News Release
U.S. Awards $27.9 Million to Hopkins Education ProgramsThe funding comes from two grant packages aimed at supporting for the next five years the design, research and implementation of school reform models nationwide. In all, 11 programs received grants totaling $84.6 million under the two grant programs. The Hopkins-developed programs receiving funding were the Talent Development High School, Talent Development Middle School and Success For All. All three use reform strategies based on solid research to turn around low-performing, high poverty schools. "This is important news for education reform," said James McPartland, director of Hopkins' Center for Social Organization of Schools and of the Talent Development High School model. "These grants show that the federal government is committed to adopting education reform strategies that are grounded in tested research and to making those reforms available to as many schools that want them. It also indicates an emphatic shift towards comprehensive school reform, and away from a piecemeal, fragmented approach to reform." Success For All is an elementary school reform model known for its intense reading, writing and language arts curriculum, one-on-one tutoring for young students struggling to read, professional development for teachers and an active family support program. Developed by Hopkins researchers, last year Success For All became an independent non-profit foundation, though it still closely affiliated with the university. The Talent Development Middle School program includes a curriculum built on a core of high standards and instructional strategies, flexible schedules that allow extra help for students struggling with course work, professional development and weekly in- classroom implementation support from Hopkins facilitators. The Talent Development High School program divides large high schools into self-contained academies, including a Ninth Grade Success Academy, which helps students make the successful transition to high school, and career- themed academies for upper grade students. The program includes a college-ready curriculum for every student, a flexible schedule that allows extra help for students falling behind and professional development. In the first grant, the Talent Development Middle and High School models were awarded $2.3 million this year and an expected five-year total of $11.6 million. The funding will provide facilitators, curriculum materials and the resources needed for the increasing number of schools wishing to adopt the Hopkins models. The Success For All Foundation received $1.6 million this year, and $12.2 million over five years, to develop a Success For All Middle School program that builds on its widely adopted elementary school reform model. The three Hopkins programs were among seven comprehensive school reform models awarded grants. The second grant is intended to assist implementation of reform models by providing funds for technical support with special emphasis on the development of technology-based technical assistance for schools -- like interactive web sites, training videos and electronic communication among teachers and administrators at different schools adopting the programs. The new technology will be especially helpful to rural areas, where school reform organizations have difficulty sending trainers and facilitators on a regular basis. The grant awarded $2.1 million to Success For All, $469,583 to Talent Development Middle Schools and $468,791 to Talent Development High Schools. Six other school reform models also received funding.
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