Grant supports Future Ready Initiative and Student Success Centers
Sarasota, Fla. (Aug. 27, 2018) – The Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation has awarded $60,000 to the Education Foundation of Sarasota County to support the Future Ready Initiative and provide staffing and resources for Student Success Centers at North Port High School and Riverview High School.
The one-time grant is dedicated to funding the staffing and establishing a baseline to measure the effectiveness of new Student Success Centers that are key to the Education Foundation’s College, Career, Life Readiness program.
“The Barancik Foundation recognizes that our high school students need a viable plan in place by graduation to successfully acquire job skills that meet today’s workforce needs and support a family,” said Barancik Foundation President and CEO Teri A Hansen.
“These new advising hubs will give nearly 5,000 students in grades 9-12 access to comprehensive resources, including dedicated college and career advisers provided by the Education Foundation, to supplement the personalized guidance of a school-based counselor,” Hansen said.
The Future Ready Initiative, which is being developed in partnership with Sarasota County Schools, represents the Education Foundation’s strategic focus on preparing students for college, career and life after high school.
Research consistently confirms the correlation between a living wage income and postsecondary education at the level of a two-year and higher college degree and/or a workforce relevant certification.
At the same time, a growing gap between high school graduation and post-secondary success is attributed, in large part, to a shortage of counselors trained to help students focus on post-graduation planning. Sarasota County Schools’ guidance counselors have current workload ratios at 1:600 in middle schools and 1:475 in high schools, preventing the most dedicated counselors from being able to invest significant time to individual students’ college and career
The Student Success Centers are designed to be an important part of the solution in Sarasota County. The first year will focus on providing college and career advising to juniors and seniors while introducing freshmen and sophomore students to the centers and conducting needs assessments and career interest surveys. Workshops will be offered on college and job resumes, financial aid applications, financial literacy, course selections and more practical topics.
The Future Ready Initiative’s fundamental objective is to instill a 21st century readiness mindset that empowers and equips all Sarasota County students, including those considered most at-risk, to succeed throughout the education continuum and have a plan that leads to success after graduation.
“We are grateful for the Barancik Foundation’s generosity and support of this important initiative that will help our students and overall community,” said Jennifer Vigne, Education Foundation president.
About Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation
The Charles and Margery Barancik family has long believed in the power of philanthropy to shape our world and enrich the lives of all people. It was the expression of this belief that led them in 2014 to establish the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation—a private, family foundation located in Sarasota, Fla. The Barancik Foundation creates initiatives and awards grants in Sarasota and beyond in the areas of education, humanitarian causes, arts and culture, the environment, and medical research. Visit BarancikFoundation.org to learn more.
About the Education Foundation
The Education Foundation of Sarasota County is an independent partner working to advance philanthropic support for Sarasota County Schools. Its mission is to enhance the potential of students, promote excellence in teaching and inspire innovation in education. Guided by the belief that education changes lives, the Education Foundation strives to match each donor’s passion with high-impact projects created to ensure students graduate with purpose and are prepared for a postsecondary pathway. The Education Foundation of Sarasota County and its philanthropic investors are champions for students, teachers, and schools. For more information on how to be a champion for education, visit EdFoundationSRQ.org.
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