Educate Online Launches, Dedicated to Improving Student Achievement, Building Academic Confidence

Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) June 26, 2008 -- Educate Online (http://www.educate-online.com), a new company with a long history in education, launched today. Formerly Catapult Online, Educate Online will build and expand on its proven foundation as a provider of Supplemental Educational Services (SES) that improve student achievement.

While the 2007 Nation's Report Card showed some progress toward closing the achievement gap in reading and mathematics, there is still much work to be done to achieve our country's ambitious educational goals. With more than a third of fourth-graders and a quarter of eighth-graders not performing at a basic level in reading, and similar lags in math achievement, schools and families need proven intervention solutions to help accelerate learning. There are many solutions available today that claim to help get students back on track, but not many can claim a record of success.

Educate Online can. In fact, a study funded by a Star Schools grant from the U.S. Department of Education revealed that at-risk students who complete the Educate Online (http://www.educate-online.com) program in math and reading realized academic gains of more than one grade level. The research, conducted by Rockman et al, an independent research firm, demonstrates that the Educate Online model is a highly effective solution for putting students on the right path for academic success.     

"Our research showed that students enrolled in Educate Online mathematics and reading programs demonstrate significantly greater gain than their peers who are receiving only classroom instruction," said Saul Rockman, president of Rockman et al. "Overwhelmingly, parents believe that Educate Online is effective. They also agreed that students' attitudes toward school and self-confidence improved over the course of the program."

Educate Online offers a unique online prescriptive intervention program (http://www.Educate-Online.com), designed to help students learn key concepts, fill learning gaps and get back on track for academic success. Best of all, educators and families report that students who complete the Educate Online program have a new, positive attitude toward school, their friends and their community.

The new company will be guided by Chief Executive Officer Jim Hermens. Having held senior management positions at Spectrum K-12 Solutions, Blackboard Inc. and Sylvan Learning, he brings a wealth of experience in serving the education community to Educate Online.

"Over the past seven years, the Educate Online program has helped more than 50,000 students achieve their academic potential and build a renewed love for learning," said Hermens. "As we grow Educate Online, we will explore new ways to reach students, families and schools with our quality and engaging online educational services, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that all U.S. students achieve at grade level and beyond."

All Educate Online students start the path to success by taking an online assessment that identifies where they are positioned in math or reading and clearly identifies the concepts that need to be learned during the course of the program. Then individualized programs are developed for each student, and on a schedule that best meets their needs, students meet two to three times per week for online tutoring from a state-certified teacher. Teachers work with students one on one, helping them accelerate their learning in math or reading (http://www.Educate-Online.com) and providing encouragement and support as they reach key learning milestones. Students can also be matched with a targeted tutor, based on special learning needs, such as English as a second language (ESL) or learning disabilities.

Families and schools with students who have completed the Educate Online program support the research with their praise. As Lloyd Bell from Chicago, father of seventh-grade twins Camille and Caulandra, said after his daughters completed the Educate Online program, "I saw a jump in their grades right after they completed the courses last spring. The program exceeded my expectations. I have nothing but the highest praise because it helped my girls so much."

Educate Online has its roots in eSylvan, an online prescription intervention platform developed by Sylvan Learning Systems in 2000. By 2002, the eSylvan platform was being offered to students nationwide as an effective solution for online tutoring. After the federal No Child Left Behind Act was passed, Catapult Online was founded and quickly became a top SES provider (http://www.Educate-Online.com). Now the newly formed Educate Online, a privately held company, will focus on broadening the company's online intervention offerings and expanding the ways that students can access them.

About Educate Online:

Educate Online, LLC -- formerly Catapult Online -- is a leading provider of online educational instruction. The company is committed to being the preferred partner of schools, school districts and families by delivering unmatched quality and engaging online educational services that improve student achievement. Having worked with more than 50,000 students in more than 1.4 million sessions during the past seven years, Educate Online has developed a highly interactive and engaging solution that is aligned to state standards and has proven academic gains for students in grades 3-12. As a top Supplemental Educational Services (SES) provider, Educate Online is used in classrooms and as part of after-school programs across the nation. In addition, Educate Online is available to families through Sylvan Learning Centers. For more information, visit www.Educate-Online.com

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