CCI Learning Solutions Provides Microsoft Certification to Every Washington State High School Student
Three months into the deployment of the Microsoft IT Academy Program in Washington State, thousands of students now have access to Microsoft Office Specialist and Microsoft Technology Associate certifications
Phoenix, Arizona – December 8, 2011 – In September of this year, Microsoft, CCI Learning Solutions and the State of Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) joined forces to make Microsoft certifications available to each of the state’s 703 high schools, skills centers and tribal schools as part of the state’s recently launched Microsoft IT Academy Program. Since then, the program has integrated wonderfully into the state’s education objectives and educators are having great success in preparing today’s students for the jobs of the future, with hundreds of Microsoft certifications having already been attained.
As part of this initiative, CCI Learning Solutions is making Microsoft Office Specialist and Microsoft Technology Associate certifications available to high school students in Washington State. As the largest ever implementation of the Microsoft Office Specialist certification, the state’s Microsoft IT Academy Program empowers youth in Washington by providing them with relevant, validated IT skills that are required in today’s competitive job market.
“One of the great things about the Microsoft IT Academy is that, for free, it gives students a chance to become certified in a technical area,” said Randy Dorn, Washington state superintendent. “The Microsoft Office Specialist and Microsoft Technology Associate certifications can be very valuable. It means that those students have an advanced set of skills, skills that will help them in the workplace or if they decide to continue their learning.”
CCI Learning Solutions is working alongside Microsoft and OSPI to implement the program; CCI is responsible for deploying the certification programs, and for training and providing support for school staff and administration across the state. With rollout of the program underway, thousands of students now have access to Microsoft Office Specialist and Microsoft Technology Associate certifications. At this point in time, more than 17,000 students have access to the Digital Communication Tools course in their high schools, with more than 7,000 able to take the Office User Specialist course; these courses integrate Microsoft certification right into the curriculum and provide an easy way for students to attain relevant and innovative credentials that will enable them to follow the academic and professional paths that they choose. The number of students with access to these courses will only continue to increase as the program continues to roll out, with over 300,000 Washington state students eligible to take part.
As part of this initiative, teachers and staff were also provided with an opportunity to become Microsoft certified. Teacher John Wright from Chief Sealth High School is currently working to attain his Microsoft Office Specialist Master Certification by preparing for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access exams. “By taking these exams myself, I am able to more thoroughly understand the certifications that are being offered to our students. I have no doubt that the skills our students will leave with will help them to excel in their future academic and professional careers,” said Wright.
“Because this program provides essential technology skills for today’s students’, we found it extremely important to ensure that teachers were given all the support that they needed to effectively prepare students for their academic and professional careers,” said Malcolm Knox, President, CCI Learning Solutions. “Microsoft certification is an invaluable tool that provides Washington youth with the skills to succeed in their future endeavours.”
“I am thrilled to see the rapid success of the Microsoft IT Academy across Washington State,” said Lutz Ziob, general manager, Microsoft Learning. “It is clear that teachers are embracing the IT skills development and certifications students need today to both prepare for advanced studies and to improve career opportunities with higher earning potential. CCI Learning Solutions has already delivered certification exams to thousands of students statewide.”
MICROSOFT OFFICE SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION
A Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification helps validate proficiency in using Microsoft Office 2010 and meets the demand for the most up-to-date skills on the latest Microsoft technologies. Candidates who pass a certification exam show that they can meet globally recognized performance standards.
MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATE CERTIFICATION
The Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification helps schools teach and validate fundamental technology knowledge, provides students with a foundation for their careers, and helps them gain the confidence they need to succeed in advanced studies. Help your institution stand out with an innovative technology curriculum while offering students an opportunity to earn a Microsoft Certification right in the classroom.
ABOUT CCI
CCI Learning Solutions offers complete solutions for teaching and validating essential skills needed in today's workplace. As an industry leader, its extensive services and products include pre-assessment software, approved courseware for instructor led classes, e-learning courses and blended training solutions. In addition to being a Platinum Solution Provider for Certiport offering the Microsoft Office Specialist and Microsoft Technology Associate Exams, CCI Learning Solutions is a Microsoft Academy Service Partner (MASP). For more information, please visit www.ccilearning.com or follow CCI on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ccilearning
Press Contact:
Alanna Clark
1.800.668.1669 ext. 223
aclark@ccilearning.com