August 3, 2011

When kids used to chant "no more pencils, no more books" at the end of the school year, we didn't realize they were predicting the future. Students at TAF Academy use laptops over the summer!

A group of incoming 6^th graders and returning 7^th graders will be attending the TAF Academy Jump Start Summer Academy in a couple of weeks. 7th graders will get a chance to stay on target in math (or catch up), and our incoming 6^th graders will get oriented to TAF Academy's rigorous, project-based learning environment and all the technology they'll use to take advantage of it.

This is our first time offering Jump Start Summer Academy. Buoyed by the amazing success we've had with the Onsite Tutoring program we started this past school year, we think Jump Start will have fantastic results.

Through Onsite Tutoring, we gave middle-school students who were behind in math an extra 90 minutes per day of intensive, small-group math tutoring without requiring them to stay after school. This meant that all struggling students, not just those with after-school transportation, could participate. The results on students' district math assessments-given three times per year (except for 8th grade)-were pretty outstanding. Take a look at that graph!

TAF is a learning organization. We believe that when something works, not only do you keep doing it, you find ways to apply it in other situations.

And since we know we'll still have students who need extra support in math, and we know we'll have new students coming in September, we're going to give them the best start possible by using what works.

But we'll need your help to do it.

Working together, we can make sure every TAF academy middle-school student passes algebra by 8^th grade and enters high school on the path to college. 

You have been a great supporter of TAF students. I'm asking you to step up again so we can continue to give them a real shot at success.

We're not just providing opportunities for a single group of kids. We're changing public education as we know it. We're developing practices that school districts can use to create a more engaging, more effective learning experience for those students who have traditionally been underserved.
     

Support change today!

$160 per student for Jump Start Summer Academy (4 weeks)

$450 for Onsite Tutoring (academic year)

$1,000 for a laptop and software that will last one student for all of middle school

Or give what you can - it all goes toward educating tomorrow's technology leaders. When TAF Academy graduates get into the world and start creating things, who knows what they'll come up with to help tomorrow's youth learn and grow!

  Thanks for listening,

Trish Millines Dziko 

TAF Executive Director