Citizen Schools partners with middle schools across the country to expand the learning day and lift the educational trajectories of low-income middle school students (ages 9 – 14). Citizen Schools helps students improve their academic performance and prepare for high school and college, in part by engaging adult “citizen teacher” volunteers in hands-on learning projects that develop skills like oral and written communication and critical thinking, and expose young people to technology, science and math. Trained educators also provide additional academic support such as homework help, study skills instruction, college campus visits, and civic activities. The organization has become nationally recognized for its work in expanded learning time, volunteer service and civic engagement.

Evaluation Status: High-Level Demonstrated Effectiveness

Results from a longitudinal comparison group study conducted by Policy Studies Associates beginning in 2001 found that regular participants outperformed peers on six of seven academic measures, including school attendance, number of suspensions, and academic achievement. Citizen Schools participants go on to “college-track” high schools at more than twice the rate of the matched comparison group. Even though Citizen Schools students entering the program tend to be more at risk and academically challenged than the average Boston Public Schools (BPS) student, the evaluation found that 76 percent of Citizen Schools participants graduated from high school in 2007, significantly higher than the 50 percent BPS graduation rate, when students attending the district’s selective exam schools are excluded. Additional information, including a copy of the full evaluation report, can be found on Citizen Schools’ website.

EMCF Investment

Since 2000, the Foundation has invested $20.6 million in Citizen Schools to help develop and implement its business plan. Between 2000 and 2007, Citizen Schools achieved extraordinary growth, expanding beyond its home state of Massachusetts and establishing campuses in five additional states, and nearly quadrupling the number of youth it serves each year.

In 2007, Citizen Schools began participating in the Foundation’s Growth Capital Aggregation Pilot. Ten other funders and Citizen Schools’ board of directors joined EMCF in this successful initiative to raise up-front $30 million in growth capital to help the organization implement an ambitious business plan to expand dramatically, serve greater numbers of low-income youth, and achieve financial sustainability. 

For more information, visit Citizen Schools’ website at www.citizenschools.org.