Foundation for Boulder Valley Schools

It could be sixth, seventh, or eighth graders at Casey Middle School receiving personal educational plans and individually guided learning to improve their understanding of mathematical concepts. Or it could be at risk juniors and seniors at Arapahoe Ridge High School participating in activities that reinforce critical skills for success in their renewed quest to graduate from high school.

The Foundation for Boulder Valley Schools' Students at Risk Program provides the funds that make these programs possible. In many cases, funds have been used to increase one-on-one time helping struggling elementary students to learn to read - a proven method for lifting students from the statistically at-risk category and keeping kids in school.

At Boulder High School, the Hispanic Study Skills program, Adelante! A La Universidad!, is assisting juniors and seniors to pursue post-secondary education. Many of these students are first generation readers and already have more formal education than their parents. However, for Mary Jo Pelanek, a volunteer at Boulder High, that is not enough. Her goal is to see every junior and senior in the program improves their academic skills so that college becomes reality. Practice PSAT, SAT, and ACT tests are regularly taken by the students to prepare them for the actual tests. Counseling on college choices is ongoing. This program, started seven years ago, has produced a dramatic decrease in Boulder High Schools' Hispanic dropout rate. In 1996, 22.8% of the Hispanic population dropped out; in 1998, 6.9% dropped out.