DividED: Elk Grove Unified School District
Incidents
Total paid to consultants for race-based programming: $7,726,910
Total federal funds used: $3,608,010
SUMMARY
Elk Grove Unified School District appears to be currently running race and sex-based programming focusing on “young men of color” and “Black female students.” The district has paid over $7,726,910 for two organizations to facilitate the programming.
IMPROVE YOUR TOMORROW, INC
Elk Grove Unified School District signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the consultant Improve Your Tomorrow, Inc. (IYT) for programming exclusively for “young men of color” from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027 at a cost of $2,738,610.00 paid for using district Title I funds.
The MOU also gives the consultant access to student data such as “ethnicity/race,” test scores, “access to [the] online student grade book portal,” and a student’s “Individual Education Plan (if applicable).”
Per a June 11, 2024, board meeting focused on the district’s Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), it states that “Improve Your Tomorrow’s College Academy program provides wraparound services to young men of color in service of improving college preparation and matriculation.”
The district’s LCAP report also states that it “expanded contracted support programs by community organizations to provide culturally affirming social-emotional and academic support to African-American students,” it expanded “affinity and/or peer support groups for African American students,” as well as offered “Black Family Excellence workshops” and “black family outreach and advocacy.” The document notes that the Improve Your Tomorrow program “will be funded through Title I.”
According to a May 2, 2023, “Race & Educational Equity Update” to the board, district staff mention “Supports for Young Men of Color – Student Centered Support” which include its “Young Men Rising Program” and “Improve Your Tomorrow” program.
The district appears to have also run an “Inaugural Young Men of Color Empowerment Conference” on May 4, 2023.
ALL AGREEMENTS WITH IMPROVE YOUR TOMORROW, INC.
- April 19, 2016 – $286,000
- June 13, 2017 – $330,000
- June 26, 2018 – $546,000
- June 25, 2019 – $546,000
- June 30, 2020 – $600,000
- June 15, 2021 – $724,500
- June 14, 2022 – $869,400 (MOU covers 2022-2023 and 2023-2024)
- June 13, 2023 – $869,400 – Title I funds
- June 25, 2024 – $2,738,610 – Title I funds
EARTH MAMA HEALING NETWORK INC.
In 2023, the district also contracted with the consultant Earth Mama Healing Network Inc. to “conduct biweekly empowerment sessions involving groups of young girls.” The contract also states that the “vendor can provide empowering African American/Black youth and equip them with the necessary tool sand [sic] support to thrive beyond adolescence.”
The contract was for $92,000 for one year.
The district also entered into a contract with the consultant in 2022 for “targeted equity services prioritizing students who identify as Black/African American, Earth Mama Healing will engage female students.” The agreement was for $125,000 for one year.
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