32° Masonic Learning Centers for Children Tracks Educational Progression of Dyslexic Students with Microsoft, Inc. and Greystone Solutions, Inc.
Case study details how a national school for dyslexic children automated its data collection, tracking, and reporting processes, allowing dynamic analysis and continuous educational assessments.
BOSTON, Mass. — July 18, 2006 — Greystone Solutions, Inc., a leading provider of technology and consulting services, announces a joint case study with Microsoft outlining a fully automated and integrated DCS (Data Collection System) for the 32° Masonic Learning Centers for Children, a national organization that tutors students with dyslexia. The 32° Masonic Learning Centers for Children has attributed the DCS and web-based portal with enabling the creation of this comprehensive collection of research data on children with dyslexia.
The 32° Masonic Learning Centers for Children is a not-for-profit organization that has tutored thousands of students with dyslexia in 52 facilities across 15 states. At one time, managing the Centers was primarily a manual effort: each Center operated on its own, tracking information on paper and within its own localized, disparate software systems. The range of data that needed to be tracked was staggering: each Center receives dozens – in some cases hundreds – of paper applications from potential students each year. Simultaneously, each Center recruits and trains tutors, a rigorous certification process that must also be tracked and assessed in order to ensure a steady stream of qualified tutors. Tutoring lasts 2-3 years on average, with each child being given standardized tests on an annual basis. Tracking and analyzing this data is also crucial to the program as it validates the efficacy of the Centers.
As the program continued to grow, this on-going process became more difficult and time-intensive to maintain. Joseph J. Berlandi, Esq., the Executive Director of the organization described their growing problem: “As our program continued to grow, so did the paper trail to track children, centers and teachers. It was extremely time-consuming to tally big picture data, if it happened at all… We couldn’t settle for anecdotal evidence that our programs were really helping children.”
Greystone developers set out to build a system that would be “simple, scalable and functional,” says Peter Barrera, VP of Client Services at Greystone. The new DCS allows the Center Directors to enter each application using a web-enabled interface. After that, DCS tracks which children were accepted into the program, when and why. If a child is determined to not be a good fit, that information is also managed, tracked and analyzed. In addition, DCS reports how many tutors are available to help prospective children, how many teachers are currently receiving training, and when new tutors will be available.
The new DCS system creates a centralized repository for a wide range of information about children, tutors, trainees, certifications, and more, increasing the efficiency, accuracy and reliability of managing the data. The architecture of the DCS is built to expand and support growth and additional functionality as the Centers’ needs increase.
This DCS utilizes Visual Studio .NET, Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Reporting Services as the major tools that allowed the automation and organization of information across many different locations and user groups. The new system also enabled the Centers to measure their success and thus make changes in response to results. “With the DCS, we now deliver the same type of ROI information as for-profit organizations,” says Berlandi. “At one time, we only had anecdotal data on how effective or Centers were. Today we know that 100% of children improve their standardized test scores with our tutoring.”
For a complimentary copy of the case study, please contact Greystone Solutions at 617-832-9228.
About Greystone Solutions
Located in Boston, Mass., Greystone Solutions builds custom
applications and integrates enterprise systems. As a Microsoft
Gold Certified Partner, our technological expertise spans the
full range of custom application development, including Web
services, portals, database integration and legacy migration.
Organizations such as Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft Corporation, HP
Hood, Bain Capital, Eastern Connection, Cumberland Farms,
Windward Investments, Mutual Fire Insurance Association, and
Thomson Financial all rely on Greystone Solutions.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software,
services and Internet technologies for personal and business
computing. The company offers a wide range of products and
services designed to empower people through great software - -
any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft and MSN are either registered trademarks of trademarks
of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may
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About the 32° Masonic Learning Centers for Children
The 32° Masonic Learning Centers for Children is a non-profit organization operated by the Scottish Rite Masons, Northern Jurisdiction, supported by both funding and donations from the Masonic organization and its members. At 52 Learning Centers in 15 states, the Masonic Learning Centers for Children tackle the challenge of dyslexia head-on, both by providing free tutoring for children with dyslexia and by training a growing cadre of highly skilled and dedicated tutors.
