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For Immediate Release
Certiport Names South Kitsap School District as First
to Receive Academic Center for Excellence Award
Washington School District
Recognized for Achieving Student & Teacher Digital Literacy
SALT LAKE CITY – May
3, 2004 – Certiport today announced that the South Kitsap School District,
an innovator in technology enhanced learning in Washington’s Puget Sound
region, has been named the first recipient in the United States of the Academic
Center for Excellence award. This Certiport award recognizes academic institutions
for excellence in preparing digitally literate faculty, students, and staff.
South Kitsap’s implementation of curriculum leading to Certiport Internet
and Computing Core Certification (IC³) measurement of basic computer skills
is part of the district’s commitment to preparing more tech savvy teachers
and graduates.
"We are pleased to be recognized by Certiport for our achievement
with the IC³ program, which provides a valuable measurement of computer
skills needed for high school graduation,” stated Dale Green, director
of professional & technical education for South Kitsap School District. “We
are confident that our efforts will help teachers provide better instruction
and will give students the head start they need for the workplace of tomorrow."
“We
recognize the importance of providing industry certifications for our students," said
Kyra Kester, Special Assistant for Industry Partnerships for Washington’s
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. “South Kitsap’s
implementation of the IC³ certification program is a model for other districts
who want to offer teachers and students access to the necessary technology
literacy skills.”
The South Kitsap School District embraces IC³certification
as a way of measuring digital literacy for faculty, staff and students. The
district understands that computers will never increase student learning until
a fundamental level of knowledge and skill is practiced among students, teachers
and administrators. South Kitsap offers students IC³ instruction in the
9th and 10th grade. To support teachers and administrators, South Kitsap also
provides learning and certification opportunities to staff—many of whom
have earned IC³ credentials. South Kitsap also leverages IC³ as a
stepping stone to more specialized certifications offered by the district,
including Microsoft Office Specialist and A+.
South Kitsap is funding this
digital literacy initiative through a combination of local funds, in conjunction
with generous grants from Course Technology Thomson Learning and the Washington
Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE).
Internet and Computing
Core Certification (IC³)
An industry standard for measuring basic computer
literacy for academia and the workplace, IC³ exam objectives were built
strategically by professional researchers, test developers, psychometricians
and more than 270 subject matter experts (SMEs) in 19 countries—all of
whom contributed content and feedback and validated certification
requirements. A student with IC³ certification not only has an understanding
of computing fundamentals, key applications and online functionality, but also
possesses the necessary foundation to excel into advanced technical and desktop
application certifications.
About Certiport
Certiport is the leading provider
of global, performance-based certification programs and services designed to
enable individual success and lifetime advancement. Certiport is a pioneer
in performance-based testing, data management systems, and developing certification
programs, including Microsoft® Office Specialist and Internet and Computing
Core Certification (IC³), through extensive research and professional
validation processes. For more information about Certiport, visit
www.certiport.com.
Certiport is a registered trademark of Certiport, Inc. in the United States
and other countries. Microsoft and the Microsoft Office logo are registered
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries;
and the Microsoft Office Specialist Logo is used under license from owner.
Press Contact:
John Pilmer
801-369-7535
mediarelations@certiport.com
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