NEW YORK, October 27, 2017–NewSchools Ignite, an initiative of NewSchools Venture Fund, has announced that PowerMyLearning is a winner of their Science Learning Challenge competition. PowerMyLearning was selected from among 119 applicants to join a cohort of 15 organizations to address a clear K-12 market gap in the use of education technology to improve learning in science. Winners were selected using a rigorous process that included an all-star external review team of educators, edtech experts, and business leaders.
Through this grant, PowerMyLearning will receive $150,000, advisory support, and access to a team of world-class cognitive scientists focused on applying the latest in learning sciences to product design. These resources will be used to enhance the award-winning PowerMyLearning Connect platform so that science teachers can easily find and use high-quality digital learning content aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards and create engaging, personalized learning experiences for their students.
In identifying the science learning gap for their first challenge competition, NewSchools noted the importance of improving learning in science, particularly for students in low-income communities. “As an organization committed to helping students from high-poverty communities achieve success, we are thrilled to be selected as a Science Learning Challenge winner,” said Elisabeth Stock, CEO and Co-Founder of PowerMyLearning. “We look forward to working alongside the inaugural NewSchools Ignite cohort to improve science learning opportunities for students nationwide. Strengthening students’ skills so that we have a more robust pipeline of STEM talent in America is core to our mission at PowerMyLearning.”
About PowerMyLearning
PowerMyLearning is a national non-profit that leverages technology to enhance the interactions among students, teachers, and parents so that all students can succeed. Our work fosters growth in teachers as instructional leaders, in parents as support partners, and in students as learners who can meet the challenge of high academic standards. We partner with schools, districts, and after-school hubs to provide teachers with coaching and students and parents with devices and training. Underlying our work is our free web platform, PowerMyLearning Connect, already in use in 40% of school communities nationwide. We have demonstrated impact on student achievement and love of learning; teacher instructional practices; and parental confidence.
About NewSchools Venture Fund and NewSchools Ignite
NewSchools Ignite is an initiative of NewSchools Venture Fund, a philanthropic investor headquartered in Oakland, California. NewSchools Ignite supports entrepreneurs working to address the most pressing gaps in K-12 education technology. NewSchools is committed to transforming public education through powerful ideas and passionate entrepreneurs so that all children — especially those in underserved communities — have the opportunity to succeed.