Study by Washington D.C. Think Tank Applauds Strive as SUNY Works to Replicate its Success in New York

Albany – State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher today announced that a national study released this week applauded the work of Strive, a cradle-to-career framework that SUNY is working to replicate in regions across New York.

Strive, which was co-created by Chancellor Zimpher, has increased academic achievement as well as kindergarten preparedness and college graduation rates in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky since its inception five years ago. The report, Striving for Student Success: A Model of Shared Accountability, was released Tuesday by Education Sector, an education policy think tank based in Washington, D.C.

“As communities, schools, and civic leaders across New York band together to close the achievement gaps in the state’s education pipeline and improve student success from cradle to career, we are fortunate to have the Strive framework on which to model our efforts, and this most recent national recognition gives us even greater hope for success here in New York,” said Chancellor Zimpher. “As demonstrated by the success of Strive, a comprehensive community effort can positively impact our education system and improve student success at every level.”

Since its inception in 2006, Strive has generated real, large-scale improvement in the education pipeline in greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. In Cincinnati’s public schools over the last five years, 8th grade math scores have gone up 15 percent, and college enrollment has increased by 10 percent. At Northern Kentucky University and the University of Cincinnati, graduation rates for students from the local urban high schools have increased by 10 and 7 percent, respectively. There have been additional improvements in the number of preschool children prepared for kindergarten, in fourth-grade reading and math scores, and in high school graduation rates.

Strive’s success has compelled many regions across the country to replicate or adapt the concept, including several communities in New York State where SUNY has taken on a leadership role.

SUNY is establishing a series of systemic and sustainable regional education networks across the state and bringing together partners who have committed to the concept in Albany, Brooklyn, Harlem, Rochester, and the North Country.

Like Strive, the New York networks will brings together leaders in Pre-K-12 schools, higher education, business and industry, community organizations, government leaders, parents, and other stakeholders who are committed to helping children succeed at every stage.

About the State University of New York

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating more than 467,000 students in more than 7,500 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses with nearly 3 million alumni around the globe. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu