Our Impact

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically... Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.” ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

ENACT serves over 10,000 students, family members, and school staff in over 80 schools each year with demand for our engaging, interactive creative drama programs continuing to grow. In the 2009-10 school year, ENACT reached:

  • A total of 90 schools
  • 8,465 students total
  • 3,679 students through Student Workshops
  • 4,786 students through Auditorium Performances
  • 1,672 parents & guardians through Parent & Family Workshops
  • 703 teachers & school staff through Professional Development Workshops
  • 13 Alternate Learning Centers (ALCs), or suspension centers, serving 432 students

A multi-year Ford Foundation funded program evaluation performed by an independent team from Teachers College at Columbia University found that:

  • Through ENACT students became more aware of their feelings and behavior. They were often able to express or dramatize their feelings in an atmosphere of trust that helped them find solutions to challenging personal situations.
  • ENACT teaching artists engaged students who were initially resistant. Students began to better understand their emotions, express themselves, and take ownership of their behavior.
  • ENACT teaching artists helped foster a sense of belonging for students.
  • ENACT teaching artists acknowledged and validated students' feelings to build relationships.
  • Students learned how to respect each other's differences and work together effectively. Teachers noted improvement in students' behavior and respect for one another.
  • ENACT provided classroom teachers with ideas for lessons, activities, and classroom management. Participating teachers learned new strategies for working with challenging students.

In the last five years, four New York City schools have been removed from the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act’s list of Persistently Dangerous Schools, which is compiled each year based on incidents of school violence, after partnering relationships with ENACT. As reported by Principal Angelo Ledda at M.S 399, “While ENACT has been with our school, M.S. 399 has been removed from the state’s Persistently Dangerous School list, students’ test scores have improved, and students now take pride in their school. I really feel that they have been a big part of improving the school atmosphere and helping students feel safe and successful.”