Education

"Rasing the bar on American education through innovation, rigorous and relevant curricula, and an expectation of excellence"

Funded Programs:

Here’s a sampling of the Education initiatives, projects, and programs funded by the Charitable Leadership Foundation.

Early Childhood Literacy

There are currently six programs funded in this strategic plan area.

1. Literacy Classroom, Center for Educational Learning & Achievement:

A user-friendly, cost-effective, online forum for early education, offering research, activities,and skill building.


Goal: To positively impact literacy achievement in the public schools by better preparing children for kindergarten.


2–4. The Literacy Initiative: The other programs funded in Early Childhood Literacy are part of CLF’s literacy initiative entitled “Sustaining Early Achievement in Literacy: Developing Skills, Expanding Futures” (SEAL).


Goal: To critically assess the use of English Language Arts resources in schools without strong literacy achievement and develop a sustainable program which can effectively assist these schools in achieving and maintaining grade-level reading.


SEAL has been structured to test a variety of programs on a collaborative basis. Below are brief descriptions of the three currently funded programs:

• Middleburgh Elementary School in Middleburgh, New York—funding for professional development, coaching, and grade-level coordination and materials provided by Questar BOCES and SEAL’s local coaches.

• Van Rensselaer Elementary School in Rensselaer, New York —funding for professional development, coaching, grade-level coordination, reading intervention, and materials provided by SEAL’s local coaches.

• Zoller Elementary School, Schenectady City School District, New York—funding for professional development, coaching, and grade-level coordination, and materials provided by SEAL’s local coaches.

Problem-based Learning, Classroom Management, Engagement, and Motivation

1. Master of Arts in Teaching (Empire State College): Enables urban schools to benefit from the life experiences of non-traditional teachers by offering a flexible approach for adults with a bachelor’s degree seeking to pursue a Master of Arts in Teaching degree. The program seeks to attract potential teachers who already live in urban areas, increasing the likelihood that they will remain in these districts to teach.

Goal: To develop a replicable and sustainable program to attract and retain new teachers in urban areas, by providing credit for prior work experience and a flexible study approach.

2. Adult Learner Literacy in Math and Science (Empire State College): Addresses the scientific illiteracy of the majority of Americans, reflected in the unacceptable quality and quantity of employment candidates for American industry, in the context of college education. This program will utilize problem-based learning curriculum and will therefore also provide students with increased critical thinking skills and problem solving abilities. The program will be available to ESC’s 17,000 students, as well as all students privy to the SUNY Learning Network, thus presenting a cost-effective means of reaching many students. The program will also use high school teachers in curriculum development, which will improve the use of instructional technology and problem-based learning in the secondary education system as well.

Goal: To enhance the quantitative and scientific literacy of adult learners seeking to earn a college degree and to improve instructional technology and problem-based learning at the college and secondary education levels.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Skills

1. Center for Technology in Teaching: This project focuses on problem-based learning courses for pre-service teachers, offered through a sequence of basic science courses. Teachers learn to implement problem-based learning skills in the classroom, in order to excite the imagination and motivate students.

Goal: To encourage pre-service education faculty to implement problem-based learning techniques, rather than lecture methods, in order to improve the quality of the learning process.

2. Girls Excited About Engineering, Math and Computer Science (GE2McS): A comprehensive exposure to STEM for middle and high school girls. Includes day-long, fall semester programs for girls, teachers, and counselors; a series of Saturday sessions in the spring for girls; mentoring and presentations by female role models; and related summer camp experiences offered by partner organizations.

Goal: To increase by 10 to 20 percent (over the term of grant) the number of female students enrolling in STEM fields in college; increase the level of awareness of applications and career opportunities available in STEM fields; increase teacher and guidance counselor awareness of relevant gender issues in STEM disciplines; and, increase parents’ awareness of student potential and opportunities.


3.Project Lead The Way® (PLTW™): Project Lead The Way Inc. is a public charity operating a national program that introduces middle and high school students to the field of engineering. PLTW provides local, state, and national leadership and support, a model curriculum, teacher training and development through its affiliation with colleges and universities, and a network of consultants throughout the United States.

Goal: To increase the quantity and quality of engineers and engineering technologists by adding engineering coursework to middle schools and high schools.