DividED

Investigations

Making Millions off Race & Sex Segregated K-12 Programs

Number of school districts: 24

Number of districts currently under contract with outside organizations: 16

Sum total granted or paid to organizations: $33,909,821

Amount paid to organizations from district budgets: $19,763,976

Total federal funds (ESSER, Title I and IV) spent: $7,635,040

Total federal grants (AmeriCorps, ED* and NSF) to organizations: $12,418,345

Total California state grants: $1,600,000

*It is unclear how much grant funding from the Department of Education via United Way California Capital Region was used for these programs and is NOT included in this total.

SUMMARY

From 2016 to the present, 24 school districts from California (22) and Minnesota (2) seem to have facilitated race and sex-based programming in schools. This includes at least 18 districts that have paid over $19,763,976 to organizations to run the programs. While a couple districts have engaged in these alleged practices since 2016, the majority of districts started offering these programs post-2020.

A total of $7,635,040 in federal funds (ESSER III, Title I and Title IV funds) and $12,418,345 in federal grants (AmeriCorps, Department of Education, and the National Science Foundation) were spent by districts and government entities on the race and sex-based programming.

For example, one of the main organizations featured in this report, Improve Your Tomorrow, Inc. (IYT), has taken in over $30,145,711 in revenue from district contracts, federal grant funding, and state grant funding to operate “young men of color” programming in 17 public school districts since 2016 (the vast majority of the funding being realized since 2020).

According to publicly available documentation, the organization has been receiving grant funding from AmeriCorps since 2019. Overall, IYT has been the recipient of a total of $10,018,345 from 2019-2024 (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024).

In addition to the large amount of grant funding from AmeriCorps, the organization has received grant funding from the state of California as well. In 2021, California Volunteers, a part of the Office of the Governor, issued a press release stating that it had awarded Improve Your Tomorrow, Inc. with a $1.6 million grant in “support of young men of color.”

According to promotion materials for the nonprofit, the program works with, or has worked with, 17 school districts in three states.

This report is intended to be a living document, and will be updated over time as new information is presented.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • In 2021, the U.S. National Science Foundation awarded the University of California, Davis a four-year, $2,400,000 grant to facilitate STEM programming for Black girls and women titled Ujima GIRL (Girls in Robotics Leadership) Project.
  • Improve Your Tomorrow, Inc. has received a sum total of $30,145,711 from school districts and federal grant funding since 2016. Included in the total is $10,018,345 from AmeriCorps for its programming.
  • Elk Grove Unified School District (CA) paid out $7,726,910 ($3,608,010 were from federal funds) for programming for “young men of color” and “Black female students.”
  • Since 2020, Hayward Unified School District (CA) has paid The Village Method, Inc. $806,660 for a “Youth Enrichment Program (YEP)” which will “create a network of sustainable support for long-term African American student achievement.” The district used over $190,380 of federal funds to pay for the programming.
    Modesto City Schools (CA) used $2,098,000 in ESSER III and Title IV funds to pay for its “young men of color” programming.
  • Natomas Unified School District (CA) paid Improve Your Tomorrow, Inc. $2,549,600 since 2016 for programming focused on “young men of color.” The district used at least $384,000 of Title I funds to pay the organizations.
  • Ravenswood City School District (CA) paid an organization $50,000 for a one-year contract for programming exclusively for “girls of African and Polynesian descent.” The contract included professional development, Aromatherapy supplies, and a 3 day/ 2 night retreat.
  • San Rafael City Schools (CA) spent $26,050 of Title IV funds for “Black Girls Affinity Group” programming that aims to “confront bigotry,” “stand up against racial discrimination,” and “celebrate diversity.”
  • Washington Unified School District (CA) signed an agreement for the 2024-2025 school year with Project Sankofa for $95,000 for programming exclusively for Black girls. The district was also the beneficiary of a Department of Education 2022 “Full Service Community Schools Program” grant in coordination with United Way California Capital Region and Improve Your Tomorrow, Inc. to run programming for “young men of color.”
  • Osseo Area Schools (MN) committed to a three-year $450,000 contract with Improve Your Tomorrow, Inc to facilitate programming for “young men of color.”

EXAMPLES

ELK GROVE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Elk Grove Unified School District (CA) 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 to two organizations to run these programs for the district.

IMPROVE YOUR TOMORROW, INC

Elk Grove Unified School District signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the organization Improve Your Tomorrow, Inc. (IYT) for programming exclusively for “young men of color” from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027.

The three year agreement comes at a cost of $2,738,610.00 paid for using district Title I funds.

The MOU also gives the organization 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).”

2024_CA_Elk Grove Unified School District_Improve Your Tomorrow MOUDownload

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.

2023_CA_Elk Grove Unified School District_Race and Equity update_Imrpove Your TomorrowDownload

EARTH MAMA HEALING NETWORK INC.

In 2023, the district also contracted with the organization 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 organization 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.

2022_CA_Elk Grove Unified School District_Earth Mama Healing contractDownload

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS

In 2021, the U.S. National Science Foundation awarded the University of California, Davis a four-year, $2,400,000 grant for STEM programming for Black girls and women. The Ujima GIRL (Girls in Robotics Leadership) Project states that it “aims to address the significant challenges of inclusion and equity for Black/African American middle school and high school girls in STEM education” through “hands-on coding and robotics as an engaging and fun vehicle for increasing positive attitudes toward STEM and developing leadership skills through peer mentoring with female college students.”

Following the one-week camp, participants will “have support to organize Ujima GIRL Clubs in their schools to inspire peers and girls in feeder elementary schools, further expanding peer-mentoring and STEM engagement.”

According to the university program’s 2025 Summer Camps registration page, participating school districts include:

  • Antioch Unified School District
  • Elk Grove Unified School District
  • Fresno Unified School District
  • Natomas Unified School District
  • Oakland Unified School District
  • Twin Rivers Unified School District

Elk Grove Unified School District (CA) board documents from 2023 and 2025 show the districts involvement in the programming.

On May 18, 2022, Stockton Unified School District (CA) posted to Facebook promotional material for the camp.

On August 9, 2022, Stockton Unified School District approved summer 2022 camp participants taking a field trip to UC Davis to attend “Ujima day.”

DISTRICTS

California

Minnesota