• Closing the Achievement Gap: Summer Learning Programs

     The City of Providence and the Providence Public School District are committed to summer learning as a central strategy in closing the achievement gap among Providence students. National and local research has demonstrated that summer learning loss negatively impacts academic outcomes for all students and in particular, low-income students whose families cannot afford summer learning opportunities.

     In Providence, where the majority of students are low-income, there is critical need for high-quality summer learning opportunities to improve educational and social-emotional outcomes during the school year. Over the summer of 2015, approximately 60% of students in grades 4-11 suffered significant learning losses in reading, and more than 50% of students in grades 1-11 experienced losses in math. Low-income students, male students of color, English Language Learners, and chronically absent students were significantly more likely to suffer from these losses.

     Providence Public Schools and the city are partnering with four educational organizations to offer summer learning opportunity programs. Because these are academic programs, students are expected to maintain regular attendance, just as they would during the school year.

     

    •  Generation Teach INC

    The Providence GT STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) Academy is a free five-week academic acceleration summer program for Providence Public School students entering grades 5, 6, 7, or 8. Attendance is mandatory; free transportation is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

    Dates of Program:  Monday - Friday, July 9 - August 10, from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

    Location:

    Nathan Bishop Middle School

    101 Sessions St.

    Providence, RI 02906

    Grades:

    Students entering grades 5-8

    Registration:  https://www.gtsummer.org/providence

     

    •  BELL

    Building Educated Leaders for Life (BELL) is a nonprofit organization that provides summer learning experiences for scholars who currently are in grades k-4.  It is a full-day immersive learning experience that combines academic instruction with fun hands-on enrichment activities, field trips, mentorship, and community service projects.  The program is designed to help scholars improve their academic and social-emotional skills and increase their self-confidence in order to enter school in the fall prepared and ready to excel. At the end of last summer’s program, scholars showed three months gains in math and two months in reading.

    Dates of Program:  July 9th - August 10th

    Location(s):  

    Frank D. Spaziano Annex

    240 Laban Street

    Providence RI 02909

     

    Young Woods Elementary

    674 Prairie Avenue

    Providence, RI 02905

     

    Alfred Lima, Sr. Elementary

    222 Daboll Street

    Providence RI 02907

     

    Time(s):  8:30-2:30pm

    Grades/Age:  Scholars who currently are in grades K-4

    Registration:  www.providence.experiencebell.org

     

    •  Boys & Girls Club

    In partnership with the Providence Public School Department, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence will conduct a 6 week summer learning program at the South Side Boys & Girls Clubhouse to minimize summer learning loss for 90 rising grades 1-5 students. The summer learning program components include hands on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) activities, academic supports in reading. Writing, math and science as well as recreational play (free play, yoga, swimming, outdoor play), Providence Children’s Museum programming at the club,social emotional supports and field trips.

    Dates of Program:  Monday, July 9, 2018 - Friday, August 17, 2018.

    Time:  9:00am- 5:00pm

    Location:

    Southside Boys & Girls Club

    1 Louisa Street

    Providence, RI 02905

    Grades/Age:  Rising First Graders - Rising fifth graders. Grades 1-5.

    For more information open house will be held on Monday, May 21, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at Southside Boys & Girls Club.

    Contact:   aalleyne@bgcprov.org

     

    •  YMCA

    YMCA will support Providence students in reversing summer slide, developing positive relationships, and increasing aspirations for college success.YMCA’s summer learning program is open to Providence Public Elementary and Middle School students (rising 1th through rising 8th graders). The nine week summer learning is a free, full-day program, with six program weeks being mandatory for attendees.  

    • YMCA will offer:
      • Daily academic support in literacy and math
      • STEM programming driven by the Outdoor Explorers and Discovery Science curriculum
      • Daily nutritious meals and snacks
      • Opportunities for rigorous physical activity, health and wellness and social emotional learning
      • Family engagement opportunities
      • Support specialists for positive behavior interventions

     

    Location:  900 Centerville Road, Warwick, RI 02886

    Program Dates:  July 9, 2018 to August 13, 2018 with the option to add 6/26-7/9 and 8/16-8/24 at no additional cost. [Hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm] (6 pick-up locations across Providence provided at no cost for families)

    Contact:  Lauren Utschig, Camp Operations Director

                    lutschig@gpymca.org

                    401-456-0604