Program Name: Princeton Young Achievers
Nominator's Name: Dr. Marcia Bossart
Nominator's Telephone Number: (609) 924-9322
Title: Superintendent
List of Community Partners: Princeton Regional Schools, Princeton Housing Authority, Princeton Community Housing & Community Members
The nominated school system is: Elementary / Middle / Jr. High / High Schools
Organization: Princeton Regional Schools
Districts: Princeton Regional School District
Address: 25 Valley Road
City/State/Zip: Princeton, NJ 08540
District Superintendent: Dr. Marcia Bossart
District Telephone Number: (609) 924-9322
Date of Program Initiation: September 1993

Area 1: Goals:

Established in September 1993, as part of the Princeton Regional Schools, Princeton Young Achievers (PYA) is an educational project designed specifically to meet the needs of children who attend Princeton Regional Schools and / or live in affordable housing by giving them access to educational materials, modern computers, teachers and volunteer tutors to help them develop and attain meaningful educational goals. PYA seeks to help equalize the educational opportunities for all children in the school system. A unique partnership exists among the school system, Princeton Community Housing, the Princeton Housing Authority and the community. The program services 225 students in three after school (3:30 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.) neighborhood learning centers. The program goals include the following:

• To provide an after-school environment for focused study and other academic work. (Cross- Content Workplace Readiness Standards 3 & 4)
• To support the schools' effort to have students master the Core Curriculum Content Standards by aiding in the completion of assigned homework-- specifically reading, language arts, math, social studies and science. (Standards 3.1 - 6.9)
• To assist Latino students with English language acquisition and development through homework support.
• To develop reading comprehension and critical analysis skills through participation in literature groups. (Standard 3.4)
• To expose students to computers as tools for access to information and technology. (Cross- Content Workplace Readiness Standard 2)
• To provide those students who have completed their homework assignments with academic enrichment activities in math and language arts that lead to self-reliant, independent mathematical thinkers and deep-thinking critical analysts in language arts. (Standards 3.4 & 4.4)

Area 2: Activities:

PYA is an entirely unique program. The collaboration between the school system, Princeton Housing Authority, Princeton Community Housing and the community members is an aspect that is rarely seen working so effectively. At each of the three learning centers, the students receive support with homework, reading, writing and computer activities from certified teachers, aides, the site manager and dedicated volunteers. Currently, 60 regular volunteers work in the three centers 2 - 4 hours each week. A great majority of the volunteers come from Princeton University's Student Volunteer Council. This organization of students has been extremely dedicated and dependable. The remainder of our volunteers are Princeton Regional School teachers and interested community members.

Parents and community members are involved with several facets of the program. Representatives from the school, parents and communities comprise the PYA Advisory Board, Operations Committee, and Fundraising Committee. The Parent Site Council is comprised entirely of parents and the site manager.

Highlighted PYA Programs are listed below:

• Lego Logo, a joint project with the Math Education Department at Rutgers University that engaged the students in a serious exercise of logic, math and creativity.
• SAT preparation with the Princeton Review and career and educational counseling.
• Literature groups for elementary and middle school students.
• Academic summer programming under the direction of teachers and aides.
• Cultural enrichment activities for students--musical concerts, plays, the circus and a magic show.
• Math tutoring program.
• Computer lab activities that utilize Internet access for research and communication.

Area 3: Resources:

The school system provides funding for the Coordinator, part-time clerk typist and site manager for each of the three sites. The Housing Corporations provide the facilities; while the teachers, aides and other activities and expenses are fund-raised by parents and interested community members. The most consistent and generous support has come from the J. Seward Johnson, Sr. trust. This year, the trust awarded PYA $60,000 to be used for operating and programming expenses. Princeton University and its employees have also been generous donors of PYA.

Additionally, C-Tec Cable Company, and Princeton University provide in-kind services that provide each learning center with Internet capabilities. School and stationery supplies have been donated by Mobil Oil and many interested community members. These donors, as well as our dedicated staff of volunteers, have allowed PYA to function without program interruption.

Area 4: Evaluation:

The impact of PYA has been tremendous for its students and well-received by teachers and parents. This conclusion was reached through a variety of measures: teacher surveys, student grades, and anecdotal information from parents, teachers and students. The teachers have reported that when students regularly attend PYA facilities, there is marked improvement in homework completion and a greater understanding of the subject matter. A formal evaluation is currently in process as assessment services were donated by Dr. Terry Clark, Director of Educational Resource Group of Princeton, NJ. Dr. Clark, also a community member, volunteered to assist the program Coordinator with this formal assessment.

Area 5: Stability:

PYA has made considerable strides since its birth in September, 1993. PYA's strength and support has grown because of its proven ability to bridge the gap for those students who may need the extra support. There are three groups that support PYA's cause. The Advisory Board meets 4 - 5 times per year and functions as any other organization's Board of Directors. The Operations Committee meets on a monthly basis and the Fundraising Committee meets as necessary. All garner considerable support from its members.

The first Coordinator of PYA and a previous teacher in the Princeton Regional Schools, Dr. Shirley Paris, was responsible for a significant portion of the vision and mission of PYA. Unfortunately, Dr. Paris passed way in November 1995 and although that position went unfilled until September 1996, the PYA programs continued to function. The Board felt that PYA was important enough to allocate funding for a Coordinator that was certified to evaluate staff, as well as have an educational background. In September 1996, Nicole J. Moore became PYA's first supervisory-certified Coordinator.

Under Ms. Moore's leadership, PYA has become an institutionalized part of the school system. Principals and teachers have become the primary references to the program. Because the district is connected by e-mail, the school staff are capable of notifying Ms. Moore or a PYA site manager about concerns they have for their students. Most students continue with the program from year to year, as incentive programs exist for those who are steady and regular attendees of the learning centers.

The PYA staff members meet regularly with the Coordinator to discuss program, student or staff concerns. The volunteers are recruited through Princeton University, volunteer fairs, and networking. A volunteer training manual is available and the site managers work with individual volunteers to see that each of their needs is met.

Area 6: Endorsements:

"Princeton Young Achievers is the most important and impressive program instituted within the low and moderate income housing community within the past twenty years. In recognition of the long standing gap in academic achievement between minority children and their peers in the Princeton schools, PYA attempts in a most significant way to bring successful learning environments to the locations where these children live. The Learning Centers can be described as an extension of the home, only better. The atmosphere of focus on learning, positive parental involvement and the support system which includes the schools, the housing community and the parents, is truly a place where children can learn. The Princeton Regional School Board has demonstrated beyond words that it is committed to improving the education of all its students and recognizes that the team of housing advocates and parents share a common goal." Lucy James, Princeton Community Housing.

"The Princeton Housing Authority is firm in its commitment to the partnership with the Princeton Regional Schools for the operation of the Princeton Young Achievers program. PYA provides the children living in the affordable housing neighborhoods extra-curricular opportunities and academic enhancements that many in the school system take for granted. PYA has the potential to level the playing field. In addition, PYA instills in the participants the recognition that learning is exciting and is a twenty four hour a day process. The results are clear in the enthusiasm of the participants and their improved performance in the classroom." Marcy T. Crimmins, Executive Director. Princeton Housing Authority.

"Princeton Young Achievers is a unique partnership of the schools, local housing authorities and the community. The neighborhood learning centers help students and their families develop long-range educational goals and the strategies to achieve them. The availability of academic support, subject tutoring and enrichment activities promote enhanced skills, self-disciplined study habits and a lifelong love of learning." Meg Pinto, Advisory Bd., PYA.