SAM is an “all-in” partnership of County educators, corporations, non-profits, leaders, and individuals committed to increase the importance we place on academic achievement for every child, from cradle to career.
SAM tracks annual achievement data county-wide for each of several critical learning stages: school readiness, 3rd and 8th grade reading and math, high school graduation, and post-secondary attainment. In consultation with school districts and colleges, SAM sets sequential three-year targets for each stage, leading to significant generational achievement goals by 2030.
Beyond data tracking, SAM assembles and coaches “collaborative action networks” in support of each of critical learning stage, sharing best practices, and supporting models of success.
The first of these networks is anchored by the Mary Black Foundation: “The School Readiness Collaborative Action Network.” Building on its early childhood development mission and its work with “Quality Counts,” the Foundation is joined by county-wide partners in tackling the challenge of determining how best to measure “school readiness.” The Network expects by next year to have in place a protocol for this assessment, enabling SAM and the Network to set rolling three-year improvement targets leading to a county-wide goal of “every child … school ready.”
SAM’s next task is to establish similar “collaborative action networks” in support of the other critical learning stages addressed in the SAM Preface document.
The Spartanburg Academic Movement will achieve its goals because of the commitment of the County’s school districts and its independent schools and colleges; and, as importantly, because of the commitment and advocacy of “all-in” partners such as the Mary Black Foundation.
On May 14th, we released a baseline document entitled SAM Preface. It is available for download on our website, so please take a look!
SAM is a member of the StriveTogether National Partnership (www.strivetogether.org).