Beverly Gardens Starts Unique Program for Military Students
The University of Northern Iowa is partnering with Princeton Review, Skills Tutor and the Military Impacted Schools Association (MISA) on Project SOAR (Student Online Achievement Resources), in a $5-million project funded within the Department of Defense appropriations bill, recently signed into law by President Bush.
UNI will administer $1.5 million for Project SOAR, focusing on professional development for teachers and education for parents.
"The overall program is focused on the needs of children of military families who are in the process of making a transition from one school to another as their parents relocate," said Vicki Oleson, UNI instructor in mathematics, and UNI's Project SOAR director.
UNI will provide professional development for teachers to enhance the effectiveness of the Internet-based assessments and instructional portion of the program. At the same time, parents will be able to track how their children's achievement levels in mathematics and literacy compare to state standards at both their present school and the school district to which they will transfer.