TI Foundation demonstrates commitment to education with three grants
The Destination: Graduation program has helped increase high school graduation rates by engaging parental involvement, enrolling high school students in college prep courses and matching students with supportive mentors.
Photo Sam Martinez
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The TI Foundation recently approved three grants designed to enhance programs that encourage math and science education.
Destination: Graduation
The TI Foundation approved a $200,000 grant to United Way of Metropolitan Dallas (UWMD) to continue the Destination: Graduation program. The grant will fund the program at W.W. Samuell High School in the Dallas Independent School District (ISD) and at Williams High School and Plano East Senior High in the Plano ISD for the 2009-2010 school year. The money will also be used to support a math tutoring program at W.W. Samuell.
Funded with an initial gift three years ago from the TI Foundation, the Destination: Graduation initiative uses an approach that is customized by school to promote high school graduation rates and the pursuit of advanced education. The program aims to increase high school graduation rates through parental involvement, college preparation courses and mentoring.
"We understand that the strength of our company is subject to the state of the communities where we live and operate," said Torrence Robinson, TI Director of Public Affairs Education Programs. "By helping these students achieve success in school, we can make a difference that will not only benefit them, but will also generate a more qualified work force and stronger community."
In 2004, United Way's needs assessment revealed that 43 percent of Dallas ISD ninth graders do not graduate with their class. This attrition rate reveals the disparity for minorities – students representing 48 percent African American and 58 percent Hispanic, versus 19 percent Caucasian. As a result, United Way partnered with Dallas ISD and community stakeholders, including TI, to launch Destination: Graduation to improve graduation rates and access to higher education opportunities at schools where students face multiple risk factors that limit educational success.
In 2007, Destination: Graduation participants at W.W. Samuell High School were promoted at a rate 20 percent greater than their non-participating peers. At Williams High School, Destination: Graduation students were promoted at a 12 percent higher rate than their peers not in the program.
The math tutoring program at W.W. Samuell High School, which was funded in 2006 by the TI Foundation for execution during the 2007 school year, demonstrated excellent results. More than 80 percent of the 109 students who participated in the tutoring program increased their TAKS math test score by at least 10 percent.
Advanced Placement Physics Camp
The TI Foundation will also donate $50,000 to Laying the Foundation to provide funding for logistics, materials, supplies, and stipends for instructors and attendees at the Dallas ISD's Advanced Placement (AP) physics camp.
The purpose of the AP physics camps is to prepare female students for their first physics class; to encourage them to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields; to breakdown stereotypes; to increase the number of girls in Dallas ISD who take two years of physics (including an AP physics class); and to provide role models for girls who may not have any college graduates in their families.
Offering an emphasis on exciting physics demonstrations and familiarizing girls with lab equipment in a fun setting, the program provides personal connections with the Women of TI and former AP physics students.
In 2000-2002, Dallas ISD girls had an AP Physics pass rate 30 percent below the boys (12 percent vs. 42 percent). As a result of this camp, more girls have participated in the AP Physics exam (57 in 2000 vs. 132 in 2007) and the girls who attended the camp passed the exam at the same rate as boys (66 percent in 2007 vs. 43 percent for girls who did not attend the camps).
Studies of successful women have found that early exposure to rigorous science concepts can impact a girl's decision whether or not to take a second year of high school science or attempt an AP course.
Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet School
The TI Foundation also gave $17,100 to Richardson ISD's Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet School to provide Lego Mindstorm Education sets, software and activities for five classrooms with up to 24 students and classroom sets for five teachers. The grant also funds training at UT-Dallas that enables teachers to use these tools to convert a classroom into a robotics laboratory and excite students about learning math and science.
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