Learn and Earn to Achieve Potential

In October of 2015, School & Main Institute, along with a group of national partners including, The Annie E Casey foundation, Jobs for the Future, Jobs for America’s Graduates and MDRC began working on a five-year Learn and Earn to Achieve Potential (LEAP) initiative. LEAP will focus on young people (14- to 25-year-olds) who are transitioning from the juvenile justice and welfare systems (or who are homeless) into education and employment. SMI will manage a partnership of the 5 national organizations (including SMI) and around the country who will serve 3000-5000 youth over the course of 3-5 years. Sites selected will utilize one or both evidence-based models provided by Jobs for America’s Graduates and Jobs for the Future. The JAG model helps targeted youth develop professional skills, obtain full-time employment, enter postsecondary education, and earn a credential. While JFF’s “Back on Track” model provides academic enrichment and other supports to help youth complete high school and build a career path.

 

SMI will be involved in managing all aspects of the initiative.

 

This national initiative is supported by a $7.5 million grant awarded to the Annie E. Casey Foundation by the Corporation for National and Community Service’s Social Innovation Fund. 

Fall River Parent Academy Kicks Off

On Saturday, November 21, the Fall River Parent Academy was launched with the help of fifty partner organizations, members of School & Main Institute’s staff, and a colorful clown marching band. About 150 members of the community attended the event, which was spearheaded by Barbara Allard, Director of Early Childhood Education and Parent Information in the Fall River Public Schools. Also in attendance were Meg Mayo-Brown, Superintendent of the Fall River Schools, along with members of the school committee and all of the district’s principals. The event offered samples of just a few of the many courses (Homework Help, Daddy Boot Camp, Healthy Families/Healthy Meals, Financial Fitness, Family Zumba, Tips for Shaping up your Family Budget)  which will be offered free of charge through the Parent Academy in early 2016. School & Main Institute has provided assistance in all aspects of planning and coordinating the SMI community centered approach to Parent Academy work. 

Click here to see the article in The Herald News – Fall River.

Schools for the Future Launches in Massachusetts

BOSTON, Mass. – Monday, June 22, 2015 – Schools for the Future, a special project of School & Main Institute in Boston, is proud to announce that students in our new school in Detroit posted record gains on their ACT benchmark assessments this year. Students gained an average of 2.5 years across all four tested subjects – including a remarkable 5.6 year gain on English Language Arts. As a means of comparison, these impressive jumps in ACT benchmark assessment growth for SFF students break longstanding records held by the top charter systems in America.  Read more.

Schools for the Future is now launching in Massachusetts and is interested in working with districts looking for more systemic strategies for serving overage, undercredited students using a performance-based advancement approach that spans traditional grades 7-12. SFF/SMI is an approved MA ESE turnaround operator. 

5 Years of Success with MassGrad!

On May 6th, 2015, School & Main Institute came together with MassGrad to celebrate 5 years of success. In Massachusetts, we reduced the annual dropout number by over 3,700 students (cutting the number in half) compared to 5 years ago. And we increased the number of students graduating by nearly 4%. That's big news! The MassGrad Showcase highlighted the great work done across the Commonwealth over the last five years to dramatically decrease dropout rates and increase graduation rates. The Showcase presented a variety of strategies , from grade 8/9 transition approaches, alternative pathways, graduation coaches, credit recovery, community partnerships, dropout re-engagement (and much more!) to lessons from district leaders about how to move dropout prevention and re-engagement into the heart of "how we do school." Districts small, medium, and large made big progress.

School & Main Institute has been the technical assistance provider for MassGrad and have been a proud partner with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and over 30 communities across  Massachusetts in this effort.

Fall River Parent Academy

       

School & Main Institute is pleased to announce that it will work with leadership and staff of the Fall River Public Schools and community partners to design, plan and ultimately develop the Fall River Parent Academy.  On March 26, 2015 SMI facilitated a community forum for the Fall River Parent Academy, with over 90 educational professionals and members of community-based organizations in attendance.

Research tells us that if parents are actively engaged in their children’s education – their children achieve at higher rates. If we provide parents with both the knowledge and experiences that build their capacity to support not only their child’s learning but their own personal growth, they become more invested and intentional in supporting their children in ways that result in improved student achievement and overall school success.

While the Academy’s ultimate goal is to improve children’s academic performance, our vision for Fall River is an Academy that not only provides core classes and workshops for parents to help their children, but also includes classes and workshops that are growth courses for parents to learn new skills and opportunities, and certification opportunities whereby parents can increase potential employment and career development.

Fall River Public Schools will be at the forefront of this effort. School & Main is delighted to engage in this work and look forward to the future with Fall River Public Schools.