ACT to Award Helpers of At-Risk Students

February 26, 2002

IOWA CITY, Iowa—Organizations that strive to help at-risk students succeed in education and careers are eligible for awards that will help them improve their services.

The ACT Awards Program helps projects, studies and programs that aim to empower individuals whose life circumstances and environments could hinder their educational and career goals, according to Richard J. Noeth, ACT director of policy research. The awards program is in its second year.

The ACT Awards Program seeks proposals for three types of activities:

Demonstration Programs serving the education- and/or career-planning needs of at-risk students.
Research Studies designed to give information about challenges in planning at-risk students' education or careers.
Evaluation Projects providing insight into the effectiveness of education- or career-planning programs, projects and activities for at-risk students.

ACT will offer four to six awards each year with a total value of $50,000. Awards are for one-year periods and generally will be given in the form of ACT programs, services, consultation and resources.

Applications for this award must be received by May 15, 2002. Award winners will be announced June 28, 2002.

Applications will be judged on description of the at-risk population to be served by the award, the applicant program's design and planning, how readily the program could be implemented and the likelihood of the project being completed as planned.

The ACT Awards Program began in 2001. Last year's recipients were:

The Weld County High School Diploma Program, based at Aims Community College in Greeley, Colo. The program assists individuals whose life circumstances have prevented them from attaining a high school diploma. Officials there received free WorkKeys assessments, which analyze and help build workplace skills.
Linking Instruction and Assessment through the Curriculum, a program at North Lawndale College Preparatory Charter High School in Chicago, aids in developing curriculum design. Officials of the program received ACT's help in training teachers and developing a college and career library.
Quality Education New Jersey, a Trenton, N.J.-based focus group that helps at-risk students. Officials there received the help of an ACT researcher, who will review ways for school districts to improve their teaching methods.
The Career Connection, in Bloomsburg, Penn., gives students help in career exploration, planning and self-knowledge. The program received copies of EXPLORE and licenses for DISCOVER, two ACT programs that help students and workers make important career and educational decisions.

The awards reflect ACT's mission to help people achieve education and career goals by providing information for life's transitions.