Date of Award

2012

Degree Type

Dissertation

Department

Education and Human Services

First Advisor

Hampton, Frederick

Subject Headings

African American dropouts -- Ohio -- Cleveland Metropolitan Area, African American boys -- Education -- Ohio -- Cleveland Metropolitan Area, African American high school students -- Ohio -- Cleveland Metropolitan Area, Education, Urban -- Ohio -- Cleveland Metropolitan Area, Student assistance programs -- Ohio -- Cleveland Metropolitan Area, Literacy programs -- Ohio -- Cleveland Metropolitan Area, dropout prevention, black males, closing achievement gaps, mentoring, exposure trips, culturally relevant teaching

Abstract

There is a new endangered species in this country - the black male. The education of the black male in the United States has recently garnered much-needed national attention. Two national reports in 2010 have heightened the awareness of the fact that the black male student is not successfully navigating our public school systems, often dropping out. Unfortunately, it now appears that this chorus of pessimism has entrenched itself in the minds of black boys, teachers, and even parents. At the very least, there are economic and moral reasons as to why we must help our black male students graduate from high school. The future of an entire race hangs in the balance of this crisis, as well as the economic devastation that results from the numbers of black males that are not becoming productive, wage earning citizens - but rather populating our penal system in disproportionate rates. This study will examine the effectiveness of a targeted intervention for this targeted population. The first cohort to participate in this intervention graduated June, 2011 after having participated for four years while in high school. This study is comprised of a mixed method research design, as there will be a clear quantitative data analysis comparing pre-intervention data to post-intervention data. Complementing that analysis will be documented anecdotal interviews with some of the students in this initial cohort. The quantitative analysis will show whether the intervention was effective or not, while the documented voices of the participants will reveal salient themes or variables related to the intervention. If confirmed that the fundamental logic of this type of program is sound, then the information will prove to be invaluable for districts across the nation

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