Read our 2011 Annual Report to see Get Schooled in action. Find out why our signature mix of sizzle and substance gets students engaged and motivated to take control of their education!

2. LETTER FROM
THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR
When Get Schooled launched as a stand-alone Launched innovative initiatives that encouraged
nonprofit in the fall of 2010, we were given a unique students to take the small actions that would lead
mandate: use the media and messengers of them to educational success
popular culture to inspire and engage students in
an effort to improve high school graduation rates and Why is this work important? The statistics are
empower more students to go to and succeed in college. staggering: a young person drops out of high school
every 26 seconds. In many urban centers, one of every
While there are thousands of education-focused three high school students is absent on any given day.
nonprofits working in communities across the United The average American teen receives only 38 minutes
States, there are few – if any – with a similar mandate. of college counseling each year during his or her four
Is it even possible to combine “sizzle with substance” years of high school. More than half of all students who
in a way that yields improved academic outcomes for enter postsecondary education or training will fail to
students, especially those most in need of additional earn the degree or certificate they came for. If we are
encouragement and inspiration? going to reverse these trends, reform needs to come to
our schools and real support, guidance and encourage-
We say it is. ment needs to come to our students. Get Schooled is
ready to step up and fill that void. Our rallying cry?
Students, we have your back.
IN 2011, GET SCHOOLED BEGAN ITS EFFORT TO
MEET THAT CHALLENGE. LAST YEAR, WE: Over the next 18 months, Get Schooled’s digital
platform – online, social media and mobile apps – will
Connected with a million young people through our reach and engage millions of young people who need
digital platforms and in-school activities support, direction and a community to help them make
their way through high school and college. Young
Improved attendance almost 3 percent across
people will come to our digital platform to play games,
more than 100 high schools and middle schools in
track their own educational progress, get answers to
17 states
questions and connect with people who can offer them
Gave 25,000 students the opportunity to recognize the information, inspiration and support they need to
the teachers who inspire them to get out of bed and succeed.
go to school every day
And this is just the beginning. If our first full year
Enlisted the assistance of some of today’s hottest taught us anything, it’s that a recipe that mixes sizzle
talent to inspire young people, including Nicki and substance yields powerful outcomes. Moving
Minaj, Tyra Banks, Wiz Khalifa, Trey Songz, Dwight forward, we are committed to leveraging popular
Howard, Dwyane Wade, Keri Hilson, Kimora culture, media, the web, emerging platforms and
Simmons, George Lopez and Jennifer Hudson gaming tools in new and exciting ways to engage
young people in improving their education.
Partnered with some of America’s most influential
media brands including MTV, Tr3s, BET’s 106 & Sincerely,
PARK and Paramount Pictures to connect
with students
Marie Groark
Executive Director, Get Schooled
1

3. MAKING A
DIFFERENCE
INCREASE IN ATTENDANCE ACROSS 125
SCHOOLS – WHICH MEANS THOUSANDS
MORE STUDENTS CAME TO SCHOOL
EVERY DAY AND INCREASED THEIR
LIKELIHOOD OF GRADUATING
ENGAGED WITH GET SCHOOLED ON OUR
WEBSITE, THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA
OR IN THEIR SCHOOLS
LEARNED MORE ABOUT GET SCHOOLED
AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ATTENDANCE
2

4. GIVING SCHOOLS A BOOST
We know educators can’t do it alone.
That’s why Get Schooled partnered
with high schools and middle schools
to inspire and encourage their
students to succeed.
Students at Bridgeport High School in rural Washington State celebrate their school’s standing
on the Get Schooled leader board during the 2011 Fall Attendance Challenge.
3

5. USING GAMES TO DRIVE CHANGE
Get Schooled tapped into students’
love of friendly competition to improve
student engagement and attendance
through regional and national
attendance challenges.
Students at Lincoln High School in Philadelphia celebrate their attendance improvement as part of
Get Schooled’s Get MotivatED Challenge in spring 2011. Twenty-five schools competed to determine
who could improve their attendance the most.
4

6. EMPOWERING STUDENTS
TO INSPIRE EACH OTHER
Get Schooled and Def Jam Rapstar
challenged young people to get loud
about why education matters. Students
submitted hundreds of inspirational
rhymes that reached an audience of
more than 250,000.
WE NEED TO BE GOING TO SCHOOL, NOT JUST
SLACKING ON YOUTUBE. IT’S UP TO US TO BE
THE LEADERS OF THE NEW SCHOOL.
– Yung Mil, Portland, OR
Get Schooled and its partners including Kevin Liles, Russell Simmons and BET’s 106 & PARK gave
Def Jam Rapstar winner Yung Mil a once-in-a-lifetime experience, including advice on the music
business and a nationally broadcast television special to share his skills.
5

7. GIVING STUDENTS A PLATFORM
FOR THEIR VOICES
Students recognized 25,000 teachers
who inspire and noted their
commitment, patience, persistence
and great senses of humor in
the classroom.
A student and teacher pose in front of the Get Schooled banner at East High School
in Iowa.
6

8. MOTIVATING AND INSPIRING
WITH TALENT
Get Schooled partnered with talent
that resonates with students, whether
through a common experience
growing up, a demonstrated
commitment to excellence or simply
because they are superstars!
Tyra Banks inspires students at Bethune Middle School in Los Angeles by sharing stories of her
experiences as a student and how education has helped her as a model, television star and author.
7

9. GOING MOBILE TO CONNECT
We capitalized on young people’s
affection for texting and celebrities
via the Get Schooled Celebrity Text
Challenge, which encouraged
students to set academic goals for the
school year. Promoted across Viacom’s
networks, close to 10,000 students
responded during the month-long
summer challenge.
An email blast went out to hundreds of thousands of young people encouraging them to set
goals and tell us about them.
8

10. AMPLIFYING OUR MESSAGES THROUGH
OUR MEDIA PARTNERS
Get Schooled partnered with BET’s 106
& PARK, MTV, mtvU and digital sites like
AddictingGames.com to inspire and
engage our audiences.
Terrence J. and Rocsi interview Dwyane Wade about the work of his educational foundation as he
receives the Get Schooled Award on BET’s 106 & PARK.
9

11. MOTIVATING AND REWARDING
STUDENTS THROUGH POP CULTURE
Young people value popular media.
Get Schooled, along with its partners
including Paramount Pictures, 20th
Century Fox and others, bring exciting
rewards to students who have
earned it.
Students at Chaparral High School in Las Vegas increased their attendance by nearly 6%.
To celebrate, they enjoyed a red carpet preview screening of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE –
GHOST PROTOCOL.
10

12. FOR MORE
INFORMATION
GO TO