The Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) has published its Annual Report of 2014-15 activities, and launched its 2015-16 appeal for support. “Spark Student Learning” is IPEI’s theme for this school year highlighting how the community can help to enhance the education of every student in the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) through partnerships with teachers, schools and community members.“We greatly appreciate the community’s continuing support of IPEI’s mission to connect school and community. We believe that our schools and our community are strengthened by bringing valuable community resources into the classroom to stretch students’ imaginations and increase engagement and critical thinking,” expressed Executive Director Christine Sanchirico.
IPEI Board President Matt Braun added, “With your help, IPEI sparks learning for students in the ICSD by inspiring educators to work together and create authentic, relevant and rigorous learning experiences within and across the curriculum.”
During the 2014-15 school year, IPEI allocated over 80 grants totaling $93,000 to teachers and others directly involved with the district through its four grant programs.” All grant application deadlines and forms are accessible at www.ipei.org. IPEI’s budget also includes funds for Kids Discover the Trail! Ithaca; for use by its affiliates and their grants and programs (Fine Arts Booster Group and IthacaSTEM Advocates); and for other IPEI managed awards and grants.
The Annual Report is available in print and online at www.ipei.org. ; Three grants are featured in the publication as well as IPEI’s programs and affiliates. The full list of grants is accessible on the website in the Grants sections or can be requested from the IPEI office.
IPEI grant programs positively impact student engagement, according to data collected from teachers and community partners who received grants. They were asked during 2012-13, 2013-14, and 2014-15 to observe and report their students’ engagement levels before and after grant-funded activities. According to data they collected, student engagement—as measured by body language, verbal participation, physical participation, independence and excitement—increased significantly after participating in a classroom project funded by IPEI.
“IPEI’s future is bright,” Past President Jennifer Engel said. “Its strength is all the people involved and everyone we connect with as we connect school and community.”