In terms of children’s reading achievement during our 2021 program session, 33 children at our 2 CDF Freedom Schools sites completed pre- and post-tests and demonstrated an average increase of eleven months in instructional reading levels. Most children (97.0%) maintained or gained in instructional reading levels and did not experience summer learning loss.
Children also showed positive changes in all five competencies of social and emotional learning (SEL) skills. Children responded that CDF Freedom Schools helped them to:
Children also showed positive changes in all five competencies of social and emotional learning (SEL) skills. Children responded that CDF Freedom Schools helped them to:
- Accurately assess their strengths and limitations, with a well-grounded sense of confidence, optimism, and a “growth mindset”
- Successfully regulate their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations
- Take the perspective of and empathize with others
- Communicate clearly, listen well, cooperate with others, resist inappropriate social pressure, negotiate conflict constructively, and seek and offer help when needed
- Make constructive choices about personal behaviors and social interactions
Before I came to Freedom School I didn’t like reading because I wasn’t good at it. Coming to Freedom School made me like reading and now I read all the time. - Heaven, Level 3 Scholar
On July 18, 2018, thousands of children enrolled in the CDF Freedom Schools program took action to make their voices heard through the 2018 National Day of Social Action: Voter Engagement.
Children, families, and community members gathered at community polling parties to learn about the power of voting, and to discuss local and national issues that matter to them. Adults had the opportunity to register to vote, and children cast their own ballots in a National Children’s Vote. Here are the 3 issues CDF Freedom Schools Scholars said matter most in 2018:
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