ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, July 9, 1996 TAG: 9607090054
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
A PARTNERSHIP between Roanoke Valley schools and colleges to help disadvantaged students get a higher education has been recognized by USA Today.
Roanoke School Superintendent Wayne Harris' dream of helping students go to college has received honorable mention in USA Today's national awards program for community solutions in education.
The program is designed to remove the barriers that prevent selected economically and educationally disadvantaged students from getting a college education.
In choosing the program for one of 50 honorable mentions, USA Today said it was an "outstanding grass-roots program which provides learning opportunities for young people through comprehensive community involvement."
The program began in Roanoke last year, but has been expanded recently to include Roanoke County and Salem.
It encourages college attendance by academically promising youngsters who are unlikely to continue their education without tutoring, financial aid or other assistance.
Rising eighth-graders are selected for the program and are provided tutors, special classes and other activities for five years to help them prepare for college.
Some of the students have had behavioral problems, and most have not considered college. Most of their parents did not go to college.
The school systems have entered a partnership with Hollins College, Roanoke College and Virginia Western Community College.
The program includes summer sessions on the college campuses with academic enrichment and financial planning classes. College mentors are provided for the students, who also will receive some medical services.
The colleges will guarantee admission to students in the program who graduate from high school and meet entrance requirements. They will provide financial aid to cover up to 70 percent of the students' tuition, fees and other expenses.
The school systems will use contributions from businesses and grants to help cover the remaining 30 percent of the college costs, up to $2,000 per student.
Harris said about a dozen businesses, foundations and other organizations already have pledged $200,000 to help pay the students' costs.
"We're getting wonderful support from the corporate community,'' said Lissy Runyon, coordinator for the program. "We'll also be seeking grants as well as more donations from businesses."
The school systems hope to raise $1 million to help fund the program.
Sixty-five rising eighth-graders from Roanoke were selected for the first year, and 51 successfully completed all of the required courses with at least a 2.5 grade-point average.
For the second year, 50 students were chosen from Roanoke, 10 from Roanoke County and five from Salem.
Runyon said 65 students will be selected each year for five years. The program will be re-evaluated at the end of that time, she said, and a decision will be made on possible changes to the number of students or other aspects of the program.
Harris said most of the students in the first year showed they can do the academic work. Eighty percent of their grades were A's and B's in the first semester. Forty-six students took pre-algebra, and 41 took a foreign language.
Students are required to take college preparatory courses in mathematics, science, English and foreign language.
During each summer, the students have enrichment classes, academic skills training and other activities to help them prepare for college. Summer training is provided by professors from the participating colleges.
After finishing the ninth grade, the students will be required to do 75 hours of summer community service that is compatible with their career interests and goals.
At the end of the 10th grade, they will spend three weeks on the college campuses in the summer to participate in college-life simulation.
Parents are required to participate in some activities, and mentors are provided to ease the students' college transition.
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