Orange Unified School District's California Elementary School Wins the Golden Bell Award for an Innovative, Schoolwide Take Home iPad Program to Advance Literacy

Orange, CA – November 2, 2017 - California Elementary School’s iInspire Academy: A schoolwide Take Home iPad Program to advance literacy was recognized as a program that’s innovative and sustainable, makes a demonstrated difference for students and focuses on meeting the needs of all students, according to the association.

The iInspire Academy is an innovative one-to-one Take Home iPad program in grades K-5 that infuses a blended learning digital literacy program to increase students’ ability to read, write, and communicate with oral fluency.

Customized learning pathways are provided for students with enhanced real time data for teachers to guide instruction and facilitate targeted interventions. Utilizing data our Reading Specialist pushes into the classroom to teach high leverage reading intervention lessons. Our “Mind the Gap” team that is comprised of the Principal, Instructional Specialist, Reading Specialist, and Special Education teacher, meets weekly to monitor usage, reading interventions, and provides support to teachers.

Students extend their learning day by taking the device home and accessing customized learning pathways as well as being exposed to background knowledge in a flipped classroom model.  Blending this at home delivery with digital Formative Assessments teachers enter the day knowing students that need additional support as well as those ready to apply the skills.

Dr. Albert, the principal at California Elementary School said, “In an age in which the preponderance of career opportunities are technology dependent, if we do not teach our students to seamlessly infuse these skills it will not matter if they know how to read, write, or make mathematical inferences.  Our students will be at a huge disadvantage in the workforce and will not be able to compete in a global digital economic market.  Bridging the Technology Gap by providing equitable access to 21st century learning tools is not just preferable it is a necessity.  We are extremely proud of our students, staff, and community for making this dream a reality.”

The Golden Bell Award, now in its 38th year, is considered one of the state’s leading educational honors. Each year, dozens of programs statewide win the award. The full list of winners will be announced in coming weeks.

California Elementary School has also recently been awarded the Apple Distinguished School award, Golden Ribbon award, and Title I Achieving School award.
The Orange Unified School District and California Elementary team will receive its Golden Bell Award at a ceremony November 30th, in San Diego.