Grant will fund new DPS evening school
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2008
CONTACT: Dr. Terri Mozingo, Chief Academic Officer
Instructional Services, 560-2027
Dr. Debbie Pitman, Assistant Superintendent
Student Support Services, 560-2554
DURHAM—The North Carolina General Assembly has awarded $149,302 to Durham Public Schools to support an evening school program at Southern High School and a summer leadership program, both of which aim to prevent students from dropping out of school.
The new program is being developed to offer those students who work during the day a chance to take courses in the late afternoon or evening. It will begin this spring, with a small cohort of 30 students.
The goal of the new evening school is to help students gain enough credits to “catch up” with their graduation cohort. Intensive reading and/or math tutoring will be offered at the school. At the end of each course, students will be given appropriate assessments for credit.
The grant also will provide scholarships for 50 students to attend the summer program Restoration Institute for Leaders (RIL). During this program, students will be given both academic tutoring/course recovery opportunities and leadership training. This program is part of the Durham At-Risk Youth Collaborative. DPS partnered with the Collaborative to provide a continuum of school year and summer opportunities for course recovery and leadership experiences.
DPS was one of 300 applicants for $7 million available from the General Assembly for dropout prevention programs. Sixty grants totaling $25,000 to $150,000 were awarded.
“High school completion is at the top of the list among Durham Public Schools’ priorities,” said Superintendent Carl Harris. “These new programs represent our ongoing commitment to providing non-traditional options for students to complete high school.”
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