Spring Break
New Neag program untouched by budget cuts
Ronald Quiroga
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: News
Despite not being included in the state budget for 2009, grants from several private organizations have allowed the Neag Urban Education Reform program, now in its sophomore year, to continue its work with urban schools. The program allows graduate students to become involved with research and gives undergraduates chances for on-site training and internships.
The goal of the program is to aid the schools that are considered failing by using research and outreach programs through the university.
Due to the ever increasing achievement gap in schools across the state of Connecticut, the Neag School of Education Dean Richard Schwab and Director of the Institute for Urban School Improvement Richard Lemons have developed a reform focusing on urban education. For years, the distinctions between urban and suburban schools have been apparent due to the standardized testing that assesses the performance of students in their second year of high school. In response, Lemons explained that since change seems to be such a constant theme in today's world, schools should follow the same trend.
"Not every kid gets the shot they deserve," Schwab said.
But the gap in money and education in Connecticut is one of the highest in the nation, completely unacceptable for many educators and politicians. The question that has been passed along, though, is how to approach this failed academic infrastructure and rebuild it? In the eyes of Lemons and Schwab, the time was ripe for action.
Eight schools in urban areas all around Connecticut have been chosen to participate in the program. According to Schwab, CommPACT took applications from schools and districts that were interested in becoming part of the reform. The program "original eight" schools from the cities of Waterbury, Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport have all ready been accepted. Both Schwab and Lemons said that students in these cities had the greatest risk.
Many students are ready to become involved in such programs. Holly Korona, a 2nd-semester pre-education major, is excited to see what the schools have in store for her.
The goal of the program is to aid the schools that are considered failing by using research and outreach programs through the university.
Due to the ever increasing achievement gap in schools across the state of Connecticut, the Neag School of Education Dean Richard Schwab and Director of the Institute for Urban School Improvement Richard Lemons have developed a reform focusing on urban education. For years, the distinctions between urban and suburban schools have been apparent due to the standardized testing that assesses the performance of students in their second year of high school. In response, Lemons explained that since change seems to be such a constant theme in today's world, schools should follow the same trend.
"Not every kid gets the shot they deserve," Schwab said.
But the gap in money and education in Connecticut is one of the highest in the nation, completely unacceptable for many educators and politicians. The question that has been passed along, though, is how to approach this failed academic infrastructure and rebuild it? In the eyes of Lemons and Schwab, the time was ripe for action.
Eight schools in urban areas all around Connecticut have been chosen to participate in the program. According to Schwab, CommPACT took applications from schools and districts that were interested in becoming part of the reform. The program "original eight" schools from the cities of Waterbury, Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport have all ready been accepted. Both Schwab and Lemons said that students in these cities had the greatest risk.
Many students are ready to become involved in such programs. Holly Korona, a 2nd-semester pre-education major, is excited to see what the schools have in store for her.
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