Model and Strategy
A two-year, $250,000 investment in Aim High will address COVID-19 learning loss and prepare thousands of low-income middle school students for the upcoming academic year and eventual transition to high school and college. The project also will ensure that professional and aspiring educators receive training and support to teach in high-need Bay Area communities. More specifically, this project will—
- Expand our tuition-free, award-winning summer learning program so that thousands of middle school students from low-income Bay Area households have access to joyful and enriching summer learning experiences.
- Narrow opportunity gaps and learning losses that widened for students during the pandemic.
- Ensure students are ready to succeed in middle and high school, and gain the knowledge, skills and experiences to get and stay on the path to college.
- Train and mentor hundreds of local, diverse and passionate professional educators and assistant teachers (college-aged students) annually who reflect the diversity of our students. This is critical because research shows that students of color perform better in school when they have teachers who look like they do.
Impact
If Aim High achieves its aims, greater numbers of low-income students successfully will transition to high school, graduate on-time and matriculate into college, prepared and ready to succeed. The project also will result in a more diverse and innovative pool of Bay Area teachers.
STUDENTS: Thousands of students from low-income households will have access to our award-winning, multi-summer program at no-cost to their families. These high-potential middle schoolers will:
- Develop a more positive attitude about learning.
- Deepen their confidence and become better prepared for school.
- Increase their social/emotional skills.
- Maintain healthy relationships and a sense of community belonging.
- Prepare for high school, college and career opportunities.
TEACHERS: Hundreds of diverse educators and assistant teachers will nurture and inspire our students, and receive the skills and training necessary to thrive in the field of education. Our project will:
- Ready our educators to teach effectively, creatively and collaboratively at Aim High and in dozens of low-income community schools across the Bay Area.
- Inspire diverse and talented college-aged assistant teachers to become teachers and/or educational leaders in their communities.
Leadership
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Alec Lee
Executive Director
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Terrence Riley
Vice President of Programs