BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global education leader Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) has partnered with North Carolina’s Guilford County Schools (GCS) to provide educational content for the recently launched Guilford Parent Academy. The first of its type in North Carolina, the free online resource puts materials previously available only to teachers into the hands of parents, guardians and other family members to enhance student learning 24 hours a day, seven days a week. GCS launched the Parent Academy last Wednesday, January 19, at GCS’ State of Our Schools event in Greensboro.
“GCS is the only district in North Carolina — and one of only two nationwide — to provide this type of resource to parents and families,” said Mike Lavelle, President of the HMH Education Group. “The Academy's accessibility, combined with HMH’s award-winning digital content, provides an engaging experience that captivates students and empowers their families to become an integral part of the learning environment.”
The goal of the Parent Academy is to engage the family members of GCS’ more than 71,000 students in their efforts toward higher achievement. By clicking the curriculum links on the Parent Academy homepage, parents can access up-to-date supplemental curriculum lessons, engage with students on specific assignments, or isolate materials related to discrete skills. In addition to online resources, the Parent Academy also offers local classes, workshops and learning events for students and families.
“We know that when parents get involved, great things can happen for our students,” said Maurice “Mo” Green, Guilford County Schools Superintendent. “By providing access to valuable educational resources, we are giving parents the tools they need to help their children be successful in the classroom and in life.”
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Parent Academy content includes Destination Math, a comprehensive K–12 mathematics program; Destination Reading, a comprehensive pre-K–8 reading program; The Edmark House Series, a supplemental curriculum for grades pre-K–2; NetTrekker, the leading educational K–12 search tool; Science Builder, a K–8 science reference program; and Math Builder, a K–12 math reference program. Each program builds vocabulary, essential skills and conceptual understanding through innovative interactive components — Science Builder's virtual experiments feature, for example, allows students to complete step-by-step procedures like metal oxidation and animal dissection through a series of mouse clicks.
All Parent Academy resources, including the online educational content and local classes, are provided to GCS parents for free through donations from Action Greensboro’s Businesses for Excellence in Education and Parent Academy’s more than 20 community-based partnerships.
To visit Guilford Parent Academy online, go to http://www.gcsnc.com/parentacademy.
About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a global education and learning company that is leading the way with innovative solutions and approaches to the challenges facing education today. The world's largest provider of educational products and solutions for pre-K–12 learning, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt develops and delivers interactive, results-driven learning solutions that advance teacher effectiveness and student achievement. Through curricula excellence and technology innovation, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt collaborates with school districts, administrators, teachers, parents and students. Today, HMH education products and services are used by 57 million students throughout all 50 U.S. states and 120 countries. With origins dating back to 1832, the Company also publishes an extensive line of reference works and award-winning literature for adults and young readers. For more information, visit www.hmhpub.com.
About Guilford County Schools
Guilford County Schools is the third largest school district in North Carolina serving more than 71,000 students at 121 schools. With approximately 10,000 employees, the district’s mission is to graduate responsible citizens who are prepared to succeed in higher education or the career of their choice. Guilford County Schools is a national leader in providing specialized schools and instructional programs designed to meet the educational needs of a culturally diverse citizenship. For more information, visit the district’s website at www.gcsnc.com.