September 25, 2000
Judy Leary, Project Director
Massena Central School
Rte. 37
Massena, New York 13663

Dear Judy,

The Institute for Learning Centered Education is proud to offer unlimited support to the "Learner Centered Classroom/standards Focused lnitiative." As you know, the Institute has been deeply involved in the planning and training for the predecessor projects to this application. Many of our members are involved in providing facilitation for teams engaged in this project. We look forward the challenge, this year, of replicating our training module across other parts of New York State, and addressing the issue of sharing with an entire faculty the concepts we have successfully piloted with a few teachers in each of 45 schools.

The Institute offers the services of its Chief Executive Officer and many of its facilitators to the "Learner Centered initiative."   Also, the Institute offers the following support as an "in-kind" contribution:

$10,000      CEO Don Mesibov, time above and beyond what is being compensated
$3,000        Materials, supplies, postage, copying facilities, use of technology
$1500         Communications among consortium members beyond what is being
                     requested In the application.
$5,000        Institute facilitators at training sessions

$19,500      Total  In-Kind Contributions

The success of the "Learner Centered Initiative" has been documented by three evaluators and by a host of anecdotals from participating teachers, parents, and administrators.

The public acclaim which is accompanying your work is helping alter the paradigm of teaching traditionally to teaching through a facilitative approach. You are to be commended for building on the successes of the River Project (1998 -'99, '99 - 2000) and pilot project (1999 - 2000) and
attempting to immerse entire staffs in the skills and strategies required for a standards-based approach to learning

The lnstitute's mission is "to offer resources and support for people engaged in developing learner centered schools through innovative educational strategies.   .   ." and to "model inclusion of and respect for the diversity of people in the society at large."

The "Learner Centered Classroom/Standards Focused Initiative" is completely consistent with the mission of the Institute and we welcome the opportunity to offer our resources and support.

Sincerely,

Don Mesibov

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