ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, April 7, 1997 TAG: 9704070051
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER THE ROANOKE TIMES
Rising eighth-graders are provided tutors, special classes and other activities for five years.
Poor and minority students in the Roanoke Valley who never dreamed of going to college are taking algebra, geometry, foreign languages and other college-preparatory courses in middle and high school.
They're making good grades, too, as they prepare for a higher education.
It doesn't surprise Wayne Harris, Roanoke's school superintendent.
"Students can do what you hope and expect them to do if you give them the right support," he said.
Harris said economically and culturally disadvantaged students can take rigorous courses, attend college and be successful if schools help to remove the barriers that traditionally have kept them from academic achievement. These include an inadequate academic background and a lack of motivation, family and financial support.
A program that Harris started in the valley two years ago to help remove such barriers has won an award from the National School Boards Association. School officials will receive the Magna Award at the NSBA's annual conference April 27 in Anaheim, Calif.
Rising eighth-graders are selected for the college-bound program and provided tutors, special classes and other activities for five years. Harris said the program, called Partners for Success, has created strong interest among students who likely would not otherwise have considered college.
"We've had twice the number of applicants that we could accommodate," he said. "The students are doing well academically, and most have met the requirements to remain in the program."
It started in Roanoke, but the program has expanded to include Salem and Roanoke County schools. Fifty-five students from Roanoke were chosen the first year. This year, 65 youngsters were selected - 50 from Roanoke, 10 from Roanoke County and five from Salem.
The program was one of the winners in Gov. George Allen's Partnerships in Education awards this year and received honorable mention earlier in USA Today's national awards competition for community solutions in education.
It is a partnership between the public schools and Hollins College, Roanoke College, Virginia Western Community College and more than a dozen businesses and community organizations. The colleges guarantee admission to students in the program who graduate from high school and meet entrance requirements. They will provide financial assistance to cover up to 70 percent of the students' tuition, fees and other expenses.
The school systems use contributions from businesses, community organizations and individuals and grants from foundations to cover the remaining tuition costs. Businesses and community organizations have donated $214,000 to help pay the students' costs.
Tutors are provided during middle and high school to help the students pass the college-preparatory courses in math, science, English and foreign languages. The program also includes tours and summer sessions on the college campuses with academic enrichment and financial planning classes.
LENGTH: Medium: 61 linesby CNB