Francis Marion University - School of Education

FMU Center of Excellence
Grant Proposal Narrative

2. Proposal Narrative

g. Benefit to the Institution

Establishing a Center for Excellence for Children of Poverty will enable Francis Marion University to meet the special need for teachers in the Pee Dee region and the state. With over 70% of its children qualifying for free lunch, the Pee Dee region is mired in poverty. Currently, students in this region are struggling to meet the new South Carolina achievement standards. The pressure to achieve high test scores deters teachers from working in high-risk areas. By offering special training for effectiveness in working with at-risk children, the Center of Excellence for Children of Poverty will enable Francis Marion University to recruit, train, and graduate a larger and more diverse population of teachers, both undergraduate and graduate.

The School of Education at FMU will partner with the College of Arts and Science, the existing Centers of Excellence at Benedict College and Charleston, the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA), the Pee Dee Education Center, and National Center for Research on the Education of Students Placed at Risk (CRESPAR) to focus multiple resources on preparing teachers for this special mission.

Francis Marion University expects this program to increase the number and quality of students enrolled in teacher training programs at FMU and to further its mission.