We are excited to share that results from the end of the 2014-2015 school year show that 98.9% of children involved the agency’s mentoring programs were promoted to the next grade level. In addition, 84% of children had a more positive attitude towards school and 96% had improved self-confidence. These results hold true for children attending Buffalo Public Schools (BPS) who are enrolled in BBBSEC’s innovative program, Transforming Buffalo Through Mentoring & Education™ (TBTME). Students enrolled in TBTME™ demonstrated improvements in attendance and a reduction in discipline referrals. These results lead to improved academic performance and a better chance for future success.
Other positive outcomes from the 2014-2015 school year for children enrolled in BBBSEC’s Transforming Buffalo Through Mentoring & Education™ include:
- Attendance records showed that compared to all students in the BPS District, a greater percentage of children in BBBSEC’s program had satisfactory attendance (absent 8 days or less) and a significantly smaller percentage of children in the program were described as chronically absent.
- 72% of children who have been matched with a mentor in the program for two school years decreased the number of discipline referrals they received, compared to the previous year, or did not receive any discipline referrals at all.
- Over half of the children in the program maintained or increased their grade averages in Math, Science, English/Language Arts and Social Studies between the 1st and 4th
- For children in the program who have been matched for two school years or longer, 36% of children increased their final overall average from the previous school year.
Funding for Transforming Buffalo Through Mentoring & Education™ is a collaborative effort among several local corporations, foundations and organizations. Sponsors for TBTME™ for the 2015-2016 school year include: First Niagara, PCB Piezotronics, The Cullen Foundation, United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, Buffalo Public Schools, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Children’s Foundation of Erie County, Buffalo Sabres Foundation, Kelly for Kids Foundation and National Fuel.
We can’t begin to thank our partners enough for their generous support in helping us create brighter futures for our kids!