Ball Foundation Signs Multimillion Agreement with RUSD To Collaborate in Student Literacy Achievement

BALL FOUNDATION SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH ROWLAND UNIFIED IN HISTORIC COLLABORATION EFFORT TO INCREASE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN LITERACY

       Only District in the Nation Selected For Multi-Million Four Year Agreement

ROWLAND HEIGHTS, CA – OCTOBER 16, 2008 – Superintendent Dr. Maria Ott announced today that the Rowland Unified School District has entered into a historic partnership with The Ball Foundation that will increase literacy achievement for students District-wide. Until June of 2011, the Ball Foundation will collaboratively work with the District to transform and implement innovative instruction, leadership and organizational practices system-wide. The first year budget of more than $1.2 million will be used to build the infrastructure to connect and implement the “Rowland Literacy Initiative” and the District’s new strategic plan.

            “This is one of the most exciting and unique collaboration efforts embarked upon,” said Ott. “We are proud to be the only district in the nation selected by Ball, and that working together, this culture-changing process engages all of our staff and parents in a variety of learning and idea exchange forums that will further our work in literacy and build upon our commitment and success in student achievement.”

            The Ball Foundation has been meeting with the staffs of all 23 school sites in the Rowland Unified School District. During the months of October – February, the District and Ball will host “Immersion Days,” where all 921 teachers will be able to participate in discussions on high quality literacy instruction. These learning opportunities will bring together the collective wisdom and expertise of teachers and administrators. Following these meetings, learning networks will be developed to further discuss, identify, build, and implement  best practices in literacy instruction, best teaching principles that will guide teaching and learning, and best organizational and leadership practices throughout the District.

            “Our eight-member team is fully energized by the opportunity to support the visionary journey that Rowland Unified School District has begun,” said Ball Foundation Director of Educational Initiatives, Bob Hill. “Rowland Unified continuously exhibits the leadership, professionalism, commitment, and can-do attitude that we hope to find in a school district partner. We are grateful for the chance to be here!”

The District and Ball Foundation will host two days (October 20 and December 1) when all K-12 teachers will come together for an in-depth discussion about the District’s new mission statement. Teachers will focus on the role they play in bringing the mission to life for all students. The mission statement was developed through the District’s strategic planning process and is as follows:

The mission of Rowland Unified School District, the progressive international community united in learning, is to empower students so that each actualizes his or her unique potential and responsibly contributes to a global society, through a system distinguished by rigorous academics, innovative use of technology, creative exploration, and nurturing learning experiences.

For more information on Rowland Unified School District’s partnership with the Ball Foundation, along with details on the strategic plan, please visit www.RowlandSchools.org.

            ABOUT THE BALL FOUNDATION — The Ball Foundation envisions a high performance education system in which all children learn at high levels regardless of race, national origin, socio-economic status, native language, or culture. The mission of the Ball Foundation, a partner in transforming schools, is to increase literacy achievement for all students using systemic changes to improve professional practice. The Ball Approach, an adaptive process for change, is to support and enhance organizational learning and build sustainable organizational capacity that leads to literacy for all students. For more information, visit www.ballfoundation.org