Achievement Mentor Program


The Achievement Mentor Program (AMP) provided by WNY United is designed to meet the needs of students at risk of academic failure.  It is an individual and small group support program, based on the “Rutgers Achievement Mentoring” intervention, developed and researched by Dr. Brenna Bry.  This Best Practice has been proven to be effective in improving grades and attendance, decreasing substance abuse, and decreasing criminal behavior.  It utilizes young adult mentors to provide homework assistance, general guidance, incentives, and recognition to foster academic and behavioral improvement. 

In each participating building, Achievement Mentors offer services during the normal school day.  These Achievement Mentors become embedded in the school culture, for example they “push in” to classrooms during Math and ELA periods not only to be informed and assist students with the classroom instruction, but also to reinforce with students the specific skills that they are learning in the classroom when they are “pulled out”.  This technique provides immediate, practical help that students and teachers both appreciate.  Additionally, students who show progress and determination are rewarded with periodic recognition, various incentives and special events.  The Achievement Mentoring Program not only ensures that students improve academically, but also improves school connectedness through the influence of a positive adult role model.  In building relationships with their Achievement Mentors, students feel a stronger bond to the school and become more committed to school- ultimately improving their average daily attendance.  AMP is offered only in SCAT partner buildings where a complement of prevention services are available.  It is being made possible in four buildings for three years by a generous grant from the John R. Oishei Foundation. 

The following table represents the most recent analysis of the Achievement Mentor Program.  Academic areas that are marked in blue are those where program participants showed statistically significant gains between pre and post testing. 

2010/2011 Achievement Mentoring Overall Analysis

Scale (N) Pre Post Positive? P-Value Effect Size
ELA 343 3.75 4.63 Yes p <.001* d = .590
Math 340 2.97 4.70 Yes p <.001* d = 1.140

* = Significant at p =/< .05

The Achievement Mentor Program was very successful in 2010/2011 at improving academic scores for program participants.   Students improved significantly on both ELA and Math scores when tested with a standardized instrument.