Written by teachers:
Dr. Claire Crane, Penny Bix, Patricia E. Herbert, Barbara Kelly, Kathe Landergan, Cindie Neilson, David Romanowski, Patricia Torto, and Niqe Ware 

Within the city of Lynn, Massachusetts, the Robert L. Ford School serves one of the poorest communities - 57% of its families speak limited English, 95% are low income. Yet, all 18 elementary schools in the city, the Ford ranked first on several reading tests, despite the fact that several of these other schools serve far less disadvantaged families.  On the state-mandated MCAS exams, the school posted among the strongest improvements in the state, dramatically increasing the passing rate of its students.
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What is the secret of this success? Working with Various community partners, the Ford offers students and families a wide range of educational and social supports, including literacy and enrichment programs for the students, family education and life skills programs for their parents, English language instruction, on-site high school and college courses, and access to experienced and in-training teachers, nurses, psychologists, and social workers. These connections translate into academic success.   More...

Major Topics Covered
Parent Involvement
Full Service Schools
Community Partnerships

For more information, please visit Project for School Innovation's (PSI) website.