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That call was also heard by Primary and Secondary (K-12) could happen, it was necessary to develop a focused, uni? ed education stakeholders which realized that a maritime educa- curriculum with which to get to the next step.

tion offered a good pathway for urban students to not only get That curriculum is now here. It challenges students, in- out of the city, but also into a rewarding post-secondary mari- creases their academic curiosity and develops the core char- time education and career path. But, not if they hadn’t before acteristics necessary for a life at sea to begin – and to succeed. ever seen a ship or been introduced to the possibility that a mar- And, the metrics show that it is working. According to Dr. Art itime career was even a remote possibility. The need to bring Sulzer, Founder of no less than four charter schools, includ- an awareness of maritime career possibilities into the lower ing the Philadelphia-based Maritime Academy Charter School, grades had never been more acute. That metric persists today. a three-year case study conducted through the University Of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education – Maritime Tactile

Educational Collaboration Education for Urban Secondary Education Students – showed

Schools in New York, Philadelphia and San Diego opened increased student attendance, academic development and independently of one another. At ? rst, these schools were ar- markedly improved graduation rates at six maritime and public guably ‘maritime’ in name only, but recognizing that by work- high schools located in Philadelphia, PA and Toledo, OH.

ing together and sharing best practices, these schools hoped Today’s Maritime Academy Charter School, now enrolling to develop more quickly and spread the message. Momentum grades 2-12, has a total enrollment of 816 students, of which did build, and working with the Ship Operations Cooperative 281 are enrolled in grades 9 through 12. Beyond this, 49% of

Program (SOCP), MARAD, industry and academic partners, all students are female and 52% are identi? ed as being Black, a conference was created in 2008. Hosted at MITAGS and at- Hispanic and/or Asian in heritage. Sulzer adds emphatically, tended by more than 200 stakeholders, this event caught the “The K-12 schools have stepped up and produced motivated attention of Congress; in particular Congressman Elijah Cum- and educated students. Post-secondary institutions and em- mings (D-MD). The then-Coast Guard and Maritime sub- ployers need to do the same and bring these young people committee chairman eventually held hearings on the need for into the mix.” more schools and entry level mariners. By then, six maritime and marine schools were in operation.

By the Numbers

Fast forward to 2015 and a second conference was spon- From 2008 to 2016, the number of K-12 maritime orient- sored by State University of New York, North American Ma- ed schools in the United States grew from just six, located rine Environmental Protection Association (NAMEPA) and in four states to 56 spread throughout 16 states. Beyond this,

SOCP with the purpose of bringing together K-12 schools the student population at those schools grew collectively from – now numbering 56 – with post- secondary educators and 1,600 to more than 12,000. Examination of K-12 Maritime marine employers. The process of urban education is not an Education Statistics based on a 2012 University of Pennsylva- easy one, with a raft of socioeconomic issues coming into play nia School of Education Case Study conducted by Dr. Sulzer before the education process can even begin. And before that revealed even more encouraging data:

Selected Statistics:

Maritime Schools Public Schools

Toledo, Philadelphia

Maritime & Public Schools ToledoPhiladelphiaAVGToledoPhiladelphiaAVG

Graduation Rate (1) 96% 88% 92% 84% 56% 70%

Test Averages (2) 68% 38% 53% 56% 29% 43%

Attendance (3) 96% 96% 96% 94% 81% 88%

Discipline Issues (4) 20 20 20 108 38 73

Notes: 1.) Based on attending 4 years of high school 2.) % Pro? cient (state tests / “No Child Left Behind”) 3.) Based on the state required number of dates of attendance 4.) Expulsions and Suspensions (per year) www.maritimeprofessional.com Maritime Professional 51| | 50-63 Q2 MP2016.indd 51 5/19/2016 11:45:50 AM