College of Education
Urban Education Partnerships
Working Together to Improve Student Achievement

GVSU Summer Literacy Center
- COE and Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, Grand Rapids, MI, partnership
- At-risk students receive individualized instruction in English language to improve oral and literacy skills
- Center doubles as a practicum site for students in three Education Master’s Degree programs
Holland Public Schools Teacher Cohort
- COE teacher candidates placed in urban ethnically and racially diverse elementary school for an academic year
- COE student assistants and student teachers experience in-depth, sustained contact with students, school staff, and parents
Schools of Hope Tutoring Project
- COE and Heart of West Michigan United Way partnership
- COE students tutor at-risk children in selected Grand Rapids Public elementary schools during the school day
- COE students experience what it means to be a teacher
Kent School Services Network Initiative
- COE and Kent School Services Network partnership
- Two-fold mission: increase student school attendance and increase student academic success
- COE students tutor in schools where the majority of students fall below the poverty line
- Faculty teach COE educational foundations classes at Network schools; COE students work one-on-one with children after their college class
