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.
-
More than 1,000 international students have had visas or legal status revoked
More than 1,000 international students at 128 colleges and universities have had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated since mid-March.
Indiana Lawmakers face challenge as revenue forecast predicts budget shortfall
Indiana lawmakers have about a week left to pass a balanced budget, a task made more difficult by a revenue report projecting a shortfall of over $2 billion over the next two years.
Fishers' Police state-of-the-art forensics tech looks to improve public safety
The Fishers Police Department has launched a cutting-edge crime lab equipped with advanced forensic technology, designed to expedite investigations and enhance public safety.
Indy clinic begins Autism Diagnostic Evaluations to help cut down on wait times
A local clinic is providing a new service to help cut down on wait times for families seeking evaluations to find out if their child is on the autism spectrum.
