In 2014, President Obama established the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Task Force at the federal level. The Task Force was an interagency effort focused on closing and eliminating the opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color so that all young people have the chance to reach their full potential.

At the national level, MBK initiatives are focused on six milestones, ensuring that all children:

1. Enter school ready to learn
2. Read at grade level by third grade
3. Graduate from high school ready for college and career
4. Complete postsecondary education or training
5. Successfully enter the workforce
6. Grow up in safe communities and get a second chance if they make a mistake

The State Education Department (SED) set allocated $7 million to award up to 70 grants as an incentive and support for school districts to accept the My Brother’s Keeper Milestones Challenge. This grant is designed to encourage regions and school districts to develop and execute coherent cradle-to-career college strategies that are aimed at improving the life outcomes for boys and young men of color.

The City School District of Albany was awarded a MBKCG and prioritized milestones #1 (enter school ready to learn), #2 (read at grade level by third grade), and #6 (safe communities).

Evaluation & Research

CHSR worked with the Albany schools to identify performance measures to track both implementation fidelity and outcomes of the MBKCG initiative. The evaluation protocol includes assessing literacy achievement for students in prekindergarten through grade 3, tracking the achievement gap between students of color and their peers, as well as examining frequency and outcomes of Code of Conduct violations in Priority Schools.

For more information, contact Margaret Gullick,Ph.D.