Community Involvement

The Centers provide services to parents and the broader community. Parents are engaged as essential partners in the learning process. A variety of community partners provide services necessary for sustained support of the Centers' programs, including resources and contexts for real-world application of content learned.

Accomplishments

UAW Ford Partnership - The UAW Ford program is located at three middle schools. Youth Education Sponsors provided mathematics and science tutoring, mentoring, and peer coaching services. Sponsors work in the classroom in a supportive role to the teacher.

F.I.R.S.T. Teams - High school teams from Redford, Osborn, Mumford, Randolph, Golightly, Finney, and Ford competed in a national robotics competition. F.I.R.S.T. (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science Technology) Robotics is a national engineering competition which immerses high school students in the world of engineering.

Detroit Department of Water and Sewage - DPS joined with the Detroit Department of Water and Sewage to conduct a hands-on Water Quality Festival for elementary and middle schools students. Approximately 600 students participated in activities sponsored by the Detroit Police Underwater Recovery Team, Marine Pollution Control Corporation, Department of Environmental Affairs, American Chemical Society, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and FOX 2 News.

Michigan Waste Energy, Inc. - With this year's gift, Michigan Waste Energy, a subsidiary of Ogden Energy Group, has awarded a total of $336,000 over twelve years to support science fair incentives to assist teachers in guiding student science fair projects, funding for the top three energy related projects in the senior division of the Science and Engineering Fair of Metropolitan Detroit, and Adopt-A-School programs at Ferry and Golightly Educational Center.

Annenberg Challenge Grant - Schools of the 21st Century in collaboration with DPS is building learning communities to increase student achievement. Schools are engaged in models designed to bring about change. The focus this year is public understanding of science.

Family Math and Science Nights - Numerous schools are hosting Family Math and Science nights that engage parents and community in a variety of fun hands-on mathematics and science activities. These 'learn by doing' activities help students understand complex concepts and allow parents to experience constructivist teaching and learning strategies prevalent in today's classrooms. Technology involving handheld devices such as graphing calculators, CBLs, CBRs, and computers are also part of many Family Math and science programs. Parents share experiences with their children and gain valuable insights into the curriculum and teaching methodologies. One hundred sixteen (116) teams composed of parents, mathematics and science teachers and administrators have been inserviced to support Family Mathematics and Science Programs. The program teaches parents how to help their children.

DUSP Task Force Meeting - Periodically the Detroit Urban Systemic Program convenes a Task Force to inform and guide program activities. Representatives come from universities, industry, medical centers, Detroit Public Schools and community organizations.

Connected Mathematics Parent Workshops - Workshops were held across the district to familiarize parents with the newly adopted instructional materials for middle school mathematics. Parents were provided with the support packet: Helping Your Child Learn Mathematics.

Administrators Reform Community (ARC) Meeting - Administrators and teachers form Cleveland Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools, Milwaukee Public Schools and Detroit Public Schools met in Detroit to discuss strategies to support and expand the use of technology in urban classrooms.

Local Urban Alliance - This is a partnership with The University of Michigan Dearborn. Selected DPS exemplary middle school mathematics teachers mentor preservice teachers.

COMPACT - Efforts focused under a new framework allow for the inclusion of all students in COMPACT. Activities were expanded to all neighborhood schools in the District. The Detroit COMPACT is a comprehensive partnership between Detroit Public Schools and the Detroit Regional Chamber supported by government, business, labor, higher education, and community organizations. As one of Detroit Public Schools' premier programs, Detroit COMPACT has provided employment opportunities and/or college assistance to students achieving established standards. A job shadowing program that targets medically related careers was initiated during the summer of 2001.