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Although the Phoenix heat can trick us into thinking it’s been summer for months now, the school year has officially come to a close for the Valley’s children. At Valley of the Sun United Way we have been busy working with our community partners and out-of-school-time programs to prepare for the Summer Learning Collaborative 2018.
During the summer month’s children from low income families can lose up to two months of reading proficiency each summer, while children from middle income families continue to make literacy gains. This means that by the end of 5th grade, this creates a 2.5 to 3 year learning gap that continues to widen!
Since 2013, Valley of the Sun United Way has been bringing partners to the table to combat the “Summer Slide.” Each program site participating in the Summer Learning Collaborative is provided with a certified K-3rd grade teacher who is specifically trained to empower summer staff to embed literacy into their current program through coaching. Not only is professional development and training provided, each site also receives funds towards materials to enhance their summer learning program. Some of these summer slide participants include YMCA, Boys & Girls Club of Metro Phoenix, ICAN, Boys & Girls Club of the East Valley and Wesley Community & Health Centers’ Golden Gate Campus.
Whether you’re a current partner or advocate for Maricopa County’s children, we thank you for your time and dedication.
Reach out to SummerLearning@vsuw.org to learn more.
