AT&T’s Aspire Program Looking for RI Educational Programs to Fund
Monday, March 26, 2012
AT&T has announced the launch of a new $250 million, 5-year financial commitment aimed at helping more students graduate from high school with the skills they need to succeed in college and careers. And those funds are available for Rhode Island organizations that fit the bill.
The funding for AT&T Aspire – already among the most significant U.S. corporate educational initiatives, with more than $100 million invested since 2008 – will be available for organizations and institutions with a proven track record of success that are looking to use technology to connect with students in new and effective ways.
Between now and April 27, 2012, AT&T is encouraging Rhode Island organizations to apply for funding through the Local High School Impact Initiative Requests for Proposals (RFPs).
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTGraduating with knowledge and skills to strengthen the workforce
“AT&T Aspire works toward an America where every student graduates high school equipped with the knowledge and skills to strengthen the nation’s workforce,” AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson said while announcing the extended commitment during a keynote address at the second annual Building a Grad Nation Summit.
The Washington, D.C., event convened by America’s Promise Alliance, Civic Enterprises, The Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University and the Alliance for Excellent Education brought together nearly 1,200 U.S. leaders to discuss progress and challenges in ending the high school dropout crisis.
“This is a significant investment in preparing the next generation of Americans to succeed in the increasingly competitive global economy,” said Patricia Jacobs, president of AT&T New England. “We hope organizations across Rhode Island with a passion for dealing with this problem and a proven track record of success in increasing graduation rates will apply for funding.”
Building on a four-year legacy
The new and expanded AT&T commitment builds on the work AT&T Aspire has completed in the last four years. AT&T has invested more than $100 million in Aspire since 2008, and has impacted morethan one million U.S. high school students, helping them prepare for success in the workplace and college.
Wanted: local programs with strong, evidence-based practices
AT&T is looking to fund local programs that have strong, evidence-based practices grounded in the What Works Clearinghouse Dropout Prevention: A Practice Guide and data-driven outcomes demonstrated to improve high school graduation rates.
Rhode Island organizations interested in getting additional information or applying will find complete details on the RFP process at www.att.com/education-news by clicking on the “Aspire Local Impact RFP” option. Applications will be accepted between now at April 27.
RI programs already funded
Through the AT&T Foundation, the company has also provided financial support to several organizations in Rhode Island that have an education focus, including the summer jobs program at the Institute for theStudy of Nonviolence, and an internship program at Southside Community LandTrust.
Drop-out rates are a serious issue in the United States. According to a report issued today by Civic Enterprises, the Everyone Graduates Center, America’s Promise Alliance and the Alliance for Excellent Education, one in four students in the U.S. – more than 1 million each year – drops out. (AT&T is the lead sponsor of this report.)
Education experts believe that the lack of a high school degree significantly worsens job prospects, particularly in the challenging science, technology and math sectors. On average, a high school dropout earns 25 percent less during the course of his or her lifetime compared with a high school graduate and 57 percent less than a college graduate with a bachelor’s degree. Although the problem is serious, there are signs of progress according to the report issued last week:
- The high school graduation rate increased by 3.5 percentage points nationally from 2001 to 2009.
- In 2001, the rate was 72.0 percent; by 2009, it had risen to 75.5 percent. From 2002 to 2009, six states experienced large gains in their graduation rates; 14 states made moderate gains; and fourstates made modest gains (Note: 2002 was the first year that state data became available.)
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