Neighborhood Outreach Connection (NOC) calls for a Reduction in the Student Achievement Gap in the Beaufort County School District
NOC Founder and Chair, Dr. Narendra Sharma, addressed the Beaufort County Board of Education on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 Also attending the meeting were NOC Executive Director, Cynthia Jackson-Jenkins, NOC Field Director, Corbin Stripling, and NOC Director of Development and Marketing, Daniel McKeown. Dr. Sharma emphasized NOC’s business model and how NOC is addressing the needs of Beaufort County children and families through education, health, and workforce development programs. He enumerated NOC’s accomplishments over the past 10 years and stated NOC’s goals and priorities over the next 10 years. Dr. Sharma’s presentation highlighted the following:
- NOC successfully serves 650 high-risk students in six Neighborhood Learning Centers by going directly into underserved neighborhoods
- NOC invests in BCSD teachers and works with them to provide tutoring and homework assistance in each Neighborhood Learning Center.
- NOC brings technology and BCSD’s curriculum into the neighborhood in a cost-effective way.
- NOC plans to strategically expand and open 4 new learning centers in Beaufort County, targeting 1,000 students
- BCSD can be an active partner in NOC’s expansion, including recognition of teachers working in NOC’s programs.
Dr. Sharma concluded that we must address the achievement gap issue with a sense of urgency since 35% to 45% of minority students (African American and Hispanic) are not at grade level in either reading, math, or language arts.
View Dr. Sharma’s presentation: bcsd prestation, april 2019, final
