A new American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) report, supported by the William T. Grant Foundation, details a two-year effort to find, summarize and analyze evaluations of school and youth programs that show gains for minority youth across a broad range of academic achievement indicators. Raising Minority Academic Achievement: A Compendium of Education Programs and Practices provides an accessible resource for policymakers and practitioners interested in promoting the academic success of racial and ethnic minorities from early childhood through advanced postsecondary study.

Evaluations of early childhood programs were particularly strong and positive. When compared to control groups, minority children who attended early childhood development programs were more likely to remain in school, complete more years of education, and require less special education. Elementary through middle school evaluations were almost exclusively focused on test scores, which generally showed incremental improvement, but continued achievement gaps. The high school/transition programs that were studied showed increased high school graduation, more high school credits earned, higher GPAs earned or increased enrollment in higher-level courses. All programs used a combination of strategies to improve student performance, not a single intervention. The ten most frequent strategies identified in those programs showing gains for minority youth are:
 

Since many of these young people continue to be under-represented among academic achievement gains and over-represented in poor and poorly performing schools, the Compendium's findings underscore the rich potential of investing in all our young people through concrete strategies to help them succeed academically. As with earlier Compendia, the new volume provides a handy source of empirical findings-beyond anecdotal evidence-for policymakers and program practitioners as they craft and implement strategies to improve services and supports for minority youth.

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This publication may be freely quoted without permission provided the source is identified as James, Donna Walker, Sonia Jurich and Steve Estes (2001). Raising Minority Academic Achievement: A Compendium of Education Programs and Practices. Washington, DC: American Youth Policy Forum.

Reproduction of any portion of the publication for commercial sale is prohibited.

Copies are available from the American Youth Policy Forum, 1836 Jefferson Place, NW, Washington D.C. 20036-2505 @$10.00 each including postage in the contiguous United States. All others should call 202-775-9731 for shipping costs, compendia sets and bulk rates. All orders must be prepaid by check or money order. Federal ID #31-1576455. ISBN #1-887031-73-1.

Please send your comments to Donna Walker James, Senior Program Associate: dwjames@aypf.org