Welcome to our School Church Partners Website. It is through these pages that we wish to inform you of the process for setting up your own SCP. You will find inside helpful tips as well as success stories from people involved with the program.

Frightening Facts About Literacy*

 30 million Americans are unable to read.
 Over 40 million Americans age 16 or over
   have significant literacy needs.
 More than 20% of American adults read
   at or below a 5th-grade level.
 50% of heads of household are on welfare
   and 50% of people in prison are high
   school dropouts.
 Among people with the lowest literacy
   skills:
   - 43% live in poverty
   - 17% receive food stamps
   - 70% have no job or work part time
 There is a strong correlation between
   illiteracy and school dropouts, poverty,
   welfare dependency and most disturbing
   of all, imprisonment.

*Source: National Institute for Literacy, Washington DC

Website created by The Lockesmith Group.

 

The condition of education in urban America is troubling.  It seems that one cannot pick up the paper or listen to the news without more bad news about our inner city schools.  Our public school teachers are being overwhelmed by a vast array of social, economic and spiritual challenges.  The resulting trauma  is that too many students are falling behind and are doomed to failure or a life unfulfilled with their potential for success forever lost.

Fortunately, there is a glimmer of hope as someone is doing something to help. Since 1996, Westminster Presbyterian Church of Dayton Ohio and Van Cleve Elementary School for the Arts, in an exciting and unique partnership, have provided a safe and secure place where our children have become stronger, more successful students. The resounding success of this program is evident by the vitality and renewed spirit shown by the students.

The staff and members of Westminster Presbyterian Church encourage you and your congregation to review these pages and  to consider a similar mission with a school near you. When a member of your congregation asks --“What can I do that can really help?”-- you will have the answer.

 

School Church Partners is a project conceived and implemented by Westminster Church as a consortium between churches and educational institutions. You may submit comments or questions about this site by clicking here.  Site best viewed with MS Internet Explorer 4 or higher.