The Syracuse Demonstration Program brings together Say Yes to Education, Inc., the Syracuse City School District and Syracuse University in a unique partnership to provide academic, social and financial assistance to economically disadvantaged youth in Syracuse. The program is intended to provide students with the vision of college from an early age, supporting them in reaching this goal and following through on this promise by making college financially accessible.

This particular initiative is unique because it is the first Say Yes chapter to embrace an entire city school district, making it the largest school improvement program of its kind in the nation. The cornerstone of the Say Yes to Education program is the commitment of college scholarships for every eligible student graduating from the Syracuse City School District.

In a comprehensive approach, this effort involves not only college scholarship support as an incentive for students, but also a variety of support services aimed at removing the barriers that prevent many students from reaching their full potential. These supports include: academic, financial, social & emotional and student & family health.

The Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County, which was created as a result of the Community Foundation’s read ahead initiative, has been helpful and complimentary to Say Yes to Education in Syracuse. Say Yes will work in concert with the Coalition. The Literacy Coalition will be focusing on early childhood initiatives, which will prepare children for school and entrance into the Say Yes program.

Say Yes to Education, Inc. (Say Yes) is a national, non-profit education foundation committed to dramatically increasing high school and college graduation rates for our nation's inner-city youth.

Say Yes provides comprehensive supports, including the promise of a full college or vocational education, aligned with what research indicates is needed to enable every child in the program to achieve his or her potential.

The Say Yes promise and supports begin when a child enters kindergarten and continues through high school and beyond. The range of services Say Yes offers across its Chapters include everything from after-school and summer programming, mentoring, tutoring, and school-day academic support to family outreach, scholarships, and social work/ psychological services. Additionally, Say Yes partners provide high-quality health care and legal assistance. These services help to create a positive, sustaining framework for each student's academic experience, one that encourages and rewards continued effort.

To learn more about the national Say Yes to Education, visit their website.