Gain the Edge: An Academic Summer Enrichment Program.

In 1992, Pine Crest School, an independent school in Fort Lauderdale (Florida) combined with three other independent schools in Broward County to form the Greater Fort Lauderdale Consortium and to build on their previous experience with summer programs to develop a summer enrichment program for low income high school students. The program, "Gain the Edge," served 180 students over 3 years. Each campus offered a 6-week enrichment program in mathematics, English, and a third subject varying by school at no cost to the student. A recurring theme for all the schools was that when teachers taught what they loved, a message was sent to students about developing a sense of pleasure in learning. Overall, the schools were most successful in the aspects of the project that came closest to their specialties: conveying a sense of pleasure in learning, teaching self-discipline in relation to study, providing individual attention, and developing skills for applying to college. Their results in relating to the public schools and to the business community were more mixed, with some failures in obtaining financial support. The joint functions of the Consortium are also described. (SLD)