Collaborative Partnerships for Student Success
Amherst Pelham Regional School District and Amherst College
The Pipeline Scholars Program
The goal of the Pipeline Scholars Program is to build academic and social competencies through a structured
program for Amherst public school students (the Pipeline scholars) that holds high academic expectations for
performance and is sustained over time. Cohort groups of Pipeline Scholars work with Amherst College student
interns under the collaborative supervision of both School and College faculty and staff. The multiple components
of the Pipeline Scholars Program include: academic tutoring and mentoring by Amherst College students during the
school year; a summer academic and enrichment program on the College campus; the incorporation of innovative,
tested approaches to teaching and learning language arts and mathematics, and active parent/family involvement.
Amherst College and the Amherst Public Schools fully commit to this Partnership and to the Pipeline Scholars
Program recognizing that such a commitment is critical to the Program’s on-going success. As a result, Pipeline
Scholars will be fully engaged in learning and meet high standards of academic achievement as they move through
the public schools from the upper elementary level through to high school graduation and beyond.
CPSS Development Cycle








Planning team meetings – monthly
Teacher recruitment and hiring-- January (for spring program)
May (for summer program)
Amherst College tutor recruitment and hiring – late January (for spring program)
Amherst College summer interns hired -- May
Tutor trainings – on-going through spring
Summer program teacher and college intern trainings -- June
Instructional materials selection – January (for spring program)
Instructional materials selection and corresponding trainings – June (for summer program)
CPSS Implementation Cycle




Spring Pipeline Scholars Program – February, March, April (two afternoons/per week on high school
and middle school campuses)
Final spring event for Scholars and Families – May
Summer Pipeline Scholars Program – July (5 days/ week for 4 weeks)
Final summer event for Scholars and Families – last day of program
CPSS Evaluation Cycle



Spring program: reports from spring teachers, tutors, and scholars – May; attendance analysis – June
Summer program: formal written evaluations submitted by teachers, College interns; academic
performance analysis, parent feedback (oral), student evaluations (written)—August
Program recommendations for next school year and summer generated – September/October
Pipeline Guiding Principles and Program Goals
Guiding Principles
•
Young learners meet the expectations set for them by the adults in their world (parents,
teachers, clergy, community leaders, etc.)
•
Young learners benefit from a sense of belonging - part of a cohort of peers with
similar backgrounds, interests, ethnicities, etc.
•
Young learners need structure - established times and places to study and reflect
•
Young learners need consistency of support from teachers, coaches, tutors, mentors.
•
Young learners need to know that their families, their schools, and their community
are collaborating to support their success.
•
Young learners need rituals to reinforce their belief in community and constancy over
time.
•
Young learners need to know that their rites of passage will be celebrated within the
community.
•
Young learners need full opportunities to learn and access to all the tools and
materials to maximize learning potential.
Program Goals
•
Pipeline students will achieve to their highest academic potential.
•
Pipeline students will grow as leaders and change agents.
•
Pipeline students will bond with others in their cohort groups, thus providing group
support for academic and social growth.