The School District of Lancaster, serving the city of Lancaster, has one of the highest dropout rates in Pennsylvania, particularly among underrepresented children of color (African-Americans and Latinos) who constitute over half the student population. To help improve these children's educational achievement, in 1988 Millersville created the Lancaster Partnership with the school district and several local corporations.
The Partnership currently supports 500 high school students with tutoring, counseling, and mentors. Upon graduation from high school with stated academic credentials, the students are guaranteed admission to Millersville. While at Millersville, the corporate partners cover all college expenses not met by Title IV need-based programs and offer summer employment and internships. The sponsors guarantee the students job interviews upon graduation from Millersville.
Since its inception, the number of district students of color who graduate from high school has increased by 83% and the number enrolling in college has doubled. One hundred twenty Partnership students have enrolled at Millersville. By 1998, 64% of the first Partnership class to enter Millersville either graduated or were still enrolled.
Because African-American and Latino boys have a lower college-going rate than girls, in 1995 we launched Project Challenge for boys in the Lancaster Partnership. Each year about 20 to 25 boys participate in a two-week non-residential summer program followed by meetings during the academic year. Eighty-one percent of Project Challenge participants are still enrolled in high school or have graduated. Of those who have graduated, all have gone on to pursue post-secondary education. The college-going rate of Lancaster Partnership boys is now 57%, nearing that of the girls. Unfortunately, State System funding for the program is no longer available; alternative funding is being sought.
Overall, the Lancaster Partnership program has been a great success. It has received national awards for its creativity and effectiveness; it has increased the number of students of color in Lancaster's college preparatory curriculum; and since 1987 it has doubled the number of Lancaster students of color pursuing higher education. The program would benefit from the school district taking a more active role in its daily operations. Recent changes in school district administration are helping to bring this about.
Summer Honors Program in Science, Mathematics and Composition
The Summer Honors Program in Science, Mathematics and Composition offers talented African-American and Latino high school juniors the opportunity to explore these subjects at the college level during a three-week residential program. Its aim is to increase the number of students of color at Millersville; students who complete the program and their senior year successfully are guaranteed admission. Over the past seven years, 101 students have participated in the program, but only 33 have gone on to enroll at Millersville, and the annual number enrolling has declined from nine in 1993 to two in 1998. We need to compare the cost effectiveness of the program, which costs about $35,000 annually, with the community benefit of providing this opportunity to students who may matriculate elsewhere.
Upward Bound is a year-round program that gives economically disadvantaged middle and high school students the opportunity to explore their educational options and solidify their goals. During the academic year, students spend one Saturday a month here strengthening their academic and communications skills. During a five-week summer session, the students live here and, through a simulated college experience, discover what college is all about. The program serves approximately 100 students each year, about a third of whom go on to matriculate at Millersville.
The Federally funded Migrant Education program provides educational and health support to about 3,200 children of migrant workers in this region. Programming includes in-school programs, summer schools, health clinics and parent support programs. Data on the success of the program is unavailable.
Pennsylvania Governor's School for Teaching
The Pennsylvania Governor's School for Teaching, a five-week summer program for 64 highly talented high school students, encourages them to explore careers in education by creating a model school, developing and teaching lessons, completing leadership projects, and creating a portfolio of their work. Each year some of the Governor's School students choose to matriculate at Millersville.
The Center for Economic Education provides economics teachers with the resources and training to develop a more economically literate community. The Center is funded by the Pennsylvania Partnership for Economic Education, businesses and foundations, the National Council for Economic Education, and the University. In 1998-1999, the Center trained more than 110 teachers and helped provide economic education to approximately 2,500 K-12 students. As Pennsylvania considers the adoption of state standards in economics, the need for the Center's activities will continue to grow.
Elizabeth Jenkins Early Childhood Center
Elizabeth Jenkins Early Childhood Center is a model school for undergraduates studying early childhood education. Filled to capacity, it provides education and childcare for over 110 pre-school children of employees, students and area residents. It is not designed to meet the needs of students who need childcare, and it is not open during evening and weekend classes, nor does it offer care for infants and toddlers under age three. To help the Center operate more efficiently, its management is moving from the University to a new private corporation.
Programs to Stimulate Interest in Science and Mathematics
Millersville has several partnerships with area school districts to promote children's interest in science and mathematics. Through the Spotlight on Science program, our faculty make presentations in local schools. The Summer Science Training Program aims to stimulate the interest of gifted children and teens. The Women in Math & Science Conference seeks to stimulate the interest of high school girls in careers in these fields. And the annual Science Lectureship brings children and teens to campus to hear a presentation by a nationally known scientist.
Other Partnerships with Basic Education
We offer several other programs targeted toward school-age children. Our chapter of the Student Pennsylvania Education Association annually provides a day long conference, Exploring Teaching as a Career, for over 250 area high school students, a Study Buddy tutoring program for over 50 elementary and secondary students, and childcare sessions for parents. Through a partnership with the School District of Philadelphia, 64 Philadelphia middle school students visit the Governor's School for Teaching each summer and are paired with Governor's School participants to help interest them in attending college and perhaps pursuing a teaching career.
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