For immediate release:
April 8, 2013
Media contact:
press@tutorourchildren.org
(301) 485-9553
Tutor Our Children joins America’s Promise Alliance and its Grad Nation Campaign
At Home, in School and in our Communities, Tutor Our Children Supports Federally Funded Tutoring Services as a Way to Reduce the High School Dropout Rate and Improve the lives of America’s Young People
Washington, DC – Today, Tutor Our Children (TOC) announced its partnership with America’s Promise Alliance (America’s Promise). TOC will work with America’s Promise to promote federally funded tutoring services as a way to help reduce the nation’s high school dropout rate and ensure that America’s children and youth have the resources they need to lead healthy, successful lives.
TOC is committed to ensuring that students across the country receive high quality tutoring support from a wide range of providers, including community organizations and faith-based organizations. TOC has long been at the forefront of efforts to critically evaluate and enhance federally funded tutoring services for America’s most vulnerable children struggling in underperforming schools.
Founded in 1997 with General Colin Powell as its founding chair, America’s Promise is the nation’s largest partnership dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth. Its strong national network of more than 400 partners is comprised of organizations representing all sectors of American life. Through America’s Promise, these partners are working together to end the dropout crisis and see that more children and youth experience the Five Promises in their lives—Caring Adults, Safe Places, A Healthy Start, Effective Education, and Opportunities to Help Others.
“Tutor Our Children is thrilled to join forces with America’s Promise to ensure our most vulnerable students have the support and the resources they need to succeed,” said Stephanie Monroe, spokesperson for TOC. “Federally funded tutoring services are often the only lifeline of support for students trapped in failing schools. Together with America’s Promise, we will work to ensure that these critical services are available to the families who need them the most. ”
As an official partner, TOC will support and take part in the work of America’s Promise to ensure that more of the nation’s young people experience the Five Promises and are prepared to finish high school prepared for college and the 21st century workforce. TOC will also be an active partner in supporting the work of the Grad Nation campaign, a large and growing movement of dedicated individuals, organizations and communities working together to end the dropout crisis. The goal of Grad Nation is to raise the national high school graduation rate to 90 percent by 2020, with no school graduating fewer than 80 percent of its students on time.
“Creating stronger communities where youth feel supported and encouraged is essential to America’s future strength and vitality,” said John Gomperts, president and CEO of America’s Promise Alliance. “By coming together in common purpose, we demonstrate our commitment and the fact that we all have a role to play in the success of our children and youth, and we are infinitely more powerful as a united force. We’re thrilled that Tutor Our Children has joined this movement.”
The work of America’s Promise includes signature initiatives like the 100 Best Communities for Young People competition and Grad Nation Communities. America’s Promise also supports and distributes numerous reports highlighting the latest research and data for communities and youth development practitioners. This includes the annual Building a Grad Nation report on the dropout crisis as well as resources on parental engagement, career exploration and communications. As a partner, Tutor Our Children will have early access to all America’s Promise commissioned research, tools and information.
Tutor Our Children was created to give a voice to the parents and children who benefit from federally funded tutoring services and the providers, community organizations and faith-based groups across the country dedicated to extending support to the most vulnerable students. For more information, visit www.tutorourchildren.org. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
To learn more about America’s Promise Alliance, visit: www.americaspromise.org.
