Stamford, CT - The Stamford Public School (SPS) district announced today it has been awarded an additional $10.4 million, four-year grant from the GE Foundation as part of the GE Foundation Developing Futures in Education™ program. The extension brings the total GE Foundation contribution to SPS to $25.8 million over seven years. The grant, the largest non-government grant in the district’s history, is designed to improve student achievement and increase college readiness through comprehensive school, business and community collaboration.
“I am thrilled that the GE Foundation continues to invest in our work,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joshua Starr. “Our ongoing partnership has enabled the Stamford Public Schools to increase our efforts to prepare each and every student with the knowledge and skills they need to be college-ready when they graduate. The GE Foundation’s continued and unprecedented generosity has shown results through improved curriculum, instruction, and professional development, and all of us in the Stamford Public Schools are grateful for their support.”
In 2006, the GE Foundation Developing Futures program designated $15.3 million to SPS over five years for system-wide improvements in math and science curriculum and to provide comprehensive professional development for teachers. Additionally, the program includes engagement from GE volunteers to share best practices and real-world technology, math, and science expertise.
To date, the grant has had a profound impact. Over the past four years, the district’s K-12 math and science curricula have been aligned with state and national standards. New instructional programs have been implemented at all grade levels. Teachers now use common assessments to evaluate student progress in both core content areas. High school students enrolled in biology, chemistry, and physics now have weekly lab time. These improvements have been followed by a general increase in standardized test scores, including an 11 point jump in math and 14 point jump in reading for black students in grade 5.
In addition, the Developing Futures grant provides extensive professional development for teachers and administrators. As a result, staff members have increased their skills in the areas of technology integration, including learning how to use notebook computers, interactive whiteboards, and distance learning equipment. Additionally, teachers now participate in Professional Learning Communities to support data-driven decision-making and professional collaboration district-wide. Finally, the original grant also enabled the district to share all the progress to date with families and the greater community through the quarterly Developing Futures newsletter, in a series of short videos filmed in SPS classrooms, and on the district’s redesigned and expanded website, www.stamfordpublicschools.org.
“We are delighted that the GE Foundation will continue their support to the Stamford school district,” said Jay Ireland, president and CEO of GE Asset Management and the executive champion of the Developing Futures Program in Stamford. “GE has been an integral part of the Stamford community and this grant helps us celebrate the past while planting a seed for our community’s future. We all benefit when students are better educated in the areas of math and science.”
Funds from the grant extension, which will run through the end of the 2012-2013 school year, will continue to support the mission of SPS in preparing each and every student for higher education and success in the 21st century. Future initiatives include the continuation of implementation for math and science across K-12 and implementing a comprehensive K-12 literacy curriculum, including scientific research-based interventions and the required professional development for staff. To date, more than 500 elementary students have increased two levels in reading. Middle School Transformation efforts will continue to build upon the initiatives launched in 2009-2010: eliminating the previous rigid tracking system, increasing instructional time by 45 hours per year in each of the core content areas, and refining the advisory and academic enrichment periods.
The GE Foundation recognizes that both professional development and professional learning communities are essential to the success of the Developing Futures in Education program. Teachers will have many opportunities to increase their content knowledge, enhance their technology skills, and collaborate with other educators to elevate the quality of instruction. These efforts will create a more effective learning environment and experience for students. The grant also outlines a plan to incorporate GE Volunteers and the entire Stamford community to support the students and teachers impacted by Developing Futures. Finally, the expanded GE Foundation Developing Futures grant will promote district-wide data systems integration and leadership in instructional technology.
The GE Foundation has invested more than $150 million in the Developing Futures program since 2005. Stamford joins school districts in Louisville, KY, Cincinnati, OH, Atlanta, GA., Erie, PA, and New York City, NY as Developing Future grant recipients. The GE Foundation launched the Developing Futures program in September 2005 as an expansion of its College Bound program, which began in 1989. The expanded program aims to increase college-readiness and achieve systemic change across entire school districts. For more information on the Developing Futures program, go to http://www.ge.com/foundation.
About Stamford Public Schools
The Stamford Public School district is the fifth largest school district in Connecticut, with more than 15,000 students and 20 schools. For more information or to sign up for key communications, go to www.stamfordpublicschools.org
About GE Foundation
GE Foundation, the philanthropic organization of the General Electric Company, works to solve some of the world’s most difficult problems. In coordination with its partners, it supports U.S. and international education, developing health globally, the environment, public policy, human rights and disaster relief. In addition, GE Foundation supports GE employee and retiree giving and involvement in GE communities around the world. In 2009, the entire GE family — including businesses, employees, retirees and GE Foundation — contributed more than an estimated $220 million to community and educational programs, including more than $100 million from GE Foundation. For more information, visit www.gefoundation.com.
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