EducationNews.org Publishes the A-List Graham Windham News!
EducationNews.org posts an article detailing A-List’s successful Graham Windham Scholars Program! Check it out!
A-List’s Successful Graham Windham Scholars Program
Youth in Foster Care Dramatically Improve SAT Scores and Prepare for College with the A-List & Graham Windham Scholars Program
A-List’s Successful Partnership with Graham Windham Helps Students Reach New Academic Heights
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A-List Education (A-List), leading experts in standardized test preparation and college admissions consulting, has seen remarkable results from its unique Scholars Program established in partnership with Graham Windham, an agency dedicated to caring for and educating New York City’s under-served children. Since its inception in 2008 the top students, all in foster care with Graham Windham, have achieved average SAT score increases of 235 points and significant GPA improvements, enabling them to apply to colleges of their choice. Such measurable success has helped A-List design custom programs for other non-profits including Harlem Children’s Zone, Boys & Girls Club of America and Year Up.
Seventeen-year-old Shakeyma, a senior at a high school in downtown Brooklyn joined the Scholars Program in August 2008. Her total SAT score has since increased by 280 points. Shakeyma, who recently gained admission to Dowling College, Paul Smith’s College and Mercyhurst College says, “With help from A-List I was able to get good grades in high school, prepare for and take my SAT, and apply to college so that I can further my education. They have also helped me become a more independent person.”
Funded by private donors, the Scholars Program was developed to address the alarming lack of educational opportunity for youth in foster care. Few former foster care youth enroll in college, and even fewer earn degrees. According to a study by Casey Family Programs, 70% of former foster care teens want to attend college but less than 50% graduate from high school, only 13% enroll in higher education and approximately 2% obtain bachelor’s degrees.
“Our program is a practical solution to this postsecondary attainment gap. Traditionally, college access programs set college admission as their ultimate objective,” said Scott Farber, president and co-founder of A-List. “This program recognizes that a student’s admission to college is a significant accomplishment, but one that is only the first milestone in the path towards graduating with a diploma.”
A-List drew on years of experience and its unique approach to education to build a curriculum designed to help students reach individualized academic goals. As juniors, scholars attend weekly tutoring sessions with A-List instructors developing essential English, math and study skills before focusing on SAT preparation. Graham Windham’s team of educational coordinators provides students with much needed educational advocacy and collaborates with A-List staff to ensure students are on track to graduate. As seniors, they receive guidance on college selection, applications, and scholarship searches. Scholars also participate in independent studies, learning critical research skills required for college-level success. Continued mentorship and tutoring is provided to students throughout their college careers to ensure they have the support network necessary to graduate.
The program uses financial incentives to prioritize educational progress in the form of attendance-based stipends and performance-based bonuses. It also offers a community of stability and positive influence through peers and dedicated staff. Scholars participate in cultural activities during monthly enrichment sessions allowing them to bond in a setting outside the classroom. These sessions have included visits to neighborhoods of cultural interest, museums and theatrical performances. Through the Scholars Program, A-List is not only helping students to successfully graduate from college, but also inspiring them to reach their full potential in all areas of life.
“Youth in foster care have urgent educational and personal needs. Graham Windham is deeply committed to ensuring the best possible outcomes for all them. Thanks to the generous support of two anonymous donors, we created a one-of-a kind program with our partners at A-List to dive deeper into the needs of a small but representative group of students. This critically important educational initiative has provided our scholars with firm academic foundations and necessary survival skills to prepare for successful post-secondary degrees and bright, self-sufficient futures,” said Poul Jensen, president and CEO of Graham Windham.
About A-List Education
A-List Education (www.alisteducation.com) is an innovative provider of educational services for students, schools, and non-profit organizations. The company is dedicated to helping students achieve their academic goals and successfully prepare for undergraduate and graduate studies. A-List’s services include standardized test preparation, academic tutoring and college admissions advising. Through private tutoring, classroom-based programs and online services, such as Vocab Videos (www.vocabvideos.com) and College Essay Optimizer (www.collegeessayoptimizer.com), A-List has helped thousands of students through its unique and highly effective programs and services.
About Graham Windham
Graham Windham (www.graham-windham.org) has been a leader in pioneering programs for New York City’s disadvantaged children for over 200 years. Since it was founded in 1806, the agency has been dedicated to educating all children in care and preparing them for lives of self-sufficiency. Today, literacy and education remain core values at Graham Windham. The organization operates 18 community-based sites and provides over 50 educational and social service programs to more than 7,000 children and families in New York City’s neediest communities as well as The Graham School Campus, which houses a residential treatment center and a Special Act School (K-12).
A “Year Up”: A Big Difference
First and foremost, CONGRATULATIONS to the Year Up NYC Class of 2010! As Year Up NYC celebrates its sixth graduation, A-List is more honored than ever to be partners with this non-profit organization doing more than its fair share to level the playing field. As its mission statement reads, Year Up seeks to “close the opportunity divide by providing urban young adults with the skills, experience, and support that will empower them to reach their potential through professional careers and higher education,” and it appears the job they’re doing is working.
The first five months of Year Up’s intensive one-year program prepares this group to enter the professional world by equipping students with the skills, behavior, and communication ability necessary to achieve success in entry-level corporate positions without a college degree. The second half of the program places Year Up students at internships with leading corporations, many of which support Year Up as corporate partners helping to steer these motivated youth toward success.
Dominique Wright, a Year Up graduate, was recently featured in a piece by the New York Times, “Chronicling a Life and Honing Job Skills.” As a teenage mother, Ms. Wright completed Year Up after dropping out of Kingsborough Community College and working a succession of hourly wage jobs in an effort to support herself and her daughter. After working a paid internship at Merrill Lynch through the program, she’s determined to move forward and excel professionally despite the difficult economy and her struggle to find a job. Andres Gomez, a case manager at the Community Service Society, who has just assisted Dominique in landing a paid apprenticeship at Citigroup speaks of her commitment, “She’s resilient,” Mr. Gomez said. “No matter what comes her way, she breaks down every barrier.”
Through our partnership with Year Up, A-List is contributing as we know how to advance the meaningful work being done—through education. Starting in the spring of 2008, A-List began providing Year Up with a course intended to introduce young adults in the Year Up apprenticeship phase to the college application process. The course was soon expanded to include college advising workshops that begin during the learning and development phase and continuing through the apprenticeships. A-List’s college advisors have assisted Year Up students in selecting schools, completing applications, perfecting admissions essays, and securing scholarships and financial aid.
In the fall of 2008, Year Up NYC added another A-List course to its Professional Skills curriculum. In Business Math, students learn the fundamental math skills necessary for success in the professional world. The course was designed to meet the specific needs of Year Up students as they enter the workforce and focuses on the real-life applications of math concepts in personal and professional life.
A-List representatives, Edward Smallwood and Adam Horowitz proudly attended yesterday’s Year Up NYC’s graduation and this Year Up class’ motivation was put on display through the students’ personal stories. Recent Year Up graduate, Christina Calenzani, who completed an internship at BNY Mellon and plans to attend college this fall shares, “The most vital lesson I took from Year Up is the importance of believing in myself. Once you do, nothing is off limits.”
With that positive attitude and the determination Year Up students exude, we think Christina’s right. Again, much-deserved congratulations to the Year Up Class of 2010! A-List looks forward to attending many more Year Up graduations, and seeing just what a difference a Year Up can make.
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