Liberty Partnership Program

The Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP) collaborates closely with higher education institutions to cultivate impactful connections within schools and the broader community. This initiative is dedicated to providing research-driven educational programs to both public and non-public school students who are at high risk for dropping out. Currently, the Liberty Partnership Program works with over 150 students from two different buffalo public schools.

Targeting middle and high school students vulnerable to leaving their education behind, the program currently partners with Hilbert College LPP alongside Bennett High School, East Community High School, and Harvey Austin Middle School. Through these partnerships, students experience a nurturing environment that boosts their academic performance and opens up various paths beyond high school.

We believe every student deserves a chance at success irrespective of challenges faced along their educational journey — an opportunity that this partnership strives passionately to provide.

Partnership Benefits

Participants in the program benefit from:

• Personalized tutoring and mentoring, which includes one-on-one or small group sessions tailored to meet each student’s unique needs.  
• Engaging activities such as field trips and overnight camps, which offer valuable life experiences outside the classroom context. These interactions not only enhance learning but also foster new friendships and provide opportunities to form meaningful relationships with supportive staff members. These activities include: 
  
  • Overnight Crime Scene Investigation camps in our CSI lab
  • Dances
  • Buffalo Bison Games
  • Albany, NY (other LPP programs)
  • Buffalo Botanical Gardens
  • Museums
  • College Tours

To further support our students' development, we continuously update personal learning plans based on social-emotional assessments, which ensures that each plan aligns well with individual aspirations -  whether towards college readiness or career planning. Support systems are boosted through through family engagement services aimed at creating holistic growth environments for all participants.

Other year-end outcomes for grade 12 LPP students: 

• 8% End of School Year
• 1.3% Transferred to another school out of district or state (1.3%)
• 0.8% Long-term absence (20 consecutive unexcused days)
• 0.4% Left school: first time, previous dropout, or no documentation of transfer

Data Source: 2022-2023 NYSED Student Information Repository System (SIRS).