Record-breaking 30,000 AR quizzes completed in one day

April 6, 2011 - PRLog -- Renaissance Learning is delighted to announce that not only has its “Quiz for Japan” fundraising initiative succeeded in generating a substantial donation to the Japanese Relief Fund, but in the process a new UK record has also been set for the total number of Accelerated Reader (AR) quizzes completed in one day.

Over 350,000 children from across the UK read and quiz books as part of the Accelerated Reader program every day, but on Wednesday 6th April 2011 Renaissance Learning pledged to donate 5p to the Japanese Relief Fund for every quiz successfully passed on books suitable for each pupil’s reading age.

An average of 15,000 AR quizzes are completed in the UK each day, so the target of 25,000 quizzes for the Japan initiative was always ambitious.  However, schools have pulled out all the stops and quizzed in excess of 30,000 books to set a new record for the UK, whilst many have also broken their individual records for the total number of quizzes completed in one day.

Alex Bell, Deputy Headteacher, Sir William Burrough Primary in Tower Hamlets comments:

“At Sir William Burrough, our young readers are delighted such an increasingly comprehensive range of quizzes to match both their personal interests as well as their precise reading level is available.  Our children have been particularly touched by recent events in Japan and have greatly appreciated the opportunity to play their part in Renaissance Learning’s ‘Quiz for Japan’ day.”

Marina Lee, Librarian, Clacton County High School comments:

“I am delighted to say that, like Renaissance Learning, we have had our own ‘record-breaking’ day of quizzing at Clacton County High School and raised a considerable sum for the Japanese Relief Fund in the process!”

Bev Stuttard, Librarian, Wolsingham School & Community College in County Durham, comments:

“We have had a busy day with students scuttling round the library looking for thin books at the correct level to quiz.  After successful quizzes all we could hear was ‘another 5p for Japan’!”

Julie Cross, Librarian, All Saints Catholic College in Tameside comments:

“Our pupils were amazing today and quizzed their hearts out for Japan!  The ones who couldn’t quiz gave money instead, which we will also be donating to charity.”

The results of all the quizzes taken are now being analysed by Renaissance Learning to identify exactly how many have been successfully passed and determine the total amount of money that will be donated by the company to the Japanese Relief Fund, which will be announced on Friday 8th April 2011.

Schools across the UK can help raise additional funds for the cause, whilst also boosting their library stock, by taking advantage of a specially discounted book offer courtesy of Young Samurai author Chris Bradford, Authors Abroad and Renaissance Learning.  Every classroom pack of Young Samurai: The Way of the Sword (10 copies of this award-winning book) purchased from Renaissance Learning will generate a further £29.00 for the Japanese Relief Fund and automatic entry to a prize draw to win an exclusive ‘virtual visit’ from the author himself.

Details of how schools can order a classroom pack of Young Samurai: The Way of the Sword and enter the prize draw can be found at: www.renlearn.co.uk/renaissance-zone

Dirk Foch, Managing Director, Renaissance Learning comments:

“The commitment and dedication of the schools we work with never fails to impress us at Renaissance Learning.  We thought that challenging them to complete 25,000 Accelerated Reader quizzes in one day was an ambitious target, but to see over 30,000 taken is incredible.  We are very grateful to all the schools who have participated, I am sure once the analysis of the total number of quizzes successfully passed is completed the donation we will make to the Japanese Relief Fund will be significant.  I would also urge every school to take advantage of our special Young Samurai book offer as – thanks to the generosity of Chris Bradford and Authors Abroad – we will be able to donate a further £29.00 for every classroom pack purchased.”

More information about Renaissance Learning’s “Quiz for Japan” event and book offer can be found at: www.renlearn.co.uk/renaissance-zone

The money raised by Renaissance Learning for the Japanese Relief Fund, as well as the opportunity for schools and individuals to further increase the total with their own donations, can be found at: www.justgiving.com/quizforjapan/

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About Renaissance Learning and Accelerated Reader

Renaissance Learning UK Limited is a leading provider of computer-based assessment technology for primary and secondary schools. Renaissance Learning’s Accelerated Reader Advantage and Accelerated Maths Advantage software, together with the versatile NEO 2 writing and assessment tool, provide daily formative assessment and periodic progress-monitoring technology to enhance curriculum, support differentiated instruction, and personalise practice in reading, writing and maths.

Adopted by more than 70,000 schools globally and used by over 350,000 children in the UK every day, Renaissance Learning produces the world’s most widely used reading software; Accelerated Reader (AR). Many schools using the program report an average of two years’ growth in just one academic year, with some showing up to four years’ improvement over the same period.

Visit www.renlearn.co.uk for more information.