Fathers as Tutors Help Boys Shape Up: Supporters Laud Program for Building Academic Achievement

Beginning of article

ANTIOCH, Calif. - African-American fathers in this gritty East Bay suburb of San Francisco refused to take a hands-off approach last spring when test scores showed their elementary and middle school boys lagging far behind their peers in writing and math.

Instead, they started a unique private tutoring program that after just a few months has teachers agog with the improvements in the boys' academic performance and attitude. The men call themselves the African American Academic Achievement Committee, or Four AC.

New test scores won't reflect the results until next spring, but already administrators from other school districts around the Southwest are coming to …