New Bedford Global Learning Charter School Selected as One of 10 "High Tech High" Schools Across the Country
New charter school to receive funding and support from Gates Foundation
March 22, 2002
The New Bedford Global Learning Charter School has been selected as one of ten schools around the country to replicate the "High Tech High" school design, with funding in part from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The Gates Foundation is working in partnership with the High Tech High Learning Foundation to create a network of high schools around the country based on the model developed for the High Tech High Charter School in San Diego, California.
Scheduled to open in 2002, the New Bedford Global Learning Charter School is being developed through an innovative partnership of the New Bedford School Department, the Global Learning Charter School's Board of Trustees, and EDC. Eventually serving grades 5-12, the school will emphasize a rigorous curriculum and student internships while integrating technology into every aspect of learning.
"This special designation underscores our commitment to high-quality learning environments where technology becomes a vital tool that children and families can use for living, learning, and working," says Vivian Guilfoy, EDC Vice President and Director of the Center for Education, Employment, and Community. Guilfoy, along with Senior Scientist Carolee Matsumoto and Ron Israel, EDC Vice President and Director of the Global Learning Group, have been overseeing the development of the New Bedford Global Learning Charter School. "We've been delighted to work alongside community leaders and parents in New Bedford to create a stimulating and practical curriculum appropriate for the 21st century," Guilfoy said. The school will operate both as a Horace Mann charter school and as part of the New Bedford public school system.
Because of its emphasis on integrating technology in the classroom and in real-world applications, the school was selected by the High Tech High Learning Foundation and High Tech High founder Gary Jacobs. Jacobs is a former executive of communications giant Qualcomm and son of Qualcomm founder and CEO Irwin Jacobs, a native of New Bedford and graduate of New Bedford High School. As a High Tech High school, the New Bedford Global Learning Charter School will receive technical assistance and financial support from the Gates Foundation.
"This designation is a unique opportunity to build on EDC's longstanding commitment to learning as the liberating force in human development and share its innovative research, development, and best practices with the New Bedford school district, students, parents, and the community," said EDC President Janet Whitla.
"This prestigious designation as a High Tech High school will help us to further our goals of integrating technology literacy, global citizenship, career exploration, and community service in our children's education," said Tom Davis, chairman of the board of the New Bedford Global Learning Charter School.
