DeKalb County School District (DCSD) was accepted into the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools last week aligning with the vision of the school district.
“The vision of the DeKalb County School District is to inspire our community of learners to achieve educational excellence, and our mission is to ensure student success, leading to higher education, work, and life-long learning,” according to a District press release. “We have a child-centered approach where educating and empowering students is our ‘main-thing.’”
The district went on to say they it’s an honor for them to partner with the League of Innovative Schools to share their current programs and initiatives that are employed to embrace the diversity of the scholars they have.
The Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools is a nonprofit organization that was launched in 2011 during former President Barack Obama’s presidency.
One of the innovative initiatives that DCSD has implemented was their Mobile Impact Learning Hub. The Hub is a mobile classroom is equipped with a library, computers, internet access, desks, and study nooks for students and their families.
DeKalb County School District was selected from a competitive national pool of applicants based on its educational leadership, innovative vision for learning, key achievements and evidence of results, and demonstrated commitment to equity and excellence.
“We are proud to be accepted in the League of Innovative Schools. Our work is centered around helping our scholars meet the highest standards and become successful and productive members of society,” DCSD Superintendent Cheryl Watson-Harris said in a press release. “Being a part of this organization aligns with our vision for the DCSD graduate and preparing our scholars for the jobs of the future.”
According to the digitalpromise website, DCSD has worked o advance equity by expanding options for DCSD’s most underestimate student populations. A way that the county connected students and families to internet access at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, was through the Digital Dreamers 1:1 initiative to ensure that students and families had access to the internet and each student had a Chromebook or technology learning device.
The purpose behind the Digital Dreamers 1:1 initiative was to ensure that every student and family had access to internet and learning device.
“We want to eliminate all barriers to virtual instruction, because every child deserves access to a great education through technology,” the district said. “Programs like Digital Dreamers serve to expand our digital footprint while further integrating technology into the learning process.”
DCSD is working on expanding their STEM programs in the county with a digital transformation and expanding their learning pathways to include critical skills for students to thrive in modern society.
“DCSD has placed STEM as a top priority, as the district considers it a major component in creating future-minded, career- and college-ready students,” the district said. “STEM schools offer students access to such hands-on projects as robotics, aquaponics, a school garden, downhill racing, as well as facetime with industry professionals, among other programs. In total, DCSD currently offers 32 STEM-certified schools districtwide.”
