Say Yes Syracuse was a landmark collaboration, the first chapter to embrace an entire city school district. Soon thereafter Buffalo became the second.

The Say Yes promise and supports begin when a child enters kindergarten and continue through high school and beyond. The range of services Say Yes offers across its chapters include everything from extended day and year programming, mentoring, tutoring and school-day academic support to family outreach, scholarships, and social work/psychological services. Additionally, Say Yes partners provide high-quality health care and legal assistance. These services help to create a positive, sustainable framework for each student’s academic experience, one that encourages and rewards continued effort.

Say Yes provides comprehensive supports, including the promise of free college tuition to one of nearly 100 colleges and universities for those who meet residency, graduation and admission requirements. These supports are aligned with what research indicates is needed to enable every child in the program to achieve his or her potential.

Among the partners in this chapter are the Syracuse City School District, Syracuse University, Onondaga Community College, Say Yes Higher Education Compact partner colleges, Say Yes to Education, Inc., the Syracuse Teachers’ Association, the Syracuse Association of Administrators and Supervisors, the City of Syracuse, Onondaga County, the American Institutes for Research, and a diverse group of area corporate, non-profit, and philanthropic organizations.