Our Philosophy ~ Closing the GAP

Harvest Prep is focused on closing three major educational gaps that exist between African American students and other ethnic groups – The Gender Gap, the Technology Gap, and the Math and Science Gap. These “gap” areas put African American students at a distinct educational, economic and political disadvantage as we look at both the education level and skills that are needed for the 21st Century.

Closing the Gender Gap
Research has shown that boys are 30% more likely than girls to drop out of school. Boys represent 44% of students on college campuses today, compared to 58% 30 years ago. Two-thirds (66%) of students in special education are boys. Boys as early as the age of 5 years are twice likely as girls to be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

In 2007, the founders of Harvest Prep received a charter from the State of Minnesota Department of Education for BEST Academy, a boys focused school of engineering, science and technology, grades K-8. Beginning the fall of 2008, the first class of graduating students from Harvest Prep will enter BEST Academy.

Closing the Technology Gap
There is a huge gap between the percentages of African Americans that have computers in their home versus whites. White students are 3 times more likely to have computers and access to internet than African
American students.

The best opportunity for African American children to learn about and to access computers is in school.
Harvest Preps objective is to create a technologically rich environment for students so that they will have the fundamental skills to compete in the 21st Century.

Closing the Math and Science Gap
Harvest Prep has chosen to focus on the subjects of math, science and technology, because studies show
that 80% of the jobs in the future will depend on technical knowledge. Closing the educational gap between
African-American students and other ethnic groups will ultimately close the economic gap.