The Newark Alliance is a member of the Broader Bolder Approach Advisory Team and supports this initiative as a strategy for school reform. With an initial grant of $220,000 from the Ford Foundation, the Broader Bolder Approach seeks to address the association between low student achievement and social and economic disadvantages by building working relationships between schools and surrounding community institutions. Its program format focuses on strengthening literacy skills while identifying student needs such as tutoring and social development. The Broader Bolder Approach uses a holistic approach to develop the "whole person" through physical health, character, social development and non-academic skills.

Key features of the program include:

• A stronger intentional connection between the high school curriculum and the local workforce;
• Increased investment in developmentally appropriate high quality early childhood, pre-school and kindergarten education;
• Increased investment and coordination with health and social services; and
• Added attention to out-of-school time for students.

This initiative is being led by its Co-Founder, Dr. Pedro Noguera at Newark's Quitman Street School. Quitman Street School is one of five elementary feeder schools for Central High School, which is also a part of this initiative.

Partners collaborating with the school district include: parents, community- based organizations, foundations, the City of Newark, Newark Alliance, Rutgers University, and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). BACK