LAKE FOREST ELEMENTARY: FIRST SCHOOL SUPPORT INITIATIVE

The Alliance for Quality Education (AFQE) began this initiative by starting small-working with one school over a three-year period-in order to develop a school improvement model that is sustainable and replicable.  The initial school selected by The Alliance for Quality Education (AFQE), in conjunction with the school system, was Lake Forest Elementary, one of 48 elementary schools in Greenville County Schools. The 2007-2008 enrollment was 707 students, with 52 instructional staff members.  

Over the past six years, the school has seen a shift in both the ethnicity and economic status of its student population.  Both the percentage of students who qualify for free and reduced meals and the percentage of minority students have increased each year.  While this mirrors national trends, Lake Forest now has one of the highest populations of students who speak English as a second language in Greenville County.  White students represent 44% of the enrollment, African American 27%, Hispanic 19%, and Asian 8%.  Lake Forest truly fits its school motto, "A Community of Nations."

Fortunately the school has many assets on which to draw upon including strong support from churches and businesses surrounding the school.  Our plan included recruiting and training volunteers to tutor struggling 3rd and 4th grade students weekly in math and reading.  In the 1st year, we engaged 24 college students and adults to work with students weekly.  According to our teacher survey, most students improved but the tutors expressed an interest in being trained in teaching reading more effectively.  In the 2nd year (2007 - 2008), we hired an experienced retired teacher to manage the program.  She provided the volunteers with the support they needed to accelerate student achievement.  Forty-one volunteers were recruited and trained.  Based on the MAP assessment used by our District, 84% of the 41 students experienced greater than their expected growth from the fall to the spring.  In the 2008 - 2009 school year our plan is to recruit and train 60 volunteers who will focus on tutoring reading to second and third graders.  Our goal is to increase the number of students reading on or above grade level at the end of third grade.

We continue to learn about the many factors that impact student achievement.  As we monitor and revise this initiative, we hope to develop a model that will benefit other schools.  Our belief that given the appropriate support, "every child can learn" continues to be the basis of this work.

We need 60 volunteers to tutor 3rd and 4th graders weekly at Lake Forest Elementary during the 2008-2009 school year.  Email The Alliance for Quality Education (AFQE) or call us at (864) 233-4133 to sign up.