Penn State Educational Partnership Program

Founded in 1991, PEPP is an after-school academic and social enhancement program in three Erie, Pennsylvania inner city schools: Wayne and Wilson Middle Schools, and Central High School. In a structured setting with teachers, tutors, and community mentors, PEPP provides the opportunity for students to develop leadership skills and improve academically in order to be better prepared to pursue post-secondary education or training.

WHICH STUDENTS DOES PEPP SERVE?

PEPP serves students who are at risk for not reaching their academic or career potential or for dropping out of school. Due to their high percentage of at risk students, Wayne and Wilson Middle Schools, and Central High School were chosen for the program. At risk students share one or more of the following disadvantages: single parent homes, teenage pregnancy, substance abuse in the home, gang activity, poverty, and academic, cultural, or financial need.

SCHOOL PROFILES

Central High School

Central, a comprehensive vocational and academic high school, is the largest high school in Erie, Pennsylvania, serving 1,478 students in grades 9 - 12, approximately 50 percent of whom are considered at risk. Minority enrollment is 31 percent (82 percent African American, 18 percent Hispanic and other). Free or reduced lunches are distributed to 51 percent of the students. Since 1993, the Central High PEPP program has grown from 25 students to serve more than 500 students in eight years.

Wayne and Wilson Middle Schools

Wayne and Wilson Middle Schools serve students in grades 6 - 8, 99 percent of whom are considered at risk. Minority enrollment and poor socioeconomic status are indicators of educational risk. Fifty-one percent of the 589 students at Wayne and 49 percent of the 839 students at Wilson are minority. African Americans represent 82 percent of the minority students at Wayne and 78 percent at Wilson. A small percentage of students are Asian and Hispanic.

Wayne and Wilson have 85 percent and 81 percent, respectively, of their students receiving free or partially subsidized lunches. Both schools enroll large numbers of students from two-parent working families who live below the poverty line and single-parent households who live in public housing and receive aid to support dependent children.

PEPP ACADEMY FORMAT

Central High School

The purpose of the high school PEPP program is to provide students with the appropriate skills and experiences so they will become independent learners. The voluntary after-school program, or PEPP Academy, is an academic enhancement/enrichment activity which devotes equal time to mentoring and tutoring. The Academy operates after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays for two hours each day. Students are chosen by a committee consisting of school district personnel and Penn State Erie staff. The primary selection criterion is the level of willingness of students to improve themselves personally and academically, and their aspirations to succeed in a post-secondary educational setting. The majority of students possess the potential to succeed, but their academic performance is inconsistent with their ability. Parents are encouraged to be involved in the interview process and other activities throughout the year.

Wayne and Wilson Middle Schools

The nucleus of the middle school program is also the PEPP Academy. The Academy operates for 1-1/2 hours a day, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, at both middle schools. Students chosen by school district personnel and Penn State Erie staff, typically include students who: (1) do not finish their homework or participate in classroom activities; and (2) have poor class standing, but score well on standardized tests or show other signs of not working up to their potential. The middle school academies provide mentoring, tutoring, and enrichment.