Achievement Plus North End Parade Achievement Plus is a private-public partnership created in 1996 as a joint venture between the Saint Paul Public Schools, the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, the city of Saint Paul, and Ramsey County, with additional financial assistance from the state of Minnesota.  Beginning in fall, 2008, the Achievement Plus initiative will be a part of North End Elementary School.  The initiative is also located at three Saint Paul public schools – John A. Johnson and Dayton’s Bluff elementary schools and Cleveland Junior High School.  The initiative’s primary focus is on raising the achievement level of students.  All of the Achievement Plus schools are located in low socio-economic neighborhoods, and the goal is to eliminate barriers that may keep students from being in school every day, ready and eager to learn. Starting October 2008, a Family Resource Center will be established at North End Elementary, and other community partners will be invited to join the effort to assist in North End Neighborhood Parade providing needed services to students, families, and North End community members. Achievement Plus has a three-segment focus – academics, extended learning (after-school program) and learning supports.  The academic segment is supported through the Saint Paul Public Schools’ Project for Academic Excellence, which provides a rigorous standards-based learning curriculum and staff development opportunities for teachers.  PAE was first implemented at the Achievement Plus elementary schools and later implemented in all elementary schools in the district.  An extended learning program is provided for students in an after-school setting at the Achievement Plus schools, where students needing additional assistance are provided academic and enrichment classes.  Teachers in the after-school program (many also teach in the regular daytime program) work to make certain that the curriculum is aligned with the daytime program and that it focuses on the areas Lynnell Thiel. Achievement Plus in which students need additional help. The learning supports segment of the program provides assistance to students, families and community members and is the result of partnerships with community organizations located on site at John A. Johnson, some with satellite locations at the other Achievement Plus schools.  The organizations include:  the Eastside Family Center, the East Side Learning Center, St. Mary’s Health Clinic, Children’s Dental Services, the Eastside Housing Opportunity Program, and the Wilder Foundation.  These organizations support the students and families of John A. Johnson, Dayton’s Bluff and Cleveland in many ways, such as assisting with food and clothing needs, health services, and mental health counseling; assisting with housing needs related to ownership and rental issues; adult language classes; and helping families and community members connect with other needed services that are available at the state and federal levels.