Giving Compass' Take:

• A new study led by Thomas S. Dee, a professor at Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE), demonstrates that black male achievement programs and similar investments can have a positive impact on dropout rates. 

• How can donors expand black male achievement programs? 

Read about philanthropic support for black male achievement. 


Nearly 10 years ago, school leaders in Oakland, California, launched the first district-level initiative of its kind in the nation: a program targeted exclusively to black male high schoolers that was a part of their regular classes during the school day.

Taught by black male instructors, the “Manhood Development” course emphasizes social-emotional learning, African and African American history and academic mentoring, drawing on culturally relevant teaching methods to counter stereotypes and create a stronger sense of community and belonging in school.

A new study led by Thomas S. Dee, a professor at Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE), provides the first evidence that access to the program significantly reduced the number of black males who dropped out of high school. The study found smaller reductions in the number of black females who dropped out as well, suggesting a possible spillover effect.

“Many historically marginalized students experience schools as highly alienating spaces,” said Dee. “The targeted design of this program, and the evidence of its impact, challenges us to radically reconsider how we think about promoting equity in education.”

As hundreds of communities across the country invest in similarly targeted programs as part of the national “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative introduced by former President Barack Obama in 2014, the study provides leading evidence supporting the promise of these investments.

The Manhood Development course is the centerpiece of the African American Male Achievement (AAMA) program, launched by the Oakland Unified School District in 2010. The program created a new model for a targeted curriculum by offering classes specifically for black male students during the school day, rather than episodic or extracurricular programming.

Read the full article about bolstering black male achievement at Stanford News.