Partners for Acceleration

”Exceeding Students’ Expectations”

ABOUT US

 

 

Services provided:

PFA is premised on the belief that all students benefit from accelerated learning which occurs through improving the school and classroom learning environment, focusing attention to how curriculum and instruction are enacted in the classroom, and through concerted, coordinated efforts of schools and their partners (e.g. district; higher education; social, health and non-profit agencies; community representatives, and business partners). Accelerated learning occurs when school and classroom environments support: motivated and engaged students; committed, highly-skilled teachers; substantive, authentic, relevant, and rigorous learning, and active, coordinated efforts of all partners.

 

PFA services include

· Professional development in acceleration strategies

· Classroom observations and constructive feedback

· Assistance in transforming school and classroom environments

· Assistance in addressing needs of disengaged or disengaging students

· Identification of and coordination with partners

· Assistance in establishing governance and decision-making processes to support student acceleration

· Research and evaluation

 

 

 

Competitive Grants

 

Partners for Acceleration Grants encourage college faculty, public school teachers, and non-profit organization staff to implement projects designed to accelerate student learning, especially for students at-risk of failure, within supportive learning environments.  Priority will be given to projects that seek to improve school or classroom environments so that students develop a positive sense of accomplishment, belonging, or engagement. Proposals can be written to extend existing activities that show promise or to initiate new projects.

 

Please contact Dr. Christine Finnan (finnanc@cofc.edu)  or Tysa Austin (austintp@cofc.edu) for the grant application packet. 2008 Grant Applications are due January 30, 2008, by 5pm.

 

 

 

Partners

 

Partners for Acceleration is housed at the College of Charleston’s School of Education, Health, and Human Performance. It works in coordination with the Center for Partnerships to Improve Education. As a state supported project, we focus our services to schools in South Carolina, primarily in the Lowcountry. As strong believers in the importance of partnerships, PFA relies on the following partners to assist us in our work.

· College of Charleston’s School of Education

· Center for Partnerships to Improve Education

· Charleston County School District

· Sea Islands Partners for Youth

· Accelerated Schools Plus

· James Island Accelerated Program

· Communities in Schools

 

 

 

Staff

 

Dr. Christine Finnan, Director. Dr. Finnan brings nearly 20 years of experience working in school reform to the development and implementation of Partners for Acceleration. After completing a Ph.D. in Education at Stanford University, she worked in multiple capacities for the national school reform model, Accelerated Schools Plus. In addition, she is an associate professor at the College of Charleston in the Elementary, Early Childhood and Middle Grades department. Dr. Finnan has written extensively on accelerating learning, school reform, and school and classroom culture. The research completed for her recently completed book, Keeping the Joy in Upper Elementary Classrooms: Ensuring Accomplishment, Belonging and Engagement for All Children (Corwin Press, 2008), her experience with Accelerated Schools, and her college teaching provide the theoretical and practical basis for PFA.

 

Ms. Tysa Austin, School Liaison. Ms. Austin brings 25 years of teaching experience in the areas of elementary education, special education, grant coordination/writing, and inclusion facilitation. She was a building-based facilitator and also a service provider for the national organization, Accelerated Schools plus, based at the University of Connecticut. In the latter capacity, she traveled extensively throughout the U.S., both as a trainer and support to schools. In her current role as PFA liaison, she works closely with teachers, other school personnel, and external partners to meet classroom and school goals consistent with the PFA mission.

 

Ms. Caroline McPartland, Graduate Assistant. Ms. McPartland provides administrative and research support for PFA. She brings to the project experience working in Swaziland as a community health educator, and as an ESL instructor in Japan. As a candidate for a Masters of Arts degree in Communication, Ms. McPartland supports efforts to disseminate information and establish effective communication networks.

 

Ms. Renee Byrd, Director of James Island Accelerated Program (JIAP). Ms. Byrd consults with PFA and provides insights into student acceleration based on her work with a special program designed to address potential school dropouts. Students who are one or two years over-age complete seventh and eighth grade in one year in this program that combines small classes, focused curriculum, intensive counseling support, and integrated enrichment opportunities.