| AchievementGap.info |
Community-Based Initiative: RAMP Program
A collaboration among community residents and leaders can bring about a community-based initiative. One such initiative has
produced a program known as the RAMP Program. RAMP stands for "Raising Achievement in Monroeville and Pitcairn."
The idea of this initiative is to coordinate and develop a network of support systems that will aid area students in academic
achievement. This initiative engages local non-profit organizations, churches, parents and residents, local businesses and
school related individuals or groups in a collaborative effort to raise achievement for all students, but focuses on disadvantaged
subgroups, such as the African-American population.
On July 28th, 2007, Our Monroeville Community gathered to learn how they can help close the gap. Parents, residents,
businesses, churches, local organizations, and school officials gathered to learn what their roles could be in closing the
achievement gap in the Monroeville/Pitcairn communities.
After being presented with gap information for our local area, we had break-out sessions where participants gathered into one
of 4 smaller groups: Businesses, Churches and Local Organizations, Parents/Residents, and Schools/Districts. Within each
group were discussions based on focus questions. The purpose of the break-out session was to get each group discussing and
collaborating about what they could do to help close the gap. After discussing answers to focus questions, the groups
categorized their suggested strategies in terms of what could be implemented in the short term. Finally, each participant was
asked to commit to one item that could be implemented in the short term.
A coordinated effort will follow to bring at least one strategy from each focus area to fruition. Information on who the
participants are, and their committed items will be distributed to area residents so that they will know what resources have
been made available to them. We will monitor this program's progress via community input, and through monitoring
achievement test data from the School Matters and Pennsylvania Department of Education databases.
Below are the areas of focus for our community, focus questions to consider, and the input given by the participants:
Community Developed Solutions for Closing Achievement Gap for African-American Students
Our 4 Focus Areas:
1. Nurture an Environment of Academic Excellence at Home (Parents)
2. Support Programs to Nurture an Environment of Academic Excellence within the Community
(Community Organizations / Churches)
3. Nurturing a Community of Academic Excellence (Businesses)
4. Nurturing a School Environment Conducive for Academic Excellence
Among African-Americans (School District)
1. Nurture an Environment of Academic Excellence at Home (Parents)
• What can parents to get together to encourage one another in supporting academic excellence in their children?
- Stop Drop and Read (10 minutes at home)
- Share Tips
- Networking
- FTO/PTO (RAMP up now)
- Start in elementary school
- Parent orientation ~ Church sponsor uninvolved parents
• How can parents encourage academic excellence in their children?
- Library trips
- Modeling
- Make it fun
- Reward great achievements
- Bug books
- Black images
- Know your child’s strengths and weaknesses
- Have children help one another
• What kinds of workshops or programs, if made available, would you participate in?
- Tutoring Programs
- Advanced placement
- Welcome Group/Network/Monthly to address our issues
- Mentoring for parents and students
• Categorize your answers to items 1-3 in terms of what can be accomplished in short term:
- mentoring
- welcome group
- parent orientation
- tutoring
- encourage parents to stay the course
2. Support Programs to Nurture an Environment of Academic Excellence within the Community (Community
Organizations / Churches)
• What type of programs outside of the school setting can be used to support striving toward an environment of
academic excellence?
- Parent networking for:
* Tutoring: Science, Math, Reading
- After School Programs
* Group Learning Activities: sponsored trips to museums, nature center, community college enrichment
program
- Parents
* Empowering Parent Skills Group
* Parent Education Skills Networking
* Church collaborations (bringing awareness)
- Teachers
* creative professional development opportunities (given by businesses)
• What program does your organization have in place to encourage academic success?
- Achievement awards/letters going to children who are not only on the dean’s list, but also on those improving
academically, emotionally, socially…
- Library Teen Center (why not in the mall?)
- State Senator Sean Logan’s Letters of recognition to college folks (Why not k-12 as well)
- Good Schools of PA (pairing parents/skills at businesses) ?
• If your organization does not have a program in place to support an environment of academic excellence, what would
it take for you to request the implementation of one?
- Awareness at legislative level - participate
- Churches: can implement these rather quickly with little or no funds necessary
- Collaboration with other local churches (search and share resources)
• Categorize items in terms of what can be accomplished short term:
- kids after school programs (tutoring)
- kids group learning activities (sponsored trips to museums, nature center, community college enrichment
programs)
- church collaborations to bring awareness and unite resources with needs
- achievement awards/letters from legislators and businesses to not only those on Dean’s list, but also to those
improving academically, emotional, socially…etc.
3. Nurturing a Community of Academic Excellence (Businesses)
• What non-monetary programs can businesses implement to encourage and recognize academic achievement?
- correlation between academic achievement and positive experience (medical, sports, business…etc)
- “photo wall” of achievers
- Media recognition of “achievement” (“moving on”) – work to change focus of local media
- Tutor space
- “Who I will be” – “How I turned out” (papers)
- Career Days
- Sponsor academic Olympics
- Intramural team
- Improvements within same district
• What monetary-based, or coupon based program could a business employ to recognize academic achievement?
- challenge youth to a specific goal @ “award” “reward” for success
- grades received based
- graduation based
- support sports, coaches on team academic improvement
- business-sponsored dinners
- business sponsored equipment
• What participatory role could your business play within the schools?
- support teachers (supplies, field trips – sponsor?)
- support awards/incentives with class improvements…etc
• Categorize your answers to items 1-3 in terms of what can be accomplished short term:
- photo wall of achievement
- tutor space (book stores, library, eateries, mall, churches)
- businesses sponsorship (equipment/dinners …etc.)
- “Who will I be…” papers
4. Nurturing a School Environment Conducive for Academic Excellence Among African-Americans (School
District)
• What can schools or a district do to nurture a school environment that produces high academic excellence among
African-American students?
- reach out to the community
- encourage parent involvement
- provide a safe environment
- provide an environment that is conducive to learning/homework completion
• How can schools nurture positive relationships with the African-American community?
- extend black history month throughout the year: intertwined with curriculum
• How could schools nurture an environment where African-American students are encouraged to connect learning to
their culture?
- Differentiated Instruction
• What programs or instruction might help nurture African-American students’ sense of ownership in the district?
- having instruction based on readiness, interest, and learning profile (learning is planned and presented around
these 3 areas)
- flexible grouping
- having students involved in improving the schools
• Categorize your answers to questions 1-4 in terms of what can be done in the short term:
- Differentiated Instruction
- Response to Intervention (research-based remediation and intervention)
- Faculty and Staff training
• Additional Comments:
- 5 Needs that must be met:
* Affirmation: I belong here; teacher provides invitation to the environment
* Contribution: something to give back to the group
* Power: How will this benefit me later in life?
* Purpose: Why am I doing this?
* Challenge: set the bar high
- Each of these is part of our mission and operation; not an isolated event
- 3 areas of focus: Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment
- Instruction differentiated by readiness, interest, and learning profile
Implemented Items, or suggestions for implemented items that can be
done in the short term:
Parents and Residents Group Churches and Local Organizations Group
- mentoring - Provide a mentoring program
- welcome group - Provide an after school program
- parent orientation - Provide a tutoring program
- tutoring - Provide achievement awards
- encourage parents to stay the course - Collaborate with other churches and organizations
Businesses Group
- Provide tutoring space
- Provide rewards/incentives for improvement/achievement
- Provide a "Wall of Achievement" to showcase students who have improved or achieved honor roll
- Bookstores to provide one night a week to have books that are by or about African-Americans, read to children
Teachers/Schools Group
- Utilizing Differentiated Instruction
- Incorporating Black History year round vs only Black History Month
- Data driven instruction (to identify students in need)
A collaboration among community residents and leaders can bring about a community-based initiative. One such initiative has
produced a program known as the RAMP Program. RAMP stands for "Raising Achievement in Monroeville and Pitcairn."
The idea of this initiative is to coordinate and develop a network of support systems that will aid area students in academic
achievement. This initiative engages local non-profit organizations, churches, parents and residents, local businesses and
school related individuals or groups in a collaborative effort to raise achievement for all students, but focuses on disadvantaged
subgroups, such as the African-American population.
On July 28th, 2007, Our Monroeville Community gathered to learn how they can help close the gap. Parents, residents,
businesses, churches, local organizations, and school officials gathered to learn what their roles could be in closing the
achievement gap in the Monroeville/Pitcairn communities.
After being presented with gap information for our local area, we had break-out sessions where participants gathered into one
of 4 smaller groups: Businesses, Churches and Local Organizations, Parents/Residents, and Schools/Districts. Within each
group were discussions based on focus questions. The purpose of the break-out session was to get each group discussing and
collaborating about what they could do to help close the gap. After discussing answers to focus questions, the groups
categorized their suggested strategies in terms of what could be implemented in the short term. Finally, each participant was
asked to commit to one item that could be implemented in the short term.
A coordinated effort will follow to bring at least one strategy from each focus area to fruition. Information on who the
participants are, and their committed items will be distributed to area residents so that they will know what resources have
been made available to them. We will monitor this program's progress via community input, and through monitoring
achievement test data from the School Matters and Pennsylvania Department of Education databases.
Below are the areas of focus for our community, focus questions to consider, and the input given by the participants:
Community Developed Solutions for Closing Achievement Gap for African-American Students
Our 4 Focus Areas:
1. Nurture an Environment of Academic Excellence at Home (Parents)
2. Support Programs to Nurture an Environment of Academic Excellence within the Community
(Community Organizations / Churches)
3. Nurturing a Community of Academic Excellence (Businesses)
4. Nurturing a School Environment Conducive for Academic Excellence
Among African-Americans (School District)
1. Nurture an Environment of Academic Excellence at Home (Parents)
• What can parents to get together to encourage one another in supporting academic excellence in their children?
- Stop Drop and Read (10 minutes at home)
- Share Tips
- Networking
- FTO/PTO (RAMP up now)
- Start in elementary school
- Parent orientation ~ Church sponsor uninvolved parents
• How can parents encourage academic excellence in their children?
- Library trips
- Modeling
- Make it fun
- Reward great achievements
- Bug books
- Black images
- Know your child’s strengths and weaknesses
- Have children help one another
• What kinds of workshops or programs, if made available, would you participate in?
- Tutoring Programs
- Advanced placement
- Welcome Group/Network/Monthly to address our issues
- Mentoring for parents and students
• Categorize your answers to items 1-3 in terms of what can be accomplished in short term:
- mentoring
- welcome group
- parent orientation
- tutoring
- encourage parents to stay the course
2. Support Programs to Nurture an Environment of Academic Excellence within the Community (Community
Organizations / Churches)
• What type of programs outside of the school setting can be used to support striving toward an environment of
academic excellence?
- Parent networking for:
* Tutoring: Science, Math, Reading
- After School Programs
* Group Learning Activities: sponsored trips to museums, nature center, community college enrichment
program
- Parents
* Empowering Parent Skills Group
* Parent Education Skills Networking
* Church collaborations (bringing awareness)
- Teachers
* creative professional development opportunities (given by businesses)
• What program does your organization have in place to encourage academic success?
- Achievement awards/letters going to children who are not only on the dean’s list, but also on those improving
academically, emotionally, socially…
- Library Teen Center (why not in the mall?)
- State Senator Sean Logan’s Letters of recognition to college folks (Why not k-12 as well)
- Good Schools of PA (pairing parents/skills at businesses) ?
• If your organization does not have a program in place to support an environment of academic excellence, what would
it take for you to request the implementation of one?
- Awareness at legislative level - participate
- Churches: can implement these rather quickly with little or no funds necessary
- Collaboration with other local churches (search and share resources)
• Categorize items in terms of what can be accomplished short term:
- kids after school programs (tutoring)
- kids group learning activities (sponsored trips to museums, nature center, community college enrichment
programs)
- church collaborations to bring awareness and unite resources with needs
- achievement awards/letters from legislators and businesses to not only those on Dean’s list, but also to those
improving academically, emotional, socially…etc.
3. Nurturing a Community of Academic Excellence (Businesses)
• What non-monetary programs can businesses implement to encourage and recognize academic achievement?
- correlation between academic achievement and positive experience (medical, sports, business…etc)
- “photo wall” of achievers
- Media recognition of “achievement” (“moving on”) – work to change focus of local media
- Tutor space
- “Who I will be” – “How I turned out” (papers)
- Career Days
- Sponsor academic Olympics
- Intramural team
- Improvements within same district
• What monetary-based, or coupon based program could a business employ to recognize academic achievement?
- challenge youth to a specific goal @ “award” “reward” for success
- grades received based
- graduation based
- support sports, coaches on team academic improvement
- business-sponsored dinners
- business sponsored equipment
• What participatory role could your business play within the schools?
- support teachers (supplies, field trips – sponsor?)
- support awards/incentives with class improvements…etc
• Categorize your answers to items 1-3 in terms of what can be accomplished short term:
- photo wall of achievement
- tutor space (book stores, library, eateries, mall, churches)
- businesses sponsorship (equipment/dinners …etc.)
- “Who will I be…” papers
4. Nurturing a School Environment Conducive for Academic Excellence Among African-Americans (School
District)
• What can schools or a district do to nurture a school environment that produces high academic excellence among
African-American students?
- reach out to the community
- encourage parent involvement
- provide a safe environment
- provide an environment that is conducive to learning/homework completion
• How can schools nurture positive relationships with the African-American community?
- extend black history month throughout the year: intertwined with curriculum
• How could schools nurture an environment where African-American students are encouraged to connect learning to
their culture?
- Differentiated Instruction
• What programs or instruction might help nurture African-American students’ sense of ownership in the district?
- having instruction based on readiness, interest, and learning profile (learning is planned and presented around
these 3 areas)
- flexible grouping
- having students involved in improving the schools
• Categorize your answers to questions 1-4 in terms of what can be done in the short term:
- Differentiated Instruction
- Response to Intervention (research-based remediation and intervention)
- Faculty and Staff training
• Additional Comments:
- 5 Needs that must be met:
* Affirmation: I belong here; teacher provides invitation to the environment
* Contribution: something to give back to the group
* Power: How will this benefit me later in life?
* Purpose: Why am I doing this?
* Challenge: set the bar high
- Each of these is part of our mission and operation; not an isolated event
- 3 areas of focus: Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment
- Instruction differentiated by readiness, interest, and learning profile
Implemented Items, or suggestions for implemented items that can be
done in the short term:
Parents and Residents Group Churches and Local Organizations Group
- mentoring - Provide a mentoring program
- welcome group - Provide an after school program
- parent orientation - Provide a tutoring program
- tutoring - Provide achievement awards
- encourage parents to stay the course - Collaborate with other churches and organizations
Businesses Group
- Provide tutoring space
- Provide rewards/incentives for improvement/achievement
- Provide a "Wall of Achievement" to showcase students who have improved or achieved honor roll
- Bookstores to provide one night a week to have books that are by or about African-Americans, read to children
Teachers/Schools Group
- Utilizing Differentiated Instruction
- Incorporating Black History year round vs only Black History Month
- Data driven instruction (to identify students in need)
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |