Oct. 11, 2007
21st Century Charter Schools partner with Marian College
New math and reading program to benefit more than 400 students

Today, the 21st Century Charter Schools at Fall Creek and Fountain Square formalized an agreement with Marian College to begin a math and reading tutoring program for students at these two schools. The Project IGNITE program, which is a first for Marian College, will provide nine full-time tutors to serve in the classrooms throughout the school year.

“Project IGNITE is built on the belief that all students can learn if they are taught strategies on how to learn,” said Dan Elsener, president of Marian College. “Our goal is to explicitly teach research-based learning strategies so that students can become independent learners.”

On Thursday, Elsener and 21st Century Charter School board Acting Chair Rollie Dick signed the agreement at the Fountain Square school. Project IGNITE will benefit more than 400 students -- a majority of whom are from low-income Indianapolis families.

“This program presents great benefits for the children in Indiana – initially focused specifically on the students at 21st Century Charter Schools who get the extra help they need to thrive,” said Dick, “but it also adds more firsthand experiences to further polish the skills of the future teachers coming from Marian’s fine programs.”

The program uses research-based learning strategies, which when presented in one-on-one or small-group environments the strategies lead to positive academic results. Students develop the tools to become independent learners. While much of the research was conducted in the early 90s, the integration of these methods hasn’t been widespread as teachers were not being taught these techniques.

“Partnerships like the one between the 21st Century Charter Schools and Marian College are redefining public education,” said Kevin Teasley, president of the GEO Foundation, sponsor of the 21st Century Charter Schools. “We need to transform how our children are taught by discovering how each child learns best, and tailor additional instruction to supplement those needs.”

In addition to Project IGNITE, 21st Century Charter Schools students will be able to attend Marian College classes next semester and attend summer school starting in 2008 on the Marian campus.