HRD-9453906 Stephen R. Cox PATHS/PRISM Suite 700 7 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. Philadelphia, PA 19103-1294 "A Comprehensive Regional Center for Minorities for the Greater Philadelphia Region" The National Science Foundation's Comprehensive Regional Center for Minorities (CRCM) in Philadelphia as a representative of the Greater Philadelphia Consortium and PATHS/PRISM: The Philadelphia Partnership for Education, is composed of four metropolitan school districts; seventeen universities, colleges, and community colleges, museums; corporations; non-profit partnerships;; and minority professional and community organizations. The goal of the CRCM is to significantly increase the number of minority students, (specifically African-Americans, Latinos and Native Americans, preparing for science, engineering and mathematics (SEM) education and careers. The fulfillment of the CRCM's mission and goal is being accomplished through the integration of three principal components: pre-college professional development programs, pre- college student programs, and college student programs. The CRCM has functioned to strengthen the educational pipeline and to indirectly create systemic impact through strategic intervention in the region. As of the end of year III, the CRCM has serviced approximately 4413 students and 300 teachers. In year IV, the CRCM is taking the strengths and experiences of the first three years and applying these best practices to a K-12th grade cluster of schools, as well as continuing programs which have been successful in meeting our goal. The CRCM is working very closely with the school District of Philadelphia and other Consortium partners to develop strong mathematics and science school clusters. The real value of this system of strong clusters across the district will be to sustain the long-term goals of moving students successfully through the pipeline and strengthening teachers in future years. ***
