|
CTD Starts New Program for Low-Income Students Recent research shows that high-achieving, low-income students "fall out" of the high achievement tracks as they proceed through elementary and middle school. A new project of SESP’s Center for Talent Development (CTD) targets approximately 120 gifted low- and moderate-income students with sustained enrichment and support to help them reach their potential. Project BLAST aims to boost students’ ability to succeed through academic enrichment as well as sustained peer, parental and school support. BLAST stands for “Building, Learning, Achieving, Succeeding Today.” The four school districts currently participating in Project BLAST are Evanston School District 65, Aurora School District 129, Antioch School District 34 and Woodlands School District in Gurnee. CTD director Paula Olszewski-Kubilius says, “It just isn't the case that gifted children will make it on their own in school. Project BLAST attempts to make sure that young high achievers remain high achievers by giving low-income children from three local communities around Chicago opportunities to participate in weekend enrichment programs with other talented children.” Over a three-year period, the children will take classes in the Center for Talent Development's Saturday Enrichment Program. The project has set goals for students, families, and schools. For the children, BLAST intends to provide challenging academic experiences that will reinforce their identity as gifted learners, give them more peer support by placing them together with other high-achieving children, boost their knowledge of high school and college course taking and offer cultural experiences that will enable them to compete with more advantaged children. For parents and teachers, the project aims to raise expectations about the children’s achievement, as well as awareness about meeting students’ needs. Parents, for example, will learn about searching out educational and cultural experiences for their children. Involving families and schools is crucial to a successful program, according to Olszewski-Kulilius. In additon to the CTD Saturday enrichment classes, the program will provide the following supports to students, families and schools: family meetings on parent education, information sharing about opportunities for students, field trips, a conference to assist with high school planning and career exploration, magazine subscriptions, a family newsletter and teacher meetings. Since 1982, the nationally recognized Center for Talent Development (CTD) has offered Saturday Enrichment classes for gifted and talented students. The program currently serves more than 2,300 children annually at three different sites in the Chicago area. by Marilyn Sherman Updated October 18, 2007  E-mail this story
|
Questions/comments