Reversing student underachievement; Indiana: Michigan City Area School District.Michigan City Michigan City, city (1990 pop. 33,822), La Porte co., NW Ind., on Lake Michigan; inc. 1836. Michigan City produces machinery, consumer articles, kitchen and transportation equipment, concrete and wire products, chemicals, apparel, and cast iron boilers. Area School District in Michigan City, Ind., was named a 2006 state winner in the National Civic Star Award competition for two programs aimed at reversing student underachievement. Providing Students a Safe Harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. and Hours for Ours are having a positive impact in the city, which is located between Bend and Gary, Ind., and is home to three state penal institutions. State statistics show a city population coping with rates of child poverty, teen pregnancy and illiteracy illiteracy, inability to meet a certain minimum criterion of reading and writing skill. Definition of Illiteracy The exact nature of the criterion varies, so that illiteracy must be defined in each case before the term can be used in a meaningful that are above the state average and student test scores for reading and math below the state average. In 1999, the school district gathered business and community leaders for a forum to begin a dialogue and to establish a strategic plan to address student underachievement. The forum led to the establishment of the two programs, which were designated as primary initiatives to link the schools and community. Safe Harbor provides more than 700 students kindergarten through eighth grade with year-round enrichment activities and homework help during nontraditional school hours. Students are kept within the safe harbor of their school setting before and after school hours when nonparental supervision and juvenile crime is most likely to occur. Enrichment activities for participating students include drug- and tobacco-use prevention, physical fitness, character development, mentoring and homework assistance that reinforces state academic standards. The program involves a collaborative network of more than 25 organizations, including LaPorte County Child Abuse Prevention Council, The Boys/Girls Club, Lubeznik Center for the Arts, M.C. Public Library, Purdue University Purdue University (pərdy  `, -d`), main campus at West Lafayette, Ind. N/C N/C No ChargeN/C No Change N/C No Comment N/C new condition N/C Numerical Control N/C No Connect (electronics) N/C Normally Closed Contact N/C Newton Per Coulomb N/C Number of Users Per Cell Density , Valparaiso University Valparaiso University, known colloquially as Valpo, is a private university located in the city of Valparaiso in the U.S. state of Indiana. Founded in 1859, it consists of five undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, and a law school. and Swanson Center, the county mental health facility. In addition to grants, corporate sponsorships from J.C. Penney, State Farm Insurance Co. and Wal-Mart have also helped support Safe Harbor. Hours for Ours is a school-based mentoring program operating in 12 schools and serving 160 students in the first through the ninth grades. It operates 11 months of the year and provides one-to-one mentoring once a week at students' school sites during the school year and periodic mentee men·tee n. One who is mentored. [ment(or) + -ee1.] and mentor activities. Hours for Ours focuses on relationship building and development of student life skills. About 150 mentors participate. A sustained relationship with the Michigan City Area Chamber of Commerce over the past five years has led to the development of a partnership including 55 local and national businesses. Members of faith-based institutions, community service groups and the wider adult community as well as high school and college students have participated as mentors. The measured success of Safe Harbor and Hours for Ours can be seen qualitatively and quantitatively. Students' grade achievement in language arts language arts pl.n. The subjects, including reading, spelling, and composition, aimed at developing reading and writing skills, usually taught in elementary and secondary school. and math has increased from 25 percent to 41 percent in correlation with the students' longevity of program participation. For more information, contact Superintendent Michael Harding at Michigan City Area School District, 408 S. Carroll Ave., Michigan City, Ind. 46360, or call (219) 873-2000. Harding's e-mail address See Internet address. e-mail address - electronic mail address is mharding@mcas.k12.in.us. |
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