In an effort to break the cycle of poverty, The Challenge Foundation provides tuition scholarships and support services to students with low-income backgrounds who demonstrate a high level of ambition and hard work. Communities, parents, and teachers nominate potential scholars with these characteristics in the fourth grade.
All potential scholars and their parents are asked to submit an application to the organization to show financial, social, and emotional need, along with math, writing, and/or reading test results. Home visits are also conducted by the organization. During these visits, representatives of the organization talk to the families to assess further how supportive parents are of their child’s academic success and what their needs are.
This process is designed to determine whether scholars will do their best in the program into which they are accepted. Scholars all have excellent academic attendance and meet discipline requirements. It is very similar to the application process when students apply for independent schools with which The Challenge Foundation has partnered.