The Paul Schreurs Memorial Program (PSMP) provides ongoing support and advocacy to youth who may be struggling to be successful in their academic environment, help with social and emotional needs and create a space of belonging. Middle and high school are challenging to navigate for any student, but especially so for students who feel marginalized and are not involved in extracurriculars and outside groups. For these students who don’t fit with a particular group, they have nothing to tie them to school and give them incentive to participate. Many PSMP students are youth of color or come from backgrounds of poverty. While their families are supportive of them, they often do not know how to navigate the school system or lack access to resources to help them succeed.
PSMP staff serve as liaisons for students’ families and school staff. We help families navigate the system and can be their voice at school meetings or help them have a place at the table to support their child's education. We have had school administrators come to family dinners to help families build relationships with school and strengthen their understanding of school policies, procedures, timelines and systems. We have provided transportation for families to participate in school events and parent-teacher conferences, and helped students gain internet access. Every component of PSMP is a building block for our students’ long-term success, both academically and socially.
The goal of PSMP is to work with the whole child, dealing with every aspect that makes them unique and helps them be the best they can be. We find that having a good connection with families, schools and school staff, and community partners helps us support them in their efforts to be successful.
Between 2002 and 2018, 95% of program participants who were eligible to graduate have graduated or earned a GED. Since the program’s inception in the early 1990’s, we have experienced an average graduation rate of 90% in a population that has traditionally been a part of the achievement gap. Link to Read the Ithaca City School District’s Equity Report Card. Learn more about the achievement gap.
In 2019, ninety-three percent of the youth served through the program identified as African American, Mixed Race, or Latino. To do this important work, our small staff is supported by volunteer tutors, mentors, and a wide variety of community partners. These people are instrumental in helping us close this gap and we are grateful for their assistance and support!
PSMP staff serve as liaisons for students’ families and school staff. We help families navigate the system and can be their voice at school meetings or help them have a place at the table to support their child's education. We have had school administrators come to family dinners to help families build relationships with school and strengthen their understanding of school policies, procedures, timelines and systems. We have provided transportation for families to participate in school events and parent-teacher conferences, and helped students gain internet access. Every component of PSMP is a building block for our students’ long-term success, both academically and socially.
The goal of PSMP is to work with the whole child, dealing with every aspect that makes them unique and helps them be the best they can be. We find that having a good connection with families, schools and school staff, and community partners helps us support them in their efforts to be successful.
Between 2002 and 2018, 95% of program participants who were eligible to graduate have graduated or earned a GED. Since the program’s inception in the early 1990’s, we have experienced an average graduation rate of 90% in a population that has traditionally been a part of the achievement gap. Link to Read the Ithaca City School District’s Equity Report Card. Learn more about the achievement gap.
In 2019, ninety-three percent of the youth served through the program identified as African American, Mixed Race, or Latino. To do this important work, our small staff is supported by volunteer tutors, mentors, and a wide variety of community partners. These people are instrumental in helping us close this gap and we are grateful for their assistance and support!