The New York Red Bulls and New Jersey Institute of Technology on Tuesday announced the university will be presenting partners for the Goals for Perfect Attendance Program and the After School All-Stars Mentorship Program, a collaborative effort between the Red Bulls, Newark Public Schools and NJIT that will strive to improve student attendance by establishing an incentive-based program across all district high schools in Newark.
“Building the pipeline of Newark students attending college, especially a STEM school like NJIT, starts with being in the classroom,” NJIT President Joel Bloom said. “NJIT and Newark Public Schools have implemented successful academic collaborations, like the Math Success Initiative and Mayor’s Honors Scholars program, that have yielded success in enrolling and graduating students who have an abundance of career opportunities and earn starting salaries nearly 20% above the national average.”
For the attendance initiative, every other month, four students from each school will be selected to participate in a workshop hosted by the Red Bulls and NJIT, which will provide students with engaging learning opportunities. At the end of the school year, the Top 3 schools with the highest attendance rate will receive a prize that will be determined at a later date. All 17 Newark Board of Education high schools and their students are eligible to participate.
“We are honored to partner with NJIT to continue driving attendance for students within the Newark Public Schools,” said Joe Stetson, chief marketing and revenue officer, New York Red Bulls. “Playing a role in growing student engagement through encouraging attendance is important to us as a member of the community, ensuring success in the classroom for our future leaders.”
“The Red Bulls and NJIT have been staunch supporters of the Newark Public Schools for many years,” Superintendent Roger Leon said. “We are excited about the collaborative partnerships that are aligned with our strategic plan and provide critical skills that result in strong student outcomes.”
Along with the Goals for Perfect Attendance Program, NJIT will be a presenting partner for the After School All-Stars Mentorship Program. Since 2017, After School All-Stars has provided mentoring that supports students in developing skills and habits needed to succeed in life, school, and their future careers. NJIT expands on this program by providing additional student volunteers. Students from the program meet with advisers on a biweekly basis.
