News & Events
Achievers For Life First-Year Results and Expansion Announced
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| Chris Hazelip, Attorney, Rogers Towers, PA, and Achievers For Life Partnership Council Chair |
“Through Achievers For Life, nearly 150 sixth grade students and their families have reversed middle school challenges as demonstrated in increases in GPAs and promotion rates, said Chris Hazelip, attorney with Rogers Towers, P.A. and chair of United Way’s Achievers For Life Partnership Council. “These families and our community will reap the benefits for many years to come.”
In addition to improved GPAs and higher promotion rates, first-year achievements included fewer suspensions and lower course-failure rates.
These accomplishments are critical because they address the most powerful predictors for dropping out, which include 80% or less school attendance, failure of sixth grade math or English, out-of-school suspension, and poor final behavior grade, as identified by Dr. Robert Balfanz, a researcher with Johns Hopkins University.
The costs of dropping out ripples through the community in the form of increased crime and incarceration rates, greater dependence on public assistance and public healthcare, and lost tax revenue to support necessary education and public programs.
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| United Way of Northeast Florida President, Connie Hodges, Michael Ward, CEO, CSX Transportation, Inc. and Marty Lanahan, 2008 Campaign Chair, North Florida Area Executive and Jacksonville City President, Regions Bank, and Duval County School Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals |
“We are excited with the success we’re seeing with Achievers For Life,” said Ed Pratt-Dannals, superintendent of Duval County Public Schools. “We have engaged students and families and provided community support to students most at-risk for dropping out. I thank United Way for undertaking this effort and helping to lead our students to the future success of graduation.”
The Achievers For Life strategy addresses all five dropout predictors through family advocates, mentors and parent engagement activities. Parental support for this voluntary program is high as indicated by the 92% of parents of AFL students who stated that the program helped their family deal better with issues, as well as, the 97% of parents who said they would recommend Achievers For Life to family or friends. Student participants became more engaged in school and made better decisions resulting in improved promotion rates, fewer suspensions and better grades.
In support of Achievers For Life, Michael Ward, CEO of CSX Transportation, Inc., has pledged a $1,000,000 gift to United Way of Northeast Florida over the next five years.
“Through Achievers For Life, our community has made a positive impact in the lives of our children when we work together—parents, schools and community,” Ward explained. “I am extremely impressed with the significant accomplishments of the students and their families in one year, and I am committed to its expansion to benefit even more students.”
Building on the success of its pilot, United Way has expanded the program to serve Springfield students and their families. These students are slated to attend Andrew Jackson High School, which has a graduation rate of 57%. During the 2008-2009 school year, nearly 450 students and their families are expected to be served through the Achievers For Life initiative, including 147 current AFL students, 150 incoming sixth graders at Ft. Caroline and Arlington Middle Schools and 150 incoming sixth graders at Matthew Gilbert and Northwestern Middle Schools in Springfield.
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| Moses Abreu, Miguel Abreu and Michael Ward, CEO, CSX Transportation, Inc. |
During the program, Moses Abreu presented Michael Ward with a box of personal thank you letters from Achievers For Life students and their families. Moses, participated in the program last year as a repeating sixth grader at Ft. Caroline Middle School. With the help of his mentors and teachers, his failing grades rose to A/B Honor Roll and he was able to join his peers this year as an eighth grader.
United Way’s community partners in implementing Achievers For Life include Communities in Schools of Jacksonville, Jewish Family and Community Services, Full Service Schools of Jacksonville, Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. (JCCI) and Duval County Public Schools.
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