NEA Foundation Awards $1.25M to Durham
Grant funds multi-year effort by education association, school district and community to close achievement gaps between African-American males and their peers
(Washington, DC) (Feb. 9, 2010) – A Durham partnership bringing together an education association, the school district, and community leaders has been selected to participate in a $1.25 million, five-year effort to close the achievement gap between African-American male students and their peers. The NEA Foundation, an independent, public charity that supports educators' efforts to close student achievement gaps, announced the award today.
"Good schools, schools that provide real educational opportunity, have a clear focus on teaching and learning. In good schools, skilled teachers and effective administrators agree on strategies, structures, practices, schedules, and resource sharing plans," said Harriet Sanford, President and CEO of the NEA Foundation. "Real opportunities for students grow when the whole educational system keeps its eye on the prize.”
The NEA Foundation selected Durham and two other districts from among more than 14,000 school districts nationwide to participate in the first major expansion of its signature Closing the Achievement Gaps Initiative. This six-year-old initiative supports union-district partnerships to develop and implement comprehensive, sustainable approaches to closing the achievement gaps and advancing academic achievement.
Durham’s proposal had broad community engagement, including students, a critical and thorough review of available data, and an objective assessment of capacity. Co-created by the Durham Association of Educators (DAE) and Durham Public Schools, the project was strengthened by support from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC Central University, and local business leaders.
"Our focus on academic achievement of African American boys, was driven by careful analysis of district data, and is supplemented by a greater strategy to gain higher achievement for all students by increasing teacher collaboration, instructional leadership, and reflective practice,” said Kristy Moore, President of the Durham Association of Educators. "Our strategy includes the development of professional learning communities across two feeder patterns (elementary, middle and high schools) and within schools and is supplemented through systematic involvement of higher education and national organizations.”
"The selection of Durham Public Schools to receive this award confirms the importance of teachers and school system administrators working together to ensure that every child graduates from high school ready for a career or college,” said Sheri Strickland, President of the North Carolina Association of Educators. “The collaboration between Durham Public School and the Durham Association of Educators is a model for what needs to be happening in all school systems across the country."
“We consider educating students and challenging them to achieve at their highest possible levels as very serious business, and chief among our priorities is to do everything in our power to eliminate the gap in achievement among ethnicities,” said Minnie Forte-Brown, Chair of the Durham Public Schools Board of Education. “The NEA Foundation clearly saw the high level of thought, creativity and dedication to doing the right thing that our teachers, administrators, parents and community supporters have invested in crafting this amazing plan that holds so much promise for the young people of our community. We are deeply grateful to the NEA Foundation for believing, as we do, that we can accomplish these goals.”
“There is great need but also great opportunity,” Sanford said. “In addition to financial support, Durham will benefit from research, expertise, and best practices, gleaned from our Closing the Achievement Gaps Initiative and evidence based research. We have access to a national network of educators who are eager to consult. We believe in this partnership’s ability to deliver on its vision to redefine the futures for African American males and to improve the academic performance of all Durham public school students. We expect to discover new techniques that we will share with the field as part of our ongoing effort to elevate the profession.”
Throughout the life of the grant, an independent, third party evaluation will measure the progress of the project.
The NEA Foundation
The NEA Foundation is an independent public charity created in 1969 and sustained by contributions from educators, corporate sponsors and other supporters of public education. The NEA Foundation offers grants and programs that support educators' efforts to close the gaps in student achievement, increase classroom innovations, salute excellence in education and provide professional development. For more information, visit http://www.neafoundation.org.
Closing the Achievement Gaps Initiative
The NEA Foundation created the Closing the Achievement Gaps Initiative to accelerate the achievement rate for under-achieving low income and minority student groups, thereby closing the gap between these students and their higher achieving, more affluent peers. The Foundation's researched-based strategy shows that developing and strengthening partnerships among local education associations, school districts, and community organizations, is a powerful force for improving student performance and a vehicle for systemic reform. Started in 2004 in Hamilton County, with Milwaukee and Seattle added in 2005 and 2006 respectively, early results from local evaluative efforts are showing significant and positive changes in teaching and learning.
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