The Harvard Achievement Support Initiative (HASI) is the University's professional development and grantmaking effort to increase learning opportunities for Boston's young people. Building on the success of the Harvard After School Initiative, which focused on out-of-school-time innovation and improvement for students aged 5-18, HASI broadened its work in 2006 to reach the youngest of Boston's citizens - babies, toddlers and preschoolers.

HASI's extensive work with Boston is driven by two lead programs: SmartTALK, which helps prepare after school staff to help kids develop their academic skills in out-of-school time by creating a positive learning environment and providing students with standards-aligned, games-based activities to support homework time; and Mind in the Making, a national program that translates the science of how children learn for real-world practice in early care and education.

HASI is an integral part of Mayor Menino's Step UP initiative, an innovative partnership between Boston-area universities and Boston Public Schools working collaboratively to support student achievement. Through Step UP, HASI seeks to enrich learning by providing research-based professional development, standards-aligned materials and activities, and grants.

HASI News:

Harvard students step up to the plate
Twice a week since March, a group of Harvard College students has been meeting at Johnston Gate every Monday and Thursday to take the Red Line train from Harvard Square to Fields Corner in Dorchester...

Learning about early learning
On a recent cold Monday morning, the Gutman Conference Center looked more like a kindergarten classroom than a high-end meeting facility...

Program Contact:
Harvard University Office of Government, Community and Public Affairs
(617) 495-4955
hasi@harvard.edu