YES
WE CAN: SAY YES to EDUCATION STAFF REPORTER- RODNEY BROWN During his Inaugural Address President Obama highlighted statistics that indicated that a high number of students were failing to meet academic standards in public schools located mostly in the nation's inner-cities. In his commitment to "transform our schools to meet the demands of the new age," the President committed 44 billion dollars in stimulus funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to be distributed as quickly as possible to save and create jobs and improve education. Taking several approaches toward education reform the President also instructed Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Secretary Arne Duncan to visit schools in cities across the nation that have proven track records of high academic achievements among students k-12. The President's plan is to have cabinet officials that are designated to education reform replicate the models of successful public schools and incorporate their findings in failing schools "where needed" throughout the states. Because
of the monumental educational achievements that are being rendered in Syracuse's
city schools, The White House wasted no time in sending Vice President Biden and
Secretary Duncan along with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to host a symposium
at Syracuse University. "The Say Yes promise begins when a child enters kindergarten and continues through high school and beyond," said Rachael Gazdick, Executive Director of Say Yes to Education in Syracuse. "The goal is to create a positive, sustaining framework for each student's academic experience," she said. "One that encourages and rewards continued effort and enables every child in the program to reach his or her potential." Syracuse's Say Yes to Education and Economic Development program is the result of a unique collaboration between Syracuse University, Say Yes to Education, Inc. and the Syracuse City School District. The City of Syracuse is the first to implement a district-wide program. "Say Yes to Education programs are designed to address all areas that impact a student readiness for college as they progress through grades k-12, culminating with the promise of free college tuition for students who meet graduation, residency and college admission requirements," said Susan Feightner, Director of Marketing and Communications. Support
includes: "Over 2000 k-4 students are enrolled in Say Yes after school programs this fall and nearly 800 students participated in Say Yes summer camps last summer with over 2000 expected to participate this summer," Feightner said. "Nearly 600 SCSD seniors became Say Yes graduates in 2009 and were eligible for free tuition through the Higher Education compact. Pat Hogan District Councilor stated the program for the first time would give children from some of the most challenged areas of the city an opportunity to attend college. Philanthropist George Weiss drew inspiration to start the program over 20 years ago as a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania; during a Christmas party hosted by his fraternity for 12 inner-city children. After the Christmas party Weiss stayed in touch with the youths who were all 12 years-old at the time. Weiss has been quoted as saying; he was moved by the youth's courage and resilience. In a historical account regarding the Say Yes program Weiss noted that one of the kids told him, "We could not have dropped out school and looked you straight in the eye." According to Weiss, those words sparked an epiphany that developed into a promise to help make a difference in the lives of children facing overwhelming obstacles. Weiss graduated from Pennsylvania University and went on to have a successful career. Upon returning to Pennsylvania, Weiss jump started the Say Yes to Education program on an initial promise to pay for the college education of 112 economically disadvantaged sixth graders living in Philadelphia's inner-city if they could make it through high school. Weiss commitment to education reform in some of the nation's most "academically challenged" inner-city schools has garnered staunch support from its local leaders. "The Say Yes to Education program truly represents positive innovation and change," said Stephanie Miner, Mayor of Syracuse. "We believe the program can change the face of urban education." Last week, the Mayor met with White House officials and members of Congress to seek federal economic stimulus money and congressional appropriations for Syracuse's Say Yes to Education program. Miner submitted an application for a 30 million dollar economic stimulus grant. "We had a series of very positive meetings regarding Say Yes," said Miner. In a separate statement Syracuse Common Council President Bill Ryan acknowledged that Syracuse's City Council members will continue to find ways to fund the program. Also in support of the program, Dan Lowengard, SCSD Superintendent referred to Say Yes as scale able and sustainable. "Say Yes is scale able because we have put in place programs that effect every single student- all 21,000," he said. "And sustainable because we have built financial plans that will help us sustain it throughout the future years; out into the next decade." Say Yes Chapters over the years has been implemented in Cambridge, MA, Hartford, CT, New York City, NY and Philadelphia, PA. According to The Editorial Projects in Education Research Center, Harvard Civil Rights Project and The Manhattan Institute, "On average, students in Say Yes various Chapters have demonstrated significantly better high school graduation rates when compared to national graduation rates for students of a similar demographic. "The
kids are enjoying themselves- they're learning without knowing their learning,"
said Dr. Nira Taru, a Say Yes- Site Director at Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary
School in Syracuse. "That's the beauty of Say Yes. Kids are engaged they
have fun."
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