New York State Legislature to Allocate $20 Million to Improve Outcomes for Boys and Young Men of Color

With the adoption of their FY2016-2017 budget, New York is the first state in the nation to adopt a statewide strategy and budget specifically addressing the goals of the Obama administration’s “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative targeted at improving outcomes for boys and young men of color. The $20 million allocation by the New York State Legislature represents one-third of the total New York State P-12 education investment in this initiative.

To reach this decision, the state legislature adopted the recommendations of the New York State Board of Regents’ Blue Ribbon Committee to Improve Outcomes for Boys and Young Men of Color. Gerry House, President of the Institute for Student Achievement (ISA) was appointed to this committee which was convened to develop policy recommendations that reflected informed judgment, innovative “best” practices and collaborative efforts they believe must be taken across the Pre K-20 pipeline to right the inequities that have hampered the educational opportunities, and ultimately life opportunities for boys and young men of color in New York State.

ISA has an evidence based approach for the work we do with schools to improve the outcomes for African American males. Evaluation studies show that African American males in ISA schools outperform matched comparison students on key high school outcome measures, including attendance and graduation. Independent studies also validate the positive effects of ISA’s model, including high college enrollment and persistence rates.

To learn more about ISA and the study, Impact of the Institute for Student Achievement on African American Male Student’s High School Outcomes, click here.