A key to raising academic aspirations is the promise of a college scholarship, as long as students fulfill their educational obligations. Project GRAD includes both curricular and support components to assist students along the way. Beginning with the Success for All reading program, Consistency Management and Cooperative Discipline and Move It Math in elementary school, Project GRAD continues with an intensive college preparatory program, including summer academic institutes and career exploration. Communities in Schools , a partner in the effort, connects children and families with supportive services, including medical care and volunteers.
Corporations fund the scholarships.
In high schools employing the Project GRAD model, graduation rates, SAT scores and college-going rates are up. Math and reading scores among students in feeder schools are up as well. But it goes a long way in changing students' and families beliefs about what is possible. It's a complete transformation in the attitude of the child about what they can do and where they can go. In one participating high school that previously had a dismal graduation record, that has meant to universities such as Princeton, Cornell and the University of Virginia.