Liberty Partnerships Program
The Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP) is a dropout prevention program that has been sponsored by Marist College and funded by the New York State Education Department since 1990. Services are provided through partnerships with the College, Poughkeepsie City School District, Kingston School District, community entities, and business organizations. Parents are encouraged to be a partner in their child's education.
The program serves approximately 240 students per year in grades 7-12 at five schools. In Poughkeepsie, LPP operates at the Poughkeepsie Middle School and Poughkeepsie High School. In Kingston, students are enrolled at the J. Watson Bailey Middle School, M. Clifford Miller MIddle School, and Kingston High School.
Principals, guidance counselors, and parents refer young people to LPP who are at risk of dropping out of school due to poor academic performance, low attendance in school, family circumstances, negative peer pressure, or other factors.
LPP students graduate from high school and enter college at a higher rate than the general population. According to the New York State Education Department, 69.9% of the 2006 graduates statewide planned to enter postsecondary education. This compares with 93% of Marist's LPP students.
During 2006 to 2009, 91% of LPP graduates were accepted into college. On a survey of LPP seniors in 2008, 95% indicated that LPP helped them graduate from high school and 84% indicated that the program helped them decide to go to college.
In September 2009, the New York State Education Department awarded Marist College a new LPP grant after a highly competitive application process. As a result, LPP is providing enhanced tutoring services and expanding its Career Academy. New components include the Parent University that consists of a series of workshops on pertinent topics, and a K-12 Teaching Strand that introduces 11th and 12th graders to careers in Education.
Mission:
LPP's Mission is to secure resources through the College, schools and community, and provide diverse and empowering experiences for students and parents. LPP focuses on educating youth to maximize their potential and understand their intrinsic value as members of society.
Goal:
LPP's Goal is to provide youth who would benefit from LPP services in Kingston and Poughkeepsie, opportunities to prepare them for exemplary graduation rates in high school and college or entry into a career. LPP is committed to academic and emotional growth of youth and character development.
