INDIANAPOLIS — A program in Marion County is looking to bridge the “summer slump” gap. Indy Summer Learning Labs is focused on catching students up, particularly students hit hard by e-learning.
“Not only are we dealing with the effects of COVID and e-learning, but we’re also combating that traditional summer learning loss,” Boys and Girls Clubs of Indianapolis Chief Operations Officer, LeeAnn Harris said.
The program is offered this summer at 40 sites across Marion County. Some 5,400 students and enrolled, which is up from 3,000 last summer.
The Wheeler-Dowe Boys and Girls Club hosts one of the learning labs.
Harris explains from 8 a.m. to noon — students focus on subjects including math and English. In the afternoon, they enjoy “traditional” summer camp activities like physical education activities, S.T.E.M. labs, etc. Students also are provided meals throughout the day at the Boys and Girls Clubs.
“What’s unique about this program is students do a pre-assessment at the beginning and a post-assessment in the end. So we’re able to track in real-time students’ growth,” Indy Summer Learning Labs Project Director Dani Neal said.
“Summer learning lab program is really essential to the communities we serve. The young people in our communities were disproportionately affected by e-learning and the impact of COVID,” Harris said.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Indianapolis is the largest out-of-school partner offering the learning labs. About 120 students alone are signed up for the program at Wheeler-Dowe.
“To be able to offer something like this that’s free, that’s safe, that’s encouraging for them — that’s a huge deal,” Neal said.
The program was born out of the pandemic through a partnership between The Mind Trust and United Way of Central Indiana.
Indy Summer Learning Labs is offered to students in the first through ninth grades.
“Last year saw a 27% increase in math and 20% increase in reading for students understanding vocabulary, so we know that this program works,” Neal said.
-
Hoosiers honor life of Charlie Kirk at candlelight vigil on Monument Circle
Dozens gathered on Monument Circle in remembrance of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. White and blue candles adorned the steps of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Thursday evening.
Carmel celebrates growing diversity through cultural festivals
From Diwali to the Chinese Mooncake Festival, Carmel’s calendar is filling up with cultural celebrations that highlight the city’s growing diversity.
Pete Buttigieg joins democratic rally at the Indiana Statehouse
The fight over Indiana’s congressional map intensified Thursday as Pete Buttigieg joined hundreds of Hoosiers who packed the Statehouse atrium to rally against efforts to redraw the district maps.
Bloomington leads college towns in key housing market stats, according to study
Redfin economists compared Bloomington to 50 college towns in many categories. According to its study, home sales and listings increased more in Bloomington this year than in other college towns.
