$20,000 - Reading Intervention. We discovered a highly effective curriculum called Read 180 that we would like to use to accelerate the learning of our new students. It is technology based and includes opportunities for the students to work independently, on the computer and with the teacher to improve his or her reading level. The curriculum costs around $400 per student which includes licensing fees. We also need to fund a part time teacher to facilitate the program.

$20,000 per year - Writing/Literacy Coach. A part time writing/literacy coach will provide a variety of professional development to East Palo Alto Charter School teachers. At the beginning of the school year, teachers new to EPACS will receive two days of training in a Writing and Reading Workshop. This training would give them an overview of how to structure their workshops, design a long term plan for the year and develop assessments and lessons to use during the first quarter. Throughout the school year, teachers will receive continued support on a weekly basis through in class coaching. The Writing/Literacy Coach will observe their writing and reading workshop lessons, provide each teacher with feedback and model lessons in their classroom. The Coach will also provide whole staff professional development around writing, organize writing benchmark assessments and collect data to present to the principal and the staff about student achievement in writing.

$10,000 per year - AVID: Advancement via Individual Determination. A college readiness course designed for first generation college students.

$1,000 per grade level - Theaterworks: Playing with Poetry. A program that introduces students to vocabulary of theater while exploring poetry.