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Harambee Enrollment Reaches 94 Students
by Alex Steinman
Education Director & Harambee Christian School Principal
Harambee Christian School is off to a great start this year. Our first day of school was August 26. We opened with our highest enrollment to date - 94 students - just two shy of capacity.
At the core of improved quality
of life lies the need for quality education. Urban Concern addresses
this critical need by operating Harambee Christian School (HCS).
HCS
opened in 1998 with 15 kindergarten students. Today we have six classes (K-5) with an average class size of 15.6. Eighty-seven percent of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Sixty-five percent of Harambee students live in the Urban Concern target area of South Linden.
Evaluating
student performance and growth is incredibly important to our staff. Last school year,
Harambee students migrated from the Metropolitan Achievement Test (MAT)
to the Northwest Evaluation Association Measures of Academic Progress (MAP).
The MAP assessment provides valuable data for each student and classroom.
Students take the MAP Reading, Math and Language test on the computer
three times per school year. Test results show percentile rank, proficiency on
state academic content standards, and growth over time.
 The
exciting news to report regarding results for two tests that Harambee students
took in 2008-09 is that student percentile scores grew 17-20% on each of the
tests. That is, between December and May, Harambee students grew about
20% more than the average student in America!
Harambee Scholarship Fund.
It costs Urban Concern $4,500 per year to
educate one child at Harambee Christian School. Funding comes through EdChoice vouchers, tuition and scholarship support. HCS parents make an investment in their
child's future by paying tuition each month based on their income. Two students pay the entire
amount, whereas 61% (57 students) qualify for EdChoice vouchers. The remaining families receive either full (21 students) or partial (14) scholarships. We must raise this funding shortfall through outside fundraising efforts, which is one reason we established the Harambee Scholarship Fund.
 Each year we set a goal for the Scholarship Fund. This year's goal is $85,000 of
which $47,362 or 56% has been received.
You can help us reach our goal by making a gift to the Harambee Scholarship Fund. See our website, www.urbanconcern.org (click on the "Donate" page) for various giving options including PayPal and automatic bank transfers. Feel free to contact us at 614-291-0885 x 140 if you have any questions.
It's clear that Harambee School
is achieving results. We know our students have the opportunity to learn and grow in an environment that is loving, safe and challenging. Thank you for your support and please join us in praying that these children become the young leaders this
community needs.
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You can make a difference!
- Donate to the Urban Concern Annual Fund or Harambee Scholarship Fund.
- Volunteer by calling (614) 291-0885.
- Spread the word! Forward this email to your family and friends.
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Learn more by subscribing to our new Blog: http://urbanconcern.blogspot.com/ or by visiting our website at www.urbanconcern.org.
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