Learning Circle Improves K-12 Student Performance With Information Builders' BI and Integration Technology

NEW YORK, NY and COLUMBUS, OH--(Marketwire - Nov 7, 2011) - As elementary and secondary school students continue their fall term, innovative school districts are looking at more than just day-to-day performance data to gauge student progress. Forward-looking institutions, such as the Columbus City School District, use an on-demand business intelligence (BI) environment called Learning Circle(SM) to scrutinize years of quarterly assessment data through interactive reports and dashboards, helping educators manage, interpret, and communicate academic performance. Nationwide Insurance developed the application in conjunction with Learning Circle Education Services, using Information Builders' BI and enterprise integration technology to gather the raw data, transform it into applicable information, and present it in a user-friendly format.

Learning Circle supports a strategic planning process that begins with an assessment of the current academic status of schools, classrooms, and students. It retrieves data from various achievement databases, analyzes it according to appropriate state and federal compliance standards, and presents it in reports that highlight trends within a school system, an individual school, or a particular grade level. The reports also provide insight into the type of assistance each school and student needs. Educators can make observations based on district, school, grade, classroom, and student performance; drill down into the data to see more details; and visually assess needs, deficiencies, and challenges using Learning Circle's interactive charts and graphs.

"Information Builders provided useful tools for laying down a framework for continuous improvement," said Barbara Boyd, president of Learning Circle Education Services. "WebFOCUS streamlines the planning process, helps school districts comply with federal and state requirements, and enables school administrators to make the best use of funds by quickly aligning district resources with the needs of students."

The consensus of this study was clear: the application provides a common understanding of student needs, a common approach to selecting strategies for school improvement, and a common language for discussing progress.

An evaluation by The Ohio State University shows the positive impact Learning Circle has had within the Columbus City School District, the largest public school district in Ohio. According to this study:

• 93 percent of principals surveyed indicated that reports were easy to use and share with teachers and curriculum specialists
• 90 percent of respondents could tie a specific improvement to Learning Circle and its absence would have a negative impact on their work
• A positive correlation exists between a strong school improvement plan and advancement in student outcomes, specifically in the performance index

At Columbus City Schools, which has approximately 49,000 students in 118 schools and an operating budget of more than $1 billion, Learning Circle connects thousands of teachers and administrators to student assessment, attendance, and discipline data along with links to research-based instructional strategies. Formerly, educators had to look in multiple locations to assess aggregate student achievement or drill down by subject. Now they can compare end-of-year baselines to quarterly assessment results, with a couple of clicks, to measure and track progress throughout the year.

"We used to give our principals big stacks of notebooks," said Dr. Gene T. Harris, superintendent, Columbus City School District. "Now they can analyze this critical data themselves via interactive dashboards."

"To be successful and respond to federal and state mandates, educators must be able to convert raw academic data into information that can be used to gauge student achievement," said Gerald D. Cohen, president and CEO of Information Builders. "Learning Circle helps educators make data-driven decisions and set goals based on performance and selected intervention strategies, and then achieve those goals."

About Learning Circle
Learning Circle Education Services has created a customizable software solution that provides school systems with the ability to collect, analyze, and communicate academic data in real time. The solution provides a process, or framework, with which educators can develop and implement consistent, viable plans for continuous school improvement. Within this process, educators have access to the evidence-based strategies needed to target and improve student achievement.

About Information Builders
Information Builders provides software and services that bring smarter decision-making and streamlined processes to leading organizations in business, government, and education worldwide. The company's software is installed in tens of thousands of locations, servicing millions of users. Its WebFOCUS business intelligence (BI) platform delivers massively scalable information applications, analytics, and customer-facing portals to the new generation of information users to deliver game-changing business results. Its iWay Software integration platform allows enterprises to leverage all of their information resources to streamline internal and business-to-business processes while escalating the overall accessibility and integrity of information regardless of environmental complexity. Headquartered in New York City with 60 offices worldwide, the company employs 1,350 people and has established significant industry partnerships. Visit Information Builders at informationbuilders.com. For ongoing news, go to informationbuilders.com/new or follow Information Builders at @infobldrs.