DONOR IMPACT REPORT
Because of your support,
many children are in school who wouldn’t be otherwise. But how are they doing once there? Quite well, in fact.
Common Hope students are outperforming their peers. And the best advances are occurring in age groups that are at the highest risk of failing or dropping out.
The combined promotion* rate for Common Hope students in grades K-12 was 88 percent in 2008, far surpassing the national average of 74 percent in 2007, the most recent year of national data. In addition to improving over the national average, Common Hope’s student promotion rates improved slightly over last year’s Common Hope rates.
Critical age groups show
greatest gains
Some of the best advances occurred with our most critical student groups, first and seventh grades, those with the highest risk of failing or dropping out of school. Common Hope first graders advanced at a rate 18 percent higher than the national average. Seventh graders bested the national average by more than 50 percent.
The 2008 improvements are significant because first and seventh grade are critical years for students in Guatemala. Children in first grade are at a high risk of repeating because of a lack of early childhood education and little developmental stimulation from parents working long hours. Seventh grade is a critical year because students face increased academic challenges, along with heightened pressure to start earning money for their family.
Support services increased
for at-risk groups
Recognizing the greater risks of certain age groups, Common Hope has increased and targeted support to these grades, striving to increase their success in school.
To address the first grade transition, Common Hope’s health care and social work staff use clinic visits, health fairs, and home visits to teach parents simple ways to encourage their child’s language and motor skill development at home. Our education staff has also strengthened and promoted early childhood education, to provide children with more opportunities for development and greater acclimation to the classroom before they start first grade.
For promotion to junior high, Common Hope’s social work, psychology, and education staff provide emotional and academic support outside the classroom to prepare fifth and sixth graders for the transition. Our mentorship program pairs at-risk kids with high school or college students who can provide tutoring, advice, and encouragement.
Our youth program provides social support as well as workshops that develop skills in communication, leadership, and resiliency. Our education staff has begun a junior high orientation for both students and parents so kids know what to expect, and so parents, many of whom did not attend junior high themselves, can gain a greater awareness of the challenges their student will be facing and ways they can support them.
The final pillar of support: You
The support of our tutors, teachers, medical staff, and Common Hope social workers is crucial. Common Hope supporters, however, provide significant encouragement for students. Many high school graduates who were sponsored through Common Hope have said that the knowledge of someone far away who was rooting for them was a great motivation for them to push through and continue their studies, despite immense challenges.
* “Promotion” is the Guatemalan term for completing a grade.
