- Community based projects initiated by Boston University School of Education
- Posted By:
- Tom A.
- Posted On:
- 21-Sep-2009
-
Community service has always been a priority for the Boston University School of Education right from its inception in the year 1918. This university has initiated various interesting and useful projects for the benefit of students.
Through the Boston university/Chelsea partnership, this university took up the management of the public school system on a day to day basis. Boston University through this project endeavors to provide educational and managerial expertise in order to construct a reform model for urban education and also rebuild the urban school system. This partnership however faces quite a few challenges just as the economically disadvantaged states in America.
The Boston University Chelsea Partnership remained the only instance in which a private university has accepted responsibility for the overall day-to-day management of a public school system. The University receives no monetary compensation for its work; rather, it provides managerial and educational expertise and oversight in order to rebuild an entire urban school system and to construct a model for the reform of urban education. The challenges faced by the partnership in Chelsea are typical of those faced in economically disadvantaged urban areas throughout the United States.
Another project initiated by the university is the Boston University School of Education Consortium. This was started in the year 1977 by this university, selected schools from Boston, overseas universities and a few social service agencies. The aim of this was to offer SED students various opportunities including school based counseling and working as interns at the administrative level.
BUILD is the initiative for development of literacy. This initiative is funded and supported by the Boston University student employment and financial assistance offices and the School of Education. There are over 130 literacy tutors working on this program including five in-school programs, eight after-school programs, one hospital program and elementary school programs in Chelsea and Boston.
Step up is a unique program involving five universities including the Boston University. This initiative helps local schools in collaboration with the City of Boston and the Boston Public Schools. This program was formed in the year 2006 and is predominantly aimed at improving the performance of students by providing coordinated and comprehensive services.
Another AmeriCorps program is the Jumpstart program which mentors three to five year old students with the help of college students. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to work for eight to twelve hours a week to earn up to $1500 living expenses and a work-study wage. The tutors are also eligible for course credit and education award of up to $1000.