Vantage Launches MY Access! Grant Program
-David Nagel, T.H.E Journal
Vantage Learning this week announced it will award more than $650,000 in grants to school districts to help with implementation and professional development for the MY Access! interactive writing suite.
MY Access! is an online writing tool that’s designed to improve student writing proficiency. It uses Web-based forms that allow students to input assignments. It then checks those assignments against various writing characteristics and scores students on their writing proficiency, style, mechanics, and other factors. It also supports multilingual students and ELL students and is able to deliver feedback and tutoring in multiple languages.
Through the Vantage Learning Keystone Partner Program, Vantage will distribute grants, endowments, and subsidies for the deployment of MY Access! and for teacher professional development.
According to Vantage, 10 schools and districts have already been selected to receive grants in the first phase of the program, including Martin County School District in Florida; Denver Public Schools in Colorado; Adams 12 Five-Star Schools in Colorado; Diocese of Las Vegas in Nevada; Cascade Middle School in Oregon; Apopka High School in Florida; Volusia County School District in Florida; Goshen Central School District in New York; Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical School District in Massachusetts; and Bossier Parish Schools in Louisiana. Martin County will be the first to receive funding this August–about $100,000.
“We are overwhelmed by the generosity of Vantage Learning, and are thrilled to use this funding to further incorporate MY Access! into our classrooms,” said Pat Schmoyer, principal of South Fork High School, part of Martin County School District, in a statement released this week. “I’ve seen students’ writing proficiency scores on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test writing assessment dramatically increase after incorporating MY Access! into the classroom, making our district No. 1 in Florida on the writing portion of the exam. “With MY Access!, our students are well on their way to becoming proficient and responsible writers and critical thinkers!”
Funds distributed in the first phase are expected to roll out this month. All districts within the United States are eligible to apply for the grants. Further information can be obtained by contacting Fred Bentsen at FBentsen@Vantage.com.