BBD Honored For Helping To Close the Achievement Gap in Education in the City of Philadelphia

BBD recently was selected to receive the Young Scholars Charter School’s 2010 Corporate Partner Award.  The award was presented in honor of BBD’s partnership in the school’s vision to close the achievement gap for students in the City of Philadelphia.  Mike Boyle, BBD’s managing partner, accepted the award on behalf of the firm at the school’s graduation ceremony on June 15.

Young Scholars Charter School serves sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students from North Philadelphia and is the highest performing charter middle school in the City of Philadelphia.  The school uses a focused, progressive educational approach designed to close the achievement gap for its more than 200 low-income, minority students, who arrive at the school from District schools severely under-prepared. Students spend 33 percent more time in the classroom than their peers in District schools.  Despite entering Young Scholars at least one level below grade level in math and/or reading, the school’s eighth graders surpass their District peers in math and reading and are at or near the state average. 98 percent of the school’s graduates go on to a college preparatory high school.

In late 2009, BBD’s Service Committee recommended that the firm begin a partnership with Young Scholars Charter School.  The committee, and the firm’s partners, recognized that as a local business, BBD has a responsibility to invest in Philadelphia’s future business leaders and workforce.  Helping to close Philadelphia’s achievement gap is key to investing in the city’s future.

 The partnership officially began with a sponsorship of computer-related education for Young Scholars students and their families.  The partnership continued throughout 2010 with both financial commitments and events designed to connect Young Scholars students with BBD firm members.

 “In each of our endeavors with Young Scholars, whether we were helping to support the art auction, hosting students at our office, or participating in a joint effort with the students to help out in one of the city’s soup kitchens, we came away more impressed than the time before with the character of the students and the citizens the school is developing,” said Mike Boyle.

 BBD’s partnership with Young Scholars Charter School is expected to continue throughout the summer and into the 2010-2011 school year.