In spite of the Say Yes cohort coming from one of the poorest neighborhoods in Philadelphia, 63% graduated from high school in contrast to 26% and 28% of the class before and after Say Yes respectively. Thus demonstrating a 50% improvement over the comparison groups. Beyond high school graduation rates, Say Yes was able to increase the four year college completion rates over the percent indicated on the 1980 and 1990 census tracts: 6% compared to 19%. These data show the impact of the scholarship gift well used under the most extreme circumstances. 

The Belmont students were provided with many cultural enrichment activities, including being welcomed to the White House on two occasions: once meeting with President George Bush and members of Congress on a tour of Washington arranged by Mr. Weiss.  Also, in 1998 when Say Yes student Harold Shields introduced President Clinton during the signing of a special legislation to help inner-city students attend higher education.  The legislation, called the Gear Up program, is based on several facets of the Say yes model, including the program's expertise in developing partnerships between inner-city schools and higher education institutions. 

Successes

The Belmont Students, now as young adult alumni of the program, have helped define the successes of the program by the rich and varied paths their lives have taken.  They continue to inspire the younger cohorts of Say Yes students and participate in reunions and other related activities.  They serve as a support network as more Say Yes students enter post-secondary schools and pursue a higher education.

The Belmont Chapter, as of the fall of 2001, achieved the following record of success:

Of the 69 students who completed high school or GED requirements, 66 students have taken advantage of post-secondary education; of these students, 12 have completed two-year associates degrees and went on to enroll in other programs.  Nineteen have completed bachelor's degrees in areas such as finance, biology, communications and psychology.  Fourteen have completed trade certificates.  The 19 who achieved bachelor's degrees represent a significant improvement over the 1980 and 1990 census tract for their communities.  The average number of adults to complete a bachelor's degree was 4 percent, while the Say Yes cohort achieved 17 percent.  Of the remaining students, many are working and exploring other career or life choices such as starting businesses, creating non-profit organizations, beginning families and purchasing their own homes.

The Hartford Chapter

The Hartford Chapter began in October 1990, when 76 fifth grade students from the Annie Fisher Elementary School visited the University of Hartford and received the same promise of assistance that the Belmont students had received just three years earlier in Philadelphia.  George Weiss and local sponsors Mort and Irma Handel, and John Berman and his late wife Beverly pledged to pay post-secondary school tuition for each student in the class.  The University of Hartford gift was linked with what is now called the Hartford Scholars Program, which provides half tuition at the University of Hartford for Hartford public school graduates.    

Since its inception, the Hartford Chapter developed and implemented a variety of successful support programs, which include:

• Helping students and families navigate the school system
• Providing direct education services during the annual University of Hartford summer program
• Providing mentors for each student in programs that mobilized high school faculty  and senior students
• Monitoring the students' academic and personal progress and intervening when necessary
• Recognizing student achievement through the Champions for Children awards banquet
Providing recreational, social and educational trips Working with families, mentors and school staff to help keep students on track
• Providing college and post-secondary school visits and assistance with admission process
• Overnight retreats that focus on growth and development issues including human sexuality, respect and responsibility within relationships, and conflict resolution within school and the workplace
• After school tutoring, summer educational opportunities, individual student support services, and recognition of student achievement. 

Among the most significant results of the students' participation in Say Yes have been the changes in attitude toward the educational and social responsibilities.

Program Successes

Eighty percent of the 76 students have received a high school diploma or GED.  Of this group, 68 percent are in two and four year university or college programs.  The measure of success for the Say Yes program can be found in a myriad of ways, from the student who perseveres with a challenging classroom situation rather than achievements previously viewed as out of reach.  These students have continued their education at various universities such as University of Pennsylvania, Wesleyan, Howard, Fairfield, Johnson C. Smith, University of Hartford, Springfield College, Fordham, American International College, and Penn State.  In 2002 we had our first group of students graduate from college.  We continue to have students graduate from various post-secondary schools each year.

The Jane and Robert Toll Chapter began in October 1990, making the first expansion of the Say Yes to Education program at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.  A decision was made to select students who were younger than the original Belmont cohort.  As a result, this chapter is comprised of two 3^rd grade classes from the Harrity Elementary School in West Philadelphia who were chosen to become a part of Say Yes. 

Sponsors Jane and Robert Toll of Bucks County, Pennsylvania remain active in the lives of the 58 students, building relationships with the students and their families.   They also advocate for their families and for the academics and social success of the students.  Robert Toll is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Toll Brothers, Inc., the nation's leading builder of luxury homes.  He serves on the Board of the Overseers of the University of Pennsylvania's Law School.  Jane Toll is an education specialist who works regularly with the Say Yes students.  The Tolls are active in Seeds of Peace, an organization dedicated to working for peace in the Middle East by selecting promising Jewish, Muslim and Christian students to attend a summer co-existence camp in the United States.

Throughout the program's progress, the students benefited from links to the University of Pennsylvania, which included after-school tutoring, summer educational opportunities, individual student tutoring services and a variety of cultural and social enrichment activities.  The Harrity students are now young adults engaged in higher education and other post-secondary activities.  They have received the same promise of assistance from the Say Yes program, with the Tolls pledging to pay the post-secondary school tuition costs for students less any financial aid grants. 

Of the 58 students originally admitted into the program, 54 students completed high school representing a 94% success rate.  The Toll Chapter has students attending universities and colleges throughout the country.  Currently, 21 students (40% of total student population) are enrolled in Drexel University, Northeastern University, George Washington University, Hampton University, Seton Hall University, Temple University, Delaware State University, Wesley College, Bethune-Cookman College, Eastern College, and Community College of Philadelphia.  The program has also experienced success with 10 of the students either completing or who are currently enrolled in vocational programs.

The Cambridge Chapter

In June 1991, the fourth chapter of Say Yes to Education was established in Cambridge, MA when Lesley University entered into a partnership with the Say Yes to Education Foundation and the Cambridge public school district. 

Sixty-nine entering third graders at the Harrington Elementary School comprised the new Say Yes group.  The collaboration with Lesley University has provided the Cambridge Chapter with access to varied human and institutional resources available through the University's many programs.  Included are graduate and undergraduate student services for tutoring and counseling, academic resources and special events. 

One of the unique features of the Cambridge Chapter is the ethnic background of its student population.  The program values the contributions of diverse communities and many of the students are either immigrants or first generation Americans who, while living in Cambridge at he start of the program, have since moved to other parts of Massachusetts as well as to other states and countries.  The students represent many cultures and ethnic origins including African American, Caribbean Blacks, Portuguese, Haitian, Asian, Hispanic and Caucasian.

Another important part of the Cambridge Chapter is the involvement of local sponsors.  They are optimistic about the future of the Say Yes group and believe in the capacity of young people to grow and change in positive directions when offered the opportunity and conditions to do so. 

School Involvement

In addition to the host of innovative academic and social support programs that are at the heart of the Say Yes programs, the Cambridge Chapter played a key role in restructuring efforts at the Harrington School.  The restructuring involved working closely with the Harrington administration and faculty to develop strategies for team teaching and grade level cluster development, interdisciplinary and thematic teaching, portfolio assessment and before and after school programs. 

At Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School, Say Yes staff continued to work with school staff, administrators and guidance counselors to provide resources, support programming and enhanced student services.  Special emphasis was placed on enhancing their future college acceptance, such as preparation for SATs.

Successes

On June 20, 2001, the Cambridge Chapter sponsored its 20^th year reunion in conjunction with its third annual End of Year Celebration.  All Say Yes students in Massachusetts, as well as several other states, were invited to recognize the accomplishments of Say Yes students.  Students and their family members were present, some traveling from as far away as New Jersey, Rhode Island and California.  In attendance were George Weiss, Lesley University President Margaret McKenna, local sponsors, Cambridge dignitaries including Mayor Anthony Galluccio, representatives from the Cambridge Public School, other key supporters and local and national press. 

Of the original 69 third graders, 71 percent graduated from high school in 2001, and of those, 82 percent entered their freshman year of college in the fall of 2001.  Say Yes students from the Cambridge Chapter are currently represented at 22 colleges across the United States.  Four of these colleges made a generous commitment to provide free room and board for any Say Yes students accepted to their institutions: Lesley University, St. Joseph's College of Maine, Dean College and the University of Pennsylvania.

The Bryant Chapter

Say Yes to Education is based on the belief that helping educationally disadvantaged students achieve their potential is a long-term proposition involving a sustained effort that must begin in the early elementary grades.  To further this idea, the program opened its newest chapter on July 26, 2000 at the William C. Bryant Elementary School in West Philadelphia.  This surprise announcement was made to a group of parents and 50 Headstart children slated to enter kindergarten at the school the subsequent year. 

The Bryant Chapter represents a new phase of Say Yes that for the first time extends the offer of educational assistance to the parents and siblings of the Say Yes students.  Also, the commitment and active involvement of parents in the child's education is a requirement for the children's participation in this program.  This newest Say Yes chapter represents the youngest cohort ever to be included in the program in the hope to increase the impact of intervention and counseling to help the students achieve their full potential as learners. 

In extending the offer to parents and siblings, George Weiss specified that parents become active participants in Say Yes.  Also, he stated that the parents will have the opportunity to continue their education at the high school, community college trade certification level as a condition for their children remaining eligible.

Commitments were made to the students and families of the Bryant Chapter by the program:

• To provide an additional reading teacher and promote early literacy for the students
• To provide continued education for parents to obtain GED or high school diploma, trade school diploma, trade school certificate or associates degree from Community College of Philadelphia, less any financial aid awarded, for Say Yes students

In the Bryant Chapter, Say Yes is taking a bold step by addressing the children's social and academic needs at the earlier grades where intervention can be most effective:

Current Bryant Chapter Initiatives:

• Reading Academic enrichment Program
• One to One and small group tutoring for students
• Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic to provide more reading opportunities for the students and families through taped book services
• Experience Corps
• Say Yes After School Program
•  Math
• Reading and Writing
• Craft Activities

Summer Freedom School Program

Say Yes Bryant Team Meetings

Collaboration efforts with Say Yes and the teachers of our students at the Bryant School

Why is Say Yes coming to Harlem?

The rationale for selecting Harlem for the New York City launch of the Say Yes program is based on need and opportunity. 

Harlem's children face extraordinary educational hurdles, both in the classroom and in their overall family and socio-economic environment.  According to New York State assessments released in September 2003, over a third of all Harlem schools are in need of academic improvement in either or both reading and mathematics.  District 5 in Harlem has the lowest passing rates for reading and mathematics in New York City.  On average three quarters of Harlem's high school seniors do not graduate on time.

While New York City overall has struggled with the economic downturn of the last five years, Harlem has epitomized that struggle.  Over 18% of the Harlem workforce is unemployed.  Moreover, while New York City's unemployment rate between 1990 and 2000 increased by half a percentage point, Harlem's increased by nearly three percentage points. 

• 46% of Harlem's children aged 6-11 years, the age group for whom Say Yes programs would begin, live below the poverty level.
• Between 84% and 90% of Harlem students are eligible for the free-lunch program that is means-tested for poverty level. 
• Between 1994 and 2001, there was a 15% increase in students receiving free lunches, but only an 8% increase in the number of public school students.
• Eighty-five percent of students are minorities.
• Single parent households represent a quarter of all households in Harlem and 45% of all family households.

While these statistics clearly illustrate the economic and educational challenges facing Harlem's children, the greater Harlem area has also attracted educational investment.  The Charter School movement has found a home in Harlem.  Children in these schools are performing at or above state standards, providing evidence that the potential for positive change is more than nascent in the Harlem educational community.

Additionally, Columbia Teacher's College has agreed to become Say Yes to Education's university partner.  Columbia has made a strong commitment to the future of Harlem, and has invested significant resources in developing outreach programs for the benefit of Harlem's children and families. A collaboration between Say Yes and Columbia points to Harlem as a natural locus for its programs.

Third, the leadership of Harlem is supportive of the endeavor.  Congressman Charles Rangel's staff have spoken with Say Yes, and encouraged this expansion.  In addition, Congressman Rangel has offered to explore the availability of corporate support for program budget line items in appropriate subject areas.  Senator Charles Schumer has also offered assistance in securing federal funding for the program.

And finally, Harlem is home to a number of other vibrant community-based institutions that could be partners with Say Yes and provide important supplementary sites and services to Say Yes students.  This includes the Harlem Children's Zone, which even now provides multiple academic and social services to public schools, and Harlem Hospital, whose medical and health services will fill unmet needs for Say Yes families.