Austin Partners In Education

AUSTIN PARTNERS IN EDUCATION (APIE) AIMS TO IMPROVE STUDENT COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS AND EXPAND STEM OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THE PROPOSED RENEWAL OF APIE'S VISTA PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE CNCS EDUCATION FOCUS AREA. THE VISTA PROJECT WILL SEEK TO EXPAND APIE PROGRAM CAPACITY FOCUSED ON AUSTIN ISD'S UNDER-RESOURCED SCHOOLS (INCLUDING THOSE IN THE DOVE SPRINGS NEIGHBORHOOD) TO MEET THE TREMENDOUS NEED FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENT ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL SUPPORT FROM ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. CURRENTLY SERVING A STUDENT POPULATION THAT IS 90% ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, APIE EXPECTS TO SUPPORT UP TO 1150 STUDENTS IN YEAR FIVE OF THE PROJECT. TO MEET THE OVERARCHING OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT: A) DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT STRATEGY FOR TARGETED AUSTIN ISD SCHOOLS TO INCREASE STEM EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND B) STRATEGICALLY PLACING ADULT VOLUNTEERS IN THE CLASSROOM TO WORK WITH HIGH-NEEDS STUDENTS AT TITLE I SCHOOLS TO PROMOTE STEM EDUCATION, VISTA MEMBERS WILL PERFORM ACTIVITIES RELATED TO: 1. COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT 2. COMMUNICATIONS TO EXPAND AWARENESS OF APIE PROGRAMS AND ITS MISSION 3. FUNDRAISING STRATEGIES TO PROVIDE APIE PROGRAMS TO MORE AUSTIN ISD SCHOOLS 4. VOLUNTEER AND MENTORING TRAINING TO ENHANCE EFFECTIVENESS 5. COLLEGE READINESS INTERVENTION STRATEGIES TO BETTER EQUIP STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS.