Equity e-News

2002—WEEA Program
Implementation Grants

Project Descriptions

The Aurora Foundation, Inc.
Tucson, AZ
The Aurora Foundation, Inc. proposes to replicate, expand and evaluate an exemplary model program that advances educational equity for minority girls with disabilities. The four year project features a two-year leadership and training program that includes the delivery of two curriculums through classroom instruction. During the first semester girls will participate in Living Out Loud (LOL), a life skills curriculum. The following semester girls will move on to Part B, a one-semester leadership training and financial literacy curriculum entitled LEAD. The Aurora Foundation will recruit mentors for each participating girl. Girls will be matched according to career goals and interest. The Aurora Foundation will provide training and supervision of the mentors. Mentoring will continue through the second year of the program. At the end of the two years, participants will have an increased interest in pursuing post-secondary education and be able to make an informed decision regarding career goals.

Equity for Young Women with Disabilities Project
Tyler Public Schools
Tyler, MN

The Equity for Young Women with Disabilities Project will implement a researched-based models that 1) provides young women with opportunities for internships and experiences in nontraditional jobs; 2) increase participant self-esteem; and 3) make schools more aware of the impact of high school work experience, utilization of friend-family networks to find student employment opportunities, and the effect of self esteem on employment and salary outcomes. The project also intends to impact pre-service preparation of special education teachers through the development of curriculum module. This module will be distributed to higher education institutions that train special education teachers. The module will present critical issues related to transition from high school for young women with disabilities and present strategies for enhancing transition.

Girls DiscoverIT
Aberdeen Area Career Planning Center
Aberdeen, SD

Girls DiscoverIT is a collaborative project of Aberdeen, South Dakota’s Area Career Planning Center; South Dakota Department of Labor; ExplorNet of South Dakota; South Dakota Department of Education’s Division of Workforce and Career Preparation; and eight other Career Learning Centers throughout South Dakota. The project is based on ExplorNet’s Information Technology camp curriculum, ExplorIT. Through hands-on learning, middle school girls from low-income families will gain knowledge and awareness of careers and learn about technology demanding fields during a one-two week technology camp. As a part of the camp, girls will develop leadership skills, tour technology based businesses and industries, and observe women in nontraditional technology careers. Girls will also build and upgrade computers, design a robot, and learn basic electronics.

Howard University School of Social Work
Washington, DC

The Howard University School of Social Work will provide leadership training emphasizing young women of color in senior high school, grade 9-12. The project will address leadership meaning and roles, self-esteem, career development, conflict resolution, and future planning and goal setting. A printed manual (with a trainer’s guide) and two CDS-ROMs (English and Spanish) will be provided for nationwide distribution. The program will be implemented immediately in 6 public high schools in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Participants will include young mothers and students with disabilities, and will be trained in 8 groups of 25 each..

The educational objectives of the program are:

Improve school grades

Improved school participation

Improved conflict resolution

Improved community participation

Improved positive choices

Stepping Stones Across the Digital Divide
San Mateo County Office of Education
Redwood City, CA

Stepping Stones Across the Digital Divide, operated by the San Mateo County Office of Education, will provide direct services to 50 Hispanic females in grades 3 to 6. The goal of the project is to increase academic performance through developing computer and emerging information technologies. Parents will be provided computer instruction to enable them to assist their daughters. This project will not only increase student academic performance but also will increase parental involvement and electronic competence.

During the second year, parents who have completed the first ear’s parent instruction will serve as tutors and resources to new parents participating in the program. Parents will develop as computer technology leaders in the community and in the school. During the second through the fourth year, parents will complete their computer training to earn a laptop computer so they can assist their daughters in completing homework assignment at home using the laptop.

Women in Science and Environment (WISE)
Boston Public Schools
South Boston, MA

The Women in Science and Environment (WISE) will operate in partnership with Boston Public Schools, the Urban Ecology Institute at Boston College, and the Sea Grant Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The project will serve 300 students each year. Project WISE will provide hands-on experiences in science and environmental industries. Highly accomplished female educators and scientists from the partners will be role models and mentors and assist students in developing leadership skills and self confidence.

The project will offer students an integrated science curriculum mainly based at field site, and internships in industries. WISE activities, team teaching, and the project-based approach to teaching and learning will increase student’s motivation to remain in and graduate from high school and improve literacy skills and academic abilities in math, science and technology. Guidance and referrals to external services such as parenting skills workshops, counseling or health services will be provided. Parents will be involved in the program and encouraged to join the program’s advisory group.