For Immediate Release:  September 20, 2011

 

New Take Stock in Children President to visit Viera High School

                VIERA – New Take Stock in Children President, Emilio Alonso-Mendoza will be visiting Brevard Schools Foundation’s Take Stock in Children Program (TSIC) on September 21 at 10:30 a.m. in Viera High School auditorium for an informal meet and greet reception and discussion for those who share a passion for education. 

Speakers will include members from BPS School Board, TSIC Leadership Council, TSIC mentors, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Department, TSIC students and graduate alumni.

Take Stock in Children Program is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization with a solid 16 year history of providing mentors, educational scholarships and hope for Florida’s low-income and at-risk middle and high school students.  The organization has provided educational support and college scholarships for over 17,000 children in partnership with more than 800 public schools throughout 67 counties in Florida. It is the only scholarship mentoring program with the mission of breaking the cycle of poverty through education, and has a proven high school graduation rate of 92%.

           Recent studies by the Florida Legislature’s Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability found that Take Stock outperformed its peers in all seven performance areas as examined: 11 percent chronic absences compared to 13 percent; 15 percent discipline incidents compared to 23 percent; 56 percent reading at grade level (FCAT) compared to 49 percent: 86 percent performing math at grade level (FCAT) compared to 76 percent: 97 percent grade promotion compared to 91 percent: 94 percent high school completion compared to 71 percent; and 69 percent higher education participation compared to 45 percent.

Brevard Public Schools presently have 197 students throughout the county participating in the Take Stock in Children Program and 500 students who have graduated and are attending or have attended college.  To learn more about Take Stock in Children, please contact Brevard Schools Foundation at www.brevardschoolsfoundation.org.

Persons from the media interested in attending the reception should contact Ann Everly at 321-633-1000 ext. 430 to make arrangements.