Exactly what is the ASF program? Is it just a violence prevention program?
-
As our literature states, the ASF endeavors to achieve it's mission through:
Confronting Violence, Apathy, and Underachievement in American School Communities through a New Approach to Character Education.
The issue of school violence served only as a catalyst that ultimately led to the development of a community-based character education initiative. This template was developed and designed for all American high schools.
Which character traits does the ASF promote?
-
The ASF does not promote any particular character or citizenship trait. Instead, the ASF challenges the students of each unique high school to choose the character/citizenship traits that they feel are the most important to their school community. In January, the students of all three of our flagship schools took part in a school-wide balloted election to choose their 13 traits. Although similiar, each school chose a different set of 13 traits. To see a list of the traits that each school chose, click here.
The role of the ASF is to help the students of each school find creative ways to foster and promote their chosen traits throughout their school and greater community.
- The goal of the ASF is to support students in participating schools as they raise funds to build a scholarship endowment that will annually award thirteen $1,000 citizenship/character scholarships to students at each school. As a special support to each of our flagship schools, the ASF will provide the funds for these scholarships for the first two years, and also match all funds raised by flagship students up to $20,000 each year - for the period of two years. These scholarships are not based on grade point average, but entirely on the character and citizenship that a student displays in school and his/her community.
- Any student in an ASF flagship school is eligible to receive an ASF scholarship. Anyone who is in grade 9-12 can be nominated and receive one of the thirteen $1,000 scholarships. The students at each school have chosen 13 character traits to represent them. In order to receive a scholarship, a teacher, community member or someone else must nominate that student because of the exemplary character that they show in their school and community. After being nominated, the student must complete an application and several items including an essay about the character traits. All these instructions can be found in an ASF Scholarship Application Packet located in each flagship's school office. Note that a nomination is only the first step in the application process.
- The funds will be held until the student who has been awarded an ASF scholarship graduates from high school and enrolls in some sort of further education opportunity. This could include college, vocational school, specialty courses, etc. Once a student is enrolled, a check will be isssued directly to that institution.
-
The ASF program was developed by its founder and president, Carol Jean Young, over a period of six years utilizing the program guidelines of The Character Education Partnership, in Washington D.C.; as well as The Search Institute - both nationally acclaimed clearing houses that exist for the sole purpose of aiding community members, parents, and educators in designing youth-empowering initiatives such as the ASF.
www.search-institute.org
www.character.org/principles
The ASF also draws from a broad range of experience and expertise through our national advisory board and staff. Please feel free to visit our website to see a complete list of these individuals.
How is the ASF funded?
- The operating expenses of the ASF have been funded by the generous contributions of private citizens, corporate entities, as well as private foundations. These contributors are listed on our website. Click here to see that list. The commitment of these many donors reflects the ASF philosophy of all community members utilizing their resources to partner in making our schools stronger.
What about the funds that the students raise and donate?
-
100% of funds raised by students are collected on a weekly basis, witnessed, and immediately deposited into a Wachovia Bank account that bears the name of each school. No funds raised for each school's endowment will ever be utilized for our ASF headquarters operating expenses.
For the first two school years, the ASF has pledged to provide thirteen $1000 scholarships for each of our flagship schools. In addition, the ASF has offered to match all funds raised by each school - up to $20,000 annually for the period of two years. Once again, the funds for these scholarships have been pledged by private citizens, corporate entities, and private foundations. The ASF wants to underscore that these first ASF scholarships will not be taken from the funds raised by students for their school's permanent citizenship endowment.
What happens to the funds raised in the cafeteria by students using the Dime-A-Day box?
- 100% of these funds will be deposited in each school's account - to be a part of the permanent citizenship scholarship endowment. This is just one way that funds will be raised to build each flagship school endowment. The ASF will also look to the local and national corporate community to help in building the flagship endowments.
Does the ASF make a profit?
- The ASF is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, and by law cannot be a profit-making entity.
Does the ASF address academic achievement?
- The ASF is a comprehensive community-based character education program for high schools which addresses all aspects of high school life including the promotion of academic achievement.