The Travelers Companies Inc. said it is providing $1.4 million in grants to help improve the Saint Paul Public Schools system.

The St. Paul, Minn.-based company announced it will support school system initiatives that aggressively reduce the achievement gap and measurably increase academic and career success for underrepresented low income and ethnic and racial minority students.

Its support, Travelers said will also promote college readiness and access for underrepresented students and leadership development for school principals.

A majority of the funds are expected to be dedicated to expanding the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program, which is now incorporated into 11 secondary schools. AVID gives traditionally underrepresented students the skills, preparation and encouragement needed to successfully continue their education after high school.

The project will train approximately 750 elementary teachers and 112 secondary teachers to help expand the program over the next five years. It is expected that the project to expand AVID will ultimately serve a total of 5,640 elementary and 800 secondary students annually.

Support from Travelers also will fund systemic leadership development and principal leadership development efforts focused on student achievement and strategic planning.

The grant will also back efforts such as principal leadership development programming based on the National Institute for School Leadership model.

The goal of the AVID expansion to elementary students is to increase student performance, attendance and other academic indicators while decreasing gaps in attendance rates. Travelers' direct support of SPPS and the AVID program, the company said, goes its goal of working to effect meaningful change.

The announcement is the first of several expected in the coming weeks from Strategic Priority Partners who were named during Saint Paul Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen's State of the District address.

Special Reports /

Travelers Supports St. Paul Public Schools With $1.4M

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