Post by Bornthrilla on Apr 21, 2008 11:37:03 GMT -5
An innovative project was unveiled this morning by three Guilford County educational leaders in the historic Dudley Building at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
N.C. A&T Chancellor Stanley Battle, Guilford Technical Community College President Don Cameron, and Guilford County Schools Superintendent Terry Grier announced at a joint news conference plans for a new “Cosby Kids” at North Carolina A&T State University Program. This major educational initiative is named for nationally acclaimed entertainer/educator Dr. Bill Cosby.
The partnership involving N.C. A&T, GTCC, and Guilford County Schools is a multifaceted initiative designed to enhance the academic performance and related areas of African-American and Hispanic students in the fourth, sixth and eighth grades. The overall goal of the "Cosby Kids" Program is to ensure that targeted children perform at grade level or above in the areas of reading, math, and science.
Funding for the "Cosby Kids” at N.C. A&T Program will come from A&T, GTCC, and Guilford County Schools in the form of actual dollars and/or services offered for the children and their parents. In addition, funds will be provided by fundraising efforts with Cosby and funds from foundation and federal agencies. A small project that will serve as the pilot for the "Cosby Kids" at N.C. A&T Program was recently funded through a dropout prevention grant from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. This program, titled "The Stepping It Up Program," is a collaborative effort involving A&T, the Black Child Development Institute of Greensboro and Kiser Middle School. "The Stepping It Up Program" is an enrichment program designed to improve academic performance and leadership skills of 30 eighth grade students at risk of dropping out of school. It will include the following activities on A&T's campus: a Summer Academy; a fall Saturday Academy; tutoring and mentoring services, monitoring of academic performance and attendance; and the creation of a step dance team to perform in local and state venues.
The "Cosby Kids" Program is motivated by N.C. A&T's commitment to education. A&T, as one of America's largest HBCUs, plays an important role in reducing educational and health disparities as well as the problems associated with these disparities, such as low educational achievement and poor economic status. N.C. A&T has a longstanding tradition of getting involved in these programs such as the following:
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have had a long history of ensuring that education is accessible and open to all people. However, the road to higher education does not begin at high school graduation because disparities in educational achievement are even observed in elementary school. Addressing this issue requires the development of programs that are culturally appropriate and are implemented before high school to prepare youngsters for college. Therefore, the question becomes: "How can N.C. A&T, as a high research activity institution, work with Guilford County, the state, and the nation to prepare students to enter college?" This program represents one way for A&T to bring university resources to address this problem.
N.C. A&T students, faculty and staff have a long and proud tradition of community volunteerism which is conveyed in many different ways on and off campus. This program is an extension of this philosophy because it provides an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to tutor, mentor, and lead other program-related activities.
The “Cosby Kids" at N.C. A&T Program is based on previous educational research and a conceptual model that recognizes that children do not develop in isolation, but flourish in the context of their peers, families, teachers, schools and the larger community. The question is, "How will the 'Cosby Kids' at N.C. A&T Program work with these entities to foster academic success?" The answer reflects a multi-faceted, holistic approach that reaches out not only to students, but also to families and teachers.
First, each participating child will be paired with a mentor. Mentors for the "Cosby Kids" Program will be recruited from community volunteers as well as from faculty, staff and students (upperclassmen) from N.C. A&T and GTCC.
An after-school instructional curriculum will be conducted as an after-school initiative on A&T's campus. The curriculum will be designed to enhance basic skills (particularly math, reading, and writing) as specified in the North Carolina standard course of study. The curriculum will be offered every day as an after-school program from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Participating students will also receive tutoring. Faculty, staff and students from A&T and GTCC will be recruited and trained to serve as tutors, as well as groups such as the National Black Child Development Institute.
The program will offer workshops for parents to obtain information about their children's performance and ways they can assist them. Parents will be given information regarding the meaning and impact of the No Child Left Behind Act, the North Carolina standard course of study, and the testing program and standards for the State of North Carolina. Workshops will provide parents with skills in communicating with teachers about their children's performance, discipline issues, and related matters. Additionally, parents will be informed about resources that are available within the school system and ways to advocate for their children. In addition, parents will be assisted in their efforts to improve their own education so they can contribute to their children's academic success. Workshops will be conducted at community sites such as GTCC and houses of faith within the targeted area.
There will be workshops for teachers. Teachers are important for student success and parental involvement. Through their actions, teachers send messages to children about whether they are accepted and competent enough to accomplish tasks given. In order to be effective, teachers must understand the needs and environments of the students that they teach. Teachers will learn effective teaching strategies for teaching the targeted children. They will also learn discipline strategies and ways to help children achieve academically. Fourth, sixth, and eighth grade teachers from targeted schools will be invited to participate in these workshops.
N.C. A&T Chancellor Stanley Battle, Guilford Technical Community College President Don Cameron, and Guilford County Schools Superintendent Terry Grier announced at a joint news conference plans for a new “Cosby Kids” at North Carolina A&T State University Program. This major educational initiative is named for nationally acclaimed entertainer/educator Dr. Bill Cosby.
The partnership involving N.C. A&T, GTCC, and Guilford County Schools is a multifaceted initiative designed to enhance the academic performance and related areas of African-American and Hispanic students in the fourth, sixth and eighth grades. The overall goal of the "Cosby Kids" Program is to ensure that targeted children perform at grade level or above in the areas of reading, math, and science.
Funding for the "Cosby Kids” at N.C. A&T Program will come from A&T, GTCC, and Guilford County Schools in the form of actual dollars and/or services offered for the children and their parents. In addition, funds will be provided by fundraising efforts with Cosby and funds from foundation and federal agencies. A small project that will serve as the pilot for the "Cosby Kids" at N.C. A&T Program was recently funded through a dropout prevention grant from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. This program, titled "The Stepping It Up Program," is a collaborative effort involving A&T, the Black Child Development Institute of Greensboro and Kiser Middle School. "The Stepping It Up Program" is an enrichment program designed to improve academic performance and leadership skills of 30 eighth grade students at risk of dropping out of school. It will include the following activities on A&T's campus: a Summer Academy; a fall Saturday Academy; tutoring and mentoring services, monitoring of academic performance and attendance; and the creation of a step dance team to perform in local and state venues.
The "Cosby Kids" Program is motivated by N.C. A&T's commitment to education. A&T, as one of America's largest HBCUs, plays an important role in reducing educational and health disparities as well as the problems associated with these disparities, such as low educational achievement and poor economic status. N.C. A&T has a longstanding tradition of getting involved in these programs such as the following:
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have had a long history of ensuring that education is accessible and open to all people. However, the road to higher education does not begin at high school graduation because disparities in educational achievement are even observed in elementary school. Addressing this issue requires the development of programs that are culturally appropriate and are implemented before high school to prepare youngsters for college. Therefore, the question becomes: "How can N.C. A&T, as a high research activity institution, work with Guilford County, the state, and the nation to prepare students to enter college?" This program represents one way for A&T to bring university resources to address this problem.
N.C. A&T students, faculty and staff have a long and proud tradition of community volunteerism which is conveyed in many different ways on and off campus. This program is an extension of this philosophy because it provides an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to tutor, mentor, and lead other program-related activities.
The “Cosby Kids" at N.C. A&T Program is based on previous educational research and a conceptual model that recognizes that children do not develop in isolation, but flourish in the context of their peers, families, teachers, schools and the larger community. The question is, "How will the 'Cosby Kids' at N.C. A&T Program work with these entities to foster academic success?" The answer reflects a multi-faceted, holistic approach that reaches out not only to students, but also to families and teachers.
First, each participating child will be paired with a mentor. Mentors for the "Cosby Kids" Program will be recruited from community volunteers as well as from faculty, staff and students (upperclassmen) from N.C. A&T and GTCC.
An after-school instructional curriculum will be conducted as an after-school initiative on A&T's campus. The curriculum will be designed to enhance basic skills (particularly math, reading, and writing) as specified in the North Carolina standard course of study. The curriculum will be offered every day as an after-school program from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Participating students will also receive tutoring. Faculty, staff and students from A&T and GTCC will be recruited and trained to serve as tutors, as well as groups such as the National Black Child Development Institute.
The program will offer workshops for parents to obtain information about their children's performance and ways they can assist them. Parents will be given information regarding the meaning and impact of the No Child Left Behind Act, the North Carolina standard course of study, and the testing program and standards for the State of North Carolina. Workshops will provide parents with skills in communicating with teachers about their children's performance, discipline issues, and related matters. Additionally, parents will be informed about resources that are available within the school system and ways to advocate for their children. In addition, parents will be assisted in their efforts to improve their own education so they can contribute to their children's academic success. Workshops will be conducted at community sites such as GTCC and houses of faith within the targeted area.
There will be workshops for teachers. Teachers are important for student success and parental involvement. Through their actions, teachers send messages to children about whether they are accepted and competent enough to accomplish tasks given. In order to be effective, teachers must understand the needs and environments of the students that they teach. Teachers will learn effective teaching strategies for teaching the targeted children. They will also learn discipline strategies and ways to help children achieve academically. Fourth, sixth, and eighth grade teachers from targeted schools will be invited to participate in these workshops.
