ACLU Foundation of Maryland, Inc.
$75,000 / 2008 / Education
For continued support of the Baltimore City Education Reform Project. The purpose of the project is to represent the interests of disadvantaged students in Baltimore City, by ensuring increased operating and capital funding, and continued academic reform. ACLU will monitor the Baltimore City Public School Systems’ budget allocations to assess whether increased expenditures are translating into academic improvements.
CollegeBound Foundation, Inc .
$110,000 / 2008 / Education
Two-year funding to create a College Access Associate position to support the Baltimore City Public School System College Readiness/College Access Initiative, designed to increase the number of Baltimore City public school students enrolling and completing post-secondary education. This position will reinforce Baltimore City’s efforts to increase the scope of college- access advising services, assist in increasing the number of students taking college entrance examinations, and prepare a gap analysis of college-access providers and scholarships.
Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University
$35,000 / 2008 / Education
For continued support of the Music Teacher Mentoring Program to provide professional development for 77 first-year and returning music teachers. Two Peabody mentors offer enhancements to the music curriculum, age appropriate materials and lesson plans, strategies on effective classroom management skills, and new methodologies to encourage student engagement.
ACLU Foundation of Maryland, Inc.
$34,200 / 2008 / Education
For a study of the costs of financing public school renovation and new construction projects in Baltimore City. The study will identify innovative strategies to develop new revenue sources and address the issue of deteriorating school buildings.
CollegeBound Foundation, Inc.
$49,400 / 2008 / Education
For third-year support of the College Retention Project for Last Dollar grant recipients at nine participating Maryland colleges. Two advisors working with individuals are responsible for student retention on each campus, and serve 180 students. They offer one-on-one support with course selection, academic advising, financial aid, communication, tutorials, and remedial services. Other enhancements include training of junior/senior mentors to serve as resources for underclassmen. Summer jobs are provided for students completing their junior year.