According to the Ws, they supposedly want minority kids to do better in school. As a child, I was sure I could never afford college, so I didn't worry about grades. By age 20 I found out that financial aid could make it possible, but I learned too late to benefit my childhood education.
Every kid saved from giving up is a small fortune saved in future govt.
But it takes more than encouraging kids to read, they need a hope that they can get somewhere if they play by the systems rules. Since then, my income taxes resulting from the college degree have far outstripped the college benefits I received. Providing poor kids with the real hope of a better life by doing well in school is necessary to reach more kids before they blow it off.