NEWS--

For immediate release

August 20, 2008

Bloomington awarded $82,000 technology grant

Interactive technology to increase achievement in early childhood learners

Bloomington Public Schools has received an $82,000 technology grant to meet the ever-changing and diverse needs of its early learners. The grant will be used for the Ready To Learn Bloomington (R2LB) project, which focuses on preparing public and non-public students for success in school using interactive technological tools.

The R2LB project is an expansion of the district's previously released “Alphabet Chant” DVD, which was used as a training aid for teachers and parents to assist their students with critical learning skills. A new DVD focused on the development of mathematical skills, and basic letter and sound recognition will be created using the grant's dollars. Other interactive technologies will also be developed for kindergarten classroom use.

“We are thrilled to be awarded this grant. It gives us the opportunity to provide our early learners and their teachers with the tools and resources that are essential to learning in today's world,” said Sue Burke, technology coordinator.

The grant is provided through the Minnesota Department of Education's Enhancing Education Through Technology funding.