New Neag program untouched by budget cuts

Despite not being included in the state budget for 2009, grants from several private organizations have allowed the Neag Urban Education Reform program, now in its sophomore year, to continue its work with urban schools. The program allows graduate students to become involved with research and gives undergraduates chances for on-site training and internships.

The goal of the program is to aid the schools that are considered failing by using research and outreach programs through the university.

Due to the ever increasing achievement gap in schools across the state of Connecticut, the Neag School of Education Dean Richard Schwab and Director of the Institute for Urban School Improvement Richard Lemons have developed a reform focusing on urban education. For years, the distinctions between urban and suburban schools have been apparent due to the standardized testing that assesses the performance of students in their second year of high school. In response, Lemons explained that since change seems to be such a constant theme in today's world, schools should follow the same trend.

"Not every kid gets the shot they deserve," Schwab said.

But the gap in money and education in Connecticut is one of the highest in the nation, completely unacceptable for many educators and politicians. The question that has been passed along, though, is how to approach this failed academic infrastructure and rebuild it? In the eyes of Lemons and Schwab, the time was ripe for action.

Eight schools in urban areas all around Connecticut have been chosen to participate in the program. According to Schwab, CommPACT took applications from schools and districts that were interested in becoming part of the reform. The program "original eight" schools from the cities of Waterbury, Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport have all ready been accepted. Both Schwab and Lemons said that students in these cities had the greatest risk.

Many students are ready to become involved in such programs. Holly Korona, a 2nd-semester pre-education major, is excited to see what the schools have in store for her.

"I would like to start in working in urban schools, somewhere in the Northeast," she said.

"This is the first time that an organization has brought together all aspects of the education system. As the top-ranked education school in the Northeast, Neag has received national and federal recognition for its efforts in urban education.

"CommPACT is the Crowning Jewel," Lemons said.

"Nothing is wrong with being competitive, especially since the most important job is teaching." Schwab said.

Student involvement seems to play a significant role in the success of the program. Students like Kara Ingalls, a 4th-semester English and pre-secondary education major, said that she would hope to teach in urban schools.

"Those are the students that need the most attention. I feel like it would be very rewarding." said Ingalls and Korona can already see how failing schools have become so common.

"I tutor students in Willimantic who are from urban, low income neighborhoods. It's frustrating because they're in need of student teachers," she said.

The issue of funding for many projects throughout campus has inevitably eliminated many activities funded by organizations. But barely a year in action, CommPACT is quickly being pushed to the side because it is not considered a priority.

With the governor adjusting to the financial crisis, a tighter and leaner budget has been released and ComPACT is not mentioned in it.

"I am doing everything I can. We just don't want a slap in the face by not being included in the State budget this year." Schwab said.

The initial funding for the reform came in the form of a grant from the National Education Foundation, along with some other donations. The funds went toward the research conducted by the CommPACT team to analyze the progress that schools have made with years of support from organizations like Atlas and Accelerated.

"It can take 10 years to really see some improvement. These schools are just getting started, we can't just pull the rug from under them," Lemons said.