Technology Infusion Transforms Low-Performing Sacramento School

Apple 1 to 1 Learning

After years of low academic achievement, high turnover rates by students and teachers, and ongoing discipline problems, Jonas Salk Middle School was placed on a School Improvement Program. Then new San Juan Unified School District Superintendent Steven Enoch took office. His solution: Create a technology-infused curriculum, delivered by a new, extremely motivated faculty. Since rechristened as the Jonas Salk High-Tech Academy, the school’s collection of Apple technology tools has helped spark a remarkable turnaround in teaching and learning that has resulted in a 33-point jump in Academic Performance Index (API) scores.

Jonas Salk purchased Apple Mobile Learning Labs, iMac computers for the classrooms, and iWork. As usual, all of the computers came preloaded with the iLife suite of authoring tools. Behind the scenes, Xserve servers and an Xserve RAID were deployed to support students’ and teachers’ mobile accounts, and house all digital content. Technology Coach Jon Leister also ordered eight days of Apple Professional Development (APD), which facilitated the technology integration.

“The kids actually told us that they loved coming here! Our suspension rate went down, and we actually saw increases in attendance.”

— Jon Leister, Technology Coach, Jonas Salk High-Tech Academy

Apple Notebooks Spark Turnaround in Behaviors

Now, the average Jonas Salk student uses a MacBook during at least three periods out of seven per day. During the last period of the day the media class puts Jonas Salk’s daily newscast together, combining announcements of student birthdays, kudos for positive behaviors, and other segments. Then the program is edited using iMovie and GarageBand, and streamed from one of the Xserve servers for broadcast the next morning.

The moment the new Apple tools were available, Leister says the changes in students’ attitudes and behaviors were striking. But perhaps the most significant aspect of Jonas Salk’s technology infusion is its potential impact on its students’ futures. Where once those who passed through the school’s hallways may not have had the brightest academic careers ahead of them, now the students are well positioned for success. “It used to be pretty chaotic here,” Leister notes. “But now the students are engaged, they’re on task, and they’re doing what needs to be done.”