A huge partnership has been announced by a giant in the HBCU community to provide public secondary schools to more effectively prepare blacks for college.
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) will partner up with Baltimore-based Connections Education, to create TMCF Collegiate Academies that will combine traditional classroom learning with online learning techniques to engage students in rigorous college preparatory curriculum, while also addressing 21st Century learning needs.
The goal of the tuition-free, open enrollment secondary schools is to “pipeline” students into college, according to TMCF spokesperson Juontonio Pinckne .
“We’ve heard the call for educational reform,” he said. “We believe that this is a market where we can have a cradle-to-the-grave pipeline in order to support our schools, strengthen the talent that is coming into our institutions…and essentially [create] a better, more qualified, globally competitive member of society in the end.” Says Pinckne.
The secondary academies, which organizers hope to launch by the 2014-15 school year, will be established on or near various HBCU campuses. The partners hope to open as many as ten academies in the next five years with the first Academy projected for Southern University in New Orleans, where discussions are already underway.
About TMCF: The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is named for the U.S. Supreme Court’s first African-American Justice. Established in 1987, TMCF supports and represents nearly 300,000 students attending its 47 member-schools that include public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), medical schools and law schools. TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization and for more information about TMCF and its initiatives, visit: www.ThurgoodMarshallCollegeFund.org.
About Connections Education: Connections Education® is an accredited provider of high-quality, highly accountable virtual education solutions for students in grade K–12. Connections Education is now part of the global learning company Pearson. We are committed to expanding quality education through technology and helping students achieve both academic and personal success. For more information, visit www.ConnectionsEducation.com.
