Gail Blyden and Lisa Greenberg, co-presidents of the Howard Drive Elementary ACT (Assistants for Classroom Teachers) program, have utilized the slogan "let's get our ACT together" as a rallying point for the non-profit organization.

This past spring Blyden and Greenberg -- who have run the group, which was started in 1995, since the 1997-1998 school year -- took their own advice, dramatically reshaping the structure of the already successful program.

"North Beach Elementary was raising about $240,000 a year, while we were raising about $15,000. We decided to try and adopt their approach," Greenberg explained.

The Howard Drive ACT program raises money to hire classroom teacher assistants for the elementary school and is entirely non-profit -- neither Blyden nor Greenberg nor any other volunteer receives any financial compensation for the work they do.

In the past, because of the relatively limited amount of money raised by the program, ACT could only afford to hire a classroom assistant for each grade level, compared to North Beach, which had an assistant for every classroom.

Sometimes, the students in the upper grades didn't even get an assistant. Because the need for increased attention is much higher for younger students, if there wasn't enough money raised to cover all grades, whatever money was received automatically went toward assisting the lower levels.

As a result, Greenberg said, they are now recruiting volunteer "leaders" to organize each grade level's fundraising activity.

"We would ideally like 15-20 total volunteers -- a leader and one or two volunteers for every grade level -- and each grade level will receive the money that was raised for that level," she said. "What this means is that, for instance, parents of fourth and fifth graders who might not have given money in the past because there was the chance that even if they gave, their children might not receive an assistant, might be more likely to do so now."

In order to ensure that each classroom receives an assistant, about $160,000 would have to be raised by ACT, they said.

Blyden noted that there are several important reasons for classroom assistants, and that it was in every parent's best interests to give what he or she can.

"There are four primary issues," she said. "Overcrowded classrooms have made the student/teacher ratio higher. It's important for early intervention and nurturing reasons. There is a higher importance to an increased amount of testing, and changes in the curriculum. Assistants help address all of those issues."

Blyden explained that assistants also are allowed to instruct in academic topics that already have been introduced, reinforcing the students' comprehension of those issues.

ACT raises its money through two primary sources -- fundraising and pledge forms. The latter is the main provider of funds for the program. Blyden and Greenberg plan to dramatically overhaul the pledge process so that it takes the form of the North Beach model. Instead of asking for a set amount of money as they once did, $100 per student, they will request that parents send in whatever they can afford.

The "scholarship" levels, as they call them, will take the form of $100 for "honoree," $250 for "friend," $350 for "family," $500 for "champ," $1000 for "VIP", and $2000 for "hero." Blyden and Greenberg also will accept donations above those amounts, and all are tax-deductible.

"We would also like to add a parent or community member that would be willing to recruit corporate sponsors," Blyden said. "Maybe some of the local companies that have profited from the growth of this community and the success of its schools, like real estate firms, would be willing to give to program."

Both Blyden and Greenberg stressed the importance of expediency in sending in contributions to the program.

"The sooner we can get the funds in, the sooner we can guarantee the hiring of the paraprofessionals, or assistants. Greenberg explained, It also means we get to select from the best -- the longer we wait, the shorter the list to choose from."

You can get in touch with ACT, through the office at Howard Drive at 305-235-1412, or by calling Blyden directly at 305-793-0999.

A fundraising garage sale for ACT will take place about a block from Howard Drive on Aug. 25. Those interested should look for signs in the area as that date approaches.