Organization: PANHANDLE ALLIANCE FOR EDUCATION
Mission: TO PROMOTE EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AND PROVIDE BROAD-BASED COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY BUILDING AN INDEPENDENT, COMMUNITY- BASED FOUNDATION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SEE SCHEDULE O.
Activities: PANHANDLE ALLIANCE FOR EDUCATION'S TEACHER GRANTS ARE AWARDED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO TEACHERS WHO COMPETE FOR AVAILABLE FUNDS. AWARDS ARE BASED ON INNOVATION, COLLABORATION, IMPACT ON EDUCATION, AND A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY, LAB AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, ROBOTICS, MATH AND BOOK CLUBS, AND MORE. THERE WERE 42 TEACHER GRANTS AWARDED BENEFITTING 3500 STUDENTS.
PAFE'S READY FOR KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM IS AN EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO FIVE YEARS OLD. READY CLASSES GIVE PARENTS THE TOOLS AND INFORMATION THEY NEED TO PREPARE THEIR CHILDREN FOR STARTING SCHOOL AT AGE 5. NATIONAL AVERAGE INDICATES 44% OF CHILDREN ENTERING KINDERGARTEN TEST BELOW READINESS PROFICIENCY AND THESE CHILDREN STAY BEHIND RESULTING IN LOW SELF-ESTEEM, ANGER AND WITHDRAWAL. THESE PROBLEMS CAN BE OVERCOME BY HAVING THEM READY TO LEARN BEFORE THEY START KINDERGARTEN. 200 FAMILIES ARE SERVED EACH YEAR.
DISTRICT-WIDE STRATEGIC PROGRAMS ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LAKE PEND OREILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE PANHANDLE ALLIANCE FOR EDUCATION TO WORK TOGETHER TO MEET A NEED (OR NEEDS) OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. RECOMMENDATIONS OF CURRENT REQUESTS ARE PRESENTED BY LPOSD SUPERINTENDENT AND LPOSD CURRICULUM DIRECTOR FOR REVIEW BY THE PAFE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. THE REQUESTS MUST MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA TO QUALIFY AS A DISTRICT-WIDE STRATEGIC PROGRAM. THESE INITIATIVES MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S STRATEGIC PLAN; MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH THE PANHANDLE ALLIANCE FOR EDUCATION'S MISSION STATEMENT; AND MUST HAVE CLEAR TARGET PERFORMANCE GOALS WITH CLEAR MEANS TO EVALUATE PROGRESS TOWARD GOALS. IT IS PREFERRED FOR THE INITIATIVES TO BE INNOVATIVE AND RESEARCH-BASED; TO HAVE A POSITIVE, SYSTEMIC EFFECT OVER TIME FOR TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS; SHOULD IMPROVE STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND ACHIEVEMENT; SHOULD CREATE A PARTNERSHIP, EITHER IN-KIND OR FINANCIAL BETWEEN LPOSD AND PAFE; AND SHOULD NOT REPLACE AN EXISTING TAXPAYER SUPPORTED PROGRAM. THESE INITIATIVES WILL BE REVIEWED AT THE STATED END OF THE PROGRAM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH SCHOOL PERSONNEL, TO DETERMINE IF PAFE FUNDING WILL CONTINUE. AN EXAMPLE OF A DISTRICT-WIDE STRATEGIC PROGRAM IS THE STEM AND STEAM CURRICULUM WHICH WAS FUNDED DURING THE CURRENT YEAR. THE PANHANDLE ALLIANCE FOR EDUCATION PROVIDED 184,000 FOR NEW CURRICULUM IN THE AREAS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH OR 'STEM" (WHEN ART IS ADDED TO THAT PROGRAM IT IS REFERRED TO AS "STEAM"). STEM IS AN APPROACH TO THE WORLD, A CRITICAL WAY TO UNDERSTAND AND EXPLORE AND ENGAGE WITH THE WORLD AND THEN HAVE THE CAPACITY TO CHANGE THAT WORLD. ELEMENTARY SCIENCE CURRICULUM WAS LAST PURCHASED IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IN 2006. SECONDARY CURRICULUM DATES BACK TO 2001. THIS FUNDING PROVIDES SCIENCE KITS FOR CERTIFIED STAFF AND TWO DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES TO SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT STEM IMPLEMENTATION AND ON-GOING TEACHER SUPPORT. THE FOCUS ON STEM IS IN PART DUE TO THE PROJECTED PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN STEM EMPLOYMENT OF UP TO 60% AND PAFE'S DESIRE TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO ENGAGE EARLY AND DEVELOP SUCCESS IN THIS AREA.
NTEE category: Education
Secondary category: Human Services