Health & Fitness
McGaw YMCA Summer Learning Program Aces The Test
On November 7, the McGaw YMCA released its results pertaining to the second year of its Summer Learning Program. The six-week program, which provides summer outreach to students from low-income families, found excellent progress from students, as well as tremendous support from parents.
The Summer Learning Program is structured to close the achievement gap that low-income students face during the summer vacation months. Studies have found that while most children learn at the same rate during the school year, children from low-income households tend to fall back approximately two months every summer as middle- and high-income students gain an average of a month during the same time frame.
This gap has been hypothesized as a reason behind high dropout and illiteracy rates among low-income students.
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The program results, presented by Children’s Center Branch Director, Kenzi Huelskoetter, showed phenomenal outcomes. The average student in the program gained around 3.5 reading months – a roughly 5-month swing in literacy versus low-income students not involved in the program.
In addition, parental support was found to be universally positive. One hundred percent of participants’ caregivers felt that the program increased their student’s reading skills, writing skills, learning excitement, physical activeness, personal character, self-confidence, and ability to make new friends.
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One hundred percent of families stated the program, overall, was satisfying.
The Summer Learning Program took place at three different sites in 2013 – Oakton School, Washington School, and Foster Reading Center. All participants received over two hours of literacy instruction per day, were provided a weekly reading buddy, received swimming lessons, and were given nutrition education. In addition, weekly themed field trips were provided – including those to the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Museum of Science & Industry.
The program runs at no cost to 100 first-through-third grade students from Title 1 Schools who have reading scores at or below grade level. All gains were measured by a computerized reading assessment, STAR.