The NYC Success Mentor Corps is a research-based, data-driven mentoring model that seeks to improve attendance, behavior and educational outcomes for at-risk students in low-income communities citywide. Success Mentors are trained to serve as advisors, motivators, connectors, confidence-builders, and early warning systems for chronically absent students at risk of getting off track – both in school and in life.

As part of the Mayor’s multi-agency campaign to improve school attendance and educational outcomes, Success Mentors are uniquely positioned to make an impact: they come into schools at a leadership level, have direct access to key players in schools and community-based organizations, have unprece­dented access to critical student data, are able to take advantage of interagency resources and expertise, and are part of a centralized, innovative infrastructure that supports their work in real time.

Mentors are typically matched with 10-15 target students, who they see in school at least three times a week. Mentor responsibilities are determined by what research shows are the most effective practices for engaging at-risk students and their families. These include personally greeting students in the morning to make them feel welcomed and noticed, calling home every day a child is absent, and connecting students and families with a wide range of services to help them overcome barriers to success.