IFSP Program Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Indianapolis Freedom School Partnership (IFSP)?
The Indianapolis Freedom School Partnership, Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Indianapolis, IN. IFSP was founded as the result of two successful CDF Freedom Schools summers in Indianapolis sponsored by St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church in 2015 and All Souls Unitarian Church in 2016. In total we have served more than 100 scholars at our sites during the past five summers.
IFSP was incorporated in the spring on 2017 with a 14-person board of directors, diverse in experience and talents. Five members of our board have been involved as staff members in a local CDF Freedom Schools site in the past. Three members have been involved as staff members with the national office.
The purpose of IFSP is to promote, plant, seek funding and sustainability, and provide CDF Freedom Schools in Indianapolis, in partnership with public schools, faith-based and other community partners.
IFSP was incorporated in the spring on 2017 with a 14-person board of directors, diverse in experience and talents. Five members of our board have been involved as staff members in a local CDF Freedom Schools site in the past. Three members have been involved as staff members with the national office.
The purpose of IFSP is to promote, plant, seek funding and sustainability, and provide CDF Freedom Schools in Indianapolis, in partnership with public schools, faith-based and other community partners.
What is a CDF Freedom Schools site?
CDF Freedom Schools programs are a six-week summer literacy program, developed by the Children’s Defense Fund in 1995, to help increase literacy, self-esteem, socio-emotional skills, and a love of learning in children in children grades K-12. The target audience is low-income, public school children who otherwise may not have access to books and educational enhancement programs during the summer, particularly African-American and Latino children from at-risk communities. The goal is to reduce summer learning loss and break cycles of violence and despair, which disproportionately impact low-income children. The program is named for Freedom Schools developed in Mississippi during the Freedom Summer 1964.
What are the operating hours and dates?
CDF Freedom Schools programs generally operate annually for six weeks, from 8 a.m. to 3:00p.m. daily.
What is included and what is the cost to families?
All scholars receive two healthy meals and a snack each day and a book to take home each week.
Mornings begin with an exuberant celebration called Harambee (Swahili word, meaning, “Let’s pull together”), and include singing, dancing, stomping, cheers and chants, all designed to build community and motivate scholars to learn. The rest of the morning is devoted to literacy enhancement. Afternoon activities focus on developing children’s socio-emotional skills, with activities such as art, music, drama, spoken word, dance, skill building for nonviolent conflict resolution, STEM activities, field trips and more. There is no cost to participating families; they are required to demonstrate their daily commitment to the program and to their children’s
education and development by becoming actively involved. Parents and caregivers also are required to participate in weekly workshops focused on the educational and social development of children, parenting, CDF initiatives, and other activities that build parent empowerment and family success.
Mornings begin with an exuberant celebration called Harambee (Swahili word, meaning, “Let’s pull together”), and include singing, dancing, stomping, cheers and chants, all designed to build community and motivate scholars to learn. The rest of the morning is devoted to literacy enhancement. Afternoon activities focus on developing children’s socio-emotional skills, with activities such as art, music, drama, spoken word, dance, skill building for nonviolent conflict resolution, STEM activities, field trips and more. There is no cost to participating families; they are required to demonstrate their daily commitment to the program and to their children’s
education and development by becoming actively involved. Parents and caregivers also are required to participate in weekly workshops focused on the educational and social development of children, parenting, CDF initiatives, and other activities that build parent empowerment and family success.
What is taught in CDF Freedom Schools programs?
The program is primarily focused on reading, specifically improving recognition and use of words and enhancing comprehension. The curriculum, called the Integrated Reading Curriculum, is developed by professionals in education to coincide with and complement core curriculum taught by public schools. The curriculum is activity-oriented, designed to motivate, excite and inspire children to read. A distinguishing component is that the books and curriculum reflect the cultural heritage and identities of urban children, particularly urban children of color, so that scholars see themselves and adults from their communities reflected as decision-makers,
change-agents, heroes and leaders. The overall theme for the summer is “I Can Make A Difference!” The goals of the program are to build literacy and critical thinking among our scholars, AND to build their capacity to affect positive personal and social change in their homes, schools and communities.
change-agents, heroes and leaders. The overall theme for the summer is “I Can Make A Difference!” The goals of the program are to build literacy and critical thinking among our scholars, AND to build their capacity to affect positive personal and social change in their homes, schools and communities.
Who teaches the children?
Classes are taught by specially trained Servant Leader Interns—college and graduate students ages 19-30 – who must apply for their positions and undergo a rigorous interview process and a criminal background check. These young adults work with no more than 10 children each so that the students get more focused attention from young adults who are excited about inspiring them. Most interns are young adults of color who themselves have overcome poverty, violence, and an indifferent public education system to get to college. They are eager to share their experience and wisdom with our scholars, and the scholars respond to adults who “know their story.” Our interns report that the CDF Freedom Schools experience is life-changing for them, and many go on to become teachers, social-workers, and lifelong advocates for children. The interns are supervised by a Project Director and a Site Coordinator, who function on-site as team leaders and liaisons between the community and the CDF Freedom Schools site.
What are the benefits to children who attend Freedom Schools?
According to the CDF Freedom Schools researchers, 54.1% of children who participated in 2015 showed gains in reading and literacy; 83.8% report no loss in reading comprehension. (Low-income children typically lose 2-3 months of learning during the summer.) Of parents surveyed in 2015, more than 70% of parents perceived that their child’s confidence in reading increased and that their parenting skills improved.
What does it cost to operate a Freedom School?
In 2015, the estimated total cost of a CDF Freedom Schools site was about $72,000 for 50 students and $120,000 for 100 students. (This represents about $1,300 per child.) This includes all meals and snacks, art and office supplies, classroom and take-home books, training and salary for interns and other summer staff, field trips, parent meetings, insurance, and transportation. Some of these costs can be lowered through in-kind donations.
How are Freedom Schools organized, developed, and funded?
CDF Freedom Schools sites are supported through partnerships with community groups, colleges and universities, faith-based organizations, public school districts, corporate donors, grants and private gifts. This collaboration is essential, since there is simply not enough public school funding alone to provide quality summer programming for every child who needs it. These partnerships organize to raise money and create sustainability plan for the CDF Freedom Schools programs in their areas.
How many CDF Freedom Schools site operate nationally?
In summer 2015, CDF Freedom Schools sponsor partners served over 12,375 children at 189 program sites in 96 cities and 29 states including Washington, D.C.
What are the plans for the Indianapolis Freedom School Partnerships?
IFSP will engage in vigorous fundraising efforts to grow and support the local programs. We will provide assistance for volunteer recruitment and staff hiring and training activities. We will also be the primary liaison between the local sites and the national Children’s Defense Fund.
By providing significant assistance and support to local sites, we will alleviate the workload of the local sites and thus encourage the founding of more CDF Freedom Schools programs in the Indianapolis area. As a result, increasing numbers of children in the Indianapolis area will benefit from CDF Freedom Schools programs.
By providing significant assistance and support to local sites, we will alleviate the workload of the local sites and thus encourage the founding of more CDF Freedom Schools programs in the Indianapolis area. As a result, increasing numbers of children in the Indianapolis area will benefit from CDF Freedom Schools programs.
