ASPIRA GOALS

Goal 1: Establish ASPIRA schools as a Model of Academic Excellence.
Goal 2: Strengthen and expand educational communities committed to empowerment through leadership development.
Goal 3: Provide youth with a sense of belonging and pride in their cultural heritage.
Goal 4: Strengthen and expand current and traditional sources of revenues.

Goal 5: Diversify funding to include a wider base of foundations, corporations and fee for services.
Goal 6: Enhance ASPIRA visibility as a means to increase resources.
Goal 7: Enhance ASPIRA’s leadership role in educational advocacy on behalf of youth and the community.
Goal 8: Increase ASPIRA’s participation in local, state and national coalitions advocating issues that affect the community.
Goal 9: Establish the structure for institutional development and continuous improvement.
Goal 10: Participate in Global Technology revolution through all internal and external ASPIRA programs.
Goal 11: Expand the Chicago land Latino Educational Research Institute (CLERI) to conduct research, development and evaluation.
Goal 12: Develop new initiatives to address community needs.
Goal 13: Expand the ASPIRA model beyond Chicagoland.

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ASPIRA PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Miguel del Valle Youth Development Center
The Youth Development Department is the foundation of Aspira Inc. of Illinois. The purpose of the Youth Development Department is to empower Latino youth by developing and nurturing their leadership, intellectual, cultural and social potential so that they may contribute their skills and dedication to the community. The Center assists parents more effectively guide their children’s education through parenting workshops.

Antonia Pantoja High School
The Antonia Pantoja High School (APHS) is a state-certified, diploma granting school that serves youth between the ages of 16-21 who have been officially dropped from the public school. The APHS incorporates a curriculum based on improving basic skills and developing social, personal and career goals.

Mirta Ramirez Computer Science Charter School
In September of 2003, ASPIRA opened the Mirta Ramirez Computer Science Charter School MR(cs)2 to bridge the “digital divide”. The MR(cs)2 will provide a rigorous and comprehensive high school education focusing on computer science. Students will also be academically prepared to enter and succeed into a program of postsecondary education or obtain meaningful

ASPIRA-Haugan Middle School
Haugan Middle School opened in September of 2005 to provide a small school environment that will prepare middle school students to meet the challenges fo a high school preparatory curriculum and become successful, productive, lifelong learners. One school with two academies will offer Computer Science and Technology Academy, and Math and Science Academy.

ASPIRA Community Learning Center
The ASPIRA Community Learning Center (ACLC) is a Supplemental Educational Services (SES) provider that offers 4th – 8th grade students academic tutoring in math and reading, academic enrichment and cultural arts activities. The primary goal is to increase the academic gains of students. The ACLC has had a positive impact on math and reading scores of students.

Chicagoland Latino Educational Research Institute (CLERI)
The Chicagoland Latino Educational Research Institute (CLERI) provides the education policymaking and advocacy community with comprehensive and ongoing research and policy analyses on issues affecting the education of Latino youth to help create educational policies and programs that better serve Latino youth.

Salvador Brau History Project
The Salvador Brau History Project is under the direction of Mirta Ramirez, who will be collecting a series of interviews and other documents to compile the history and experiences of individuals who have worked and are working in the development of the Puerto Rican community in the city of Chicago. The final product of this project will be a book and a video.

Antonia Pantoja Early College High School

Antonia Pantoja Early College High School is scheduled to open Fall of 2007 as the third ASPIRA School Campus with the mission to provide a high quality secondary education, leading to a high school diploma and dual-enrollment/ early college opportunities to Puerto Rican, Latino and other at-risk youth who have faced difficulties in a traditional high school setting.
Antonia Pantoja Early College High School

Antonia Pantoja Early College High School is scheduled to open Fall of 2007 as the third ASPIRA School Campus with the mission to provide a high quality secondary education, leading to a high school diploma and dual-enrollment/ early college opportunities to Puerto Rican, Latino and other at-risk youth who have faced difficulties in a traditional high school setting.