IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 13, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS), one of North Carolina's top-performing school districts, has selected Scantron's Achievement Series(tm) assessment software to provide standards-based formative testing for all students in third through 12th grade in its 15 schools. A content-neutral, flexible testing platform, Achievement Series will give educators the ability to score and analyze tests in real time, diagnose student needs, and make informed instructional decisions to improve student achievement.
"To be successful at closing the achievement gap and raising achievement for all students, school systems need to have an efficient method for conducting formative assessment. We were looking for an online tool that would allow us to do common assessments so we can monitor student progress throughout the school year and guide instruction in preparation for high stakes tests," said Diane Villwock, director of testing and program evaluation for CHCCS. "We chose Achievement Series because it met these needs, and more."
According to Villwock, other features that sold them on the Achievement Series solution include its ability to align test items to state standards and analyze the results by standard. Another important element was reporting. Because the CHCCS teachers meet in small groups to view and discuss student results, they need the data to be intuitive and easy to interpret. Achievement Series also provides one of the largest selections of test item banks, as well as reporting capabilities that are significantly more flexible than other solutions on the market today.
In CHCCS, which serves more than 11,000 students, teachers work together in "Professional Learning Communities" focused on student learning. Teachers meet during the school day to collect data, develop formative assessments, analyze student performance, identify and apply new instructional practices, share research articles, observe one another teaching, and design remediation plans for struggling students. As part of the Professional Learning Communities, teachers will use Achievement Series to develop common assessments using content from their own item banks, Scantron, and other test and content publishers. Teachers will then use Achievement Series to administer the paper-based tests in classrooms, view online reports immediately after tests are scanned, and access standards-based reports to analyze and discuss student results.
"With Achievement Series, we're providing teachers with a comprehensive tool that will enable them to carry out the work of their Professional Learning Communities in an efficient way," said Villwock. "We believe that formative assessment is critical to keeping students on a path toward success. Conducting common assessments at regular intervals will give us the timely information we need to identify students' strengths and needs, intervene and adjust instruction. Rather than giving teachers something 'extra' to do, this is a tool will help make the work they're already doing in their Professional Learning Communities more effective."
"We are excited that Chapel Hill, one of the highest performing districts in North Carolina, has selected Scantron as the backbone of their assessment program," said Tim Loomer, president of Scantron. "They are truly innovative educators who are taking a thoughtful, forward-thinking approach to making their educational programs more efficient and effective."
About Achievement Series
A winner of the 2005 Distinguished Achievement Awards sponsored by the Association of Educational Publishers, Achievement Series from Scantron allows educators to develop and administer tests both online and on paper, capture results, and produce standards-based reports. The system makes it easy for educators to secure timely and accurate assessment data needed to measure growth, inform instruction, and prepare students for district and state-level high stakes tests.
About Scantron Corporation
Scantron Corp. (www.scantron.com) is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based John H. Harland Company (NYSE:JH). Scantron is a leading technology provider of software and survey solutions for the K-12 and higher education markets. For more information call 1-800-722-6876.
About Harland
Atlanta-based John H. Harland Company (NYSE:JH) (http://www.harland.net) is a leading provider of software and printed products to the financial and educational markets. Harland Financial Solutions Inc. (http://www.harlandfinancialsolutions.com), a wholly owned subsidiary, supplies software and services, including customer relationship management, deposit and loan origination, core systems and mortgage services to thousands of financial institutions of all sizes. Harland Printed Products' offerings include checks, direct marketing and financial forms. Scantron Corporation (http://www.scantron.com), a wholly owned subsidiary, is a leading provider of both paper and electronic-based services and systems for the collection, management and interpretation of data to the financial, commercial and educational markets.
This press release contains statements, which may constitute "forward-looking statements." These statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of John H. Harland Company and members of its respective management, as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Reference is made to the Risk Factors and Cautionary Statements in Harland's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed under the Securities Exchange Act.