Higher Achievement Nabs $1.9M Afterschool/Summer Grant
Published on March 12, 2016 by John Kelly
bit.ly/21zzKcM | Chronicle of Social Change
The New York Life Foundation just announced a nearly $2 million investment to boost after-school and summer programs in several Mid-Atlantic Cities.
Higher Achievement, a 41-year-old nonprofit based in D.C., will receive $1.89 million to serve youths in Baltimore, Washington, Pittsburgh, and Richmond, Va.
“This investment is a major milestone for Higher Achievement,” said Higher Achievement CEO Lynsey Wood Jeffries. “New York Life Foundation is challenging us to grow the impact of our program by partnering with schools, districts, and other organizations. We are excited to take a look at what works best with our program and how we can share that with others.”
Higher Achievement uses a model that incorporates academics and mentoring through after-school and summer academies, both of which target low-income middle school students. Students also eat dinner at the after-school program, and the summer academy involves visits to college campuses.
A randomized control trial study of Higher Achievement found that the program had a statistically significant impact on standardized test scores, family engagement, and acceptance at high-ranking high schools.
New York Life Foundation’s grant making is concentrated in two areas of youth services: assisting middle schoolers with the transition to high school, and supporting programs that aid children in bereavement.