CICS Prairie Advances its Anytime, Anywhere Learning Initiative through Relativity's Wired to Learn Grant

Chicago International Charter School (CICS) Prairie, managed by Distinctive Schools, surprised its third and sixth grade students with the reveal of brand-new Google Chromebooks, thanks to a $250,000 Wired to Learn grant provided by local software company, Relativity.

The Wired to Learn grant, which is part of the company's larger Relativity Gives community outreach program, was created to help youth — especially those with limited resources— gain access to the technology, equipment and training that they need to be successful in today's world. Wired to Learn schools receive the $250,000 grant over three years to implement the solutions they know to be right for their students, such as Chromebooks for students at CICS Prairie.

“Relativity’s significant investment in CICS Prairie’s students will propel our intentional efforts to develop 21st century learners equipped with the skills, abilities and learning dispositions needed to thrive in a 21st century world,’ said Elizabeth Shaw, CEO at CICS. “Technology literacy enhances the learning process for our students, strengthening their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.”

The introduction of the new computers to the third and sixth grade classrooms is part of CICS Prairie's Anytime, Anywhere technology initiative. Through Anytime, Anywhere, students will be able to bring their computers home during the school year, as well as over the summer break. With technology at their fingertips, students will be able to explore, inquire, and research topics of interest beyond what they experience in school, 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.

"With a focus on self-directed learning, our goal is to provide students with the opportunity to learn anytime and anywhere through this readily accessible technology," stated Dr. Jennifer Ferrari, Chief Schools Officer at Distinctive Schools. "The introduction of these Chromebooks levels the playing field for our children and provides them with access to rich learning opportunities to explore, inquire, experiment, develop expertise, and create."

CICS Prairie's student-centered learning model utilizes blended online and supplemental learning opportunities with traditional school-based instruction to accommodate students' diverse learning styles. Easy access to technology enables students to use curriculum programs as a tool to demonstrate deeper learning and to use technology as an integral part of their class work. The technology also provides teachers and staff access to current and real-time data, allowing them to quickly analyze and assess the current curriculum so that they can provide the most relevant instructions.

"We are excited to equip our students with new technology," said Jennifer Harth, School Director at CICS Prairie. "Students will be afforded year-long opportunities, otherwise unavailable, that will contribute to their development and growth in school, college, and career."
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Relativity team members joined CICS Prairie classrooms during the reveal to educate students on internet and technology safety, and, in partnership with CICS Prairie, hope to increase the positive impact they make on students through the use of technology.

About Chicago International Charter School
Chicago International Charter School is a vibrant network of diverse Chicago Charter schools which enables students to thrive every day, puts them on a path to success in college and life, and empowers entrepreneurial educators to pursue excellence through innovation.

About Distinctive Schools
Distinctive Schools is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and accelerating the work of charter schools serving kids from traditionally underserved backgrounds. We will innovate, trailblaze and collaboratively lead a public education transformation that positively impacts the greater education community and ensure that each and every one of our Distinctive Schools students thrives in college, career and life.
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About Relativity 
At Relativity, we make software to help users organize data, discover the truth, and act on it. Our e-discovery platform is used by thousands of organizations around the world to manage large volumes of data and quickly identify key issues during litigation, internal investigations, and compliance projects. Relativity has over 180,000 users in 40+ countries from organizations including the U.S. Department of Justice, more than 70 Fortune 100 companies, and 198 of the Am Law 200. RelativityOne offers all the functionality of Relativity in a secure and comprehensive SaaS product. Relativity has been named one of Chicago's Top Workplaces by the Chicago Tribune for seven consecutive years. Please contact Relativity at sales@relativity.com or visit http://www.relativity.com for more information.

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