National Student Excellence Program Unveiled for Fall 2009

Learning Forum International announced the launch of a national student excellence-building initiative, “Communities of Excellence – Living the 8 Keys,” at a celebration event held at its headquarters in Oceanside, California last night.

The event was attended by several local dignitaries and representatives from national, state and local government, including Oceanside Mayor, Jim Wood, as well as business and civic leaders who are supporting the program. Oceanside is the launch city for this national initiative.

The “Communities of Excellence” program teaches students how to use the 8 Keys of Excellence, eight principles for a successful life developed over twenty years ago by Bobbi DePorter, the co-founder and president of SuperCamp academic summer camps. Ms. DePorter analyzed the lives of numerous successful people in various walks of life and found these eight principles to be common traits among them.

Thousands of teachers across the country currently use the 8 Keys of Excellence in their classrooms to inspire and guide their students. Additionally, the 8 Keys of Excellence are an important component of SuperCamp’s educational summer camps.

“ ‘Communities of Excellence – Living the 8 Keys’ will take the 8 Keys of Excellence to a broader student base nationally by uniting community leaders, businesses, organizations, educators and parents in support of year-long school programs,” said Ms. DePorter, who is president of the non-profit Learning Forum International. “This purpose of this initiative is to inspire students to make positive choices and become productive members of their schools, their families, and society.”

In accepting a plaque for the City of Oceanside in recognition of the city’s support of Communities of Excellence, Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood said, “Supporting young people, who are our future, is what it’s all about. The Communities of Excellence program does just that and I’m pleased, on behalf of the City of Oceanside, to support this very worthwhile initiative.”

The program can be implemented at a district level or at individual schools. Participating teachers and school administrators receive training in the 8 Keys curriculum, which focuses on one Key per month from September through April and an 8 Keys celebration in May. Over the course of the program, students receive a set of 8 Keys keycards and a key ring.

Participating teachers and students gain access to 8 Keys lessons, worksheets, and learning activities at the Communities of Excellence.org website. Major corporate supporters also gain access to a private area of the website, which contains 8 Keys training material for use with company employees and corporate clients.

Individuals, companies and foundations can support Communities of Excellence financially with any level of contribution, which can be made through the website or by calling Learning Forum International at 760-305-7317.

More information on this initiative is available at the Communities of Excellence.org website and at www.QLN.com.

 About Learning Forum International

Learning Forum International (LFI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational corporation founded in 1989 and headquartered in Oceanside, California with the mission of making great kids greater.

LFI secures funding from individuals, foundations and corporations to implement Communities of Excellence programs in schools nationwide, to provide Quantum Learning® professional and student development programs for teachers, school administrators and students, and to grant individual student scholarships to SuperCamp learning and life skills summer programs.

Through Learning Forum International, educators, parents, alumni and other supporters of youth development come together to make a difference for kids with great promise and limited resources, empowering them with greater self esteem, highly effective academic and learning skills, and a desire to achieve.