| All rights reserved. |
I-EXCEL
(Activation of this program has been temporarily postponed ,
The Christa McAuliff organization in the State of Washington, which
was to provide the accelerated scholastic courses for Icon, has been
purchased by an honorable group, but which is not in the opinion of
Icon's Board of Directors, a satisfactory fit for Icon's educational
programs. Icon management is currently accepting Proposals from
several other capable organizations.)
Icon International Foundation
Since 1972
info@iconinternationalfoundation.org
Iconinternationalfoundation.org
I-EXCEL
An Accelerated Educational Program Plus
We Must Educate The Children!
We Must Educate The Children,
to stop the loss of intelligence, talent, and contribution
needed to maintain our American way of life.
We Must Educate The Children,
in order that billions of our tax dollars may again be spent
on positive things for our citizens instead of supporting the
creation of homeless children, child prostitution, alcohol
and other drug addiction, child crime and child incarceration;
adult homelessness, addiction, crime and adult incarceration.
We Must Educate The Children!!
CONTENTS
Executive Summary ……………………….………………………………………………………
Current Scenario…………………………………………….………………………………………
The Icon Solution …………………………………………………….………………
I-EXCEL:
Our War Against Illiteracy, Homelessness, Drugs, Child Prostitution, and Incarceration.
World class inspiration for children of all ages
It is 2007, Do You Know Where Your Tax Dollars Are [Going]??...............................................
Money hunters
The Prevailing Opinion …………………………………………………………………………….
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Icon Foundation / Icon International Foundation, was founded by the Howard N. Rolfe
family in 1971 becoming federally qualified in 1972-73, as a public benefit 501(c) (3)
educational, charitable foundation (corporation). The foundation is federally qualified to
operate through out the United States and internationally.
Icon structured a total and effective educational program to provide extremely significant
benefits to the lives of many children from any walk of life. The program involves the need
for a substantially accelerated total scholastic program.
The blue print for the program was originally created to save the futures of children placed
in out of home circumstances by government agencies: foster homes provided by
unrelated persons; homes provided by relatives of the biological parents; children with
responsible parents but in financially distressed circumstances; children in group homes
or other state run facilities.
As the reader continues to absorb the information we acquired through research and have
provided in the following pages you will realize that not only our children in seriously
distressed circumstances, but our children in the general population of our country, are in
dire need of this program. We have received inquiries from families able to pay tuition in
order for their children to enroll in I-EXCEL upon the opening of the first Icon College.
The grants and other donations we seek are, however, to cover our expense to provide the
I-EXCEL program for primarily out - of - home youngsters with virtually no hope for a
stable productive future. We seek funds to educate those children whose intelligence and
talents are likely to be lost forever to unemployment, welfare, homelessness, mental
illness, drugs, and incarceration.
Pg 1
Our Mission For I-EXCEL
Our Mission: is to make the I-EXCEL, accelerated educational program, available to all
children in distressed circumstances but also to as many of the remaining 73% of the 47
million students of our general population who are not receiving a viable education.
Nearly a year of research, thought and planning has gone into what has emerged as the
final details of this program.
The children.
We currently have over 1,000,000 million homeless children (that we know about) in our
country. There is a steady number of approximately 500,000 children annually in the U.S.
that are forced to live in outside – the - home environment due to abuse, otherwise unfit
parents, or incapacitation of parent(s) making it impossible for young children to be
cared for properly (children may be removed from their homes for any number of
reasons). There are also children who quit high school to stay home and care for a parent
or other sibling. About 1,000,000. children annually are involved in undesirable home
circumstances, but approximately half are returned to their primary home.
Our society is and has been steadily failing hundreds of thousands of children annually.
Many of these children in the beginning are among our brightest, and we have been
allowing the lives of the largest percentage of these youngsters to slowly disintegrate.
Many readers may not realize that the current conditions are also costing all American tax
payers a tremendous amount of money. As you read the few following pages you will see
that to help us end this continuous drain of intelligence and loss of contribution to our
country, the cost to you and all American tax payers will be far less than it is costing us
now!
Please continue to read.
Page 2
CURRENT SCENARIO
A Brief Heads-Up on Academics in America Today.
First we would like to brief you on the current educational condition of our youth. In truth
our overall educational situation in our country is appalling.
According to National Assessment of Educational Progress (the nation’s report card):
Across the country in general population Seventy Three (73% ) Percent of all of America’s
47 million public school students are below proficiency in mathematics and reading, and
Seventy (70%) Percent of these students graduate from high school! Fifty (50%) Percent of
students from families in lower income ranges fail in even the most basic skills in any of
their respective grades, and if they reach grade 12 they are about 4 grade levels behind the
other students in scholastic achievement. Meaning, since 50% of these students graduate,
that upon a school graduating them, they are still not equipped to go out into the work
force.
Due to the manner in which our system operates, the steady half a million children living in
out of home circumstances lose weeks, months and ultimately fail grades and the loss of
self esteem sets in. They loose their education, their futures, their ability to become
effective, contributing adults – AND - it costs the American tax payers billions of dollars per
year and ultimately over the long run, an unknowable amount of money. By not taking care
to effectively educate these children, we are all virtually paying to allow their lives to be
ruined and their potential contributions to society, their intelligence, their talents, their
potential for leadership, all things that America is in desperate need of - to be lost! If the
plight of these children does not touch your compassion or emotion, it should certainly as
Americans, catch the attention of our logic and concern for our country. It requires
only a moment’s reflection on exactly where our tax dollars would be best spent. These
children are our country’s future. Perhaps even the quality of the future of the world could
weigh on some of these children.
The current – as it has been for years - scenario in America involving hundreds of
thousands of our young boys and girls is a situation that is cause for extremely serious
concern. This is an on-going loss of futures of tens of thousands of children every
year. It is a staggering cost and loss to society. We should not forget the lives of misery as
these children move on to adult hood. This is not just about the loss of the futures of a
group of children in one year – we are talking about an on-going annual situation.
It is not a case of suddenly in 2006 or 2007 or 2008, there being 500,000 children’s lives in
potential jeopardy due to loss of an education, this is every year. It has been every year for
many years. As youngsters move past a designated age they must leave the foster
homes. With no where to go and not prepared for a job that will support them, they are out
on the streets. A large percentage of these children, for various reasons will leave their out
of home situations by running away out of a feeling of hopelessness, most will have failed
in school, they simply leave and don’t look back. Where ever they go, and for whatever the
reason they slip out of the system, they are quickly replaced by other child victims.
Do you not believe that we are all paying – in cash – to make this happen? Well we are.
Every tax payer in America is paying to allow this loss to occur.
Page 3
About one million (1,000,000.) American children per annum are involved in home
circumstances that, to those children are stressful, debilitating, saddening, and in most
cases, frightening. These circumstances destroy a child’s emotional sense of security.
With about half of these children returned to their parents, it leaves half a million children
remaining in the “system” for various periods of time, some for many years. Some are
moved from foster home to foster home in the residences of strangers. Some of these
homes have proven to be less than desirable) some are placed in the homes of relatives of
one or the other parent, some live in group homes or other state facilities. Some fortunate
ones are adopted by people who care. But the number of children steadily year in, year
out, that live in this state of uncertainty, continues to be around half a million.
These children lose weeks and months of school time, and ultimately fail classes and then
grades. All but the most marginal percentage voluntarily drop out of school or are forced
to do so due to loss of class time. Most having lost their education and their self esteem
turn to alcohol or other drug abuse. They feel lost and have no purpose, they break the
law, become incarcerated. They live off of the state on welfare and are supported in our
jails.
Many babies are born to the girls and to women as these children become adults. The
results are many abortions (medical costs to tax payers). But many more babies grow up
to maintain that steady half a million children, and then more adults for the states
to support one way or the other. There are also the babies born of addicted mothers. In
general, many children develop mental health problems – no surprise. A few go to state
mental institutions (supported by taxes), but more often these children wander the streets.
It is a case of steady deterioration, mental and physical. Many of these youngsters, boys
and girls, turn to prostitution,living on the streets and dying on the streets in cities. There
is a high incidence of suicide among these young people. As older adults they continue to
live off of the states and, or spend long periods incarcerated. Some simply become
homeless, surviving on the streets and in shelters living derelict existences, still breaking
laws and spending portions of their lives behind bars Not a pretty picture for us to be
supporting with our tax dollars. Especially when it could be different!
Page 4
The Icon Solution.
”I–EXCEL”
Our war against illiteracy, child abuse, drugs, child prostitution, homelessness,
incarceration.
First we must admit it is unlikely that any plan can ever be devised to alleviate this problem
one hundred percent.
However, there are many of us who know that while we cannot alter certain circumstances
in the subject children’s lives, assuring them of an education and preferably an above
average education will give them the tools they need to make their lives “work.”
At first glance, it may seem a simple thing of little consequence But, among other things,
we need to call to the attention of these children, the fact of great heroes who in their past
and even during the life times of today's children, have faced great fear and great
obstacles and have yet accomplished amazing things. People which for one reason or
another have lived distressed childhoods or experienced profoundly negative life altering
occurrences as young adults, and who surmounted those obstacles to become more than
contributing adults in the world, but examples of the ability of the human spirit. . Most
children even in the best home circumstances have no Heroes today. It does not need to
be put in writing, we all know why. Real heroes are being overlooked as incidental for the
most part by today’s society in our country.
The million homeless and the additional half a million children annually, that we refer to in
this document have little or no chance for future stability in life without someone extending
a hand to them. Most children in their own homes with stable parents have at least the
opportunity for education - even if many are not given the inspiration to excel.
We do not by any means deny that there is a percentage of fine comfortable homes where
the first consideration of the parents, is the children. We are not giving space here to the
successful families. God bless them. Many of the children of these families will also take
advantage of I–EXCEL. and become scholars of the program.
Icon’s “I – EXCEL” program (Part I) consists of only several but extremely important
components. (1) laptop computers for each enrolled child; (2) an accelerated scholastic
program as created for each grade; (3) arrangements with various junior colleges for I–
EXCEL scholars in the last quarter of their 11th year, to challenge first year college
courses in order to enroll in four year colleges in sophomore classes. (Part II) creation of
small colleges in every state with on-campus residences for students and house parents. .
World class inspiration for children of all ages. Children need inspiration. A child’s (or an
adult’s) inspiration to continue to strive in a forward direction in life, can allow a person,
even a child to surmount some extremely formidable objects:
Page 5
Christa McAuliffe, loveley and young, a teacher, astronaut, while not having a distressed
childhood, is a hero for her courage, energy, and dauntless ambition to explore the
unknown, to step into the future;
Helen Keller, deaf and blind from birth, world renowned writer and activist;
Steven Hawking, was struck down by Lou Gehrig’s disease in his early 20s
(disease usually terminal). Hawking in spite of being paralyzed and relegated to a wheel
chair has become one of the most currently renowned Physicist in the world;
April Holmes, below the knee amputee – result of a train accident. April was a three- time
NCAA Track and Field, All American. Wearing a special running prosthesis she is today
World Record holder of the 100-and 200-meter sprints.
Paddy Rossback, RN, ACA President and CEO, an amputee since age of 6. Paddy
Rossback is a health care provider and while not involved directly in the field of education,
her wisdom applies directly to our goals. She says: If children feel ashamed and incapable
[they are defeated]. On the other hand, if they are encouraged, they will grow in confidence
and succeed in life. Paddy is proof of this!!
Not every child, but many children’s spirits can be crushed through such a combination of
facts as debilitating home environment resulting from parental abuse or drug use in the
home, then removal from the home; constant residence upheaval and absence of a loved
one to ground the child, to lend emotional stability – the resultant loss of weeks of school
class time that become months of time lost and then failure. Other children can become
depressed, angry and hateful toward life, and defeated.
Generally we expect most children when enrolled in I-EXCEL will be about 8 to 10 years
in age. However, the younger the child is to begin the program, the better. There is also the
possibility of some students past the normal high school age who lost time and failed, but
who are willing to work hard to catch up - to ultimately achieve a college education. .
I–EXCEL, is geared for completion of the high school curriculum in three years (or even
less) instead of four, and resulting in three years of college at a four year college to earn a
degree.
The program will save time and save the futures of countless children, cut the college
costs by 25%, and allow the scholar to obtain a Bachelors degree in three years or less.
The I–EXCEL program will be totally effective alone or along with the child’s enrollment in
any public (or private) school system. With a child attending a (regular) school and also
enrolled in I–EXCEL, the scholar will move scholastically up to the level of his/her peers,
even while having experienced a significant loss of time, and will then continue to surpass
that level. (In rare cases where a valid, medically proven learning disability exists, this
may not be the result.)
Children enrolled in this program may progress as rapidly as their ability allows. Some
scholars may complete their total high school curriculum in less than the projected three
years.
We believe that in any safe living environment, given the right educational tools, guidance,
enthusiasm, and determination by someone who cares, most children will excel
scholastically and dramatically improve their chances for success in life.
Page 6
It is 2007, Do You Know Where Your Tax Dollars Are [Going]???
(All monetary information reflected hereafter has been obtained through researched
statistics from various sources available to the general public)
Unfortunately the following only scratches the surface of the actual dollar cost to
American tax payers
High school drop-outs are much more likely to occupy subsidized housing than adults
with a college degree. About 1/3rd of all households headed by an 18 to 69 year old man
having dropped out of high school - live in public housing or private housing units
where rents are subsidized by federal/state government.
• Subsidized housing units increase the fiscal burden on the rest of the tax paying
public.
• 2006 statistics indicate (from a sampling of states) that tax payers pay from $22,650.
to $44,000. per annum to support “each” adult inmate in state prisons.
• According to several government statistical reports: In 2003 the United States spent
$185 Billion on corrections (incarceration) judicial, and related services. By the end of
2005, 1 of every 136 U.S. residents was incarcerated in state, federal prison or local jails.
• The State of Texas says it spends at least “$72,000,000. per year on those
incarcerated, mostly on drug convictions for less than one gram (less than a sugar packet)
when the funds would be much better invested in education, families and any
alternatives that work.” (We believe the “alternative that works” is education – statistics
prove our view.)
States differ in their cost per incarcerated individual. One example, In California in 2007
and 2008 it is costing $43,149.00 per person per annum in regular CDCR Prisons; It is
costing $216,081.00 per person per annum for youth and young adults through the
Department of Juvenile Justice.
• Illinois pays $7 Billion annually into the criminal justice system.
• Arizona in 2004 was cost, $252 Million, 50% of which comes from the federal
government (taxes) and 50% from state and local taxes. These costs primarily cover teen
pregnancy and the results thereof, public health care, child welfare and incarceration (all
from tax dollars). Between 1991 and 2004 there were 158,300 teen births in Arizona which
cost the tax payers $3.4 Billion.
• Costs for teens and young adults incarcerated in Arizona are currently estimated at
$75,000. per person, per annum and more for adults...
• National costs (taxes) resulting from teen births and associated medical and child
welfare is $9.1 Billion per annum.
Page 7
2/3rds of people leaving prisons are re-arrested as a result of committing collectively,
thousands more crimes. During these periods additional uneducated young people are
coming into an age where they will commit crimes, in most cases because they need
money and are not equipped for productive employment.
From that point involvement in drugs begins. Combine robbery and drugs, and then we
have murders resulting many times from the panic and fear of the perpetrator.
• Prison inmates who participate in vocational training are less likely to become
recidivists than those who do not. This is not necessarily comforting. Committing crimes,
going to prison, and then getting just enough education to find a low paying job is not
a desirable process. We need to educate our young in the beginning!
Consider the costs of crime victimization born by citizens and insurance holders. This is
as costly or more so, than the welfare and incarceration costs!
• It is clear at this time - and unfortunately proof of the recurring generation after
generation, on-going tragedy - that as many as 10 million American children, or 14 percent
of all our American children under the age of 18 have a parent or parents who are
or have been incarcerated. Most of this population are in distressed circumstances and it
has been proven that unless children in these circumstances receive an outstanding
education in order to break the cycle – these children will also have negative futures
involving drugs, child prostitution, alcohol, homelessness, law breaking and incarceration
– and the cycle will continue when they become adults with more children
Admittedly, from a financial standpoint, this is very good business for the private sector
corporations which own many of our prisons – however, it means the insidious
destruction of millions of young American lives and is proving to cause the gradual
erosion of the American way of life, and we tax payers are supporting it..
• Most high-school drop-outs receive cash income transfers i.e. welfare money, food
stamps, health care, maternity, public housing, homeless shelters, and child care
subsidies. However, according to federal law, any person convicted of a felony cannot
under any circumstances receive food stamps, etc. So, upon being released from prison
with no funds, and no home, and not equipped for employment, how many days or weeks
will it take for the person to be re-arrested for theft, prostitution - or? ?
• Growth in overall state spending on prisons/incarceration has outpaced spending on
education, health care, and natural resources. Expenditures on corrections (incarceration)
increased over the last 20 years from$15,600,000,000. (Billion) to $38,200,000,000. (Billion)
“and is continuing to escalate.”
These billions of dollars account for only a portion of our tax dollars being spent to cover
the costs of not educating our American children.
We must educate the children. This is the only way we will ever be able to slow what has
become what could be described as an insidious decease for which, we the American tax
payers have prepared a perfect habitat in order for it to thrive.
Page 8
We have not approached statistics on race or color. Because, it is irrelevant! All our
citizens, no matter the race or color deserve the opportunity and the ability to help make
America a better place. All our citizens should be educationally capable of striving to
assure that America will continue to be the place it was meant to be in the beginning. Our
current statistics in these matters prove that our current national circumstances of
education and throw away children are more than counter productive as a means of
maintaining the “American Way of Life.” All American children deserve a quality education
so that their adult lives will be better and consequently their children will grow up
expecting to and will, live better lives in more stable family environments.
Please Consider the Following:
(a sample of just three states)
(1) The justice system in Arizona is costing tax payers approximately $75,000. per year
for its incarcerated youth and young adults.
(2) The justice system in California is now costing tax payers approximately $216,081.
per year for its incarcerated youth and young adults.
(3) Annually, Illinois spends per incarcerated youth $70,827. more than seven times the
amount budgeted per pupil per year for K-12 education.
“ Icon can provide children with a superb, accelerated education – per child for many
thousands of dollars less per year.” (This includes their laptop, accelerated educational
program and teachers/mentors, plus additional support intended to instill enthusiasm and
determination.)
Icon’s research team discovered a document published by the Literacy Council of the
State of Arkansas. The following is from
their research:
• A rise of just one percent in a nation’s literacy scores yields a 2.5 percent increase in
labor productivity and a 1.5 percent increase in GDP per person. These raw numbers mean
a real improvement in the quality of life.
• If literacy levels in the U. S. were the same as they are in Sweden, the U.S. GDP would
rise by approximately $463 Billion and tax revenues would increase by approximately $162
Billion.
• More than 40 percent of the U.S. workforce and more than 50 percent of high school
graduates do not have required basic skills for employment,
• Education is essential in getting a high paying job. All but 2 of the 50 highest paying
jobs require a college degree.
• A college degree is now the single greatest factor in determining access to better job
opportunities and higher earnings
• Toyota will open a new automotive plant in Woodstock, Ontario in 2008, citing the low
literacy skills of the available labor force as the reason it declined millions of dollars of
incentives to build the new plant in the United States.
Page 9
The Money Hunters.
Peripheral to the Plan.
At the appropriate time of each year, for our scholars being prepared for enrollment in
college, our groups of retired teachers,professors and business executives will
commence searching in behalf of these students, grants from any and all sources
available. There are literally hundreds of sources for student grants. Most are small in
amount. But the amounts will add up. Icon plans to provide full college scholarships and
supplemental scholarships where other funds from other sources can be made
available. Searching and applying for these grants can be extremely time consuming.
Considering the intent behind this accelerated scholastic program, we will provide
volunteers to assist. We want the scholars studying, not spending weeks doing
grant research and application.
While the final details are not complete, we are formulating a plan to provide temporary
residences for scholars who are being moved out of foster homes at a certain age and
who are preparing to enter college. These young boys and girls must not be put
out on the street after putting forth great effort studying hard in order to enroll in college to
complete their higher education. .
Page 10
The Prevailing Opinion.
The prevailing opinion as to the only viable solution to curb the devastation detailed in the
prior pages of this document is not solely the opinion of Icon International Foundation
directors.
New York Mayor, Michael Bloomberg.
“Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have given a $51.2 Million grant to New York City to
support the creation of 67 new small, challenging high schools citywide. The creation of
these schools aims to make it possible for more students to receive the high quality
education necessary for success in today’s demanding economy.”
Bloomberg also said: “Education, training and career ladders are now widely seen as the
solution to poverty.”
Literacy Council, State of Arkansas
Mrs. Laura Bush
(Speech to World Education Forum, 2005)
“Education helps freedom thrive. Citizens who are educated can choose for themselves,
make up their own minds, and assume their responsibilities as citizens. Education
unleashes the creative contributions of every citizen, to improve their own lives and to
build for the common good. Education benefits all, and education should be available to
all.”
U. S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings
(Speech at UNESCO Conference, 2004)
“Education and literacy are necessities in a world devoid of certainty but abundant with
opportunity. Lives can be transformed – lifted over time from poverty and chaos to dignity
and independence. Education offers a ladder on which to climb and a foundation
upon which to stand. In this knowledge-based world, earning depends upon learning.
Education helps both people and nations
rise above their circumstances.”
National Research Council Committee on
Performance Levels for Adult Literacy,
National Academy of Sciences, 2005.
“Ideally, literacy skills are acquired as people progress through K-12 system in the
country. However, this system does not always work for those who pass through it, and
many who have immigrated to the U.S. have never participated in it.”
“Increasing societal and workplace demands may exceed what is taught in school
creating situations in which the skills of the populace are not aligned with the needs of the
nation.”
Bill Clinton
“In this knowledge-based economy, what you earn depends on what you learn.”
Page 11
The End
(Activation of this program has been temporarily postponed ,
The Christa McAuliff organization in the State of Washington, which
was to provide the accelerated scholastic courses for Icon, has been
purchased by an honorable group, but which is not in the opinion of
Icon's Board of Directors, a satisfactory fit for Icon's educational
programs. Icon management is currently accepting Proposals from
several other capable organizations.)
Icon International Foundation
Since 1972
info@iconinternationalfoundation.org
Iconinternationalfoundation.org
I-EXCEL
An Accelerated Educational Program Plus
We Must Educate The Children!
We Must Educate The Children,
to stop the loss of intelligence, talent, and contribution
needed to maintain our American way of life.
We Must Educate The Children,
in order that billions of our tax dollars may again be spent
on positive things for our citizens instead of supporting the
creation of homeless children, child prostitution, alcohol
and other drug addiction, child crime and child incarceration;
adult homelessness, addiction, crime and adult incarceration.
We Must Educate The Children!!
CONTENTS
Executive Summary ……………………….………………………………………………………
Current Scenario…………………………………………….………………………………………
The Icon Solution …………………………………………………….………………
I-EXCEL:
Our War Against Illiteracy, Homelessness, Drugs, Child Prostitution, and Incarceration.
World class inspiration for children of all ages
It is 2007, Do You Know Where Your Tax Dollars Are [Going]??...............................................
Money hunters
The Prevailing Opinion …………………………………………………………………………….
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Icon Foundation / Icon International Foundation, was founded by the Howard N. Rolfe
family in 1971 becoming federally qualified in 1972-73, as a public benefit 501(c) (3)
educational, charitable foundation (corporation). The foundation is federally qualified to
operate through out the United States and internationally.
Icon structured a total and effective educational program to provide extremely significant
benefits to the lives of many children from any walk of life. The program involves the need
for a substantially accelerated total scholastic program.
The blue print for the program was originally created to save the futures of children placed
in out of home circumstances by government agencies: foster homes provided by
unrelated persons; homes provided by relatives of the biological parents; children with
responsible parents but in financially distressed circumstances; children in group homes
or other state run facilities.
As the reader continues to absorb the information we acquired through research and have
provided in the following pages you will realize that not only our children in seriously
distressed circumstances, but our children in the general population of our country, are in
dire need of this program. We have received inquiries from families able to pay tuition in
order for their children to enroll in I-EXCEL upon the opening of the first Icon College.
The grants and other donations we seek are, however, to cover our expense to provide the
I-EXCEL program for primarily out - of - home youngsters with virtually no hope for a
stable productive future. We seek funds to educate those children whose intelligence and
talents are likely to be lost forever to unemployment, welfare, homelessness, mental
illness, drugs, and incarceration.
Pg 1
Our Mission For I-EXCEL
Our Mission: is to make the I-EXCEL, accelerated educational program, available to all
children in distressed circumstances but also to as many of the remaining 73% of the 47
million students of our general population who are not receiving a viable education.
Nearly a year of research, thought and planning has gone into what has emerged as the
final details of this program.
The children.
We currently have over 1,000,000 million homeless children (that we know about) in our
country. There is a steady number of approximately 500,000 children annually in the U.S.
that are forced to live in outside – the - home environment due to abuse, otherwise unfit
parents, or incapacitation of parent(s) making it impossible for young children to be
cared for properly (children may be removed from their homes for any number of
reasons). There are also children who quit high school to stay home and care for a parent
or other sibling. About 1,000,000. children annually are involved in undesirable home
circumstances, but approximately half are returned to their primary home.
Our society is and has been steadily failing hundreds of thousands of children annually.
Many of these children in the beginning are among our brightest, and we have been
allowing the lives of the largest percentage of these youngsters to slowly disintegrate.
Many readers may not realize that the current conditions are also costing all American tax
payers a tremendous amount of money. As you read the few following pages you will see
that to help us end this continuous drain of intelligence and loss of contribution to our
country, the cost to you and all American tax payers will be far less than it is costing us
now!
Please continue to read.
Page 2
CURRENT SCENARIO
A Brief Heads-Up on Academics in America Today.
First we would like to brief you on the current educational condition of our youth. In truth
our overall educational situation in our country is appalling.
According to National Assessment of Educational Progress (the nation’s report card):
Across the country in general population Seventy Three (73% ) Percent of all of America’s
47 million public school students are below proficiency in mathematics and reading, and
Seventy (70%) Percent of these students graduate from high school! Fifty (50%) Percent of
students from families in lower income ranges fail in even the most basic skills in any of
their respective grades, and if they reach grade 12 they are about 4 grade levels behind the
other students in scholastic achievement. Meaning, since 50% of these students graduate,
that upon a school graduating them, they are still not equipped to go out into the work
force.
Due to the manner in which our system operates, the steady half a million children living in
out of home circumstances lose weeks, months and ultimately fail grades and the loss of
self esteem sets in. They loose their education, their futures, their ability to become
effective, contributing adults – AND - it costs the American tax payers billions of dollars per
year and ultimately over the long run, an unknowable amount of money. By not taking care
to effectively educate these children, we are all virtually paying to allow their lives to be
ruined and their potential contributions to society, their intelligence, their talents, their
potential for leadership, all things that America is in desperate need of - to be lost! If the
plight of these children does not touch your compassion or emotion, it should certainly as
Americans, catch the attention of our logic and concern for our country. It requires
only a moment’s reflection on exactly where our tax dollars would be best spent. These
children are our country’s future. Perhaps even the quality of the future of the world could
weigh on some of these children.
The current – as it has been for years - scenario in America involving hundreds of
thousands of our young boys and girls is a situation that is cause for extremely serious
concern. This is an on-going loss of futures of tens of thousands of children every
year. It is a staggering cost and loss to society. We should not forget the lives of misery as
these children move on to adult hood. This is not just about the loss of the futures of a
group of children in one year – we are talking about an on-going annual situation.
It is not a case of suddenly in 2006 or 2007 or 2008, there being 500,000 children’s lives in
potential jeopardy due to loss of an education, this is every year. It has been every year for
many years. As youngsters move past a designated age they must leave the foster
homes. With no where to go and not prepared for a job that will support them, they are out
on the streets. A large percentage of these children, for various reasons will leave their out
of home situations by running away out of a feeling of hopelessness, most will have failed
in school, they simply leave and don’t look back. Where ever they go, and for whatever the
reason they slip out of the system, they are quickly replaced by other child victims.
Do you not believe that we are all paying – in cash – to make this happen? Well we are.
Every tax payer in America is paying to allow this loss to occur.
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About one million (1,000,000.) American children per annum are involved in home
circumstances that, to those children are stressful, debilitating, saddening, and in most
cases, frightening. These circumstances destroy a child’s emotional sense of security.
With about half of these children returned to their parents, it leaves half a million children
remaining in the “system” for various periods of time, some for many years. Some are
moved from foster home to foster home in the residences of strangers. Some of these
homes have proven to be less than desirable) some are placed in the homes of relatives of
one or the other parent, some live in group homes or other state facilities. Some fortunate
ones are adopted by people who care. But the number of children steadily year in, year
out, that live in this state of uncertainty, continues to be around half a million.
These children lose weeks and months of school time, and ultimately fail classes and then
grades. All but the most marginal percentage voluntarily drop out of school or are forced
to do so due to loss of class time. Most having lost their education and their self esteem
turn to alcohol or other drug abuse. They feel lost and have no purpose, they break the
law, become incarcerated. They live off of the state on welfare and are supported in our
jails.
Many babies are born to the girls and to women as these children become adults. The
results are many abortions (medical costs to tax payers). But many more babies grow up
to maintain that steady half a million children, and then more adults for the states
to support one way or the other. There are also the babies born of addicted mothers. In
general, many children develop mental health problems – no surprise. A few go to state
mental institutions (supported by taxes), but more often these children wander the streets.
It is a case of steady deterioration, mental and physical. Many of these youngsters, boys
and girls, turn to prostitution,living on the streets and dying on the streets in cities. There
is a high incidence of suicide among these young people. As older adults they continue to
live off of the states and, or spend long periods incarcerated. Some simply become
homeless, surviving on the streets and in shelters living derelict existences, still breaking
laws and spending portions of their lives behind bars Not a pretty picture for us to be
supporting with our tax dollars. Especially when it could be different!
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The Icon Solution.
”I–EXCEL”
Our war against illiteracy, child abuse, drugs, child prostitution, homelessness,
incarceration.
First we must admit it is unlikely that any plan can ever be devised to alleviate this problem
one hundred percent.
However, there are many of us who know that while we cannot alter certain circumstances
in the subject children’s lives, assuring them of an education and preferably an above
average education will give them the tools they need to make their lives “work.”
At first glance, it may seem a simple thing of little consequence But, among other things,
we need to call to the attention of these children, the fact of great heroes who in their past
and even during the life times of today's children, have faced great fear and great
obstacles and have yet accomplished amazing things. People which for one reason or
another have lived distressed childhoods or experienced profoundly negative life altering
occurrences as young adults, and who surmounted those obstacles to become more than
contributing adults in the world, but examples of the ability of the human spirit. . Most
children even in the best home circumstances have no Heroes today. It does not need to
be put in writing, we all know why. Real heroes are being overlooked as incidental for the
most part by today’s society in our country.
The million homeless and the additional half a million children annually, that we refer to in
this document have little or no chance for future stability in life without someone extending
a hand to them. Most children in their own homes with stable parents have at least the
opportunity for education - even if many are not given the inspiration to excel.
We do not by any means deny that there is a percentage of fine comfortable homes where
the first consideration of the parents, is the children. We are not giving space here to the
successful families. God bless them. Many of the children of these families will also take
advantage of I–EXCEL. and become scholars of the program.
Icon’s “I – EXCEL” program (Part I) consists of only several but extremely important
components. (1) laptop computers for each enrolled child; (2) an accelerated scholastic
program as created for each grade; (3) arrangements with various junior colleges for I–
EXCEL scholars in the last quarter of their 11th year, to challenge first year college
courses in order to enroll in four year colleges in sophomore classes. (Part II) creation of
small colleges in every state with on-campus residences for students and house parents. .
World class inspiration for children of all ages. Children need inspiration. A child’s (or an
adult’s) inspiration to continue to strive in a forward direction in life, can allow a person,
even a child to surmount some extremely formidable objects:
Page 5
Christa McAuliffe, loveley and young, a teacher, astronaut, while not having a distressed
childhood, is a hero for her courage, energy, and dauntless ambition to explore the
unknown, to step into the future;
Helen Keller, deaf and blind from birth, world renowned writer and activist;
Steven Hawking, was struck down by Lou Gehrig’s disease in his early 20s
(disease usually terminal). Hawking in spite of being paralyzed and relegated to a wheel
chair has become one of the most currently renowned Physicist in the world;
April Holmes, below the knee amputee – result of a train accident. April was a three- time
NCAA Track and Field, All American. Wearing a special running prosthesis she is today
World Record holder of the 100-and 200-meter sprints.
Paddy Rossback, RN, ACA President and CEO, an amputee since age of 6. Paddy
Rossback is a health care provider and while not involved directly in the field of education,
her wisdom applies directly to our goals. She says: If children feel ashamed and incapable
[they are defeated]. On the other hand, if they are encouraged, they will grow in confidence
and succeed in life. Paddy is proof of this!!
Not every child, but many children’s spirits can be crushed through such a combination of
facts as debilitating home environment resulting from parental abuse or drug use in the
home, then removal from the home; constant residence upheaval and absence of a loved
one to ground the child, to lend emotional stability – the resultant loss of weeks of school
class time that become months of time lost and then failure. Other children can become
depressed, angry and hateful toward life, and defeated.
Generally we expect most children when enrolled in I-EXCEL will be about 8 to 10 years
in age. However, the younger the child is to begin the program, the better. There is also the
possibility of some students past the normal high school age who lost time and failed, but
who are willing to work hard to catch up - to ultimately achieve a college education. .
I–EXCEL, is geared for completion of the high school curriculum in three years (or even
less) instead of four, and resulting in three years of college at a four year college to earn a
degree.
The program will save time and save the futures of countless children, cut the college
costs by 25%, and allow the scholar to obtain a Bachelors degree in three years or less.
The I–EXCEL program will be totally effective alone or along with the child’s enrollment in
any public (or private) school system. With a child attending a (regular) school and also
enrolled in I–EXCEL, the scholar will move scholastically up to the level of his/her peers,
even while having experienced a significant loss of time, and will then continue to surpass
that level. (In rare cases where a valid, medically proven learning disability exists, this
may not be the result.)
Children enrolled in this program may progress as rapidly as their ability allows. Some
scholars may complete their total high school curriculum in less than the projected three
years.
We believe that in any safe living environment, given the right educational tools, guidance,
enthusiasm, and determination by someone who cares, most children will excel
scholastically and dramatically improve their chances for success in life.
Page 6
It is 2007, Do You Know Where Your Tax Dollars Are [Going]???
(All monetary information reflected hereafter has been obtained through researched
statistics from various sources available to the general public)
Unfortunately the following only scratches the surface of the actual dollar cost to
American tax payers
High school drop-outs are much more likely to occupy subsidized housing than adults
with a college degree. About 1/3rd of all households headed by an 18 to 69 year old man
having dropped out of high school - live in public housing or private housing units
where rents are subsidized by federal/state government.
• Subsidized housing units increase the fiscal burden on the rest of the tax paying
public.
• 2006 statistics indicate (from a sampling of states) that tax payers pay from $22,650.
to $44,000. per annum to support “each” adult inmate in state prisons.
• According to several government statistical reports: In 2003 the United States spent
$185 Billion on corrections (incarceration) judicial, and related services. By the end of
2005, 1 of every 136 U.S. residents was incarcerated in state, federal prison or local jails.
• The State of Texas says it spends at least “$72,000,000. per year on those
incarcerated, mostly on drug convictions for less than one gram (less than a sugar packet)
when the funds would be much better invested in education, families and any
alternatives that work.” (We believe the “alternative that works” is education – statistics
prove our view.)
States differ in their cost per incarcerated individual. One example, In California in 2007
and 2008 it is costing $43,149.00 per person per annum in regular CDCR Prisons; It is
costing $216,081.00 per person per annum for youth and young adults through the
Department of Juvenile Justice.
• Illinois pays $7 Billion annually into the criminal justice system.
• Arizona in 2004 was cost, $252 Million, 50% of which comes from the federal
government (taxes) and 50% from state and local taxes. These costs primarily cover teen
pregnancy and the results thereof, public health care, child welfare and incarceration (all
from tax dollars). Between 1991 and 2004 there were 158,300 teen births in Arizona which
cost the tax payers $3.4 Billion.
• Costs for teens and young adults incarcerated in Arizona are currently estimated at
$75,000. per person, per annum and more for adults...
• National costs (taxes) resulting from teen births and associated medical and child
welfare is $9.1 Billion per annum.
Page 7
2/3rds of people leaving prisons are re-arrested as a result of committing collectively,
thousands more crimes. During these periods additional uneducated young people are
coming into an age where they will commit crimes, in most cases because they need
money and are not equipped for productive employment.
From that point involvement in drugs begins. Combine robbery and drugs, and then we
have murders resulting many times from the panic and fear of the perpetrator.
• Prison inmates who participate in vocational training are less likely to become
recidivists than those who do not. This is not necessarily comforting. Committing crimes,
going to prison, and then getting just enough education to find a low paying job is not
a desirable process. We need to educate our young in the beginning!
Consider the costs of crime victimization born by citizens and insurance holders. This is
as costly or more so, than the welfare and incarceration costs!
• It is clear at this time - and unfortunately proof of the recurring generation after
generation, on-going tragedy - that as many as 10 million American children, or 14 percent
of all our American children under the age of 18 have a parent or parents who are
or have been incarcerated. Most of this population are in distressed circumstances and it
has been proven that unless children in these circumstances receive an outstanding
education in order to break the cycle – these children will also have negative futures
involving drugs, child prostitution, alcohol, homelessness, law breaking and incarceration
– and the cycle will continue when they become adults with more children
Admittedly, from a financial standpoint, this is very good business for the private sector
corporations which own many of our prisons – however, it means the insidious
destruction of millions of young American lives and is proving to cause the gradual
erosion of the American way of life, and we tax payers are supporting it..
• Most high-school drop-outs receive cash income transfers i.e. welfare money, food
stamps, health care, maternity, public housing, homeless shelters, and child care
subsidies. However, according to federal law, any person convicted of a felony cannot
under any circumstances receive food stamps, etc. So, upon being released from prison
with no funds, and no home, and not equipped for employment, how many days or weeks
will it take for the person to be re-arrested for theft, prostitution - or? ?
• Growth in overall state spending on prisons/incarceration has outpaced spending on
education, health care, and natural resources. Expenditures on corrections (incarceration)
increased over the last 20 years from$15,600,000,000. (Billion) to $38,200,000,000. (Billion)
“and is continuing to escalate.”
These billions of dollars account for only a portion of our tax dollars being spent to cover
the costs of not educating our American children.
We must educate the children. This is the only way we will ever be able to slow what has
become what could be described as an insidious decease for which, we the American tax
payers have prepared a perfect habitat in order for it to thrive.
Page 8
We have not approached statistics on race or color. Because, it is irrelevant! All our
citizens, no matter the race or color deserve the opportunity and the ability to help make
America a better place. All our citizens should be educationally capable of striving to
assure that America will continue to be the place it was meant to be in the beginning. Our
current statistics in these matters prove that our current national circumstances of
education and throw away children are more than counter productive as a means of
maintaining the “American Way of Life.” All American children deserve a quality education
so that their adult lives will be better and consequently their children will grow up
expecting to and will, live better lives in more stable family environments.
Please Consider the Following:
(a sample of just three states)
(1) The justice system in Arizona is costing tax payers approximately $75,000. per year
for its incarcerated youth and young adults.
(2) The justice system in California is now costing tax payers approximately $216,081.
per year for its incarcerated youth and young adults.
(3) Annually, Illinois spends per incarcerated youth $70,827. more than seven times the
amount budgeted per pupil per year for K-12 education.
“ Icon can provide children with a superb, accelerated education – per child for many
thousands of dollars less per year.” (This includes their laptop, accelerated educational
program and teachers/mentors, plus additional support intended to instill enthusiasm and
determination.)
Icon’s research team discovered a document published by the Literacy Council of the
State of Arkansas. The following is from
their research:
• A rise of just one percent in a nation’s literacy scores yields a 2.5 percent increase in
labor productivity and a 1.5 percent increase in GDP per person. These raw numbers mean
a real improvement in the quality of life.
• If literacy levels in the U. S. were the same as they are in Sweden, the U.S. GDP would
rise by approximately $463 Billion and tax revenues would increase by approximately $162
Billion.
• More than 40 percent of the U.S. workforce and more than 50 percent of high school
graduates do not have required basic skills for employment,
• Education is essential in getting a high paying job. All but 2 of the 50 highest paying
jobs require a college degree.
• A college degree is now the single greatest factor in determining access to better job
opportunities and higher earnings
• Toyota will open a new automotive plant in Woodstock, Ontario in 2008, citing the low
literacy skills of the available labor force as the reason it declined millions of dollars of
incentives to build the new plant in the United States.
Page 9
The Money Hunters.
Peripheral to the Plan.
At the appropriate time of each year, for our scholars being prepared for enrollment in
college, our groups of retired teachers,professors and business executives will
commence searching in behalf of these students, grants from any and all sources
available. There are literally hundreds of sources for student grants. Most are small in
amount. But the amounts will add up. Icon plans to provide full college scholarships and
supplemental scholarships where other funds from other sources can be made
available. Searching and applying for these grants can be extremely time consuming.
Considering the intent behind this accelerated scholastic program, we will provide
volunteers to assist. We want the scholars studying, not spending weeks doing
grant research and application.
While the final details are not complete, we are formulating a plan to provide temporary
residences for scholars who are being moved out of foster homes at a certain age and
who are preparing to enter college. These young boys and girls must not be put
out on the street after putting forth great effort studying hard in order to enroll in college to
complete their higher education. .
Page 10
The Prevailing Opinion.
The prevailing opinion as to the only viable solution to curb the devastation detailed in the
prior pages of this document is not solely the opinion of Icon International Foundation
directors.
New York Mayor, Michael Bloomberg.
“Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have given a $51.2 Million grant to New York City to
support the creation of 67 new small, challenging high schools citywide. The creation of
these schools aims to make it possible for more students to receive the high quality
education necessary for success in today’s demanding economy.”
Bloomberg also said: “Education, training and career ladders are now widely seen as the
solution to poverty.”
Literacy Council, State of Arkansas
Mrs. Laura Bush
(Speech to World Education Forum, 2005)
“Education helps freedom thrive. Citizens who are educated can choose for themselves,
make up their own minds, and assume their responsibilities as citizens. Education
unleashes the creative contributions of every citizen, to improve their own lives and to
build for the common good. Education benefits all, and education should be available to
all.”
U. S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings
(Speech at UNESCO Conference, 2004)
“Education and literacy are necessities in a world devoid of certainty but abundant with
opportunity. Lives can be transformed – lifted over time from poverty and chaos to dignity
and independence. Education offers a ladder on which to climb and a foundation
upon which to stand. In this knowledge-based world, earning depends upon learning.
Education helps both people and nations
rise above their circumstances.”
National Research Council Committee on
Performance Levels for Adult Literacy,
National Academy of Sciences, 2005.
“Ideally, literacy skills are acquired as people progress through K-12 system in the
country. However, this system does not always work for those who pass through it, and
many who have immigrated to the U.S. have never participated in it.”
“Increasing societal and workplace demands may exceed what is taught in school
creating situations in which the skills of the populace are not aligned with the needs of the
nation.”
Bill Clinton
“In this knowledge-based economy, what you earn depends on what you learn.”
Page 11
The End