Pearson Foundation Provides Fellowship Support for LAUSD Educational Leadership Training at UCLA
14 September 2007
UCLA, Los Angeles , CA – September 14, 2007 – UCLA announced today that the Pearson Foundation has made a $50,000 gift in support of fellowships for education professionals from Los Angeles public schools to attend the UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies' Educational Leadership Program (ELP).
The grant will provide funds to five educators from the Los Angeles Unified School District who are pursuing doctorates in instructional leadership. These students will receive $5,000 per year for two years to attend the highly competitive 36-month ELP, an academically rigorous and student-centered doctoral program designed for working professionals.
"We are deeply grateful to the Pearson Foundation for this gift," said Aimée Dorr, dean of the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies. "The Educational Leadership Program is a crucial resource for individuals seeking to take on leadership roles in Los Angeles schools. With this gift, Pearson is stepping forward to provide a model of how corporations, universities and school districts can work collaboratively, leveraging their resources to strengthen urban education."
Mark Nieker, president of the Pearson Foundation, expressed his excitement about partnering with UCLA.
"We are delighted to be a part of the UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies' efforts to improve urban education and give LAUSD educators the tools they need to be effective leaders," he said. "Pearson is a leader in education solutions, and this partnership is a wonderful opportunity to build upon that success and give back to the community."
The education program at UCLA is ranked among the top five in the nation, and first among public universities, by U.S. News & World Report.
The Educational Leadership Program is a cohort-based, three-year doctoral program aimed at working professionals. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are awarded a doctorate of education degree. Each cohort is made up of 25 to 28 students who work together throughout the program, taking the same classes at the same time. Classes are held one night a week and on alternate Saturdays.
Educators are drawn to the program by the opportunity to participate in a dynamic group made up of individuals from various segments of the educational continuum. The group acts together to develop and apply new connections in research, leadership principles and technology to improve education. Program graduates have a significant impact on educational practice in the Greater Los Angeles area, serving in high-level policy and administrative positions in area school districts. In higher education, ELP graduates occupy a variety of important policy, management and faculty positions at college and universities across Southern California.
The program is part of UCLA's effort to develop future instructional leaders and reward students of exceptional character, academic capability and leadership potential who can influence change within the education system. The ELP is one of the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies' four professional degree programs – along with the Principal Leadership Institute, the Teacher Education Program and the Student Affairs Program – that seek to better education through the work of their graduates.
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The Pearson Foundation
The Pearson Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Pearson Education, the world's leading integrated education company, which in turn is part of international media company Pearson. With such renowned brands as Pearson Prentice Hall, Pearson Longman, Pearson Scott Foresman, Pearson Addison Wesley, Pearson NCS and many others, Pearson Education provides quality content, assessment tools and educational services in all available media, spanning the learning curve from birth through college and beyond.
Pearson Achievement Solutions
Pearson Achievement Solutions develops and delivers sustainable district-wide professional learning programs that transform the culture of teaching and result in schools organized for success, with increased student achievement and teacher retention. Drawing from a collection of research-based programs, evidence-based practices and program implementation processes, the company's solutions include expanding district and school improvement efforts, optimizing the decision-making process, enhancing instruction and maximizing professional growth, among others.
The UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies
The UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies includes two departments – the department of education and the department of information studies. Together, the departments embody the school's commitment to understanding and improving educational practice, information policy and information systems in a diverse society. The school's academic programs bring together faculty and students committed to expanding the range of knowledge in education, information science and associated disciplines. Its professional programs seek to develop librarians, teachers, administrators and information professionals within the enriched context of a research university.
Contact:
UCLA
Shaena Engle
(310) 206-5951
engle@gseis.ucla.edu