Prometheus Educational Services

What is the Latimer Education Program ?

The Latimer Education Program admits students who attend public or parochial schools in Schenectady and who are one or more years behind grade-level in either reading or math. A staff of New York State Certified teachers work with referred youths in classes of 6 - 8 students during after-school hours. Latimer is currently servicing 125 students throughout the school year in three sites in Schenectady: 1) Hamilton Hill Site; 2) Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority (SMHA) Yates Village Site & 3) SMHA Steinmetz/MacGathan Sites with the latter two in consortium with SMHA's Project Pride. Much use is made of the Hamilton Hill Library (located at the Carver Community Center next door) as well as Saratoga Mohawk Valley Library Association's (SMVLA) on-line modem card file & book ordering service by Latimer staff with the students to encourage reading and library skills in a whole-language approach to the curriculum.

Pupils who enroll for Latimer remedial services will have been identified by teachers, parents, test scores, etc. as being approximately one or more years below grade level in reading and/or math; or students will have been identified to be at risk of becoming so due to behavioral maladjustments or other dysfunctioning evidenced in the school setting by the schools or other agencies servicing the youth.

The The Latimer Education Program (Overview...) works closely with public and private schools to devise an educational program best suited to the particular needs of the individual student. Our aim is to assist and complement the classroom teacher's efforts to bring each student's reading and math skills up to grade level. Without these basic skills, students are likely to experience repeated failure in school and run the risk of leaving school before graduation or fail to meet basic competency requirements mandatory for graduation. Just as important, Latimer strives to instill a positive attitude toward learning and an appreciation for reading. Most of our students have experienced failure in the classroom; Latimer acquaints students with success through the development of attainable goals, positive reinforcement, and praise.

Students are also taken to the Hamilton Hill Library or use the SMVLA on-line modem card file and book ordering service every other week to read and take out books. All Latimer students are issued library cards, most for the very first time. By encouraging students to read and by giving them the opportunity, Latimer helps to foster an enjoyment of reading in addition to providing instruction which helps enable students to read.

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