The National Urban League Education & Youth Division works to improve educational opportunity for African-American students through scholarships, academic achievement initiatives, early child care/developmental programs, mentoring opportunities and youth leadership development. We've been doing so for over fifty years.

Our goal is to equip our children for competition with the best and the brightest in the nation and the world. It is also to close the persistent achievement gap that continues to separate African-American and Latino students from Asian and white students.

Our more than 100 Urban League affiliates develop educational programs that serve the needs of the local community. Through the Urban League 700,000 youngsters have been served in early childhood and after school programs. Over $10 million in college scholarships have been awarded since 1999, and thousands have benefited from our mentoring programs and youth leadership development.

PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP YOUR CHILD ACHIEVE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE:

READ TO ACHIEVE!

Reading Initiatives

The ability to read is fundamental to academic success. If a child isn't reading on grade level by Grade Four it increases the chances that they'll experience academic difficulty. Yet 2/3 of African-American children are reading at or below grade level. That's why the Urban League has several targeted initiatives to help teach our children the fundamentals of reading success.

The Read and Rise Guide, developed in partnership with Scholastic Inc., specifically for African-American and Latino parents, gives parents age-appropriate tips on how to encourage a love of reading in children ages 0-9. Click here to learn more.

Read & Rise Magazine a free monthly publication developed by the National Urban League and Scholastic Inc., is a fun way to get your child (grades -4) hooked on reading. Click here to learn more.

Reading Room Tips Expert advice to help your children get into the joy of reading, Click here to learn more.

BECOME A YOUTH LEADER

National Urban League Incentives to Excel & Succeed (NULITES) program promotes youth leadership, academic scholarship and community involvement for students ages 12-18. Become a member by joining a NULITES chapter through a local Urban League. Click here to learn more.

MAKE THE GRADE!

Kids in Grades 3-12 Join A National Honor Society

National Achievers Society (NAS) is the National Urban League academic honor society. Open to students in grades 3-12, it promotes and rewards scholarship and academic achievement. To learn more, click here or contact a local NAS chapter.

MENTORING

The Black Executives Exchange Program (BEEP) equips African-American college students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities with interviewing skills and industry knowledge that increases their likelihood of success when entering the job market. To learn more, click here.

General Electric-National Urban League Corporate Volunteer Program

A unique program that allows GE's employees to mentor youngsters in grades K-12. Click here, to learn more.

CAMPAIGN FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN ACHIEVEMENT

The Campaign for African-American Achievement is a coalition of over 100 national African-American organizations working to create infrastructures to lift the academic achievement levels of black youth. To learn more, click here.

To learn about other education programs and services sponsored by the Urban League in your community, contact your local affiliate or call the National Urban League's Education & Youth Services Division at (212) 558-5300.