Program Description
Step Up to Excellence is a three-year, school-based mentoring program that challenges all its students to reach such ambitious goals. Highly motivated students from working, low-income families are selected through a competitive process to be paired with educators in their schools, and these educators serve as mentors for the students year round from sophomore through senior year.

During weekly meetings, program events, and individualized summer programs, the student-mentor teams establish strong relationships that foster success, responsibility, and leadership.  Mentors bring their professional training, their dedication as educators, and their personal resourcefulness to develop student potential.  In essence, the mentors create a small learning community within a public school.  The Step Up program also provides financial support and partnership with other educational programs to help students reach beyond previously perceived limits.Students must meet the other criteria of the program: completing at least 90 hours of individual community service, engaging in extra curricular activities and job shadowing, participating in service projects and public speaking events, investigating appropriate summer programs and striving for academic excellence.

Organization History
The sponsoring foundation, Piecework Partners, first partnered with Fitchburg High School to implement and host a pilot program, “Success 2000”, for 12 students in the fall of 1997, and it quickly developed as a one-on-one professional mentoring program.  As the pilot program progressed successfully, a second program was opened at Framingham High School in 1999 and the two programs became Step Up to Excellence.  With Framingham assistance, the program further refined parameters, produced handbooks to clarify expectations and responsibilities, and became a vehicle for individual mentors to engage in a common purpose.  Step Up programs were opened in Clinton in 2000 and in Stoughton in 2002.  The four programs currently serve about 70 students each year.Step Up to Excellence continually evolves with input from mentors, students, program directors, and advisory board that is gleaned from regular discussions and an annual evaluation process. It is this input that has integrated the program components into learning communities that provide safety, solace, discipline, encouragement and celebration for its members. Step Up provides support and experiences that broaden students’ horizons and help them disassemble falsely established limitations and grasp previously unattainable goals.

Piecework’s partnership with selected students is for three-years, from sophomore through senior years.  The foundation supplies academic assistance, guidance in pursuing opportunities, and funding for various personal needs when needed. The students are required to work consistently toward academic achievement, to set and pursue personal goals, to accept responsibility, to contribute service to their community, and to behave responsibly and constructively.We have clearly stated that students must meet the requirements of the program for productive work and engaged participation.  About (70%) of the students who start the  program as sophomores after a rigorous selection process are able to complete the program.  Those who stumble are given ample opportunity and counsel to regain good standing, but may still choose to leave or to neglect their responsibilities and be let go.In school year 2008-2009, Step Up to Excellence had 68 students enrolled and 126 alumni.

Piecework Partners, 501 (c)(3) funding agent

Clinton High School

Fitchburg High School

Framingham High School

Stoughton High School

Posse Foundation Scholarship

Yawkey Foundation Scholarship

The Philanthropic Institute

World Learning: Experiements in International Living

Youth for Understanding

Outward Bound

Phhillips-Exeter Summer Academy

Cushing Academy

Visions: International Volunteer Experiences for Teens

University of Massachusetts Medical Center: Summer Internship

Camp Sunshine

Let's Get Ready