The OSCP received the initial installment of $97,579 for the Heritage School, part of a three-year $495,943 grant; and $99,461 for P.S. 36, toward a three-year award of $484.379. The schools were among 30 across the state selected for Community Schools Grant Initiative funds for 2014. The grants go to schools that serve as community hubs to provide school-linked academic, health, nutrition, counseling and other services to students and their families.

“We are thrilled to receive this funding from New York state to support our work with TC’s partnership schools,” said TC President Susan Fuhrman. “This award is further recognition of our leadership in university partnerships that make a positive difference in our schools and communities.”

Both Harlem schools are part of the Teachers College REACH (Raising Educational Achievement Coalition of Harlem) project, which leverages the resources of the College and Columbia University to provide comprehensive academic, social and health services, to six public schools in Harlem. Heritage High School is located on Lexington Avenue at 106th Street, and P.S. 36 is on Morningside Avenue between 122nd and 123rd Streets.

The OSCP assists Partnership schools in four areas: 

• Principal and Teacher Professional Development that builds knowledge, skills and leadership capacity of school administrators, teachers and teacher teams to improve teaching and learning in their schools;
 
• Expanded Learning Opportunities which engage students in out-of-school time activities in literacy, STEM, health, the arts in order to support their academic, creative and social-emotional development;
 
• Family Support and Engagement to help families more effectively support the academic, social and physical development of their children; and
 
• Health Literacy and Access efforts to help students develop positive health practices, and increase their access to high-quality health services.

To ensure effectiveness in each of the four key areas, TC partners with faculty and students from Columbia University’s School of Social Work, School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health and the Medical Center; TC’s Center for the Professional Development of Teachers, as well as NYC Department of Education, Harlem Dowling – West Side Center, YWCA and Young Audiences New York.

“This new grant helps expand school-based services that research shows are critical for children to reach their potential in school,” said Nancy Streim, Associate Vice President for School and Community Partnerships at Teachers College and Principal Investigator for the Community Schools Grant. “We believe that TC can make a significant contribution to improving schools by coordinating the many services available at the university and in our community.”  The Office of School and Community Partnerships has also received grants for REACH from the General Electric Foundation, JPMorganChase Foundation and the US Department of Education.

Published Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014