Cargill Gives Financial Rewards for Schools' Achievement Gains

The Cargill Foundation and the University of Minnesota's Center for School Change (CSC) have announced dramatic gains in academic achievement and family involvement in a number of Minneapolis-area public schools that were participants in Schools First, a three-year, $1.2-million education program between Cargill and the Center for School Change to foster student achievement and greater family involvement in local elementary and middle schools. In a ceremony on October 19, Cargill chair and chief executive officer Warren Staley will present more than $100,000 in cash awards to participating schools in recognition of significant progress.

Launched in March 2000, the Schools First program focused on schools serving high percentages of low-income and minority student populations. Participating schools averaged more than 70 percent low-income students and 70 percent students of color. Many of the schools enrolled significant percentages of students who did not speak English at home.

Schools First helped participating schools develop clear, measurable goals in two areas: academic improvement in reading or math and increased involvement by parents in their children's education. Seven of the 11 schools - including Bottineau, Cityview, North Star, Parkview, Performing Arts Magnet, Sanford and Zanewood - achieved significant increases in the number of students passing or making a year's worth of progress, as measured by standardized tests, including Minnesota's statewide Basic Skills Test and the Northwest Achievement Test. All 11 schools - including those listed above as well as Cooper, Franklin, Jordan Park and Sojourner Truth - achieved the targeted levels of increased family involvement in activities that ranged from greater participation in parent/teacher conferences to family-based workshops and training. In total, the schools experienced increases in family involvement levels ranging from 9 percent to 62 percent.

CSC Director Joe Nathan attributes the success of Schools First to a combination of factors including a focus on setting measurable goals, rewarding success and providing a framework that empowered teachers and parents to tap additional resources and adopt innovative approaches with proven track records. "Schools First is unique in encouraging and rewarding our schools for success, while providing them with resources and tools that can be applied beyond the life of this program," said Nathan. "We are delighted with our partnership with Cargill and the progress these schools have achieved, and we feel that Schools First offers ideas worthy of replication around the state and country."

Each participating school received a $5,000 planning grant along with a $35,000 implementation grant for training faculty in new, research-based approaches for math and reading instruction and promoting greater family involvement. As the program's implementation and facilitating arm, CSC brought in nationally recognized experts in academic skills improvement and family involvement to work with school staff and parents. As program underwriter of these activities, Cargill made its headquarters available for educator/parent meetings, provided staff volunteers to tutor students at participating schools and sponsored off-site workshops at a northern Minnesota retreat.

"Since launching this initiative, we've learned a lot about ourselves and the impact that companies like Cargill can have when we collaborate with community resources like the Center for School Change," said Cargill's Warren Staley, who also serves as president of the Cargill Foundation. "Schools First clearly demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships, and it has shown how a relatively modest investment can have a high impact in improving academic achievement."

At today's awards ceremony, Mr. Staley will present cash awards of $6,000 or $11,000 to each participating school, depending on whether one or both of the mandated goals was achieved. The Cargill Foundation invests more than $3 million each year in support of programs and initiatives designed to prepare socio-economically disadvantaged youth for success in school, work and life.

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