Achieve Foundation Of South Orange And Maplewood Inc

Programs: Grants: the achieve foundation provides grants to advance the quality of education in the school district of south orange and maplewood (nj). Achieve funds support educational excellence, innovation and equal opportunity for all students through enriching programs that exceed the limits of public school funding. Grants are given for 60-70 classroom and school-wide projects annually, new technology, pilot programs, etc. In all subject areas. The michele t. Riecke teaching fellowship pays for summer professional development for educators. The columbia high school auditorium initiative expanded the school district's 2014 renovation of the 1,100 seat venue to a complete restoration.

the achieve volunteer tutor program is funded jointly by the foundation and the school district. It recruits, trains, assigns and supports 300 volunteer tutors, who provided academic assistance to 350 students who are at academic risk and/or from families with financial need. Working alongside the school district's academic intervention program enables achieve to tailor the tutoring to the specific needs of the tutees.

steam (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) and music education. The foundation is exploring optimal ways to support the district, as it introduces and transitions to 21st century learning in the schools. Steam education employs critical thinking, creative problem solving and hands-on activities, with the benefit of the latest technology. Achieve aims to engage students of all backgrounds and interests and equip them with skills required in higher education and the workplace. Funding has been provided for the robotics program, maker spaces at most schools, digitization of the columbia high school archives, grants for educators and an annual community-wide maker fair launched in 2015. The foundation has also implemented initiatives to improve music resources and expand access to music education for all students in the south orange- maplewood school district, and to support music training for students with financial need who demonstrate exceptional talent. Funding has been provided for the repair and maintenance of existing music equipment, the acquisition of equipment and music lessons for students and fulfillment of grant requests in support of music education.