The Minority Student Achievement Team (MSAT) ™

The Minority Student Achievement Team (MSAT) ™ is an action-oriented collaboration of leading educators and expert psychologists assembled to provide consultation, training, professional devlopment, keynote speakers, and Back To School / Opening Day for Teachers speakers to address the “achievement gap” that persists between minority and disadvantaged students and their white counterparts. MSAT’s mission is to improve minority student achievement by increasing test scores, improving student efficacy and academic self-esteem, strengthening student locus of control, and reinforcing parent engagement. We working in concert with local schools and school systems, post-secondary institutional partners, state and national organizations, and others whose interest and expertise will serve the mission of MSAT.

Unlike many initiatives developed to address minority achievement, MSAT does not solely focus on teachers. MSAT recognizes and acknowledges the more subtle factors that can contribute to achievement gaps such as peer pressure, student tracking, negative stereotyping, and test bias. The following plan of action involves strategies designed to ensure that minority student populations have the “missing pieces” needed to meet the new rigorous standards and reduce the academic divide leading to the "closing the achievement gap":

Faculty Keynote Address: “Love ‘Em or Lose ‘Em!” – Differentiated Strategies™
Dr. Adolph Brown, Educational Psychologist

Student Keynote Address: “The Missing Pieces” – 21st Century Life Skills™
Dr. Adolph Brown, Educational Psychologist

Parent Keynote Address: “It Starts At Home!” –The Parent-Up Challenge™
Dr. Adolph Brown, Educational Psychologist

Student EXCELLENCE & Parent YOU-NIVERSITY Focus Groups: Understand Stereotype Threat, Decrease Behavioral Challenges, Improve Anger Management, Self-Control & Coping Skills, Raise Expectations, Empower Self-Direction, & Increase Aspirations
MSAT

Proven Programs & Initiatives:

Increase enrollment of Black & Hispanic students in advanced academic programs (until the number reaches the percentage of that group in the general education population)
Preschool for all children that qualify under income eligibility guidelines
Full Day Kindergarten offered to all elementary school students
Ensure that each student has a caring relationship with at least one teacher
Proportionate referral & identification of minority students for special education services
Empower students to become self-directed, participate in decisions, set stretch goals, develop and carry out Academic & Career Plan, assume responsibility and accountability for their own learning to improve achievement
Increased community involvement
Increased knowledge of the English language needed to navigate the school system & society
Increased parent involvement in the literacy development of their children

Pre-/Post Assessment & Follow-Up:
Based on your UNIQUE needs, a MSAT team will be assembled to best meet and exceed your goals.

MSAT Education Case Managers

The number and length of the aforementioned activities will depend on the administrator’s budget, scheduling concerns, number of students, and number of prospective topics to be covered. MSAT is a national leader in the approach to closing the minority student achievement gap.

Ed Timlin