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21st Century Classrooms in Newton
This year, the Newton Schools Foundation celebrates its 25th anniversary—and the $2.5 million raised from generous, private donors in support of our public schools. To mark this milestone, we have embarked upon an ambitious goal: to raise $4 million over the next three to five years to support the implementation of 21st Century Classrooms in all our schools.
The 21st Century Classroom brings technology that allows our students to acquire 21st century skills and habits in a fully digital environment. The 21st Century Classroom suite includes an interactive whiteboard, student response systems, a teacher tablet, software, and professional development to maximize the benefits of the technology. This technology is proven to improve standardized test scores*, help facilitate 100% student participation, and provide immediate feedback on student outcomes. This summer, at least one 5th grade 21st Century Classroom was installed in each elementary school, funded in collaboration with PTOs. We are now working to complete fifth grade, then move on to sixth grade and Newton South.
Newton Schools: A History of Excellence
The City of Newton is known throughout Massachusetts and the U.S. for its innovative schools and highly qualified teachers. It has a reputation for academic excellence—preparing our students for the world beyond the classroom. But to compete in the world today, Newton students must develop 21st century skills and habits, including critical and creative thinking, collaborative problem solving, empathy, cultural awareness and understanding and powerful means of communication.
Inadequate Support
Technology is a critical component of the future of education in the digital age. Yet the district wide FY11 budget for instructional equipment and software is only $331,993—just $15,809 per school. The City of Newton has invested heavily in small class sizes and support for students, curriculum, and teachers. There are many fixed costs associated with school budgets, and NPS does not have the funding for adequate technology in the schools.
The Community’s Role
The Foundation has been supporting the Newton Public Schools with innovation grants for teachers for 25 years. In the past year, it has aligned its mission with the strategic goal of the Newton Public Schools to support equipping our schools with 21st Century Classrooms.
Newton’s students need a community of stakeholders to prepare them for the 21st century workplace. They need supporters who care about academic excellence and are interested in transforming today's classrooms into the classrooms of tomorrow.
* “Teaching with Interactive Whiteboards” by Robert Marzano in Educational Leadership, November 2009 (Vol. 67, #3, p. 80-82)
* http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2010/10/prweb4683964.htm
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