Perspectives Charter Schools Partners with Illinois Institute of Technology to Open New Math & Science Academy

Chicago, IL — September 18, 2008 —

Perspectives Charter Schools and Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) will celebrate the grand opening of the Perspectives/IIT Math & Science Academy on Thursday September 18, 2008 at 5:30 pm. The school is a ground-breaking, new math and science academy dedicated to improving students’ achievement in the important fields of math and science. On September 2, 2008, Perspectives Charter School/IIT Math & Science Academy opened with 270 students in grades six, seven, and nine, and represents the first time that IIT has joined with a secondary school to develop a unique math and science education program.

The school is serving a diverse population of students from across the city, with a population that is 89 percent African-American, six percent Hispanic, and 2 percent Asian. The new school, which will expand to grades 6 through 12 over a four-year period, is supported through a $500,000 grant from the Motorola Foundation in partnership with The Renaissance Schools Fund. It is located at the former Benjamin W. Raymond School, which is in close proximity to IIT at 3663 S. Wabash Ave, where the school will celebrate its grand opening on Thursday, September 18, 2008.

"Our partnership with IIT is a significant milestone that will provide students with a rigorous and relevant education that will prepare them for life in a changing world,” said Diana Shulla Cose, founder and president of Perspectives Charter Schools. "Together, we are creating a world-class laboratory school, built upon Perspectives’ guiding principles of ‘A Disciplined Life©,’ that will give students the tools to achieve both personal and academic success.”
The Perspectives/IIT Math & Science Academy’s strong curriculum includes a focus on technology and engineering skills and will be the first Chicago charter school to offer a four-year Chinese language program. The school will provide students with a unique learning experience that prepares them for college and advanced careers in the sciences and will teach important problem-solving skills. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs requiring science, engineering or technical training will increase 24 percent to 6.3 million positions between 2004 and 2014, thereby creating greater demand for critical thinkers fluent in technology.

Perspectives Charter Schools is working in full partnership with Norman Lederman, chair, and Judith Lederman, director of teacher education, of the Mathematics and Science Education Department at IIT to develop a comprehensive curriculum and mentorship initiative.

"This educational institution offers an unprecedented opportunity to unite Perspectives’ expertise in creating school culture and commitment to instructional improvement with the curricular expertise of IIT’s internationally-recognized scholars and teacher educators,” said IIT President John L. Anderson. "Together, we will provide students exposure to challenging and engaging curriculum based on real-world problems that will help prepare them for college and advanced careers in the sciences.”

The Perspectives/IIT Math & Science Academy continues to receive strong support from individual, foundation and corporate donors, including the Motorola Foundation, which has donated $500,000 and committed the time and talent of its employees to support curriculum design, teacher professional development and student after-school programs.

"The Perspectives/IIT Math & Science Academy will bring to life the subjects that equip what we call the Innovation Generation with critical skills they will need to solve the challenges of the future,” said Eileen Sweeney, director of the Motorola Foundation. "Motorola supports programs like the Perspectives Academy not only with financial support, but with expertise inside the classrooms and by building relationships throughout the community.”

The Perspectives/IIT Math & Science Academy is the fourth Renaissance 2010 school developed by Perspectives Charter Schools and supported by The Renaissance Schools Fund, the independent fundraiser and strategic partner to Renaissance 2010. Renaissance 2010 is Mayor Daley’s bold plan to launch 100 new public schools of exceptional quality in underserved communities by 2010.

"The Renaissance Schools Fund is proud to foster partnerships, like the one developed between Perspectives and Motorola, which bring the resources and intellectual capital of the city’s business and institutional leaders to the Chicago public school system in an immediate way,” said Phyllis Lockett, President & CEO, The Renaissance Schools Fund, which has supported the launch of 54 new Renaissance 2010 schools. "Renaissance 2010 schools, like Perspectives IIT, are creating a new market of education in Chicago that offer parents greater choice and inspire innovation across the district.”

The principal for the Perspectives/IIT Math & Science Academy will be Mary Cummane, a seasoned Perspectives science teacher and administrator who is earning her doctorate at IIT. The school has recruited a staff of experienced teachers. Over half of all teachers have their master’s degree, including seven from IIT’s Mathematics and Science Education program.

"I believe that Perspectives places a special emphasis on scholarship, culture, and family involvement that every student needs in order to thrive,” said new teacher Renee Malinger. "Even as early as my interview and demonstration lesson with Perspectives, I realized that Perspectives would provide me with what I needed to become an excellent teacher. I had no doubt in my mind that at this new school I would grow as a teacher and as a learner.”

Cummane, Drs. Norman and Judith Lederman of IIT, Eileen Sweeney of Motorola and Alderman Pat Dowell will speak at the official grand opening on September 18, 2008, with remarks scheduled to begin at 6pm.

About Perspectives Charter Schools
Perspectives Charter Schools is a growing network of high performing Chicago Public Schools. Chartered in 1997 as one of the first five charter schools in Chicago, Perspectives has earned its national reputation as a model of how a small school with innovative, effective education can transform urban schooling. Perspectives model is based on A Disciplined Life©, Academic Rigor, and a "College for Certain" environment. Perspectives plans to open seven new campuses throughout the city, eventually serving over 3,500 students.

About Motorola Foundation
The Motorola Foundation is the independent charitable and philanthropic arm of Motorola. With employees located around the globe, Motorola seeks to benefit the communities where it operates. The company achieves this by making strategic grants, forging strong community partnerships, fostering innovation and engaging stakeholders. Motorola Foundation focuses its funding on education, especially science, technology, engineering and math programming. For more information, on Motorola Corporate and Foundation giving, visit www.motorola.com/giving.

About The Renaissance Schools Fund
The Renaissance Schools Fund (RSF) was established by Chicago’s business community as the independent fundraiser and strategic partner to Renaissance 2010. Operating on a venture philanthropy model, RSF has raised $47 million, helped to launch 54 new public schools and has created capacity building programs to develop a pipeline of new school entrepreneurs, support the growth of strong schools and inform parents of their options.

Founded in 1890, IIT is a Ph.D.-granting university with more than 7,300 students in engineering, sciences, architecture, psychology, design, humanities, business and law. IIT's interprofessional, technology-focused curriculum is designed to advance knowledge through research and scholarship, to cultivate invention improving the human condition, and to prepare students from throughout the world for a life of professional achievement, service to society, and individual fulfillment. Visit www.iit.edu.