The
Overcoming Obstacles program has received recognition in the areas of
character education, youth violence prevention, dropout prevention, substance
abuse prevention, and school-to-careers education:
• Based on the success of its 2004 -2005 5th Grade Preparatory Academy,
New
York City Public Schools expanded the role of the Overcoming
Obstacles
program for 2005-2006. More than 750 additional educators
will be trained to
teach decision making, problem solving, confidence building
and study skills to
their students. Over 10,000 students will be reached with
this effort.
• In 2005, Paterson Public Schools in New Jersey chose Overcoming
Obstacles
as its Character Education program for broad implementation
throughout the
district.
• In 2004, Plainfield Public Schools in New Jersey chose Overcoming
Obstacles
as its Character Education program for broad implementation
throughout the
district.
• For 2003, the recipient of the Superintendent’s Conflict
Resolution Award for helping Brooklyn and Staten Island high
school students succeed
academically.
• In 2003, The Children’s Aid Society of New York City reported
that academic achievement has improved markedly at the Manhattan
Center for Science and Mathematics as a result of the Overcoming
Obstacles program. Overcoming Obstacles is a mandatory freshman
seminar class taught weekly from September through May.
• Since 1998,
the sole source for curriculum materials and professional development
in Jersey City Public Schools' highly lauded "Fifteen Together"
dropout prevention program. Our work with the "Fifteen
Together" program
has helped thousands of students at high risk for dropping out
of school.
The number of school district dropouts has fallen from 14.9
percent to
9.3percent. District figures also show that 80 percent of
participants in
"Fifteen Together" have improved their grades, school
attendance,and behavior.
• On the State of New Jersey's list for recommended Character Education
resources.
• Recognized by the New York City Board of Education as a leading
substance abuse program and a leading school-to-career program.
• Recognized by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional
Learning (CASEL) as one of its recommended school-based social
and
emotional learning programs.
• Recognized by the Community Development Department of Los Angeles
as
an effective tool for moving high-risk students to more self-sufficient
stages.
• Thousands of teachers across the country have joined the Overcoming
Obstacles education reform effort, reaching hundreds of thousands
of
students since 1992.
