Follett today announced that its Aspen software has been selected by the Foster-Glocester Regional Schools District as its preferred Student Information System (SIS). The district’s adoption expands the Aspen integrated data management platform to a third of all school districts and more than 57,000, or 40 percent, of all students in Rhode Island.
Aspen links student information to curricular and educational tools within a single platform. Aspen tracks class schedules, school events, overall student performance, athletic eligibility and student health records.
West Warwick Public Schools also rely on Aspen’s Curriculum and Learning tool, a fully integrated learning management system, to build its curriculum maps. “As an avid user and fan of Follett’s Aspen SIS and the Curriculum and Learning tool, we look forward to sharing our knowledge of this powerful system with other districts in Rhode Island,” said Jim Monti, director of educational reform, compliance and technology for West Warwick Public Schools. “We have used Aspen to manage all of our student data; Aspen’s special education module to develop customized and interactive Individualized Education Programs; and Aspen’s Curriculum and Learning tool to build unique Common Core-aligned curriculum maps. Our district is more prepared for Common Core because of Aspen.”
In addition to Foster-Glocester Regional Schools (which includes the Foster and Glocester districts) and West Warwick, other Aspen customers in Rhode Island include: Barrington, Coventry, Cranston, Cumberland, East Greenwich, Jamestown, Johnston, Little Compton, Newport, North Kingstown, Portsmouth, Warwick, Blackstone Valley Prep, The Learning Community, Rhode Island Department of Children Youth & Families (DCYF), and Exeter-West Greenwich.
Follett was recently named a preferred vendor for the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), a status that makes it easier for school districts in the state to acquire Follett’s Aspen SIS.
Two years ago, in response to Aspen’s rapid expansion, a group of school administrators formed the Rhode Island Aspen User Group. Organizers say the User Group provides a forum to share ideas and best practices, as well as offers Aspen districts in the state a way to effectively collaborate with each other. Moreover, The Aspen Institute, an annual two-day conference hosted by Follett to help Aspen users get the most out of their investment in the SIS, will be held in Rhode Island for the first time. The 2014 event is scheduled for April 8-9 in Providence.
