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Closing the Middle School Achievement Gap in Mathematics through an Out-of-School Strategy
Silicon Valley Community Foundation is a catalyst and leader for innovative solutions to our region's most challenging problems. One of these problems the achievement gap in middle school mathematics that divides English Learners, students of color and low-income students from their peers is addressed through our education strategy.
The education strategy has a two-pronged approach, supporting in-school strategies which seek to increase the effectiveness of instruction during school hours, and outof-school strategies which seek to increase the number and effectiveness of extended learning time opportunities. The anticipated outcome of this strategy is that more students will be prepared to take and successfully complete college-track high school mathematics courses after the intervention. This request for proposals, or RFP, targets closing the middle school achievement gap in mathematics through out-of-school strategies. By using an RFP approach, the community foundation aims to solicit the best thinking of public school districts and other public sector agencies, nonprofit service providers, professional and research institutions and other entities serving San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
Problem Statement
Silicon Valley is a global hub of technological innovation and discovery. However, a majority of students, especially those who are English Learners, or ELs, students of color and low-income students, will not be adequately prepared to contribute to our region's work force. Achievement in mathematics and reading is fundamental as it is a predictor of later success, including students' pursuit and completion of post-secondary education and higher earnings.
Competence in mathematics is essential for functioning in everyday life as well as for success in our increasingly knowledge-based economy. Success in Algebra I, in particular, is commonly recognized as a gatekeeper to the college-preparatory track. Students who take Algebra I by eighth or ninth grade are far more likely to take calculus in high school and pursue higher education than those who do not. Despite the many signs that point to the importance of algebra, an alarming number of students in the region are not taught or prepared to study; nor do they successfully complete this course. The numbers are particularly high for ELs, low-income students and students of color.
Disparities in the quality of education contribute to gaps in student achievement. Low-income students and students of color disproportionately attend schools that receive fewer quality education resources and have limited learning opportunities outside of the school environment. Gaps in student achievement have critical, underlying levers including: quality of pre-algebra coursework taught in the middle school grades, rigor and relevance of curriculum, level of expectations, and the availability of extended remedial and advanced programs. Closing the achievement gap in middle school mathematics is unlikely to happen without intentional, focused programs that invest in these key levers.
Program Goal
It is critical to invest in programs that provide extended learning opportunities to lower-performing students during the school year and summer. Community foundation funding will target programs that provide high-quality extended learning opportunities that rigorously prepare students to take and successfully complete Algebra I during eighth or ninth grade.
The community foundation specifically seeks to fund out-of-school programs that:
that improves students' problem-solving skills and requires a higher order of questioning, analyzing and reasoning.
Build strong partnerships with parents, schools, school district administrators and other education stakeholders to ensure impact, relevance and sustainability.
Create a positive learning environment with high expectations for all students. Additional emphasis is placed on engaging parents in meaningful ways regarding students' progression.
Assess students effectively so staff know where students begin the program in terms of achievement and then use data to monitor progress, and design and provide individualized instruction that recognizes the diverse levels of proficiency, learning styles and interests of students.
The intent of the community foundation's out-of-school education strategy is to improve mathematics proficiency in middle school students and, through sharing best practices and results, produce systemic improvement in mathematics instruction in extended learning programs.
The community foundation will gauge success according to one or more of these indicators: enrollment in Algebra I in the eighth or ninth grade, successful completion of Algebra I in the eighth or ninth grade and increases in student mathematics proficiencies in pre-algebra or algebra courses.
Proposal Eligibility Criteria
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San Mateo and/or Santa Clara County-serving organizations. Organizations headquartered outside the two-county region must demonstrate significant service to the area.
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Organizations with a 501(c)(3) designation (such as youth development programs or school support organizations), those that have a fiscal sponsor with a 501(c)(3) designation, public institutions (such as schools or school districts) or other entities that have a designated charitable purpose.
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Organizations that do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, citizenship status, creed, religion, religious affiliation, age, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status or any other protected status under applicable law. If an organization only serves a specific population, e.g., women, the community foundation will consider the proposal on a case-by-case basis.
Organizations with religious affiliations will be considered for funding only if the project for which they seek support attempts to address the needs of the wider community without regard to religious beliefs.
NOTE: There are two different RFPs available - 1. Closing the Middle School Achievement Gap in Mathematics through an In-School Strategy and 2. Closing the Middle School Achievement Gap in Mathematics through an Out-of-School Strategy. They both have different deadlines for proposal submission.
Deadline: December 2, 2009. For more information and details please visit their web site.
To view other available grants please click here.
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