By Chess Coach William Stewart (USCF 2270)

Original article on Chess-in-the-schools available on William’s website.

“Chess-in-the-Schools is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to improving academic performance and building self-esteem among inner-city public school children.”

I could not be more impressed by this NYC program. The fact that chess instruction and participation improves critical scholastic skills in students is undeniable, and this project has been taking chess promotion to a new level. This program is not about making money, it’s about helping students advance their educational opportunities by making the right choices.



How does Chess-in-the-Schools work?

“Through structured classroom, after-school, weekend, and summer programs, we use chess as an educational tool to promote learning… For more than twenty years, Chess-in-the-Schools has placed chess teachers in hundreds of schools to teach thousands of children to play chess. The benefits of learning chess include increased reading comprehension, better problem solving skills, and even higher scores on standardized reading tests.”

How do teachers/schools get involved? Cost?

“The Teacher Training Institute (TTI) is a program that teaches educators in New York City how to implement a chess program at their school.”

If teachers don’t know how to play chess, TTI will teach the basics. There is no cost to participating teachers/schools, thanks to a grant from the NY City Council. This grant also provides for teaching supplies (chess sets, workbooks, demo board, etc..) There is no catch. This is a city-funded project intended to increase the value of educational opportunities for students in public schools in NYC. Chess-in-the-Schools is a truly comprehensive program working with students from the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What happens to students when they graduate High School?

“The College Bound program empowers New York City youth to continue their education beyond high school, become productive citizens, and give back to society by providing comprehensive college preparatory services and chess instruction in a safe and engaging environment.”

Chess-in-the-Schools encompasses all levels of pre-college education and helps participants get in to college. Students who are involved in chess programs have been proven to perform better in school. The only downside to this program is that it is not more widely available. I’m sure I’m not the only person who thinks this a great idea. It would be fantastic to see similar projects instituted on state and federal levels. For information on how to contribute to Chess-in-the-Schools, please visit: How You Can Help

“The Chess-in-the-Schools program has demonstrated how through chess children can improve their concentration, work habits, logical thinking and other skills related to school success.”

Harold O. Levy, Former Chancellor, The Board of Education of the City of New York

By Chess Coach Will Stewart (USCF 2256, FIDE 2234)

Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Susan Polgar July 5, 2011 College Chess, Scholastic Chess 1 Comment
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