HDF Awarded for Education Research Tools

From the San Diego Daily Transcript
2/24/2005

By Michelle Loase

Human Development Foundation, which offers encouragement and educational opportunities to underprivileged children, received some encouragement of its own earlier this month when it was given the Salute to Excellence Award for Excellence in Technology Innovation.

HDF was presented with the award at the Feb. 8 event recognizing excellence in nonprofit management, sponsored by Nonprofit Management Solution and the Waite Foundation. The local nonprofit was specifically recognized for its Web-based software, created by Abaris Technologies. The software correlates tutoring strategies and student progress, and serves as a time clock. Researchers at the San Diego State University College of Education use the data to assess the effectiveness of certain tutoring strategies.

"HDF students have made statistically significant gains in reading achievement over the school year, as a direct result of the literacy strategies used by OPEN GATE tutors," said Marjorie Fox, president and CEO of HDF. "Prior to the development of this Web-based technology, it was impossible to track activities in direct relation to student English literacy gains."

Dean Rosenberg, owner of Abaris Partners, and San Diego Social Venture Partners were also thanked by Fox. The OPEN GATE program is the foundation's primary initiative, providing resources and advocacy for highly gifted children who come from low-income families. For more information about HDF, visit www.humandevelopmentfoundation.com.