RCSD Receives Largest My Brother’s Keeper Grant in New York State
December 14, 2016— Yesterday, State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia announced that the State Education Department awarded $10 million in grants to 56 organizations for two New York State My Brother’s Keeper Initiatives. The grants support best practices and strategies detailed in the MBK report, also released yesterday. Rochester received the highest award of $1.3 million for the MBK Challenge Grant Program, which will help support racial equity, recognizing that young men of color have disproportionately lower achievement and higher suspension rates than other subgroups of students.
Beginning in January 2017, the District will use the grant to add staff and other resources focused on three areas designed to improve achievement for young men of color in the District.
- Improve school climate to help students feel more engaged in school and achieve better academic results, through enhanced adoption of restorative practices—which help school communities to strengthen relationships and provide peaceful, positive ways to resolve conflicts.
- Increase parent engagement, by supporting the Office of Parent Engagement and its work to help schools across the District achieve National Standards for Family and Community Partnerships.
- Strengthen wrap-around support to enhance the work by schools to know every child by face and name, tracking student progress regularly and adjusting supports as needed to achieve grade-level expectations and on-time graduation.
“Our District will improve by providing equity of access to educational opportunities for all students, with the necessary support to ensure high levels of achievement,” said Dr. Kendra March, Deputy Superintendent for Teaching and Learning. “This grant provides a timely boost to our critical work supporting young men of color, and I applaud the District team that helped Rochester achieve by far the largest award in New York State.” Dr. March was interviewed by WXXI radio for a story expected to air Dec. 14.