Charles Eliot Middle School and Ferro Corporation
(Cleveland, Ohio)
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| Goal: |
Improve student achievement at an inner city school by ensuring that middle school students understand and are inspired by real-world connections between academics and careers. |
| Strategy: |
Build partnership with locally-based global producer of manufacturing materials to provide monetary and volunteer support for activities ranging from academic enrichment to parental support to career exploration, technology and college preparation. |
| Tactics: |
Representatives of Ferro Corporation, the business partner, serve on Charles Eliot Middle School's Core Planning Team, which gives the business and school partners shared responsibility for planning and delivery of all partnership activities.
Ferro provides significant direction and financial support for activities that encourage student learning experience, including Open House, Career Day, Science Fair and Parental Involvement initiatives.
Ferro purchased and equipped a computer lab of 150 units with Internet access.
Working with Ferro, Charles Eliot Middle School began attracting students to literacy by introducing them to one particular author, Sharon Draper. Ferro purchased books by the author for the students and teachers were equipped with study guides and supplemental materials so they could guide students. The author visited the school to further enrich the reading experience.
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| Results: |
Percentage of eighth graders passing the reading portion of the proficiency exam increased from 20 to 55.3 percent.
School-wide attendance grew from 83 to 92 percent.
Suspensions were cut in half.
A school-wide literacy program is now in place.
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