NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans College Prep (NOCP), a local charter school network, and King, Krebs & Jurgens, a New Orleans-based law firm, have taken the first step in closing the digital literacy gap for students in the 2015-2016 school year.
The year saw the launch of NOCP's new Digital Literacy Program, which is being piloted with new computers at Walter L. Cohen College Prep (Cohen), NOCP's high school.
Many New Orleans students don't have internet access at home and need to learn word processing, online research, and presentation skills at school. New Orleans College Prep currently operates four schools in New Orleans with the goal of preparing each student to enter and excel in a rigorous four-year college or university. This preparation includes making sure students have the basic digital skills to succeed in a college environment and a modern workplace.
The pilot program at Cohen this year is supported by a $20,000 donation by King, Krebs & Jurgens.
"We're extremely grateful to the King, Krebs & Jurgens law firm for partnering with NOCP on the new Digital Literacy Program,” NOCP CEO and Founder Ben Kleban said. “We estimate that less than 25% of our high school students come to us with the digital skills they need to succeed and we believe this program will make a significant impact on our students' futures as we prep them for college and for life.”
NOCP's new Digital Literacy Program aims to close the digital literacy gap for their students by integrating technology into core academic classes as well as offering specific Technology classes. In the coming school years, advanced technology electives will be added, additional classrooms will go paperless, and the program will expand to the network's elementary schools.
“Ensuring that every high school student in New Orleans has the tools to succeed in college and the workplace is our city's best hope for a strong future,” said Eric Jarrell, a Member of King, Krebs & Jurgens. “In today's world, that means having all of the necessary computer skills, which is why we are very pleased to team with Cohen on its digital literacy program.”
The Digital Literacy Program is another unique offering at Walter L. Cohen College Prep, which has risen from an "F" to a "B" letter grade after four years of NOCP management. Cohen has also achieved a 100% college acceptance rate and its graduates have earned over $2 million in merit scholarship two years in a row.
New Orleans College Prep (NOCP) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that operates a network of public schools serving students in PreK through 12th grade in Orleans Parish including Walter L. Cohen College Prep, Lawrence D. Crocker College Prep, Sylvanie Williams College Prep, and John W. Hoffman College Prep. NOCP's mission is to prepare their students to enter and excel in a rigorous 4-year college or university. NOCP is an open enrollment school that educates students at no cost and is committed to preparing our students for college and for life through a strong academic program as well as a co-curricular programming focused on the arts, technology and athletics.
King, Krebs & Jurgens PLLC is a transactional and litigation firm of 32 lawyers with offices in New Orleans and Houston. The firm offers legal experience in most major practice areas, and serves clients ranging in size from Fortune 500 companies to small, emerging businesses. King, Krebs & Jurgens reps said they have the resources of a large law firm with the size to maintain meaningful working relationships with clients and efficiently manage services.
