COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 252
December 8, 2006
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy K.
Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Foundation
for Excellent Schools: National Rural
Scholars Program |
The Virginia Department of Education is pleased to announce an opportunity for Virginia rural schools to participate in a program that will help hundreds of underserved students prepare for, access, and succeed in college. Through a seed grant from the Daniels Fund that has been matched by private sources, the Foundation for Excellent Schools (FES), a nonprofit organization, will launch the National Rural Scholars Program in August 2007.
The
program is designed to have significant and measurable impact on a selected
cohort of underserved youth who will be from low-income homes and will become,
in many cases, the first in their family to attend college. Each selected
school will identify at least 50 rural scholars who will participate with a
college partner in five core activities: mentoring, goal setting, pathways to
college, families as partners, and leadership through service. Specific
services that benefit schools include: planning and training workshops,
comprehensive program assessment, needs-based professional development, and
interactive Web site.
Additional
information on the program can be found at http://www.fesnet.org/,
and the application can be found at http://www.fesnet.org/pdf/NRSApplic_Web.pdf. The application deadline is February 1, 2007.
If you have questions or need additional
information, please contact Kathleen M. Smith, director, Office of School
Improvement, via e-mail Kathleen.Smith@doe.virginia.gov
or telephone (804) 225-2865.
BKCJr/KMS/pl