-R.J. Harrington, TCPalm

STUART — Four Martin County schools have received nearly $100,000 in grants from the Vantage Learning Keystone Partner Program for computer-assisted learning in language arts.

Anderson, Hidden Oaks and Stuart middle schools and South Fork High School will share $99,000 to update software and purchase additional components of the MY Access! system.

The money also will help fund the professional development of key teachers in the public schools, who will then pass on their skills to other teachers and ultimately to students. DeeAnn Cox, a teacher at Stuart Middle School, said her students have benefited greatly during the first year of using the software.

“Both their reading and writing scores have increased,” she said, “and the students are writing more than previously.”

Anderson Middle School Principal Larthenia Howard said, “There has been an increase from 88 to 97 percent in writing scores since we started to use MY Access!”

The program provides instant feedback for the student who is writing a composition, whether a book report or a piece of fiction.

Pat Schmoyer, principal of South Fork High School, said, “The student will receive help in grammar, composition, organization and support (elaboration and details) and will make the necessary changes even before a teacher sees the report.”

Schmoyer also said parents get involved, as the student will be able to access the software online from a home computer.

Brad Blymier, a representative of Vantage Learning, said the company hopes to add more schools as money become available. “Martin County was the first of 10 counties nationwide and is the recipient of the second largest grant,” he said.

Other Florida schools receiving portions of the $650,000 in grants were Apopka High School and the Volusia County School District.

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