Overview Briefing for NYSFAAA October 27, 2015 Erin Corbett, Say Yes National, Director of Data Management Allison Newman, Say Yes Buffalo, Scholarship Director Ahmeed Turner, Say Yes Syracuse, Scholarship Director

Meet George Weiss 2

Say Yes: The First 27 Years 3 Citywide Turnaround Strategy Adopted

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Say Yes Higher Education Compact 65 private Institutions 5

Overall Data Management Manage enrollment and scholarship calculation for all cities and cohort chapters Identify big picture spending and enrollment trends Provide comprehensive data pictures for local chapter staff

Basic Scholarship Mechanics Say Yes Tuition Guarantee overview Public: – Say Yes Tuition Guarantee / Say Yes Opportunity Grant (Buffalo and Syracuse) Private: – Say Yes Tuition Guarantee / Say Yes Choice Grant

Ahmeed Turner: Scholarship Director, Say Yes Syracuse 8

Role as Say Yes Syracuse Scholarship Director — and how it fits into citywide structure and activities – Work closely with Syracuse City School District (SCSD) High Schools and NYSPHAAA (New York State Financial Aid Administrators Association) CNY chapter members to help coordinate College Goal Sunday and FAFSA completion Nights. – Support SCSD and community based organizations with College Access programming activities including SAT/ACT preparatory course. Work with both private colleges and SUNY Schools for summer bridge program aimed at limiting summer melt and supporting students in transition from High School to College. 9

Say Yes Syracuse Results: A Sampling The Volunteer Lawyers Project of Onondaga County, has made legal services accessible to more than 20,000 Syracuse City School District students and their families. – In 2013, 231 Say Yes families used the legal clinics, providing a direct benefit to 442 children and 345 adults. – In 2013, 341 Say Yes families benefitted from help in housing court. This had a direct impact on 465 adults and 797 children. In 2013 and again in 2014, Say Yes Syracuse staff, helped more than 500 students fill out FAFSA forms so they could apply to college and qualify for financial aid. 10

Say Yes Syracuse Results Since 2010 there has been a steady increase in the number of students participating in Say Yes afterschool programs. The numbers are shown below: – 2010: 1,004 students – 2011: 2,921 students – 2012: 3,879 students – 2013: 4,174 students More than 400 students have attended free SAT Prep classes offered by Syracuse University, 100 Black Men and Say Yes to Education. 11

Allison Newman: Scholarship Director, Say Yes Buffalo 12

Services & Supports

BPS Four-Year High School Graduation Rates 14

BPS Students Postsecondary Enrollment the Fall Immediately After High School (Public and Charter) 15

2014 Say Yes Buffalo Scholar Enrollment *Chart shows only those postsecondary institutions that enrolled more than 5 Say Yes Buffalo Scholars

Class of 2015 Say Yes Applications 98% Eligible, applied 2% Eligible, did not apply

Summer Bridge Programs For incoming freshman attending Erie Community College, Buffalo State or Medaille Helps high school graduates transition to college Have taken ACCUPLACER® and placed into one or more developmental courses

Results of 2014 Summer Bridge Programs Buffalo State: 95% of participants earned a 3.3 grade- point-average or higher and earned six college credits before the school year started ECC: 70% of participants began college “on-time” as they tested out of remedial math, reading and writing Medaille: 100% of participants began college “on- time” after testing out of remedial math and 65% tested out of remedial reading and writing. 19

“…something fundamental is happening here. Expectations are rising. Students and their parents are lifting their sights. They are starting to understand that their possibilities are far greater than they had counted on. A larger world is opening up. That’s magical. And it’s a standard that, properly nourished, can be passed on from generation to generation. That’s the real promise of Say Yes to Education." Buffalo News Editorial March 9, 2014