Program

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PMP aims to narrow the achievement gap within inner-city communities by targeting under-achieving 4^th graders and pairing them with high-achieving 9^th graders under the supervision of college interns in a seven-week academic intensive summer program. PMP provides 4^th graders with a remedial summer to help rebuild their confidence and appreciation for learning as they build relationships with high-achieving 9^th graders that serve as role models and mentors. In addition to a $400 stipend for their dedication over the summer, 9^th graders go through a curriculum that increases their awareness of college, teaches them how to set goals, and exposes them to the benefits of performing well on the SAT. Finally, our college interns are immersed to serve as mentors to the 9^th graders, teachers to the 4^th graders, and supervisors of the program.

During the program PMP pairs two 4^th graders with one 9^th grader to engage in practice problems throughout the course of the day. College interns will lead refresher lessons before the 4^th graders start working on the problems. The “two on one” model allows for students to feel comfortable with a peer their own age. Often times, one student will be more proficient in an area and eagerly teach concepts they know to their peer, which helps reinforce what they learned. During most mornings, the 4^th graders are given assessment exams which allows the 9^th with time to work with the college interns on goal setting, critical reading, and SAT preparation. Note that we chose to work with 4^th graders because they still have one year left in elementary school to boost their educational confidence in a place where they are already comfortable before they go through large changes in a more socially demanding environment in middle school. We chose 9^th graders because they are mature enough to receive and provide guidance. They have had one successful year in high school and are at the ideal time to be thinking about college. It is also a good time for them to begin receiving mentorship and taking on responsibilities. In many cases, PMP is their first summer job.