Cross-Age Mentoring and Achievement of At-Risk Minority Middle School Students

Abstract

Project BEST (Basic Educational Skills and Training) is a mentoring program involving Virginia Commonwealth University students and area middle school students. In the twotiered program, VCU faculty mentor the Project BEST college students who, in tum, serve as mentors to the middle school students. Activities include Saturday mathematics and science enrichment seminars, after-school tutoring, and a week-long mathematics and science summer camp. Outcomes of the program show that Project BEST has positively impacted students' academic achievement and achievement responsibility.