of the Governor and Microsoft formed a public-private partnership to work together over five years to collaboratively seek innovative technology-based approaches to improving student achievement. Microsoft provided a $2.5 million grant in furtherance of these goals. The effort is part of a national program launched in Spring 2004 by Microsoft called Partners in Learning.
Washington is one of only six states selected to participate in this program. Each of the states participating has a different emphasis with unique project goals, but all are expected to leverage successful changes in teaching and learning statewide—even nationally or internationally.
The focus in Washington State is:
To promote a culture of continuous improvement within and between education sectors through the use of shared data, analysis, planning, and evaluation efforts.
To improve instruction and learning, as evidenced by increased student achievement within the five-year project period, particularly among students who have failed at least one Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) test.
To increase understanding about the effects and uses of technology-rich tools to improve student learning through targeted intervention and remediation instructional materials and strategies.
In June 2005, the Partners in Learning grant was jointly awarded to the Cheney School District and Eastern Washington University for a project called Learning Transformed. The goal of Learning Transformed aligns with Washington State's focus and presents an exceptional opportunity to improve education in Washington State.
