Newark Board of Education in New Jersey has a large minority population of students coming from low-income or single-parent households. School closures in response to COVID-19 have resulted in significant learning losses, low attendance, and an increased risk of middle school students dropping out. Many young men have dropped out of school to engage in illegal activities, and others act out in the classroom or are barely passing their classes.
The school district sought assistance and hands-on programs to increase student engagement, focus, and learning retention for middle school males. The program was also intended to transform these students’ learning experience to boost self-esteem, productivity, and academic success
EBEC spearheaded a virtual educational and mentorship program to support more than 45 young men from two Newark middle schools. This program was conducted in collaboration with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s ProjectAlpha program and tailored to the Newark public school district.
A virtual session was conducted each month and focused on a different topic related to development and character building, including personal responsibility and goal setting. During each monthly session, students and mentors participated in an open dialogue to discuss these concepts.
In addition to the educational program, some students were paired with a mentor to provide an additional 1:1 interaction and support after parents and teachers noticed a positive shift in these students’ behavior.
By the end of our program, the 45 young men had consistently returned to the classroom. These students were also more engaged in their studies, along with better grades. The Newark school district observed this success and has requested a district-wide program to help other young men increase their classroom engagement and personal development. These program sessions provided students with the necessary attention and mentorship to reflect on their lives, discuss challenges, and begin taking steps to achieve their goals.