East Los Angeles Schools Get Blended Learning Boost From Hyundai

Community Partnership Aims to Improve Math Skills, Prepare Highly Skilled Workforce

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Oct 25, 2012, 08:37 ET

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Motor America, the Los Angeles Unified School District, the community group TELACU and the education non-profit MIND Research Institute today announced a partnership that aims to boost East Los Angeles students' math skills and put them on track to becoming tomorrow's highly skilled workers. More than 1,000 students, teachers, parents and community leaders were on hand at Belvedere Elementary school to celebrate the announcement.

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(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091001/HYUNDAILOGO)

"Hyundai wants every child to have the ability to obtain a great education and successfully graduate," said Zafar Brooks, Director of General Affairs, Hyundai Motor America. "We believe that a STEM enriched curriculum will equip these children well for a successful future. With our non-profit partners MIND Research Institute and TELACU, we are honored to invest in an ST Math program to benefit children in East Los Angeles."

Hyundai's $46,000 investment will provide students in second and third grades at Belvedere and third and fourth grades at Eastman Elementary with MIND Research Institute's cutting-edge digital math education program. Students and teachers using the program have on average doubled students' growth in math proficiency on the California Standards Test. At schools like Belvedere and Eastman with considerable populations of English Language Learners, one of ST Math's benefits is its independence from language prerequisites. Math concepts are introduced via visual puzzles, with symbols and words being introduced gradually, making the program equally accessible and challenging for native English speakers and English Language Learners.

"We have to do everything in our power to ensure that our students are all proficient in math, said LAUSD Board President Monica Garcia. "Thank you Hyundai, TELACU and MIND Research Institute for your support in making this happen, we need more programs like this in every school."

Beginning this fall, about 775 students at the schools will have access to the ST Math® instructional software program; approximately 30 teachers will receive professional development; and both schools will have access to ongoing educational support throughout the year. Following a blended learning model, students will learn through visual puzzles that are the hallmark of ST Math in computer labs. Then their teachers will connect the puzzles to math concepts in the classroom lessons.

"Our strategy is to put radically improved digital learning tools in the hands of teachers and students," said Andrew R. Coulson, president of MIND's education division. "Visionary community and corporate partners like Hyundai and TELACU are leading this charge to math success for all students, changing attitudes about math and creating the next generation of problem solvers, innovators, and critical thinkers."

Research by the University of California, Irvine shows that early math skills are the key predictor of later academic success and increase graduation rates. Moreover, math literacy is essential for students entering 21st century jobs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics – also known as "STEM" fields.

MIND's ST Math program is already used by more than 200,000 California students, including 30,000 in Los Angeles Unified School District.

About Hyundai Motor America
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 800 dealerships nationwide.

MIND Research Institute
The MIND Research Institute is a neuroscience and education research-based, non-profit. MIND applies its distinctive visual approach to illustrating math concepts and building problem-solving skills as the basis for innovative, research-proven math education programs for elementary and secondary schools. MIND's programs currently reach 475,000 students and 16,000 teachers in 1,375 schools in 26 states. For more information, visit www.mindresearch.net.

SOURCE Hyundai Motor America