HOME > 2006-2007 Program Overview The Asheville City Schools Foundation administers a number of programs to support our students in a variety of ways. The support of community, business and individuals helps make these programs possible.

• Grants Program - Awards Mini, Project and Major Grants to teachers and administrators to fund creative and innovative ideas ($500,368 from 1993 - 2006). At work this year: $37,486.

• Tutor Coordination Program - Recruits, screens, trains and coordinates volunteer mentors and academic tutors for all grade levels. Last year, 34 tutors and mentors spent 1,650 hours serving 73 students. The Foundation is a member of the Asheville-Buncombe Education Coalition.

• Student Scholarship Program - Awards or renews scholarships totaling over $70,000 each year to graduating seniors at AHS. The Foundation administers numerous scholarship funds, both endowed and annually funded, created by generous donors.

• Teacher Scholarship & Support Program - Scholarships are awarded to ACS employees to fund the pursuit of educational goals of all kinds - from workshops to graduate degrees. Awards usually range from $200 - $400 and applicants are encouraged to continue applying for support until their goal is reached. Additionally, mentoring support for new and lateral entry teachers is offered in collaboration with ACS. In addition, a National Board Certification Support Program is available during the school year. The program offers mentoring and workshop support for National Board candidates and meets regularly throughout the year. This program is funded by a generous grant from the Progress Energy Foundation.

• City of Asheville Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA) -- CAYLA places students in meaningful summer internships with weekly workshops on leadership, life, and college prep skills. CAYLA is funded by the City of Asheville and is administered by the ACS Foundation. In addition to summer work opportunities, CAYLA will engage students throughout the year in volunteer service projects as well as award each student a $2000 college savings account. CAYLA also provides its alum with college prep mentoring throughout the school year.

  CAYLA is open to rising 10-12th graders. Application for next year’s CAYLA class will be distributed in the spring of 2008. For more information contact Erika Germer at egermer@ashevillenc.gov.

• Mission Children's Hospital Adventure Day - a 1 1/2 day program experienced by all system fifth graders which encourages group dynamics through team-building exercises. Funded in 2006 by Mission Children’s Hospital

• Literacy Through Art - A ten-lesson program for all system fourth graders provided by visiting artist educators using the visual arts to explore the language arts. In partnership with the Asheville Art Museum and Asheville City Schools.

• MANNA Emergency Fund - provides food and supplies for students and families in urgent need.

• Constance Miller Fund – provides aid to students/families in need on a case-by-case basis.

• Administration - coordinates the establishment and maintenance of designated funds and scholarships; acts as a conduit for designated and in-kind contributions to individual schools.

• The History Project - a joint project in the spring of 2002 to research the rich history of our school system.

• The Listening Project - a two year research project on the issues surrounding low student achievement in our system.

• The Show of Excellence - a showcase of Asheville City Schools’ student and faculty talents held in the spring of each year, 1990-2005.